Chương 16: F-Rank Adventurer

It had now been a month since their journey began, and finally, Yuto and Shariel arrived in Ristal. It was the only kingdom that had not been conquered by Valisthera. Its walls were naturally high, and a blue flag flew proudly above it. Yuto stared at the wall blankly. Shariel led him by the hand toward the gate. There was a long line of people awaiting admittance in front of the gate, including merchants with their carriages, tourists, and adventurers.

Guards stood in front of the line of foreigners, inspecting each person. Identification was checked, luggage was searched, and anyone suspicious was stopped and brought aside for questioning. Yuto tensed at the sight. This was the kingdom's entrance, and they were naturally strict.

"There is nothing to worry about. I can handle this," Shariel said with a grin, noting his anxiety. Soon enough, it was their turn, and a guard holding a spear came up to them and ran his eyes over both of them.

"Identification, please. And the purpose of your visit?"

"We're tourists," Shariel said, watching him. That was all. She did not produce any papers like the others. She just made eye contact and held it. But the guard that she had looked at suddenly seemed to turn hazy-eyed.

"Identity confirmed. You may pass," he said sleepily, stepping aside. The same thing was happening to the other guard who was nearby, as well as a soldier holding a ledger. They all seemed to be staring out into space, blinking with their eyes unfocused, and moving aside as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Yuto passed through the gate uncertainly. He turned around and saw that the guards had gone back to their businesslike airs and were questioning the next person.

"What did you just do?" he asked.

"Nothing," she said playfully.

"I believe they were impressed with my looks. It happens every time," she said. It was an obvious lie, but he didn't ask any further questions. It had already been a month since he had been traveling with her, and he knew by now that she had many secrets and abilities. Their travels inside the border city did not run into any hitches after that. Shariel took him to an adventurer's guild right away. It was crowded inside the hall, and the counter had a long line of people.

But she took his hand and walked up to the counter without waiting in line.

"I've come to register this boy as an adventurer," she said. Adventurers were a rough bunch, and they might have complained about her cutting in line, but nobody spoke. This confused Yuto yet again.

"Yes... registration. What is his name?" asked the employee at the center, her eyes dreamily watching Shariel and Yuto.

"Yuto," she said.

"And his surname is...?"

"He doesn't have one."

"Does he have a guarantor or proof of his background?"

"I am his guarantor. As for proof, well, let's just say he's from Ristal," she said offhandedly. She produced a gold coin and put it on the counter. The employee glanced at her, then at the coin, and then nodded slowly.

"All right, that should do it. Please wait just a moment." And that was all. They didn't have to provide any identification for Shariel or Yuto. The employee told Yuto to put his hand on a crystal ball, checked his ether reaction, and gave him an iron badge indicating rank. [Adventurer Badge] [Name: Yuto] [Rank: Bronze]"Starting today, you are a bronze-rank adventurer. This badge can serve in lieu of identification. And at bronze rank, you are able to enter up to D-rank dungeons..."

the employee said in a dazed voice. Yuto took the badge uncertainly, and Shariel ruffled his hair as she usually did and snickered.

"Congratulations, child." They left the guild together, and Yuto looked down at the badge in his hand. He had only had a name ever since he returned to the past, but now, for the first time, he had a real identity.

"I didn't know you could do this sort of thing," he said, glancing up at her.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't pretend like you don't know. Everything was so simple, excessively simple, from admittance at the gate to my adventurer registration."

"If we had followed the usual protocols, we wouldn't even have been able to get into the kingdom," she said with a shrug. She smiled at him.

"The same goes for your registration. You might say that you are a survivor from Velkyne, but you have no way of proving that, do you? So I pulled a few tricks, and it will be much more convenient for you to say that you are from Ristal." Yuto recalled the dreamy look in the eyes of the guards and the employee at the counter. Then he realized something. Now that he thought about it, there were so many things that didn't make sense. Why didn't anyone look at her?

Most elves in Callisto lived on the continent of Vermira. She was only part elf, of course, but on the outside she looked like an ordinary elf. Nobody in the city seemed to notice her, however, or stare at her. And it wasn't just here. In the villages they had visited on the way here from Oltea, and on the road, the people they had met hadn't seemed intrigued by her. It wasn't that they couldn't see her at all, but it was as if they thought she was an ordinary human being.

Who exactly are you?

She did not have a contract with any Constellation, but she was confident that she was stronger than the Crimson Ringmistress, and she could alter what people perceived about her. She had given him much help and goodwill over the past month, but he still didn't know much about her. And now he wasn't even sure if he was looking at the real Shariel. She glanced back at him as if noticing his gaze.

"Are you taken with my looks again? Or are doubts about me floating around in your mind?"

"Am I looking at the real you?" he asked. Shariel laughed and slowed down. Then she walked over to him and ruffled his hair again.

"This face you see is my own."

"Why didn't you show me a disguise instead?"

"Well, how should I put it? I have no reason to deceive you." She smiled and cocked her head.

