Chapter 810 – Second Wish

000

First, it was necessary to sort out the situation.

Cleon and Noctis were watching the fireworks from underneath the boat together and praying a wish just before the last fireworks exploded.

Let’s sincerely hope that that wish will come true, and wait for the binge-drinking and the brightness of the firework to disappear─

As strong dizziness overtook his body, Cleon lost consciousness and fell down on the spot.

But right after that, the moment my vision completely returned.

He was standing with Amelia and Sasha at the entrance of the market street lined with street vendors.

It was the moment when he was about to hand them the Hyeokgaekjeon he had.

Because Cleon did not hand over the money quickly, contrary to his memory, the girls left without taking the money this time.

And then, he reunites with Noctis, who is just as confused as he is.

“… My memories are the same. Making a wish on a boat with Cleon… Even the part where he lost his mind afterward. And when I came to my senses again, I was waiting for Cleon at this place.”

Based on the pocket watch in her hand, she roughly guessed how far back in time they had gone.

As she said earlier, she had gone back in time for about an hour.

＂Could it is the influence of some kind of magic?＂

“No, I heard from Lila before that humans cannot use magic that reverses time. That level of technology was difficult for humans to use even in the original world…”

Cleon muttered like that and raised his head and looked toward the sky.

“… If that’s the case, is it really fireworks that can be assumed to be the cause?”

“… If you make a wish before the last firework explodes, it will come true… Has someone made a wish to go back to the past?”

＂Maybe so…＂

Cleon looks around her while saying that.

There, there were residents who seemed not to have noticed anything about what was happening and were just enjoying the moment.

“I guess we’re the only ones who noticed that time has gone back.”

＂… Definitely. ＂

Cleon is carrying a lot of things, so he might be able to resist this phenomenon.

Noctis was confident that he was no different from ordinary people, both in the magical and magical aspects.

She herself couldn’t even guess why she, like Cleon, was noticing the reversal of time.

“… Anyway. There are two things I can think of right now. As Noctis said, someone made a wish to go back to the past, and it came true. Another thing…”

“The reversal of time is incidental. The real wish was something else, and one of us may have been the cause. “Is it?”

When Noctis spoke as if he had predicted Cleon’s words, Cleon nodded.

“Ah. It’s just like that. Even if I made a wish to go back to the past, I don’t think that just fireworks would have that much power. Maybe there is a bigger cause for this.”

“It’s quite annoying. … But first, before we do a full-scale investigation, there is something to test.”

As she says this, she looks at her pocket watch.

“It’s about confirming a few conditions.”

“Condition? The exact cause of time turning back… Is it the same?”

Noctis nodded, agreed, and then added.

＂To be exact, it is a condition that remains in our memories. Maybe.”

“… Surely. So, where should we start first?”

Noctis seemed to think about Cleon’s question for a moment, then took out a small notebook from her arms.

The notebook she used while reporting was small, but it also had a pen attached, so it was a convenient tool for her to organize information wherever she wanted.

And, one more thing, she beeped! And when she blew the small flute the size of her fingertips that was tied around her neck like a whistle, ‘Zuzu’ flew in from somewhere and sat on her head.

＂Zuzu! At this moment, there may be someone who is just as confused as we are. If you find someone like that, let me know right away, okay?”

＂Ppii?＂

When Zuzu tilted her head as if she had no idea what was going on, Noctis just grabbed her and-

＂Beep!!＂

He picked up Zuzu and threw it so far away that the sound lasted for a long time.

＂…＂

No matter how many times you think about it, it’s a violent method, but Noctis shakes her hand as if he’s used to it and speaks to Cleon.

“Let’s stay here for an hour while waiting for Zuzu to return. First, ‘place’.”

“… Indeed. Even when not on a boat, does time go by? Let’s check it out.”

She nods her head at Cleon’s answer, and then suddenly puts her hand on her chin as if she senses something about her.

“No… Wait. That might be dangerous. Maybe this will cause us to lose our memories.”

“… That’s scary.”

When retrogrades occur in a state where people lose their memories, perhaps no one will be able to solve this phenomenon.

