episode_0183

That day was strange.

I couldn’t find any clues until I fell asleep.

I found traces of memories in this village. Now, I just need to follow the illusion and get the ‘information’. Where did Tia go next? Once I know that, I can move again.

But for some reason, I couldn’t read memories.

Since I broke the illusion I saw in the hot spring, no more memory illusions appeared.

What was going on?

This ability was incredibly fickle. Sometimes it would suddenly manifest illusions even when I didn’t want them, but on the other hand, if I wanted to, it would allow me to read the memories of certain objects.

But now, the ability wasn’t manifesting in either way.

It was as if… all the memories in this village had evaporated.

Perhaps the two of them had left without leaving a trace?

No. I didn’t dare to think that.

Tia and Fosao came to Charrack. Being on the run, they wouldn’t have simply bathed and left quickly. They must have stayed for at least a day or two.

They must have left clues somewhere. But in the end, I couldn’t find them.

And so, the night was spent fruitlessly, and the next morning arrived.

“Have you decided where you’re going now?”

I couldn’t answer the question from the Charrack village chief.

As promised, we had stayed for a day, and now we had to leave this place.

Honestly, I thought I’d be able to figure out where Tia went before leaving the village. After all, I had been continuously tracking Tia and Fosao using this ability until now.

But to think my ability would backfire on me in a place like this.

“……”

All that was left was to ask them directly, but…

…my heart wouldn’t allow it.

I knew.

They all pretended to be simple, but from the village chief to the residents, they were all crazy for money.

This was the place that welcomed Fosao without suspicion, simply because he handed them a mere gold ring.

Tia was his ‘lover’?

They were fools whose eyes had turned blind with greed, falling for such an obvious lie that even children wouldn’t believe.

And they were ‘accomplices’ who had hidden the two people being pursued by soldiers.

I didn’t want to exchange words with such materialistic people.

Even if I asked, was there any guarantee that they, who were already on Fosao’s side, wouldn’t lie in their answers?

I could find Tia’s traces again. So, it was unnecessary to owe them anything.

It was then, as I resolved to leave without answering.

“We’re going to Deseo.”

Absurdly, the ‘answer’ came from behind me.

It was Marie.

The village chief nodded with an ‘of course’ expression.

“Hmm, in that case, you’ll be passing through Rottenban. But do you know the way to Rottenban? If not, for a small fee…”

“Thank you for the offer, but it’s alright. We know the way.”

I hadn’t said anything yet. Our destination was decided on its own in an instant.

I didn’t even know the way to Rottenban. But Marie just said it was fine and refused.

What was this?

There was no way to understand the reason.

It was so sudden and out of the blue that I missed my chance to interject.

While I hesitated, Marie and the village chief had already finished their conversation.

“Here.”

Pashu returned the Rose Shard to me.

As I took it and tucked it into my waistband, Marie came out of the lodging carrying her bag.

“Unnie- Oppa-.”

Chii ran up to us as we were about to leave and handed us something.

A small wooden box. And inside, it was filled with crispy dried white flowers.

“It’s a gift.”

As soon as I saw the identity of the somehow familiar gift, its name vaguely came to mind.

Was it called ‘Starflower’?

“If you put this in a glass bottle with water and shake it—it’s pretty.”

Chii looked up at me, her pure eyes sparkling.

As if she was hoping I’d accept the gift, and curious about what my reaction would be.

“……”

I’m sorry, but…

I turned my head away.

I had no intention of hurting this girl.

But I also had no desire to accept the gift.

I had suffered in this village. If I took this gift… every time I saw the starflowers, my heart would ache. I simply couldn’t bring myself to accept it.

As Chii’s eyes began to waver slightly, Marie, who was beside her, spoke in a bright voice.

“Thank you. We’ll take it well.”

“Ah, heheh-.”

The girl, her expression bright again, waved her hand at us.

“Come again next time!”

“Okay-.”

Leaving the children’s farewells behind, we slowly exited the village.

Rustle. Rustle.

Again, the lush forest path continued.

Just as I thought we had walked far enough that the village was out of sight.

Thud.

I stopped walking.

“……Marie.”

“Yes?”

“What are you thinking? Why did you say that to the village chief?”

Marie was silent for a moment.

She stared at me intently for a very brief time, then lowered her head slightly and spoke.

“Tia Unnie went to Deseo. A month ago.”

“Who told you that?”

“Those friends. I asked them last night, and they said so.”

