by Akira Kareno
It seemed like she’d calmed her anger, but she was still acting weird.
“If you’re telling me you’ve still got pools of activated venenum in your body, then I could ease it for you, like last time?” he suggested, cracking his knuckles.
“Ease—” Chtholly stared absently at Willem’s face, and after a moment, her cheeks suddenly turned bright red. “—No! I don’t! If you did that, then I probably wouldn’t ever be able to stand up!” she said as she flailed both her arms about.
“What do you mean by ease?”
“Hey! Stop getting curious about this!”
“Well, if that’s how you’re going to respond, then it’s pretty much impossible to not be curious, right? Is it like, there’s something you really want to talk about so you’re asking us in a roundabout way to catch up?”
“Listen to me! It’s nothing, I swear, and besides, nothing happened!”
“You know, I kind of like how you dig your own grave deeper the more you talk. You’ll burrow straight to the bottom of the island at this rate. It’s okay.”
“Listen!”
The moment Chtholly raised her voice even louder in argument—
“Um?”
A small voice, chill as a blade, cut in from beside them.
They turned around. There stood a lone semifer girl, standing at the entrance to the alleyway, a ghastly air about her.
“—Did I not ask you to follow me?”
“Apologies! We’re coming now!”
They jumped forward into the alley, and all of them followed Phyr.
She led them to a cozy butcher shop nestled in the corner of a small plaza.
“No stalls?”
“Of course, there are many good stalls, but if you’re simply looking for a cheap and delicious wrapped lamb at this time in this neighborhood, then I cannot give any other answer than this. All the locals, even five-year-old children, know of this place.”
“You have some smart five-year-olds.”
They paid the silent ballman shop owner and received one—wrapped lamb, was it?—a full size bigger than the ones they saw at the stall earlier.
He bit into it.
“This is delicious.”
“Isn’t it?”
Phyr sniffed proudly.
“The sharp-tasting spices are subdued, and instead there are more acidic herbs mixed in. I see—I could eat all this without trouble with seasoning like this.”
“Right? Right?”
After bobbing her head up and down several times in a nod, Phyr faced the ballman butcher and gave him a thumbs-up. He, too, gave a thumbs-up right back.
(…Hmm?)
He felt an uncomfortable prickling on the back of his neck. The faint sensation of malice and animosity.
Those rumored Whatever Knights again, huh, he thought. But it was a different breed from what he felt yesterday when they first arrived in town. It was vague then, who that animosity was meant for, but this time—
“—Hey, Phyracorlybia.”
“I said earlier that you may call me Phyr.”
“Right. Hey, Phyr. Do you like this city?”
Her eyelids quickly traveled down and up her large eyes.
“What is this, all of a sudden?”
“Just answer. So?”
A short moment passed.
“Yes. I think there is no better city.”
“Is it because of the four-hundred-year-plus history? Or because it’s the most prominent metropolis? Or because industry is thriving? Or because the food’s good?”
“Your queries are quite spiteful, aren’t they?”
“I get that a lot.”
Willem cackled as he took another bite of the wrapped lamb.
“…Everything you mentioned now is, without a doubt, an indispensable part of this city’s charm. They all shine vividly within my heart. However, I do not think any of them have…penetrated its core.”
“I see.”
It seemed like the vegetable used for the wrapping was also done up in a special way. The flavor changed ever so slightly with every bite. As he was chasing those transitions with his tongue, he suddenly found that there was nothing left in his hands.
Even though he’d somehow just managed to put all that away in his stomach, he still wanted another bite. Now that was the real Collina di Luce–style wrapped lamb. He understood well why Phyr had insisted on this place.
“…I know of no city besides this one.” The girl in question responded, carefully choosing her words. “This is my precious hometown and the entirety of my world as I know it. That is why I love this city, as though I would love the whole world.”
“That’s an embarrassing thing to say.”
“And who made me say it?!” Her face flushed (though it was hard to tell over her fur), and she argued. “You are truly a spiteful man. Do you enjoy exposing my most intimate thoughts?!”
“Sure. I’m not gonna deny that’s how I feel,” Willem said, licking the grease off his fingers. “I ate good food from this city. I saw the face of someone who likes it here. Now I feel more like doing something for this place, more than when you were blabbering on about justice.”
He glanced at her startled expression out of the corner of his eye.
“And what on earth is that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what I said… But let’s put that aside for now. I’m here and may as well. If you’re free after this, you think you could do a little thing for me?”
“…What is it?”
Phyr, unsure of his true intentions, looked at him suspiciously, and Willem grinned back.
“Could you show us around town a little later?”
“I—I wasn’t scared or hurt or anything, okay!”
Those words of insistence were the very first out of Tiat’s mouth, her eyes welling up with tears.
“There weren’t any shots or anything, at all!”
“I know, I know.”
After receiving a light pat on the head, she gave a small hiccup.
“She’s perseverant, honest, and straightforward. She’ll be an excellent soldier.”