If that happens, you might get stuck in a time loop without noticing it.

“But, if the location is the cause, it might not be bad for just one person to be there.”

“Then. It means one of us can use the boat and wait at the original location.”

“I guess that will happen. Then. “Who is going?”

Cleon and Noctis look at each other for a moment.

And when Noctis clenched his fist, Cleon reflexively clenched his fist –

“If you don’t pay, you lose!”

＂Kuh…!＂

When a sudden but well-known command is shouted, Cleon synchronizes the timing with the movement of Noctis’ hand and-

＂Scissors, rock─＂

Spread out all five fingers.

＂Bo!＂

And, Noctis’s fingers only had his index and middle fingers spread out.

＂… I won!＂

“Wait a minute… We haven’t decided yet which side will take the boat, the winning side or the losing side.”

“Ah… I guess so. So, should we do it again? The loser gets the ride.”

When Noctis spoke playfully, Cleon sighed and scratched his head.

“… I’ll go. You are waiting somewhere safe.”

Cleon decided that it seemed a bit dangerous to let a girl go on a boat alone on a dark night, so that’s what she said.

＂What? If I had to really ask, the safest place right now might be by Cleon’s side… But then I’ll wait close to where the government officer is.”

“Ah. That would be good.”

After nodding her head at Noctis’ words, Cleon was about to move to board her boat alone, but turned to look at her when Noctis caught her.

“… In case I lose my memory. At that time, Cleon, please take me to the boat again.”

“─In that case, I should ask you to do the opposite as well.”

“Of course!”

Cleon and Noctis even promised what they would do when each other’s memories disappeared and parted ways on the spot.

001

Cleon parted ways with Noctis and walked down the market street he passed a while ago, reliving his memories.

“… If we go this way, wouldn’t we be able to arrive a little earlier?”

Do. Cleon stopped his steps and turned his head toward the exit to another street in the middle of the market street, then changed his path and continued on.

If you change the route, naturally what you see around you also changes.

If you try to walk while feeling a bit strange as you see a different landscape than what you saw before time went back –

“Ah! Mr. Cleon!”

When she heard a voice calling her name cheerfully, she turned her head towards him, and there she was, an elf woman with long white hair and distinctive pointed ears-

Kanan was looking at her and waving her hand happily.

And that too, behind the counter of a street vendor.

“Kanan? … Why in a street stall?”

As Cleon said that, he walked towards that interesting sight without realizing it.

I look at the items she displayed on the small stall.

What are there are small toys made from various mechanical parts.

Objects in the shape of small animals that move like automata, which are different from magic tools-

Likewise, an object resembling a storybook with a cover made of metal was on display.

＂Is this… Perhaps made by Kanon?＂

“Yes. The child said he wanted to sell the items he had been making little by little at a street vendor… But he said he was tired and didn’t want to go outside, so he was currently complaining inside the Jeolchan-ri mansion.”

Kanan gave a wry smile as if she was in trouble, but she also had a slightly proud expression on her face, as if she was proud of her sister who wanted to create a connection with the outside world.

＂Should I say it’s canon-like… How about it selling?＂

“That’s probably because eastern countries aren’t used to things made by machines. There were a few kids who looked at it with interest, but only a few were sold.”

Kanan says that with regret, but Cleon closes her mouth for a moment and seems to think about it, then speaks to her.

＂This book…＂

“Ah, yes. This is something the child wrote entirely on his own, from the decoration to the story inside. … Like the item I offered to Letios before.”

Cleon is silent for a moment and then speaks.

＂In other words, this. “You mean it’s a new work by Kanon, the most popular novelist in the Eastern countries?”

＂…? That’s how it happens…?”

When Cleon’s words resonated like that, Kanan tilted her head slightly.

Then, the people walking down the street who were looking at the items in wonder from a distance approached the street vendor, as if they had heard Cleon’s words.

“Did you say this is Kanon’s new work?”

＂This children’s book with a strange cover…?＂

Most of them were women, and with a slightly suspicious look in their eyes, they asked Kanan an inquiring question, and Kanan simply nodded his head.

