Chapter 329: Ouroboros (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 329: Ouroboros (4)
My battle with the Traitor, Ricardo Lüchenprague, shocked me in many ways. After all, this was my first time realizing that weapons proficiency—as opposed to specs such as a precious essence, high-stat skill, or an aura—could have such a big impact in battle.
Whip!
Even his sword, which seemed almost like he was swinging it willy-nilly, seemed to have a hidden purpose and flowed naturally from one move to the next. This went beyond just being a good fighter. Of course, that was not to say things were hopeless.
I don't need to beat him, anyway.
As long as I could buy time, this would be my win. With that thought in mind, I studied my opponent's swordsmanship closely.
I think I can see it a little now.
At first, I may have had to rely on my senses and reflexes to dodge his sword at the last second each time, but as time went by, I started to see how each move led into the next.
Whip!
When he aimed for the wrist, it was because he wanted to keep me in check.
It would be best to dodge backward, but that's probably what he's aiming for. Because that leaves my throat vulnerable.
In any other situation, that would be checkmate. Assuming Nullification was working as usual, at least.
Slide.
When Giantization deactivated, my body shrank and my opponent's sword grazed my wrist. But did he anticipate that too?
Whip!
The bastard twisted his sword like a snake to aim for my thigh.
Dash.
I quickly retreated, but it seemed this guy noticed even as he was swinging his sword because he altered the trajectory once again without a moment's hesitation. This time, the blade flew toward Amelia, who was unconscious.
Motherfucker...
I quickly followed up Transcendence with Eye of the Storm and dragged him back in front of me. With this, Amelia was safe.
Shaaaaaa!
As if he'd considered even this scenario, the bastard expertly swung his sword as he was being dragged in by the wind. I managed to somehow dodge it, but...
Is this asshole's brain some sort of supercomputer?
The longer this went on, the more I felt like I was being toyed with. It felt like he was seeing through all my moves. I was starting to understand how modern Go players felt playing against machines.
If I can figure out how he's doing it, that would be a big help.
Although this wasn't a level of martial arts I could learn just by watching, since it was rare to participate in a life-or-death battle with such a highly skilled swordsman, I stalled for time with the goal of learning as much as possible.
I think things on the old man's end should be wrapping up now...
A long while later, just as that thought was running through my mind, a moan escaped Amelia's mouth. "Ugh..." She hadn't yet regained consciousness, but that was a sign that her injuries had recovered to a certain extent.
Okay, once Amelia wakes up, we can beat him up two on one.
That was probably why the bastard targeted Amelia whenever he got the chance even in the middle of our fight. Unlike the Knight of Light's honorable swordsmanship, this guy didn't have a single drop of pride as a warrior. If the situation took a turn for the worst, he would bounce without even looking back, no hesitation.
Yeah, just like right now. "...I won't forget this day."
It seemed he figured that if he was going to run away anyway, it was best to do it now before Amelia woke up.
Dash.
My opponent reeled off a cliche line about future revenge before stepping back and putting distance between us. I didn't follow. Although I didn't show it, I was almost out of MP. In order not to be overpowered in terms of strength, I had been using Swing each time I blocked the sword and had fired off Transcendence, Leap, and Eye of the Storm throughout the battle.
Hmm, then that finishes that...
I went up to Amelia. Her breathing was quite steady, though her severed hand would probably need some more time.
"Haha." Just then, I heard a sound behind me. When I hurriedly turned around, Auril Gavis stood there, watching me with pride. "You really defeated that man by yourself."
"If you had helped me, it would have been much easier, sir."
"I didn't want to face that man yet, you see."
"I see..."
It was clear he wasn't going to tell me the reason, so I broke eye contact. To Auril's left, there was an object floating in the air thanks to his telekinesis. No, I shouldn't say object—a person. It was an unconscious Amelia F. Seeing as she was here, it seemed things had gone off without a hitch.
But I should still check.
I shifted my gaze to Auril again. "So... how did it go on your end?"
