SING CRIER CH.15 - Grudge and Scar Through silent moonlit alleys and vacant blue streets, we passed through Exaibon without incident, to my surprise. Xaiyoya's silence was expected... but Goz as well? No questions, accusations, nor chatter? A far cry from her earlier antics... I was tempted to turn around mid-way just to check on her, but I had much rathered not see her face, nor her see mine... So, from Xaiyoya's home to the town's southern gate, we didn't utter a word. Even when I ignored Goz's warning to travel straight through the commerce district, she said nothing. I want to think it's because I caught her lie... but, it... just feels like I'd be jumping to conclusions doing so. Is this really another one of her elaborate schemes? Is it too far of a jump to assume she's acting against The Highlanders? Or maybe she's just trying to distract me from something more important... Well... now that we're at the gate, if anything, I should find out here. I gesture the other two to wait here so I can talk to the guards, but Goz beats me to the punch and pats my shoulder, walking ahead. I'm holding Sing, so I can't reach out to pull her back. I'm seriously considering tripping her. ...That wouldn't work as I'm imagining it in my head. She's waving to the gate guards already. I suppose we can let her handle them... Xaiyoya and I stop to look at each other. He looks a bit worried. 「 ...Who is she? 」 「 Goz, Alph-Goz, she's a Highlander, you couldn't tell? 」 「 O-oh! Is that so? 」 He pouts and shakes his head. 「 I've never heard of her... is she new? 」 「 Two years, she replaced Alph-Fjor. 」 「 Ah, really? That's a shame... 」 「 I'm surprised you didn't know. Don't get out much? 」 「 No, I do. I've just... never heard anyone mention her before. 」 To be a highlander, and unheard of... That's... a whole new kind of unpopular. In the distance, Goz is waving us over. I move first, prompting Xaiyoya to follow behind. I keep my hands close to my body, in case I need to defend myself... But... nothing happens. A fully armoured guard nods at me, I nod back, and that's all. Just like that, we pass through the tall wooden gate. No questions about why I'm carrying a girl wearing just bandages, no request for Xaiyoya to remove his hood. We simply pass through. Goz is waiting outside, standing off to the side in a dirt clearing. She's looking off into the distance, towards the uncharted wilds... the marsh, rainforest, and mountains just beyond purple plains. It's all ground we have to cover in under five hours. Not simply because Xaiyoya's working terms end at sunrise, but also because of the counter-synergy between sunlight and undead. In the best case, Xaiyoya can burn mana to keep Sing alive. Worst case, she burns to death for the second time. Needless to say, there's no time to waste. These doubts I have for Goz, I should settle them here. 「 Goz, why aren't you talking? 」 「 Hah? 」 She turns towards me exerting the minimum effort required to call it a turn. Somehow, she looks half-committed even doing just this. 「 What? You want me to talk? 」 「 ... 」 「 Kay... sooo... how about those Demon King rumours? Pretty spooky huh? 」 「 Eleizer. 」 「 What? Don't call me that, it's creepy. 」 「 What are you doing? 」 「 ...What am I doing? What are you doing? 「 I warned you not to do anything stupid, 「 and you turned your stupid level up to eleven, twice. 「 You're at level twenty-two stupidity now, but who cares, right? 「 Yeah, let's just keep going, just to see how badly you can ruin your life. 「 Isn't that what you're doing? Ruining your life and future?」 「 ...Did you come along just to judge me? 」 「 Eh. 」 「 ...Are you going to report this to the other Highlanders? 」 「 Yeah, I haven't done it yet though, too lazy. 」 「 What if we were you leave you here right now? 」 「 Whatever, I'll go back to the inn and drink myself to sleep... or something. 」 That's... not what I was expecting to hear. Is this a trick? It must be... there's no way. Something doesn't add up. 