The stern-faced cyclops gave his seal of approval with a gentle smile. Ignoring that first half, Willem thought it was a strange evaluation, unsure if he should be happy or sad about the latter half.
“Those behind you… You’re girls who were adjusted here before. I’m glad to see you’re well.”
That was meant for Chtholly and the others.
“It has been a long time since we last saw you. Thanks to you, we are managing to fight well.”
Chtholly alone bowed her head reverently. Ithea just cackled vaguely, and Nephren wore her usual composed expression, not showing any response.
The doctor must have noticed something strange about those responses.
“Could it be, you—?”
“Whoops, let’s not say any more than that, Doc.”
Ithea quickly cut off the cyclops doctor as he began to speak.
“Oh, so you guys are hiding something.”
“Tsk-tsk-tsk, you should not be sticking your neck into girls’ affairs, Officer. Keeping a proper distance is the first step in keeping both parties happy.”
“You think so?”
Willem gave up on trying to get it out of Ithea, who was clearly trying to deceive him, so he directed his attack at the doctor. But the cyclops just scratched his cheek and responded with a troubled look, “I shouldn’t be the one to tell you,” and didn’t elaborate further.
“As for what I do wish of you, well… Keep a careful watch over these children.”
As the faerie warehouse manager, it was in Willem Kmetsch’s job description to watch over the faeries anyway. At the very least, that’s what Willem himself thought.
So he didn’t need to be told outright; he was planning on doing that from the very beginning.
When he gave his response—
“Okay.”
With a quiet expression, the cyclops nodde
d.
It bothered him a little why Ithea was looking at the cyclops with such a rueful expression.
In order to get home to Island No. 68 from here, they would have to take a good number of airship transfers. And there was only a small number that ran every day. To add to that, it was, of course, not a distance where the faeries could easily fly them home.
Therefore, until the airship they were aiming for left in the evening, whatever they ended up doing, they couldn’t leave Collina di Luce.
“And so, we will use this time to sightsee this city!”
Willem proclaimed proudly before the other five—the faeries, who had changed back to regular clothes, and Phyr.
“Huh?” Chtholly murmured with a serious expression.
“Hmm?” Ithea looked as though she didn’t quite believe what he said.
“Oh.” Nephren’s eyes, for once, glimmered with delight.
“…” Phyr said nothing, her gaze downward.
“Yaaaaaaaaaay!” Tiat clapped her hands as hard as she could.
“This is for you, since you can never move around freely outside the island, and you never get opportunities like this. This is right after a well-fought battle; you won’t get in trouble if you cut loose a little.”
“Wait, wait. What should we do with our dug weapons?”
Ithea lightly waved the large wrapped package—a swathed enchanted longsword—that was strapped to her back.
“I really hope you’re not gonna make us walk around with this heavy stuff on our backs.”
“Leave it at the clinic. We’ll just pick it up on our way back.”
“They’re very expensive and important and precious secret weapons, you know…”
“That’s why we leave them with people who know their value. They’re not something those luggage thieves want anyway, so don’t worry.”
“I suppose so.”
“Mm. I am glad that we will be able to see some things. But…” Nephren peered at Phyr’s face. “Phyr, are you okay with this?”
It wasn’t too long ago that they’d coldly refused to do what Phyr had asked of them. She probably wasn’t too delighted to be asked of something so frivolous right afterward.
“You have no more reason to come with us.”
“I have no choice.” Phyr sighed briefly. “You have already heard of one of the dark sides of the city. If you left as you are now, you may mistake the city as one of violence and schemes. And that is right after I asked such a heedless favor of you.”
As she spoke, the force in her voice grew stronger and stronger.
She clenched her fist tightly before her chest, and bright flames burned in her large eyes.
“Uhhh, hello? Phyr? Miss Phyr?”
“I cannot stand such a thing. Therefore, I have no choice but to have you understand the appeal of this city through my actions alone. Starting now, I will work my absolute hardest to show you around this wonderful city today.”
Everyone’s gazes gathered on Willem.
“…What?”
“What did you do to her? What ideas did you put into her when we were eating just now?”
“Hey, c’mon, that makes me sound bad. I just gave her appropriate advice and asked a favor.”
“Ohhh, so you tricked her with your smooth talk.”
And he’d just told Ithea to stop making him sound bad.
The city of Collina di Luce was huge.
Just moving around to take a look at all the famous sightseeing spots would take more than a day, several days if one decided to add museums and art galleries to their route.
Since they had only about half a day to sightsee, it was crucial that they decide which landmarks they could visit and choose the most efficient mode of transport. In both cases, they needed the help of someone who was intimately familiar with the city.
And so, they asked Phyr to come along and show them around—
At least, that much of the story was true.
So, well.
They could leave the rest of the story for later.
2. The Incorrect Use of Love and Justice
They saw something called the Perjurer’s Grave.
It was apparently the grave of a legendary swindler who had run amok two hundred years ago. The headstone, which was erected through the donations of those he’d tricked in his lifetime, for some reason read, HERE LIES AN HONEST MAN.