"It went well. Like you asked, I made sure to tell her my name at the end as well."
"And Laura?"
"Hmm, you seem to be getting shorter and shorter with me..."
"Haha, how could that be? You're mistaken. Mistaken."
The old man looked at me suspiciously for a brief moment but laughed it off like he didn't really care. "Anyway, the same goes for this child's sister. As you asked, I gave her medicine, treated her, and sent her to the overworld."
This old man sure was good at getting things done. Apparently, he threw her into the first carriage he saw in the overworld, crashed it, and made it look like an accident. That would serve as an excuse for her losing all her memories. He also left behind the ID of someone with zero connections and a similar age.
"I believe I have a sense as to what it is that you want. You're not thinking of doing anything foolish, are you? Haha."
"Of course not." There shouldn't be any problems on the sister's end now, so I checked on the other item on our list. "But what happened to the younger sister?"
"Don't worry. Didn't I tell you? Discreet magic is this old man's specialty. This child will never in her life realize she was hallucinating. Aside from the fact that her sister stopped breathing, everything else actually happened."
Laura getting crushed by a rock and driving a dagger into her own throat were all real things that happened. It was just the sensation of her heart stopping and the potion no longer bubbling that had been illusions.
"But let me ask this. Did you really have to reveal this old man's name?"
"She said that was what you said in her memory." We had to stick to the script to avoid contradictions.
"Hmm, that is true. Anyway, you have a good head on your shoulders. To think you came up with such an ingenious idea." The old man looked at me, impressed, but I actually had a bitter taste in my mouth. When you actually thought about it, you'd be hard-pressed to find a production as over-the-top as this. I really did feel like an actor on stage following a script.
Yeah, just like right now. "...I won't forget this day."
It seemed he figured that if he was going to run away anyway, it was best to do it now before Amelia woke up.
Dash.
My opponent reeled off a cliche line about future revenge before stepping back and putting distance between us. I didn't follow. Although I didn't show it, I was almost out of MP. In order not to be overpowered in terms of strength, I had been using Swing each time I blocked the sword and had fired off Transcendence, Leap, and Eye of the Storm throughout the battle.
Hmm, then that finishes that...
I went up to Amelia. Her breathing was quite steady, though her severed hand would probably need some more time.
"Haha." Just then, I heard a sound behind me. When I hurriedly turned around, Auril Gavis stood there, watching me with pride. "You really defeated that man by yourself."
"If you had helped me, it would have been much easier, sir."
"I didn't want to face that man yet, you see."
"I see..."
It was clear he wasn't going to tell me the reason, so I broke eye contact. To Auril's left, there was an object floating in the air thanks to his telekinesis. No, I shouldn't say object—a person. It was an unconscious Amelia F. Seeing as she was here, it seemed things had gone off without a hitch.
But I should still check.
I shifted my gaze to Auril again. "So... how did it go on your end?"
"It went well. Like you asked, I made sure to tell her my name at the end as well."
"And Laura?"
"Hmm, you seem to be getting shorter and shorter with me..."
"Haha, how could that be? You're mistaken. Mistaken."
The old man looked at me suspiciously for a brief moment but laughed it off like he didn't really care. "Anyway, the same goes for this child's sister. As you asked, I gave her medicine, treated her, and sent her to the overworld."
This old man sure was good at getting things done. Apparently, he threw her into the first carriage he saw in the overworld, crashed it, and made it look like an accident. That would serve as an excuse for her losing all her memories. He also left behind the ID of someone with zero connections and a similar age.
"I believe I have a sense as to what it is that you want. You're not thinking of doing anything foolish, are you? Haha."
"Of course not." There shouldn't be any problems on the sister's end now, so I checked on the other item on our list. "But what happened to the younger sister?"
"Don't worry. Didn't I tell you? Discreet magic is this old man's specialty. This child will never in her life realize she was hallucinating. Aside from the fact that her sister stopped breathing, everything else actually happened."