「 Why go through the effort to box us in, just to not care in the end? 」 「 Huh? I do care, but what am I gonna do if you just leave without me? 「 Fly? Report this to everyone else immediately? What's that going to accomplish? 「 Everyone goes after you, and I'll be stuck at the inn doing the same crap. 」 She kicks up dust. I think that's a display of frustration, but it's done with so little energy I can't actually tell. 「 You're lying. 」 「 Okay, then I'm lying. 」 She shrugs. I don't know how to deal with her. I don't feel any closer to understanding her than before either. What is she really after? That can't be all... 「 ...Goz? 」 「 Yeah? 」 「 ... 」 「 Uh... Hello? 」 「 What if... 「 What if something were to happen to you? What if you come with us, 「 and something were to befall you such that you couldn't report what you saw? 「 What would you say to that? 」 「 ...Are you saying something will happen to me? 」 「 I'm not saying something will... but I'm not saying something won't happen... 」 ...What am I saying? There's no way I'd lay a hand on her. Even if I hate her guts and think she's earned every bad thing that has happened to her... Actually hurting her... I couldn't do that... 「 Wow... you're... actually threatening me. 「 That's uh... flattering, I guess. Didn't see that coming. 」 「 ... 」 「 If you really hate me that much, I guess I'll just... 「 go back to the inn then... you're welcome... 」 With that, she starts... heading back to the gate. She's bluffing though... obviously... Right? She's not serious, is she? ...She walks past me. 「 Wait, Goz. 」 「 Hmm? 」 「 Y...You can come with us. 」 「 Uh, I'd rather not die so... yeah, no. 」 「 We won't hurt you, I promise. 」 「 ...Really? 」 「 Yes. 」 「 ...And if monsters attack? 」 「 I'll keep you and Xaiyoya safe. 」 「 ...Huh. 」 ...Why am I letting her come along? Am I still holding onto the hope that I can trust her? Why? She's a Highlander... she's going to backstab me. This wouldn't be the first time... 「 ...Heh. Polimion, you're so easy. 」 「 What? 」 「 That's uh... what I like about you though. 「 It's so easy to know what you want that I don't need to put my guard up at all. 「 Unlike me. You couldn't read me, right? Had no clue what I wanted, 「 but that's not your fault... I don't even know what I want. 」 「 Goz, what are you talking about? 」 「 ...I dunno. Just talking to myself I guess. 」 「 Enough. Are you on our side or not? 」 She pouts and shrugs at me. 「 Not sure, am I? 」 「 Wha- why are you asking me?! 」 「 Do you want me on your side? 」 「 I... well... u-um... 」 D-Do I... want her on my side? I don't? I think? I hate her? Don't I? Do I forgive her? For what happened last year? I don't forgive them? Right? Is she even sorry? 「 G-Gii...」 「 Polimion?」 「 I... I need more time?」 「 ... 」 「 ...Alph-Polimion. 」 Xaiyoya? I look up at him. 「 I-I don't know what went on between you two but... 「 I think... it would be a good idea to bring her along. 」 I shift my attention to Goz. She's looking away, off into the distance. There's a sombre look on her face. My grip around Sing tightens. These burns of hers... ...Goz helped put these here. 「 Apologise. 」 「 ...Huh? Me? What for? 」 「 You know why. 」 「 ...Polimion I- 」 「 Apologise! 」 「 Holy crap! Fine! Just stop... whatever that is! It's creepy as hell! 」 ...I slow my breathing and look away. 「 Geeze... god damn glowy eyes... almost pissed myself... 」 「 ... 」 「 ...I'm sorry. 」 「 ... 」 「 ...For uh... what happened last year... 「 I didn't know how close you and Dream Eater were. 「 I thought you were still just... following him for the stuff he left behind. 「 I'm pretty sure... that's... what most of us thought... 「 I don't think it would have changed anything, 「 but maybe... if I knew, and refused the job, 「 he might have gotten away... and yeah... 「 none of this would have happened... 「 I mean, I didn't really care if we caught him. 「 That's just... kind of our job, you know? 「 To get rid of the... uh... "bad guys." 