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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: The Other Archive
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Suddenly, the loud sound of a single drop of water echoed.
It was the kind of sound you’d expect if a single droplet fell onto a silent, still lake.
I realized the sound wasn't coming from my ears, but from somewhere inside my head.
Plink.
Plink.
Plink.
The more I called for Serpens, the more frequent the dripping became.
Soon, I was under the illusion that it was raining, a steady downpour.
The world filled with the sound of rain, and I could no longer hear the rabbit’s voice.
It felt like I was standing in the middle of a dark forest during a downpour.
I instinctively knew this was the moment.
It felt as if I had entered my own mind.
There was no other way to describe it.
Answer me, Serpens!
“Serpens!”
I shouted the name with all my heart and soul.
Drip.
The loud sound of rain stopped.
It was then.
“Anyone hooome?”
A voice cut through the silence left by the rain.
My whole body went cold, as if I’d been caught in a sudden shower.
“Gasp.”
Startled, I snapped my eyes open.
The rabbit was in front of me.
I glanced around.
“I heard a voice.”
“I know. He woke up.”
The rabbit was looking at something behind me.
“Where?”
But no matter how quickly I turned, I couldn't see anything.
A chill ran down my spine; it was as if it were looking at an invisible ghost.
It was a man's voice, a very high-pitched one.
“I can’t see him.”
“He’s hiding behind you.”
“Behind me? Why?”
“He’s naturally very shy. He’s peeking at you.”
I furrowed my brow at that.
“Then that’s no different from him being inside me.”
“It is different. You said it was scary and uncomfortable to see the future whenever it decided to show you.”
“Well, yes, but…”
“The closer you get to him, the more you’ll be able to see things when you want to. Probably.”
The rabbit added that Serpens would show himself when he felt ready to befriend me.
I thought I’d be able to see him right away.
Somehow, my excitement fizzled out.
Ah, this wasn't the time for that.
“I really have to go now.”
If there’s a problem, it would be better to come back here.
Otherwise, Uncle might get really angry.
“Alright.”
The rabbit hopped along behind me as I headed for the entrance.
“Rabbit, what’s your name?”
I asked just before I left.
It had been one surprise after another, so we hadn’t even asked for each other’s names yet.
We called each other friends; we should at least know our names!
“Lepus.”
“Lepus?”
“Yes, Lepus.”
I confirmed it again and nodded.
“I’m Aika. Aika de Valliat.”
“Aika. Ceria, Aika. I’ll remember.”
“Okay, I’ll come visit again. Goodbye, my friend Lepus! See you later.”
Then, I pushed my body through the hole in the empty bookshelf.
After Aika left.
Lepus went back to his usual self, dashing around the old archives as if he were flying.
“La la la, a friend. A friend! La la la—Aika is my friend!”
He sang cheerfully.
* * *
“Gasp, it’s really nighttime.”
As soon as I squeezed my way out, I saw moonlight streaming down from the high window and lamps lit throughout the archives.
It was a distinctly different kind of light than in the daytime.
I had a gut feeling that I was in huge trouble.
The rabbit had been telling the truth.
I felt like I was in there for less than thirty minutes, but it was already night.
A very late night, at that.
‘Grandfather? Has Grandfather already gone home?’
I have to tell Grandfather that something dangerous is going to happen tonight!
As I scrambled to my feet, I heard a commotion outside.
There was a low murmur of voices, which then quieted down, only to become loud again.
A wave of fear washed over me.
I felt like all of that was my fault, too.
The keen senses within me were telling me so.
“What do I do?”
I was scared, and my mind went blank.
I was probably going to get scolded so badly.
But staying here was scary, too.
I decided I had to get out and find my uncle, and was about to carefully peek around the corner.
The noise outside fell silent, and then I heard the heavy footfalls of dress shoes.
The sound grew closer and closer to me, then stopped.
I gripped the side of a bookshelf and peeked my head out.
