The Butterfly Effect
The evening sun hung low as we returned to our lodgings. The moment the day's work was done, I decided to collapse into sleep.
I'd spent the entire time on the mountain swinging a sword and casting spells. My body had certainly gotten enough exercise. In other words… if I buried my face in a soft pillow, pulled the warm blanket all the way up, curled up, and closed my eyes… I could sleep soundly for about nine hours…
I felt a shadow and a gaze pouring over my face and opened my eyes.
Brita stood over me with her hands on her hips, wearing an expression full of dissatisfaction.
“…”
“…What?”
“Aren't you coming to eat?”
“I said I was going to sleep.”
“When?”
“After we parted ways with the others earlier.”
“?”
?
“You… Are you even lying now just to get some sleep…?”
????
What is she talking about?
Let me retrace my memories for a moment.
We came down from the mountain, parted with the guards, and then…
Uh… hmm…
It must have been my imagination.
……z
“Wake up!!”
“Whoa!”
I let out a weak sound as I rose. Or rather, I was forcibly pulled up.
Brita had grabbed both my arms and hauled me to my feet. From the side, it probably looked like someone lifting an animal by its front paws.
“……”
I glared at her in protest.
“What's with that cat-like face? Let's go!”
Brita moved ahead.
If I were a real cat… I would have hissed for a while and probably scratched her several times over.
I threw on my cloak haphazardly and followed her.
“It was the perfect time to fall asleep…”
“Who goes to bed at five-thirty?”
Me. The person standing behind you.
If you're sleepy, you should be allowed to sleep a little.
“You're cursing me behind my back, aren't you?”
“Yep.”
“…You really say that with zero filter.”
“I'm sleepy. You could have just eaten by yourself.”
“It's more delicious when we eat together! Stop dawdling and hurry up!”
Tap—
She grabbed my hand and pulled me along.
“I'm going, I'm going…”
Ha…
Chew chew—
“Munch, munch.”
Brita across from me was devouring her food with incredible focus.
The same dishes as yesterday. Crispy roasted pork, thick smoked sausage, round mashed potatoes, and golden-brown bread… about half of it was already gone. And that was after only three minutes of eating.
“Is it good?”
“Mhm! Delishious!”
“…Eat a lot.”
“Hehe~”
She began humming as she enjoyed her meal.
With a body that big, I suppose she needs to eat that much?
Chomp—
I took a bite of the sandwich held in both hands.
It tasted milder than what I had yesterday. This was just right.
Hah—
I was about to take another bite.
“Is there still some left?”
?
At those words, I looked at the table.
Every single dish had vanished without a trace.
What? Why is it empty?
Wasn't that enough for two or three people?
“…”
I froze with my mouth open for a moment.
“You… must have been really hungry.”
“Whew. Now I feel alive again!”
Brita flashed a satisfied smile.
Hmm…
Maybe I should seriously start worrying about her food expenses…
Chomp—
Full of concerns, I finished the rest of my sandwich.
The next morning, at the Wind-keeper headquarters.
Click—
“Here is the compensation we promised.”
Leonhardt placed a pouch of money on the table.
“Oh, it's quite heavy. I'll gratefully accept it.”
Brita lifted the corners of her mouth as she picked up the pouch. She weighed it with practiced ease and nodded with satisfaction.
“How much is in there?”
“Twenty silver coins. Correct?”
“You have a keen sense. That's right.”
The value of a silver coin, called an Argen, was equivalent to ten Peros. Or a thousand Cogs.
It was also ten days' wages for an ordinary laborer.
In other words, the amount Leonhardt had given us as compensation was roughly what an average citizen would earn after working two hundred days.
That's quite a sum.
Well, the job we took on was certainly dangerous.
With this much… Brita's food expenses should be covered for a while.
“…What are you thinking about right now?”
“Nothing in particular.”
This girl really has sharp instincts.
“Is there anything else you require?”
“Hm? We've received enough money, haven't we?”
Brita asked as she tucked the money pouch into her bosom.
“Haha… That was the compensation set by the headquarters' budget. Personally, I'd like to offer you both an additional reward.”
“A personal reward… you say?”
Tap tap—
Leonhardt walked over to the window and gazed at the scenery outside.
“This was the first task assigned to me.”
He turned back to us and continued.
“You both know the situation in the back alleys, I assume.”
“Yeah.”
“…”
I nodded silently.
After the commotion outside the castle walls, the guards no longer reached the slums.
That was why those children's incident had happened.
“As someone responsible for the town's security… I had to ease the citizens' fears and resolve any threats.”
He paused to catch his breath before continuing.
“In such a situation, the fact that you two stepped forward so readily… I am truly grateful.”
Leonhardt gave us a light bow.
“I'm fine with this. Krim, what about you?”
For a mercenary, money comes first.
Now, what about me…?
I was trying to think if there was anything I needed.
Vrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!
Just as I was about to think, Gram suddenly vibrated violently with a loud noise.
“Whoa! That startled me!”
“Oh shit! That scared the hell out of me! Why is it doing that all of a sudden?”
I was genuinely surprised.
When was the last time I got this startled?