"Anyway, child, we are now in Ristal. Does anything come to mind?" He was silent for a moment. He remembered nothing new, but just as when he had first heard the kingdom's name, emotion kept bubbling deep inside his heart. That emotion was rage, but it was different from the rage he had felt when he first witnessed the Crimson Ringmistress. It was cold, not hot, and deep rather than energetic.

A sense of betrayal.

That was the best way to put it, but he couldn't explain why. What had Ristal done to him? No matter how much he tried, he couldn't remember anything just yet. Over the past month, he had dreamed so many times, witnessed more of the past, and remembered things he had forgotten. But there were still many gaps in his memory.

"Nothing..." he said quietly. He knew how to control and suppress his emotions now. He thought about the word treachery, but he didn't reveal how much it affected him, and no uncontrolled ether slipped out of him. All of this he had learned from her. She narrowed her visible eye as if trying to read his mind.

"Hmm." She soon nodded her head.

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"Well, if you don't remember anything, let's head to the capital."

"The capital?" he asked uncertainly.

"Yes, this is just the outskirts near the border. If nothing comes to mind yet, we shall go to the heart of the nation, Risgar. There are plenty of carriages headed in that direction, as it turns out." She grinned and pointed to the main road.

"There's going to be a festival." She was right. There was a long line of carriages standing on the main road. * Every carriage headed to the capital was full, but nobody here seemed to focus on Shariel either. She watched the scenery outside the window lazily, and Yuto sat beside her. He could hear the other passengers in the same carriage talking.

"To think that the two royal children are already twelve years old! How time flies."

"The question is, which Constellations will choose them? They are twins from the royal family, so I'm sure it will be high-ranking Constellations." He had been wondering about the festival. It seemed that the 12th birthday of the twins of the Ristal royal family was coming up in a few days. Yuto's eyes gleamed as he listened. The nobles of Callisto were chosen by the Constellations when they turned twelve years old.

The ritual in which this happened was overseen by some priests belonging to a religion that worshiped the Constellations as gods. The ritual for the twins would be held in the central square of Risgar, the capital.

Twins...

His heart began to race again. He felt a dryness in his mouth that he couldn't quite explain.

"This is such a relief, isn't it? It's been three years since Velkyne. I was afraid something might happen to Ristal as well."

"Shush, man. Don't mention that unlucky kingdom. We are on our way to a festival!"

"What's wrong with being worried? Velkyne was an ally. I was afraid that the Constellations might also grow angry with us—""Shh! Shh! Don't even talk about it, or think about it, either. If you talk about such things in the capital, the guards will take you away!"

"Ahem. Well, I'm just relieved, is all. I'm glad that the two royal children have grown up safely and are about to be chosen by the Constellations. They have bright futures ahead of them." Yuto quietly balled his fists at the mention of Velkyne. The carriage traveled for three days. At night, the other carriages that were accompanying this one stopped together, and the passengers shared food. They would sit together in front of a large fire, introducing themselves and laughing with each other.

Yuto and Shariel did not take part in the joviality. They sat separately, chatting as they usually did, and none of the passengers tried to approach them.

"Every dungeon in Callisto was created by the Constellations," she said, tipping her bottle.

"A dungeon is a space set apart from the world, and inside are monsters that are called beasts. When you kill those beasts and progress through the dungeon, you eventually get to the boss in the final room. Once you kill the boss, the Constellations will grant you a gift." She grinned and looked at him.

"As a result, it's not only adventurers who go into dungeons. Nobles do so as well, so that they can receive the favor of the Constellations. Since you've also become an adventurer now, you should enter a dungeon one of these days."

"With you, Shariel?"

"Hmm. I suppose I could come with you if I am still around by then, but at your skill level you won't have much difficulty in a D-rank dungeon," she said. Yuto had changed quite a bit over the past month. He no longer fought with his sword using instinct alone. He fought with careful planning and deliberation, and he grew skilled at using his Void Skills in battle. It was all thanks to Shariel's teachings.

She had taught him so many things, including how to fight, how to use his ether, and how to control his emotions. To be more precise, she had helped him remember that which he had forgotten. But still, he was genuinely grateful to her.

"It's about time you told me, isn't it?" he asked.

"What do you mean?"

"About the repayment you want from me."

"Hmm. Well, since you seem so curious, I feel even less inclined to tell you." She snickered and tilted her head.

"Don't worry about it. I won't ask for something you cannot give me."

"I can't pay you since I don't have any money."

"Do you think I would go to all of this effort just for some money?"

"So you think it's a lot of effort?"

"Well, not so much that it's difficult for me to handle. It's quite entertaining as well. How do you feel, child?"

"I feel grateful to you, Shariel."

"Well, isn't that a pleasant thing to hear?" She ruffled his hair again.

"Tomorrow we will arrive in the capital. I hope you will remember something." He did not respond. The closer they drew to the capital, the clearer his nightmare became, and the more often he felt his heart beating unusually fast.

Betrayal. He recalled the emotion he had experienced a few days ago. He knew instinctively that once they arrived, the gaps in his mind would be filled. And he felt more afraid than excited. A conversation he had had with Shariel before was bouncing around in his mind. She had asked him if it was necessary for him to bother to remember that which gave him pain. If he hadn't chosen to go to the capital and instead ignored his past, what then?

