Chapter 50 – Small and Pretty Water Droplets Only Around the Eyes (4)
“Duke Anbert?”
“In this situation, I think I can introduce myself later.”
Haru raised questions about the man’s words, but the other person wasn’t kind enough to answer them one by one. As soon as he saw her haru’s eyepatch, he turned away from her and looked inward at her.
“So, where is Lady Roselia? Do you know?”
“I have some guesses, but I am not obligated to answer.”
“It may not seem like much, but I’ve already been patient enough. So if you know anything, you’d better tell me right now.”
“But how can I believe you’re from the duchy? I saw the boat coming, but no matter how fast it must have just arrived at the shore.”
“…”
At my words, he was silent for a moment. He seemed to be contemplating whether he could expand the area of patience he had mentioned. Fortunately, the end of that concern was positive, not negative.
“We landed before everyone else. It takes quite a while for the ship to be fully prepared, so the advance team boarded a small boat and set off first. The reason I came alone is because I decided to look at the academy.”
“There must have been plenty of people to talk to besides us.”
“Not at all. Most of the students are in a panic and the only adult is killing them. Besides, she didn’t give us a very friendly look. Seeing that you guys are also wearing gas masks, I don’t know if it has anything to do with her. It seems like it, but I still intuitively thought that the words would work. Was this enough of an answer?”
“But you, weren’t you after him? Then why did you talk to us and not him?”
When I pointed at Lena, he smiled. Then he shook his head and replied.
“Miss Lena. She’s the only one who knows her face, but she doesn’t seem to be in a very normal state. She’s too wary, so I don’t think we can have a conversation.”
“Is that so.”
“Look. I know you look suspicious, but I really don’t have time. I don’t know what’s going on with you right now. So please help me. I beg you.”
“…”
The last words didn’t move my heart, but I could tell he was sincere nonetheless. No. Maybe that’s what you want to believe. Either way, the answer was fixed.
“Okay. In fact, we were also looking for Roselia. So we were following Lena, who was the only one who had contact with Roselia. If it was him, she would most likely know the location of Roselia. Did you get an answer?”
“Yes. Besides, I love the fact that the interests are aligned. Even so, I needed someone to explain what was going on.”
“Are you going to accompany me?”
“From what I’ve heard, it seems there are more people I need to pick up. It must have been a student named Lope. Do you have any idea whereabouts of that student?”
“I’m closer with Lope. Did he come to pick you up on the boat too?”
“Also, if you guys help me, I can tell the butler that I can ride with you. He said that anyone who is a friend of the girl can ride. Of course… I don’t know if you want that.”
“What does that mean?”
“As expected, you don’t know anything. Being stuck on an island.”
Emotions lingered in his cold voice for a moment. He finally drew his sword and asked in a low voice.
“So what are you going to do? Will you help me?”
“…”
A small conflict welled up in my heart. But it wasn’t too long. Because I didn’t have the ability to doubt everyone as discreetly as Lope did.
And more than anything, there was a story I had to hear from him.
“Let’s go. We don’t have time.”
Lena continued towards the interior of her annex. Her steps were still cautious, and she felt a deep hesitation, but the destination seemed clear. The ruins of the academy where no one lives anymore. We walked slowly towards the depths.
It might be an illusion, but the further I went in, the more I felt as if someone’s breath was seeping into my lungs. Haru also whispered in a small voice, perhaps sensing a strange energy.
“It’s been a while here. Somehow, I feel like I’ve changed a little.”
“Lower your voice a little, Haru. Lena might hear it.”
“Can’t we just catch up and ask? That would be quicker.”
“Because I don’t know how Miss Lena will react. She doesn’t want to create a variable. Let’s just leave it as it is.”
Haru’s question was answered by her man instead of me. She said Enge Meer. He opened his mouth calmly as he looked around at the miserable appearance inside the annex.
“It’s just students who do this. No, it’s because they’re students. To be honest, I still can’t believe it.”
“But it’s true.”
“Well, except for the young lady, most of the students on this island are sons of poor nobles. There must be a reason why they were expelled from the academy on the island. I’m not talking about you guys. I mean most of them are like that.”
“I know.”
“…Still, I’d rather stay here than go outside.”
As time passed, emotions mixed with his cold tone. It was even more so after he briefly told the story of what had happened. My curiosity grew more and more as to what was going on outside.
“What is the state of the mainland now?”
“Do I really need to know now?”
“Is it more serious than here?”
“I won’t answer.”
In a sense, it was the worst answer. If he had even scared me that it was much more serious and that it would be better not to go out, he would have had hope at least because of his rebellious spirit. But just being silent only amplified my anxiety helplessly.
But the secret in my heart was like a prankster, so I kept scratching my throat trying to crawl out. He, too, must have felt itchy in his throat, and eventually opened his mouth again.
“What are you planning to do once you get off the island? Is there anywhere to go?”
“I’m going to… Find my family.”
“As expected. But we’ll have to hurry.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Just. I mean.”
…
I can’t even rush anymore.
The bitter story swallowed back in my heart. Unable to answer, I just looked him straight in the eyes. He continued hinting as if he hadn’t noticed my gaze.
