episode_0200

Side Story – The Family Increases #4

“I can’t do it… As expected, there are no records… !”

Lucy lay down on the bed.

After reading a pile of books for the past few days, it seemed like I was finally exhausted.

Lucy, Psyche, and Milione all looked tired, perhaps because they were fighting a literal mountain of documents.

Clap clap-.

I clapped.

On a dark night, the eyes of the wives who were reading books by candlelight were focused on me.

“Let’s take a little break.”

Sze-.

I took out the ice cream I had saved in the refrigerator and offered it to my wives.

Late at night.

The cold ice cream I ate before going to sleep had a creepy taste, like I was committing a sin.

“Delicious. It’s delicious.”

As I watched Milione, who loved ice cream the most, licking the ice cream with her tongue, feeling a little dazed, Psyche said to me, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

“I’m looking through all the data from 20 years ago, but I can’t find any records of the trial. It feels like there is a huge hole in history.”

As Psyche said, we were looking into the records of a major trial that had taken place in Barakhan about twenty years ago.

A trial to discuss the treatment of Asha Unizer.

It must have been a trial held so loudly that it caused an uproar in downtown Barakan, but no records remained.

That also meant that I had to win on my own without any information that would be helpful in future trials.

“Hyde, I wanted to be helpful, but somehow I feel sorry!”

Lucy smiled sheepishly.

Psyche also spoke, stretching, as if waking up from the sleepiness she had not slept in for several days.

“Because we can’t follow Hyde through the door. If this happens, Hyde, you will have to fight alone in the other world without any information or allies.”

That was correct.

And for me, it wasn’t a big problem.

For me, the world has always been a place where I struggle alone.

That’s what human existence was like in the first place.

Look at Kierkegaard.

He looked at the world from the perspective of God and me standing before him.

The world is meant to be lived alone.

Sze-.

At that time, Milione, who was eating ice cream, offered me something.

It was a cross.

It was a necklace with a string that could be worn around the neck, but it was brown in color and had some crooked lines drawn with a knife.

“I picked it up when I came.”

Is this something you picked up on the way?

Soon Psyche frowned.

“Milli! You have to say it right! Hyde, that’s a gift from us. I worked hard to cut the tree. Lucy made the string by twisting various materials.”

“Magic arrowroot! It doesn’t have any special effects, but it’s strong and won’t break easily!”

is it.

It seemed to be a cross necklace made by Psyche and Lucy together.

Soon Milione also added a word.

“I diligently poured the holy water I blessed and coated it. It may be a small wooden cross, but I think it suits you best, Hyde.”

Sze-.

Milione personally hung the cross around my neck.

I felt like I had returned to Hyde, a shabby wooden monk from a long time ago.

It was a time when I was ignored by everyone and often found myself blushing.

“It’s good.”

But even with such a shabby wooden badge around my neck, I felt good.

I felt like my passion was welling up inside me, and I felt like I could hit the world like a big rock.

“Hyde, if you wear that necklace, we are together anytime, anywhere. So, no matter what the reason, you must not loose it or lose it! Got it?”

“Okay. Everyone come here.”

Sze-.

I held my wives in my arms.

I loved cuddling these warm, soft, soft wives at once.

I felt like a shepherd lying down among his flock after everything was done.

# # #

“Hyde, what is your earliest memory? My earliest memory. Of all the memories I can recall, it is the most distant and oldest. As for me. It reminds me of a horse running through the meadow.”

Asha, holding two babies in her arms, looked out the distant window as if reminiscing about the past.

It felt like I could see horses running everywhere through her eyes.

“I think it was when I was five years old. I liked the horses running around the world, so I begged the adults to go to the wilderness of Midbar and see the horses. It is said that at that time, while riding a horse, he fell and got injured.”

Sze-.

Asha shows me the back of her hand.

Now I see that the serious wound on the back of my hand remains as a scar.

“It is said that he cried a lot after falling off the horse. But actually, I don’t remember much. They say the wound had to be sutured with over twenty stitches. I just remember seeing the horse.”

“… … .”

“I guess that’s what childhood memories are like. When I think about it now, my memories of when I was five years old are blurry and it feels like I was dreaming. So, what about the memories of one year old?”

Sze-.

Asha looked at the children in her arms.

The children were calm and did not cry, just looking around with brightly open eyes.

“Will these children remember that they were with me? Will you remember that I hugged you like this and sang you a lullaby?”

Grumble-.

Asha pushed the chair and stood up.

She walked towards the window, still holding the baby.

The window where the stone had flown was still broken.

“Can the children recall the memory of being held in my arms and looking out the window at the wide world? No, you won’t remember. I wish I didn’t remember. Because the current situation is too harsh for these children.”

Sze-.

Asha pressed her cheek against the babies’ heads.

“I’m glad I can’t recall any memories from when I was one year old. I’m glad I don’t have to remember the harsh and difficult times for these children.”

The babies focused more on looking at the world outside the window with their black eyes rather than feeling their mother’s warmth.

I felt like I was being possessed.

What are they looking at?

I recalled a memory from long ago.

It’s the oldest memory I can recall.

Sze-.

