Prelude to Tragedy - part 2

The nerve of this guy.

He gently dropped the groceries on a bench and sat down! Who volunteers to help a lady only for stopping halfway through?!

“Let’s rest a moment. I need you to pay attention now.”

He smilingly invites me to the bench. I’ve got the impression he’s still testing me somewhat. Are you gullible or not baby boy? Just believe the amnesia bullshit and leave me be! I’m sure my expression will be monitored during the next part of the explanation.

How do you turn back the savefile and choose the other route?

“O…ok.”

No insults came to my mind so the stutter came back. Not a good start if I have to hide that I’m a reincarnated, which most likely it’s the same thing as the Goddess Chosen or something. After all, I literally was chosen by Arthesya, the Goddess.

“On the surface, there’s no difference from a Goddess Chosen and a simple believer. Our instructions as imperial guards is to not actually harm the believer…unless we suspect they’re a Chosen. If we think someone is a Chosen, we have to arrest them and inspect they’re bodies. I…won’t go into too much details, but while there’s nothing strange about how a Chosen looks, inside their bodies there are some notable differences on how their magic circuits and their nerve connect.”

“…so the inspection that I was supposed to go through…”

“Let’s say it’s not pleasant.”

Lionheart has a disgusted expression. Can’t say I’m surprised, he seems like a ray of sunshine so it must be an unpleasant topic for him, given that it’s his job to decide who’s inspected.
And with my limited imagination I can’t think of a way to verify how one’s nerves are structured without tearing him apart.

Basically, it’s some kind of torture.

Man, I really risked my life there.

If Tama didn’t step in I would probably be in a world of pain…and most likely the “inspector” would have found out that I’m a reincarnated.

“You’re alright though, no need to faint ahah!”

I curled up instinctively, it’s something I used to do often in my world when I was anxious. It’s the first time it happens since coming here. I wonder what he’s thinking now.

“I-…m ok. J…ust thinking what I risked…”

“Make sure to thank your friend again!”

“Friend huh…”

Maybe she really is a friend. I wonder how she recognized me as a reincarnated. Maybe she already went through something similar? It would explain things.

“That said, the reason why we need to do this is simple. Goddess Chosen are dangerous, not because they venerate the sealed Goddess, some don’t even care about religion, but because they are warrior created summoned by the Goddess herself to fight Humanity and free her. In order to do so they’re equipped with special magical circuits that makes them as strong as top tier imperial guards basically, without the hassle of going through years and years of training like we do.”

“Wait, wouldn’t someone that strong simply escape before they can be tortured?”

“No one said anything about torture.”

“Ok, inspected.”

“Normally, yes. But in recent years a lot of Goddess Chosen were found before their power awakened. Seems like her powers are diminishing so her warriors are left with less and less power. If I have to be honest, I’m of the opinion we can ignore them completely as of now. It’s been five years since the last valid Chosen was found. Now the only credible threat are the ones from the older generations which are yet to be dealt with.”

Dealt with.

So they kill the Chosen.

My debt with Tama is getting bigger and bigger without her doing anything else.

“T…hat’s why you were p…rotecting m…e?”

“Kinda. I wanted to believe your story about dropping your ID, on the other hand, even if you were to be a Goddess Chosen, you’re no danger. I can’t feel any hint of magical energy from you, even were you to train for a decade, you wouldn’t reach a level of credible threat.”

This…stupid asshole. It’s true that seemingly Arthesya gave me no special power, but still! What a fucking dweeb. Makes me want to train for a decade and then kick his ass. Probably I wouldn’t be able too, like he’s saying, but still!

“That said, even a weak Goddess Chosen would be able to at least create commotion during the festival, so I had to make sure.”

“Is that why you’re helping me out here?”

“Told you I was working, didn’t I?”

What a…. calm yourself Kaede. The punch you want to give him would be well earned but as of now there’s nothing to gain making this dude angry. Remember you have the groceries to carry home! You really don’t want to walk with that much to carry!

