90 – FAY 90

Strange and Beautiful

It had been well over ten years since the Harem was established, as I entered Talim when I was seven years old. During that time, all those who escaped from this place, without exception, went abroad. No matter what happens in the future, they will never be able to set foot in their homeland again.

This was an absolute condition that had to be kept. Because even a single person being discovered could put everyone in danger.

For the same reason, we did not contact those who left. Having gained complete freedom, everything from now on, whether they lived or died, was their own choice.

According to what I occasionally heard from Abyss, some made a lot of money, and some were executed for committing crimes. There were also several artists who worked anonymously, as they couldn’t gain fame in case someone recognized them.

Some lived ordinary lives, raising families as someone’s mother or father, while others devoted themselves to scholarship, secluding themselves all day to read books.

Listening to the news, there were some people whose stories I could roughly guess, and the bookworm was one of them. He was a little kid who only read books in the corner even when he was in the Harem, and he was exploring magical knowledge that had been cut off and buried a long time ago.

I was wondering if deciphering the vellum would be helpful. But I couldn’t easily make a decision. How could I take something out of the country when I didn’t even know what was written on it?

Of course, I would send a copy, not the original, but I was still worried. I was also suspicious of the fact that the explorers who had been fine had shown symptoms of mental abnormality.

Who could guarantee that similar symptoms would not appear just by deciphering it?

“I guess this won’t work.”

I put away the letter I was going to write to Abyss and put down the pen. Then, suddenly, an idea came to mind, and I started drawing on the paper again.

“This much should be okay.”

I briefly described the five statues, the box containing the necklace in the center, and the appearance of the statues and the overall situation.

It was a bit awkward because it was the first time I had sent a reply after only receiving letters. I wondered if I should ask how he was doing, but it seemed like a waste of time, so I sent some money for pocket money.

After finishing my work and going to the Harem, I saw several people gathered together in the large hall. Their eyes turned to me at the sound of my footsteps.

“Kyle.”

“Hello, Kyle.”

“Welcome.”

“Where’s Fatima?”

She fluttered several layers of airy fabric as she approached, seemingly having been making clothes.

“She’s probably with Hasan.”

“She’s been with Hasan a lot lately.”

I listened to them saying one thing each while looking at each other and asked.

“Who is that?”

“You know, the boy you saved before, Kyle.”

“Me? I don’t remember.”

“The one you rescued from Sa Dillin and left in Fatima’s care. He’s been helping with chores while living together.”

I couldn’t remember even after hearing the explanation. But I wasn’t very curious about who it was, so I nodded.

“Where is Hasan?”

“Wouldn’t he be in the kitchen by now?”

“That’s right, it’s almost lunchtime. He’s probably helping with the kitchen work.”

“Shall we call him?”

It seemed better to do so in case we missed each other. After telling them to do so, I sat down anywhere and watched them making clothes next to me.

Without even asking for permission, they stretched out my arm and took measurements, and put a veil over my head. I just left them alone because they looked excited, and soon Fatima arrived.

As I turned my head, the thin veil slipped down my face.

“What are you doing, you rude things?”

Fatima frowned and was horrified at my appearance.

“I’m sorry…”

“I was wrong.”

Those who were scolded apologized in small voices and lowered their heads. Those who entered the Harem at a relatively young age had such innocent sides.

Since they couldn’t go out of the Harem anyway, I didn’t bother to be strict with them if they were clumsy with etiquette. If they left the Harem and went abroad, I wouldn’t see them again anyway.

After picking up the fallen cloth and handing it over, I entered the room with Fatima.

“When the date is set, someone will come. You’ll be taking a ship from the port and drifting at sea for a certain amount of time… You roughly know, right?”

Fatima already knew everything because she had a lot of experience helping people escape from the Harem.

“It feels strange to actually leave.”

She had entered almost in the early days, so it was understandable. She must be worried about the people left behind, and she hadn’t left until now because of these many discomforts.

Fortunately, or perhaps not, unlike what I had suspected before, she was not pregnant. After overcoming the crisis, I was going to create an opportunity to leave the Harem by watching the situation, but Fatima eventually couldn’t leave.

She was busy sending away those who had reasons to leave the Harem first, such as those who were sick or those who had someone waiting for them outside.

There seemed to be other reasons, but the biggest reason was probably that she couldn’t leave because she kept worrying about the people left behind.

