“Did you buy the house instead of renting it so you could give it to Laura?
She could always see through to the deeper intention.
“Yes.”
“Did you suspect anything about the dark map issue?”
“Well… maybe. I felt like I needed to prepare something in advance.”
It’s not a lofty act of atonement. I’m always much more selfish.
It was all a precaution to lessen my guilt. The technique to help her walk again, everything.
“I’m not going to tell you that you don’t need to feel responsible. It’s pointless.”
“……Thanks.”
“Laura might not appreciate being burdened with that much responsibility… but you probably already considered that. Sorry, I just felt like I had to say something.”
Heidemarie got up from the sofa and sat facing me.
By the way, what did she come here for?
It seemed like she came for something important, but she was keeping the atmosphere light on purpose.
“Hey, do you know the story of the fox and the grapes?”
She suddenly asked.
The fox and the grapes?
It sounds familiar, but no, I don’t know it.
“What is that?”
“It’s nothing. Do you know Cinderella?”
“No.”
“How about Snow White?”
“…Hmm, I think I’ve heard of it. It’s like an old fairy tale, right?”
They all sound somewhat familiar, but I can’t recall any details.
What’s going on with Heidemarie all of a sudden?
“They’re all folktales. Never mind, forget it.”
It seemed like she was just checking something, not trying to tell me anything specific.
“Vim, you’re not very good with food in general, are you? Especially if it’s bitter or has a lot of different flavors.”
“Huh? …Oh, yeah, maybe. But if you say I don’t have an appetite at all, that’s not true.”
“You always drink and eat the same things. Well, maybe that was in the past.”
“Yeah. I’ve been able to eat a variety of things lately. Thanks to everyone, I guess. Hehe.”
When I said “everyone,” her face seemed to cloud over.
“Hey, Vim.”
Her tone became more serious.
“How many people from ‘Night Dragonflies’ can you name?”
My eyes, which had been swimming, were pierced by her words.
It was as if she could see right through me.
She sometimes looks at me like this. Not frowning, not smiling. Just calmly looking straight into my eyes.
It looked slightly like a smile.
“…What’s wrong?”
“Ah, nothing.”
In this particular case, I knew she had a point.
“You know Camilla, right? You talked to Marc during the march.”
“Of course.”
“How about Abel?”
“…Is that the person I talked to the other day?”
When I said that, Heidemarie seemed to relax a bit.
“What about Hans? Or Bettina?”
I couldn’t answer.
The truth is,
I hardly remember the names and faces of the people from ‘Night Dragonflies.’
I’ve always been bad at remembering faces. But recently, it’s gotten worse.
At the mansion, I was often confused. People I didn’t know would talk to me as if they’d known me all along, referencing things we supposedly discussed before.
I don’t understand. Is it my trait, or have I become so obsessed that I’ve lost my mind? I don’t even feel any sense of crisis about what I don’t remember.
Heidemarie stood up, leaving me silent.
“Well, I’m off.”
“Huh, so what was that all about?”
“Just a chat. You can forget about it.”
“Seriously…”
“Camilla called me. About you.”
“Oh, sorry about that.”
She asked whatever she wanted without giving me a clear reason, but I couldn’t stop her now.
It’s too awkward to say goodbye standing here, so I’ll at least see her off.
Heidemarie walked to the door and put on her shoes. It seemed strangely significant.
…She knows, doesn’t she?
“Hey, Vim.”
Without looking at me, she called my name.
She always calls me like this.
Whether it’s to get my attention, change the topic, or just as a routine phrase during long talks.
“Promise me one thing.”
Without turning around, she opened the door. I couldn’t see her face.
“Remember me. At least once a day, think of me.”
“…What?”
Heidemarie didn’t say goodbye.
Only later did I realize that was her farewell.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
A chilly, quiet night seemed perfect for doing something shady. By this time, the festival was probably winding down.
I arrived at an open square in the outskirts, so silent that the noise of the town felt nostalgic. It was far from the center, and there were no couples meeting up or any other people in sight.
Chronos had told me, “I’ll kill you.”