Laura getting crushed by a rock and driving a dagger into her own throat were all real things that happened. It was just the sensation of her heart stopping and the potion no longer bubbling that had been illusions.
"But let me ask this. Did you really have to reveal this old man's name?"
"She said that was what you said in her memory." We had to stick to the script to avoid contradictions.
"Hmm, that is true. Anyway, you have a good head on your shoulders. To think you came up with such an ingenious idea." The old man looked at me, impressed, but I actually had a bitter taste in my mouth. When you actually thought about it, you'd be hard-pressed to find a production as over-the-top as this. I really did feel like an actor on stage following a script.
It's too inefficient.
Even after everything was over, I still couldn't accept it. If it were just me, I wouldn't have done all this. There would have been no need to pretend Laura was dead, no reason to take Amelia to Noark. I could have just ended it all by sending her and her sister to the overworld together. Everyone could have had a happy ending. Yet I had chosen this convoluted plan that required one girl to live in grief for twenty years. Because I had met Auril Gavis after returning to the past, I realized there was no way to undo what had already happened. Since the result was fixed, I put the rest of the pieces together any way I could. In some ways, what I had done was no better than hypocrisy.
Worrying about whether the chicken or the egg came first was pointless to start with. What did it matter? Whichever one came first, the egg laid by the chicken would eventually go through the process of becoming a chicken anyway.
"You don't seem very pleased."
At Auril's statement, I decided to honestly share my thoughts with him. Although it was a long story, he listened intently before patting me on my forearm.
"It's not that I don't understand how you feel, but don't think too deeply about it. You must have gained many things over the course of this journey as well."
It wasn't a particularly comforting consolation. Still, there was definitely a lot gained: information that could only be learned in the past, the buff Auril Gavis had placed on me, the double-digit Numbered Item Kraul's Demon Grinder, and a ticket to recruiting Amelia (SSR).
"The reason the world lived on, the country lived on, and society lived on was because everyone did their part here. Just consider this yours."
Hearing that made me feel even more uncomfortable. Just what was the Fragment of Records Stone? I wanted to ask for more details, but I didn't have the luxury to do so right now.
"Anyway, if we're all done here, I'd like to get what I was promised—"
As Auril tried to subtly change the subject, I decisively interrupted. "It's not over yet."
"Hmm?"
"Give her to me."
There was one last thing to do.
***
When Amelia came to her senses, she was traveling through the sewer on someone's back. Even through the haze shrouding her mind, she wondered who it could be.
"Looks like you finally came to."
That voice woke her up completely. No wonder her arms were sore from his large, metal back. "Mr. Iron Mask...?" It was Iron Mask, the person who, unlike the other clan members, had always been generous and kind to the sisters.
Ms. Emily's comrade.
Although she didn't know the reason why, Emily had looked out for the sisters all day. Amelia wasn't oblivious enough to not see that.
Why are these people helping us?
Amelia had no way of knowing, but one thing was for sure. If it weren't for their dedication, she and her sister would have already...
Already...?
When her thoughts snagged on that word, the memories came rushing back to her. "L-Laura! W-What happened to Laura? She w-would have been next to me... Did you not see her?"
"...You were the only one I saw in the rubble."
"Ah..." Amelia clenched her fists unthinkingly. "A-Ah..."
It's too inefficient.
Even after everything was over, I still couldn't accept it. If it were just me, I wouldn't have done all this. There would have been no need to pretend Laura was dead, no reason to take Amelia to Noark. I could have just ended it all by sending her and her sister to the overworld together. Everyone could have had a happy ending. Yet I had chosen this convoluted plan that required one girl to live in grief for twenty years. Because I had met Auril Gavis after returning to the past, I realized there was no way to undo what had already happened. Since the result was fixed, I put the rest of the pieces together any way I could. In some ways, what I had done was no better than hypocrisy.
Worrying about whether the chicken or the egg came first was pointless to start with. What did it matter? Whichever one came first, the egg laid by the chicken would eventually go through the process of becoming a chicken anyway.