Just how on earth did that happen? It had brought about various theories and speculation, developed into its own genre called “The Perjurer,” and led to a brief boom in Collina di Luce’s rumor mill.
“I favor the legend that he murmured words of true love at the very end. Though I only believe it insofar as I hope that was what actually happened.”
“For me it’s gotta be the legend where he exposed the lies of corrupt nobles, showing them all that they were no match for him when it came to lying. That’s just a plain cool story.”
“—There’s the tale that said he angered the Poteau gods, who cursed him so all his lies would become truths. That was interesting.”
Huh. Looks like there really are lots of theories.
Well, in the end, that was what it was like for a past that no one knew the truth of. The truth was fabricated to suit someone’s needs or shaped in a way that was the most interesting or odd, and that tale took the place of the truth.
Everyone believed the stories they wanted to believe. That was fine as long as it didn’t cause problems. The world would still keep on spinning smoothly.
They saw something called the Lovers’ Staircase.
The story behind it was clear. It was a romance between a noble girl, who hated her arranged marriage and ran away from home, and a scoundrel of a young man, who made his living through petty thievery.
It was here, where they bumped into each other and rolled down the steps, that they met by chance and became aware of each other.
At the top and bottom of the staircase stood a huge sign, spoiling the scenery. On it was the emblem of the city council and a brief warning: NO ROLLING.
“No rolling?!”
Tiat wailed like it was the end of the world, inviting the soft chuckles of passersby. They likely often heard very similar-sounding whining.
He would pretend he never noticed Chtholly’s shoulders silently sagging.
“Hey, hey, Officer.”
A tug on his sleeve.
“I know you’re acting more and more normal, but could you, like, say something a little nicer to Chtholly?”
There was the cerulean-haired faerie, avoiding his gaze.
“She’s pouting right now, but she was really working hard up till yesterday.”
“I know that, but I’ve never been good at dealing with girls in bad moods.”
“You really look like you are, but you’re the only one who can fix her mood, Officer.”
With a quick motion, he ruffled Ithea’s unruly hair. “Bwuh?!” She jumped with more energy than he thought she would. “Wh-what was that, all of a sudden?!”
“Nothing, just thought you were a good kid, and I wanted to praise you. You put your friend first, even though you work hard and feel just as tired yourself.”
“Don’t worry about me! We’re talking about Chtholly now!”
Unusually for Ithea, her face went red as she swatted away his hand. He understood that she wasn’t used to being complimented, but he thought absently that her reactions were excessive.
—There was a slight uncomfortable prickling at the back of his neck.
The distance between them and the presence of their pursuer widened slightly, but instead, their numbers grew.
“Should be time to fish ’em out soon, huh…?”
“Hmm, what’d you say?”
Ithea responded to his muttering, and he placed his open palm on her head (and she gave a cry of “Gyaah!”), then called out to Phyr, who walked in front of them.
“Can I make a request for the next place? I wanna go somewhere that’s se
cluded, where tourists rarely ever go.”
“Oh, is that a challenge for the tour guide?”
Tossing aside the expression of a fragile young lady, Phyr smiled defiantly.
“Here is the Wishing Well.”
She pointed to a small plaza, the intersection of six small alleyways. In the middle sat a plain-looking well, with nothing in particular to make it stand out.
“While it’s not as widely known as the Central Cathedral or Barley Square, where you’ll find ten out of ten people who know about it, it has been used countless times in projections, so those who know it, know it.”
Tiat was nodding her head up and down vigorously.
“When you say wishing, you mean throw a coin in and make a wish?” Ithea asked, peeking inside the well. “That’s so romantic, like a fairy tale!”
“Unfortunately, not everyone’s wishes will come true. There certainly is a spirit that lives in the well, and it actually has the power of Realization, but they say it can only grant the wishes of every thousand or ten thousand people who throw in copper coins.”
“Man, when you put it in numbers like that, we lose the fairy-tale feeling pretty fast.”
“On the other hand, one person can throw in as many coins as one likes. Since the chances of success go up according to the value of the coins tossed in, some people who earnestly want their wishes to come true bring entire bags of twenty-bradal coins.”
“…And now the feeling of romance is gone, too.”
“Did you know it was illegal to use this well for a while? It was about fifty years ago, during the gambling prohibition era, because the chances were much too high.”
“I don’t need to hear any more. Something inside me feels like it’s about to shatter.”
As those two chatted, Tiat grabbed a coin with her small hand, struck a pose, then threw it into the well.
She apparently didn’t have any particular wishes she wanted to come true but instead just wanted to copy the scenes she’d always dreamed about from the projection house. Ithea hugged her tightly as she squirmed, saying, “Yes, that’s right! That’s how you seek out romance! Awww, you’re so cute!”
Beside them, Nephren quietly threw a coin in with the same pose. It looked like she had her own thoughts about this place. There came the quiet plop of water.