The meaning can be interpreted in various ways, but for Chronos, it means a one-on-one fight. There hasn’t been any attempt to stab me in a crowd or hire an assassin.
He probably wants a duel.
This is the square where the Dragon’s Wings often trained. Since no one liked to show their efforts to others, we always came all the way out here to train.
Now that I think about it, maybe they just didn’t want to be seen with me.
I couldn’t help but laugh at my own pathetic thoughts.
“I’ve come, Chronos!”
I shouted into the night.
It’s been a long time since I called out to him.
We haven’t spoken since that day.
We only exchanged glances briefly before, and even though I’ve heard about his various deeds, my impression of him hasn’t changed from the past.
A long silence follows.
The sound of the wind and the faint chirping of insects emphasize the stillness.
Then, the clanging footsteps of an armored man echo from the darkness. The moonlight slowly reveals parts of his body as he steps forward.
It seems we were thinking the same thing. I laugh again at our synchronicity.
Chronos looks changed. Worse than the day the party house burned down.
His cheeks are sunken, his hair disheveled, and his whole body covered in dirt and soot. He moves clumsily, clearly not having eaten properly, yet there’s a strange strength in his movements.
There’s no trace of his former self. He could easily be mistaken for a bandit or a vagrant.
But this only emphasizes his desperate vitality.
His bloodshot eyes shine brightly. I can already sense his deadly intent, as if he’s ready to come at me with everything he’s got.
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continue
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“Long time, no see,”
“…Yeah,”
Chronos replies.
It’s been a long time since we talked.
Did he always sound like this?
He used to be so lively and confident. Now his voice is low and raspy.
“I’m going to kill you.”
He mutters, and I flinch.
Seeing him, I can’t help but feel inferior.
I still feel like I’m beneath him. Chronos’s anger probably stems from this dynamic. I’ve always tried my best to respond to his careless summons.
Looking back, I’ve been thinking about Chronos ever since I was banished.
I compared every experience to the days with the Dragon’s Wings. That’s how the past works. If I could, I had a lot to talk about.
But Chronos gripped his sword with both hands and pointed the naked blade at me.
“I know it sounds like an excuse, but I…”
“I know. It’s about Sophia, right?”
I’m taken aback by how calmly he responds.
Chronos seems composed.
He’s not letting his anger take over. He decided I was worth talking to, despite the danger of staying in Villeborn, and waited for me.
It’s better not to think he can be reasoned with or persuaded.
“I get it! Now, prepare yourself!”
I draw my two blades and take my stance.
His killing intent pierces me. I can’t help but back down. I’ve never faced such raw hatred before.
“Here I come.”
Chronos announces, and the duel begins.
I have no choice. I came here for this.
We face each other.
We measure the distance, looking for openings. As right-handed fighters, we circle counterclockwise.
Chronos’s weapon is a double-edged greatsword. It has a long reach and heavy strikes.
I’m not well-built, and as an enchanter, I can’t win in a clash of strength.
My weakness is that I can’t handle large masses.
I can move quickly and strike with speed, but if a heavy object attacks with a wide range, it’s hard to counter.
Chronos seems full of openings, but he might be baiting me. It’s hard to tell if they’re real or deliberate.
I decide to wait.
I pretend to look for an opening, moving cautiously.
Then, I intentionally hesitate, disrupting my balance for a moment.
“Die!”
Chronos sees it as an opening.
He roars from his gut, exploding with energy, and charges at me with a wide swing.
Since I baited him, I’m prepared. But honestly, I’m not sure if I can fully evade or block it.
I brace myself to deflect his sword and create an opening with my right-hand blade.
…But wait.
The strike doesn’t come.
It’s not what I expected, and my instincts scream.
This charge is a feint. The sword’s path—
—hasn’t changed.
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… Did Vim used brain enchantment unintentionally and enter slowdown state? Name forgetfulness hits hard, since I am bad at it too, but nowhere near that level. Googled it and got possible reasons as “result of sleep deprivation or mental health issues”, one is obvious, but in hindsight Vim is an early riser and tends to work late into the night. Dude isn’t giving himself a chance to improve.