Tatakau Shisho

Chapter 24

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CHAPTER 5: QUEEN’S MOVE – PART 1

June 17, 2016Tgurneu

Mokkania carried Renas on his back as he headed for battle. Winkeny saw him off. He couldn’t do anything else at this stage. The only pieces left were the white and black queen. He couldn’t believe in Mokkania’s victory even when he was the one to control him.

Their chances for success were slim. Hamyuts obtained Shlam.u.f.fen, thereby gaining a mean to oppose the ants. Mokkania’s advantage over her was the fact she couldn’t protect against them. As long as a miracle doesn’t occur, Mokkania will lose.

But still, he couldn’t give up. Winkeny bet his life on this plan. No, not just his life. Winkeny himself was living for this plan. He only existed so he could manipulate Mokkania.

Winkenny thought to himself – please, Mokkania. Defeat her. Prove that my life wasn’t in vain.

Winkeny Bize – a child born to an extremely normal household in the Ismo Republic. His father was a railway engineer and his mother a shoe polisher at the station. He was the youngest of three siblings, with his brother and sister far removed from him in age.

The young Winkeny never found out what happened. One day, when he returned home his mother simply told him that his father, brother and sister will not return anymore.

She also mentioned something about the Indulging G.o.d Cult. She said that his father and the rest opposed joining that Cult.

His mother asked him to come along with her. Winkeny nodded.

He didn’t know anything about the organization known as the Indulging G.o.d Cult. He just thought that his mother would become lonely. Winkeny swore together with her that he would dedicate his entire life to the Cult.

“Welcome to the Indulging G.o.d Cult, Winkeny Bize. The Cult sincerely welcomes you.”

In front of his eyes was the leader of the Cult. His t.i.tle was the Overseer of Paradise.

This was the man who found those fitting to be True Men, managed the False Men, and employed the Meats – he was the Cult’s leader in every sense of the word. While sitting inside a small hotel room in Ismo Republic, he calmly played with chess pieces with his hands.

No-one was allowed to see his face. No-one was allowed to know his name.

“Being able to greet young people like you into the Cult is fortunate for us. We at the Cult wish to raise good people.”

Winkeny was able to see his face right in front of his eyes. However, by the effect of some sort of magic, as soon as he diverted his eyes he couldn’t recall the man’s face any longer. No matter how many times he had seen him, he couldn’t remember his features.

From his voice he could understand it was a man. But that voice might also not be the real thing.

“Unfortunately, you do not seem to possess “the entirety”. People who do not have “the entirety” do not have the qualifications to become True Men. From now on you will support those who will become True Men, a game piece that will accompany their very lives.”

The voice of the Overseer of Paradise was calm and gentle. Winkeny felt as if he was wrapped in heat.

“As a piece, when you make any achievement, Lascall Oth.e.l.lo will come and carry your Book to Heaven. Until that day comes, dedicate yourself to the Cult.”

Lascall Oth.e.l.lo. Winkeny did not know the meaning of that name. However, he didn’t ask back. There were things in the Cult that mustn’t be questioned.

“Be not afraid of death. Do not avoid hardships. Your life is transient. Your only happiness is the happiness of True Men.”

Winkeny nodded. The Overseer of Paradise seemed to like his att.i.tude.

He gave Winkeny a single photograph.

“His name is Mokkania Fleur. Presently he is attending an Armed Librarian school. He’s not even a trainee yet.”

Winkeny took the photo. He stared at the boy’s face. Nothing came to his mind.

“And what about him?”

“A Magician who infiltrated the Predictive Magic Committee made a prediction about him. Within ten years, he will become one of the world’s strongest.”

“…”

“We cannot avoid our battle against the Armed Librarians. Within ten years, the Armed Librarians will certainly sniff us out and attempt to annihilate us. As we are antic.i.p.ating this, we must take some measures.”

“Right.”

“We cannot surpa.s.s the Armed Librarians in our military capabilities. We are vastly outnumbered. But we will also not be easily annihilated.”

While saying so, the Overseer of Paradise began to nimbly move the chess pieces. Seemingly the black side was dominant.

“In the case of a stalemate, the Armed Librarians will move their strongest piece, Mokkania Fleur.”

The Overseer of Paradise moved the black queen. Winkeny had no deep knowledge in chess, but he understood that the queen is used to determine the victor.

“When that happens, the piece that will decide the outcome would be the natural enemy of this one. A piece that will kill the queen without paying any heed to the p.a.w.ns or knights.”

“…”

“You will become that piece.”

Winkeny nodded.

The Overseer of Paradise tipped over the black queen with his fingers and it rolled away. It fell from the board into Winkeny’s hands.

As soon as he was brought in, Winkeny was separated from his mother. In this secretive cult, there were almost no relationships between fellow believers. They were forbidden to meet, and even letters or messages of any kind were not allowed.

Days of tough training were waiting for Winkeny. He did nothing but work on his Magic Deliberation from day till night. Furthermore he learned about disguises, infiltration and even ways to lie; he was trained as a spy.

He looked for ways to oppose Mokkania based on the ability he was taught. He imagined an ability that will allow him to withstand the attacks of ants, repeating his Magic Deliberation again and again. He didn’t have any battle training whatsoever. He even ignored bodily reinforcement Magic which was essential for warriors. He did nothing but acquire the ability needed to counteract Mokkania.

