Chapter 39
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 39: The Final Black Curtain in Romance Fantasy
Erwin, who stepped forward confidently saying to trust only her, opened the office door confidently as she stepped out.
"Here."
And handed me two documents with a triumphant face.
Banquet where explosion occurred.
Banquet celebrating victory.
It was the list of nobles who participated there.
"...How did you do it?"
Viewing guestbooks requires permission from the archives.
Although the standard isn't strict, it wasn't easy because there had to be an appropriate justification.
Erwin spoke pretending to wipe under her eye with her index finger.
"Because a woman's tears are a weapon?"
"...Ah."
Admiration-filled exclamation popped out of my mouth understanding the operation.
Woman's tears.
That was clearly a powerful weapon even in modern times, and I seemed to know what she did with it without saying.
I opened the two papers received.
Densely written names were continued in neat handwriting.
"I transcribed the guestbook directly. Thinking it's right for you to see directly rather than me filtering and bringing it."
Scanning down the list, I expressed gratitude for her trouble.
Because it was a plan that could be established and executed because she is a noble young lady from the bone, unlike me who is a noble in name only.
"Thanks. Really."
And at that one word, Erwin's pupils sparkled noticeably.
Inhaling breath once, she coughs for no reason and nods pretending to be nonchalant.
"Th, that much is... since I'm an attendant."
First organizing papers, I added.
"Do you perhaps have anything needed or wanted? I will grant anything if it's possible within my line."
Brief silence.
Erwin's eyes grew round.
"......Anything?"
I nodded.
If not for her, it wouldn't have proceeded this smoothly.
It was natural to pay appropriate reward for it.
Whether vacation, money, anything.
"Yes."
Her expression brightened instantly.
Not the usual neat face, but vitality circulated like a child who received candy.
"...It's a wish ticket?"
She clasped her hands for no reason, then crossed arms pretending not to, struggling to compose her expression.
But she couldn't hide the rising corners of her mouth.
"Really anything?"
"If it's something possible within my line."
She fell into thought for a moment.
With a very serious expression.
Even resolution as if deciding a grave national affair was felt.
Then grinned.
"Then I will use it later."
"...Later?"
"Yes. Later."
She spoke stepping back one step.
"I will use it at a very 'important' moment."
That gaze shone strangely.
Erwin smiling a smile with unknown meaning, containing playfulness and resolution simultaneously.
"No going back on words when the time comes."
"Don't worry. Since I keep promises."
At that answer, she nodded satisfied and began to retreat steps.
And putting hand on doorknob, looks back for a moment.
"Then look around slowly."
Door closed, and inside the room became quiet.
Two sheets of paper spread side by side on the desk.
Names neatly transcribed in Erwin's handwriting are listed.
Calming breath slowly, I scanned the first list.
It was the first banquet where I heard the explosion warning.
In the second banquet, no sound was heard.
Then the answer is simple.
Person present in the first, but absent in the second.
I lifted the pen.
Pointing at each name with eyes, I compare with the second list.
Overlapping names were crossed out lightly, and names absent in the second list are marked with circles going down.
"......Seven."
Inspection work reached the final stage before I knew it.
Seven names remained that were in the first but not visible in the second.
Since social gathering advance was only twice, I couldn't infer title, face, job with name alone.
That can be grasped gradually from now on.
Like that, the moment the pen tip touched the last name of the second list, my gaze stopped.
"...Uh?"
Eyes grew big slowly.
Name appearing in victory commemoration banquet though absent in the list of banquet where explosion occurred doesn't correspond to comparison work.
Because absence in the first list means a name unrelated to the voice heard through summoning circle.
However.
The moment that unnecessary name entered eyes, something that was in a distant place beyond memory is pulled strongly.
As if the logo in a movie intro zooms in.
If I hadn't met Vivienne.
If I hadn't groped the memory of original work faded after escape again.
This ordinary name would have just passed by.
But after reunion with Vivienne, memory of original work pressed like a seal came to mind again.
Original work's name, flow, up to ending.
And the name appearing in that ending part.
Existence remaining only as name without appearance or detailed description.
Character who fell for the heroine threatening Cale Bailus, driving Edom Rivan to blackening, and coordinating everything from behind.
"Redric... Ricardo?"
The name of the Final Black Curtain in Romance Fantasy was written in the second list.
