The Wooden Pocket Watch (2)
A wooden pocket watch.
Snowflakes drift down from a distant sky, and moonlight filters through the wind rustling the late night of Recor Dak.
"...I joined the Imperial Knights."
Julie is nestled deep in the northern coniferous forest, sitting in a rocking chair and gazing at the bracelet on her wrist.
"It was my first real combat mission."
Ifrin listens quietly to her soft words.
"Protecting the Professor in 'Marik.' Transporting the core."
"Transporting it?"
"Yes."
Julie lets out a low breath. White vapor flows from her mouth like smoke. Snowflakes settle delicately on her shoulders.
"At the time, the head of the Yukline family, Duke Dikailen, was preparing important research. I don't know exactly what it was. But it's certain that the 'core' was absolutely necessary for Yukline back then."
A past event Ifrin doesn't know, couldn't know.
"My fellow knights and I advanced into Marik with Deculein. However, an unexpected ambush occurred."
Even now, Julie blames herself for that day.
She can't accept the words 'unexpected' at all. A knight should consider every possibility and prepare the appropriate forces.
"The mission failed, and many people died."
"...Did you lose the bracelet then?"
"Yes."
Ifrin nods and pulls a steamed potato from the basket in her lap. She bites into it, steam rising.
"Right. It's hot. Whew. Whew. The Pro~fessor, whew."
She rolls the potato piece in her mouth and asks.
"If it's the Professor, how'd he find this bracelet again?"
"...Marik has been reopened, hasn't it?"
"Ah."
Julie thinks he must have retrieved it deliberately when Marik was reopened.
But she doesn't know why. She can't even guess.
To him, it's probably just an ordinary bracelet.
"It must be a precious item to you, Knight."
"Yes."
Julie answers immediately.
"It's the first and last gift I received from my father."
Even if it's turned to coal-like now.
This bracelet holds the memories of that day.
The pounding heart even before receiving it. The overwhelming emotions that followed. The hot tip of her nose, the heavy eyelids wet with tears.
All those vivid things are still inside.
"The only gift in my lifetime."
Proof that her father thought of her at least once, despite everything.
"That's how precious it is."
Julie turns back to Ifrin. Ifrin meets her eyes.
"...Miss Ifrin. What does that letter say?"
She points to the letter on Ifrin's lap. The one Deculein left for her.
"Oh, this? Nothing much. Want to read it?"
"...Is that all right?"
"Sure."
Ifrin hands the letter to Julie. Reading it, Julie frowns just like Ifrin did at first.
Ifrin.
I leave this letter for you.
You will surely understand the meaning of this letter.
"...What is this? That's it?"
"Right? Just three lines. I was totally baffled when I first read it."
"Magically—"
"Nothing. No devices at all. That's really it."
"... "
Julie nods and returns the letter. She leans back in her chair.
"Miss Ifrin."
"Yes?"
"If you're right, we'll regress. This bracelet on my hand, the memories—all gone."
"Yes. Definitely."
"Then, perhaps... could you explain? Why you say that. Why Professor Deculein doesn't hate me."
...Rustle, rustle.
Large snowflakes drift between their gazes. Hair flutters in the cold wind.
A vast, quiet landscape.
"...Hmm."
Ifrin bows her head silently. She looks at her feet in the snow. She rubs them on the ground, making circular marks.
"You know."
She looks up at the sky again. Snowflakes touch her face like pollen.
"The Professor's life isn't that long."
"...?"
"Whether we regress or not, he won't be here in the near future. Time left is short. He probably knows it too."
Ifrin says it plainly. About the Deculein she met in her timeline.
"So... maybe the Professor doesn't hate you, Knight. Maybe he wanted you to hate him?"
Julie falls silent. She closes her eyes gently.
"So... when he eventually leaves on a long journey. So you won't hurt. So you can even be happy."
"... "
"Of course, just my imagination."
Wind blows through the forest. Trees sway like waves.
Ifrin glances at Julie cautiously.
"...Imagination or not. That's okay, right?"
"No."
Julie shakes her head.
"Even if it's imagination, it hurts."
She places her hand on her heart. Somewhere, the sound of ice cracking echoes.
"Words I don't want to forget, as much as they hurt."
—Hey!
Just then, Delik appears from afar.
—Meeting time!
Ifrin jumps up quickly. Perfect timing, as things were getting awkward.
"Let's go, Knight."
"Yes."
Julie stands too, and as they start to leave.
—...You know.
—The Professor's life isn't that long......
Ifrin freezes at the whisper-like 'Voice.' She flinches and turns around.
The conversation she just had with Julie has been caught in the 'Voice's erosion.'
"You're persistent, huh?"
Ifrin lets out a disbelieving chuckle.
—Ifrin! Hurry up!
Delik calls again. Julie is already waiting far ahead.
"Coming!"
Ifrin runs off quickly.
Whoooosh—
Now a blizzard rages in Recor Dak, in Julie's office.