Gaining a Magic Right was only possible at the stage when a person’s spirit was still immature – no earlier than the teens and no later than the early twenties. Past this, the common sense and clear vision characteristic to adults that grew within one’s mind will hinder the growth of Magic.

Winkeny’s growth was slow. He didn’t have anything called a talent.

When he approached his twenties, the only thing he was able to get was the ability to change his body to petroleum.

“…This would certainly avoid attacks by Mokkania.”

His Magic teacher said.

“However, how are you going to attack?”

He didn’t have an answer. In the end Winkeny couldn’t get the ability to kill a person. His ability only allowed him to withstand Mokkania’s attacks. It wasn’t enough to become his natural enemy.

“There is no need for disappointment.”

The Overseer of Paradise said during their second meeting.

“Everyone has their own field. You can work on something else that fits you.”

He wasn’t trying to console Winkeny. It was a verdict that he held no expectations of him.

Winkeny kept carrying the black queen he received from the Overseer of Paradise close to him. It was an old piece, symbolizing half of his lifetime.

He now clasped it tightly.

Starting that day, Winkeny conducted an investigation independent of the Cult’s orders.

Up till then, the only thing he knew about Mokkania was his ability. He began to gather data on him. Sometimes even putting himself in danger, Winkeny started investigating everything about Mokkania – his personality, his career, not to mention information about his family and interpersonal relationship, and even things such as his favorite color or food.

Before long, his comrades in the Cult started ridiculing him without understanding any of his actions.

Ignoring them, Winkeny examined the entirety of Mokkania.

It happened a few years after Winkeny was released from his duties as a warrior.

He went and visited Mokkania’s hometown.

It was a small town situated in the northern part of Rona Kingdom. The town was surrounded by apple groves and forests of beech trees, and Winkeny walked along a road lined up with poplar trees. It was a warm town with a short winter. The time flowed gently, making spending time there pleasant.

Mokkania was raised there from his birth until he was thirteen. It was a place Winkeny simply had to visit.

Winkeny stopped in the middle of the poplar tree-lined road. He looked around him and muttered to himself.

“…I am Mokkania Fleur. I was born and raised in this town.”

The quiet landscape of the town reflected in his eyes. What did Mokkania think, see and feel here? Winkeny worked his imagination.

“This is a pleasant town. A beautiful town that wouldn’t lose to Bantorra. I think that I should keep living in this town.

However, I haven’t returned to this town in over a decade.”

His words were interrupted there.

“Why…?”

Winkeny started walking again.

First, he went to the house Mokkania grew up in. It was the house of the feudal lord, located in the center of town. In this kingdom, which had nothing to do with Democracy or Capitalism, the lord’s authority was absolute.

“I welcome you. I have heard you are working for a newspaper in Ismo Republic…?”

Winkeny showed the identification from a certain newspaper, one of the several fake IDs he possessed.

“Thank you for allowing me to interview you today.”

The lord, while being confused because of Winkeny’s unusual appearance, led him to the drawing room.

He conducted his interview there. He inquired about the diplomatic relations between Rona Kingdom and the Present Management Agency under the pretext of asking the opinions of well-informed man. The interview itself wasn’t fake. In fact, after the article was written it was published. It was a newspaper under the patronage of the Cult.

He asked the lord’s opinion on their diplomatic relations. While he didn’t hear anything new, Winkeny kept patient.

Concluding the conversation in a reasonable spot, Winkeny went to the real issue in hand under the guise of idle talk. Naturally, it was about Mokkania.

“By the way, I heard that Armed Librarian Mokkania Fleur was born here.”

Hearing Mokkania’s name, the expression of the lord who was in a good mood until then suddenly changed.

“That person is indeed my child.”

The lord said without even attempting to hide his discomfort. A father calling his son “that person”. These words let Winkeny know he was narrow-minded.

“I don’t think of him as having any connection to me.

No, it’s not since he became an Armed Librarian. That person was unworthy of my family since he was a child. Even if he were to return, I will not let him inherit my property. Only a commoner’s child would become something common like an Armed Librarian.”

The lord repeated the word “common” many times. He kept holding to the old-fashioned notion that n.o.ble children must not acquire professions such as an Armed Librarian.

Prepared to offend him even more, Winkeny asked further.

“What do you think of the Guinbex ma.s.sacre done by Mokkania-shi?”

“What does that have to do with me? How unpleasant. Get out.”

He answered as expected. Winkeny stood up and thanked him.

“I am Mokkania. I don’t wish to return to this house. This isn’t my house.”

Winkeny muttered as he pa.s.sed the gate.

“I grew up in this house from when I was five till thirteen. Living in this uncomfortable house probably left me with some mental scars. Getting out of town was undoubtedly in order to run away from this house… I am…”

Winkeny stopped speaking there. There wasn’t any meaning in investigating those kinds of superficial emotions. He must arrive at the very core and depth of Mokkania’s mind.

What kind of child had Mokkania been as he lived in this town? Winkeny thought about hearing other people’s stories.

Guided by hearsay, Winkeny walked through the town. He was looking for the other house Mokkania lived in.

