PMEVBO 36

────【 System Alert 】────

NPC ‘Iser Hayut’ has departed from its fixed location.

Along with the player, he will automatically return to his fixed location.

(8m 49s)

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“Ha…”

I ended up slumping down, clutching my forehead.

Iser’s location has been fixed to Hayut Castle…?

…Damn it, you virus bastard. I’m a player. But why mess with this kid? Who the hell are you to fix the location of someone who can’t even see their status window?

The duke who abused Iser was still roaming freely in Hayut Castle. Moreover, a hideout is a place to temporarily conceal oneself, not somewhere people can stay long-term. And since Atsula discovered it, that place had already lost its meaning as a hideout.

…Having Iser’s location pinned to Hayut Castle won’t do any good.

Since the possession, the system had been attached to me in the form of a status window. The ‘████’ that fixed Iser’s location was an entity capable of temporarily seizing control of that system.

Then.

Can I really say fixing Iser’s location has nothing to do with me…?

…Can I really say it’s not my responsibility?

“…What’s wrong? Are you hurt somewhere?”

Iser asked, patting my shoulder with concern. Unable to bring myself to tell him about the tragedy that had befallen him, I just smiled it off as if nothing was wrong.

“Hurt? No. Just trying to tie your shoelaces.”

It turned out Iser’s shoelaces were untied. I’d hurriedly given Iser Atsula’s shoes to wear after he was kidnapped barefoot, but apparently hadn’t had time to tie the laces. Lucky break.

“Stop it. I’ll do it…”

“I already did. What’s the big deal?”

After checking they were tied securely and looking up, I found Iser covering his mouth with one hand, looking flustered. I tucked his long pink hair, which had fallen forward, behind his ear and spoke.

“So.”

“……”

“You really don’t want to go?”

“……Yes.”

Iser answered, uncharacteristically avoiding my gaze. The skin beneath his eyes and his earlobes were flushed like sunset.

Why on earth doesn’t he want to go?

Well, whatever the reason, it worked out well in this situation. After all, Iser was in a position where he couldn’t leave Hayut Castle of his own volition right now. Just like me.

“Is that so?”

I said as I slowly rose from my seat.

“Then don’t go.”

“What? Really…?”

Iser looked up at me with wide, startled eyes. A vivid flash of joy crossed his pretty face. It was pitiful to see Iser, unaware of anything, so happy.

Right now, he wants to stay in the duke’s castle voluntarily, but what if he changes his mind later and asks to be let out… What should I do then?

…What choice do I have? Before Iser changes his mind, I have to figure out how to fix this damn location lock as quickly as possible.

When I was the only victim of the location lock, it was bearable. But having Iser stuck in this mess too was unbearable. I have the original sin of slapping the sacred original book, but what crime did Iser commit?

I gently stroked Iser’s head and gave a small smile.

“Yes, stay by my side for now.”

I wanted to look as trustworthy as possible, but I wasn’t sure if I succeeded.

“That’s how it is. Tykvana, I’ll take Iser with me.”

Tykvana’s gaze briefly shifted to Iser before returning to me. She asked with a worried expression.

“…Will it be alright?”

“Well, it’ll work out somehow.”

I shrugged my shoulders, putting on a brave face. This wasn’t something that would just work out; it was something I had to make work.

“Understood. Then, if any problems arise, please write to me. I’ll help with whatever I can.”

“Thank you.”

She was just too kind.

“You’ll proceed as we discussed earlier, right?”

“Yes, so it would be best if you kept this.”

With that, Tykvana handed me what she was holding. It was the experiment log that Atsula had stolen from the duke.

“Why this…?”

“Consider it collateral.”

…Collateral?

The experiment log, handwritten by Duke Hayut himself, was perfect incriminating evidence in and of itself. Tykvana, who had briefly glanced through it while I freed Iser from the Tali cord, said he would use it as proof to accuse the duke.

But doing so would inevitably expose Iser, the duke’s experimental tool, to danger. That was why we had decided to temporarily postpone the accusation against the duke until Iser’s safety could be guaranteed.

In that situation, entrusting the experiment log to me meant…

Even if things go wrong and I have to abandon the accusation, this means Iser’s safety will be guaranteed.

Indeed, it truly was collateral.

“…Thank you.”

I smiled as I took the experiment log. But that smile didn’t last long. For within this light book lay immeasurable, heavy pain and sorrow.

