Dreams, Memories, and Voices (3)
Deep within an unnamed forest on the Recor Dak grounds lies a crystal-clear pond.
Infused with mana, perhaps, it remains unfrozen even in this biting season—a mystical place. One might call it a tiny magical space.
Splash—
I'm fishing there. Thanks to the “Midas' Hand” enhancement on my rod, with its option “◆ Lures Fish,” it's not all that boring.
Crunch—!
Like this, the moment I cast the line, a bite comes right away.
I reel it in with a practiced wind.
Splashhhh…… A fish emerges, spraying water everywhere.
As I check its size and species to drop it in the bucket—
“I have a question.”
A voice from somewhere. Familiar, yet unexpected timbre.
I turn toward it.
“Why do you desire the chairmanship so desperately, Professor?”
Julie.
She gazes at me ramrod straight. Her clear eyes hold not the slightest emotion.
“Why do you crave power so?”
I turn back to the pond. As I cast again, I reply.
“Defending Recor Dak—is that not what you wished for?”
“Yes. But allowing those who wish to leave—”
“If all depart? Will you die here?”
“……I know when to retreat, as a knight. Against millions of monsters, our mere ten thousand in Recor Dak can only buy time. I would gladly purchase it for them.”
Crunch—!
Another bite. Julie glances that way too.
“……I hear you've been investigating Rockpell and Veron in your own way.”
I change the subject. Julie's body flinches.
“You commissioned a famous adventurer, did you not? Penniless knight that you are.”
“……”
“Abandon it. You will gain nothing.”
Julie's gaze sharpens.
Yet I hope she never learns Rockpell's true nature. Even betrayal by one she trusted—she would blame only herself.
Julie asks.
“Then tell me. Did they truly die in accidents?”
“……Did the report you read not say as much?”
Her head droops. Shadow falls over her pitifully lowered eyes.
“You truly……”
I calmly lift the rod. Splashhhh—! The spray soaks Julie's shoulder.
As I dump the fish in the bucket, I say.
“Indeed. As you say, I desire much. That greed may one day stab me in the back.”
Julie lifts her eyes. Winter's frozen gaze. Pleased by the sight, I smile.
“But it matters not.”
“……”
“If I were to regret the path that will one day return, I would never have lived thus.”
Grind— Julie grits her teeth.
“Now I ask. Do you regret your life?”
A question piercing her identity.
She has no life of her own. A child born slaying her mother. Believing that, she cast aside all for herself.
“Yes. I regret it. Every moment tied to you.”
She says. I nod faintly.
“Pitiful, you. Filling a life without you with the identity of knight.”
“……Are you mocking me?”
“Precisely. You made a mere profession your life's purpose—inverting means and ends.”
In that instant, mana rises from Julie's body. An aura chilling the air around us.
—Huh…… here?
A sudden childish voice. Julie's fury ebbs momentarily, and we both turn.
“……”
“……”
Two children amid the brush.
Apparently fishing, with oversized rods on their backs.
Lia and Leo.
“……Hello there.”
Bow— Lia bends at the waist. Leo mimics her.
I assume they'll leave. The mood was grave, after all.
But.
“Sit here, Leo. Fish bite well here.”
Instead, she unfolds a folding chair and settles in. Julie and I stare blankly.
“Yeah! Will the fish taste good?”
“Of course! We'll catch and eat 'em. I'll gut 'em.”
Splash— splash—
Rods sink into the pond.
I glance at Julie. She peeks at me, our eyes meet.
“……I'll take my leave. I have duties.”
“Very well.”
Thus Julie departs, and I resume fishing.
……Splashhhh—!
One fish caught. The children eye me sidelong.
……Splashhhh—!
Another. They pout.
……Splashhhh—!
The third.
The children whisper.
……Lia. Why aren't we catching any?
……That professor's hogging them all.
Splashhhh—!
The fourth.
As their resentful stares pierce me, I rise.
The Imperial Palace knights are steeped in heavy deliberation.
Ignore Deculein's warning and abandon Recor Dak? Or feign madness and stand together?
Success means not just honor, but immense monetary and social gains……
But the odds are vanishingly slim.
Deserting midway might at least save their lives.
“……Hey.”
Amid those worries, Knight Delik—patrolling the walls with his aides—spots something odd. A guard fiddling with a machine.
“Yes, sir.”
“What's that?”
A massive crossbow with a handle grafted on—grotesque. At Delik's question, the guard replies.
“An automatic crossbow.”
“……Automatic crossbow?”
“Yes.”
The guard places a hand on it.
“The professor's invention. Tremendous power.”
“……It's a crossbow. What's so powerful? Fire it.”
“Yes, sir.”
The guard takes stance, grips the handle—and ratatatatatata———!
Dozens of bolts launch in a blink. Delik and the knights startle.
“Two hundred bolts in ten seconds. Accuracy suffers, but ideal against hordes.”
“……Impressive. The professor's invention?”
“Yes. Plans for dozens more, I hear.”
“……”
Modern countermeasures, solidly prepared.
Then.
Whoooosh——!
A figure rises from beyond the wall on wind. Red twin tails flutter.
Delik instinctively salutes.
“Captain Ganesha, is that you?”
“Huh? Oh~ hi, Delik.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Heard you failed to escape~? Got caught by the professor~?”
Ganesha chatters with a grin. Delik smiles inwardly cursing.