The town was beautiful when viewed from outside, but he noticed it wasn’t so when you entered inside.

Ten-year old children were helping with farming as a matter of course. Based on their social position, it was natural that only a limited number would go to things like schools.

Certainly, for people of this town, a method for a commoner to get into a higher position would be only by becoming an Armed Librarian. For them, your origin did not matter. As long as they have the ability, they would also accept people with an unknown background.

Why did Mokkania become an Armed Librarian? Was it the position he wanted? Or did he have another reason?

“I am Mokkania. I will become an Armed Librarian… do I want power? Do I want status? Do I love fighting? …I don’t know.”

“Mokkania? I remember him.”

An old woman busy with grinding flour answered. Winkeny was taking notes in the back of a bakery in one corner of the town.

“What kind of child was he?”

“He was very quiet… very kind and gentle, much like a girl.”

Right. Winkeny had already found out that fundamentally, Mokkania was a very kind person. Almost all of the people who knew Mokkania said so.

Winkeny wanted to know the substance of that kindness. Did he adjoin his weakness with kindness, or was it a strong sort of kindness? How did he form it?

Winkeny asked further questions.

“Did he have any friends?”

“No specific children that come to mind. But, you see, my grandson used to bully him.”

“He was bullied?”

That was surprising to hear. This child, who became one of the world’s strongest, was once bullied.

“Yeah, that’s right, it was awful. He did things like dropping him in water or stealing his candy as a daily occurrence. Isn’t that right, you foolish grandson?”

The voice of a youth came from the front of the bakery.

“Grandma, please forgive me already. I know I did bad things.”

“What is this brat even saying…”

Winkeny became interested. This bullying might have influenced Mokkania’s personality.

“Whenever Mokkania would come home crying, his mother would come yelling at me. Do you know her? Renas-san.”

“His mother?”

Mokkania lived without his father since he was five years old. After that, he was taken care of by his father.

“What kind of person was Renas Fleur?”

“Although she was quiet, she had a strong heart. We’ve lost a good person.”

The old woman sighed.

“Even so, this is unbelievable. I’ve never seen Mokkania engage in any fights. Did he really become an Armed Librarian?”

She was talking while still grinding flour.

“I would never have imagined him protecting us all back then.”

The old woman spoke about the battle against Guinbex. A year ago, the Armed Librarian fought against the invading army of Guinbex and destroyed it. Many of the people in Rona Kingdom were grateful.

The old woman called the youth who was at the store’s front. Winkeny asked him further questions.

“Mokkania, huh? I remember him.”

The young baker said.

“It’s not like everyone especially bullied him. It’s just that… I was a bully, and I bullied everyone. It’s from long ago, though.”

Talking with shame, the youth scratched his head. He didn’t look like a bad person. He was probably a typical neighborhood bully back then.

“I would bully him and make Renas-san angry. You know her? She was Mokkania’s mother.”

Of course he did.

“She was kind. And also pretty. When I think about it, it was Renas who left a larger impression in my memories.”

“What kind of person was she?”

“A good person. She would round up the kids and tell them fairy tales.

But she was scary when angry. She would scold without giving the other party any chance to explain, asking us why we were doing bad things, and then look at us with sad eyes. I had to endure that.”

Saying this, the youth smiled.

“She really hated violence. If she was still alive, she would have probably been extremely angry at Mokkania. I think she wouldn’t have let him become an Armed Librarian in the first place.”

The youth directed a distant look up to the sky.

“Mokkania did protect Rona Kingdom, but I believe he would have pained Renas-san.”

Winkeny went away.

CHAPTER 5: QUEEN’S MOVE – PART 2

June 25, 2016Tgurneu

He heard about Mokkania from various people. But he always heard more about his mother than about him.

Renas Fleur was a normal girl who grew up in that town. The fact that she gave birth to child of the feudal lord was nothing more than a whim of his one day.

She probably faced many hardships while raising a child by herself.

Winkeny tried imagining the life of this woman who was bound to the lord’s selfishness.

She probably hated weak people being bullied because she herself was weak. That personality would have also affected Mokkania. Mokkania’s kindness and hatred for oppression of the weak probably came from that.

“Then why did Mokkania become an Armed Librarian?”

What was Mokkania’s mother to him? And what has her death meant to him?

Winkeny thought about it. However, he didn’t know.

He visited the house Mokkania was born in. There were only ruins left. He couldn’t feel any signs of the life mother and child used to have in there.

“I am Mokkania. One day, as I returned to my house, it was no longer my home.”

Walking through the abandoned place, Winkeny thought about Mokkania’s feelings. He stroked the floor and murmured.

“As I come home, I greet “I’m home”. However, at that instant I notice that mom is on the floor, dead.”

He touched the floor, thinking about the figure of the mother who was there.

“There’s no reply. “I’m home” – I say this once again. But there is no reply.”

Winkeny kept muttering.

“I’m home… I’m home… I’m home.”

At that instant, Winkeny received a message inside of his head in the form of Thought Sharing.

‘What are you doing, Winkeny? Return at once.”

Just when I got to the critical part? Winkeny gritted his teeth. But he could not go against the instructions of his superior.

Winkeny left Mokkania’s hometown, and went back to the Cult’s base.

