Chapter 56: Mother’s Secret (4)

Chapter 56: Square 50: The Entrance Where It All Began

When I woke up, it wasn’t at that unnaturally beautiful, unsettling riverside bench...

"...!? I’m ali—ngh..."

Touching the wound that throbbed with a numbing ache, my hand met the feel of soft, well-made cloth. Looking closer, it had been properly treated and wrapped in sturdy bandages. More than that, I was lying on a warm bed. The room was clean, sweet-smelling aroma burning somewhere nearby.

"...Did someone save me?"

"Ah, you’re awake."

Turning toward the voice, a freckled woman stood there with a bucket, smiling warmly.

"...Did you save me, by any chance? Thank you so much!"

I bowed deeply from the bed.

"No, no, it’s fine. Also, it was my husband who carried you here after finding you collapsed on the street. I only tended to you."

What a kind couple, saving a complete stranger like this. My eyes welled up with gratitude.

"But I’m really glad. You were unconscious for a full day, you know."

...A full day? For a moment, my mind went blank at her words. I immediately checked my watch, and the dial showed 13:40.

"No good, ...no time to be lying around here!"

With this much time gone, Shiran and Flaut were in danger. They should be safe in the underground storage, but they might’ve gone out for food supplies. I needed to get back, fast!

"Sounds like you’re in some kind of situation."

Saying that, the woman pointed toward the back door of the house.

"There was a carriage abandoned nearby, figured it might be yours. It’s parked out back. Shall I hitch up the horse right away?"

"Really!? Please, thank you so much!"

"Alright, I’ll get it ready right away."

Saying that, the woman set down her bucket and hurried off. Helping me this much without even asking why, I was genuinely lucky to have been saved by people like this. Grateful for their kindness, I went to help prepare the carriage.

"Alright, this should be fine."

The ropes checked out fine. Even with some rough driving, it shouldn’t come loose.

"Really, thank you for everything."

"Don’t mention it. We help each other out when times are tough."

I bowed deeply and gripped the reins. The duke could wait. Right now, I needed to get back to Shiran and Flaut. I snapped the reins harder than usual, urging the horse on.

"...No bag."

Standing at the entrance to the underground storage, I froze. Right, I’d left everything, tools and phone included. The key was inside the bag, meaning I couldn’t open the door.

"Should I go back for it? No... but."

Knowing it was pointless, I reached for the doorknob anyway.

"...It’s open?"

The lock was designed to open from the inside. Probably Flaut or Shiran had opened it. Thinking that, I pulled the door and stepped inside. Descending the stairs, something felt off.

"Wait, did this door open outward?"

If my memory was right, the entrance door should have opened inward. Looking closely at the wobbling door, the hinges were cracked, nearly detached. This door no longer served any purpose as a barrier.

"Damn it, bad feeling about this."

Pushing my aching body forward, I hurried down the stairs.

"Shiran! Flaut...?"

The room was in a horrific state. Books scattered everywhere, shelves knocked over, ladders broken. Scorch marks everywhere, it was a miracle the place hadn’t caught fire.

"Hey, where are you two!? Answer me!!"

My voice echoed hollowly through the vast space. I wanted to grab my head in despair, but I couldn’t afford to give up hope yet. I searched desperately through the wrecked room.

"...What’s that over there?"

One area was unnaturally tidy. Items deliberately moved aside, and on a dust-wiped table sat a single, meaningful-looking envelope.

"A letter, ...what’s inside?"

Inside was fine paper with just a single line written on it.

"’Order the sewer rat cocktail at the Alzemi tavern’? What the hell is this, who would..."

I had no idea what was going on. But something like this being left behind meant the two of them really had been taken. I gripped the letter tightly and shoved it carelessly into my pocket.

"Guess I have no choice but to go, to this Alzemi tavern place."

"Alzemi? Never heard of a tavern by that name."

"I see, thank you."

I’d figured asking around would get me an answer quickly, but everyone said the same thing. Maybe it was some obscure, out-of-the-way place.

"An obscure tavern... come to think of it, I’ve been to a place like that before."

Half convinced, half doubtful, I snapped the reins.

"Really don’t want to see this place again."

I stared at the bench along the water channel and sighed. The bench where I’d returned to start, the first place I’d ever come back to other than by dying. Right nearby, down a back alley, was the place I was looking for.

"The Alzemi tavern... so this really was it."

Faded and hard to read, but I could make out the word "Alzemi." The first time I’d died in this world. I hadn’t forgotten getting tangled up with thugs at this exact place and killed.

"...Right, better take this off, just in case."

To avoid repeating the same mistake, I tucked my watch into my pocket, just to be safe.

"Never thought I’d come back here..."

Sighing, I stepped inside the bar. The same sullen-faced bartender as always was polishing glasses with a click of his tongue. I took a seat at the counter.

"Bartender, bit of an odd order..."

The bartender’s expression didn’t change. Really going through with ordering exactly what was written in that note, was that actually a good idea? But there was no turning back now.

"Um, do you have something called the sewer rat cocktail?"

"Sure do."

Surprisingly, the answer came immediately. Genuinely surprised something with that name actually existed as a drink. But what would drinking it even tell me?

"Here, the cocktail."

Saying that, the bartender poured a fruity-smelling drink. But as if it were purely for show, he opened the counter’s gate and pointed toward a door in the back. Then, as though nothing had happened, he immediately went back to wiping condensation off glasses.

"That way, huh."

I downed the drink in one go and stood up from my seat. Setting the glass down, something about the coaster caught my eye.

"...Paper?"

Looking closer, it was a folded scrap of paper. Unfolding the paper, damp with a ring-shaped water stain from the glass. Hard to make out clearly, but it looked like a map.

"You got something to do with Duke Vade?"

Surprisingly, it was the bartender asking that.

"Heard a guy in an unfamiliar black outfit would come by, figured that’s you. Got a message for you. Says go to the marked location. Now hurry up and go."

Half-pulled along, I stepped through the back door. Beyond it was a small, one-tatami-mat sized space, with doors on either side. Judging by the structure, probably meant to prevent eavesdropping or sound leaking through. The far door was a sturdy-looking iron one. I threw my weight against it, pulling it open.

"Heavy! Feels like this keeps happening lately."

Pushing through the unwelcoming door, stairs led downward from there. Beyond that, the wooden construction gave way to something more like a cave, bare rock exposed on all sides.

"The two of them are down there..."

Someone had planned this far ahead. There was almost certainly a trap waiting below. Heading into a place like that, with no tools and already injured. Even by my own standards, this was reckless beyond reason. But running away now would mean Shiran and Flaut die.

"Fine. I’ll do it. I’ll damn well do it!!"

I slapped both my cheeks hard, psyching myself up. My resolve was set.

"Hang in there, I will save you, no matter what!"

Those words were more for myself than anyone else. Suppressing the fear of possibly dying, my feet started down the stairs.