«Can we come back tomorrow? What do you mean?»
Amelia avoided my eyes at that question. «It's not certain, but something came to mind from the beginning».
«From the beginning...?» My head went numb for a moment.
Is that why he always made an awkward expression every time we talked about how to get back?
I realized that the incongruity I felt in the previous conversations was not my mistake, but there was still something I didn't understand. «If you had an idea from the beginning, why didn't you tell me in advance?» When I stared at her, Amelia looked back at me and looked away. In the end, I had no choice but to ask bluntly: «Is it... because you don't want to come back?»
«That's right...» Amelia fell silent before shaking her head. «That's not the case at all. I just thought it wouldn't be bad to stay here a little longer...»
«That? But why?» My head tilted involuntarily, but thinking about it calmly from Amelia's perspective, it made sense.
«E-eso es—»
«Ah, I see. Alright.»
«Well...?»
«You felt bad for leaving your sister».
If we left, Laura would have to live alone for the next twenty years. It was only natural that Amelia wanted to help her live a better life from behind and at least see what kind of life she was before she left.
«You could have told me honestly. But I guess maybe I wouldn't have been trustworthy enough with you».
«Ah...»
«We are comrades. Just tell me these things».
«...I will. I'll tell you in advance starting next time.»
«Well.» I quickly resolved the misunderstanding between us and moved on to the next point, which might have been the most important part of this conversation. «So what do you suspect we can come back so quickly?»
«Ah, that.» Amelia woke up with that question and explained the method. I listened carefully, even asked a few questions in the middle, and nodded.
Mmmm, certainly...
It was plausible. No, to be honest, as soon as I heard it, I had a feeling that was the last role we had left.
***
The next morning, after leaving early, we headed to a nearby restaurant. There was a place Amelia wanted to go. As for me, I just wanted to finish the job and get back quickly.
«This restaurant will disappear in twenty years... Oh, of course, if you think it will be difficult, I don't mind coming back right away».
How can I not go when she says it like that? It is true that there will be no time to rest once we return. And she's been busy working every day.
Amelia even seemed embarrassed to ask this. He seemed embarrassed to express such a mundane wish, but it was a positive change worthy of praise. It meant that our bond had strengthened to the point where she could ask something like this.
«Let me know if there is anything else you want to do».
«So... can we stop by the Arandeje Art Gallery in District 9?»
«... Art gallery?»
«There is a work of art that I want to see. Um... I wanted to see it, but I couldn't in the future. It seems that it was sold to a rich nobleman».
Anyway, for that reason, we headed to the museum after lunch. Amelia stood in front of the artwork she wanted to see and stared at it for over thirty minutes.
«... Do you mind if I look at something else?»
«Of course.»
We then walked through the gallery and admired other paintings and sculptures. To be honest, it was a little unexpected.
I never thought she had this kind of hobby.
Just from the look in his eyes, I realized he was really having a good time. Well, that was it and this was it.
«Amelia, this is cute and all, but I'm starting to get hungry...»
Looking around it was already noon, so we ate at a nearby restaurant.
«Yandel, can we go through one last place?»
At Amelia's request, we got back into the carriage. The place we arrived was the Reatlas Church orphanage, where Dwalkie stayed as a child.
This place and I have a strangely deep connection.
Without entering the building, we sat on a bench in front of him and watched Laura through the window. While recovering from his hospital bed, he sat at a desk doing errands. Apparently, she had a job at the orphanage through the priest.
«I thought he was just helping with the housework, but seeing that he's doing the paperwork, it looks like he's already reading», I said, wondering if all his memories hadn't been forgotten.
Amelia just smiled bitterly and shook her head. «That will not be the case».
«How are you so sure?»
«Laura... I didn't know how to read.»
"... ¿Which? ⁇
So just a few weeks of learning from the priest and she will be able to do the administrative work?
It was surprising but not something I couldn't understand. There were people like that in the world.
«…She was a genius.»
«I didn't know she was that smart either. I knew my sister had an extraordinary memory, but...»
«And the priest? Didn't the priest who taught you seem strange to you?»
«That woman only considered it a process of returning her memories. My sister thought so too».
