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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: The Guide
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The voice that came through gritted teeth was terribly rough and low.
His half-crazed, menacing golden eyes were not those of a man, but of a wild beast.
Which meant he was on the verge of losing his reason.
Winchester did his best to calm him.
“I think I was too hasty. I apologize for that, I’m sorry. I swear on the Emperor’s name that I will find Aika safely. So please, just calm down and wait.”
“If you hadn't given her that damned thing in the first place, none of this would have happened, Winchester Gaia Celledor.”
“It was Ceria’s request. I promised not to interfere with anything that happens here. All Ceria asked of me was to trust her and wait.”
They had been friends long enough to see each other at their worst, but since Winchester had ascended the throne, Cassel had at least maintained a line of courtesy befitting an emperor.
But the Cassel before him now made even Winchester uneasy.
“…”
“You know. I couldn’t refuse.”
As Winchester leaned the back of his head against the wall, Cassel spat out his words.
“What does a child know to be entrusted with such a thing? She’s a child who knows nothing, who grew up looking only to her mother. A child who barely survived after Ceria died. Do you have any idea what she means to me?”
“Ceria was clear. She said Aika would be safe no matter what happened in here. I believe her. Ceria wouldn't say something like that for no reason.”
“Cut the bullshit and find her before I burn this whole place to the ground.”
“Aika is precious to me too. I’ll do whatever it takes to find her by the end of the day. So calm down. If you cause any more of a scene, word will get out. You don’t want that, do you?”
Winchester stared straight into Cassel’s eyes and continued.
“If Aika saw you like this, she would be very frightened.”
A moment of silence.
At last, Cassel released Winchester’s collar, and only then did Winchester let out a sigh of relief, rubbing his neck.
A belated pain shot through him, as if his spine had been crushed.
As Winchester staggered, Cassel clicked his tongue.
“Trying to be an emperor with that goddamn body of yours.”
Winchester felt it was unfair.
If it weren't for this man, no one would be his superior in terms of skill.
“You madman. You’re the one with monstrous strength; it’s not that I’m weak.”
“Find her.”
“…Alright.”
Having barely managed to placate Cassel, Winchester moved with perfect coordination, doing everything in his power to find Aika.
But even as late night fell, Aika was nowhere to be found.
Anxious, Cassel finally couldn't bear it any longer and stood up.
* * *
I was dumbfounded.
That things had already gone wrong.
And that I had to do it right now.
“Saying it like that just makes it scarier.”
But the rabbit was insistent.
“You ate the Eye of Serpens. A great power is coiled up inside your body right now! It must be feeling incredibly stifled!”
“B-But it hasn’t said it’s stifled yet?”
“That’s because it can’t talk right now! And it’s better for you to break the seal. Then you can talk to Serpens. Like me!”
It said that normally, as long as you awaken the spirit without destroying the ancient artifact, like it did, there wouldn’t be a problem.
But since I had already swallowed the gem, it scared me by saying that while it wasn't a huge disaster, it was by no means a good method.
If it’s not a huge disaster, isn't that fine?
But the rabbit’s scare tactics were making me anxious too.
Oh, and I can talk to a snake?
“I… I don’t want to talk to a snake. I’m scared of snakes.”
I’d seen a snake slithering through the garden once.
It was so long and frightening that I was too stunned to even scream and just froze on the spot.
“Serpens is so insignificant, it’s not scary at all. So let’s hurry and release it. Ceria said it’s my job to help you.”
“But…”
“Aren’t you going home?”
“Home? I have to go.”
I tried to get up.
But the rabbit didn't get off me and said.
“If you leave now, I think a lot of time will have passed.”
“A lot of time has passed?”
“Yep. Ceria always said she had to leave quickly whenever she came here. She said even a short stay would quickly turn into evening.”
“What? Why are you telling me this now?!”
“You didn’t ask. So you can just do it quickly and then go.”
The rabbit grumbled as it hopped down to the floor.
I scrambled to my feet and hurriedly prepared to leave.
I couldn't even remember how long I had been here.
