Chapter 7: Offering a Sacrifice - 2
I stared quietly at the diary and spoke.
“How can I save her? How could I possibly bring Arlia out of that heavily guarded Imperial Palace?”
< I do not know. >
“Hey.”
< …… >
What the hell was I even doing right now?
I looked pitiful, pestering a diary like this.
Well, to be fair, this thing had already done more than its share by helping until now.
I started thinking hard.
Then, suddenly, a thought struck .
“Co to think of it… before I fell asleep in that field, I thought I heard a voice. That was you, wasn’t it? If you can’t show words, you speak through a voice instead?”
< Yes. >
“Then from now on, just speak with your voice.”
[ Understood. ]
The voice clearly rang in my ears.
I tried to guess the owner of that voice, but failed.
‘I have no idea.’
Actually, if it had been a familiar voice, that would’ve been even creepier.
Anyway, that wasn’t the important part right now.
“At that ti, you said your functions had been upgraded. I think it was sothing like a secret communication feature. What exactly is that?”
[ It is a communication function. Sir Mason can converse ntally, regardless of distance, but only with those whom he has saved. ]
……
It said sothing incredible in such a casual tone.
If that was true, then I could try to talk to Arlia.
“Wait. Then why didn’t my future self ever try that? He could’ve warned Arlia beforehand not to kill anyone. The book must have been upgraded even then, right?”
[ The Mason in the Future Diary did not obtain ‘’. ]
“What?”
[ The Mason in the Future Diary did not obtain ‘’. ]
“I didn’t ask you to repeat yourself.”
The diary went silent.
Whatever. It didn’t matter anymore.
There were too many things I couldn’t understand, and I didn’t have ti to dwell on each one.
The most important thing now was saving Arlia again in this second ga.
“I’ll use the function right away. What do I need to do?”
[ Hold the diary in your hand… ]
Just then—
Knock, knock.
“Mason? Are you still not ready?”
Mrs. yren.
I pulled my hand away from the diary and lightly slapped my cheeks.
“It’s done. I’ll be right there.”
“All right.”
Suddenly, my chest felt heavy.
I had already stepped out of my ordinary life.
As soone who belonged to the extraordinary now, I could no longer help Mrs. yren in her daily life.
That night.
I was riding in a carriage, speeding along the road.
The image of Mrs. yren, who had been sad and gloomy all day, lingered in my mind.
She had finally reported Mr. Forgotten’s disappearance and told that a formal investigation would take place.
“Mason, he’ll be all right, won’t he? They’ll find him soon?”
To that, I answered, “Of course.”
While enduring the sharp pain stabbing through my chest.
That night, after closing the restaurant and confirming that she had gone to bed, I slipped out—almost like I was running away.
Not just from the restaurant, but from the entire domain itself.
“Diary. Mrs. yren will be all right, won’t she?”
[ I do not understand the intent of your question. ]
“The pouch of gold coins Magireta gave —I left it in my attic just as it was. With that, she could live as a wealthy woman for the rest of her life even without a head of household. Her son, who lives independently, will surely return to help her.”
[ I do not understand what you an. ]
“But… can sothing like that really fill the hole in her heart? No, of course not.”
[ I see. The question was not directed at . Returning to standby mode. ]
This diary really didn’t know how to read the mood.
I let out a deep sigh and said,
“I have sothing to do, so don’t fall asleep.”
[ Standby mode is different from sleep mode. ]
“Never mind that. Let’s continue what we were doing earlier. I want to speak to Arlia.”
Following the diary’s instructions, I reached out to her.
The diary floated in the air—it had no physical form, yet once I decided to use the feature, I could grasp it in my hands.
Holding it tightly, I pictured Arlia in my mind and spoke.
“Are you safe, Your Highness?”
There was no reply.
But I could clearly hear the sound of soone gasping in surprise.
She must have been startled by this strange phenonon.
After waiting a few monts, Arlia’s voice finally ca through.
[ Mason? Is that you, Mason? ]
“Yes. I hope you’ve been well, though it’s only been a day.”
[ You—you’re not… with Magireta, are you? ]
That suspicion was fair.
I wasn’t so wizard from a fairy tale or legend—if soone could cause such an impossible event, Magireta was the only person she knew who could.
I answered firmly.
“Of course not.”
[ I see. ]
“I’ll explain—wait, are you already convinced?”
[ Yes. You’re the one who saved my life. I’ll believe whatever you say. ]
What did saving her life have to do with that?
I’d spent all day coming up with a “reasonable” story that Arlia might believe.
Sothing more plausible than a diary only I could see, one that recorded the future.
“Well, as I said, I’m not allied with Magireta. This is rely a magical ans of communication.”
[ What nonsense. Do you take for a fool? ]
“You just said you’d believe anything I said.”
[ Still, it can’t be magic. Magic? Really? ]
I protested, sounding almost wronged.
“Why not? Magic exists. Even the things Magireta did must have used so form of it.”
[ Well… maybe. But you were a restaurant worker, weren’t you? I don’t an to belittle the job, but a restaurant worker being a wizard from legend—it just doesn’t match.]
As expected, this wasn’t going to be easy.
Well, that was understandable—magic was a word that had long faded from the modern world.
So, I decided to use the story I’d prepared.
“Your Highness knows I’ve lost my mories, right?”
[ Hm? Yes. ]
“So of those mories have returned.”
[ ……! ]
“In the distant corners of my mind, I rember learning magic and astrology from soone. I can’t recall their face, their na, or their age, but I clearly rember that they taught those things.”
By setting up an unnad, untraceable teacher, my story would sound more believable.
Claiming I’d learned magic on my own out of nowhere would’ve been ridiculous.
Thanks to my mory loss, I could keep things vague and foggy like this.
Then suddenly—
Arlia exclaid in a tone of realization.