Maybe these sisters' true talent wasn't something like killing people. It was simply the environment that made them that way. I wondered what Amelia would have grown up with if she had been born into a normal family. It seemed like she liked art so maybe she would have become famous.
«What is that look?»
Oh, did I stare too hard? «...It's nothing. Anyway, how long are you going to watch? It looks like your sister is already finishing work.»
«We should go now.»
Once Laura finished her paperwork and put on her coat, we got up.
Crujir.
Then we pick the lock on the sewer system and go down. This was the only way to Noark.
«I didn't think I would go there again. Nothing bad will happen, right?»
«Should be fine. Even if it's not the cemetery, there's another way to sneak in».
In the past, we officially entered the city through a corridor because we needed identities in Noark, but now there was no need for that, so we entered illegally through a route Amelia knew. Apparently this road was connected to the castle.
«But what's going to happen to Noark now?»
As we walked, we talked about Noark. After the big incident involving the palace, Orcules, the lord of the castle and even the fourth faction (us), I became curious about the consequences.
«The new lord of the castle will be busy cleaning right now».
«Clean?» Of course, I knew it would somehow end up being cleaned, but I was curious about the process. «First they joined the palace and lost, how can they clean that up?»
«Because Orcules needs this city too».
I wondered why Orcules couldn't just take over the city, but it seemed like there was a reason for everything.
«For the portal connecting Noark and the labyrinth to open, the blood of the castle lord's lineage is required.».
That is why the new lord of the castle killed all the members of his family as soon as he learned of his father's death. He seemed worried that the group would take over the city by turning his weak brothers into puppets.
He really is a great guy. To think that I could make that judgment at that moment.
After that, the new lord of the castle ceded a part of Noark to Orcules to achieve a truce and gradually stabilized the city. This was the complete account of the city that would exist twenty years from now.
«Were here.»
Traveling through the sewage system, we reach the castle and covertly move away from the eyes of the guards to escape the castle. Passing through the city streets that still smelled of smoke, we arrived in front of a small mansion.
«Yandel, will you wait here a moment? I'll go alone».
«Use haré.»
He was at the house of Amelia.
***
There was no reason to call. These days, she never lived with the door closed. It was a state of having given up, of letting what was going to happen just happen.
Crujir.
Amelia opened the door and looked around the house. Although he only had basic, antique furniture, that looked more familiar. The house that the alchemist grandfather provided her was always in these conditions, even until the day she left this house as an adult.
Sensing a presence, the girl crouching against the wall raised her head and looked at her. «Miss Emily...?» His indifferent pupils shone. Amelia didn't have any mind reading skills, but since it was her past self, she could clearly see what this girl was thinking, a growing hope that maybe her sister was alive. «I-is...»
«Your sister is dead».
«Ah...» When Amelia spoke abruptly, the girl lowered her head. The light that appeared in his eyes had disappeared.
Amelia forced the girl to get up and talk. «In no time you will enter the labyrinth. And you will continue to live a life in the sewers, you will meet many people and you will kill them».
«... So?» It seemed that the provocative words had an effect, as the girl who looked like an empty doll raised her head in defiance.
Amelia extended her hand towards her. «Promise me you won't kill any barbarians».
«... Why should I do that?»
Amelia answered without a doubt: «Later there will come a day when you will think that keeping this promise was the greatest fortune of your life».
At those words, the girl pursed her lips. Although she had no outward expression, Amelia knew what her younger self was thinking after hearing this.
I don't know why this person says this, but at least... I don't think he's lying. No, I think he's actually giving me honest advice. Like my sister who is no longer here...
To structure.
Amelia took the girl's hand and shook it. Then he squeezed it and released it three times. It was an action that sisters used to do to make a promise.
«This... how did you do it...?»
Amelia did not answer the girl's question. She just let go of his hand, turned around and walked towards the door.
Step step.
When Amelia stood in front of the door again, the girl blurted out in a tired voice: «Yes... What if my life is in danger for not killing that barbarian? Do I still have to keep my promise then?» It was a typical question from his younger self. Thinking about his older sister, who always taught him the importance of promises, he wasn't going to make a promise he couldn't keep.
But Amelia said confidently: «Then you can do whatever you want».
Because that won't happen anyway.