I saw the back of someone standing at a slant, running a hand roughly through their hair with a frustrated sigh.
It was a very familiar, tall man.
I recognized him instantly.
“...Uncle?”
At the same moment, my uncle whipped around, and our eyes met.
My body trembled involuntarily.
I-I think I just saw lightning flash in Uncle’s eyes.
I hastily backed away, but before I could take two steps, my uncle grabbed me under my arms.
“U-Uncle! I’m sorr—Gasp!”
In an instant, my body was lifted into the air, held tight.
In the blink of an eye, I was enveloped in my uncle’s massive embrace.
A large hand pressed against the back of my head, nearly crushing me against him.
And yet, the cool, comforting scent of my uncle miraculously caused my tense body to relax.
I felt so relieved I could have fallen asleep right then and there.
“Mmph, I can’t brea—…”
A low sigh, and then I heard my uncle’s voice.
“Where were you.”
His voice, right by my ear, had sunk to the very depths.
My body froze again.
For the first time, I thought a voice could have a color.
His was pitch-black.
Because I couldn't see his face, it felt even lower, even darker.
Oh, no. Uncle is really mad.
But what should I say?
“I, I was… here.”
I struggled against the tight hold and managed to speak.
“Where, here.”
“I-I went between the bookshelves…”
The weight on the back of my head disappeared.
I lifted my head as if on a spring, only to meet my uncle’s terrifying gaze.
Hiccup.
A hiccup escaped me.
“You went in there?”
My uncle’s gaze followed the direction I was pointing.
I nodded eagerly.
“I’ve passed by here more than ten times.”
“But it’s true…”
Uncle doesn’t believe me.
Then again, even I wouldn’t believe a story about going through there and ending up in a different archive.
From his perspective, it was just an empty space, clear enough to see the bookshelf on the other side.
“…”
My uncle’s eyes scanned me from head to toe.
Fearing a scolding, I curled my fingers and toes, and our eyes met again.
What do I do?
If I told him I met a talking rabbit, I’d probably get into even more trouble.
There aren’t any rabbits here, after all.
Should I just say I had a dream?
That way, I could also keep my promise to Mom.
“I… I think I fell asle… asleep here. In my dream, a rabbit appeared…”
I managed to turn my head and point at the space again.
“…”
My uncle’s eyes grew even more menacing.
“Uncle, I…”
I was too scared to look him straight in the eye, so I kept glancing up at him.
Without responding, my uncle abruptly turned around.
“Don’t come to the imperial palace anymore.”
Then he immediately started for the exit.
“N-No, you can’t do that!”
Still in his arms, I grabbed my uncle’s shoulders and cried out desperately.
My uncle stopped in his tracks.
And it was then that he set me down.
The moment my feet touched the floor, I stood unsteadily and looked up at him.
“Tell me the truth. Where were you.”
“…”
Unable to answer, I just stared endlessly at the fingertips of his hand, which was now resting on his hip.
Each second seemed to pass with agonizing slowness.
“Where was I…,”
“Uncle, I’m sorry.”
I squeezed my eyes shut.
I was so scared.
It’s a secret, so I can’t tell him, but if I don’t, he’ll get angry and leave me behind.
I was confused about what to do.
“I told you to talk, not apologize.”
“…”
I pressed my lips together again.
A tear squeezed its way out.
“Aika de Valliat.”
“...Y-Yes.”
“If you keep this up, Uncle is going to get angry.”
“B-But you’re not—…”
Isn’t he angry already?
I’m scared to death…
Instead of answering, I grabbed his pants.
I just watched as he roughly ran a hand through his hair, and he urged me with his eyes to hurry up and speak.
“I won’t do it again…”
Another tear welled up against my will.
I quickly wiped it away.
As I clung to the hem of his clothes, still wiping my tears, I belatedly heard noise from outside again.
I was sure I’d heard many footsteps, but only one person appeared: His Majesty the Emperor.
“Aika!”
