EP.126 What's the Point of Making Future Plans
I was walking along, deep in thought. Around the time the golem, tucked under my arm and dangling along, started grumbling about damage to its body and securing its field of vision.
Just then, a large coffin appeared in the distance, and the golem stopped speaking. At the same time, Tyr, who was riding on the coffin, spotted me and quickly approached. The coffin controlled by Tyr's authority moved agilely before stopping smoothly in front of me.
Tyr leaped down from the coffin and spoke to me.
"Phew! Have you finished your preparations? Since we don't know when we'll leave, you must gather the necessary things quickly."
"Empty hands come, empty hands go. I came empty-handed, so what more would I pack when leaving? I only gathered a little food."
That's a lie.
While cooking yesterday, I snatched some of the regressor's spices. They're said to be more expensive than gold of the same weight. If I sell them, I'd make quite a bit of money.
On top of that, I've packed food and water, and even clothing packets. Together with my bag, I can truly be called invincible.
"What is the first thing you want to do when we go outside?"
Cash conversion! Turning goods into gold—the strongest alchemy created by humans!
I couldn't say that, so I answered evasively.
"Well? I thought about returning to where I was, but this golem keeps yelling at me calling me a criminal, so it's not in the plan anymore. It seems I'll have to wander the world aimlessly."
The golem, which had been lying dead still, flinched. However, Tyr didn't seem to pay much attention.
'Nowhere to go? Right. If she's not tied down anywhere, it would be easy for her to stay with me.'
No, she was actually welcoming it. Tyr slightly tilted her head to prevent her joy from showing on her face.
"I see..."
Even so, she glanced at my expression.
'Since we both have nowhere to go, there shouldn't be any problem traveling together. But...'
"Ahem. I too plan to experience the world aimlessly for the time being."
"My, that sounds like hard work."
'...To travel together, what should I suggest? This is difficult.'
Even while conversing, Tyr kept drifting into other thoughts.
"What would be difficult? I need neither food nor drink."
"You don't know much about how the world works, do you? Aren't you going to get scammed or have your money taken?"
'If you teach me, there would be no problem. You're more likely to scam than be scammed.'
A subtle wind blew. Hoping I would notice, Tyr kept circling around the topic.
"I wonder if there's anyone bold enough to try scheming against me."
"Who scams like that? What if an innkeeper casually demands 10,000 alche when you try to book a room? Do you even know what alche is?"
'Even for such trivial things, you could teach me. Your stories make me happy, and I want to hear your explanations.'
"At most it would happen once or twice. When traveling for the first time, you learn by being deceived like that. Then you meet a good companion, share stories, and learn about different worlds—that's what travel is."
"You know what? A good companion is the most dangerous scammer. Merchants who overcharge just take your money, but those who offer to be companions try to take your life away."
'Even if you're a scammer, it's fine. Because I'm willing to give whatever you demand from me.'
"Life is about being with people, how can one take away a life?"
"A bad companion seduces people to sell them off somewhere else. A good companion seduces people to chase their dreams. Those seduced like that become wanderers drifting here and there. Both are shortcuts to ruin."
'Then, you must be the best companion in the world. Because you made my dream come true.'
"Your actions are optimistic, but your perspective is newly pessimistic."
"Isn't everyone like that? Birds flying in the sky look down at the ground, and trees rooted to the earth endlessly gaze up at the sky. The world is turned upside down, so at least I should be optimistic."
'Compared to you who is skilled at everything, all I have is meager power. The only thing I can do is protect you, but...'
"...Phew."
"Yes?"
'I want to hear you chattering in your cheerful voice. You, who knows the world well, explain the newly emerged things to me. Then I, while counting the stars in the night sky, will tell you old tales now forgotten. As we endlessly share stories, when the campfire burns down and emits faint smoke, we'd nod off to sleep.'
"I, who dislikes sunlight, will hide in the shade before dawn breaks. Then after the morning sun rises, you'll look around with half-awake eyes, lift your parasol, and come find me curled up in the shade. Sometimes chatting with others, sometimes mischievously teasing me. And yet, if days like before... continue."
From the middle, her thoughts were slipping out as words. However, Tyr murmured faintly as if not noticing, or perhaps hoping not to.
"Come to think of it, it's not much different from life here. From the moment you first came to wake me, until now before we leave... everything was enjoyable."
'Perhaps... I might not want to leave this place yet...'
It seemed Tyr had grown quite fond of living here.
Although the occasional falling flotsam causes trouble, setting that aside, it would be hard to find a space as comfortable and quiet as this Abyss. For people who endure each day and struggle today to survive tomorrow, this Abyss might seem like heaven.
