Chapter 275 – Change

#275.

─Smart

“Wait a minute!”

I was just getting up and taking a shower when I heard a knock. Was there anyone who would visit me at this hour? I tilted my head to see who it might be and opened the door to see Kiris.

“Uh? What’s going on here…”

Could it be that the memory of yesterday still remains? It was an irrational throw because I thought I would forget it like always, but it couldn’t be otherwise.

When asked while pretending to be calm on the outside, Kiris, who bit her lips nervously, hesitated before opening her mouth carefully.

“Thanks to you, I drank well yesterday.”
“Ah yes. I also enjoyed it. Did you go in well yesterday?”
“… Okay. I feel relieved because you seem to be fine too.”

‘I’m sure you’re the one who puts my mind at ease.’

I don’t know, but I know Kiris isn’t sure. When I reacted like I was a bit bored, he exhaled with a strangely relieved look.

Is she so reluctant to accept that she has been fooled? As I recalled the question, I asked it as if it were not a big deal.

“Thank you for your concern. But is that why you came?”
“Of course not. Well, I just came to ask if there is any discomfort in bed. Okay.”

Just looking at them, I can tell that they are just looking around because they have nothing to say. I didn’t mean to point that out here, so I just nodded.

“Oh, no problem. Thank you for your concern. Rest in peace, too. Let’s have a drink next time.”
“That, that.”
“Do you have any problem?”

I proved my innocence by showing an innocent expression to Kiris, who was reluctant to my proposal.

Sometimes you can prove it without crying. As if to indicate him, Kiris pondered and nodded his head heavily.

“Okay. Let’s have another drink next time. Then I will go.”
“Yes. See you in two days.”

I watched Kiris walk away, then closed the door and sat down on the bed. It’s quite fun to rarely show emotions.

At first, I blamed myself for making a mistake, but when I thought about it again, it wasn’t such a bad decision. It was the first time I’d seen anything like that other than when I was drunk.

It’s a little bit, but I can see that he’s conscious of me, so I’ll try to sneak a dash next time. At that time, I raised the level more than this time.

Thinking of that time, I giggled, then closed my eyes and started training.

***

“Turn it off… It’s today.”

Early morning.

When I open my eyes, I see the scene of dawn just breaking through the window. Today is finally the day to head to the ancient ruins.

The two days passed quickly. On this peaceful island, I practiced in the morning and afternoon, and in the evening, I had a break that could be called a break for the first time in a long time, drinking or playing cards with Orvin and Garos.

Of course, I also ran into Kiris from time to time during the two days. To be precise, I deliberately wandered around places where Kiris might be and induced a meeting.

After that day, it was quite interesting to see him conscious of whether he had any vague memories of my confession. I try to pretend to be calm, but I can’t fool my sharp senses.

I didn’t think about going out since yesterday, probably feeling burdened when I ran into them five or six times a day. There were some very cute corners.

After I got out of bed and stretched out, I went straight to the shower room, washed my face, put on my clothes, and headed to the pier where the ship docked.

After a while, when we arrived at the port, the fishing boats that had just finished work were coming in. Everyone seems to have a good harvest today, so their faces are bright.

As we pass the fishing boats and head to the place where the sailboat is anchored, we see Kiris standing in front of it. As I got closer, he turned his head to me.

“Come. Then go right away.”
“Are there not many people?”
“It’s just a matter of sneaking in anyway. You don’t even have to have a lot of people. It won’t take long.”
“Is that so? Then let’s go quickly.”

It is said that there are no fishermen in the waters heading to the ancient ruins, and there are no fishermen, nor people, so there are no maritime guards or pirates.

So you don’t have to pay attention when you pass by, so it doesn’t take a day to come and go with all your energy. It can’t be a lucky thing for me.

I boarded the boat with Kiris and 10 minutes later, the boat departed.

When it was thought that they had reached deep enough water away from the island, the ship began to dive to the sea floor.

When the air bubbles enveloped the boat and soon reached a depth where the current resistance was less, the boat quickly jumped forward.

“Oh oh… Pretty fast, right?”
“I told you. It doesn’t take a day.”
“Certainly, this should be enough to arrive around lunchtime.”
“Then I’ll just go for it. True. Let you rest too.”

Kiris said that she was worried about being alone with me, and quickly headed to her own office. Contrary to her arrogant and chic appearance, it is quite a fresh reaction.

After all, her appearance is just a disguise, and her heart is still no different from a green girl.

I looked around for a while and smiled as I looked at my back, then walked into the room.

***

“Then let’s go.”
“Okay. I hope to be back before the sun goes down.”
“… I’ll try my best.”

It is lunchtime when the sun rises in the middle of the sky. The ship finally reached the sea in front of the ancient ruins. Of course, I couldn’t see the sun because I was submerged on the seabed, but I could guess to some extent by looking at the bright sunlight shining down on the waves from the clear surface of the water.