Friends? Last night?

Could it be… that Marie and the children were having that conversation?

I thought they were just relaxing and unwinding.

It seemed Marie had been gathering information in her own way even while I was bathing.

“I’m sorry. ……Are you angry?”

“Hmm. No.”

I was about to get angry and ask why she did as she pleased.

But now that Marie had gone to such lengths, I ended up feeling embarrassed instead.

While I was fumbling, unable to find traces of memories and wavering, Marie had already planned out the entire path.

Moreover, it wasn’t information from the village chief or villagers, but from those ‘children’, so it was trustworthy enough.

I felt pathetic for not even trying to speak with the children.

“Then, you do know the way, right?”

“Yes. I learned it from my friends.”

“Alright. I don’t know the way, so you lead.”

“Yes.”

Marie began to walk ahead.

Watching her small figure carrying a large backpack disproportionate to her size, I felt a subtle emotion.

From Taelden to here.

I had always walked ahead of Marie.

Because I knew the way. Marie followed the path I trod.

Throughout that week-long silent march, I hadn’t had an ounce of doubt about this arrangement.

Naturally, this journey was… ‘the path I chose’.

Marie’s role was to observe that I was taking the correct path.

When this path of revenge ended. She was a witness to prove the journey until we returned to Breezedon with Tia and Marie to meet Ruyef. I didn’t ask for anything more than that.

But now.

When I found myself in the position of following Marie’s footsteps instead.

I realized that this path was not solely my own.

Clearly. Behind me, beside me, and in front of me.

…It was a moment when I fully felt that child was with me.

To think Marie, who seemed so fragile, could appear so dependable.

It was an utterly unfamiliar sight. Yet, it felt somewhat familiar.

Then I closed my eyes and opened them.

I realized.

Her, who always walked confidently ahead of me.

Her, who confidently ran ahead, saying she knew the way.

Her, whom I could barely keep up with even by diligently chasing after her.

Marie’s back looked exactly like Tia’s.

***

Just before the sun set and night completely descended.

We finally arrived at Rottenban.

Marie smiled with wonder, perhaps because it was new ground for her, but I felt nothing as I looked at the street lined with taverns. It was merely an indifferent feeling.

It perfectly matched the scene I had seen in Tia’s memories.

Perhaps because that was late autumn last year, I wondered what could possibly be different half a year later, but it was.

But it was different.

It wasn’t the gloomy, stale atmosphere of before.

Many more vibrant voices were heard than before, and there were people of various professions, not just weary laborers guzzling alcohol after hard work.

Above all, the continuous flow of cheerful musical sounds from the streets seemed to tell us that things had ‘changed’.

Marie asked.

“Is it a festival?”

“I don’t know.”

I could see people happily drinking and chatting. From that alone, I could tell that the people of Rottenban were celebrating and enjoying something.

Whatever they were celebrating, it had little to do with us.

Because we would get a carriage directly to Deseo from here and leave.

We first headed to the stable to get carriage tickets. I knew they didn’t operate at night, but when we actually went, they were still selling tickets.

“A carriage to Deseo for two people?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm. None available.”

“None?”

The seller waved his hand dismissively.

“No, everyone from all over the world is determined to go to Deseo, so where would you find a coachman idly playing around?”

“It seems there are many carriages waiting outside, though.”

“They’re all booked. Even if I asked for 10 gold per person right now, there are tons of people begging for a seat. Do you think there’d be any available? Look over there.”

Saying so, the seller pointed to the back.

Only then did I understand the situation.

As I recalled, Rottenban was a somewhat quiet mining village. But seeing the lights on in every inn window, it seemed there wasn’t a single empty room now.

And that wasn’t all. I hadn’t known because it was dark, but looking closely, every open lot was filled with people camping. I could understand why the taverns were so noisy.

So many people suddenly wanted to go to Deseo?

Even though there were always many people, it was rare to see this many gather unless it was for a tribute caravan.

Something was strange.

“Is something happening in Deseo?”

When I asked casually, the seller scratched his beard and asked as if to say, “What are you talking about?”

“Have you been in the mountains for about a month or something?”

“……”

“Hmph. Since you seem to know nothing, I’ll tell you myself.”

The seller said, crossing his arms.

“About half a month ago, Deseo was turned upside down. The King of Deseo was exiled.”

For a moment, I felt as if I had been strongly struck.

Marie, too, seemed to feel the same way and turned to look at me.

“……What?”

The King was exiled?