#65
“Sometimes I just want to be alone. Let’s do that.”
“That’s not possible. If something happens while you’re alone…”
“Yutis.”
I murmured Yutis’s name in a low voice as he tried to object. The method I was using might not work at all, but I couldn’t back down. If Yutis had even a slight affection for me, or if he didn’t want to damage his relationship with me, this method would work.
“I really want to go alone. It’s a bit difficult to keep going around with you, Yutis.”
I didn’t actually intend to speak so bluntly. Whatever the reason, I didn’t want to say something that would hurt someone else’s feelings. But there was no other way. At this rate, I would have to buy Clum with Yutis in tow.
Yutis’s face didn’t change color when he heard my words. However, I had become somewhat able to read his expressions after frequently being with him recently. Judging by his slightly trembling eyebrows and more tightly closed lips, Yutis was undoubtedly quite shocked.
In truth, I usually granted most of Yutis’s requests. I was somewhat afraid of him, and I also felt sorry for him being unable to live according to his own will, so I went along with his words unless it was something really difficult. It must have surprised him that I, who had been like that, suddenly spoke so firmly.
I held onto my wavering heart and maintained as firm an expression as possible. The more I did so, the more Yutis’s eyebrows drooped, but if I backed down here, everything would be for nothing.
“Then I’ll be going. Don’t follow me. I’ll see you around here later.”
After saying that, I immediately turned my back on both of them. I put strength into my hesitating legs and walked away vigorously. I needed to appear more confident in situations like this. That way, Yutis wouldn’t try to stop me. Without looking back, I walked toward the store Ramtel had told me about.
The store selling Clum was located in a somewhat secluded alley. As I entered deeper into the alley, I saw merchants who had set up stalls to sell their goods. I heard that the store I was looking for was further in, beyond these merchants, in an alley covered with a tent.
Walking a bit further, I saw a narrow alley surrounded by blue cloth. At the end of the alley, there was a short staircase leading underground. The sign wasn’t even properly visible since the store was below the stairs. If I hadn’t received prior information from Ramtel, I would have passed right by it.
Upon entering the store, I was greeted by an interior so dark I couldn’t see a foot in front of me. It was somewhat stifling, making it a bit difficult to breathe. Looking around, I saw all sorts of stones filling every corner of the shelves. Some shone brightly, while others had faded colors.
It seemed that even in this world, there were people who collected and sold decorative stones.
“Who are you?”
An elderly man of small stature spoke in a slow voice as he walked out from a corner room with an awkward posture. Even after confirming my face, the old man yawned and couldn’t focus.
“I heard you sell Clum here, so I came to look.”
“Clum? We do sell it, but what percentage of purity are you looking for?”
“Purity?”
The old man passed by me and opened a box placed in a corner. Inside were stones of various sizes, mixed with brown and black colors.
From what I had researched, the black part was Clum.
“We don’t have 100% pure Clum, but we do have ones with partial content like these. Take them if you want.”
“Do these function exactly like Clum?”
At my words, the old man snorted and slowly headed back toward the room.
“Try using one and see. I can’t guarantee anything.”
“How much are they?”
“Just take them. They don’t sell anyway.”
Saying that, the old man entered the room again without properly looking at my face. I approached the box he had just opened. Inside were stones of various sizes. I took out the ones where the black parts occupied the largest area.
I wasn’t sure how much I needed. It seemed best to take as much as I could carry. I opened the pouch I had brought and put the stones inside. After putting in a sufficient amount, I tightly tied the pouch.
“I’ll be going now.”
I straightened up after stooping to pick up stones from the box and called out to the old man who had gone into the room. There was no response like “Be careful” or “Alright.” I hadn’t really expected an answer when I called out. I never expected to obtain them so easily. Thinking how fortunate this was, I decided to quickly leave this remote store.
Now I planned to go near the carriage and kill time. That way, I could meet Yutis and Rikin later. With that thought, I left the store and just as I stepped on the stairs, someone blocked my way.
“What brings you all the way here?”
The one speaking to me with a bright smile was none other than Rikin. I frowned, not hiding my displeasure.
“Did you follow me?”
I was worried the pouch inside my clothes might be discovered, but at times like this, I had to act as if nothing was wrong. I should be able to act that much.
Rikin glanced at my face and looked at the store behind me. The store without a sign exuded a meaningful atmosphere for anyone to see. It would seem strange that I suddenly said I wanted to go alone and then entered such a store.
“Follow you? I just came here because I had some business in the area. What about you?”
“Pardon?”
“Did you finish your business?”
Saying that, Rikin gave me a smiling look with his eyes. It seemed he had noticed that I wanted to be alone because of that store.
I faced Rikin with wide eyes. The thought that I had been caught made my mouth go dry. I tried my best not to show it, but once the anxiety started, it wouldn’t go away.
Fortunately, though, Rikin didn’t seem to have accurately assessed my state. He just stood still, waiting to see what excuse I would make.
“I still have more to do.”
“Is that so? Where to next?”
As if planning to follow me all the way, Rikin was curious about my next destination. I don’t understand why he’s picking at my nerves when he actively agreed to my suggestion that we go our separate ways.
“What about you, Rikin?”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I saw Ana on my way, and I just couldn’t go anywhere else.”
He’s certainly good with words. I decided to ignore Rikin and go my way. If I exchanged more words with him, I felt my life would be shortened. Just as I was about to brush past him, Rikin reached out and grabbed my arm.
“It’s dangerous to wander around here alone. Let’s go to the main street together.”
“I’ll be fine with this much.”
“I’m worried about you. I have business elsewhere anyway. I won’t follow you, so don’t worry.”
It was impossible to believe he wouldn’t follow me at this point. Still, one fortunate thing was that Rikin was no longer looking at the store I had visited. It seemed that getting me out of this street was a higher priority than finding out about the store I had visited. In a way, this was more beneficial for me.
“Alright. Then let’s go together just up to there.”
Thinking that would be fine, I vigorously shook off Rikin’s arm. Only then did his hand release me. I walked ahead without giving Rikin any more attention.
The path that had seemed dark when I walked alone felt a bit brighter now. It seemed the sunlight was entering this alley as the sun was setting. However, rather than being bright like other alleys, the reddish glow of the sunset doubled the eerie atmosphere.
“Whatever it is, don’t shoulder it all by yourself.”
“What have I done to make you say that?”
“After insisting so firmly on going alone, leaving behind a hurt Yutis, and then coming alone to a back alley like this. Would you think it’s nothing?”
I had nothing to say when Rikin put it that way. I walked on, looking ahead and ignoring Rikin who was walking beside me as much as possible. I appreciated him following me out of concern, but that was that and this was this. If I seemed different from usual, just leave me alone. It was so like Rikin to follow me somehow.
Suddenly, I’m reminded of Rikin from the original work. Rikin, who seemed a bit more stolid than now, was a man who lived according to his own will, contrary to his appearance that suggested he was blunt and always acted according to principles. He often stepped forward to help Iria even when she didn’t want it, and he was the first to stand up to protect her. Rikin’s character truly hasn’t changed at all.
“We’re just going up to here, and then you go your own way. Understood?”
“Alright. I’ll do as you say.”
Rikin’s compliant answer was somewhat suspicious, but I decided not to point it out. I turned my head away from Rikin and walked a bit further ahead. Just past this point, the main street appears. My steps became a little lighter at the thought of shaking off Rikin as soon as I got out.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