The group sits around a large table.
"First, I narrowed it down to the knights with potential out of the thirty."
Delik says. His list has seven names total. 'Jeilun Bedasf,' 'Yupple von Sven,' and...
"Syrio Lagness."
Sylvia says. Julie sighs deeply.
"Yes. He's one of the suspects. Syrio was definitely among the thirty invited knights."
"... "
Sylvia thinks for a moment.
Syrio. As the vice-captain of Ilayde, he's too familiar to her.
Delik nods.
"The other knights have solid alibis. Of course, not enough to clear them completely yet."
"How can you be sure?"
Sylvia's question. Delik strokes his mustache and answers.
"These fools dared to ambush Her Majesty. Plenty of people besides us are hunting them. Maybe we can just wait and find out who it is. However... Ifrin."
"Yes."
Delik looks at Ifrin. His eyes are resolute.
"Our goal isn't just catching the culprit."
"Of course not."
"Do you know the 'conditions for regression'?"
"No. Not yet."
They're waiting until April 9th for now. The top hypothesis is 'regression on April 9th.'
Delik says.
"Right. Until then, don't die no matter what. Even if we don't catch the culprit, if you regress to March, we can stop everything."
"Yes."
"Then... "
That moment.
Kwaaaaa—!
A massive vibration shakes the entire Recor Dak grounds. The blizzard outside the window is cut off, and the world plunges into darkness.
Barrier magic.
But the anticipated ambush.
Julie looks at Ifrin.
"Miss Ifrin."
"Yes. Let's escape together!"
"No."
She shakes her head. Then turns to Allen.
"Nee?"
Allen, who had been sitting quietly listening, tilts his head.
"Mr. Allen. How many can you teleport through the barrier?"
"Hmm~ With 'Stride' to pierce the barrier, just one besides me."
"...Ah."
Ifrin lets out a dismayed breath. Julie smiles faintly.
"Yes. I expected that. I'll stay here."
"No need to—"
"There is. One person must face the mastermind directly and relay it to you all."
"... "
Julie stands. Delik grits his teeth, Sylvia looks at Julie.
"So, I'll identify as much of the 'mastermind' as possible here and pass on solid clues."
Julie hands Ifrin a crystal orb. Ifrin clutches the small orb.
"Twin crystal orbs for recording, not transmission. Everything I say will be recorded."
Julie turns to Delik and Sylvia.
"Sir Delik, Miss Sylvia. Please escape too. Miss Ifrin is priority now, but Miss Sylvia has exceptional magical talent—"
"I can pierce the barrier. Collapsing it is hard. Need to find the core."
"Yes. That's enough. Sir Delik, cover Miss Sylvia."
"... "
Delik looks frustrated but nods.
"Got it. Let's meet again for sure."
"Yes. I have no intention of dying. Then—"
Tsreeeeeng—!
The building's windows shatter entirely. Robed assailants charge through the openings. Some 'things' crawl on all fours, not quite human.
In the midst of that chaotic hell, Allen walks slowly and takes Ifrin's hand.
"Let's go."
Allen smiles brightly and steps forward.
Behind him: Julie wielding an ice sword. Delik escaping with Sylvia.
And.
"...Ugh!"
Herself, out of the barrier with Allen.
Ifrin looks around. Pitch black everywhere, thick stench.
"This is... "
Allen dusts off his hands and answers.
"The sewer."
Drip— drip—
"Ugh... "
Drip— drip—
Foul smell hitting her face, disrupting it.
"...Ah."
Ifrin opens her eyes.
Scratch-
She scratches her head and surveys the area.
Quite some time has passed, but the scenery is still the sewage treatment plant.
It's so familiar now, the smell doesn't bother her. She's old pals with the rats.
"...This sucks."
Of course, she hasn't stayed in the same sewer every day for a month. They moved around, but whenever pursuit closed in, they ended up in 'some city sewer.'
"... "
Ifrin sits alone on the ground, lost in thought.
What month, what day is it?
Around April 4th or 5th, maybe.
"When... "
Like this, she's just hoping.
Just waiting.
For April 9th to come soon.
Even a day sooner.
"...I'm so filthy."
A month's grime and stench. Result of avoiding 'Cleanse' to evade mana detection.
She rummages in her bosom and pulls out Deculein's letter.
Ifrin.
I leave this letter for you.
You will surely understand the meaning of this letter.
"Ah... I don't get it."
She's read the letter hundreds, thousands of times while hiding.
What the hell does it mean?
She has no clue how she's supposed to 'surely understand.'
This fu... fu... fu...
"Fuck! What the actual fuuuuuck—!"
Ifrin shakes her fists and screams, then flops back down spread-eagled.
Exhausted, her body slick with sweat, she mutters blankly.
"How am I supposed to surely understand this letter... If I regress, I'll definitely ask..."
Her words cut off midway.
...A month ago, Julie died.
