Chapter 8 – 8. Falling Flowers
The day after Arthur disappeared.
Hilda, who remained in the village, was waiting for the chief and Arthur to return.
Knock.
I opened the door expecting to see Arthur when I heard a knock, but
“Who are you.?”
Outside the door stood an unfamiliar woman wearing a brown leather hat and carrying a large backpack.
“I am a postman from Padun. “Are you Mr. Helia?”
“Yes. “I am Helia.”
After hearing Hilda’s answer, the postman took out one of her letters from her bag and handed it to her.
“This is express mail. “I told you, so I’ll go!”
The postman bowed her head slightly in greeting and quickly disappeared. Hilda stared blankly at the disappearing postman.
“Weird.? “There is no one worth sending a letter to me.”
Hilda’s doubts did not last long. This is because the village chief’s name was written underneath her letter.
As Hilda opened the letter and read it, her hands began to tremble. The content of her letter states that Arthur did not return to the inn last night, although she is wandering around the city looking for him. She hasn’t found him yet, because it says she wants to come to the city and help her find Arthur.
‘Ji, now is not the time. I have to go to the city first.’
Thinking about it. Since Aris has become quite useful these days, it seemed a good idea to take her, so Hilda quickly headed to Milia’s house.
“Aris, come out quickly!!”
“Uh? “Master, what are you doing at this time?”
Since Aris was at her house, she was able to meet her right away, and Hilda hurriedly told her everything.
Aris’ face began to turn white as she listened to her story.
“Master! Hurry up! Arthur’s life could be in danger right now!!”
After assessing her situation, Aris quickly packed only the necessary items from her house.
Meanwhile, Hilda put the reins on Aris, who got on the horse she had brought with her, and the two headed towards Padun.
“Arthur… You must be safe… Cough!”
Even while riding her horse, Hilda was worried about Arthur.
Blood continued to flow from her mouth and her head hurt, but what mattered now was Arthur’s life and death, not her own.
Hilda spoke to Aris, who was riding next to her.
“Aris, listen carefully.”
“Yes. “Master.”
“We don’t have any information about Arthur right now. Because of this, I don’t know what will happen.”
Then Hilda took out her subspace pouch and showed it to Aris.
“So, if I do something wrong, can you pass this on to Arthur?”
“… Yes. “I will.”
Aris was moved to tears when she saw Hilda talking about death. What mattered now was Arthur, so he tried not to care anymore.
* * *
As a result of continuing to ride on her horse, she was able to quickly reach the city and meet the village chief in front of the inn.
“Hilia!!”
“Chief.”
“Have you found Arthur?”
It was a question I was wondering about, but the village chief just shook his head.
“I’ve been walking around the city all day, but I haven’t seen anyone.”
“Where was the last place you went?”
“Probably the library, because I liked reading there.”
After hearing her story, Hilda called Aris.
“Aris, you go to the library and look for clues about Arthur. “I will search for her in the back alleys and the gangsters’ dens.”
“Yes!”
“If we find any clues or anything, we will gather at the inn right away. “Let’s gather at the inn by 10 o’clock at the latest.”
With this, the three dispersed and began looking for Arthur.
* * *
Aris arrived at the library. She then approached a person who appeared to be a librarian at the entrance.
“Over there.”
“Hmm? What’s going on?”
“Did you happen to see someone with black hair and an eyepatch over one eye yesterday?”
“Yes? “It was yesterday…”
“Well… He’s about 5 centimeters shorter than me. “He must have always covered his face with a robe.”
Perhaps because Aris’s explanation was detailed, the librarian was able to quickly recall her forgotten memories of Arthur.
“Ah! I saw it. “She often comes, but her outfit is also unique.”
“Do you even remember where you went last?”
“Um… From what I remember, I think I left the library around dinner time…”
“Did you even see where it was going?”
“I’m not sure because I only saw her leaving the library. But she comes here often, so I think it would be better to wait at the library if she’s looking for me.”
“Well… He didn’t come home… So he’s missing now…”
“Oh… I’m sorry, ah! Now that I think about it, I think I saw priests in front of the library yesterday… Have you ever been to church?”
“Thank you. “I’ll go straight to church!”