「 ...Happy? 」 「 Sing, as well. Apologise. 」 「 ...You named it?」 「 No, Dream Eater did... I think... and "it" is a her. 」 「 ...Oookay then... I'm sorry? 」 「 Eleizer. 」 「 Come on, she's undead! She doesn't even-」 「 Say it properly. 」 「 ...I'm sorry... for... what we did... and uh... 「 I hope you don't actually turn out to be some... apocalyptic evil after all... 「 'Cause that would suck, so... yeah, don't grow up evil, and stuff... 「 Yeah... p-prove em wrong! Don't let em tell you what you are. 「 You want to grow up and stay inside all day drinking? Do it-!」 「 Okay, that will do. Please don't sow the seeds of failure any further. 」 「 Uh... I'll have you know, this is a winning formula... 」 「 Yes, that's why Xaiyoya didn't know you were a Highlander. 」 Goz's eyes widen with genuine shock. Her stare falls on Xaiyoya, to which he visually revulses to. 「 You... you didn't know I was a Highlander? 」 「 E-Er... well I... I didn't... 」 「 I'm wearing the sigil right? Right here? You see it right? 「 I'm a Highlander... you've heard of me, right? 」 「 A-Alph-Polimion- 」 「 Forget about her! What about me?! Alph-Goz! 「 Moriand Eleizer Goz? The Cardinal Tactician?! 「 E-Emperor Moriand, you know him right? I'm his daughter! 「 I'm the fourth princess of Fériasori! You've heard of me?! 」 「 A-Ahm... s...sorry... I'm not... exactly sure what you're talking about...」 Goz actually falls to her knees in defeat. 「 D...Damn... no way... I'm... still this unpopular...? 「 If it's come to this... I... I only have one option left-!」 「 It's just because Xaiyoya spends all his time inside babysitting. 「 It's not because you're unpopular, he just doesn't have time to go out.」 「 ...I...Is that so? 」 「 Y-Yes! It's as Alph-Polimion says! 」 「 Ah... of course... I can't be that unpopular... 」 Sorry, I lied. I just don't want to see your last-ditch effort. It's probably bad. Especially if it's you. 「 ...Ugh, we need to go. 」 「 G-Goz, was it? Alph-Goz? Er... is there a problem? 」 「 Yeah... they found out I snuck out. 」 ...She's talking about the other Highlanders, right? I look up towards the gates. I don't see anyone coming... I glance at Goz. She taps her ear. So she can hear them coming... ...Wait a minute. Then wouldn't she have heard me and Xaiyoya earlier? What was that reaction of shock then?! Was she acting?! 「 So... am I coming? Or am I going to be the sacrifice? 」 「 Come with us, Goz. You want to see what's going to happen, right? 」 「 It sounds evil... not sure anymore, but I'm already outside so... 」 Just be honest already... I cast «Fey Breath»to lighten us, lengthening our strides. Then, « Wind Walking » to give us better mid-air speed and control. Both of these skills, I learned from Mak to keep up with him... 「 Eeeh... so this is how you get around so quickly... 」 ...But these aren't all. I had to come up with my own tools as well, to match his unique strengths. I never managed to match his speed... but I feel I've come pretty close. 「 Have either of you ever been in a slipstream before? 」 「 Sorry... did you say, a "slipstream"? 」 「 Poly, I've never heard that word before in my life. 」 「 Run behind me, don't worry about running out of breath, 「 and tell me if you're lagging behind. Understand? 」 「 E-Erm... running is... 」 「 Yeah, I'm too old for this. 」 Not only are you my age, but you're saying that in earshot of Xaiyoya. There's a limit to how shameless you can be... 「 We'll be fine. 「 Artibeus. Skein. 」 〖 Lead the way! 〗 I toss two silver coins into the air and start walking. Glowing golden lines flay outwards in a cone behind me. 「 Stay within them. 「 Artibeus. Trade Winds on me.」 〖 Who says you can't buy time? 〗 I throw out five silver coins and pick up the pace. A sudden light breeze begins to blow against my back, bringing with it, glimmering golden lights. 「 Is this... the God of Wealth? 」 「 Artibeus, old man. Money is literally power with him, fitting eh? 」 I shift Sing in my arms to get a better grip, whilst I reach deeper into my pocket for gold coins. 