“N…now y..ou’re happy?”

“Yeah! I’m sure your amnesia is the real deal! You listened to everything with such a confused look. You’re very cute when you don’t understand what’s going on.”

I throw the punch right on his head. He takes it without retaliation, his smile unwavering.

“The angry expression is also cute if you’re wondering.”

“I AM CUTE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.”

Yet, this cutie can’t storm away without her groceries. What a difficult life I have to conduct. Unable to think about how to behave here, I just sat back down and pout. In silence. Seconds pass with Lionheart seemingly waiting for me to say something, the longer I went without talking, the more puzzled his expression got.

Still, a couple minutes pass like this. In the end, it’s still me who relents.

“What?”

“This was cute too.”

“Can we please go to the mansion please…this is as draining as if it was me carrying everything back.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yes, absolutely.”

It was a lie, obviously.

“Mmmh, I wonder about that. Still, let’s rest up for a moment still.”

“Your stamina is quite shit for a guard.”

“I’ll have you know I’m one of the strongest imperial guards there are.”

“Oh really?”

“Really, I’m basically the reason why security around this city’s chain is so lax. Well, that and the fact that the chain itself is indestructible. This city’s seal was the last one to be created so Siegfried’s mages put everything they could into it. Not even in the roughest years of the Goddess Chosen’s activities was this chain ever in actual danger.”

“That only raises more questions about the reason your friend wanted to send me to inspection.”

“Well…”

“Is he a pervert? Are inspections carried out by him?”

“I don’t know him enough to say if he is. Surely, I don’t think he’s that great of a person, but still there was an actual reason as of why we still have to be wary, even when the chain here is indestructible. And that’s the same reason why I’m here, even when my talent would be needed elsewhere.”

The longer I’m with this dude, the less I understand if he’s conceited or simply dumb.

“What would the reason be?”

Another wrong choice probably.

“We’re huntiong for Fateless.”

“Huh…aren’t they the Goddess Chosen?”

“Not exactly. The majority of them start out as Goddess Chosen, but Fateless are actually a different can of worms. If a Goddess Chosen is basically a summoned warrior enhanced by Arthesya’s power…Fateless are walking, thinking calamities. Their objective is unclear, but they are said to attack seemingly at random. Sometimes they target the chains, other they simply seek chaos. And they’re stronger than an average Chosen as the magic they wield it’s not something of this world.”

For the first time today, I can see Lionheart expression clouded.

“They too have the magical circuit and nerve thing you were talking about?”

“The majority of recorded cases of Fateless appearing have been former Goddess Chosen in the last years. Once upon a time, before the empire, they were said to be cursed people which hated the world so much that their very fate was broken. Their appearance brought death and suffering wherever they went and only Arthesya’s divine warriors could face them. Or at least, this is what the legend said. Now we handle them with the imperial guard but only the best of us stands a chance.”

“…look at me.”

“Yes?”

“You said it’s easy to tell I’m weak.”

“it is.”

“THEN WHY DID I HAVE TO RISK BEING TORTURED? I can’t bring groceries around the city, how can I be a walking calamity?”

“I agree, but you have to understand. Fateless are incredibly dangerous and unpredictable. I’m trusting my instincts here, but protocol wise, my colleague was correct. We need to check everyone that doesn’t have a humanity identification badge. Especially given that there are murmurs of a Fateless being spotted around.”

“What?”

“It’s called [TRAVELER]. I’ve never seen him myself, but he’s one of the few known Fateless. It’s a strange man that covers his face with a round, black helm and reports of one such individual were circulating around here until a few days ago.”

Oh, the weirdo.

Wait, did I meet someone that dangerous? Did I insult someone that dangerous? Oh, shit.

“Umh? Are you okay? You’re pale. I knew discussing something this grim would be bad for someone who just lost her memory.”

“I’…m ok…ay.”

“Sorry for that. Still, I’m finished with the explanation. At least you can now enjoy the festivities the day after tomorrow.”