Aris said hello to her librarian and quickly ran to the church.
Aris opened the door and spoke to the person in front of her.
“Huh… Hah… Over there?”
Then she looked back and saw a priest dressed in pure white inside the church.
“Hello. “What brought you to church so quickly?”
“I’m looking for that person.”
“Is that so? But as you can see, there is no one here.”
“No!!! Yesterday. He’s about 5 centimeters shorter than me… And black hair… And…”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember seeing anyone like that yesterday. And yesterday, the church was closed in the evening because the Pope and inquisitors came from the capital.”
“Is it so.? All right. Thank you for letting me know, priest.”
Disappointed, Aris thanked the priest and left the church.
The priest left alone in the church prayed while looking at the statue of the goddess.
“Please help me find the person I’m looking for. Goddess…”
‘Now that I think about it, I heard that a demon contractor confessed this morning… I guess that’s not the case?’
Thinking it wasn’t a priest, I prayed to the goddess again.
* * *
While Aris was wandering around, Hilda was wandering around her back alley, the sounds of appropriately merciless beatings echoing through her dirty alley.
“Sister, we really don’t know. We’ve never seen a kid like that.
And isn’t this a city? If you do something like that, you will be caught by the guards.! “
“That’s right. Guide me to your boss.”
“No… Sister, why are you doing this? Then I will really die!”
“Okay? Then you must die now.”
“Ah, I understand. Please put down that fist first!! “
* * *
Time passed quickly, and the appointed time arrived, and the three gathered at the inn.
“… So has anyone found out where Arthur went?”
“I couldn’t find it…”
After hearing the story, Hilda sighed and said.
She said, “I came to meet a guy named Boss who rules the back alleys of this city, and he said he didn’t know anything. “She thought it was a lie, so she destroyed it all and told it off, but there really was nothing.”
“I will search with Aris tomorrow, so could you, Hylia, look for it on the outskirts of the city?”
“Yes. “I will do that.”
But of course, the three were unable to find Arthur until the execution date approached.
* * *
As time passed, the day of Arthur’s execution approached.
Inside a dark prison. Arthur was lying on the floor, staring into space with his dead eyes.
Jump and jump.
The sound of familiar footsteps approached Arthur’s ears.
“Hey.!”
Out of habit, Arthur moved to a corner and crouched down, covering himself with his legs and arms.
The woman opened the prison door and approached Arthur.
Clap!
“…?”
With the sound he heard for the first time, Arthur was able to see his left hand released from its restraints.
“Hey, wake up.”
Since he would be subjected to a terrible assault if he disobeyed, Arthur stood up straight away without offering the slightest resistance.
Stumbling.
Of course, because his body was weak due to torture or assault, it was difficult to even stand properly.
“Uh, huh? Wait a minute. I have strength in my legs… Please don’t hit me. I can walk.!”
“Okay? Okay. I will help you, so let’s go out.”
The woman did not hit Arthur, but began to support him.
“Ugh…”
When he came outside, Arthur couldn’t help but squint his eyes due to the sunlight he hadn’t seen in a long time.
The moment when my vision began to return, and I could see ahead.
“Huh.?”
Suddenly my vision darkened. Not only that, she was having trouble breathing and she was feeling frustrated. When she touched her face with her left hand, she noticed that her entire head was covered by a thick cloth.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
With her words, the woman grabbed Arthur’s left side tightly.
“Ugh… Sorry… Sorry…”
“I will hold your hand, so follow me carefully.”
Arthur had no choice but to walk to her destination, relying on the woman’s hand.
“…”
At some point, the woman’s steps stopped.
“Huh?!”
Arthur was startled by the sensation of her hand sliding into his armpit. Her hand came in like that and seemed to lift Arthur and place him on top of something.
“Bow her head slightly.”
Arthur followed her words and slightly lowered his head. Then, something heavy was placed around her neck, and it shrunk in size as if it were wrapping around her neck.
Mate-!
Applause was heard from the side.
“This sinner is a contract of the devil. From now on, hangings will be carried out according to the criminal laws of the empire.”
Arthur couldn’t believe his ears.
‘I didn’t mean to release you.?’
