Chapter 90: Charlotte and the Waiting People
"Waah!"
I jolted awake.
Where am I? Looking at the piles of paper on the desk, I realized this must be Riven’s room. Scanning the area, I saw several people inside.
There was Reynard, along with two women who looked like adventurers. I think I saw them once at the Crimson Bell’s clan house—maybe his companions? They seemed to be quarreling about something.
And then, an unfamiliar woman…? No, I’ve seen her before. Where was it… ah! She was the one who hosted the auction—the woman who vanished after swapping places with that monster-sister!
"Oh, you’re awake."
"Huh?"
Somehow, she gave off a different impression. Maybe she’s just a lot calmer when she’s off-duty?
"…Ah, thanks to you."
"That’s good to hear."
Ah, Riven’s awake too. He was speaking to her casually—are they acquaintances?
"Rosalind, did you know all along?"
Eh! This woman is the monster-sister—no, she’s Rosalind!?
"Oh my, whatever do you mean? I wouldn’t know."
"Don’t play dumb. Even for you, that must have been a large-scale scheme."
"Hehehe. So you noticed? You could at least thank me, you know."
I had no idea what they were talking about. More importantly, things looked… intense on Reynard’s side.
Glancing over, I saw one woman pinning the other to the ground.
"Master! Please take me as your disciple!"
"I already told you no! They just woke up, so stop making a scene!"
"…She’s right. I can’t really recommend it either."
"See? Even the clan master says so!"
"I won’t give up! No one else has such deep knowledge of magic!"
…Yeah, I’ll just pretend I didn’t see that. Something must’ve gone down while we were asleep.
"Um, excuse me—"
"Oh, good morning, Charlotte-chan."
"Ah, good morning…? Uh, you’re Rosalind-san, right?"
"Yes. I’m borrowing this girl’s body for a little while."
Ehh… this person really can do anything.
Wait—could the reason she didn’t use magic at the auction be that she was massively holding back? No, that can’t be. It still took three of us and a surprise attack just to push her back then. …Better not think too hard about it. At least she doesn’t seem like an enemy right now.
"So, it looks like you managed to rescue the princess."
"Not that I’m fully satisfied with how it turned out."
"Which means you’re going, aren’t you?"
"Yeah."
Going… right. We have to. I need to see with my own eyes what happened to Trichel.
I pushed on the bed to stand, but my body collapsed back onto it with a thud.
Huh? My strength won’t come out?
"Oh dear, don’t move so suddenly. You used the soul connection, didn’t you? Right now, you’re in a state of exhaustion."
"Uh… you know what I was doing?"
"Hehehe."
She brushed it off with a laugh. She probably won’t say more no matter how much I press. Not out of malice, but because she thinks it’s better left unsaid.
Why do I think that? Because when we parted before, she told me she was rooting for me. Those words didn’t sound like a lie. She’s hard to figure out, but not a bad person. Probably.
"Rosalind. Do you know where the master of dreams is?"
"Yes, I do."
"Tell me. We need to go immediately. There are questions I still need to demand answers for from that fool."
Trichel’s whereabouts? Isn’t she at the clan house? Reynard’s right here, so I asked.
"She’s not at Crimson Bell?"
"…No. She hasn’t shown her face for a while now."
I see. So that’s why she wasn’t in her room in the dream either. Maybe that’s unrelated, though.
Still, if Rosalind managed to track her down, that’s incredible.
"But unfortunately, it seems a welcoming party has arrived."
"Huh?"
A welcoming party?
I didn’t understand what she meant, but the room’s atmosphere grew taut in an instant. Riven and Reynard’s expressions had hardened, and hurried footsteps echoed outside.
The door burst open. Neil rushed in.
"Hey, hey! The building’s surrounded by a bunch of blue-haired people! What’s going on!?"
Blue hair? For a second I thought it might be Trichel, but he said a bunch of them, so it can’t be her. She always acted alone. Then… maybe her comrades or family showed up?
