Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Their Circumstances (2)
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"Hmm. This is a pretty complicated curse."
"Yeah. It is. See, this thing..."
"Petrification curse... but it's not the type that drains life force. It's more like a seal. It completely halts the victim's body. The good news is, once it's lifted, they can function normally again."
"What? Bobby, you figured that out just by looking? Then do you know how to break it?"
"I'd need to examine it more to say for sure. By the way... you figured that much out, so why didn't you try time acceleration magic?"
"Huh? Oh... time acceleration. I thought about it, but you know how much mana it takes to use on a living being."
"True. But I figured someone of Sera's skill could at least give it a shot."
"W-Well..."
"Oh, that. We could try, but if it fails, it could burden both Sera and Luca hugely, so we put it on hold. We're right in front of the Demon King's Castle, already down two members—taking that risk would be way too dangerous. How about some coffee while we think?"
"Ah, thanks. I didn't know we had any left."
"It's not real coffee—just ground herbs that mimic the effect. Leo explained it, but I didn't really get it."
"That guy's got a surprising amount of random knowledge."
"Any progress? New discoveries?"
"Hey, Eli! You're just standing there clueless. Come change my bandages or something."
"Rick, can't you handle that yourself by now?"
"Cold as ice. Fine, Nadia. Come help me out?"
"Huh...? Uh... okay... I'll be right there."
"Those two seem really close lately. Guess a lot happened while I was out."
"Tell me about it. They're always together, doing who knows what. Last night, they were arguing in the tent all night—kept me up."
"...If only it were just arguing."
"Hey, Eli. Didn't see you there. No tasks? Help me look for sandria herbs. Could use 'em for a lot."
"Ah, Leo. Sure. Bobby, Sera—keep at it."
"Got it, Eli. Trust me!"
"Hmm... this curse is gonna take a while to break. Might need to pull an all-nighter. Oh, Sera. You're on night watch with me tonight, right? Perfect. Let's research late."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Let's do it. We'll settle this tonight!"
Do the blind dream? It's something I couldn't know until I became blind myself. Of course, it's not the same as those born sightless, but now I can roughly imagine their lives.
When I wake, I'm met with pitch darkness. In this cave where not even a sliver of sunlight reaches, I focus every nerve on sound. Blocking all senses but hearing, my ears paint pictures before my eyes.
Sera's shallow breaths watching me intently. Irregular, tense, uncomfortable—they conjure her cat-like, upturned eyes. Those deep blue eyes suddenly fill my mind, and fleeting sounds sketch their daily lives.
Fat Bobby's waddling steps. Eli's soft voice slipping in between. Leo's gruff bass, annoying even to hear.
Brushing away the last face that surfaces, I hear Nadia and Rick arguing, as Sera always described. Rick's curses. Nadia's replies. Her ragged breaths. And the crude sounds of manhood piercing womanhood, audible only to me.
Their breaths peak, Nadia's moans unmasked in pleasure ringing in my ears. I shut my hearing then, counting in my mind. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. When the count nears ten thousand, sleep comes, and night finally arrives.
But if Rick and Nadia's faces confront me in that night, I count again. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Forgetting midway is better. Snap my counting fingers, gnaw my tongue, start over.
One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight...
"Haah... haa..."
"Feel good, you slut? You like it?"
"Yeah..."
...One. Two. Three.
"Hey. Do that thing again."
"Huh? Now?... Okay."
"Yeah, that. Ahaha. Fucking hilarious, you whore."
...
One. Two. Three. Four.
...
One. Two. Three. Four. Five...
"One... two... three... four... five... six... seven... eight."
"Hmm. No change."
"Yeah. Doesn't work with blessings either."
I open my eyes at the whispers, meeting both their gazes at once. Plump, affable Bobby beside tiny-looking Sera today. Huddled together, they stare at me, spouting incomprehensible words.
"Maybe force it with mana?"
"We'd have to factor in Luca's magic resistance—never measured it properly. Could blow up entirely. Plus, not sure we have enough mana."
"Really? I think Sera's shown enough mana so far."
"W-Well, anyway, nothing uncertain."
"Or alchemy to convert components? If Luca's conscious, he might break out himself."
"And if not? If it's conversion magic, not sealing, it could affect his body."
"I think it's definitely sealing. Test on Luca first?"
"Can we even sample? Let's see..."
Amid fragments of knowledge whizzing by, I feel calm, not confusion. Sera and Bobby—our party's geniuses. With them, escaping the seal is just a matter of time.
Positive energy spreads through me, but a heavy fact in my heart rears up like a nightmare. Once freed... how do I face Nadia?
She's no longer my teacher, miracle, or even friend. The nightmare she gifted me makes her more enemy than anything.
Yet, do those memories crumble at once? Hard to say. Hatred for her always brings her sunlit golden hair to mind.
One clear thing: when free, I'll smash Rick's face.
"...Perception alteration might work."
"That effective? Wait, you can even do that?"
"Not exactly mind rewrite, but similar. The mind wields huge power with strong will."
"S-So, like mind control? 'Be my slave!'?"
"Not like that, Sera."
They continue in words I don't know. Sera yawns hugely, tired of grasping Bobby's 'perception alteration magic'.
"Ugh... tough. Break for now? Night's deepening; brain's not turning."
"Sure. No point burning time inefficiently."
With Bobby's okay, Sera stretches cat-like, writhing. I chuckle unwittingly.
Bobby watches her fondly too. Sera notices, pouts primly.
"What? Why stare?"
"Just... you and Eli have subtle similarities."
