Memoirs of the Returnee - Chapter 156



Only Krnovel

The Regressor’s Notepad 156

Test (3)

“It’s gotten quiet.”

Inside the hideout. The interior became quiet without any sound.

I nodded and yawned at Gerken’s words.

“I know.”

“How much time is left?”

I saw the ticket.

[10:53]

As you can see, there is a timer on the ticket. This is roughly the maximum time you can stay in this hideout.

“About 10 minutes. Whoaaah… … Ah, I’m tired.”

Is this a reaction to “rolling the dice”? It’s quite sleepy.

By the way, the real dice are ordinary, unlike [Bedondon]. They are hexahedral dice that only show numbers between 1 and 6.

“… … .”

I took the berries out of my pocket.

A fruit that grew on my head. Will eating this help me recover from fatigue?

“What about Death Knight?”

“It’s gone.”

Bang bang bang bang bang bang───! The screaming and fist-pumping that had been going on for about 5 minutes had also disappeared.

“It looks like Death Knight has given up too.”

“… …Should I open it?”

Gerken grabbed the doorknob.

Rattle rattle-

Rattle rattle-

“What are you doing?”

I approached him. Gerken frowned slightly.

“It doesn’t open.”

“what?”

I grabbed the doorknob.

Rattle rattle-! Rattle rattle-!

It wouldn’t close a moment ago, but this time it won’t open.

“What is this? Did Soliet block it?”

“… …Death Knight.”

Gerken corrected my slip of the tongue.

“Ah. The Death Knight blocked it.”

“It just won’t open.”

He pointed to a passage in a corner of the hideout.

“Let’s go there first.”

“… … Well. Okay.”

It’s almost a rat hole, but there seems to be no other way.

The two of us went in first.

The passage itself was too narrow for two people to walk side by side, and it was too dark.

“Just wait.”

I pulled out a “card”.

Shrik-

The first one was a dud, but the second one was a good one.

It’s a “flashlight.”

A flashing card illuminated the entire passageway.

“let’s go.”

I think I walked like that for about 5 minutes.

At the end of the passage there was a door.

“what.”

[2]

Same number 2. But there was a sign underneath with a different message.

[Shelter]

“Shelter?”

Gerken grabbed the doorknob.

“It looks like the door here will open.”

“Is there a separate exit? But, wait.”

I saw the ticket.

[03:15]

“There’s only 3 minutes left? Let’s make the most of it.”

“Okay.”

We waited at the door.

Crunch-!

After three minutes, the door opened automatically. Outside was still [Planarium].

“Ah, I see. It looks like you can only use the same hideout once per ticket.”

“Confirmed.”

I picked up the ticket.

The red dot that had been moving a little far away turned towards us as soon as it came out.

“Let’s go to another X first.”

Gerken nodded.

It’s a little disappointing that there’s no Soliette next to me, but whatever. I have to find a ticket first to do anything.

Because of the crazy Death Knight, it might be more convenient not to have a ticket.

“let’s go.”

* * *

Gerken and I looked at all the X marks on the tickets.

[5]

[opening]

A clearing where up to five people can stay for one hour. It was truly an empty clearing, and Death Knight was unable to set foot in it.

[7]

[store]

A store where seven people can stay for two hours. It looked like a normal convenience store, but it was already full with seven people so we couldn’t get in.

[25]

[bank]

A bank where 25 people can stay for 3 hours.

It was a decent sized bank, but I left halfway through because I had too much time left.

“I’m just being chased all the time. Is holding on a test?”

“That could be.”

Because of that, we were chased around [the planarium] for almost half a day.

“How many hours can you last with a ticket? It will be a good test.”

I nodded at Gerken’s words.

Then, something caught my eye in the distance.

“after.”

He let out a sigh of relief and smiled.

“Hey. I think I found the right one.”

[300]

[cave]

Maximum capacity: 300 people.

cave.

“Shall we go in?”

“Okay.”

We went inside. As soon as we both stepped foot in, we both looked at our tickets at the same time.

[3:00:00]

“What? We’re only here for 3 hours?”

“Let’s go first.”

300 people would be a lot.

We walked inside. At first, the cave was only two lanes long, but as we went in, it got wider and almost became a park.

“… … What is this place?”

I pulled out the “card” again and shined the flashlight around me.

It’s a vast, empty space with nothing in it.

─Who’s there!

But then a voice rang out. It seemed like it had caught the light.

It was a familiar tone. The echo was amplified by the cave, but it was Raye.

