Episode 34

“…If I’m the first person you’ve seen like me, where did you hear the term ‘one who cannot forget’?”

“My master used that term to describe me.”

“Your master?”

“Yes. I may be like this now, but I used to work as a wizard in the capital. Because of my disability, I could only do minor tasks.”

I knew it.

I hadn’t mistaken it; that robe was indeed for wizards.

“…Is your master also a wizard?”

“No, he was a fortune teller.”

“Have you ever heard your master talk about a ‘book’ or an ‘original story’?”

The man rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a while, then slowly shook his head.

Oh no.

I felt a sudden sense of deflation.

“But even though he never mentioned it, my master might know. He was someone who knew everything about this world and other worlds.”

My hope rekindled, and my hands trembled with excitement and nervousness.

If I could meet his master, perhaps I could find a way to escape my fate.

“Can I meet him?”

“I’m sorry, but I’ve lived outside the capital for a long time and don’t know his current whereabouts. The last time we exchanged letters was the winter before last, and I haven’t received any replies to my letters and gifts since then.”

“So, he was still in the capital the last time you heard from him?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

The man nodded.

Alright, this was enough for now.

I needed to take this man to the capital.

I couldn’t explain everything to Igon, but I could tell him enough to get his help in finding this master.

Ah, Igon.

I suddenly remembered that I had left him waiting while I went off looking for him.

Time must have passed while we were talking.

Now, I was worried that Igon might be searching for me.

“Thank you so much. You’ve been a great help. I didn’t inform my companion, so he might be worried. Could you wait here for a moment? I’ll take you to my place so we can talk more comfortably…”

“Thank you for the offer, but I’m afraid that’s not possible.”

“What?”

I hadn’t expected a refusal, especially such a firm one. I asked again in surprise.

Did he think I was trying to take advantage of him without offering anything in return?

“I’m not trying to take you away without any compensation. I mean, actually…”

“No, please don’t say anything more. Whoever you are, this is all I can do to help.”

The man was resolute.

He drew a line.

I couldn’t understand why his attitude had changed so suddenly.

Had I made a mistake?

But I couldn’t give up just like this.

This wasn’t just a random encounter with someone similar to me.

This was nearly the only way I had found to survive.

“I can’t explain everything here, but this is extremely important to me. It’s a matter of life and death. Please, help me.”

Please.

I almost kneeled to beg.

The man let out a deep sigh at my desperate plea.

“I’m truly sorry, but this is all I know,” he said, looking very troubled.

“And I really cannot go with you to help. People like us have learned that we must never speak of our past to anyone except each other.”

“What?”

“Everything I’ve told you, I cannot share with anyone else. This is one of the rules of this world.”

“Rules?”

“If I had told someone from this world who is not one of the ‘ones who cannot forget,’ I would have faced some form of punishment in accordance with this world’s causality. These rules are meant to prevent chaos.”

I stood there, speechless, staring down at him.

Rules?

I recalled when I had spoken to Liam about my past life.

If what this man said was true, then maybe that was why…

The shock rendered me silent.

The man, interpreting my silence, sighed deeply, resigned.

He then pulled out what looked like a letter from his sleeve and handed it to me.

“This is part of the letters my master sent me.”

I took the letter, bewildered, from the man’s master.

“My master poked holes in the paper so I could read it. You might not be able to understand the content, but the address of my master’s last known lodging is written on the cover. The handwriting on the envelope might also be helpful.”

The tattered letter showed how often he had opened it.

I was willing to do anything for help, but receiving this made me wonder if it was really okay to take it.

“Are you sure it’s alright to give this to me?”

“It’s fine. I’ve memorized the contents. Just, if you meet my master, please ask him to send me a letter.”

The man’s face looked surprisingly calm as he handed me the letter.

I bowed deeply to show my gratitude.

“Thank you… truly, thank you.”

When I looked up again, the man had disappeared, though the spot where he had sat remained unchanged.

I realized that the man who had once been a wizard disappeared, fearing I might ask more troubling questions.

I tightly clutched the letter he had left me.

“Eve!”

At that moment, I heard a familiar voice from a distance.

I ran towards the sound.