“Haha, yes. Not caught fleeing, but persuaded by his character…… Where to?”
“Gonna help out~”
Delik and aides' eyes widen.
“H-help? Did the professor assign you a mission?”
“Hehe. Dangerous gigs start at fifty million elne minimum. This is free help. Old ties and all.”
“How so?”
“Hmm~ Delik, know why beasts swarm in winter?”
“Moon and hunger, right?”
Ganesha beams.
“Yes~ Correct. Winter brings blue and red moons alternating, beasts mad with hunger—like entranced, they head south…… So I can lure and disrupt solo~”
She stretches. Interlocked arms up-down, legs side-to-side.
“Then…… you alone against the horde?”
“Yup~ Herding 'em. Can delay march by a week.”
Delik and aides gape. That colossal horde, solo for a week.
“So prepare hard till then. No fleeing thoughts.”
Ganesha smirks, adding.
“I know the professor well. Dying here hurts less than running~”
A chilling line. Slaying the last fleeing notions in their minds……
“No answer? Planning to bolt?”
“N-no? No, sir. Flee? As knights, never—haha……”
“Of course!”
Hahaha— hahaha— hahahaha—
Delik forces a laugh with his aides.
The next day, I begin thorough inspections across Recor Dak.
“Rations for two weeks. Rationed, three. Starve prisoners, eight.”
“Supplies?”
“Ah…… well.”
In the Recor Dak storeroom. The logistics officer scratches his neck awkwardly.
“Speak.”
“……Caravans hesitate on resupply. Rumors of excessive beast wave spreading…… Hoarding, it seems. Sorry—hoarding's the word—”
“No matter.”
I nod. Produce today's catch: thirteen fish.
The officer brightens.
“Th-thank you. We'll salt and store. Your fish help greatly. Forty already—”
“Enough. Recite the caravan names.”
“Pardon?”
“Recite. Ensure resupply in three days.”
“Ah, yes! Northern giants: Lotrin and Beolla Caravans.”
I note them in my kill list.
Outside, Ifrin and Ruina approach. Since Allen left, they fill the role.
“Ifrin. Transmit this.”
“Yes.”
Ifrin glances at the kill list entry, eyes widening.
Such delay is forgivable, but further postponement leaves no choice but litigation for breach of contract. I trust you have circumstances, yet they concern me not. The pact with Yukline must hold. Even if diverting from others, resupply must proceed.
If difficult, recall Yukline's curse.
Perchance an Altiegue lurks in your ranks. Even if none, truly none?
Truly none?
No reply expected. Send only supplies.
“……”
Ifrin swallows hard.
“B-boss?”
Ruina taps my shoulder. I glare fiercely.
“Something's up over there?”
“……”
Ruina points opposite the wall—to Recor Dak's entrance. Indeed, commotion stirs.
“Touch not next time.”
“……Same prickly boss as ever.”
Tsking, I approach.
“What is it?”
“Ah, yes, Professor.”
The guard answers flustered.
“Mountain folk swarming in.”
“……Villagers, here?”
“Yes. Even with walls, horde overflow risks exposure. Better to aid inside……”
I eye Recor Dak's gate. Beyond, indeed uproar.
“Open it.”
“Y-yes!”
The guard hurries to unlatch.
Creeeeak—
—Whoa! Open!
—Opening!
—Thank you, guards!
—Thanks! We brought rations aplenty! Our bodies'll help too!
Before fully open, hearty voices assail.
Sunlight and breeze flood in.
“……”
I stand straight, peering beyond.
Ruina says.
“……Lots, boss?”
Many people. Far down the slope, crowds fill the path. Their honest faces and clear eyes gaze here.
“So it seems.”
I knew not so many lived leaning on these mountains and Recor Dak.
Why Julie fought so to defend—now faintly clear.
“Thank y—!”
“Hey! Not yet! Decision pending!”
Guards halt entering villagers. They obey meekly.
“Hey, it's the professor!”
“The professor at Recor Dak!”
“Pleased t'meet ya!”
Their rustic dialect grates. Their stench offends.
I shake my head displeased.
Their faces darken instantly.
“W-we'll do well! Pl—!”
“Silence.”
One word hushes all. Someone slaps the speaker's cheek.
“……What say you?”
Ruina asks.
Guards, crowds—all eyes on me.
I deliberate. Naturally. Ill fits my nature. Filthy, fly-ridden rabble.
“……”
Silent, I turn. Ifrin has returned.
“Ifrin.”
“Y-yes……?”
Ifrin nods tensely. I face front again. Take in the tense throng.
Gazing upon them, to Ifrin behind:
“……Drent and temporary shelters, you can manage.”
“Of course!”
Ifrin booms. I nod. Turn wordlessly away.
Villagers mute, but Ruina and Ifrin gesture.
“What're you waiting for? Come in.”
“Hurry!”
“……Ah!”
“Yes! Thank ye, thank ye!”
Masses pour in. Footsteps and cart wheels shake the earth.
Not just people. They hand livestock—chickens, cows, foals—to guards.
“……What's this?”
Knight belatedly arrive. Imperial knights, Julie amid the crowd.
I call the warden beside them.
“Warden.”
“Y-yes?”
“From today, seal all paths from Recor Dak outward.”
“P-pardon?”
I declare.
“Here we stand—and hold, without fail.”