Chapter 21 (1/2)

After I had breakfast, I called Aira and Palmira out to the balcony

It was arrogant to say this, as a guest, but this balcony was my favorite

The pleasant feeling of the wind, and best of all, the great view

The light blue of the sky and the indigo of the sea were a sight for sore eyes

When I looked down, I could see the port city bustling with huoodbye in a few days’ time

I gave Aira and Palmira a simple explanation of my plans from this point on

For the tie business under wraps

I turned it down, so talking about it would s too complicated

“The imperial capital! Really? I’ve never been there before”

Aira was openly happy At least, that was how it looked on the outside, but she didn’t have an any other ‘side’ to her She was genuinely delighted with the idea

I looked at Palmira

Her expression seemed a touch complex

“What is it?”

“…I don’t have any good memories of the imperial capital”

From the sound of it, Palmira had been released from prison at the capital But that didn’t necessarily mean in the capital

As the capital city of one of the three global superpowers, its size was on such a scale that Telaberan couldn’t even compare Naturally, it was enclosed by walls, but with space at a premium inside, the city expanded beyond theradually descended deeper and deeper into poverty Apparently, Pale

According to Palmira herself, she didn’t so much live there as exist there

“I don’t kno to live But I don’t want to die So — ”

She passed her days stealing and being stolen from Finally, she herself was stolen…

“But if you’re going, Chris, I’ll go too I don’t mind it that much”

Well, if it’s Palht

The imperial capital

Fro If I re merchant caravans

Back then, I didn’t venture inside the walls, so I had never seen the city inside that daunting outer shell Just up to the districts next to the walls, at most

That said, it was still a fairly large city Within the outer edge, public order wasn’t half bad, and the city had set up various municipal institutions

Since the Adventurers’ Guild was located there as well, it wasn’t especially difficult to buy soht

–

–

We spent the wholeout on the balcony

It was nice and co to do With our departure for the capital scheduled the day after tomorrow, ultimately, all we could do until then ait

Gazing out over the city and the sea, as far my eyes could see, relaxed me Aira and Palmira were similar, but neither see themselves at home on the balcony

At some point I was inclined to strike up a conversation with them But for soainst the hand railing, looking at the scenery visible only from where I stood

Without anything to do, my mind ran in circles

The e business with Leon was particularly inconsequential right now What I was far

I suppose I could call her the other Chris

…Isn’t that the [me] in my dreams?

Giving up on ether

I sighed I’d never checked how I looked in the dreams There was an objective part of me that said these were no more than dreams, but somehow, I knee looked the same

I couldn’t say for sure, but even so — with ies of such clarity before me, no matter how I tried, I couldn’t help but suspect that it was the dream [me]

Back then, I ran From that conclusions I drew there Because all I felt was a primal fear

But now, it was impossible for me not to think about it I wasn’t that capable I couldn’t continue to avert my eyes from the issues that were all too clear to me

I braced ical conclusion

At that time, I didn’t turn into a woman

Most likely, my soul, and my soul alone, possessed the [Chris] Leon said was dead

Of course, I didn’t knohat [Chris] was doing in the Artor Ruins Cluster But there was probably some kind of ht now, the story would fall apart without it

I drank the medicine and pass out Then, by some sort of mechanism, I possessed her Now, this theory was clearly a perfect fit

When I considered things frole, I could explain the parts that confused me

The fact that I acquired the ability to use ic

The mysterious memories within me The dreams

Not to mention, now that I remembered, why I was stark naked when I came back out of the ruins

I’d thought that es in my physique, but still, it eird for me to be completely butt-naked It wouldn’t have been unusual for soer that everything had gone

I dug deeper into my memories of that day

Thanks to some unknown influence, my awareness was hazy I knew for a fact that I’d been in the Artor underground

But did I start in the same place where I drank the medicine?

I didn’t know for certain, but it was natural to think that that was not the case

By this point, it was clear to me that this line of speculation was the correct one

But in that case, I was left with one final and vitally important question

That is:

“What’s troubling you, Big Sister?”

My train of thought had gotten that far when I heard a voice from behind me

The voice froht me out of my contemplation, and I turned around

…Not that I had to It was Aira Palht they were at the table on the other end of the balcony, but they had co

“Ah, uhhh… no, it’s nothing”

“It’s not good to worry all alone,”

Palmira said flatly as she fixedabout it

I knew the gaze locked onto th That look wasn’t nasty, it was pleading for so

Without lingering, I turnedback at nation, reproaching me

“I think you’re strong, Big Sister But that’s also why you look like you’re shouldering everything by yourself… Until noe’ve left everything up to you, but — but I believe it would be better if you could rely on us more”

Aira’s words were resolute, her expression unusually serious

“Of course… Of course, Iabout s out loud I want you to count on us If it’s just listening, we can do that anytime you need it So… don’t keep your troubles to yourself…”

“Chris You’re with us, and we’re with you I want you to know that”

Aira and Pal with me The words they strained to tell me were an earnest plea

I faltered under the weight of their unwavering gazes No one had ever looked at me with those eyes, or said those words to me

Even though I screamed for help, no one said, ‘Count on me’

For anything, for everything, I relied on myself

‘If I don’t do it ht, that’s what I did

If no one will save me, I won’t count on anyone else

That way, I’ll have no regrets

But, now, these two people said to count on theed me, ‘Please rely on us’

So I didn’t knohat to do

If it were Leon, ould he say? Come to think of it, I’d heard it said that the two of us were similar It was then —

[Right? That’s what I mean]

…That’s what you mean, huh?

“…That’s right”

Sently patted both of them on the head