Fissure (4)
Adelaide quietly opened her mouth.
“……Carmine.”
“Carmine…… Ah, that thing from the market before?”
“Yes.”
“You said you’ve never tried it?”
“……Right. I haven’t.”
“But you want to eat it anyway?”
“That’s why I said I want to try it.”
“Should’ve bought some back then?”
“……It’s fine.”
Knowing the name but not the taste struck me as a little funny.
“Hm……”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“……What’re you planning.”
“C’mon. Let’s go buy some.”
“……For real?”
“Yeah. We don’t have much else to eat anyway. Sticking to the same stuff’ll get boring.”
“……Won’t it be a waste of money?”
“One carmine’s not gonna break us.”
I stood up first, and Adelaide rose a beat later. Her face was a mix of surprise and confusion, like even she didn’t know what she was feeling.
As I started walking, she caught up from behind.
“……This time of day, we should head to the southern alleys. Midday crowds’ll let us blend in.”
“Market’s that way?”
“Yes.”
“How long a walk?”
“Just past three alleys. No patrols on the route.”
“Let’s hustle.”
Adelaide stepped ahead of me. As usual, we slipped through the alleys until the path widened.
The market.
NPCs bustled along the street, stalls lining both sides. The air was thick with food smells, stinging my nose.
“Where was it?”
“There. See the fruit stall?”
“Ah, those red ones? Yeah.”
Among them, the fruit stall caught my eye. Baskets brimmed with all sorts of fruits.
Some I recognized, others were new. As I gawked, Adelaide pointed to one.
A little bigger than a fist, red-skinned with scattered tiny spots.
“That’s carmine? Up close, it looks like a rotten apple.”
“……I hear the taste is different.”
“Expensive?”
“Shouldn’t be. Two coppers, maybe.”
“Then let’s get two.”
“……Two?”
“I gotta eat too.”
“……Fine.”
I handed over the coins to the stall NPC and got two carmines. They felt firmer and heavier than apples.
I passed one to Adelaide.
“Here.”
“……Thanks.”
“If it’s good, I’ll get more tomorrow.”
“……Tomorrow’s fine.”
“Why?”
“Buy it every day and we’ll run out of money.”
“Fair point.”
“……It’s just common sense.”
I bit into the skin, and a crisp crunch hit first. Then sweetness flooded my mouth.
Sweeter than apples, juicier too.
“……This is actually good. For real.”
“Is it?”
“Try it, Adel. Quick.”
Adelaide lifted her carmine and stared at it for a long moment. Like one fruit was the most fascinating thing ever.
Finally, she took a small bite, and her eyes widened just a fraction.
“……Sweet.”
“Yeah.”
“……Sweeter than I thought.”
“Tasty, right?”
“Yes. It is.”
That one word, that simple “tasty”—it nagged at me for some reason.
I’d always figured NPCs saying food was tasty was just programmed. But those widened eyes? What was that?
“……”
“Why’re you staring?”
“……I’m not.”
“You are.”
“Can’t I?”
“……Not saying you can’t.”
“Then it’s fine.”
“……”
……Of course they widen. It’s a game—they’ve got that detail implemented.
We wandered the market, munching side by side, glancing at stalls now and then.
I hated to admit it, but…… it was fun.
“Adel. Can’t swallow the seeds?”
“……Usually not. Just spit ’em.”
“Too bad, with how good it is.”
“……No seeds, no fruit. And carmine seeds are big—watch out.”
I spat a seed and took another bite. Juice dribbled down my chin.
I wiped it with my hand’s back and glanced over. Adelaide ate neatly, small bites like always.
Knight habit? Or just her personality?
“Adel, want another?”
“……One’s enough.”
“Hm.”
“What now.”
“Just say if you want more.”
“I said one’s enough.”
“Adel.”
“……What.”
“You ever been to this market? Back when you were a knight.”
“My post was the capital, near the palace. We didn’t come to frontiers like this.”
“Practical.”
“Reality is.”
Merchants’ calls brushed past now and then. Mostly hawking wares.
But one NPC grinned at me. My silver hair must’ve caught his eye.
Tch. Adelaide warned me about that.
“Miss, such pretty hair color! Come see—accessories perfect for silver hair!”
“Thanks— ”
“……We’re busy. Excuse us.”
In a flash, Adelaide stepped in front. She wedged her shoulder between us and grabbed my arm, pulling me along. The merchant stared, baffled.
We rounded one more alley to the market’s end before her hand left my arm.
“……What was that?”
“What.”
“Cutting in front of me. Grabbing my arm.”
“……Dunno. Habit.”