Not in Recor Dak. Rumor was, no major injuries.
Julie shattered part of the 'mastermind' with her power and support from Yuseffin and Zeit, but died from heart damage aftermath. Her sister Yuseffin suicided too.
Thanks to her, they identified one mastermind.
'Jeilun Bedasf.'
...Delik went missing.
He joined her after Recor Dak, then left to find clues. They communicated via crystal orb until suddenly cut off.
His last words were a name.
'Yupple von Sven.'
...Sylvia was sealed.
Idnik, Gilteon, and Longdalp sealed her together. They said she 'went mad.'
Like this, having lost everyone, what she fears now is.
Regressing to 'after Deculein's death.'
"If that's really the case... "
What do I do?
If she regresses to a time without Deculein.
Game over?
"...You said not to leave everything to me."
Ifrin rolls over. She curls up like a shrimp on the hard ground.
"...Said I'm too young to bear it..."
An indescribable, unimaginable agony.
"But this... "
With everyone dead, just her wriggling like a worm in this underground hell.
What the hell is this...
"...Hic."
Sobbing, Ifrin suddenly bolts up. Anger surges with a realization.
Maybe anger is the only fuel that beats sorrow.
"No, but what the hell."
The item on her waist.
The wooden pocket watch Murkan gave her.
"...What even is this for?"
A wooden pocket watch.
No matter how she fiddles, pours mana in—nothing happens. Not even time moves. A total dud.
"What are you! Answer me! At least the letter can be read! What are you?!"
She grips it like strangling, holds her breath...
No change.
"...Miss Ifrin?"
A soft voice approaches.
Ifrin startles and turns.
"...Mr. Allen."
"Nee. You okay?"
"... "
Ifrin glares sullenly, then shakes her head.
"No."
"Tough? Still, hang in there. We found the culprit~"
"... "
As he says, they know the culprit. Among Delik's seven suspects.
All 'seven,' including Syrio.
Syrio was ambiguous, but Allen figured he was the one who handed Sylvia to Gilteon.
"...But I'm going crazy."
Knowing regression is too much stress.
What if they catch me? Do I regress if I die, or is it over?
Even if I regress, what if Deculein's gone?
"It's okay. Today is April 9th."
"...Huh?"
Ifrin's eyes widen. She asks loudly.
"You said yesterday was April 3rd!"
"Well~ Jumping from April 3rd is less weird than from 8th to 9th—"
"Hey—!"
Ifrin dashes over and grabs Allen's collar.
"Does that even make...?"
The words stop.
"...Mr. Allen? Why is your body... so cold?"
"Well~ 'Cause I'm dying."
"... "
Ifrin finally checks Allen's body. Wounds everywhere, heavy bleeding. Especially his groin pierced clean through by something like an awl.
"Why... why?"
"Nee. Met the Altar. We're on the front lines against them. Clashes are frequent."
Allen chuckles lowly.
"And... they already knew. That you regress."
"... "
"But... they said even if you regress, Professor Deculein won't revive. The Emperor won't. The 'regression benchmark' has changed."
"...What?"
"So that's why I said April 3rd. Sorry. Even if you regress..."
Allen slumps, leaning on Ifrin's shoulder.
Ifrin blanks out. Vision whites. The thread she'd clung to snaps.
"...Mr. Allen?"
"Nee. But it's okay."
Allen smiles faintly in her arms. A tear rolls from his eye.
"I lived a month with hope."
Ifrin stares at her.
Lips tremble. Legs shake.
Unknown despair crashes in, vast and vivid.
"Miss Ifrin. If you regress again... tell this as late as possible."
"... "
"Got it... right?"
Allen closes his eyes, smile lingering.
Thud thud thud—
The world shakes like an earthquake. Howling wind, atmospheric resonance. Ifrin hugs Allen tight amid it.
And...
...She regressed.
—Ifrin! Hurry up!
Delik's booming shout.
Blink- blink-
Snowflakes falling under fluttering eyelids.
"Wha...?"
Ifrin looks around blankly.
The scene: sharp trees everywhere. Snow-buried ground. Northern coniferous forest.
...Cold wind slips through her clothes.
—Ifrin! What are you doing! Meeting time!
Regression point: the North.
Right after telling Julie Deculein's truth, before the meeting.
In other words, 'after Deculein's death.'
"...Ah."
A blank death rattle.
Then, Ifrin realizes. Accepts the despair as reality.
Allen's dying words were true. The 'regression benchmark' had changed.
—Ifrin!
"...Aaaahhh!"
Ifrin screams. Legs give out, body moves on its own. Hyperventilation floods her heart.
"Aaaah—!"
"Miss Ifrin! What's wrong suddenly—"
"Ifrin! Why, why suddenly!"
Julie and Delik from afar run over in shock.
"N-no, no, nooo...!"
In the northern forest with raging blizzard. Trees swaying like waves in nature.
Ifrin screams and faints.