175 - Chapter 11 Prologue
"Eh? ...Who is this person?"
Inside the Jewel Orb.
I tilted my head as I looked at the woman sitting in a chair and waving her hand in the Round Table Room.
I had come because I was summoned, and aside from the Fifth Generation, who was sitting on the round table looking grumpy, the previous heads of the family also wore expressions of bewilderment.
Looking at the woman, she inevitably reminded me of Miranda, and I realized she was the grown-up version of Mireia-san that I had seen in the Memory Room.
"Could it be, Mireia-san?"
When I saw her in the Memory Room, she looked like a teenager. But the Mireia-san before me now looked to be in her mid-twenties.
『Correct, Liel. Though, since you're looking at me in my youth, your reaction is a bit slow. You should memorize a person's name the moment you see their face. Were you not taught that?』
I was taught. But I had no opportunity to put it into practice when I was a child.
Being told such a thing for the first time in a while, I looked at the Fifth Generation in confusion.
The Fifth Generation, who was sitting on the round table instead of in his own chair, let out a sigh.
『You're wondering why Mireia is here, right? How should we know? That's why we're troubled. According to her, "Liel needs to know everything."』
I need to know everything?
Curious about what "everything" referred to, I shifted my gaze to Mireia-san. Her light purple wavy hair and golden eyes reminded me of Shannon.
However, her facial features and atmosphere were Miranda's. Her physique was also Miranda's—.
(Is she like a combination of the best parts of Miranda and Shannon?)
It would be troublesome if her personality was also Miranda's. If her personality was Shannon's, I would feel sorry for her. Though, I don't actually know what kind of person she is.
『Liel, because you refuse to enter your own Memory Room, I have come out to this place to act as your guide.』
I looked at the door behind my seat.
My Memory Room was different from those of the previous heads. It wasn't just a room for playing back memories. It had become something else.
As it wasn't currently necessary, we had been ignoring the door.
(Does this mean the Jewel Orb won't allow us to ignore it?)
However, I also had my reasons for not entering.
"Um... I'm busy right now, so could we do this another day?"
Mireia-san looked at the surrounding previous heads with a troubled expression.
The Third Generation spoke in his usual tone.
『That's true. He's busy, so why not just put it on hold? It's a bit problematic to be told "everything" at this stage.』
The Fourth Generation adjusted his glasses with a finger.
『I want to grant my grandson's request, but in terms of priority, this is low.』
The Seventh Generation looked troubled.
『Even if it's a request from my aunt, that's simply impossible. I'm busy.』
I suddenly remembered that she was the Seventh Generation's aunt. Mireia-san looked at the Fifth Generation.
The Fifth Generation scratched his head.
『...I don't know what you want Liel to do. If there's a benefit for us, I'll prioritize it.』
Then, Mireia-san smiled.
『As expected, Father is very kind. Even so, the memories of the previous heads are truly troublesome. It makes me a little sad that the honest Liel has become so twisted.』
How was I supposed to react to that?
(If I have to deal with the previous heads, I'll become twisted whether I want to or not.)
Mireia-san stood up and walked over to me. Then, she gently grasped both of my hands.
My heart raced, but it was different from the feeling I had toward the opposite sex. It was almost—like a mother.
『Liel, you need to know everything about skills. Why the Walt family's blue orb became a Jewel Orb... and what orbs actually are.』
I remembered the words Monica's sisters had spoken in the labyrinth before.
"Was it "memory"? I believe I was told something like that."
Mireia-san nodded.
『That's right. Both orbs and Jewel Orbs are nothing more than memory media. Records of our lives, and even our personalities... the fact that they record skills is merely a byproduct.』
The Third Generation, hearing Mireia-san's words, said
『I knew it. I thought it was strange. The situation where we teach Liel skills isn't exactly efficient. I wonder if there was another purpose originally? ...For example, transferring a personality to another person.』
No longer acting aloof, the surrounding previous heads also directed sharp gazes at Mireia-san.
Seeing that I was troubled, Mireia-san shook her head with a smile.
『That's not it either. That's why Liel needs to know everything. Many orbs have been lost now. The appearance of magic tools also served to make orbs decline.』
The Seventh Generation found Mireia-san's words strange.
『You're saying the orbs didn't fade away through a natural process? That someone was pulling the strings from behind the scenes?』
Without answering the Seventh Generation, Mireia-san led me by the hand toward the door.