"Me and Eli?"
"Yeah. Maybe from being friends, but you resemble each other."
"Like what?"
Sera asks what I want to know. Bobby shrugs thoughtfully.
"Just... various ways. Both charming, wise beyond years. Kindest to everyone."
"What? I'm kind? Like Eli?"
"Of course. Why so surprised? Always thought so."
"Not surprised! Just... unexpected. People think Eli's kinder."
Including me. Bobby shakes his head earnestly.
"I don't. You prioritize others over yourself. Just look at your efforts for Luca."
"That's..."
Sera bites her lip, voice subdued.
"Just what you have to do."
"Have to?"
Bobby tilts his head, frowning. Sera meets his eyes, sighs.
"He's our precious comrade. Longtime friend to me. Eli'd be sad if he doesn't wake... gotta fix it."
"So it's 'have to'?"
"Yeah. You wouldn't want a dear comrade like that either. Same for me. Luca's especially precious... Hero to save the world... and..."
"...And the man you love. Naturally."
"Right... wait, what?"
"You like Luca, Sera. Isn't that—"
"W-Wait!"
What?
A clatter, dust rises. While I'm confused, Sera straddles Bobby's hefty frame, face red, screaming silently.
"Shh... Bobby! Too loud. What did you say?"
"That you like Luca. Secret? Thought everyone knew..."
"At least Luca doesn't! So shh!"
"Pfft, he probably noticed. Can't hear now anyway."
"He hasn't! And what if? Quiet, please!"
Sera presses fingers to lips, glancing my way. I meet her eyes, flustered.
Sera likes me?
The genius mage who tormented, nagged, ignored me?
Thinking so fits everything. Insisting Eli and I join her academy trip. Volunteering for my expedition when Nadia visited. Her unprecedented panic at my petrification. Facts once overlooked now shake my mind.
"Hasn't noticed? Even to a third party like me, it's obvious you like him."
"...He's an idiot, that's why."
...
Embarrassing.
Bobby glances my way, chuckles, smiles warmly at Sera.
"How long? Since when?"
"Didn't count. Since we were kids."
Snap!
Bobby snaps his fingers mid-listen. Sera startles, looks scared.
"What... why?"
"That's why you joined the expedition from the start! For love!"
"W... true. Village without him means nothing to me."
"I see. Why no confession yet?"
"That..."
Sera smiles bitterly.
"Not telling."
"Why? You've opened up—keep going."
"Secret I've told no one."
"Think confession. My job: hear believers' woes, keep secrets. Won't tell. Might lighten your heart."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Kind Bobby. Affable Bobby. No one could refuse those warm eyes. Sera stares long, buries face in hands.
"It's... because of Eli."
Snap!
"Eli! Naturally, she's involved."
"...No snapping? Distracting."
"Sorry, habit. But why Eli? Thought good friends."
"We are. Except she likes Luca too."
No surprise this time. Bobby skips the act.
"That's why? Same love interest?"
"What else? I like Luca, but Eli's precious too. Can't lose either."
Sera spills calmly, emotions steady. Long-held thoughts, perhaps.
How long? Since before I liked Eli, maybe. Her burdens weigh heavier than the stone on me.
"...But Eli would understand? She'd bless you and Luca, not curse."
"How could I? To Eli."
"Why? Love is conquest, Sera. Bold woman wins the man."
"Isn't it the man who's bold?"
"I'm very open-minded."
They smile softly. Bobby snaps habitually.
Snap!
"Confess. Stale emotions rot the heart."
"Can't."
"Eli'll understand. I guarantee."
"No. You... don't know anything."
"Why think that?"
Bobby persists unusually doggedly. Sera frowns.
Before she speaks, another snap.
Snap!
"C-Can't... say. Secret..."
"It's fine. Tell me, Sera."
"Absolutely not... haa... head throbs..."
"Too long kept secret. Speak, Sera."
"No... can't speak... never."
"Really?"
Why?
Bobby's last word booms like thunder. My head rings, his voice echoes.
Why?
Why?
Why?
What is this?
His words gnaw my skull, churning my mind. I try to steady, but his heavy voice haunts.
Why?
Why?
Why?
What the hell.
Chaos. Helplessness. Sudden fear grips me. Unbidden emotions float like debris. Worst: suffocating frustration. Something squeezes my chest.
What... is this...
More stifling than initial petrification. Like a giant fist clenching my body. I struggle to escape. What happened? Bobby, what are you doing?
"Stop..."
Sera's sobbing voice pierces. I thrash harder. Bobby. Kind Bobby. Friendly Uncle Bobby.
What are you really?
"Come on. Speak, Sera."
Regaining senses, Sera trembles head-down. Bobby stares gravely.
"Why can't you, Sera?"
"Th-That's..."
"It's fine. Say it."
She bites her lip—silent refusal—but lips part, secrets spill.
"Eli... already yielded so much to me."
Eli yielded? What?
Casual chat races toward truth. One I feared, didn't want.
Bobby ruthlessly unearths it, whispering to my ears.
"Yielded what?"
No longer confession. Interrogation. Sera squeezes eyes shut.
"D-Don't wanna say. I... I..."
Snap!
No smile on Bobby now.
"What did Eli yield to you, Sera?"
"B-Bobby... hate this... scary... don't wanna answer... please..."
"Fine. Tell all."
"I... I...!"
Snap!
Bobby snaps mercilessly at pleading Sera.
"Sera. What did Eli yield?"
She shudders, slowly opens eyes. Long-hidden secret flows with tears. Trembling voice squeezes out.
"Everything."