The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 57



Only Krnovel

Episode 57

I got an invitation.

First, I went into the hut. The interior was quite well-decorated. I looked into the corner and saw a well-sharpened kitchen knife.

“I picked it up last time. It’s dangerous, but there are many things you can’t get around here if you go to the palace.”

“palace?”

“Ah, that’s what we call them. There are buildings about 10km away from here. They seem to be quite old, but strangely enough, the things inside the buildings are all intact. There are so many goblins that you have to risk half your life to get to them.”

“A building. Was there something like that here?”

Even if I concentrate, nothing in particular comes to mind.

All the buildings Quilbian saw were things he had seen in his dreams. No, he couldn’t call them dreams anymore. What’s the point of dreams when he can’t even sleep?

Even now, it looks hazy. The carriage passing behind Royle. I wonder how long I can maintain my sanity.

ah!

I can’t tell if you’re in your right mind or not?

He chuckled and slapped his thigh.

Worrying was a luxury. After all, in a few hours or a few days, the conversation we had here and the people who saw us would all be forgotten.

All I remember are the faces of the damned traitors and the friendly inhabitants of my fantasy.

wait for a sec.

There was one more place.

But where was it? Aside from reality and the fantasy of pigs running around, there was one place we stopped by.

I couldn’t remember.

“excuse me…….”

“Quil.”

Quilbian pointed to his face with his index finger.

“Call me Quill.”

“Oh, yes. Quill. That was the first thing I should have said, but I was so out of it that I forgot.”

Royle straightened his posture.

“Thank you so much for saving my brother and I back then.”

“It’s okay. I don’t remember very well.”

I remember it. I just couldn’t believe it because I was being thanked by a grown-up Royle, not the little kid in my memories.

It feels like only a few days have passed.

“What about your younger brother? How is he?”

Royle was silent. That was the answer.

“You asked a pointless question.”

“no.”

“The people I was with, what was it? … … .”

“Aunt Daisy has also passed away.”

“You’d better keep your mouth shut.”

He may be crazy, but he’s not an idiot. He knows how to choose what to say.

Maybe not, but whatever.

“You should have lived. That’s the kind of place this is.”

“Yes, that’s the kind of place it is.”

A woman came in, opening the door to the hut. She looked to be about the same age as Royle. She put down the water and fruit and quietly turned around and left.

“wife?”

“Yes. Should I have introduced you? Just in case… … .”

“No, you did well. It wouldn’t do any good for me to find out.”

It’s marriage.

Come to think of it, I’ve done it a few times. I’ve met many women in the other world. Among them were pigs and wolves.

I didn’t know it at the time, but looking back now, it’s creepy. How did you sleep? No, did you?

Then suddenly, I realized that Twella was not among the countless old wives who passed by.

A rotten laugh comes out. Even though he’s not in his right mind, he managed to avoid that woman well.

I thought it was fortunate.

Even if it wasn’t reality, I didn’t want to face such a terrible outcome.

“Quil?”

“I just had a thought about something dirty. How long has it been since you got here?”

“It’s been a while since I settled here… … .”

“No, not here. I wonder how many years it’s been since you came into this damn forest.”

“I think it’s been about 13 years. I’m not sure though.”

“13 years.”

It feels like yesterday, but it’s been 13 years.

How many years have I been living here, catching goblins?

“Do you know anything about me?”

“yes?”

“Even the little things are okay. I told you, right? I’m not normal. To be honest, it feels like it was just a few days ago that I saved you and your brother. But 13 years? Oh, man, that’s ridiculous.”

“I see.”

Royle left the shack, saying he would be out for a moment.

Quilbian moistened his throat with water. He then lifted the fruit to his mouth. He took a bite and spat it out.

It was so provocative. So surprising. And it came to mind at the same time.

“… … When did I eat food?”

I haven’t had a single bite of food since my hunger disappeared. I only drank water occasionally when I felt like it.

monster.

It was clear that it was not a human, but an unidentified ‘something’.

Quillvin ran his hand through his hair and tore at it.

Why did you come here, why did you catch a goblin, why didn’t you leave here?

I can’t remember anything.

nothing.

“Quil, you should just die… … .”

“shut up.”

He crushed the whitish illusion of Twella that had risen up with his fist.

Thanks to you, I remembered.

Live.

Survive somehow.

That was the only principle of action. What else was important? Yes, as long as I survived.

“What’s going on?”

Royle came running in urgently.

“I was so annoyed that I yelled. Do I sound like an idiot? But what can I do? My mind is going crazy.”

“… … I understand.”

“Do you understand? You’re smart. I still don’t understand why I’m like this.”

The corners of Royle’s eyes drooped.

“I’m sorry. I spoke nonsense.”

“No. It’s because it’s been so long since I’ve talked to a living person. When I talk to fantasy, I kill everything that’s wrong. That’s what makes me feel better.”

I could see Royle flinch at the word kill. It wasn’t meant to scare me. It was a joke. A joke with some truth in it.

“Yeah, 13 years.”

The thirst that I had forgotten about shyly made itself known. I drank water again. I didn’t touch the fruit.

“Is it worth living?”

“I’m holding on somehow, but the situation isn’t very good.”

“Life is so hard.”

“That’s why we have to live. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s right, I have to live. I’ve seen all kinds of ugly and disgusting things, but I still have to live even though it’s unfair.”

I greeted the people gathered around the hut under Royle’s guidance. I said it was okay, but he grabbed my hand and begged me to do something, so I pretended I couldn’t resist and dragged him around.