“Yes. Hurry up as much as you can. While you still have a chance.”
“Like you have to hurry now.”
“Everyone shouldn’t be like that. On the first day, I heard the announcement from the imperial family in the classroom. The spokesperson must have said that. The dragons will come in 200 days. It’s been about two or three months since that day.”
“Probably…A little more than 100 days.”
“That’s what I predicted. But maybe we don’t have more time than we thought.”
He was trying to accelerate the already fast-flowing second hand even faster. I dared to ask the question, knowing I wouldn’t get a positive answer.
“Have you heard anything? Exactly when the dragons are coming.”
“Who knows. Because we were only observing. We are only making predictions based on that. Maybe the elves know.”
“…”
“Well. If they don’t know, only someone standing up there will.”
The mortal’s gaze eventually turned to the immortal, whose existence was dim. From my point of view, I did not understand why humans always instinctively turn toward the sky when they wish for salvation.
What is coming from heaven right now is not salvation, but destruction.
Because we wanted to deny that, we might have tried to reproduce the scene of destruction on earth.
“…Oh.”
At that moment, Lena’s footsteps stopped in one place. She hesitated in front of the door to a large lecture hall and knocked cautiously. Only the sound of knocking echoed in the empty hallway.
“Rogeria. It’s me.”
“…”
“I told you to come this way if you happen to get anything. I know who got the symbol. So open the door, Rogeria. Huh?”
“…”
“Rogeria…”
Involuntarily, like Lena, I watched the scene, swallowing her dry saliva. Is there Roselia in there? When she listened intently, she thought she could hear someone breathing from inside.
And when that guess turned to certainty, the door slowly began to open. The unidentified resident looked at Lena in silence before letting her inside. He couldn’t hear his voice and couldn’t see his face, so there were no clues to his identity.
But it smelled. The unbearable smell of hypocrisy mixed with the smell of high-end perfumes and cosmetics. It was as if her voice could be heard.
…Oh.
Were you bullying me to buy again?
…
Unknowingly, I closed my eyes tightly. And I quietly repeated the person’s name.
“…Rogeria.”
“Miss…!”
Like a loyal butler, Engemere quickly noticed her presence and hurriedly moved on. She didn’t have to hesitate as long as her existence was confirmed. He was visibly agitated and quickly stood at the door.
But right before I grabbed the doorknob, I suddenly turned my gaze this way. Then he asked in a low voice.
“You’re really the lady’s friend, right?”
“Are you suspicious now?”
“Because there’s nothing wrong with being careful. You there. Pass the sword this way.”
“…What is it? Are you stealing it now? Seriously. Until now, I’ve been quiet.”
“Because I didn’t know what would happen. If you guys are the lady’s friends, shouldn’t I trust her?”
“However…”
“Haru. Just give it to you.”
“Yes?”
“It’s okay, so just give it to me.”
I swept her back to reassure the day. Only then did Haru release his sword with an unwilling expression.
“Handle it carefully. Is it this way? Take it. I can’t see it.”
“Is it just one bag?”
“Of course. That side seems to have two sticks attached to it.”
“Stop joking around and stick to the wall over there. Then you come to the door.”
“Why?”
“Because I need to confirm that you are the lady’s friend.”
When the moment he had been waiting for arrived, his caution reached its peak. It wasn’t something I couldn’t understand. It would be to reunite with the owner, whose life and death were unclear after three months. I obediently stood in front of the door.
“Whoa…”
“…”
Then came the sound of trembling breathing from behind. Even this upright man seemed nervous as he was about to face the long-awaited moment of reunion.
If so, how would I feel to face the moment of reunion I wanted to avoid?
I couldn’t define it in one word, but it was clear that my heart was beating like crazy. Her bruised wounds vibrated finely as she tried to face her and her truth at the same time.
He knocked on the door without noticing it. And he opened his mouth in a polite voice like never before.
“Miss.”
“…!”
“My lady. It’s me.”
“Such… Engemia…?”
Soon, her low voice leaked from inside. Perhaps surprised by her unexpected visit, he stammered her words uncharacteristically.
“It can’t be…Is it really you?”
“Yes. That’s me, ma’am.”
“That…That can’t be…No…!”
Surprised. Doubt. And pleasure. After going through three stages of reunion, her footsteps came running toward the door. She had an attitude that made her angry when he saw her face to face.
“Engemere!”
“…”
But the moment her door opened, it wasn’t him he was facing, it was me. Instead of a mask, I wore a gas mask for breathing and put on the hood as before. The two pairs of eyes reflected on each other at the same time.
“Uh?”
“…”
“You…”
Again, the same process as before was repeated. Surprised. Doubt. And this time, bewilderment. Because we couldn’t be happy, we weren’t happy, and we had no words to say because we never missed each other. I unknowingly clenched my fist.
Suddenly, I had such a thought. Will a loner like me remain in Rogeria’s memory? I also thought that maybe I had forgotten my existence through countless things.
How is it? With a slight sense of defiance, I held my head upright. In front of her eyes, her breath shattered.
“Then…”
So Roselia looked at me for a long time. And with an expression of disbelief, she spat out the nostalgic title.
“…Piggy bank?”