Upon return to the ship, Winkeny took out the black queen from his pocket. It was the same one the Overseer of Paradise gave him during that day. He clenched it in his hand.

Winkeny was a failed piece, raised in order to kill the black queen. However, the piece that had been discarded by the player was now going to move outside the player’s intentions.

No, he wasn’t a piece anymore. By freely manipulating the black queen, he will become a player himself.

Winkeny investigated Mokkania’s heart so that he could control the black queen.

When he throws certain words at Mokkania, what will he think? When Mokkania faces certain circ.u.mstances, what will he think? When Mokkania has a certain goal in mind, how will he act?

Winkeny wanted to understand Mokkania completely just as a wife who was close to her husband knew everything about him after forty years together.

When Mokkania would act that way, he will become Winkeny’s puppet. While acting under his own will, even that very will would be controlled by Winkeny.

Each time a chess master moved his hand, he could envision and predict the actions of hundreds of p.a.w.ns. An outstanding warrior could predict a battle’s outcome before it even began.

Winkeny aimed for that level. He tried to become an expert on the single man known as Mokkania.

“…You’re late. What were you doing?”

Winkeny’s immediate superior welcomed him as he returned from Rona Kingdom. As always, he rebuked Winkeny’s negligence of duty.

Winkeny worked as a contact that would convey orders from the higher-ups to their subordinates. He knew nothing about the encrypted information or the orders themselves. He was doing a job that only consisted of following the instructions of those above him and flying around the world. No-one remembered his role as a trump card against Mokkania. The fact that he secluded himself in the Labyrinth and was no longer a useful warrior was already well-known within the Indulging G.o.d Cult. A trump card aimed to defeat a useless piece was good for nothing.

“…I visited Mokkania’s hometown.”

“What for?”

His superior asked. Winkeny tried to explain, but his superior shook his hand as if telling him it was too annoying.

“Just go away.”

The superior said.

n.o.body could understand Winkeny’s actions. Everyone told him it was useless, and many of them laughed at him. He was accustomed to humiliation, so he didn’t feel anything.

He clutched the black queen inside his pocket.

Winkeny returned to his hideout.

On his desk and floor were piles of doc.u.ments that were all about Mokkania – his background; his evaluation from when he was a trainee, as well a report card from when he was a student; his interviews for newspapers; and the notes retaining to his personality that Winkeny heard about from people who knew him.

There were also large quant.i.ties of Books belonging to people who’ve met Mokkania placed on his shelves.

Many pictures of Mokkania were adhered to the walls. One valuable photo of him as a boy; pictures of him as a trainee, as an Armed Librarian, of him during the war, and pictures of him activating his ability.

Furthermore, there were investigation notes written by Winkeny hanging on the walls.

“Dissension with Hamyuts” “Loneliness” “Kind to his core->will he quit being an Armed Librarian?” “Guilt->where will he go?” “He might be considering suicide” “He parted with his lover. Was he really good with women?” “I definitely need Minth Chezine’s opinion->should I go and meet with him? Or is that unreasonable?”

Everything he knew about Mokkania was collected there. He even stole Mokkania’s psychological and psychiatric records from the Science Agency and read them over and over again until their seams were torn.

But despite all this, there were still many things he didn’t understand about Mokkania’s heart.

He could understand his surface feelings, but that was far from enough. In order to truly see through him, he had to become Mokkania himself. If Winkeny wouldn’t be able to reach that domain, there’s no way he could manipulate Mokkania.

“s.h.i.t!”

Winkeny hit the desk with his fist.

He didn’t want to admit that such a thing was impossible. If he will, it would be one and the same as admitting his whole life was meaningless. He couldn’t stand it. He feared that far more than dying or not ascending to Heaven.

Winkeny held his head and kept worrying.

One day, the Overseer of Paradise called for him. He hadn’t met him for who knows how many years. For him, who was doing only odd jobs for a long time, it was like meeting a G.o.d-like existence.

He went to the same hotel he was in before. That hotel wasn’t under the Cult’s control. How and by which means he could stay here? Winkeny couldn’t even imagine.

He was reading a newspaper placed on the table by the window. It seemed to be just an ordinary newspaper sold everywhere.

“Winkeny. Are you aware that just the other day there was an a.s.sault on the Meats’ ship at Allow bay?”

He said while folding the newspaper. Winkeny nodded.

“There seems to have been a leak from the inside. Our intelligence will have to work with maximum vigilance, but it is a pity. Naturally, the more people we have, the more they will be harder to supervise.”

It didn’t seem like he suspected Winkeny. The Overseer of Paradise kept talking.

“Winkeny. Do you not think that we allowed just a little too many people inside?”

“I don’t really know.”

“From now on, we’re going to be a bit more selective. Not only in terms of ability but also in loyalty.”

Saying so, the Overseer of Paradise tossed the folded newspaper unto the rack. Winkeny only then noticed it was the newspaper that he was officially employed for.

“What does this mean?”

The Overseer of Paradise took a cup placed on the table to his hand. He slid it towards Winkeny.

“Winkeny. If you drink this water, you will be able to live as a simple newspaper reporter from now on.”

Without him saying anything, he could understand. The cup contained the water of Argax.