I stopped the card operation for a moment and walked towards where the voice came from.

“… … There are a lot over there.”

There were about 200 to 300 people there.

“Huh? What is it? It’s Zion? Is there Gerkendu?”

Among them, Raye blinked while looking at us.

“Are you two having a party?”

I asked back first.

“What is this?”

“It’s a cave. 300 people are resting here. Hey Zion! When are you going to open your farm?!”

“I’ll open it after this test is over.”

“Oh yeah~ Did you see the reservation ticket?! I’m first!! If there’s anyone going before me, I won’t leave you alone!!”

“Okay, okay.”

I looked around. Most of the seniors looked extremely tired.

“You guys just kept getting chased?”

“Yeah. There were a lot of monsters. Dullahan, Death Knight, Amuraji… … Phew! I almost died!”

It was at that time.

At the entrance to the cave, another person appeared again.

Jeebuk-!

Footsteps that seem to be made loudly on purpose.

Raye looked back at me, and I felt a pang in my stomach for no reason.

“Oh! It’s Soliette!”

Soliet.

She was clutching the ticket in one hand, but her whole body was covered in mud, as if she had been doing quite a bit of work.

──It’s full of 300 people!

At that moment, a strange sound suddenly rang out from the cave ceiling.

That’s fortunate.

──Okay!

I looked up. The cave ceiling was writhing like a human face.

──First, take that ticket and go to [Always Hungry Place]!

It was the same voice as the stone statue in the dormitory this morning.

Raye frowned.

“A place where you’re always hungry?”

──That’s right! You can use the ticket at [Always Hungry Place]!

I coughed and got up. I approached Solliet. As soon as I sat down, she lifted her butt and ran to the side.

I followed her.

“I couldn’t help it.”

“… … .”

“hey?”

“… … .”

Soliet bit her lip. She lifted her butt again and ran to the side.

I followed her once more.

Then, their hands touched each other slightly.

“!”

Soliet reacted unusually.

“Why, why are you touching me?”

“I’m sorry.”

I shrugged.

Only then did Solliet let out a sigh with a slightly softened face.

“… … I understand. I understand, but I’m just a little angry.”

“Death Knight, you didn’t even care.”

“That is true, but.”

“Where did you get the tickets?”

“… … I happened to meet a senior who said he was giving up. I took it instead.”

“No───”

Raye sat up abruptly, scratching her head.

“Where is the place that is always hungry? Where is it… … .”

The guy was always hungry, always hungry, he muttered and frowned.

“Ah~ Where is the place where you are always hungry? It can’t be the market, right… … .”

“… … ?”

At that moment, my ears perked up.

market.

Market season.

Does this seem like a good market?

“… … .”

I looked around carefully.

As of yet, no one seems to have any major doubts.

I got up from my seat, tapping Solliet on the shoulder.

“?”

She looked like she didn’t know, but when I gestured, she followed me quietly.

“What? Where is Zion going?”

“I need to go to the bathroom.”

“Really? Solietdu?”

“yes.”

Raye tilted her head with a puzzled expression.

“… … What is it? Gerken, you?

Before I knew it, Gerken was behind me.

“restroom.”

“You too?”

It wasn’t just Gerken.

300 seniors are slowly getting up from their seats and showing signs of leaving the cave.

Raye laughed and snickered.

“Why are you guys like this as a group? Oh~ Are you guys thinking of the mayor? No, not the mayor~ Absolutely not~ Well, there is a saying that the mayor is like that… … .”

Raye’s words stopped.

The lips were chapped shut.

“Wait a minute… … market season… … market… … a place where people are always hungry… … .”

He guesses the answer first, and then assembles the puzzle while looking only at his fingers.

“Uh uh… … .”

Raye’s pupils are shaking.

In an instant, almost all 300 people moved in a hurry.

“… … Ah! No!”

Raye let out a scream of despair.

“No! You guys can’t! Don’t go! I made it happen!”

He shouted while grabbing the trouser legs of the seniors who were running towards him.

“No! If you’re going, take me with you! Take me with you! I don’t know where the market is, where is the market───!!”

* * *

A place where you’re always hungry.

market.

[50]

[market]

We got there, but there was a problem.

─It’s full here!

─There’s no room for you, so go back.

It’s already full with 50 people.

I looked at the ticket again. There was a red dot nearby again.

“Let’s go somewhere else.”

“Where else are you talking about?”

Soliet asked. I shrugged.

“There must be other markets. Surely there isn’t just one.”