I can't do that. He could turn a blind eye now, but it would not do away with his memories. The past that he could not remember, and these intense emotions linked with that past, would rot in his mind and destroy him in the end. He clutched Flokiro's Evostone, which was in the folds of his clothing. I have to know everything. Shariel watched him quietly as he hardened his resolve. * The festival was fully underway in the capital. Every street was decorated with the flags and banners of the royal family.

Stalls were everywhere and smelled of delicious food.

"Such energy," Shariel murmured, looking around at the crowd. On this birthday for the twins, a public constellation ceremony would be held, and the streets of the capital were full of people from all over the kingdom. It showed just how excited everyone was about the future of the twins. The Constellations above chose children based on their preferences. A Constellation could make or break a noble's future and that of their family. But this was royalty, not just any ordinary noble.

One might argue that the kingdom's fate was on the line.

"You look about twelve as well, child," Shariel said, laughing and raising her finger. They were in the central square of the capital. They couldn't go any closer because of the crowd that already filled it. But the high stage at the center was fully visible even to those who were at the edges.

"Don't you want to go up there and be chosen yourself?" she asked.

"No," Yuto said instantly. He didn't even need to think. He did not want the blessing of those Constellations. Just thinking about it made him sick.

"Haha! I thought you might say that." She burst out laughing. More time passed. The kingdom's knights, who had been keeping guard around the stage, raised the Ristal flag on high. Drums began to beat in the distance, and the murmuring of the crowd began to quiet down. The sound of a massive bell echoed throughout the city, and people swallowed in anticipation. A king and queen dressed in luxurious uniforms climbed onto the stage. The king arrived first and waved at the people. The crowd cheered.

The king smiled and listened to them proudly. Then he spoke.

"People of Ristal! I thank you in the name of the royal family for coming to this ceremony!" His voice echoed throughout the square, amplified by magic. It reached even those at the farthest reaches of the crowd.

"As you know, the two stars of our family, who were born on the same day, will be chosen today by the heavens. Today will decide our nation's fate and prove that the Constellations have blessed our nation." The crowd cheered at the speech. The king raised his fist high into the air.

"The great Constellations are always watching over us. This ritual will only deepen their blessing. May our kingdom prosper forever!" They were the usual words, praising the Constellations and emphasizing the prosperity of the kingdom and the blessing from the heavens, and the crowd went wild at every word. Yuto stood amidst the enthusiastic crowd and looked up at the stage with cold eyes.

The king, who was middle-aged, looked healthy enough, but he reminded Yuto of another face one that was pale and gaunt, dying from disease.

I know that man. Of course he did. Before he had traveled back in time, he had been the king of Velkyne. Naturally, he would know the faces of the twins who were about to come up to the stage.

"Now then, I will introduce the people of the hour!" The bell rang again. The crowd's cheering slowed down, and many eyes watched the stage. The silence was stifling, and it seemed that if somebody so much as gulped, everyone would hear it. Twins dressed in white uniforms appeared with the high priest, who was in charge of the ritual. The boy was in the lead. His blonde hair, which looked like liquid gold, swayed with every step.

He had handsome features, a straight back that was surprising considering he was only twelve, and walked with calmness. He got onto the stage, looked around the square, and raised his hand, as was demanded by the rules of etiquette. The crowd cheered. Now the girl came up as well. She had pale silver hair, unlike her brother, and she smiled as if the cheering made her shy. She nearly tripped at the top of the stairs, but the boy held out his hand to steady her.

She smiled sheepishly at her brother, and the crowd cheered even louder.

"Prince Shiro Ristal, the first star of the kingdom," the high priest said. His magically amplified voice echoed throughout the square.

"And the second star of our kingdom, Princess Sirin Ristal."

Shiro and Sirin Ristal.

The two names stuck in Yuto's ears. Suddenly, his entire world lurched to a stop. Cheering from the square, the fluttering flags, even Shariel, who stood next to him, seemed to be so far away. Right now, the only thing on his mind was the twins on stage.

A boy with golden hair and a girl with silver hair.

Oh.

Shiro. That was him. The man with blonde hair and the bloody sword.

Ahh. Sirin Ristal.

The woman on the floor, drenched in her own blood. He heard something crack open inside his mind. The voices that had been muffled all month long inside his dreams, the faces that he had been unable to make out clearly, the names that he had never been able to say out loud, poured in through the cracks. The boy whom he met for the first time in the royal castle of Ristal, and fought in their first sword lesson together. The two of them had become friends that very day.

They shared no blood, but they had regarded each other as brothers and trusted each other to have their backs. They had shared the same dream and fought in the same wars, pushing their way through many hardships together.

So it was you.

The boy smiling in the square, making jokes and speaking of ideals and the future, overlapped with the enemy who had stuck his sword in Yuto's chest on a dark night, and used that same weapon to murder his sister. You.

Yuto clenched his shaky hands. You betrayed me.

Now he remembered everything.