-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Journey (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Because the possibility is high."
"What possibility?"
Zikel replied, frowning.
Watching him, I felt a stifling frustration, as if a thousand fires were burning inside me. Why did this professor keep omitting the subject when he spoke?
"The possibility that you'll die first."
"What?"
"Even if not tomorrow night, you'll constantly be in danger."
What sudden nonsense was this? At the unexpected words, I tilted my head, and Zikel pulled a cigar from his pocket and put it in his mouth.
Puff. The cigar he held lit up, and acrid gray smoke billowed from his mouth.
"Please tell me more details."
Displeased by the strong tobacco smell and Zikel's attitude, I scrunched up my face and urged him on.
"…It's impossible. You'd know what this is, wouldn't you?"
Then Zikel rolled up his sleeve and thrust his right wrist towards me, showing it.
My gaze dropped. And then it appeared: a familiar magic circle etched onto his wrist.
"So you can't tell me because you're bound by a contract?"
When I asked, running a hand through my hair, Zikel nodded.
"…Please tell me as much as you can without violating the contract. Your constant vague remarks are frankly very frustrating."
"Your frustration is none of my concern, but I must say this."
"Yes, yes. Just tell me anything."
A surge of irritation made me retort with a pout.
It was understandable. Zikel had been grating on my nerves with his cryptic remarks since earlier.
Did he perhaps read my mind? Seeing my crumpled expression, Zikel's face twisted like mine, and he continued speaking, exhaling a puff of smoke.
"Don't cause trouble from now on."
"What?"
"It means don't draw attention to yourself. Not if you don't want to lose that pitiful life of yours in vain."
Zikel said this with a remarkably serious expression.
A rebellious impulse flared up, but seeing Zikel's expression, I couldn't say anything more.
'There's something going on.'
That thought suddenly crossed my mind.
It seemed like this person also had something that could be called a story.
I didn't know what it was, but one thing was certain.
That complex expression, where regret, anger, resentment, lingering affection, and sorrow coexisted, wasn't something just anyone could make.
I was curious about his story, but…
Concluding that he wouldn't be able to answer as long as he was bound by a contract, I decided to change the subject.
"Then, I'll ask you one question that you can answer, Professor."
"...?"
"Are there others with abilities like yours, Professor? If so, how many?"
"Yes. At least five."
"Did you tell me not to cause trouble because of those people?"
"…"
"Understood, for now."
Seeing the desired reaction from Zikel, I felt a sense of relief for the first time in this cabin and nodded.
Because I could somewhat guess why Zikel was saying these things to me.
'This person knows I'm the vessel.'
And he doesn't want me to fall to the Cult of Chaos.
'He seems to have ties to the Cult of Chaos too.'
I don't know the reason or his story, but I'll figure it out eventually.
Thinking that, I decided to ask Zikel one last question.
"If I were to ask for training, could you give me teachings that would allow me to oppose that ability?"
"I'm not inclined to, but I intend to."
"Then I'll come to see you starting next week. Is that alright?"
"…"
Hearing my words, Zikel nodded, though his face was twisted in an intense grimace, as if he'd bitten into a bug.
I, too, didn't like Zikel's expression, nor was I keen on asking for training, but…
I had no choice. If, by any chance, someone targeting me possessed abilities like Zikel's, they could easily take my life.
Of course, if they were beings with demonic energy, it wouldn't matter, but they might not be.
Therefore, it was a wise choice for me to prepare.
"If there's nothing more you wish to say, I'll take my leave. Oh, but Professor."
Thinking the conversation was over, I stood up and headed for the door, then turned my head back and murmured quietly to Zikel.
"I have no intention of dying. Though I do intend to kill."
I meant it.
****
The magical sailboat's voyage, which had begun in the evening, finally concluded at 8 AM. All the travel club members who disembarked from the sailboat were gathered at the dock.
"Oh."
As the last to disembark from the sailboat, I had to let out a gasp of admiration, my mouth agape.
It was understandable. Such a beautiful landscape unfolded before my eyes.