"Have you heard of the Blue Clan?"
"Looks like they won’t let us pass."
"Indeed. Should I tell you the location, then?"
"Please."
Wait, why are they suddenly on high alert!? I was thinking we’d talk with them and have them take us to Trichel.
So they’re dangerous? Enemies? Do we really have to fight them?
Come to think of it, I still don’t even know why Trichel did what she did. Could the people surrounding us be the ones who forced her into it? I was late to realize it, but Riven and Rosalind had already grasped that possibility. Makes sense.
"But then, what do we do?"
"We’ll have to force our way through."
"In the middle of town!? That’ll cause a huge mess!"
"Then what do you suggest? Give up on meeting her?"
That comeback’s unfair. Leaves me speechless.
Riven nodded, clearly satisfied with my silence. What the hell. Fine, I get it. I’ll go—reluctantly.
"…Understood. But how exactly are we doing this?"
"We’ll hold them off."
"You will, Reynard?"
"We’re already involved. Besides, Trichel is our comrade. If something’s happened to her, we can’t just sit by and do nothing."
He turned to the two women beside him. "Right?"
They nodded, though reluctantly. They looked genuinely unwilling.
"Well, making that slacker owe us a favor might be a little entertaining."
"Hah? If I think of it as a chance to make him cough up one or two of his secret spells, maybe it’s worth it."
"Ahaha…"
Pretty harsh words. So everyone agrees he doesn’t normally pull his weight, huh.
"What about you, Rosalind-san?"
"I’d like to help, truly. But as one of the Black Clan, openly fighting the Blue people—vassals of White—would be a bit problematic."
"Black Clan…? And it’s fine for you, Riven?"
"I’m directly involved. They’ll have accounted for that already."
Sounds like there are deeper issues here—Black Clan, White’s vassals… I’ll just wring the truth out of Trichel later.
We’ll meet her face-to-face, lecture her, and make her spill everything she’s been hiding. Alright. I’ve made up my mind. Nothing beyond that.
"Rosalind."
"What is it?"
"Do you think the master of dreams is alive?"
Rosalind’s lips curved faintly into a smile. Her eyes held the gentle warmth of someone looking at a hopeless but beloved child.
"Yes, she’s alive. Go with peace of mind."
"Then it’s settled. Let’s go."
"Yeah. Let’s."
We quickly equipped ourselves and got ready for battle.
I don’t have anything on me, though. Guess I’ll just be tagging along.
On the way out, one of the women near Reynard shot me a glare. What was that about? Did I somehow earn her grudge without realizing it?
"Neil, you and your people assist Reynard."
"Understood. How much exhaustion should we allow?"
"No deaths. Neither ally nor enemy."
"Order acknowledged, boss."
Neil accepted the command and left the room ahead of us. Reynard and his group followed shortly after.
That left only the three of us behind. The room, which had felt cramped before, suddenly seemed much larger.
"We’re going too."
"Got it."
"Don’t push yourself too hard."
"I know. Ah—give me a hand for a moment."
I took Riven’s hand and managed to stand, swaying a little.
What is this? The symptoms feel a bit like anemia—the dizziness when trying to stand or take the first step. But as long as I recognize it, it’s manageable. I should still be able to move.
I nodded firmly to Riven, who was watching me with a hint of concern. He nodded back. With that, our preparations were complete.
"…Charlotte-chan."
"Yes?"
Just as we were about to head out, Rosalind—who would remain behind—called to me.
I turned back. She was watching intently, her expression deadly serious.
"The path you’re about to walk is the very same one that person once walked. I pray you don’t lose your way."
Lose my way…? I don’t fully understand. And I don’t know who “that person” is, either.
But I believe I’m right. I have to believe it. Abandoning a friend, or letting people die because of some twisted logic—that’s what’s wrong.
"I don’t fully understand… but I hear you."
"Heheh. That’s enough. May fortune be with you."
With her send-off, we left the room.
Our goal—where Trichel was waiting.
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