Chapter 11: Cowards (1)

[11] 2. Cowards (1)

“I’m sorry, but I’m not feeling too well… I’ll go on patrol first.”

With that, I hurriedly left the campsite. I could feel the hero party’s concerned gazes on my back, but I ignored them.

“Sigh…”

Only after I had gotten far away from the camp did I let out a deep sigh and crouch down. Clutching my head, I muttered,

“Just what the hell is wrong with them…”

Without exaggerating, the mood in the room felt like if I touched one of the dishes first, the other two would freeze the one I touched to death.

How could I possibly eat in that kind of atmosphere, even if it was a feast?

And it wasn’t just during mealtimes. That stifling atmosphere had lingered throughout our journey in the carriage.

Clutching my empty stomach, I made a vow.

That for the sake of my sanity, I would quickly resolve this amnesia issue.

“Good… Good…”

A familiar voice. I turned my head and saw the face I had expected.

Irene, a woman with blue hair and eyes, and a strangely shameless air about her.

She had a white dove perched on her hand, gently stroking its head.

I had thought she didn’t know how to smile since she always had a cold or tired expression on her face. This was a surprising sight.

After a moment of hesitation, I walked over to her.

“Is that a carrier pigeon?”

“…!”

Irene’s surprise vanished as soon as she saw that it was me. She quickly regained her composure and nodded.

“Yes, it’s about time to give the client a progress report…”

She trailed off, her face darkening. I guessed it was because of our tripled hiring cost, which was far from what we had originally agreed on.

Plus, we had already spent even more money on top of that, so it was a given that Irene would be chewed out by the treasurer.

“But is it okay to send a carrier pigeon in broad daylight? The necromancers are definitely following us, and they’re going to notice something’s off.”

I asked, voicing a sudden thought. It was also a veiled warning.

I’d rather not have our location discovered because of a carrier pigeon.

“It’s fine. This one’s special.”

However, Irene’s response was completely unconcerned.

She tied a note to the pigeon’s leg and released it into the air.

Then, after a short flight, the pigeon ‘melted’ into the blue sky.

I was taken aback by the strange sight and turned to Irene. She smiled and explained,

“It’s an invisible carrier pigeon. A rare species that’s sometimes born in the southern lands.”

“…You seem to have a lot of interesting items, Ms. Irene.”

Now that I think about it, she did.

From the subspace pocket that most commoners have never even seen before, to the potion that saved my life during the attack on the necromancers’ hideout, and now, an invisible carrier pigeon I’ve never even heard of before.

Irene had a strange number of interesting items.

“Well, I might be the porter, but I’m also a member of the hero party.”

…So even the porters of hero parties are extraordinary…

While I was thinking that high-ranking officials really are different. I suddenly realized that there was something I had completely forgotten about.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was an appropriate question to ask in this situation. But I didn’t think I’d often find myself alone with her like this.

I finally spoke, my voice laced with exhaustion,

“That night, did you also use some special item to find the necromancers’ hideout?”

Irene’s eyes widened in surprise. She looked away for a moment, then smiled faintly.

“…Yes, you could say that. You’re very perceptive.”

…That brief silence was a little concerning, but she didn’t seem to be lying. Besides, the possibility of her being the spy was already practically zero.

I decided to drop all suspicions about Irene.

“Well, since you asked me a question, I’d like to return the favor. Would that be alright?”

A question? I looked at her with a curious look.

“So, where exactly are these ‘shortcuts’ that we’ll be using?”

Ah.

“All you said was that we have to go this way because of them. I don’t think you explained what they are.”

Right, my head was too full of other things, and I was too busy trembling in that chilly atmosphere to remember to explain them.

Besides, none of the hero party members had asked about it so far.

Realizing my mistake, I gave her the answer. Well, more like I pointed it out with my finger.

The mountain range that divided the Ea continent into north and south, and the biggest obstacle in our journey to Axolotl…

Gala Horn.

“We’re going to pass under that mountain range.”

The best shortcuts are usually underground, after all.

***

“…So you’re saying… this is the entrance to the Dwarves’ secret underground passage that leads under Gala Horn?”

It seemed Parsley had tried to keep her tone calm, but unfortunately, she was failed. Deep suspicion was evident in her voice.

But I didn’t blame her.

I thought it was bullshit when I first saw it, too.

I looked at the passage, which looked more like a large hole than an entrance. It appeared even smaller due to the shadows cast by the setting sun.

“You might not believe this, but this really is the entrance. Considering the dwarves’ height, this is the perfect size.”

Irene’s face was filled with disbelief.

“…So, we have to bend over the entire time we’re under the mountain?”

“No, the passage widens once you get past the entrance. You don’t have to worry about that.”

Then I looked at the reactions of the hero party members.

Parsley still had a look of suspicion on her face,

Clara was giving me her usual gentle smile,

Irene was holding out her thumb, as if measuring the size of the passage,

and Amy…

“…”

…Was standing there with a blank look on her face, as if she was lost in thought, just like when we had first set out.