[ Berseum! ]
“Yes?”
[ The person who taught you magic—it might have been Berseum! ]
Berseum.
Around ten years ago, that na was notorious across the land.
Once, Berseum had been a great scholar and astrologer whose fa shook the entire continent.
Even the Emperor was said to have sought his counsel before deciding the Empire’s most important matters.
However, that great man went mad one day.
He began to claim that he had seen the future through astrology, and he went around shouting that a Demon King would descend upon this land and destroy the world.
Since he had already been famous as a prophet, the world was shaken by his words — so much so that a new religion was even born around them.
But in the end, he was accused of deceiving the masses and executed for it.
I scratched my head.
“I’d rather not believe that my teacher was a cult leader.”
[ Berseum, as a great scholar, wandered through countless ruins and devoted himself to researching ancient texts. I’m sure he found a clue about magic there. ]
“Your Highness?”
[ But such a great discovery is always taken away by the Empire and the Imperial Family. I see now. He must have secretly studied magic—with one brilliant disciple. ]
“Um…”
[ Then perhaps Berseum’s madness was also connected to his magical research. The sa reason could explain why you lost your mory. ]
……
Why did it feel like…
Even I was starting to believe her.
Listening to her, it almost sounded like Berseum really had been my teacher.
‘Well, if she concludes it that way, it makes things easier for .’
I returned to the main point.
“Whatever the truth is, we can’t verify it right now. What I’m about to tell you is far more important. Please focus.”
[ You sound like my private tutor. ]
From Arlia’s voice, I could tell she had regained her composure.
So, I decided to bring up the main topic of today’s conversation.
“As I ntioned earlier, I learned astrology alongside magic.”
[ Hmm. That makes sense. Berseum was well-versed in astrology, after all. ]
“…Anyway, once my mories ca back, the first thing I tried was astrology. I was curious about what my future would look like, being caught up in such a strange ga.”
Gulp.
The diary’s function was impressive—it even conveyed the sound of Arlia swallowing.
[ And? What did you see? ]
“I couldn’t see far into the future. But one month from now, I was still alive and well.”
[ Are you sure Magireta’s second quest hasn’t started yet? She didn’t tell you when it would begin, did she? ]
“No.”
I took a deep breath before continuing.
“The second quest will begin within a month.”
[ Why… ]
“Because Your Highness will die within a month.”
Hup.
Arlia sharply inhaled.
I quickly continued speaking.
“After I looked into my own future, the next person I checked was you, Your Highness.”
[ ? Why? ]
“I told you back in the first ga, didn’t I? I want to save you.”
[ …Why, though? ]
“I don’t really know. I can only say that I just… really want to.”
Arlia fell silent for a mont before speaking again.
[ So, I really die, then. ]
“No. I’ll make sure you live.”
[ Mason. ]
“Let’s et in person first, Your Highness. I’m on a carriage headed toward the capital right now.”
Was she surprised?
Or afraid?
There was no response for a while.
But when Arlia finally spoke again, her voice had steadied.
[ You can’t enter the Imperial Palace. ]
“I’m not asking to. That’s why I need Your Highness to co out instead.”
[ …All right. Where should we et? ]
“I’m not familiar with the geography of the capital. Is there a place where we could et without drawing attention?”
She hesitated briefly, then said,
[ Don’t co into the capital. Once you’re inside, there’s nowhere to hide from people’s eyes. ]
“Then…”
[ There’s a hunting ground where the Imperial Family holds an event twice a year. It’s forbidden to all except by the Emperor’s command. On the road to the capital, about twenty minutes before you arrive, you’ll find a fork—take that path. ]
Arlia said that the hunting ground was called Mount Glory.
An entire mountain reserved as a private hunting ground.
Truly, the thoughts of high-ranking people always surpassed common sense.
“If it’s restricted, wouldn’t it be difficult for to enter? There must be guards stationed at the entrance.”
[ I’ll give an order under so pretext to clear them out. When do you expect to reach the capital? ]
“Hmm… if nothing goes wrong, in about a week.”
[ Then a week from now, at 8 p.m., I’ll create a gap in the guards’ patrol. Sneak in during that ti. If your arrival ti changes, report to in real ti like you did now. ]
“Understood.”
[ Follow the narrow path up the hill, and you’ll find a cabin. It’s used to process the first round of hunted animals. Hide there, and I’ll co to find you. ]
I nodded, then suddenly had a curious thought.
“But Your Highness, do you attend those hunting events too? How do you know the place so well?”
Arlia answered in a light tone.
[ I’m not interested in such events. But that place—outside of hunting season, no one goes there. When I want to be alone, there’s no better spot. ]
“You have tis like that too, Your Highness?”
[ It’s because I’m a princess that I do. Ever since I was little, whenever I felt sad, I’d go there to watch the stars. ]
Regardless of her tone, she was quite a sensitive and introspective princess.
Anyway, it seed our first round of discussion was complete.
I reminded her once again, firmly.
“As you know, you must not bring anyone with you. You must co alone.”
[ Of course. If this bizarre ga gets exposed, we’ll both be killed. ]
That was true—but there was another reason.
According to the diary, before the second ga even began, Arlia was forced to kill the person she cherished most.
And that trauma had broken her completely.
Since I didn’t know who the victim was or why it happened, I had to make sure she stayed away from everyone from the start.
“I’ll be counting on you, then.”
[ And I on you. ]
“That’s all for today’s conversation. Uh, right… I’ll cancel the magic now.”
[ It’s an honor to have t a wizard from legend. ]
Her last words carried a trace of playful teasing.
As I scratched my head, she added softly,
Her tone this ti was gentle.
[ Thank you, truly, for last ti as well, Mason. I’ll be sure to repay this debt. ]
Reviews
All reviews (0)