She tried to say no right away, but her mouth just clicked, and her voice didn’t come out.
“This sinner must confess his sin to the public.”
“Hmm… No… I-I didn’t… Do anything. “Please save me, please… Save me… Ugh…”
He had to keep protesting, but Arthur, sobbing, could say nothing more. At that time, I heard a sound from ahead.
“Kill it!!!”
“My family was all killed by demons.”
“A bastard like you must die!! “How dare you make a contract with a demon?”
“Execute it quickly!!!”
All I could hear were voices wishing for my own death.
“Please, please save me… Please… Please…!”
“I will carry out the sentence.”
Rattle-
“Huh?!”
With a sound, the floor Arthur was stepping on disappeared. Arthur’s body fell, and his neck was being compressed by his leash.
‘Hilia…’
Arthur continued to struggle to escape, but eventually, unable to breathe, he lost consciousness.
* * *
“Master, I heard there is an execution ceremony for a demon contractor in the square over there.”
“Aris, now is not the time to see such things.”
At that time, the village chief’s voice was heard from afar.
“Hilia!!! Can you see the person hanging in the square over there!!!”
At the village chief’s words, Hilda’s eyes turned towards the square, and she looked at the person who was flailing around with her neck hanging? Although her face was hidden by the cloth, she was smaller than average. She definitely couldn’t see her right hand.
The moment she recognized Arthur, her choice was quick.
“Aris!!!! Run to the square!!!!!”
Aris, who heard the sound, started rushing toward the square without even asking.
At the same time, Arthur’s body sags. Hilda had to cut that cord from her right now. But how? Did she have the means at a distance? Even during the warrior party, she was in charge of the vanguard.
At that moment, her forgotten memories came to mind.
-So, you don’t have a long-range attack?
-I’m a vanguard anyway. There are also demons and warriors, so there is no need.
-Hmm. Since ancient times, an unmanned person has to be prepared for all situations.
At that time, he brought a tree branch, put it in my hand, and stood behind me.
Hilda recalled her memory and took out her sword.
-Do you see the flowers on the hill far away? Concentrate on that.
Just like I saw the flower then. I looked at the rope above Arthur’s head.
-I will guide the energy, so don’t reject it.
Hilda recalled her memories and moved her mana the same way as before. She’s Mana heading to the place he calls the upper level. She felt a huge headache and blood began to pool in her mouth.
‘Unlike back then, I don’t have enough mana.’
Without hesitation, Hilda burned up her remaining vitality to replenish her lack of mana.
-Can you feel it? The flower shaking with the wind?
At the same time, just like the flowers I had seen then, the rope in the distance now felt as if I could grasp it with my hand. As if it were right in front of you. It certainly didn’t make sense, but it was possible.
-Now.
In her memory, the guy moved my hand, and the tree branch was drawn horizontally. A speed that is neither fast nor slow.
My hand, which was holding the knife, was also drawn horizontally like that time.
-Tuk.
It was definitely a sound that couldn’t be heard. But as if it wasn’t a lie, the white flower on the hill separated from the stem.
White flower petals, set on a green hill, were slowly falling to the ground. Adjust your body to the blowing breeze.
Suddenly-!
This time there was a sound again. The sound of a rope being cut.
When I looked ahead, I saw that the rope around Arthur’s neck had been cut and Arthur had fallen to the floor.
-How do you feel?
-Ugh!! You crazy guy!!! If there were side effects like this, you should have told me.! Phew. So what is the name of the technology?
-You have to make that up. Isn’t it your skill now?
-What. Isn’t fun.
Hilda recited, remembering the flower petals at that time.
“Falling flowers…”
-That’s stupid. You only gave me a name at the end. But that’s just you.
Hilda had an auditory hallucination that made it sound like the guy was talking.
Shake it off!
“Ugh. Ah. Not yet…”
When she finally raised her head and looked in front of her, she saw Aris running towards the execution platform. After confirming this, Hilda took off the red jeweled necklace she was wearing around her neck and held it tightly in her hand.
‘Goddess, please… Help me protect Arthur even if I have to die.’
At that moment, light flowed from Hilda’s body and into the necklace she was holding, which she placed in her subspace pocket before she was able to smile and close her eyes.