I wasn’t even sure if she had heard what I said. But instead of asking, I quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway, the sun is about to set, so shouldn’t we start setting up camp? Hero?”

“Ah…”

Only then did the light return to Amy’s eyes. She looked at me for a moment, then slowly nodded.

“…Yes, let’s do that.”

***

And so, we set up camp and were able to get some rest inside our tents before the sun went down.

And then, after a while,

When the bright moonlight covered the world like frost.

I realized it was finally time for me to make my move.

I approached the tent that still had it’s light on despite the late hour, and spoke softly, just loud enough for the person inside to hear,

“Are you still awake?”

The reaction was immediate.

The light inside the tent flickered, and then I heard a series of rustling sounds.

After a moment, the tent flap opened, revealing surprised red eyes.

“Rem? What are you doing here at this hour…?”

Clara, my biggest headache.

I hardened my expression and spoke,

“May I speak with you for a moment?”

***

What’s the best way to solve a riddle?

The answer, of course, is to ask the one who made the riddle.

It’s the fastest, there’s no chance of getting the wrong answer, and it prevents misunderstandings.

So, there was only one goal I had in mind since I joined the hero party.

A one-on-one conversation.

…Actually, it’s also something I’ve been wanting ever since they started avoiding me.

But, at first, it was impossible because they were avoiding me, and when they stopped avoiding me, I was too busy with the necromancers.

But now that I’m traveling with the hero party, I have some free time. And late at night is the perfect time to have a heart-to-heart conversation.

Plus, thanks to Irene’s strange tool, we didn’t even have to post a night watch.

It was almost inevitable that I would start taking action from this camp onwards.

And it was no coincidence that I chose Clara for my first one-on-one.

As far as I could remember, she was the biggest airhead out of all the Hero’s party members.

No, scratch that. She was one of the biggest airheads I’d ever met, period.

To be precise, it’s not that she wasn’t smart. She was simply coddled since she was young, so she’s forgotten how to use her brain.

Anyway, that’s why I thought I could get the most clues from her, even if she tried to avoid my questions.

Clues to the reason why all this strange stuff was happening.

“…Sorry about the mess.”

…However, the moment I saw the inside of Clara’s tent, I started to wonder if I had misjudged her.

The days I spent with Clara were the most beautiful days of my life.

Of course, I’m not saying that my life was beautiful. My life has never been worthy of such an adjective.

The beauty I’m referring to here is purely visual.

Clara was the princess of the church I was at.

She would bring whatever she wanted into her room.

And as with most people who have a lot of desires, she had a good sense of aesthetics, especially for her age.

I can still vividly recall her room.

A mirror decorated with jewels.

Dolls hand-stitched by artisans with great care.

Blankets, pillows, and a bed made of silk.

Purple curtains decorated with gold thread.

And a silver-haired girl in the midst of it all.

But now, my gaze, pulled back to reality from the past, saw a completely different sight.

I couldn’t find any gold or silk anywhere.

No, to be precise, I couldn’t find anything.

Even in camping tents, you’d expect to find at least the bare necessities.

A sleeping bag, a simple cushion, a talisman, a decoration, anything.

But in Clara’s tent, there were books, papers scattered haphazardly on the floor, a pen and ink… And nothing else.

There wasn’t even a pillow or a blanket in sight.

And to make matters worse, the papers on the floor were covered in scribbles of sacred texts that were hard to decipher, adding to the gloomy and desolate atmosphere.

Where had the girl who had whined that she couldn’t sleep without a silk pillow gone?

“Please have a seat here.”

Clara’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. The spot she pointed to was the only place that wasn’t covered in papers.

I carefully sat down and looked at Clara, who was kneeling on the floor. She smiled gently and said,

“So, what brings you here, Rem? Is there anything I can help you with?”

It was only then that I fully came to my senses.

Finally, I had some alone time with her.

And it was in an enclosed space where she couldn’t run away from my questions.

I could finally find out what happened to Clara.

And why she felt guilty towards me.

With a renewed sense of determination, I asked the question I had prepared,

“I want to know what happened between you and me in the past.”

“…!”

Clara’s eyes trembled.

I could see the clear fear in them.

But I didn’t back down.

“Please don’t try to lie to me.”

I stared her right in the eye.

“I can already tell by your reaction that something happened.”

Clara’s eyes trembled even more, and then she averted her gaze. I could see her clenched fists shaking.

“Please tell me. What happened?”

Clara’s eyes finally dropped, trembling for a while before closing completely.

“…Alright. I’ll tell you.”

“…!”

I couldn’t help but be surprised.

She’s going to tell me this easily?

Then why did she even…

No, think positive.

It’s better this way, so I can quickly solve this mystery.

I waited patiently for her answer.

Clara hesitated for a long time before finally speaking,

“Rem… You…”

And then, in a lamenting tone, she continued,

“Are actually… the eldest son of a fallen noble family.”

…What?