The Lake of Eternity
Unlike usual, the sun had not yet begun to set. Isalbius suggested to Elbridge.
"How about we rest here for the night?"
"How much farther is it to the Eternal Lake?"
"We'll arrive before tomorrow evening."
"Understood. Let's rest then."
When Elbridge nodded, the group set down their packs and settled onto the ground.
But Marcus remained standing. He clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention.
"Alright, I'll get dinner ready. Everyone, gather round."
The members of the Flowing Water Order passed their ingredients to Marcus.
Wild berries they'd gathered along the way, pieces of tough salted meat, small animals they'd caught, bird eggs, and what little grain they had left...
It wasn't only ingredients. Among their luggage were several large pots.
Pots were valuable possessions and essential items for any long journey.
Marcus set three large pots over the fire, boiled water, and began unpacking his gear.
Like most mercenaries, Marcus carried a sack slung diagonally across his back like a bag.
A mercenary's belongings varied, but in Marcus's case one corner of his sack always held spices—from cheap ones like parsley, sage, mustard seeds, and rock salt to precious ones like cinnamon and cloves.
"Let's see here..."
With the most serious expression in the world, Marcus divided the ingredients among the three pots, tasted the broth, and adjusted the seasonings again and again.
Before long a savory, mouthwatering aroma filled the air.
Marcus introduced the evening's menu like a chef from an upscale restaurant.
"Tonight we have two kinds of stew, beans simmered in seasoning, and a little roasted meat. There's not much meat, so it'll only be enough for a taste... but it's better than nothing."
Elbridge inhaled the scent of the stew and let out a sigh of admiration.
"No matter how many times I see it, Marcus, you should have been a cook instead of a mercenary."
Rombel agreed with that opinion enthusiastically.
"Those fruits and herbs can't even be found in the East. How do you cook with ingredients you've never seen before?"
Marcus possessed a hidden talent.
The ability to take whatever ingredients were given and produce a stew finer than what most inns would charge money for.
Marcus puffed out his chest.
"That's because you overthink cooking, Rombel. Don't aim for flashy dishes. If you just aim for something decent enough to eat, it's not that hard. Especially stews."
"'Decent enough to eat'... That's the difficult part."
"You only need to follow a few basic rules. Balance the seasoning. Mask any gamey smells as much as possible, supplement missing flavors with spices, and make sure those three or four tastes don't clash. That's all."
Perhaps because they had traveled together for so long, Marcus no longer spoke to Rombel and Elbridge with the same deference as before.
He had begun using a subtle half-polite tone a few days ago, so it would not be long before he spoke to them without any formality—just as Elbridge and Rombel did with each other.
When the others brought the wooden bowls they had carved, Marcus ladled out the stew with a large spoon.
"Thanks to you, my mouth is quite happy. Thank you again today, Marcus."
"You people prepared the ingredients. It's not like it's anything special."
Even as he said that, Marcus looked genuinely pleased. Having one's effort and skill acknowledged was pleasant for anyone.
These days Marcus put extra effort into the meals out of consideration for the people of the Flowing Water Order.
To help someone who had been through hardship recover, three things were necessary: don't stay slumped down—keep moving steadily; share stories with those who had experienced the same pain; and enjoy a good meal.
Thanks to Marcus's consideration, the priests and holy knights of the Flowing Water Order were able to collect themselves, at least a little.
After finishing what was quite a decent meal, Elbridge casually sat down beside Isalbius.
"Isalbius. What kind of place is the Eternal Lake? Last time you said it was a place where time does not flow."
"It is a transparent and clear lake. And anything submerged beneath the Eternal Lake does not decay easily, no matter how much time passes."
"Hmm."
In truth, Elbridge believed the Central Magic Tower Master's true aim lay not in the Eternal Lake itself but on the path leading to it.
Perhaps the Tower Master had wanted Elbridge to witness the situation in the South on his way to the Eternal Lake—and even to see the God of the Flowing Water corrupted into a demon.
...Does the Central Magic Tower Master think that Lord Leonhardt became a demon?
However, Isalbius's explanation did not end there.
"It is not only objects that do not decay. In the Eternal Lake, things that should have flowed away remain without disappearing."
"Things that should have flowed away?"
"Yes. The Eternal Lake shows old memories... and desires."