After a brief greeting with Kiris, I entered a state of stealth using fairy tales and visions, and then headed straight to the surface.

I looked behind me and saw Kiris staring at me.

‘Is it Maan…’

I don’t know the exact ability, but it seems to have the effect of penetrating stealth among mystic eyes. Unlike the other members, he bowed his head one last time at the clear gaze, then quickly soared upward.

The power of fairy tales was as expected. I felt no resistance at all, even in the situation of rapidly rising to the surface.

Since there is no sense of resistance, naturally, the aftermath does not occur either. I jumped out of the water without causing any trace and looked everywhere.

The sea area was peaceful. The water surface was calm and sunken, and there was no boat passing by, just revealing the vast sea.

However, at an angle slightly out of the way from the front, only one island of a suitable size can be seen. That place was my destination with ancient ruins.

The only thing guarding the island is a lighthouse standing alone. Even that, the lighthouse keeper over there doesn’t see me.

Realizing that there was no need to be nervous, she exhaled and walked leisurely across the sea.

‘What kind of memory will I get this time?’

As before, will the end be decorated with death? Or will it have a different ending than before?

She was curious, but she had no particular expectations. Anyway, it’s the past, and it’s just the remnants of the past that can’t be changed.

I don’t have time to spend my energy on something like that.

Being alone for the first time in a while, I came up with this and that thought, and with the island right in front of me, I went to visit the ruins based on the information I heard from Kiris.

Turn southeast at the lighthouse, and go straight along the coast to the exit. I was able to reach the ancient ruins before 3 minutes had passed.

“It’s interesting.”

The place we arrived along the shore was an undersea cave. Inside, magic lights run at regular intervals to brightly illuminate the interior.

I think it’s been 5 minutes since I went inside. When I arrived at the wide cavity and my view was clear, I could see many crystals.

Crystal Cave. This place is called that. This is because the inside of the cave is literally made of crystal.

I couldn’t tell in detail, but the light scattered from the ceiling to the crystals filled the whole area with blue light.

It is as if you have come to the land of mermaids that you have seen many times in fairy tales as a child. Shall we say that it makes us realize that this place is a fantasy world?

After looking around for a while in the mood of sightseeing, I realized that this was not the time and started a temporary search.

After a while.

“Ah, I found it!”

In the middle of the crystal cave, I could see a floating information window.

『Temporary Dimension #0009.』

“Ninth.”

It turns out that the 9th was built very quickly if you expect there to be maybe even a thousand units.

In the 1st temporary dimension, I didn’t know what it was, but I was able to learn about a very strong skill and a powerful enemy called Apocalypse.

If so, what about the 9th? There was a high probability that the skills and memories to be acquired this time would be of great help. Naturally, the corner of the mouth rises.

Suppressing my pounding heart, I cut my finger and smeared blood on the wall.

As before, a bright light burst out and consumed my vision, at the same time staining my mind white.

***

“… You are very late.”

Kiris muttered quietly as she peered over the surface of the water through her magically connected external vision. It was already late in the afternoon when the sunset was setting, but the promised person did not appear.

Orbin soothed Kiris.

“I’m not sure what happened. Don’t worry.”
“I wasn’t worried.”
“Haha! Well, what’s going on Isn’t it a nine-star swordsman? It will be fine.”

Kiris rarely shows emotion. Watching this, Orbin felt a bit of pleasure.

I never thought this cold-hearted captain would react so sensitively. Aren’t Garos’ words empty? Maybe the leader can actually meet his mate on this occasion.

Orbin felt her satisfaction and a little regret at the same time. How should I define this? To put it bluntly, it would be like when she married her younger sister.

Around the time Orvin was so alone in his thoughts, Kiris felt a strange discomfort.

‘Why does that memory keep coming up?’

Two days ago, she had a dream after drinking with True. In her drunken state, the memory of the time when she was childish and wrapped in her arms and wrapped in warmth continued to settle in the corner of her brain and irritate her nerves.

She repeats that it’s just her dog dream, but she can’t ignore it as her thorns prick her from the depths of her heart.

Every time I see it, I feel weird, and this feeling that my ego as Kiris, the leader of the vigilantes I’ve built up over the past five years, is being threatened was just too intrusive.

“Ha…”

It is said that dreams are influenced by a person’s unconscious. If so, is the reason why he had such a dream is that Kirisu himself was hoping for such a thing?

She didn’t want to be convinced at all, but otherwise there was no way to explain why she was dreaming.

Surrounded by a mixed feeling, Kiris turned her head to the outside view again, and a strange change came into her eyes.

“Here you are.”

As promised, at the signal from the air bubble, Kiris headed to her deck to meet her.

And again, she was offended that she was willing to meet her naturally.