Vrrr— Vrrr—
“Miss Krimhild, your sword…”
It was now floating in the air and glowing.
I naturally reached out and grabbed it.
Vrrrr!
“Huh?”
The sword began slowly pulling me somewhere.
It was too strong for me to control with my own strength.
Was it Mist? Why was she suddenly doing this?
“Wait, how does a sword have this much power?”
“Um… let's just follow it for now. It might be trying to lead us somewhere.”
About a few steps.
It dragged me along before—
Bang!
“Ah!”
It slammed the arm holding the sword down onto a desk as if throwing it.
Ouch… my wrist…
Next time I see her… I won't let her get away with it.
Vrrr…
Gram vibrated softly.
That won't make me forgive you.
“Are you okay?”
Brita examined my hand.
“Just startled, that's all. More importantly, why did it drag us here?”
“You two, look at this.”
Leonhardt pointed to the tip of the blade.
The flat of Gram's blade seemed to be indicating a direction.
At its end lay…
A single small pebble.
“Huh? A pebble?”
Brita spoke in a tone of disbelief.
“I picked this up outside the castle not long ago. There's some kind of pattern on it, so I've been using it as a paperweight.”
An ordinary pebble?
No.
Even if I couldn't tell exactly what it was, it was definitely not ordinary.
Déjà vu.
I'd never seen this object before, yet I felt as if… I knew it.
That this insignificant little stone was incredibly important to me.
“May I take this?”
“Pardon? This stone?”
“Eh? You really want this?”
Both of them looked utterly confused.
“I don't know why, but I have a feeling it's important to me. Would that be all right?”
“Ah… of course. Here, take it.”
Swish—
I accepted the strange stone and tucked it into my pocket.
Immediately, the vibrating Gram fell silent.
As expected.
It really had guided me to obtain this stone.
…Couldn't it have just pointed with the tip of the sword?
“Is there anything else you desire? A single stone seems rather insufficient…”
“Actually, I need a bit of information.”
“What kind of information?”
I placed my hand on Gram, which now looked as if it were asleep.
“The movements of those followers, and… any records regarding this sword.”
“This sword… you mean.”
I brought my right hand to my mouth and continued.
“They called it the madman's death throes, but they kept mentioning blood winds and fate… It bothers me.”
Just because he was insane doesn't mean he made it all up.
That guy had repeated the word 'blood wind' several times.
There was clearly some connection between them and Gram.
So if I investigated Gram… I might find clues that would lead me deeper into those followers' secrets.
“Hmm…”
Leonhardt stroked his chin in thought after hearing me.
Scrape— Swish—
He opened a desk drawer, spread out a map, and pointed to a spot.
“In that case, you should head here.”
“Where is this?”
“It's a city called Weisenthal. It's home to the largest library in all of Adelgard.”
Weisenthal…
I'd heard of it.
It was a place where all kinds of academic institutions and educational facilities gathered, drawing people in pursuit of knowledge.
If I'd grown up normally… maybe I would have studied there.
“If it's that library, there may be records about your sword.”
“Mm… understood.”
“And there's one more thing. I've heard a windless zone has appeared in the western plains of Weisenthal.”
“It must be those bastards.”
A land where not a single breeze blew.
They said that once you entered that space, you would somehow lose your way or encounter monsters.
“After the fog, now a windless zone. Ha, at least we won't be bored.”
Brita smiled as she stroked her axe.
“Our next destination is Weisenthal. Any objections?”
I looked down at the map before turning to Brita.
“Of course not!”
At the same time, inside Gram.
「Phew… I did it.」
The grey-haired woman let out a sigh of relief.
Mist remembered.
That this insignificant pebble was a clue that could help the person she loved survive.
This should be enough.
Someday, Lady Krimhild would investigate the information contained in that stone.
It was probably an object related to awakening Gram.
She said the next destination was Weisenthal…
Maybe she would discover something there…
「Ha…」
As expected… I'm so tired…
Exerting influence on the outside from this space takes too much power.
I should rest now. To assist Lady Krimhild in the next battle, I need to conserve even a little strength.
Then—
Clang!
「Ah!」
A shock ran through her body along with the sound of space ringing.
What is she doing out there?
Hmm… the two of them are together, and they're looking this way…?
Clang!
「Ouch! Wait, why are you—?」
After speaking, she remembered.
When she had guided Lady Krimhild to the stone, her power had run out midway and she'd briefly severed the connection.
After that, there had been a loud noise as the sword struck the desk…
Then the arm holding it must have…
Fallen straight down… right?
Clang!
「Uwaaah… I'm s-sorry…」
At the same time, outside—
Clang!
Vrrrr—!
Krim was pounding on Gram.
With half-lidded eyes, she struck the hilt with her fist.
“Krim… are you sure that's the right way?”
“But that woman called Mist can't come outside, right?”
Clang!
Vrrrr—!
“This is the only way.”
“Does hitting it like that even get through to her?”
“Every time I hit it, Gram vibrates. She's probably reacting from inside.”
Clang!
Vrrr…
“Ah. It went quiet. Looks like she's reflecting.”
“Ha… I don't even know anymore.”