As the next day's evening drew near, the party discovered a city.
Isalbius wore a bitter expression.
"We're finally back."
It was too large to be called a village, yet a little small to be called a city.
And it differed from other cities in the South in several ways.
"There are no castle walls."
"Monsters do not approach this area. The land is rather barren and the location is quite remote... but without monsters, it is livable enough."
"Is that lake the Eternal Lake?"
Elbridge pointed at the large lake beside the city. Isalbius shook his head.
"No. The Eternal Lake lies farther inside. I will guide you there shortly."
As if they had known the group would arrive, several people had come out to meet them.
Among them, the oldest-looking elder approached Isalbius.
"Isalbius."
"It has been a long time, Lord Marcellus."
To Elbridge's eyes, however, the relationship between Isalbius and Marcellus seemed rather distant. The same went for the others.
This atmosphere... I think I understand it...
Elbridge recognized the mood.
It was the awkwardness that flowed between parents who had left their hometown to earn money and returned after several years, and the children who had grown up considerably in their absence.
The situation fit perfectly.
The priests and holy knights of the Flowing Water Order had stayed in various southern cities offering healing, then sent the money they earned back to help their hometown.
It was no different from parents leaving to make a living.
The elder named Marcellus looked at Elbridge's group and asked Isalbius.
"Who are these people?"
"They are people who gave us great help. Thanks to them, many lives were saved."
"Lives? So something did happen..."
Marcellus extended his right hand to Elbridge.
"I am Marcellus, the Lantern Keeper. I serve as something like the mayor of this city."
"A pleasure to meet you, Lord Marcellus."
"Yes. Rest well while you are here. By the way, Isalbius. What brings everyone back? Does it have anything to do with the God of the Flowing Water not granting oracles lately?"
It seemed the people of this city did not even know precisely that the God of the Flowing Water had vanished.
"...I will explain that elsewhere. Neria. Please guide these gentlemen."
Isalbius left with Marcellus.
The other priests and holy knights also entered the city with somewhat somber expressions.
And, as Isalbius had instructed, the female priest named Neria took charge of guiding Elbridge's group.
"You wished to see the Eternal Lake, correct?"
"Yes."
"Please follow me this way."
The group walked after Neria.
The city's children trailed after the unfamiliar outsiders out of curiosity, but when Neria waved them off they quickly disappeared.
After walking roughly halfway around the edge of the large lake, a large pond hidden within the forest appeared.
"This is the Eternal Lake. It is a little small to call it a lake, isn't it?"
The Eternal Lake appeared a transparent green thanks to the water moss.
Even though a light wind blew, the complete absence of ripples on the surface felt strangely alien.
"As you already know, the Eternal Lake shows desires and memories. Decide which you wish to see and touch the surface."
"Can we see another person's memories as well?"
At Elbridge's question Neria shook her head.
"That is impossible. However, if you possess someone else's belongings, you can recall the memories left within those items."
"I see. Thank you."
Neria left immediately.
Now only the three members of Elbridge's party remained around the lake.
The demon's core is with Isalbius...
Unlike Elbridge, who had come with a clear purpose, Marcus and Rombel did not seem to have any particular thoughts. Instead they looked subtly excited, as if expecting something interesting to happen.
"Who's going first?"
"Elbridge. Wouldn't it be better if you went first?"
Elbridge fell into thought.
The Central Magic Tower Master seemed to believe Lord Leonhardt had become a demon. But examining Lord Leonhardt's memories right at the start would look suspicious. For now...
Elbridge knelt at the edge of the lake and spoke.
"Show me my desire."
When Elbridge dipped his hand into the lake, an image formed on the surface.
Seeing it, Rombel grew excited.
"It's coming! It's coming!"
It was the form of a temple in Soleneon.
It looked a little cleaner and larger than in reality, and seemed to have more foot traffic.
Yet the image was extremely blurry and soon faded away indistinctly.
Marcus was greatly disappointed.
"Is that all? They call it the Eternal Lake. The name is grand, but it only..."
Rombel nudged Elbridge aside.
"Elbridge, move over. It's my turn this time."
As Rombel took his position in front of the lake, Marcus guessed.
"If it's Rombel's desire... it would show the scene of him ascending to heaven and becoming a god, right?"