Under the intense sun, the sparkling blue sea,
Cliffs of majestic size,
Countless colorful buildings built in terraces upon them, and vibrant flowers and trees visible everywhere.
Arbique was a city with a picturesque landscape that would make anyone's heart flutter.
"Ughhh…"
"Ugh, ughhh…"
Was that just my thought? I turned my head and looked at the source of the sounds.
First, I saw Rose, swaying weakly while covering her mouth.
Next, I saw a grasshopper crawling on the ground… no, it was Senior Yukir.
They should have drunk in moderation. Thinking that, I looked at Rose with a sympathetic expression.
'So they do remember?'
Rose, whose eyes met mine, blushed and quickly turned her head away, then immediately started retching again.
A chuckle escaped me, watching her.
"Everyone, attention. I'll explain today's schedule…"
Just then, Zikel's voice reached my ears.
Standing before the gathered club members, he instantly captured their attention before beginning to explain today's schedule.
'He's not exactly articulate.'
Listening to his explanation, where the subject was constantly omitted, that thought naturally occurred to me.
Explaining things that unintelligibly was a skill in itself, if one could call it that.
When it could have been explained in just three points:
- Spend two hours of free time in Arbique.
- Visit two tourist spots while climbing the mountain.
- Enjoy a party at the patron's mansion halfway up the mountain, then sleep.
Zikel was dragging out this simple content for over ten minutes.
'First, I'll go there and get that artifact…'
Whatever. I was focused on planning a route to make the most of my free time.
'And since they're in that state…'
I looked at Rose, who still had a pale complexion, and thought.
Even Rose wouldn't be able to follow me in that state, so it was a perfect situation for me to reap the benefits alone.
"So, from now on, free time will be…"
As I was thinking that, Zikel's long, drawn-out explanation was finally coming to an end.
Once he finishes, I'll move immediately.
"…given, but it would be too dangerous to wander alone in this foreign land. And not much fun, either. Don't you agree?"
As I was thinking that, an unexpected remark began to spill from Zikel's lips.
"So, from now on, I plan to pair you up in twos."
Zikel pulled a parchment from his pocket with an uncharacteristic smile, and the travel club members cheered, looking at him with excited expressions.
'This is a bit problematic…'
For me, who wanted to move alone, it was an unwelcome situation, though others might not mind.
Whether he knew my feelings or not.
Zikel continued speaking, still wearing that smile.
"However, it would be uncomfortable for new members to walk around alone with a senior. So, unless it's an unavoidable circumstance, pairs will be formed between members of the same year."
When Zikel said that, the seniors booed, making no attempt to hide their disappointment.
"Anyone with a complaint may raise their hand and confidently speak to me."
But Professor Zikel also made no attempt to hide his own discomfort, and the seniors instantly fell silent, as if mice had died.
"First, I'll announce the exceptions. Yukir, the president, and Rose. These two have been deemed unable to move and are thus assigned to the same group."
As Zikel spoke, everyone's gaze immediately turned to Rose and Yukir, and both blushed, lowering their heads.
"Then…"
Was he satisfied with having put them on the spot? Zikel began to announce each pair with a pleased expression.
"Fran, and Gail."
"Ah."
"G-good!"
As Zikel made the match, Fran let out a deflated sound, while Gail, who seemed to have a timid demeanor, clenched his fist in delight.
"Heh."
I don't know why, but watching them, I inexplicably felt good.
"Next is Kamel."
As I was doing so, Zikel pointed at me and then lowered his gaze to the parchment.
Seeing that, I gulped, swallowing dryly, and tensed up.
'Please.'
Wanting to move alone, I desperately hoped that the name escaping those annoying lips would be the one I wanted.
Because if it wasn't her, I felt like an awkward situation would unfold.
"And Rahel."
Zikel announced it, and hearing this, I immediately turned my head.
And sure enough.
Despite having dressed up so beautifully, Rahel wore an expression as if she'd stepped in dog poop.
Perhaps because of that. Watching Rahel's face sour, the corners of my mouth began to twitch.
Rahel van Armad.
The name of the woman who, after arguing with me, would now be wandering Arbique for two hours as if she were alone.