"You don't seem very pleased."
At Auril's statement, I decided to honestly share my thoughts with him. Although it was a long story, he listened intently before patting me on my forearm.
"It's not that I don't understand how you feel, but don't think too deeply about it. You must have gained many things over the course of this journey as well."
It wasn't a particularly comforting consolation. Still, there was definitely a lot gained: information that could only be learned in the past, the buff Auril Gavis had placed on me, the double-digit Numbered Item Kraul's Demon Grinder, and a ticket to recruiting Amelia (SSR).
"The reason the world lived on, the country lived on, and society lived on was because everyone did their part here. Just consider this yours."
Hearing that made me feel even more uncomfortable. Just what was the Fragment of Records Stone? I wanted to ask for more details, but I didn't have the luxury to do so right now.
"Anyway, if we're all done here, I'd like to get what I was promised—"
As Auril tried to subtly change the subject, I decisively interrupted. "It's not over yet."
"Hmm?"
"Give her to me."
There was one last thing to do.
***
When Amelia came to her senses, she was traveling through the sewer on someone's back. Even through the haze shrouding her mind, she wondered who it could be.
"Looks like you finally came to."
That voice woke her up completely. No wonder her arms were sore from his large, metal back. "Mr. Iron Mask...?" It was Iron Mask, the person who, unlike the other clan members, had always been generous and kind to the sisters.
Ms. Emily's comrade.
Although she didn't know the reason why, Emily had looked out for the sisters all day. Amelia wasn't oblivious enough to not see that.
Why are these people helping us?
Amelia had no way of knowing, but one thing was for sure. If it weren't for their dedication, she and her sister would have already...
Already...?
When her thoughts snagged on that word, the memories came rushing back to her. "L-Laura! W-What happened to Laura? She w-would have been next to me... Did you not see her?"
"...You were the only one I saw in the rubble."
"Ah..." Amelia clenched her fists unthinkingly. "A-Ah..."
She felt lightheaded. Iron Mask was explaining the situation, but his voice sounded far away. "We're on our way back to Noark. The path leading aboveground has collapsed—what, did you fall asleep?" The deep, male voice swam through her fading consciousness. "...Sorry for not saving her. See you later."
That was the last thing she remembered.
Time passed and when she opened her eyes again, Amelia was in an eerie cemetery. "This place is..." She could see Noark's castle in the distance and smelled an acrid scent.
There was no one around. Not Iron Mask, not Emily, and not her precious sister.
Slide.
Amelia pulled out her dagger as if she were possessed. It was covered in thick blood.
"L-Laura..." As she stared at the blood on the dagger, she was forced to accept that the events that transpired today were not a dream. "A-Ah..." Amelia collapsed to the ground and stayed there for a long while before there was a loud commotion.
"Here! There's someone here!"
"Who is this kid?"
"Looks like Felic Barker's herder?"
"Let's take her for now, she might know something."
It was as she was being led into the city by the guards that Amelia realized she was completely alone. Her sister, her protector, was no longer there. From now on, she would have to survive in this city alone.
***
As I watched Amelia get dragged away by the guards, I heard a sound behind me. "The sight of her like that leaves me with a heavy heart. I feel like I've done something wrong."
What, you want to cosplay as a benevolent grandfather now? You don't even actually feel that way.
"Why are you alone? Where is my comrade?"
"That woman is still back there."
"You left an unconscious woman—"
"Don't worry, she would have woken up as soon as this old man left."
Hmm, if you say so.
I shook off my concern. Whatever happened, Amelia was a woman who could protect herself. I had just one question. "Then why didn't you come with her?"
Auril looked at me like that was obvious. "You and I have something to talk about."
Ah, that... I can't go back on my word now.
It was basically a natural law that people felt different when they entered the bathroom versus when they left it. So even though I'd made up my mind to make a necessary sacrifice, when it actually came time to do so, I had trouble opening my mouth.