Asha finally placed the babies in their cradles.

She said.

“It’s tomorrow now. What will happen to me tomorrow? Priest. I might really die tomorrow. People will hate me, and they will judge me accordingly.”

Asha, who became a prisoner, seemed to be organizing her life with a sense of detachment.

He must have thought that there was no way he could win the trial, having done something wrong to be hated by the world.

Instead of answering, I looked out the window.

I was wondering if there was any memory that came to mind.

Asha spoke to my back.

“Priest. Thank you for standing by my side until the end. Even if I lose at trial, I won’t blame you. Instead, can I ask you a small favor?”

“… … .”

“I hope you will place your hands on your head and pray for the children.”

Is it prayer?

I looked at the children who were fast asleep.

When I reached out to that head, I felt a very strange feeling.

Even though it is so small, it is still a human being.

It was surprising that these beings would one day grow up to live in the world having conversations and supporting each other.

Sze-.

In the end, I couldn’t touch the children’s heads.

“If it is someone who will lay hands on prayer for the children, it would be better for someone else, not me.”

“No. I wish I were Priest Hyde. Kids will like it that way too.”

“… … .”

Asha was a stubborn person.

I eventually placed my hands on the babies’ foreheads and finished a brief prayer.

“Live long and healthy. Amen.”

Is this what happened?

Asha seemed a little relieved and it was late and she went to bed.

I also left the room.

The next day after some time had passed with that feeling.

Asha was given free time in the morning.

She held each baby in one arm and walked through the beautiful stream of Barakhan, escorted by numerous knights and bodyguards.

Looking at the fountain, the babies were asked to pick flower petals from tree branches extending beyond the fence and smell the scent.

Peaceful times always pass quickly, and today was no different.

“Asha. I have to go now.”

Sister Midnar grabbed Asha’s arm.

1:00 pm.

It was the time of trial for Asha Unizer.

“… … .”

Asha looked at the sky, the earth, the growing plants, and the people passing by on the street.

The thought that today and tomorrow, which are taken for granted by everyone, may not exist for you may have struck you as a new feeling.

“Asha, there is nothing to worry about. Today you will not die.”

I have never lost in any trial.

Asha would win and survive.

But Asha laughed with an awkward feeling.

Then, he said as if something suddenly occurred to him.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. I mean the name. Baby’s name. If you give it a name… Actually, I was hesitant because I was afraid I would get too attached to it. But, if today really isn’t the end for us… I think babies should have names too.”

“Is that so?”

“When this child grows up, I hope he becomes a confident person like you. And I hope to become a good priest like you. Hyde. I want to name this child Hyde. Is it okay?”

I felt like my mind became brighter in many ways.

Is there a better name for a baby than that?

“It’s a very fitting name. Your baby will love it too. I can’t even think of a better name in the world than that.”

As I walked toward the wide square with brisk steps, about a hundred people were already sitting in their seats.

In the center of them was a gallows with ropes hanging in a circle.

The executioners wearing black leather masks stood grimly holding handcuffs and shackles in their hands, and their majesty was very powerful.

“Death penalty!”

“Hang your head!”

“Let’s hit him with rocks!”

People full of anger shouted like a swarm of bees at Asha’s entrance.

They were throwing the things they were holding at us, and if the temple knights hadn’t stopped them, they would have jumped over the wall and attacked us.

“I am Priest Gregory. As I refer to myself as a priest of the Lord Elohim, I will make the judgment in this trial without shame.”

Gregory sat on the high platform of the court.

And on the jury’s podium were people who seemed to have been drawn from all walks of life, including wig-wearing nobles and commoners, regardless of gender or age.

“I don’t think the jury’s opinion will change even if the trial is held. Let’s put everyone to death without wasting their busy time.”

“The crime of seducing Pendragon and starting a war. A sin that endangers the world by giving birth to an unauthorized child. I think hanging is also a merciful action.”

“You’re all busy people. Let’s deal with it quickly and rest. We are already busy just treating and caring for the scars of war!”

The jurors seemed to have already reached a unanimous opinion.

Majority decision.

Is there any system more stupid than this?

I’m just saying this now, but democratic majority rule is a truly foolish system.

The opinion of one brilliant genius gets drowned out by the noise of 99 idiots.

“Most people are stupid and stupid. execution. hanging! I don’t think so. Asha Unizer is guilty, but not guilty of starting a war!”

I screamed like a genius.

It was only then that people started paying attention to me and someone asked.

“Who are you? Who is it that says such nonsense?”

“Oh, by the way, Asha is innocent? What kind of stupid thing are you talking about?”

There was no one on my side here.

I felt my chest heating up as countless eyes focused on me with blatant hostility.

It was a cross necklace that my wives gave me as a gift.

Suddenly, I realized that I was mistaken in thinking that there was no one on my side here.

Sze-.

I showed everyone the wooden cross hanging around my neck.

“I am Hyde, a wooden monk. And he is the defender of all people in the world.”

For a moment, the hall became quiet.

Has it been about 5 seconds since then?

Everyone burst out laughing.

“Wooden monk?”

“Old Queen Asha also hired a great lawyer! A wooden monk!”