**
Dreams always twist memory and return it.
Dreams always like bad things more than good things.
Vivienne in the dream was walking in the garden of Academy days.
It was an afternoon where warm sunlight flowed down stone stairs, and scent of herbs leaking from laboratory permeated thinly in the air.
She discovered a cat curled up at the corner of the street.
Glossy flowing fur, small life wagging tail carefully.
It was a natural sequence for Vivienne who usually liked cats to squat down.
"Oh my, so kind~"
Whether used to human touch, the cat enjoying the hand stroking head.
It was then when Vivienne tried to stroke the body passing the head with a pleased smile.
"Hehehe. You like cats?"
Looking up, Edom Rivan was standing there.
Appeared without presence as always.
Dressed neatly in Academy uniform, with excessively upright posture as usual.
Vivienne didn't answer anything, but he continued speaking alone.
"...."
"If so, I will make one for you."
Faint light spread under his feet.
Circular pattern.
Summoning circle seen at Academy, which he drew often.
Air distorted strangely and light contracted then...
Thud.
Something popped out.
It was a cat.
But it wasn't.
Four legs were abnormally long, body was twisted somewhere, and eyes were three not one.
Fur drooped like wet cloth, and low scratching cry leaked from mouth.
"Do you like it?"
Edom's face was smiling.
But eyes weren't smiling, so it was creepy.
Vivienne stepped back.
"N, no...!"
At that moment, the bizarre cat turned its head and rolled three eyes towards her simultaneously.
With feeling of breath stopping, all scenery turned off.
"...!"
And opened eyes.
Ceiling was seen.
White ceiling, familiar mansion bedroom.
Vivienne touched her chest calming breath for a while.
Heart was beating fast, but bedroom was quiet.
"...Vain dream again."
Muttering small, she raised her body.
Seemed like frequency of dreaming Edom Rivan appearing increased these days.
Feeling like a crack occurred in the box sealed carefully.
Feeling like contents inside are leaking through that hairline crack.
Vivienne poured water placed on the shelf next to bed and sat on sofa.
Already nearly a month passed since then.
Nothing happened.
Traces of Edom Rivan really weren't seen at all.
'Summoner of the Dark Night' Iden Summonfield also didn't approach even once since then, and special news wasn't heard either.
In the meantime, Vivienne finished important research.
Succeeded in reducing error of mana stabilization reaction formula, and report was delivered directly to Grand Duke's office.
Grand Duke bestowed long rest along with reward too.
But Vivienne was just sipping warm tea or water sitting on sofa as she did for a month.
Reunion of that day comes to mind in the head entered rest period emptying alchemy formulas, experiment processes, expected results after a long time.
No contact for a month.
That meant one of two things.
Either she guessed wrong.
Or.
Edom Rivan really, completely, cut the link of obsession.
Vivienne put down the teacup.
Just because familiar, holding onto afterimage of blurry memory, raised useless imagination.
Face seemingly recognizing her and voice exactly same as 3 years ago.
Circumstances were informing he is Edom Rivan, but final confirmation called straight scar under ear wasn't done yet.
Eventually.
It was herself who made a fuss.
Making a fuss, raising useless tension were all herself.
Thinking so, strength drained from shoulders.
'...Anyway it's a relief.'
Muttered small.
Just go each other's way like this.
He his way, she her way.
There won't be reason to tangle continuously and life area also completely twisted.
Outside the window, garden flowers shook in the wind.
It was quiet.
It was peaceful.
Moment lifting water cup again enjoying it, knocking sound was heard.
Door opened, and butler entered carefully.
"My Lady."
"Hm?"
"A guest came."
"...What?"
Vivienne's glabella distorted.
There were almost no guests visiting the mansion for a month, and even if there were, it was only Princess Emiline.
She visited the mansion yesterday afternoon.
There was no one to come.
Breathing becomes unstable, and body leaned comfortably on chair stiffens.
"...Who?"
Must not be.
If coming, would have come long ago.
At least Edom Rivan she remembers wasn't a person of caliber to endure a time of one month.
Head admonishes so, but moisture fills palm holding chair armrest.
Don't tell me.
Must not be.
Vivienne muttered so inwardly, and the moment butler conveyed answer.
That tension filled up instantly was extinguished by another name not Iden Summonfield.
"Says Young Master Redric Ricardo."