… After wandering around for a long time, she didn’t seem to realize how popular her sister was in this country.

“… Is it okay if I check inside a little?”

“Of course.”

When the woman willingly gave her permission, she picked up her children’s book as if she had been waiting and flipped through the unfamiliar, hard cover.

Then, what sticks out from within is-

The soothing musical sound produced by the music box as the inner spring begins to turn and move.

And, pictures that move the surface according to the story written within them.

Sentences that shake people’s emotions along with directing that seems to take the readers’ souls out.

The women who read it all had expressions of surprise and emotion.

＂… This sentence… Clearly belongs to Kanon! However, the direction of this book… Was not seen in the book published by Dark Dragon Company…”

Well, it would be necessary to consider the situation of Dark Dragon Company, which has to mass produce.

Of course, without Kanon’s technological prowess, it would be impossible to produce something of this quality.

“Excuse me! “Please give me a copy of this!”

＂Me too…!＂

＂S-sorry. There is only one book of this… There are a few more books of other stories…”

When there was a sudden flood of orders from women to purchase books, Kanan was embarrassed but greeted his customers.

Like a storm, people swept away the items from the stalls, and when the crowds disappeared, there was nothing left in the stalls, including the decorations of mechanical animals.

“… Well, something happened somehow.”

“Canon’s name means that he is loved in Asteris.”

When Cleon expressed his sentiments like that, Kanan kept her mouth shut for a moment at Cleon’s words, but then she smiled happily and nodded.

“… I’m sure he’ll be happy if you tell him that everything has been sold. It might be the basis for courage to come out of the mansion a little more proactively.”

“Ah. Please tell me.”

As Cleon said that, he tried to go to the river where the boat he was originally trying to move to was ─

＂Mr. Cleon!＂

As she said that, she handed Cleon a wolf-shaped mechanical doll that was small enough to fit on the palm of his hand.

＂This?＂

＂This is the item that was left out earlier when the customers were purchasing all the items. I was wondering if there was something I could give to Cleon as a repayment, but this wolf… It was something that the child made while thinking of Cleon. Can you accept it?”

Cleon was silent for a moment at her words.

Then, she carefully picks up the doll.

It was made of metal, and the angles of the legs, tail, and neck could be slightly adjusted, so it was easy to pose and was of great quality as an ornament.

“… Of course. Thank you. I will cherish it.”

“Yes. If something breaks, Canon will be able to fix it. Please come visit us anytime.”

Kanan bowed her head, expressing her gratitude to him once again, and looked at Cleon’s back as he left.

002

Cleon somehow got on a boat just in time and went to the place where he watched the fireworks.

It’s almost time. The moment Cleon thought this, he looked at the exploding fireworks and suddenly checked the wolf doll he was holding in his hand.

Thinking that he shouldn’t drop it just in case the loop didn’t happen, he forcefully opened the heavy backpack he brought with him after Lila told him to take it with him, and was about to put the doll inside.

He saw.

Something with magical power spinning fiercely inside his bag.

＂This is─＂

Next moment.

When a loud roar burst through Cleon’s ears, he frowned and looked up at the sky.

It was confirmed that the largest firework exploded.

… For now, let’s not make a wish this time.

The moment Cleon looked at the scene for a moment while thinking like that –

Once again, Cleon stumbled as dizziness overtook his body.

He fell forward and laid his body on the boat.

000

＂Mr. Cleon?＂

Cleon suddenly came to his senses when he heard Sasha’s voice calling him and looked in front of her.

That was because Amelia and Sasha were still there, looking at them with concern.

＂… As expected. ＂

“Of course, there are too many, right?”

“No. Because it’s okay. Use it to buy things for Lila and Lilim who are waiting at home.”

Cleon says that and leans back, leaving the battle of the knights to the two men.

And, when you turn your head-

There, Noctis was standing, looking at us with the same look in his eyes and nodding his head.

“I guess the location wasn’t the problem.”

“Yes. I guess.”

Time has come back.