"It might show him slapping the God of the Steel Anvil. Just imagining it is incredible... Watch carefully, lake. Show me my desire!"
When Rombel plunged his hand into the lake, a new image rose on the surface.
"Oh!"
But it was not the scene of Rombel ascending. What appeared was the face of a female dwarf.
Unlike the blurry temple from earlier, the female dwarf's face was clear as if real and overflowing with life.
No—it was more than that.
"It's moving?"
When the female dwarf gestured, Rombel's figure appeared in one corner of the lake.
Rombel and the female dwarf embraced each other tightly, then smiled with the happiest expressions in the world.
Rombel watched the scene with his eyes wide open.
Rombel's most intense desire was neither becoming a god nor slapping the God of the Steel Anvil.
His deceased wife was Rombel's most intense desire.
The Rombel and his wife on the surface seemed to talk and laugh, then soon left somewhere together, hands tightly clasped.
With reddened eyes, Rombel stared at the Eternal Lake for a long time.
Then he cleared his throat a couple of times and spoke in a subdued voice.
"...It's amazing. It was worth coming all the way to the South."
The Eternal Lake had shown Rombel's desire exactly. It was only unfortunate that it was an unattainable one.
After sniffling a little, Rombel spoke cheerfully as if nothing had happened.
"Marcus. Your turn."
"I don't know what will come out for me... Lake! Show me my desire!"
When Marcus put his hand into the lake, the back of a woman appeared.
"That's... the older girl from next door that I had a crush on when I was young..."
Elbridge and Rombel evaluated Marcus's desire.
"To think his most intense desire is a childhood crush. He's more innocent than he looks."
"Indeed. I thought something like enjoying wealth and honor would appear."
At that moment the woman turned around.
But there was something strange.
"Her face is strangely blurry. It's hard to make out."
However, unlike the face, one part was exceptionally clear and full of life.
It was the woman's upper body. To be precise, the area around her exceptionally voluptuous chest.
"..."
"Ah, no! This lake must be broken or something..."
But the real scene was only beginning.
The woman on the surface began unbuttoning her top.
"Ehey, hey!"
When Marcus hurriedly pulled his hand out of the lake in panic, the image disappeared.
"This lake is definitely broken!"
It was not very convincing.
Elbridge and Rombel looked at Marcus with clear contempt and a touch of regret.
"Marcus. If you think it's broken, try again later..."
When Rombel suggested it, Marcus nodded slightly after some thought.
"...I think I should. Probably."
"Good. Shall we go rest for today?"
As Rombel stretched, Elbridge said with a straight face.
"No. Something I want to see has come up."
"Elbridge says he wants to see it again. Marcus, put your hand back in."
"Ah, right away."
"...That's not it. I want to see a memory, not a desire."
Elbridge placed Leonhardt's shield into the lake and said.
"Lake. Show me the memories of this shield."
"You must not, Elbridge!"
But it was already too late.
The lake emitted a bright light and displayed a clear image.
A man wearing a shield on his left arm was looking up at the sky.
Golden hair and green eyes. It was Leonhardt.
Then a staircase leading into the heavens appeared before him.
When Leonhardt stepped onto the staircase, a pillar of light enveloped him.
Leonhardt walked up the stairs at a steady pace. The steps were not particularly fast, yet he reached the sky in an instant.
And the moment Leonhardt passed even the clouds and arrived at 'somewhere,' the image on the lake suddenly twisted and vanished.
As if the scene beyond was not permitted.
All three lost their words.
"That just now..."
It was a scene they had never seen before, yet everyone understood what it was.
It was the scene of Leonhardt ascending.
"My god."
Even Elbridge was quite shaken. He had not expected the lake to show such a sight.
Astonishment and bewilderment were mixed equally on the faces of Rombel and Elbridge.
But Marcus was a little different.
There was a subtle sense of relief and an expression that had grown slightly more confident.
"So everything this lake showed was a lie. Of course—there's no way my greatest desire in life would be the neighbor girl's chest."
Rombel asked back.
"Why do you say it's a lie?"
"The mayor in the mountain city of Varkuntol said so, didn't he? That Lord Leonhardt left the shield for repair, ascended without paying the fee, and that's how the shield ended up in Sir Elbridge's hands... If so, doesn't it make no sense for this shield to hold memories of the ascension...?"