「 ...Artibeus. Raise. 」 〖 One, two... 〗 「 Six gold. 」 〖 Six gold high! 〗 I glance down at Sing. She's awake now, looking at me with glowing eyes... I mean, how could she sleep through all that, right? 「 Have a nice nap? 」 『 ... 』 Well... it was worth a shot. Oh, what I'd give for her just to talk to me... But this much is fine too... It's strangely calming, Just seeing her take in the world around her... 「 Mai-ni-dai~ We'll be there in a little bit, okay? 」 ...Ah! She blinked twice! So cute...! 「Artibeus! Lock In. 」 〖 Bets placed! 〗 Magic circles appear around my hands and feet. Securing Sing with one arm, I dip the other into a circle, grab hold of something ethereal, and turn to the sound of clicking gears. Click Click Click Click Click Click Chackk! 「Take big strides in three... two... one... 」 〖 Six-two-three on three... two... one! 〗 The wind howls. I shift my arms back and hold Sing close, as the gentle tailwind explodes into a powerful gale. This is an ability mainly used on ships, so naturally, it multiplies our airspeed.

In tandem with the abilities I had cast earlier... we're very near actual flight. It's a combination I'm quite proud of... ... I look behind me. Xaiyoya... is actually keeping up. He's holding out his staff in one hand for balance. That's a former adventurer for you, quick to adapt. Goz however... is... being carried by the back of her robe... in Xaiyoya's other hand... For this reason, Xaiyoya has a panicked look on his face. Er... please take care of Goz, I need to focus on steering the tailwind. It's definitely not because I don't want to deal with her or anything. I actually do need to steer because the tailwind is centred on me. It might not be a big deal right now... The flat nature of the tall-grassed plains means, we'll be hopping along with little to worry about... But it will be a big deal later! You'll see! We'll have to slow down a bit when we get to the marshes... and change our approach at the dense rainforest... and despite being the most developed path on our route... the stairs at Agehatate's mountain temple will be the biggest hurdle. Ah, speaking of which... I've meant to ask... 「 Xaiyoya! 」 ...Can he not hear me? 「 Xaiyoyaaa!! 」 「 Ah- Yes?! What is it?! 」 「 Have you ever been to the mountain temple?! 」 「 I...! I've only heard stories of it! Never... gone up myself! 」 「 What about- ack! 」 「 A-Are you okay?! 」 「 Bug!! I'm fine! What about last year?! That Lafokian army!」 「 ...What about them?! 」 「 Did you hear what they went up to do?! 」 「 They said they were slaying a monster! Never came back! 」 「 And The Highlanders?! Did you hear if they were going up too?! 」 ...No response. That's to be expected. Although I'd like to confirm it, it can't be helped if he'd rather not. When the penalty for leaking Highlander information is beyond a lengthy period in prison, and Goz is right here, who can blame him? 「 I hav-!」 「 Yeaaas! We were gonna kill White Aaaash! 「 Now shut uuup and stop yelling in my eeeear!! 」 「 I'm sorr-!」 「 Aaaaaaah!!」 ...Well, I guess it doesn't matter, if the one doing the leaking is a Highlander themselves. Are we going to be okay, I wonder? The rainforest is dominated by monsters... I actually had to defend myself in the evening... But now... I'm escorting three people... How much is this going to cost me...? I'm getting a bit nauseous thinking about it... ... 「 Goz! 」 「 Waat!! 」 「 Who went looking for you?! 」 「 ...Yu'mae and Marie! Why?! 」 That's... Rank nine... Lafokian Undersecretary, The Cardinal Arch Bishop, Yu'mae... And rank two, First Princess of Lafokia, The Ariadyne, Marie... 「 So shaking them off our trail is impossible... 」 「 Yah! Not happening! 」 「 ...A-Alph Polimion-! 」 「 You'll be fine Xaiyoya! I promise! 」 「 ... 」 We... should be fine. Even if we can't shake them off, we have speed. They only caught Mak because he stopped running. I won't make the same mistake. [END] 『 𝕄𝕒...𝕣𝕚𝕖... 』 ...Huh?