“What habit……?”
“Protection detail. Royal Guard, remember.”
“Am I VIP now?”
“No. Absolutely not.”
“……Then why?”
“Told you, I don’t know.”
She genuinely looked puzzled.
Her eyes dropped to her hand, like she couldn’t comprehend what she’d done.
“……Silver hair stands out. If a merchant grabs the m-master, others’ll stare too.”
“Ah, gotcha.”
“……Reflex.”
“Yeah?”
“……Yeah.”
“Hm…… Guess that’s it then.”
Bodyguard instinct made sense. Royal Guard vets would act on it.
But protecting me, with no reason to? That…… I dunno. Whatever. Let it slide.
Just Adelaide being a weird NPC.
“Adel, carmine good?”
“……It was.”
“Cool. Back to work.”
“Right.”
***
Today’s load was lighter than yesterday.
As we hauled sacks and crates back and forth, Adelaide passed me the water jug. I drank. Rinse and repeat.
“Your palm’s scraped.”
“……A bit yesterday.”
“Even with gloves?”
“They’re thin.”
“Hurts, right?”
“……Not this much. Don’t worry.”
“Not worrying. Just noticed.”
“……”
Sunset by the time we shoved the last crate into shade and slumped down. Adelaide sat beside me.
“Work done?”
“Yeah.”
“Ended quick.”
“……Less than yesterday.”
“Body aches less.”
“You’re adapting.”
“You?”
“I was fine from the start.”
“……That scraped palm’s fine?”
“……Separate issue.”
It bugged me. So I went with my gut.
I grabbed her hand; she flinched. Ignoring it, I checked the scrape.
I poked it, and her shoulder jerked.
“……Double gloves tomorrow.”
“Can’t move my fingers.”
“Better than scrapes.”
“……Said it doesn’t matter.”
“It does—you’re putting up with it. Right?”
“……”
“What, cat got your tongue.”
“……Feels weird hearing master say that.”
“What’s weird? Just wear an extra glove.”
“Fine. Double tomorrow.”
“……Good girl.”
Today’s pay too. Less than yesterday, but watching it pile up felt…… satisfying, somehow.
Back at the inn. Early enough for slanted sunlight in the attic.
I sat on the floor, gazing out the window, when I felt a presence behind. Then something brushed my hair.
I turned. Adelaide stood there, hand outstretched. Close—real close.
“……What’re you doing.”
“Hold still. Got dirt.”
Her fingers combed through my hair, tickling. Dust from hauling, probably.
……Why’s a mere NPC touching my hair got me like this?
“……Done.”
“Still there.”
“……Done, I said.”
“Just a bit.”
Her fingers swept my hair again. Fingertip grazed my ear, goosebumps everywhere.
“Eek……!”
“……”
“……”
“……”
“……Warn me next time.”
“……Sorry.”
I turned back to the window. The horizon’s orange glow wouldn’t focus.
Her touch lingered in my hair.
NPCs’ hands shouldn’t feel that warm. Just simulated body heat. Yeah. Body heat.
“Thanks for the carmine today.”
“……No big deal.”
“That’s why it means something.”
“Weird logic.”
Night fell. We lay side by side on the blanket. Eyes shut, but sleep wouldn’t come.
Hearing her breathing even out, something clogged my chest. I spoke.
“Adel.”
Asleep already? Whatever if she was. Just an NPC anyway.
“……Today felt off.”
I didn’t even know what was off. Just…… the whole day was weird.
Her eyes widening at the carmine. Shoulder shoving in front. Fingers in my hair.
All NPC stuff, so why the unease?
I squeezed my eyes shut, pulled the blanket to my chin.
Her breaths were steady snores. Sleeping, right? Has to be.
NPC sleep. NPC breath. NPC warmth. NPC craving fruit. NPC thanks for remembering.
All game. All fake.
“……Dunno.”
I muttered and rolled over. Still, her warmth faintly reached me.
***
Istius gate. Two figures in long coats handed papers to the guard. He nodded at the seal.
“Enter.”
“Thanks.”
They passed through into the city. The woman ahead lifted her hood slightly.
Deep black hair spilled out. Eyes blood-red—enough to chill anyone who saw.
The man behind kept his hood on. A faint smile played under his nose.
“Livaton, sense it?”
“……Faintly. But it lingers. Certain.”
“Direction?”
“Not yet. But…… it’s spread across the whole city. Been here a while.”
“Long-term stay.”
“Yes.”
“Plenty of time then.”
“Don’t rush. Standing out among humans is a hassle.”
“Obviously.”
They quickened their pace.