Still, we can't stay here forever. As all things have an end,
If we go outside.
With a gentle smile, I asked Tyr.
"Tyr. Could you perhaps protect me?"
Tyr raised her head with a start, like someone just awakened from sleep, and answered.
"Of course."
"No matter what danger comes?"
"What is there to fear."
"What if a being capable of destroying the world targets me?"
"Then, I would stop them even at the cost of my life."
"Even if you might die?"
"Dying is not something to fear that much. More terrifying than that is losing something as precious as your life... that was far more dreadful."
Words from someone who has experienced death once carried weight. Is this why people look for experienced workers?
Anyway, feeling genuinely grateful, I smiled and replied.
"Thank you, Tyr. That's reassuring."
'It seems you're not taking my words seriously. When facing the Apostle of the Wisdom God, you act as if you'd believe even the most absurd claims.'
Perhaps dissatisfied with my casual attitude, Tyr puffed her cheeks and strode toward me.
"You seem to revere that Daoist of the Wisdom God greatly."
Tyr, who approached me with a fearsome aura, timidly tugged at my sleeve and said.
"Remember this. I am far more famous than that Daoist, and old enough to be difficult to compare with."
That's true. Even if she were an Earth Immortal, who could compare to Tyr, who created the concept of vampires and alone kept the Seonghwangcheong in check.
Well, that aside.
"I don't think being old is much of a boast."
"Truly, you never lose a single exchange!"
"It means you're that comfortable to be around. I couldn't say things like this to Lord Jiseon. I don't even call you by a nickname like I do with you."
"......!"
A bright smile bloomed on Tyr's face. Briefly.
Fully excited, Tyr looked around as if she had left something behind.
"It seems my preparations are still insufficient. Wait a moment. I shall pack more belongings."
'If I were to leave alone, I would need neither food nor a place to sleep. But Hue, who is fully alive, would need plenty of food. A place to sleep... hmm, if it really comes to it, we could sleep together in my coffin...'
Having thought that far, Tyr suddenly flushed red and shook her head so vigorously her hair flew about.
'W-what improper thoughts am I having! I can let Hue sleep in the coffin and stay up through the night!'
Wait. That makes it seem like I kicked an elder out of their bed.
More importantly, why isn't she thinking about getting an inn? Sleeping outside is hard and dangerous.
Tyr left to pack even one more piece of luggage in the coffin. After Tyr had moved far enough away, the golem, which had been playing dead and dangling from my side, raised its head.
«...Were you not arrested for gambling?»
Come to think of it, you were awake, weren't you? Is it because thoughts can't be read? I keep forgetting when they stay quiet.
But why my charges? You're the one who caught me, yet you're teasing me?
"Wouldn't Captain Abi know my charges better? It's as you know."
«Perhaps your actual profession was a host?»
"Oh please. How many host bars do you think there are in the Military Empire?"
I only ever worked as a substitute at host bars. I wasn't very popular. That's a ruthless neighborhood where looks determine everything.
"Now then. We've had enough of the outside world, right? It's time to go back."
I roughly understood that the Military Empire had plans to use the Abyss and the prisoners within it. I didn't know exactly what they would do, but most likely war. The country is literally called the Military Empire.
If so, how much time is left until the war? About a year or so? It must be around the time the regressor predicted.
Something's going to happen.
"Sigh. I should leave the country soon. Should I follow the coastline all the way up? Flee far away to the Federation."
«...I believe I just heard a criminal's plan to flee the country.»
Ah, right. The golem was still here. I keep forgetting when they stay quiet.
"It's a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding..."
I was in the middle of taking back my words when.
"...Hey. Wait a moment."
Someone called me from the darkness. It was the regressor.
The regressor, who had been deep in thought ever since Jiseon arrived here, seemed to have finally reached a decision. Firm resolve could be seen between her long eyelashes.
"I have something to say. For a moment."
She, who until now hadn't properly revealed herself before anyone, only occasionally showing her existence, finally appeared in front of me and—
Seeing me hugging the golem tucked under my armpit so preciously, she seemed to deflate and scowled.
"Anyway, is that golem some kind of attachment doll? Why do you keep carrying it around?"
I was about to say yes, but the golem interrupted first.
«Attachment doll? I must object to your abusive language...»
But the regressor was the person with the least patience for the Military Empire in the world. The regressor shot a fearsome glare at the golem.
"Enough. Golem. Will you disconnect, or shall I disconnect you?"
«...I will disconnect.»
"Then go. Right now."
Slop.
The golem stretched out limply. Its stiff limbs swayed. Glancing at it, the crystal sphere corresponding to its eyes rolled around.