Even if I didn't know for sure, just counting the time I spent listening to the explanation told me that much more than a moment had passed.
“I was told I’d be in trouble if I caused an accident. Ugh, Uncle is going to kill me.”
If what the rabbit said was true, Ruspe was probably looking all over for me.
We were supposed to play together. It was our first time playing since becoming friends, and it looked like I was going to ruin everything.
“No…”
Ruspe will be sad.
“Rabbit, how do I get out?”
“The same way you came in.”
“Huh? When I went through the hole in the bookshelf earlier, I couldn’t get out. I tried a few times.”
“I opened it, so you can leave now. Are you really going right now?”
I hurriedly nodded my head and said.
“Yes. My friend is waiting. Zenda, Gerard, and Uncle will be waiting too.”
“I see. Goodbye then!”
The rabbit turned around without a hint of regret.
I could see its fluffy, round bottom and tail.
“Ah…”
I only took a few steps before I stopped.
I hesitated, then went back and poked the rabbit’s small tail.
“Are you mad, by any chance?”
“Not yet!”
“…”
“But I wasn’t included in the friends you mentioned!”
Instead of answering, I just opened and closed my mouth.
Oh, right.
Earlier, the rabbit said that since it was friends with Mom, I, her daughter, was also its friend…
I glanced at the hole in the bookshelf again, then looked back at the rabbit.
Anyway… if I have to awaken this power, is it better to do it now? Like the rabbit said?
“It doesn’t hurt, does it?”
The rabbit whipped around and nodded its head vigorously.
“Is it over quickly?”
“Probably.”
“In that case…”
Help me.
I sat back down and asked the rabbit.
“Okay.”
As if it had never been upset, the rabbit placed its front paws on my leg and agreed.
I steeled myself and took a breath.
They'll be waiting outside, so I should do this quickly and go.
“What happens if I don’t awaken you all? If I say I won’t use the power?”
The rabbit twitched its ears.
“Then there’s nothing to be done. We’d have to wait for another Indagator to find us. But you won’t be able to do that.”
“What do you mean, I won’t be able to?”
“It’s instinct. You will always be drawn to us. You will want to help. It’s destiny.”
“…Destiny?”
“Yes. And the power we give you will help you, not harm you. You can even punish those who torment you. You can even eliminate Predators. So, it’s best to accept it.”
“But are you always in here?”
“Yep. I’m here as a guide. Ceria told me to be.”
“A guide?”
“Yes. Ceria said she had to awaken everything on her own. The Indagator before her probably had to as well. She said it was too difficult and inconvenient. That’s why she made me a guide.”
That's my mom, alright.
My mom is the smartest and coolest person in the world.
“So that I can guide you well, and any other Indagator that might come along. So that even if I disappear, another divine messenger can stay here!”
“…Is that allowed?”
“It’s what Ceria said, so what does it matter? So, are you ready? You said you had to leave quickly, right?”
“Yeah, more or less.”
Then the rabbit suddenly held out its right front paw.
“Look at my paw and concentrate. Think of it as a snake.”
“It’s small and squishy.”
I absentmindedly fiddled with the rabbit’s paw.
Even though it was translucent, it was easy to touch.
“Don’t touch it, concentrate.”
“Okay.”
“Concentrate and close your eyes. Call out to Serpens with both your voice and your mind. Until it answers.”
“And then?”
“Just do it first. You’ll know naturally. Just remember, if you can’t concentrate, it’ll take that much longer. And that won’t be my fault.”
“Ah, okay.”
I stared intently at the rabbit’s toe beans, then closed my eyes.
The small pads floated before my eyes.
“…Serpens.”
I didn’t feel anything.
“Serpens.”
“More earnestly!”
The rabbit’s voice called out.
“Serpens…!”
I focused and called its name over and over.
When the rabbit muttered, “Is this hard because she’s so young?” I concentrated even harder.
My body felt ticklish, and the urge to do something else welled up inside me.
I endured it and called for Serpens again and again.
It was then.
*Drip.*