“Overseer of Paradise, I’m…”

“The article you’ve written the other day – it was just an editorial about the contradictions between Rona’s diplomacy and its politic philosophy, but it was very interesting. Why don’t you sit down and write a proper continuation?”

Winkeny took the cup with trembling hands.

He recalled everything until now – his everyday life where he was referred to as useless. No matter how much thought about it, he wasn’t able to reach inside Mokkania’s mind.

His heart was inclined to give up. He brought the cup’s edge to his mouth while still trembling.

However, he returned it to the table while spilling some water.

“I’m not planning to become a journalist.”

“I see.”

Without any hesitation, the Overseer of Paradise spilled the water out of the window.

Drinking the water or not was probably some kind of test. Winkeny didn’t know what would happen if he drank it. Would he have been sent to the Meats’ ship? Or would he really and unexpectedly become a normal journalist?

The Overseer of Paradise rose from his chair and leaned his back on the window’s edge. There was no longer the air of tension from before.

“I have one question.”

“Yes sir?”

“Why didn’t you drink it? …I was sure that you were going to drink.”

Winkeny thought for a while. When he wanted to give up, a nostalgic face surfaced in his memory.

“I was reminded of my mother, the one I entered the Cult together with.”

The Overseer of Paradise smiled.

“I see now. Family ties are important.”

The Overseer of Paradise tore a portion of the newspaper and drew a map there. He then showed it to Winkeny.

“To reward your loyalty, I’ll allow you to meet her. Your mother should be following Cigal right now.”

After receiving the map, Winkeny headed for Toatt Mining Town in Ismo Republic. His mother was supposedly there.

He was now reminded of her. Winkeny was surprised of the changes to his own mind. He made such an effort to understand Mokkania but couldn’t even understand himself.

He hadn’t met his mother in more than ten years. He thought he forgot everything, but now that he was allowed to meet her, it all felt incredibly nostalgic.

“Mokkania will never enjoy these feelings again.”

Winkeny murmured. No matter how much Mokkania wants to, he couldn’t ever meet his mother again. He felt a bit of pity for him.

His mother stayed at an inn in Toatt Mining Town. She was working undercover there from a while back.

After walking under the ash-clouded sky, as he set foot inside the dirty inn, Winkeny muttered in a low voice.

“I’m home.”

It was strange. He called this home despite being far away from his house. However, no matter the location, as long as he had some family there, it would become his home.

“…Oh, a customer.”

“I’m Winkeny.”

“Really, are you going to lodge here? Are you by yourself?”

His mother spoke as the innkeeper. When Winkeny used the Indulging G.o.d Cult’s watchword, she led him to his room. She was terribly aged. She looked like more than twenty years have pa.s.sed.

Several pictures were spread on the table inside the room. Winkeny took them to his hand. He saw Meat-looking people there.

“What is this?”

“These are the photos of Bombs who will soon come here. I had to memorize their faces and names… It’s already been a year.”

Their names were written on the backside. His mother seemed to be recalling their names as she looked at the photos.

“Umm, that’s Milly. She’s useless so I put her in the abandoned house. This is Relia. This is Hyoue… no no, it’s actually Colio.”

Saying so, Winkeny’s mother flipped through the photos. She didn’t seem to care about him at all.

Winkeny was troubled. He wanted to talk to her not as fellow Cult members, but as mother and child. He should start by talking to her then. Should he start with “how are you”? Or perhaps “how nostalgic”? He considered his opening words.

But, before Winkeny got to say something, his mother talked to him.

“By the way, what are you doing here? You probably have some orders from the Indulging G.o.d Cult, right?”

She said. Winkeny was a bit surprised. Doesn’t she realize he’s her son?

“…Umm, it’s me, Winkeny.”

“So, what are you here for, Winkeny-san?”

“It’s me, Winkeny!”

His mother placed her hand on her check as if trying to recall something. Winkeny almost burst out laughing.

If her memories were erased by the water of Argax, there was still salvation.

She didn’t look like she could remember. She truly forgot it all. She forgot everything about her one and only child, Winkeny. Even his face and name. No, she forgot his very existence.

Winkeny turned his back to her.

“…Uh, where are you going? What do you need?”

Staying silent, Winkeny left the inn.

He walked around the mining town alone. Laughter welled up inside him and leaked out. And he couldn’t stop. He laughed so much tears came out. He couldn’t stop crying. Even after he stopped laughing, his tears still wouldn’t stop for some reason.

Ah, I see. He felt like he finally understood.

This is what it means to lose your mother.

CHAPTER 5: QUEEN’S MOVE – PART 3

July 1, 2016Tgurneu

Winkeny left Toatt Mining Town and prowled around without doing anything. After he couldn’t drink any more alcohol, he finally returned to his hideout. It was the same one that contained all the material on Mokkania.

Winkeny looked at the wall with the photos of Mokkania hanged to it.

“Mokkania, I’m the same.”

He took down one photograph and called to it.

“I also lost my mom. Just like you.”

Suddenly, his mind felt clear. He understood everything as if struck by lightning.

These feeling were the same as Mokkania’s. When he was young, at the day he lost Renas, he felt the same way.

