The Paramere Search Operation (10)
The Paramere Search Operation (10)
Ian Pamel arrived at the Clock Tower. There were others who had arrived before him. Elves and mercenaries.
Their faces were haggard. They looked in far worse shape than his own group. Ian let out a scoff.
They made such a fuss, and yet the situation is far worse.
The wizard Hudson came running over in a hurry. He immediately cast healing magic on Daniel, who was covered in cuts.
"A-are you all right?!"
"...It's just a scratch. Wizard. I'm fine."
The mercenary lifted his head. The shadows under his eyes were dark. Daniel, was it. Ian quietly counted their numbers.
One was missing. How incompetent. Ian clicked his tongue briefly. Then he extended a hand.
"You didn't come back empty-handed, did you?"
"...Is that all you have to say?"
"Is there something else I should say? Ah. You lost a subordinate."
Ian gave a slight nod.
"My condolences."
"...You."
Crunch.
The sound of grinding teeth rang out.
"If you hadn't taken the wizard away...!"
"Are you blaming me?"
"Yeah, you piece of shit! He died because of you!"
Daniel's eyes flashed. His sword was drawn from its sheath in an instant.
Ian reacted immediately. He lightly deflected the sword that came flying at him with force.
Clang!
Sparks flew.
"How is that my fault?"
Ian's sword came down like rain. A strike that Daniel failed to deflect drove into his side.
"Gah?!"
"He died because you were incompetent. Mercenary."
"S-Sir Ian! What is the meaning of this!"
"Self-defense. Wizard."
Ian withdrew his sword. Daniel coughed and spat blood.
"In wartime, anyone who defies a commanding officer must be dealt with strictly."
"B-but this is too...!"
"Do you have a complaint?"
"......"
The female wizard, gritting her teeth, wrapped her arms around Daniel. The healing magic in her hands enveloped his wound.
What a waste of effort.
Ian clicked his tongue. He turned his gaze to the elves. They had stepped back and were glaring at him.
"You'll be better than mercenaries who can't be reasoned with. What information did you obtain?"
"...We'll tell you on the condition of an exchange."
"Don't talk nonsense. I am the commanding officer. I will review all information comprehensively, then relay it back to you. Elf. Hand over the information you brought right now."
"And if we refuse?"
"Summary execution."
The elves placed their hands on their crossbows.
"How are we supposed to trust you?"
"I am the only hope for Paramer. Long-ears. Stop wasting time and hand over the information. Put away your worthless pride. Haven't you realized in a week that getting out alive is what matters most?"
"...You expect us to trust a man who drives a sword into his own employer's gut?"
The elf scoffed.
"Prove that you won't slip out of Paramer on your own and leave us behind. Imperial knight."
"If you promise to follow my command, I'll take you with me."
"How do we know you won't use us as meat shields?"
"Believe it or not, you have no choice. Elf. Hand over the information. I'm tired of playing word games. What information did you obtain? Did you uncover Paramer's secret? What is this black fog? If you won't cooperate..."
His sword slid halfway out of its sheath.
"Remember that I have no other option either. Long-ears."
"...You son of a..."
Tug.
Someone pulled at the elf's sleeve. The hooded elf shook her head at the other elf.
The elf, grinding her teeth, threw a piece of paper.
"This is the only information we picked up. It was the only thing carrying strange power in a place called 'Brutus's Shop.'"
Ian caught the letter. He unfolded it quietly.
{Hello. I am ###}
{I visited the place where I first met you. Unfortunately, there was nothing there. Time is a monster that devours everything. I wish I had been devoured along with it, but I still don't understand why I was left alone}
{I miss you. ###. Why did I lose you? Why did you leave me? Didn't you tell me we would be together no matter how much time passed}
{I think that girl atop the Clock Tower might be you. Perhaps you are trapped there with your memories lost. I know it. She carried a scent similar to yours}
{I want to monopolize you. I want to tear off your skin and bury my nose beneath it. Ah. ###. Why? Why did you leave me? I don't understand. I will definitely #ou #ind. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't do that, but lately I've been so #un #ry}
{I. I can endure it. I intend to try closing my eyes again. I plan to steal medicine from the storeroom of a pharmacy called 'Baratir.' If I pour in a few bottles of sleeping pills, won't I fall asleep again}
{I still remember what you said. I will keep the promise I made with you. Don't worry. ###. I am not a monster. As you told me, am I not a single human being to you}
{I will write again. Even if you cannot read it, I will still send letters. So that later, even if I forget everything, I can see them again and remember.}
Each letter pointed to a specific location. There had been a monster at the place he had gone to as well.