"Are you not going to keep your promise?" Auril's voice was gentle but there was a strange, oppressive weight to his words. When I subtly averted my eyes, the old man took a step closer, his eyes glinting. "Tell me your name. Or you can take off that mask first. Hmm, yes... it would be best to see that face of yours first." The sight of his breath steaming out of his nose was truly terrifying.
"W-Wait!" I quickly raised my hand and stopped Auril. Then I put my hand into my sub-space.
As I did, he asked, "Why are you rummaging through your sub-space?"
Because there's something I want to try.
"The Fragment of Records Stone?" He tilted his head when he saw the item I pulled out of the ring. "Why did you pull that out?"
Why do you think? Because it's the last trick I have up my sleeve.
The castellan had said it himself.
"I-I heard you leave the same way you come. That after you complete all your work here, the stone will call you forth again..."
The way to return to my original time was to finish all my work. I figured the only work I had left was rescuing Laura, and that job was now done. Put simply, I could flee into the future without paying his wages. At least, that should have been the case.
Why isn't this working?
The Fragment of Records Stone did not so much as twitch. And I supposed my disappointment was obvious.
"...Haha, so. That's what you were after." The old man seemed to have figured out my intentions because he glared at me. "I wasn't lying when I said I want to be on friendly terms with you. That's why I granted all of your cumbersome requests... But to think you were planning to stab me in the back in the end."
"This is... a misunderstanding. If we calm down and discuss this—"
"It's fine. I now know exactly how to deal with you."
God damn it.
When I subconsciously backed away, Auril waved his hand in the air.
Whoom!
Like someone had turned on Eye of the Storm, my body was dragged forward by a physical force. When I came to my senses, I found myself standing in front of him.
"Now, shall we have a look at that face?" Auril reached a hand toward my helmet.
Ha, if I knew this was going to happen, I would have taken it off myself.
I belatedly regretted this, but it was already too late to turn back.
Tap.
Still, as the saying went, there was light at the end of every tunnel. The moment Auril's finger touched my helmet, the Fragment of Records Stone in my hand suddenly began to emit white light in all directions.
Shaaaaaa!
Yeah, that's what I call exploitation of the elderly.
As my world turned white, I smiled. "Sorry about that. I wanted to keep my promise."
"You—!"
"Please don't shout. What's the use? My work here is complete."
"Name! Hurry and tell me your name at least—"
Flash!
A flash of light burst in front of my eyes, cutting off Auril's voice.
Tap.
The light dissipated and my feet, which were floating slightly, touched the ground. It was a close call, but it seemed my plan to exploit the unpaid elderly had been a success.
"Uh..." But how did this happen? "Uh...?"
As I went to take in my surroundings, I froze in a daze. Everything was the same—the destroyed graveyard, the dead cemetery guard, and even the smell of smoke blowing from the burned-down city. If I were back in my original time, there should have at least been some changes, but everything around me looked the same.
"What the— Where did that old timer go?"
Auril Gavis was the only one gone.
She felt lightheaded. Iron Mask was explaining the situation, but his voice sounded far away. "We're on our way back to Noark. The path leading aboveground has collapsed—what, did you fall asleep?" The deep, male voice swam through her fading consciousness. "...Sorry for not saving her. See you later."
That was the last thing she remembered.
Time passed and when she opened her eyes again, Amelia was in an eerie cemetery. "This place is..." She could see Noark's castle in the distance and smelled an acrid scent.
There was no one around. Not Iron Mask, not Emily, and not her precious sister.
Slide.
Amelia pulled out her dagger as if she were possessed. It was covered in thick blood.
"L-Laura..." As she stared at the blood on the dagger, she was forced to accept that the events that transpired today were not a dream. "A-Ah..." Amelia collapsed to the ground and stayed there for a long while before there was a loud commotion.
"Here! There's someone here!"
"Who is this kid?"
"Looks like Felic Barker's herder?"
"Let's take her for now, she might know something."