Words came out flowing from Winkeny’s mouth. Both his mouth and mind could now naturally act the part of Mokkania.

“I am Mokkania. When I was young, I thought the same as everyone – my life will continue the same way on and on, forever. The day I will become an adult will never arrive. I was supposed to keep living together with my mother in that town forever.

I believed that no matter what else in the world may change, only the relationship with my mother will stay the same.”

While acting as Mokkania, he saw the landscape of his hometown in the back of his mind. It was his first place.

“The strongest and also most kind person in this world was mom. She also thought she would continue protecting me forever. One day, as I realized that mom is in fact a very weak and sad person, my time began moving.

I wanted to help mom. Oh, an Armed Librarian! If I become that, I will be able to make more money and make it easier for mom. It was a splendid dream. Thus a small wish far removed from reality was born.”

Right – Winkeny joined the Indulging G.o.d Cult for his mother’s sake. Mokkania ended up as an Armed Librarian for his mother’s sake. They both possessed the same feelings.

What did this mean? Mokkania’s heart, which was once far from Winkeny, now felt close to him. He felt like he was his best friend – no, as if they were the same person.

“However, the moving future was stopped. One day, as if the thread of her life was cut off, mom pa.s.sed away. My dream stopped there, and my time did as well.”

Winkeny tore a photo off the wall. It was a picture of Mokkania as a teenager.

“Taken back by my father’s house, I started living a different life than before. I received advanced education and training fitting for a n.o.ble. However, my dream was frozen and always stayed inside me. Without being able to make it come true or give up on it, that dream remained frozen inside of me.”

He looked at the teen Mokkania’s photo. Through his n.o.ble-like appearance of elegance and innocence, one could take a peek at his loneliness. Winkeny could also understand his feelings at that time. Even if he and his mother were apart, he thought only about her. This was, again, the same as Winkeny.

“I became an Armed Librarian. It was inevitable. First because it was my dream. Also, so I could meet mom. I could read mom’s Book in Bantorra Library.

I was unexpectedly excellent. But I wasn’t happy. Talents are not given to those who wish for them.”

Mokkania was given what he didn’t wish for. Winkeny wished for it but wasn’t given. They were the same, simply on opposite sides.

“At the beginning it wasn’t a big deal. I only worked at cataloguing the Labyrinth or managing the mines. Bantorra Library was still peaceful then.

However, peace did not last for long. The time for battle appeared. The ma.s.sacre of the Guinbex Imperial Army.

I killed a lot of people just as ordered. I couldn’t do anything else. No-one in the world would forgive me if I ran away.”

Winkeny picked up a photograph of Renas and looked at it. He started imagining her personality he heard about and Mokkania’s feelings of her.

“However, the mom inside my heart didn’t forgive me for killing them. Mom, who hated violence and the oppression of weak people more than anyone, didn’t forgive me. Even if there was some legitimate reason, using violence was absolutely unforgivable.

I felt it for the first time… the fear of working as an Armed Librarian.

And I regretted it – becoming an Armed Librarian.

I hoped to be judged! But! n.o.body blamed me. On the contrary, I was even thanked. Thank you for killing the bad guys, people said.

I wasn’t even allowed to atone…”

Winkeny took a photo of Mokkania from the time he confined himself in the Labyrinth.

“Since then, I became unable to control myself. I stopped coming outside. I was afraid of meeting people. I was afraid of normal, powerless people. That’s why I dived underground.

I became a laughingstock. I, who abhorred the powers of the Armed Librarian, could only conduct the job of an Armed Librarian. I was completely cornered.”

Winkeny started thinking. What was Mokkania thinking about while inside his room?

“…I ran away. I threw the present away and ran into the past. I wished I could return to that day when my mom was there.

Ever since the day my “I’m home” didn’t receive the answer of “welcome back”, my time had stopped.

I wanted to return. To that day.

To the time my mom was alive…”

Winkeny’s solo performance came to a close. He placed his hand on the chest to sooth his throbbing heart. His whole body was shaking with the excitement of his understanding Mokkania’s heart.

At that moment, he heard the sound of applause. Winkeny looked back in surprise. A single man stood inside the room for who knows how long. He didn’t sneak inside. He simply opened the door and came in. Winkeny just didn’t notice him.

“Wonderful. I was completely captivated, Winkeny.”

The man said. Winkeny then called the name of the applauding man.

“The Overseer of Paradise…”

The Overseer of Paradise kept the applause. Winkeny was confused. As soon as he stopped the applause, the man started talking.

“You can also become an actor.”

Why did he come here? Winkeny wondered. He then saw a gun hanging at his waist. His goal then became clear.

“You might still be useful for a while.”

However, the Overseer of Paradise didn’t touch his gun. Instead, he took a pen in his hand and scribbled a note.

“Please go there. There is something that might be useful for you.”

The note contained an address and a simple map. It was the location of an Indulging G.o.d Cult’s laboratory that was a secret even for Winkeny.

Leaving only that behind, the Overseer of Paradise left with a smile on his face.

Shortly thereafter was a battle between the Indulging G.o.d Cult and the Armed Librarians. Mokkania didn’t make any appearance there, so of course Winkeny also didn’t.