『Liel, know everything. If you don't, your story will surely remain incomplete.』
Led by her hand, I entered the door with Mireia-san without resisting.
When I entered my Memory Room, the surroundings were dazzling.
While I was unable to keep my eyes open, I heard Mireia-san's voice.
『This is your Memory Room—and at the same time, it is the memory of the Jewel Orb. The Jewel Orb wanted you to know. That's why it was reproduced in such an incomplete form.』
As my eyes gradually opened, a city that was not in my memories spread out before me. No, was it some kind of metropolis?
Looking around, I saw people drinking and making a ruckus even though the sun was high.
"Where is this?"
『...It began with kindness. This is the capital of a country from long ago. A country that perished thousands of years ago. Liel, you know about it, don't you? The village of mages.』
They seemed to be living lives no different from now, but now that she mentioned it, there was something old about it.
The clothes the people wore, and their shoes—.
The alcohol they were drinking was only one kind. The dishes lined up were all simple. I suppose I could say it was modest for a metropolis.
(But if this is the past, is that possible? But why is the Jewel Orb recording something from so long ago? The First Generation bought the orb two hundred and thirty years ago, didn't he?)
I walked through that metropolis, which was neither the capital of Vanseim nor Centras, following behind Mireia-san.
The voices I heard made it seem as if everyone was in high spirits.
"Is it some kind of festival?"
Adults making a ruckus. And children running around playing.
But Mireia-san's answer was different.
『...This is a weekday in this country. Liel, do you see that building?』
In the direction she pointed, I saw a building under construction.
There, I could see mud dolls working.
"Is it magic?"
Looking closely, there were many golems working. However, there didn't seem to be any mages nearby.
I walked along with Mireia-san. We walked straight, and a modest building for a metropolis came into view.
『Yes, it is magic. And the one maintaining this metropolis is a single mage.』
I realized.
"The one that became the basis for the village of mages was—"
『—this country. And the mage of this country is Septem. The seventh goddess.』
Hearing the name Septem, I remembered Celes's Jewel Orb.
Golems were acting as gatekeepers for the modest building. As we approached, the golems stepped aside to let us through.
The modest mansion, while located in the center of the metropolis, was disproportionately small.
There was no sign of people at all, only golems were working.
Led by Mireia-san, I entered a certain room.
There was an old woman lying on a small bed.
『...Oh, how rare. To have guests visit.』
The kind-looking old woman was lying there in a frail state. Yet, when she looked this way, she gave me a smile.
"Eh, you can see us—"
Mireia-san nodded and brought two chairs from within the room, telling me to sit as well.
『Liel, Septem-sama won't be at ease unless you sit.』
"Eh, no, um... Septem-sama? Wait, what?"
I had thought Septem was the mastermind. I didn't know if Celes was being manipulated or if she was an accomplice. But I never imagined that such a kind-looking person was Septem.
『Could you please sit? It pains my heart as well.』
She was thin, her hair was white, and her purple eyes had a brilliance to them. However, perhaps her body couldn't keep up, as she remained unable to move.
A golem entered the room and operated the bed of the old woman—Septem—to raise her upper body, and we began to converse.
『I'm sorry. You probably don't understand. I am Septem—no, the one who inherited Septem's memories. The one who inherited the memories of the goddess.』
Hearing that, I became even more confused. Mireia-san explained it for my sake.
『Liel, you know the stories of the goddesses and the evil gods, right? Among them, who is considered the most noble?』
"The seventh—the last goddess."
『Yes. It is said that the seventh goddess gave both magic and skills to humans. And the orbs were developed by this Septem-sama.』
I looked at Septem with a surprised face. The smiling Septem simply didn't look like someone who would do bad things.
Mireia-san continued.
『The Walt family's orb is an original she created. The others are imitations made by Agrissa—no, the Jewel Orb Celes possesses is one that was perfected by mimicking the original. Because of that, a large number of orbs were produced and became popular three hundred years ago.』
Septem looked at me apologetically.
『I never thought the orbs I made would lead to such things in the future. I'm sorry, Liel. As it turns out, those children were right.』
"Those children?"
When I asked back, Septem said
『Yes. Nihil, Octo, and Novem... one who is not spoken of, and two who were branded as evil gods.』
"...Novem... and Nihil, could it be..."
Mireia-san told me.
『Novem is the same as Septem-sama. One who inherited the memories of a goddess. Though, in the eyes of the world, she is treated as an evil god.』
Hearing that fact, I felt a slight shock.