It was as she was being led into the city by the guards that Amelia realized she was completely alone. Her sister, her protector, was no longer there. From now on, she would have to survive in this city alone.
***
As I watched Amelia get dragged away by the guards, I heard a sound behind me. "The sight of her like that leaves me with a heavy heart. I feel like I've done something wrong."
What, you want to cosplay as a benevolent grandfather now? You don't even actually feel that way.
"Why are you alone? Where is my comrade?"
"That woman is still back there."
"You left an unconscious woman—"
"Don't worry, she would have woken up as soon as this old man left."
Hmm, if you say so.
I shook off my concern. Whatever happened, Amelia was a woman who could protect herself. I had just one question. "Then why didn't you come with her?"
Auril looked at me like that was obvious. "You and I have something to talk about."
Ah, that... I can't go back on my word now.
It was basically a natural law that people felt different when they entered the bathroom versus when they left it. So even though I'd made up my mind to make a necessary sacrifice, when it actually came time to do so, I had trouble opening my mouth.
"Are you not going to keep your promise?" Auril's voice was gentle but there was a strange, oppressive weight to his words. When I subtly averted my eyes, the old man took a step closer, his eyes glinting. "Tell me your name. Or you can take off that mask first. Hmm, yes... it would be best to see that face of yours first." The sight of his breath steaming out of his nose was truly terrifying.
"W-Wait!" I quickly raised my hand and stopped Auril. Then I put my hand into my sub-space.
As I did, he asked, "Why are you rummaging through your sub-space?"
Because there's something I want to try.
"The Fragment of Records Stone?" He tilted his head when he saw the item I pulled out of the ring. "Why did you pull that out?"
Why do you think? Because it's the last trick I have up my sleeve.
The castellan had said it himself.
"I-I heard you leave the same way you come. That after you complete all your work here, the stone will call you forth again..."
The way to return to my original time was to finish all my work. I figured the only work I had left was rescuing Laura, and that job was now done. Put simply, I could flee into the future without paying his wages. At least, that should have been the case.
Why isn't this working?
The Fragment of Records Stone did not so much as twitch. And I supposed my disappointment was obvious.
"...Haha, so. That's what you were after." The old man seemed to have figured out my intentions because he glared at me. "I wasn't lying when I said I want to be on friendly terms with you. That's why I granted all of your cumbersome requests... But to think you were planning to stab me in the back in the end."
"This is... a misunderstanding. If we calm down and discuss this—"
"It's fine. I now know exactly how to deal with you."
God damn it.
When I subconsciously backed away, Auril waved his hand in the air.
Whoom!
Like someone had turned on Eye of the Storm, my body was dragged forward by a physical force. When I came to my senses, I found myself standing in front of him.
"Now, shall we have a look at that face?" Auril reached a hand toward my helmet.
Ha, if I knew this was going to happen, I would have taken it off myself.
I belatedly regretted this, but it was already too late to turn back.
Tap.
Still, as the saying went, there was light at the end of every tunnel. The moment Auril's finger touched my helmet, the Fragment of Records Stone in my hand suddenly began to emit white light in all directions.
Shaaaaaa!
Yeah, that's what I call exploitation of the elderly.
As my world turned white, I smiled. "Sorry about that. I wanted to keep my promise."
"You—!"
"Please don't shout. What's the use? My work here is complete."
"Name! Hurry and tell me your name at least—"
Flash!
A flash of light burst in front of my eyes, cutting off Auril's voice.
Tap.
The light dissipated and my feet, which were floating slightly, touched the ground. It was a close call, but it seemed my plan to exploit the unpaid elderly had been a success.
"Uh..." But how did this happen? "Uh...?"
As I went to take in my surroundings, I froze in a daze. Everything was the same—the destroyed graveyard, the dead cemetery guard, and even the smell of smoke blowing from the burned-down city. If I were back in my original time, there should have at least been some changes, but everything around me looked the same.
"What the— Where did that old timer go?"
Auril Gavis was the only one gone.