Chapter 4.2 (1/2)

Chapter 4, Part 2 – The Price of Betrayal

The winters in the Tard Region were long. Unlike Velcant, where there was warm weather all year round, the atmosphere of all four seasons in this region was very beautiful.

I had acquired information that Rin was here in the small and remote country of Calmonde, which resided in the wide Tard Region that was under Gaku’s direct control and management.

About a year had pa.s.sed since Rin’s whereabouts had become unknown. For angels, one year was not a terribly long time. But even so, to disappear without any explanation was unusual.

Normally, angels recognize things by relying on the holy energy within all life forms. That was why, no matter where she was in the world, she could have been easily located if I had tracked her holy energy. However, since about one year ago, all traces of her holy energy had vanished. No matter how much I searched, I had been unable to sense her soul anywhere.

I had hurriedly searched the area in which she had battled with a demon previously, the human residence when she had gone incognito, and had my unit search all of Velcant, but I had not found a single clue. I had considered that possibility that her soul itself had vanished, but Meiko’s report had overruled that theory. She had told us that Rin’s soul had not yet vanished. There was no mistake in her report, as a caretaker of the Tree of Life. At around that same time, I had acquired a piece of information.

Rin was here in the human world.

In a corner of the quiet country town was a desolate bar. Although the night was still very young, the humans were already drinking and making much noise. The Gaudente Bar was the only tavern in this town, and seemed to grow crowded with both young and old people alike as they all gathered here on the weekends.

I didn’t dislike the hustle and bustle, but with the state my heart was in currently, the noise was a bit harsh on my ears. Hiding my wings and making the rest of myself visible to even human eyes, I entered the tavern to wait. Sitting down at the counter, this would be the first time that I’d drink alcohol paid for with human currency. Felle va Dous, a drink made by distilling apples from this region, had a rather fine taste for something from the human world. After a while, the bell above the entrance rang. A youth was standing in the doorway. In human years, he looked to be the age of one who had finally reached drinking age. Looking at his face, one that was etched into my memory so deeply it hurt, I realized it. I really had been naïve, after all.

The youth caught sight of me, and slowly, he smiled with a fleeting smile that seemed like it would vanish at any moment.

That smile reminded me of another colleague I had once lost, making my heart stir slightly.

“This drink is delicious, isn’t it?”

After telling the shopkeeper that we had confidential matters to discuss, we moved to a private room on the second floor. The youth had ordered the same Felle va Dous as I, and drank it one gulp with an accustomed manner. When he said it was “delicious,” I could see from his expression that he truly enjoyed this “human refreshment.”

“…… It’s not bad.”

“The quality of the apples this year is particularly great. That’s why the alcohol is delicious, too.”

“I see.”

“I went to the farm to help out for this season’s harvest, since they were shorthanded because it was a really abundant harvest this year.”

“Is that your job?”

“Yeah… It’s not much, but I manage the land around here. And, what about you…..?”

“….. Well, within this year, the demon faith has been spreading at a rapid pace. I was sent here, to the Tard Region, to investigate the damage caused by Honest. They’re shorthanded in Heaven, as well…. As you know, this region is under Gaku’s control, however…. The damage here is even greater than in Velcant, and so they ordered that I come to a.s.sist.”

“I see…. As usual, things sound hectic.”

The meandering conversation continued. Between angels, there shouldn’t have been any need to worry, even if they hadn’t talked for a year; that amount of time was barely anything at all to us, after all.

“….. Since I thought I wouldn’t be able to say it well once I saw your face….”

The boy who sat beside me took out a single letter from his pocket. I accepted the letter, which was beautifully sealed.

“I’m…. not going back to Heaven anymore.”

“……”

“But… I’m sure you knew that, with the way I look now….”

“……”

“Even though… you came all this way…. I’m really, truly…..”

Before he could finish his apology, I pulled him towards me, pressing his face against my chest. I didn’t want to hear those words yet. There should be many ways in which I could still save her. I just had to think. There was still time.

“…. Do you think I came all the way to the countryside to hear something like this?”

“….. But….”