“Ah, and I wanted to say this.”

I quickly hid the experiment log I held in my hand behind my back. To keep Iser from seeing it. Or maybe, I just didn’t want to see it myself. Even from the shadows, the notebook remained invisible.

In that state, I lifted my head toward Tykvana.

“I’m sorry… for ruining your flowers back then.”

It wasn’t my doing, but I felt I should apologize.

Tykvana blinked, looking slightly startled, then smiled.

“I’m the one who should apologize. For not trying to know you better.”

It was a bittersweet yet warm smile.

After glancing once at Iser and me, Tykvana climbed into the divine carriage. Dusty earth swirled beneath the wheels as they began to turn slowly, and the black flag bearing the Order’s emblem fluttered.

Soon, the divine carriage carrying her vanished into the dust.

Then Iser suddenly asked.

“…Are you close with that person?”

“Does it look that way?”

“Yes.”

Iser, his face pouty, answered while kicking dirt with the tip of his shoe. Dust blown by the wind sparkled in the sunlight.

“It’s because of you that we became close.”

“Huh?”

His feet, digging in the dirt, stopped abruptly. A beat later, Iser lifted his head, his round eyes fixed on me. His face looked unusually gentle, and I couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle.

“You were kidnapped, and I was kind of out of my mind. So I guess she thought something bad would happen if she didn’t help.”

“……”

Iser’s shoulders slumped slightly. But not long after, his body stiffened rigidly again. His eyes, which had been relaxed just moments before, narrowed.

“……The ointment from a few days ago. Who gave you that?”

“Ointment?”

“You brought it after breakfast. …It was in your pants pocket, right?”

Iser snapped back irritably. But it seemed less like he was annoyed at me and more like he was annoyed at himself. Why?

The words ‘breakfast’ and ‘pants pocket’ rang a bell. It seemed he was referring to the small bottle Tykvana had given me. I’d put it in my pants pocket while bickering with Atsula. And then I’d completely forgotten about it until now. So that was ointment?

She remembered I got hurt at the banquet and brought it for me. …But I never even thanked her.

Meanwhile, Iser was sharp as a tack. Just from my reaction, he seemed to have figured out Tykvana was the one who gave me the ointment.

“…What? So you two were friends before? But what do you mean I’m the reason you became friends?”

Iser lowered his gaze to the dirt floor and started tormenting the soil again. His assault on the dirt was more merciless than before.

Staring at his, I suddenly realized.

Ah, so that’s why he’s jealous now? Because I seem closer to Tykvana than he is?

He’s so cute it’s killing me.

I chuckled softly and approached Iser.

“No matter how long I’ve been friends with Tykvana, you’re still my best friend, so don’t get upset. Okay?”

“I’m not upset.”

Iser retorted, jerking his head up. His eyes were narrowed into slits, but his lashes trembled delicately. I forced myself not to laugh and held out my hand.

“Come on, let’s go for a walk? You must’ve been bored staying underground all the time.”

“……Hmph.”

But Iser’s hand was already resting in mine.

This is why I adore this young master.

I took Iser’s hand and began walking across the morning Babet Plains. It was early summer, so the morning air was still cool, and a gentle breeze blew in from the edge of the plain. The wind that had passed through the dew-covered grass carried a refreshing, sweet scent.

Iser was much smaller than Atsula, the owner of the shoes, but somehow their foot sizes seemed similar. Thanks to that, he walked without panting.

“How much time do we have left?”

7m 37s

“Seven minutes.”

Iser nodded calmly. Fortunately, he didn’t look disappointed.

‘We’ll use teleportation to return to the duke’s estate annex.’

I had just made up that excuse. Perhaps because I’d explained it once before, Iser seemed to accept it without much doubt.

Suddenly, his gaze fell on the experiment log I held in my hand.

Of course it would bother him…

I didn’t fully know what kind of time Iser had endured all this while. I’d only glimpsed the small part he’d allowed me to see. To say I felt no disappointment about that would be a lie.

But I understood. Some wounds can only be healed by being laid bare for others to see, while others can only be healed by being endured and buried deep inside. I didn’t want to push my own feelings forward and tear open Iser’s wounds.

“Don’t worry. I won’t read it without your permission.”

That was why. That was why I said this.

“…Then, if I give you permission, will you read it?”