It had been an enemy strong enough that two knights had nearly been killed. But in the end, he had brought it down. The wizard who had extracted it had worn a surprised expression.
Magic of a type never seen before. That alone was as good as earning a commendation. But Ian could not be satisfied with that.
A little more.
He needed an amount that could turn his life around. Merits great enough to liberate all of Paramer.
This letter was no ordinary letter. He could tell by instinct. If he followed the traces, the secret hidden in Paramer would surely be revealed.
It was the only clue. He needed to gather more.
"...Seeing as it says they'll send more, there must be other letters."
"You have one too?"
"I'm the one asking questions. Long-ears. Did you go to the place written here? What did you do about the monster there?"
"...We only observed from a distance and did not approach. We sensed a strange presence inside the storeroom. It reacts when you get close, so we didn't bother touching it."
"The logic of cowards."
Ian tucked the letter into his chest. It meant there was one more place to subjugate, so it seemed best to move immediately.
Fatigue pressed down on his shoulders. But the reason he could still rise despite that was because there was progress in the work. The hope that if he gathered all these letters, the secret of Paramer might be revealed.
Ian extended his hand.
"Seeing as you're alive, you seem to have at least minimal skill. If you'll listen to me even now, I'll take you along."
"......"
"There's no time to deliberate. Elf. You know we're the only solution, don't you? While you lost one, we're perfectly fine, aren't we? I promise I won't put you out as meat shields. But only on the condition that you must obey my command without question."
Ian's eyes swept over the elf's body.
"Whether it be by day or by night."
"...You filthy bastard!"
The elf, unable to contain herself, drew her crossbow. Ian turned his head.
"Negotiations have broken down. Get lost. Long-ears."
"Give back the letter!"
"Raise your voice if you want to die. Let me make it clear that even a ranger is not beyond my blade. Do you want to end up like that mercenary writhing on the ground?"
"Grrk...!"
"We're moving. Wizard. We're heading to the place written here."
"But Daniel's wounds haven't healed yet!"
"He's going to die anyway."
Ian grabbed the female wizard by the shoulder.
"Leave them. The long-ears and the mercenaries will all die. They chose this themselves. Fitting for the choices of the incompetent, they'll simply die meaninglessly."
"You think...we're just going to let you go?"
"You'll have no choice but to let me go."
Magical power burst from Ian's body with a boom.
"Do you have another option? Long-ears?"
"......."
Ian dragged the female wizard away.
The only people he had intended to save from the start were the Imperial knights. If the opportunity arose, he would have to clean up the wizards without mercy as well.
They were all just cards to be used and discarded. Ian walked.
The one who would earn the merits and be called the hero of Paramer was himself alone.
No one else was needed. Once he got out of here, no one would be able to look down on him.
. . .
"I can see the Clock Tower!"
I pressed down on Noah's head.
"I told you to lower your voice."
"S-sorry...Brother..."
We were close enough that the ticking sound was faintly audible. The Imperial knights and mercenaries must all be gathered there too.
What kind of faces will they make when they see us? I hope it knocks them down a peg.
We arrived at the wide plaza. It was a little past noon. But the expected number of people wasn't there. There were people, but fewer than expected.
A mercenary bleeding and gasping for breath, and three others who didn't know what to do. That was all.
Our eyes met. The mercenaries flinched as if they had seen a ghost.
"P-priests...?"
"How are you still alive...?"
"Is this damn city showing us illusions now...?"
I raised my arm high.
"Let's go to hell togetherrrrr."
"Eeeek!"
"Stop joking around."
"Ow."
Rosemary let out a sigh. She strode over and looked down at the mercenaries.
Her gaze was not kind. They had essentially been abandoned once, so there was no way kind words would come out.
"Where is everyone else?"
"A-are you people? Or ghosts?"
"Are you saying a priest who died would become an evil spirit that torments people?"
Rosemary smiled coldly.
"Do you want to die?"
"S-sorry! I-it's just so hard to believe..."
