Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/2912051601476634937
Four days have passed since we left the capital.
“I can see it now,”
Lilia says, pointing ahead.
In the distance,
I could see the vast blue sea stretching out before us.
“It’s La Mer,”
I mutter without thinking.
It felt nostalgic.
Just like that day.
Riding my horse like this,
I’d approached this town.
“Is this your first time seeing the ocean?”
“Yes.”
Lilia replied quietly.
“I never had a chance to leave the capital.”
“I see. You’re always so focused on your research, after all.”
“…That’s true.”
There was a brief pause.
“What do you think?”
“Of what?”
“The ocean.”
Lilia gazed out at the ocean.
She remained silent for a while.
“……It’s vast, isn’t it?”
“Is that all?”
“Stop nagging.”
But.
Her eyes…
were fixed on the sea as if she were being drawn into it.
◇
They entered the town.
The sea breeze brushed against her cheeks.
“I ate grilled fish here, didn’t I?”
“While you were traveling?”
“Yeah.”
“It was delicious.”
“Is that all you remember—the food?”
“I remember other things, too.”
“Like what?”
“Like how beautiful the ocean was.”
“Or how nice the sea breeze felt.”
“Is that all?”
“…And how great the hot springs were.”
“So all you care about is food and hot springs.”
Lilia let out a sigh, as if exasperated.
I gave a wry smile.
“Well, that’s just how it is.”
“You really haven’t changed a bit.”
“Neither have you.”
“I’ve changed, though.”
“How so?”
Lilia fell silent for a moment.
“…In a lot of ways.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
She didn’t say anything more.
◇
We checked into our inn.
As evening fell,
the two of us headed to the dining hall.
“The seafood here is delicious.”
“Really?”
“Have you tried it before?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Is this your first time?”
“That’s what I’ve been saying.”
We sat down at our table.
We ordered our meals.
A little while later,
Grilled fish and a shellfish dish were brought to the table.
“Is this it?”
Lilia looked at the plate.
“Yeah.”
“Give it a try.”
Lilia hesitated just a little, then.
She took a bite.
“……”
“How is it?”
“……It’s delicious.”
“I knew it, right?”
“But—”
“What?”
“It’s not quite as good as you said it would be.”
“You’re pretty harsh.”
“I’m just being honest.”
I laughed as I took a big bite of fish.
It really was delicious.
Just then.
“Excuse me, are you travelers?”
A female waitress approached us.
She had a bright smile.
She had a friendly, approachable vibe.
“Yeah.”
“Where are you from?”
“The capital.”
“Oh my!”
Her eyes lit up.
“You’re from the capital!”
“Actually, I’ve been wanting to visit the capital myself.”
“What’s it like there?”
“Hmm…”
I thought for a moment.
“It’s a bustling city.”
“That sounds great!”
The woman laughed happily.
“If you don’t mind, could you tell me more about it?”
“Sure, I’d be happy to.”
Just then.
“We have to get up early tomorrow.”
It was a quiet voice.
The woman and I both looked at Lilia at the same time.
Lilia was smiling.
A gentle,
soft smile.
But then.
“We’re tired from traveling,”
“so we’d like to get some rest.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry!”
The woman hurriedly bowed her head.
“We’re sorry to have bothered you!”
And with that, they left.
Silence returned to the dining hall.
“Lilia.”
“What?”
“About just now.”
“It’s nothing.”
Her reply was immediate.
“But—”
“It’s true you have to get up early tomorrow, isn’t it?”
“Well, I guess so.”
“Then it’s no problem.”
Lilia turned her gaze back to her food.
She seemed completely unfazed.
But.
The hand bringing the food to her mouth…
…was just a little rough.
“Lilia.”
“What?”
“Are you mad?”
“I’m not mad.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes.”
“…Really?”
“Shut up.”
Her reply was immediate.
I gave a wry smile.
I didn’t ask any more questions.
For a while, the two of us ate in silence.
The sound of the waves drifted in from the distance.
“Hey, Alt.”
“Hm?”
“Five years ago…”
“What did you eat in this town?”
“Grilled fish.”
“Same as now?”
“Yeah.”
“By yourself?”
“By myself.”
Lilia lowered her gaze slightly.
“Right.”
“So you were alone.”
“Yeah.”
“Did you have fun?”
“I did.”
“……”
Lilia looked out the window.
The night sea stretched out before her.
“As for me,”
she murmured softly.
“Back then,”
“I was waiting all that time in the capital.”
“……”
“Even after a month passed…”
“Even after two months passed…”
“You didn’t come back.”
“The whole time.”
Her voice was quiet.
It wasn’t anger or blame.
It was simply…
the weight of those five years.
“Lilia.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize.”
“But—”
“I said you don’t need to apologize.”
Lilia turned her gaze back to the food.
“Tomorrow—”
“All I have to do is go to the dungeon.”
“Ah.”
“That’s right.”
Silence fell again.
All they could hear was the sound of the waves.
“That was delicious.”
After a while, Lilia says.
“I see.”
“I’d like to come back again.”
“Then just come back.”
“……I guess so.”
Lilia gave a small smile.
This time.
It looked like a genuine smile.
◇
That night.
Lilia was sitting alone on the bed in her room.
She could see the moon through the window.
The moonlight reflecting off the surface of the sea.
“Tomorrow,”
she murmured softly.
“Finally.”
The magic circle she’d been investigating for three months.
The reason she’d been missing for five years.
Tomorrow, she’d be able to see it all.
As a researcher, she should have been excited.
But.
More than that.
What lay deep within her heart was
A different emotion.
That magic circle…
It had stolen those five years with Alt.
That fact alone…
Made her chest feel tight.
“I can’t forgive it,”
she murmured quietly.
Not to anyone in particular.
“Truly,”
“I can’t forgive it.”
Outside the window,
the waves were lapping gently against the shore.
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