***

Holding a drink, Igon returned to find that the person he expected to be there was gone.

For a moment, his vision blurred.

He was shocked but knew he had to remain calm.

As he turned around, imagining the worst, a middle-aged woman nearby spoke to him.

“Are you looking for the young lady who was here?”

Igon, his face pale, stared at the woman without nodding.

He waited for her to continue.

The woman sighed deeply, looking into Igon’s face.

Without saying a word, she simply stared at him.

“Did someone take her?” Igon asked.

“N-no, it wasn’t that. She stood up and left, without watching the play. I think she went looking for someone.”

Relief washed over him, realizing she hadn’t been taken.

His heart still pounded rapidly, but looking back, it wasn’t something to be overly worried about.

If she went looking for him, he could retrace his steps and find her.

Igon tried to remain calm and started searching for Evelyn.

However, as he passed by drunken revelers, muttering curses under his breath, he turned and ran back.

The wooden cup he held slipped from his grip and fell to the ground.

The memory of the roadside stall owner and his friends leering at Evelyn came to mind, making him grit his teeth.

He should never have left her alone.

Of all people, he had to meet her.

“Sir?”

Evelyn was admiring some decorations when Igon, who was watching her from a few steps away, was approached by someone.

Sir.

It was a title he no longer expected to hear.

The familiar accent made him turn his head.

A short man with curly auburn hair stood there, grinning widely.

His face was flushed from drinking, and the front of his tunic and beard were soaked with alcohol.

His stout body seemed solid, but compared to the rugged locals who did hard labor, he didn’t stand out much.

But he was from the north.

Igon could tell from the light in his eyes.

Recognizing the familiar face, Igon narrowed his eyes.

Igon, who never forgot anything, immediately identified the man despite the years since he had left the north.

He was one of those who had once been called Rodore’s hounds, a commoner-born archer who had served alongside the late Duke to guard the border.

In the north, where even the fires on the matchlock often went out, he had been an archer.

He could identify the type of magical beast from a great distance.

Even on days when the snow was blowing so hard that most people couldn’t see ahead, he could shoot an arrow and hit his target precisely.

He was a master archer, but he indulged in drinking, gambling, and wild romances.

There was nothing to emulate about his personal life, but he had extraordinarily good eyesight.

He had once taught Igon how to survive in the north.

Still, Igon never expected to encounter him here, in this rural place, and in such a disheveled state.

No, he had thought they might meet again someday, but not like this.

“My goodness, it’s you! Should I call you Duke now?”

The man, meeting Igon after such a long time, seemed genuinely delighted.

Even though their connection hadn’t been particularly pleasant.

Igon looked at him quietly and then nodded slightly.

He patted the man’s shoulder and said.

“We have a lot to talk about. Let’s meet here a bit later.”

After saying that, he placed Evelyn in a crowded spot where no one could easily approach and take her away.

There was a guard nearby, so he thought it would be relatively safe.

He told her he would go get something to drink and then went to find the man.

* * *

As Igon made his way back through the busy market, he couldn’t shake the feeling of unease.

The encounter with the man from the north had brought back memories he had long since buried.

He finally spotted the man leaning against a stall, drinking from a flask.

“There you are.”

Igon said, approaching him.

The man looked up, his eyes lighting up once again.

“I thought you might not come back, Duke.” he said with a grin.

“I told you we have much to discuss. But first, tell me, what brings you to this place?” Igon asked.

The man shrugged.

“Life, I suppose. Things didn’t go so well for me after you left the north. Ended up wandering, and here I am.”

Igon nodded, not entirely surprised by the man’s story.

“Well, let’s start with the basics. Do you know anything about the current situation in the north?” Igon inquired.

The man’s expression grew serious. “It’s tough up there, Duke. The magical beasts are getting bolder, and without strong leadership… well, it’s not good.”

Igon sighed, knowing the man’s words held truth.

“I expected as much. But let’s focus on what’s ahead. There’s something important I need to find out, and I believe you might be able to help.”

The man’s eyes widened with curiosity.

“Of course, Duke. I’ll do what I can.”

As they continued their conversation, Igon couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope.

With allies, even unexpected ones, there might be a way to navigate the challenges that lay ahead.