In the meanwhile Winkeny visited the lab. There were always Meats’ corpses piled inside. The research topics were insane. Even looking in the researchers’ eyes brought one deep nausea.

Winkeny only loaned one technique which was being researched there. Responding to the request for cooperation, the researchers explained it to him.

“This technique had its hints in the very existence of Book-Eater monsters. When a person dies to become a Book which is then eaten by a Book-Eater, he can then be revived through the Book-Eater’s body. This is a study of whether or not we can cause that artificially. Ahahaha.”

Winkeny asked them to omit the full details of the research and only heard the method.

“First, we prepare a single Meat. It doesn’t even have to be a Meat, though. Then, we let them drink the water of Argax and rob all of their memories. No memories must remain. Not even how to eat or breathe. But Meats would soon die like that. Life-sustaining measures are required. Hahahaha. Ehahahaha.”

“And then?”

“Then, you make them read the Book of the person you wish to revive. You make them read it many times. Using drugs and hypnotism, you imprint into them that the memories from the Book are their own memories. The human mind has a function to work around any inconsistencies, so it is a surprisingly easy work.”

“And after that?”

“You make the subject drink from Argax again to erase all their inconvenient memories. And that’s it hahahahaha.”

After Winkeny finished hearing the explanation, he brought a Book fragment out of his pocket. While collecting material on Mokkania, it was something he found after looking all around – the Book of Renas Fleur.

“Is it still fine if I only have a fragment?”

“Absolutely fine. Leave it to us.”

Bursting with laughter, the researcher received the Book.

The plan was simple. By preparing a fake Renas, Mokkania could be persuaded to revolt. The success rate of this persuasion would depend on the performance of the fake Renas. Winkeny might also have to use any possible means to make the persuasion succeed.

He waited until he could complete making various plans. In about one month, the fake Renas was created.

“You’re a False Man from the Cult, right?”

Given Mokkania’s age, he chose a woman in her mid-forties as the fake Renas. When she looked at Winkeny, she grinned.

“We have given her flawless training. Hahaha, no matter what happens, she will not betray the Cult.”

The researcher laughed.

“Of course.”

Renas also laughed.

“I understand what I need to do even without you explaining. I will persuade Mokkania.”

Renas said, her face full of confidence.

“So you don’t mind it? Mokkania is fundamentally a very serious man. If he was asked to betray it will pain him.”

The fake Renas looked at him dubiously, not understanding what he says.

“The Cult’s teachings take precedence over anything else. I don’t care about such a trivial thing.”

She really was thoroughly educated. It was troublesome. He couldn’t find any similarities to the gentle Renas no matter how he looked at her.

“Is there a gun somewhere around here?”

Winkeny asked the researchers.

“Yes, here you go.”

Renas handed Winkeny a gun that was used to dispose of useless Meats. Receiving it, he shot and killed her.

“Remake her.”

After saying this to the researchers, Winkeny left the room.

“…Isn’t she too young?”

The second fake Renas was lying down in front of them. The researcher asked him. This time Winkeny himself chose the Meat.

“She’s good enough.”

Winkeny concluded.

“Is it really fine not to subject her to the Cult’s teachings?”

“Absolutely nothing is required.”

Winkeny affirmed again.

“But like this she would be a mere copy. What are you going to do with that?”

“…It doesn’t matter. I’m simply going to give Mokkania a present.”

“…”

The researcher looked at Winkeny with unbelieving eyes. He couldn’t possibly understand what Winkeny was thinking about.

Before long came the promised time came. Accompanied by Renas, Winkeny headed for Bantorra Library on a boat. He claimed to be Mokkania’s friend and someone who cooperated with the Armed Librarians.

Locolo should have landed earlier. They were going to meet again after the beginning of the operation.

“Winkeny-san. Why is Mokkania inside the Labyrinth?”

Renas asked them during their journey. Winkeny put his finger to her lips and whispered in her ears.

“Please don’t lower your guard. There’s still danger. For the Library, for Mokkania, and for us. Speak of the fact you are Mokkania’s mother only when with him.”

If he would talk of the plan with Renas it will all be for nothing. He didn’t even tell the plan to his ally. He wouldn’t be able to understand even if he told him. Only Winkeny, who continually chased after Mokkania, could understand it.

Infiltrating into the Library was hard. If Noloty Malche hadn’t drank from Argax, or if another person had seen them infiltrating, it would all be over. Almost the entire plan was left for luck, and they succeeded.

Winkeny was convinced luck was on their side.

He brought Renas, and knocked on Mokkania’s door.

Although he met Mokkania for the first time, he felt nostalgic seeing his face. He started talking to him.

“I’m Winkeny, a warrior from the Indulging G.o.d Cult. I came here to give you your mother.”

Mokkania’s face was contorted in surprise. Rather than in response to hearing the name of the Indulging G.o.d Cult, that facial expression came about by the astonishment of hearing about his mother and seeing the form of Renas standing behind Winkeny.

Winkeny understood Mokkania’s feelings as if they were in his hands. While confused, he was also drawn to her. On the one hand she didn’t have his mother’s features that he could never forget, and on the other hand was the expression of joy on Renas’s face at their reunion. It couldn’t be helped that they both overlapped.

Winkeny waited for Mokkania’s response. It was expected to an unbelievable degree.