(No, if you know all this, just tell me, Novem!)
Inside the Jewel Orb.
When I exited the door with Mireia-san, the previous heads were waiting for us.
The Fifth Generation, seeing my expression, asked
『Were you able to learn anything?』
I nodded, but I hadn't learned everything. It seemed there was still more she wanted to convey, but Mireia-san brought it to a close.
"A lot of things. Like how Novem inherited the memories of a goddess. That Novem's clan carries the blood of a goddess, and that the Walt family's Jewel Orb was an original. Or rather, it seems Septem-san was the one who created the orbs."
Hearing that, the Fourth Generation said
『...No, I won't understand unless you explain it properly.』
Mireia-san, looking at the previous heads, said
『Liel, return to the real world now. I will explain the rest.』
"...I'll leave it to you. I mean, it was just too shocking."
Mireia-san looked at me.
『Novem must have had her reasons. So, please don't blame her. That child will surely devote herself to you even if you reject her. However, that would be far too sad.』
I immediately replied.
"No, I won't hate her. It's just, thinking that she was a goddess... does that mean I'm loved by a goddess... or something like that?"
Mireia-san's eyes widened as she looked at me, and she covered her mouth with both hands.
『...Liel, you've been poisoned too much by the previous heads.』
The Seventh Generation, seemingly dissatisfied with that opinion, said
『What are you saying, Aunt? This is just how the men of the Walt family are.』
The previous heads began to laugh, saying things like "True enough."
When I woke up, I was at an inn in the port town.
By the time I woke up in the rented room, dawn had already broken. Nearby, Monica also woke up because I had risen.
"Oh, you're waking up much earlier than usual today. Honestly, please consider the hardships of a maid. You're such a high-maintenance chicken coward. Though I love you even for that."
Seeing Monica as usual, I felt a little relieved.
"Sorry about that. Today was the day of departure, right?"
Monica began to move, taking a bucket and pulling tools from the gap between her apron and skirt, and started pouring hot water into the bucket.
"Yes. I confirmed it with Vera-san, so there should be no mistake. I hear there are many goods to be transported to Beim this time. That they're busy. Because of that, they said they couldn't meet the Queen of Cartaphus or something like that."
"What do you mean 'or something like that'? Well, I understand that they were busy."
"It seems they couldn't make time for each other. The Queen of this country seems to be very busy. ...Don't tell me you're thinking of adding her to your harem? I'll follow you no matter what kind of scumbag you are, chicken coward, but I question your taste if you're aiming for a Queen. You total masochist!"
Feeling like I was being mocked, I stood up and denied it.
"No! I mean, I thought it would be nice if I could meet her, but that's all."
I thought that if I were asked for cooperation regarding Celes, it would be helpful. I had no other purpose.
This time, having been dispatched from Beim on a request from the Cartaphus guild, I had completed the subjugation of the Land Dragon and was now returning to Beim.
The distance for travel alone was considerable, and by the time I returned to the port, the ship I planned to take was scheduled to depart in a few days.
I made it in time for the job, but there were many other things on my mind.
"...That attacker. If I recall, was it Larc Meyard? From the rumors, he seemed like a fragmented person who was hard to pin down."
I had a lead on the people who had carried out the attack. However, there was no evidence, I couldn't press them, and furthermore, I couldn't find them, as if they had vanished somewhere.
The information I gathered was fragmented, with descriptions like 'rebellious', 'friendly', 'scum', and 'admired adventurer'.
His evaluation from women was high, so I could judge that he possessed some kind of skill that worked on the opposite sex.
In a few days, I would be leaving Cartaphus without being able to deal with it. It was a regret, but if I didn't go to Beim, my reward wouldn't be paid.
"I can't afford to deal with Larc right now. There are many problems I'll have to solve once I return."
Monica responded to my thoughts while proceeding with the morning preparations.
"Money problems are important. Well, this Monica won't throw away the chicken coward unlike other women, even if you don't pay me a salary. You could praise me more, you know?"
"That's probably because you can't move unless you get magic power from me..."
After finishing the usual morning conversation, I washed my face and received a towel from Monica.
Looking out the window, the morning sun was very beautiful.
Many ships were lined up in the port, creating a spectacular view.
"Well, it'll get busy again once I'm back."
The matter of Novem, and Septem and the Jewel Orb—.
There was a lot, but I couldn't afford to focus only on that right now.
(I need to know various things. I'll try asking Novem after I've learned more... but there's a lot to do before that.)