The mercenary who had been glancing around clung to Rosemary's leg.
"Priest! Please save our captain!"
"He'll die at this rate!"
"O-our magic is far worse than the Magic Tower's, so we can only manage simple treatment! Please have mercy...!"
"...Move aside."
Rosemary reached out her hand.
"You're in the way."
Radiant Sacred Power poured out. Brother Lucas Marcus let out a small exclamation of admiration.
"As expected of Inquisitor Rosemary."
"She's skilled not only in combat but also in healing."
Of course. Whose pet cat is she!
Rosemary withdrew her hand. Daniel, who had been collapsed on the ground, slowly opened his eyes.
His voice was hollow. Healing was not all-powerful. It consumed not only the healer's Sacred Power but also the stamina of the one being healed.
"H-how..."
"Captain! Are you awake?!"
"I-I thought I was going to die, fuck..."
"Wh-why did you have to pick a fight..."
"Was I supposed to just shut up...? If I'd shut up back there too...Dylan would never have forgiven me, that's for damn sure..."
Daniel raised his body. He lifted his gaunt face and looked at Rosemary.
"...Saintess."
"Huh?"
"Thank you. I won't forget this kindness."
Daniel took her hand.
"I'll repay it...somehow. I'm sorry for abandoning you back then. We had no other choice..."
"You did have a choice. But abandoning us is still abandoning us, isn't it? If we had been weak, we wouldn't have made it here either."
Rosemary smacked his hand away.
"Forget it. I didn't do it to receive thanks."
"......"
"Where is everyone else?"
"...They left."
"They said they were going to the place written in the letter."
"We don't really know where either...The elves wouldn't show us..."
"Then what about the elves?"
"They left the plaza as soon as the Imperial knights and wizards disappeared."
"They said they would act separately."
"A kind hooded elf gave us medicine, and that's the only reason Captain Daniel held on."
Damn. We were one step late.
I took the letter from my chest. I waved it fluttering in front of Daniel.
"Did you see anything similar to this?"
Daniel nodded heavily.
"...The elves handed it over to the Imperial knight."
"What about the contents inside?"
"I don't know. But among the buildings we stopped at with the elves along the way, there was something strange. Even though it was daytime, the whole storeroom felt like it was writhing."
"Did you kill it?"
"We didn't touch it. But from what that bastard Ian said, it sounded like he was going to subjugate it now."
"...Hmm."
"Seeing as he knew the contents, it seemed he already had at least one letter."
If he's moving to that location, then I can assume at least two of them will be eliminated.
I thought he was just after merits, but he seemed stronger than expected. To think he could take down a mini-boss.
"...What do we do?"
"What do you mean, what do we do."
If anything, that was great news. Didn't this mean three out of five had already been taken care of?
On top of that, I took out another letter I had in my chest.
{Hello. I am ###.}
{Even after taking the medicine, I am still awake. I could not fall asleep again. Once awakened, I had to keep eating prey.}
{But I endured. Sometimes I open my eyes in places I don't recognize. Fortunately, I was not full. Would you be proud of me like this? I don't know. Suppressing instinct is too difficult.}
{I returned to the Clock Tower. I met her again. She was not you. At least, she remembered nothing. But she soon treated me like a friend.}
{When I talk with her, I find myself thinking of you. Where are you? What are you thinking right now?}
{I will not eat her. Her alone, I will not eat. Her body scent is pleasant. Your scent is pleasant. Is she you? Are you her?}
{My head is dizzy. I must find Bach. Bach must have left something for me. Your attendant was my attendant too, after all.}
{I miss you. ###.}
{...Please pray that I do not return to how I was before.}
Bach. The word pointed to one thing. The family that ruled Paramer.
There was no more business at the Clock Tower, so heading there would be right. The clue was shouting to go to the lord's castle of Paramer.
"So we're going in the direction we were originally heading?"
"Looks like it."
I rose to my feet. I didn't particularly stop the mercenaries who quietly followed along. They wouldn't stab us in the back after we saved them. Even if they did, it was within the range I could easily suppress.
But something was strange. Daniel's eyes were following Rosemary's back.
"......"
Those eyes...I've seen them somewhere before. Those glistening, moist eyes. A gaze that was subtly unsettling.
...Oh my. Look at this.
Rosemary is pretty, sure...but falling in love in this situation?