“Mom is… supposed to be dead.”

Winkeny immediately said,

“She didn’t die. Until now, she was held captive by the Indulging G.o.d Cult.”

“That can’t be.”

Just when Mokkania was trying to say something, Renas dropped her cane and ran up to him.

She put her hand around his stomach. Then, she raised it to his chest, and finally to his face.

“I can’t believe you’ve grown this big…”

“….Mom?”

“I can’t believe it. You really are Mokkania… Unbelievable. My little Mokkania has…”

“Mom… I…”

Mokkania referred to Renas as “mom”. These were already involuntary words. Winkeny immediately spoke.

“Renas-san lost her memories because of Argax. She only remembers you as a child.”

“…Mokkania. This is just unbelievable. Hey, Mokkania. Do you still think of me as your mother even now?”

While still confused, Mokkania nodded.

“I can’t tell like that, Mokkania. Say it with words.”

“…Yes, mom.”

Winkeny stopped himself from laughing. He endured the urge to dance around in happiness.

“I’ll wait here for a while. Rena-san, Mokkania, go inside.”

“…Winkeny-san?”

“I don’t want to interrupt the reunion between mother and child.”

He said toward Mokkania.

“Yeah, you can talk to your heart’s content. You’ve been waiting to meet her again since forever, right?”

Mokkania took Renas’s hand and led her inside the room.

Mokkania and Renas conversed for a while.

When he came outside there were tears on his face.

“What are you demands, Indulging G.o.d Cult?”

“Before that, I have one question.”

“What is it?”

Winkeny then asked him. It was an astounding question beyond common sense.

“About that fairy tale – the one with the squirrel and the rest in the forest. How does it end?”

How much does this man know? Mokkania was surprised. It was a fairy tale created by Renas, and its ending was lost along with her death. And, in order to check whether she is real, Mokkania asked her about that ending.

Winkeny had expected it all. He was asking to confirm his expectations.

“The fox apologizes to the squirrel and the bear apologizes to the fox. Everyone gathers at the bear’s lair and pa.s.ses the winter together.”

“What a nice fairy tale.”

Winkeny said and smiled.

“State your demands, Indulging G.o.d Cult.”

“I won’t make any demands. Think of it as returning the favor.”

“What?”

“Hamyuts Meseta’s life and Haiza’s Book should be enough.”

At that moment, Mokkania’s face changed from that of a child reunited with his mother to that of a warrior.

“…Is anything else not good enough?”

He produced ants at his feet. When they tried reaching Winkeny, he transformed his body to petroleum.

Mokkania was surprised at his attack not working.

“There’s no use in anything else. Don’t underestimate the Indulging G.o.d Cult, Mokkania.”

Mokkania should understand in an instant that attacking him was useless. Then, he would think about taking Renas, retreating and bringing his allies to defeat him. He was a serious man after all.

“If I refuse, what will you do?”

“Not much. I will simply reveal the secret… tell Renas-san that she is fake.”

Winkeny said while surrounded by ants.

“Even if you defeat me it will be useless, Mokkania. Everyone knows that your mother is dead and therefore that one is an impostor.”

“…So what?”

“Don’t forget, Mokkania. She is and isn’t Renas. Does she really have nothing to do with you?”

“…So what. She’s my mom.”

“What will she think when she knows the truth? First of all would come hatred. She would hate the ones who took her memory and made her into the person known as Renas. Obviously, she would hate me and the Indulging G.o.d Cult.”

Winkeny glided on the floor.

“And who will she hate then?”

Winkeny got around Mokkania and said with a whisper.

“You, Mokkania.”

“Why?!”

“You don’t know, Mokkania? For whom was this done for? Everything was done for your sake.”

“But…”

“If you don’t believe me it’s fine. Call your comrades and kill me. You will know what happens after that.”

Mokkania hesitated. Winkeny then dealt a final blow.

“If you want to remain with your mother, follow me. If you want to let your mother remain as she is.”

This was Winkeny’s plan. In exchange for Hamyuts’s life, he would give Mokkania time to spend with his mother.

It was an unlikely plan. He got too little in return compared to the demands. However, Winkeny believed in his plan. Only he, who exhaustively examined Mokkania, could understand. Even if no-one else would believe in it, only he would understand. The plan was successful.

Mokkania should have wished for it – to throw everything away.

To retrieve his lost past.

To once again hear “welcome back” in reply to his “I’m home”.

“Do you want to lose your mother again?”

A long silence pa.s.sed between them.

Eventually, Mokkania spoke in a voice that sounded like he was moaning in agony.

“Where’s Hamyuts Meseta right now?”

Winkeny’s life had bloomed at that instant. He grabbed the black queen in his hands.

Ants were still carrying the Book fragment around. Still afflicted by Ireia’s curse of time, they were walking slowly as if frozen.

Then, the ant walking at the front stopped. In front of its eyes stood a large steel wall. Their master didn’t let them know about the existence of this wall. They touched around it with their small bodies. They wasted their efforts trying to find a path.

This was the part.i.tion wall activated by Mattalast to shut in the Labyrinth. There wasn’t any gap for the ants to pa.s.s through.

Their feet have stopped in a corner of the Labyrinth no-one knew about.

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