“I gu…ess.”

That was sooooooooo close. If the weirdo was even a little more aggressive, I would be done for. What a second chance at life would that be. Born, see the sea, talk to a stranger, immediately die. I really dodged a bullet there without even knowing it.

Wait. He did say I was dressed as a maid and that I should strive to become one, abandoning my objective. Did he foresee the current events?

“J…ust a question.”

“Mh? Are you sure? Your skin is turning blue, that can’t be good for you.”

“P…lease.”

“Ok, but you need to promise me one thing.”

“W..hat?”

“I’ll tell you after your question.”

“That’s coercion…”

“No question then?”

“Fine” fucking idiot. “What p…ower does this weirdo have?”

“Weirdo?”

Shit, he doesn’t have to know about him. Who knows what consequences would there be if Lionheart met the guy and finds out I’m a reincarnation.

“It must be weird right? A man with a round black helm.”

“I suppose it is.”

“S..o wh…at’s his power.”

“Ice”

“Huh? That’s it?”

“Yeah.”

“Kind of a letdown.”

“You really are just a country bumpkin, aren’t you? Where are you fro…oh wait, the amnesia.”

I throw him another straight, hit his cheek. Not even a flinch. Am I this weak or is he a monster? I suppose that not having any special power means I’m especially weak in a world with magic.

“Please don’t be angry.”

“Too late.”

“Still, his ice is terrifying. It’s not that he uses regular ice magic, he creates calamities with his cold. Something like that…I would have no idea how to counter it without casualties. Luckily, he seems to never target chains, the only serious fight he had ended with him not bothering destroying one of the weaker ones.”

“Oh…maybe he’s just chill.”

Whatever ice powers the weirdo have, they would be no match to the cold reaction my pun got. Lionheart stood there, stunned, then simply ignored my phrase and said

“Well, it’s time to get back. And for you, to keep your promise.”

“I made no promise…”

“And now I’ll tell you what it is.”

Lionheart showed his back to me and kneeled.

“Come up.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m gonna carry you to the mansion. Ideally, I would have like to princess carry you, but I also need to carry your groceries, so piggyback will do.”

“No way.”

“Come on, you’re white as a sheet and we still have half the city to go.”

“All the more reason not to…”

“Shush, you promised.”

“Don’t shush me.”

“Come.”

I have nothing in me to continue the discussion. I hop on. I feel like a toddler, everyone looks at me, it’s so embarrassing.

Being a maid is not hard if they only give you simple tasks.

Yet, I managed to make a fool of myself anyway. That must count as some sort of talent.

-

I manage to finish my task and bring the groceries back to the mansion. At the very least Lionheart didn’t follow me all the way to the floating garden, leaving me at the guest elevator, the one I was supposedly not allowed to use. But this much food can’t be carried in the cramped servitude elevator, so I’ll take the guest one anyway.

Once inside the gardens, Tsuki quickly came to me aid.

“I’m sorry!”

“About what?”

“I gave you the wrong list. These groceries are for the festivities but the Baron hired one of the imperial guards to bring them here. You were supposed to take just a couple things.”

“Wait…”

“How did you manage to bring everything here though? That’s incredible. Maybe Master was not wrong in hiring you after all!”

I’m happy to hear you’re happy with my services Tsuki. But there’s another thing that worries me.

“Who should have taken these things?”

“An imperial guard, I already told you.”

“Yeah, but who exactly.”

“Mhhh, I don’t know them really well. After all I rarely go outside the mansion. But if I recall correctly it’s goes by Lionsomething.”

“Lionheart”

“Yes, that sound right.”

I collapse

“Are you ok? You did a good job! Don’t worry abou…”

Tsuki kept on talking but I couldn’t really hear her. My mind drifted to another topic altogether.

Lionheart was not helping me. That was all a ruse. And I even had to be piggybacked for the whole city…

Damneeeeeeeeeeeeeed you.