“The shelter people will also like Quill.”

“Don’t do that. You’ll forget it soon anyway. Oh, don’t misunderstand. I’m the one who’s forgetting, not you.”

A girl who had been hiding behind another hut in the distance suddenly popped her head out.

“Yale, I should come and say hello. He’s a very kind man who helped us.”

“What help did you give me?”

As Royle beckoned, Yale approached slowly. Despite his cautious demeanor, his eyes were filled with mischief.

Quilbian stared at Yale’s face for a long time.

First time seeing this.

This is definitely the first time I’m seeing your face.

But why doesn’t it feel familiar? Yale rolled her eyes in a strong sense of foreboding and ran behind Royle, shrugging his shoulders.

“Oh, sorry.”

You seem surprised.

“I feel very embarrassed.”

Royle patted Yale on the head. Yale nodded and ran away behind the hut.

“It’s not a place where children can live.”

“Yes.”

“But when I look at it, there are quite a lot of people. And the age groups are also diverse.”

“It just so happened.”

I didn’t ask for details. He was leaving soon.

“Where exactly is the palace?”

“Would you like to go?”

“I’ve been looking around here and I haven’t seen any buildings or anything. I wonder where they are stuck.”

“Then tomorrow… … .”

“The sun is still up. You can go now.”

Royle looked up at the sky and said.

“I will guide you.”

“Just give me directions.”

“It’s in a corner. It would be easier to get directions.”

“Well, I won’t stop you.”

I headed west, escorted by the shelter people. I could have gotten there quickly if I ran with my Royle, but since it was only 10km, I decided to walk leisurely.

Nothing will change even if you rush it.

“There are a lot of people living here and there. Strangely enough.”

“Everyone is holding on.”

“Do you interact with other humans?”

“Yes, well. We meet often and exchange supplies. The supplies aren’t really that useful though.”

“What about food?”

“We solve it with what we can get our hands on each day. Fortunately, we were able to endure for a long time because the weather was stable. Water that never dries up, fruit that keeps growing. Sometimes, when we catch an animal that has entered this world, everyone in the shelter gathers and holds a small festival.”

“I’m living well.”

Is it because I met that person?

Whenever he had a chance, he would talk to me, and the illusions that were projected before my eyes were no longer visible. Even the annoying Twella was quiet.

“It’s over there.”

Royle raised his hand.

Beyond the densely packed trees, a wide plain was visible.

The paved road stretched out in a straight line, with low buildings lined up on both sides of the road.

“It really exists.”

Why didn’t I find this place?

It was just a wonder. Maybe I had found it a long time ago but forgot about it.

I walked on a worn-out road. A road where not a single blade of grass grows.

“Who keeps cleaning?”

There was no sign of life. As Royle had said, the exterior walls of the building were in such a mess that they would crumble if touched.

It doesn’t look like anyone lives there, so why are the streets clean?

“Royal.”

I looked back. All I could see was a swamp filled with stagnant water.

“Royal?”

There was a swell under my left eye.

Royle disappeared. I looked back in the direction where the building had been.

The cleared road was nowhere to be seen.

All that comes into view are clumps of vines engulfing the building, making it difficult to tell if they are buildings or giant plants.

“ha ha ha.”

A raspy laugh escaped my mouth.

Quilbian stepped forward, stepping over weeds that had grown up to his calf.

The building was visible through the vines.

Architectural style used in living quarters.

“Oh, right. The dormitory.”

It comes to mind vaguely.

Yeah, we had a dorm. We lived there and cleaned it like a log, and, and… … .

I looked down.

A skull was visible. It was small. Judging by its shape, it was that of a girl. It might not be.

There was something stuck under my breastbone. I roughly pushed it away with my hand and lifted it.

It was a black cloth. The moment I confirmed the faint silver thread that remained, a blue lightning struck my head.

“That’s right. It’s a special enclosure. I was here.”

It was Twella. She was wearing a black habit worn by special children.

“You just remembered now? That day, the day he came down from heaven. The children wearing these clothes in front of you… … .”

Quilbian looked at Twella with a grin.

“How could I forget that?”

“Lies. I completely forgot about that a little while ago.”

As I rubbed my fingers, the black cloth crumbled and scattered into the air.

I followed the scattered black powder.

The living quarters, the pens, the woman who came down from the sky, blood and flesh, and.

Quillvin rubbed his eyes.

“Your eyes have become crippled.”

“That hair too.”

It was Twella, smiling shyly and pointing at Quilbian’s head.

“hey.”

“why?”

“How long have I been here?”

“Because he said 13 years ago, longer than that?”

“It was a fantasy. That kid too.”

“Really? No, I guess not?”

Twella turned around. At the end of her gaze was a shelter.

“Go and check.”

Quilbian let out a sigh and ran. He flew up and stomped his feet a few times, and soon he arrived at the shelter.

I stood there blankly, looking around. I couldn’t see any huts or people. All that remained in the empty space were skeletons.

Quillvian picked up a skull.

This one is also small.

“Hello, I’m Royle.”

Twella whispered.

I lifted the skull to eye level and gazed into the two small, sunken caves.

Yeah, it was all in vain.

“Phuha, puhahaha!”

Uncontrollable laughter erupted.

I laughed until the tears just disappeared.

After laughing.

I had a blast.

It’s late, but we should at least hold a funeral.

(Continued in next episode)