Then Amelia opened the door and left. «Ah, one last thing. Keep the door closed». Amelia closed the door silently and turned around.
She could see a barbarian waiting for her in an alley a short distance away. «Are you done talking?»
«Well.»
The promise would be fulfilled. Although he did not know his intentions to prevent his sister from dying, the fact that he received her help still remained. His sister had taught him to always pay someone for their help.
«Amelia, that blonde girl has been looking at me since before... Should we figure it out?»
Amelia followed the barbarian's gaze. Then he saw a boy with a familiar face. «Oh, no wonder it looked so familiar. Is it Guardweaver Drous?»
«Yes, that's him. However, his real name is something else».
Even as he said that, this feeling was strange to Amelia. That boy would later tell him about the existence of the treasure called the Record Fragment Stone. Before seizing her, he would betray her and flee alone, becoming an enemy. That's when they also gave him the scar on his ear. That was also the reason why he swore to the lord of the castle not to commit murder within Noark. Well, that had an exact time period from when to when, so it doesn't apply to this era. Anyway, that wasn't important.
I don't feel anything, almost to the point that it's strange.
Even when she saw that face, she didn't feel angry, as if the old emotions of fury and hatred in her heart had disappeared.
«Shouldn't we do something?»
At her concern, Amelia realized the cause of this purely calm feeling. «No, it doesn't matter. Leave it.»
«Abandon it?»
Looking back, it was all one journey, even the pain he went through getting tangled up with that child, all to meet this man in the future.
«... What, why are you laughing suddenly?»
«I did not laugh».
«You have reigned.»
Amelia ignored the barbarian's lingering questions and walked forward.
Then the barbarian hurried to catch up with him. «Hey, but why doesn't that activate?»
«I don't know, I'm sure it will work soon».
«But what if it still doesn't work?»
«So we have no choice but to live here together. That does not matter to me».
«Uh... that's like... It's not that I don't like you, but...» The barbarian fell silent as if it were a difficult scenario.
Amelia found herself laughing again, not with the awkward laugh she would make in front of the mirror, but with a real laugh.
Latigo.
When Amelia stopped walking and turned around, her body collided with the barbarian following her. At that moment, the world was dyed white light.
Destello!
***
Iron Mask...?
It was a complete coincidence that the blonde boy discovered them. Wandering the streets looking for a drunk to rob, these people entered his eyes. Although he was not wearing an iron helmet as rumored, there was no other person in this city with such a huge physique. No, there were probably only a few in this entire world, unless they were barbarians.
More importantly, the red-haired woman at his side...
They were the famous Iron Mask and Emily. The boy saw the woman enter a house and hid to watch them. Shortly after, the woman left the house and joined Iron Mask. But did you feel his gaze?
The boy felt as if their gazes met and crouched. That was the moment when a bright light burst out, illuminating this underground city.
Destello!
The flash lasted a fleeting moment. When the light dimmed, chaos took over the deserted streets. The drunks jumped up and those inside the buildings hurriedly opened the windows.
«W-what was that?! That light!»
«... May you?»
«It didn't do anything weird to my body, did it?»
Everyone looked bewildered for the cause of the situation, but the blonde boy hiding in the alley was different.
Iron Mask disappeared...
They disappeared, but the boy did not ask why. The boy who had to survive in Noark from the moment he was born ran forward, relying solely on his instincts.
... This stone! The light came from this stone.
The boy picked up the stone that had fallen on top of his clothes and quickly hid in the alley.
«There! The light came out of there!»
«I saw it from that window over there. The light went out and people disappeared!»
The guard who came to see the commotion that occurred in the middle of the night began to listen to the situation and realized the identities of the man and woman in the center of the light.
«A man who looked like a barbarian and a red-haired woman?»
«Iron Mask! It's Iron Mask! The man the lord of the castle is looking for! Examine their footprints!»
«Identity tag! There was an identity tag between the clothes!»
«Rank 6 Scout, Nivelles Enze... Is this the real name of this Iron Mask? What about women's etiquette?»
«Unfortunately, it was not found!»
«Captain, they say a boy stole something left behind».
«That? Where did they say they went?»
The guards ran to the alley where the boy disappeared, but could not find him.