“Oh, that’s right. Surely there’s not just one~?”

Raye joined our party by chance.

As I was running, it was right behind me.

“First, let’s divide into groups of two.”

I drew “cards”. I gave one to Gerken and kept the other one for myself.

“Gerken and Raye’s team. Soliet and I’m a team.”

“Me and… Zion, you say?”

Soliet suddenly glanced at me.

“Uh. Why. You don’t like it?”

“No. It’s not that I don’t like it, but-”

“I said I won’t betray you anymore. And what’s betrayal about that? I just made you feel comfortable.”

“What did you say? Make me feel comfortable?”

Solliet’s eyes narrowed again.

“Anyway. First, when you find the market, write something on that card. It’s connected. If possible, save the seat for me.”

I told Gerken.

By the way, this card is like a shared notebook. If you write something on one side, the same thing will be written on the other side.

“i get it.”

Gerken took the card. Raye looked at it with curious eyes.

“What? Zion has something strange… … I want to analyze it.”

“It’s really dangerous now that it’s night. If possible, stay hidden until the night ends.”

This is serious advice. The nights in [Planarium] are, frankly, as dangerous as the underworld.

“Let’s split up. It’s right next to the red dot.”

We split up. Gerken and Raye to the right, Solliet and I to the left.

“There is more than one enemy.”

Not that it isn’t, but now the red dots on the ticket are countless.

The only thing that stands out is that Death Knights are coming at us from almost all directions.

“Don’t throw it away this time.”

“Are you going to throw it away twice a day?”

I ran towards the X on the ticket.

First, I was trying to find a place where I could spend the night… … .

[4]

[ship]

[6: 00 : 00]

A port we arrived at by chance.

A ferry terminal located in the middle of a mountain.

There was a boat lying there all alone.

“… …There’s a boat.”

Even though it’s 6 hours long.

“Yes. More importantly, is it the river here?”

The Planarium is clearly a mountain, but that is only a ‘surface’. This is a space that is not bound by any geographical features.

“The sea. The sea of ​​the soul.”

That’s why we sometimes come across places like this. A sea with such a mysterious and enchanting view.

“Let’s get on here first.”

I got on the boat first. It was a boat that could comfortably accommodate four people and was perfect for a day out.

“Are you okay?”

“Oh. The sea of ​​[Planarium] is safe.”

Usually, the oceans of the continent are filled with the unknown, fear, terror, and the deep sea, but [Planarium] is quite the opposite.

The sea here is the safest place, as only the positive parts of the soul are absorbed into it.

“Get in quickly.”

There’s a huge swarm of red dots behind me, like a horde of zombies.

“yes.”

Only then did Solliet board the boat.

“Do you know how to drive?”

“of course.”

As soon as I sat in the driver’s seat, I stepped on the accelerator.

Kwaaaa …

The boat swept forward through the current. Solliet rocked back and forth for a moment, but soon regained her balance.

Kwaaaa …

The sea of ​​souls that ran on a boat. In the middle of that vast ocean.

There I stopped.

I just stopped without thinking.

“… … The scenery is nice.”

Because the scenery is so nice.

So much so that it’s hard to express it in any words that mean ‘good’.

A vast, reflective color that contains blue, purple, white, and green. A decalcomania-like ecstasy that even the water surface contains the same appearance of the sky.

This place, where even the wind is dyed in a rainbow of colors… … is truly the perfect description of ‘fantastic.’

“… … Yes. That’s right.”

I looked back at Solliet. She had a similar face to mine, but suddenly her eyes turned slightly towards me.

That’s how our eyes met.

She was the first to flinch and look away, and I, feeling awkward for no reason, looked back at the sea.

“… … .”

“… … .”

A brief, slightly awkward silence.

“I… … Zion.”

After that, Solliet quietly called my name, still with her eyes down.

“why.”

“One, I have something to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“… … .”

There is no word.

No matter how long I wait, the next thing doesn’t come.

Are you worried?

What are you trying to say?

I looked back at her and said.

“What. Tell me. Before I drop you in the ocean.”

“Zion.”

She looked up at me as if she had made up her mind. I smiled rather leisurely.

“Uh, why-”

“Does Zion like me?”

A voice that formed a sentence in an instant.

Words flowing out without hesitation.

Her words left me speechless, and the corners of my mouth relaxed.

Wheeeeee… … .

A calm current rose. A colored wind blew her hair. A small ripple splashed over us.

I looked into her eyes.

For a while──

no.

For quite a while.

I just looked into those clear eyes.