“It’s best to take advantage of the crowd when the banquet starts soon. The security will be tighter, but there will be a lot of movement of goods, so it won’t be difficult to get out through a cargo ship.”

The details may change, but Abyss will prepare well as always.

I was about to say something to Fatima, who was feeling strange and didn’t say anything, when I sensed someone near the window. When I turned my head, I saw a thief dressed in all black from head to toe and wearing a mask standing on the window frame.

“…”

“…”

I thought he was a thief because of his clothes, but when I looked at his eyes, it was Aska. Aska, who was wrapped up so tightly that not a single strand of hair or skin was visible, was silently looking at me.

“The kids who came in last year are still reckless, so I’m a little worried…”

Fatima, who hadn’t noticed Aska’s presence yet, sighed and muttered to herself. At the same time, Aska beckoned with his finger as if telling me to come.

It was a rude act, but I was too flustered to argue about it. Was it because I didn’t say anything? Fatima turned her head towards me.

I, who was looking at Aska, also turned my gaze.

“What’s wrong?”

“…”

Fatima looked at the window where Aska had been a moment ago with a puzzled expression. Aska had already disappeared somewhere.

“I’ll come back later.”

I hurriedly left the Harem and went outside. And I deliberately moved to a secluded place and walked along the garden path and said.

“Come out.”

I couldn’t feel his presence, but I thought he would be nearby, so as soon as I said that, Aska fell from above without a sound. In the meantime, he had taken off his mask and was only wearing a black suit that fit his body perfectly.

“Now you’re just running around Talim. What’s with the clothes?”

“I wore them just in case. There’s almost no chance of getting caught, but you always make a fuss.”

“…”

No, you shouldn’t have come out in the first place…

I had a lot to say, but I knew that he wouldn’t listen to me even if I nagged him, so I was choked up. But if I let it go like this, it was obvious that it would get worse next time, so the moment I opened my mouth, something came in.

When I chewed the small, round grains, the liquid burst. I didn’t know what it tasted like, but it was cool, so I chewed it and asked.

“What is it?”

At my question, Aska pointed upwards with his finger. When I looked up, I saw red fruits on the tree. He was also munching on a few, and then said.

“It’s sour and not very sweet.”

He didn’t look good because the taste wasn’t very good. I looked at him and asked in disbelief.

“How did you get here?”

“I came to pick you up because you weren’t in your room?”

Aska threw the fruit in his hand into the bushes and said. After the Greenhouse was built, the rule that I shouldn’t go outside alone became vague. It would have been a problem if someone had caught me even once, but that had never happened, so I didn’t know anymore.

“Are you going to put that on again today? The magic.”

“You can do it later in the evening. Is that why you came all the way here?”

It hadn’t been even two hours since we had breakfast together and separated, so did he come all the way here just for that? I suspected that he was just making excuses because he wanted to take a walk alone.

Aska frowned as if he was upset by my words.

“Then why didn’t you come?”

“I was going to go soon.”

Before I could finish speaking, Aska kicked the ground as if kicking a ball. I waved my hand as I watched the small stones and dirt raise dust and said.

“Do you see that yellow color over there?”

Aska turned his head to where I was pointing.

“The ones that have turned yellow like that are all ripe. Those are very sweet, so if you’re going to eat them, only pick those colors.”

“I don’t want to eat them.”

“Pick a few for me to eat.”

With an expression that he didn’t really want to, Aska jumped up the tree and picked the yellow fruits. As he came down, one of the fruits burst in his palm, spilling red juice, as if he had put strength into it.

I ate one and put the rest in Aska’s mouth, then wiped his palm. Aska, who was standing still and quietly watching his palm become clean, muttered.

“Anyway, I won’t be able to walk around for a few days now.”

“Why?”

“I think I’ll need time to adjust once the Sealing Magic is cast.”

Come to think of it, Aska couldn’t even get out of bed for a while when I first cast the Sealing Magic. Of course, he got better quickly in a few days.

“You’ll get better even faster than then. Anyway, let’s just go and do it right now since we’re going to do it anyway. After washing up first.”

He nodded, looking at his clean palm.

I didn’t feel good thinking that the same marks like brands would appear on Aska’s forearms and the backs of his hands again. I quickly rubbed his skin, feeling sorry for no reason, and Aska shook off my arm.

“It tickles.”

“I’ll release it soon at the right time.”

“Whatever.”

Aska didn’t care much, perhaps because he thought that the Sealing Magic wasn’t a big threat to him.