Chapter 32

After the auction, they went on to finalize the payment. Everyone coming in and out of the building stared at them as if they were an eyesore.

“Here's the money.”

“Thank you very much.”

Realizing they weren't accepted there, John and Leyla took the chair out. They didn't have a carriage waiting outside ready to receive it. Considering the possible effects, John wasn't too interested in testing the chair in the streets. He didn't really want to test it in the first place.

“Now… what do we do?”

They hadn't booked an inn, and considering the neighborhood they were in, they couldn't afford a room here. The walk to the second wall, to the outer layer, would take some time.

“Oh, Hello, I wasn't expecting to see you two here.”

John and Leyla both tensed up. They recognized that voice.

“Another chair, huh? Are you that interested in chairs?” Isak asked from atop his carriage. “Do you need help?”

•••

The carriage traveled away from the center of the city. John and Leyla sat in the rear, once again accompanied by a lot of crates. Being in a cargo carriage had become the norm for them.

“So you came all the way here for another chair?”

“That's none of your business.”

“Well, yeah?” John murmured. Not answering would only make them suspicious. He thought of a way to distract Isak from the chair. “How about you? So you've left for the capital after that day?”

They didn't depart Tettorokata immediately after receiving the chair, as they waited for their reward. Isak wasn't involved in the reward, though, despite descending through the dungeons with them.

“Well, I have some business here, although I might return to Tettorokata eventually.”

“Do you still have business with that noble?”

Isak nodded. “I've got some unfinished work.”

John wasn't sure if he wanted to ask more about it. He was curious, yes, but some things were better left unsaid. He might hear something he didn't want to hear.

“How long will you be staying here? I know a good place.”

“Not long probably.” John glanced at Leyla. “We don't have anything else to do, do we?”

“No.”

“Where will you be heading next?” Isak asked.

“... I don’t know.”

John had a bad feeling that even without telling him where they would go, Isak would still end up at the same place as them. He must be hiding something. Surely, something happened the day he saw Leyla using teleport for the first time.

John hadn’t checked for their next destination. If he did that now, the key would point toward the red chair. They needed to return it before they could continue.

After a while, they crossed the walls and arrived in a different part of the city. While it was nowhere close in terms of luxury, it didn’t look bad. This was the area for the middle class.

“This is the inn I’m talking about,” Isak said, stopping in front of the inn building.

“Thank you for the ride.”

“Thank you.”

“Well, I need to get these things delivered. See you around.” Isak waved and proceeded down the street. Inside, John was still torn between wanting and not wanting to see him. The way he kept popping up in front of them was scary, but at the same time, he had been helpful every time he appeared.

“Let’s go in.” Pushing the thoughts into the back of his mind, he took the chair inside. They booked a room. The sight of two people carrying a chair naturally brought attention, but luckily, no one said a thing. After entering the room they booked, John locked the door and set the chair down.

“Do you want to try it?” Leyla asked.

“I am curious…”

After a quick consideration, John decided to sit down. It felt like a regular chair, and nothing happened.

Does this chair need other people?

Many of the chairs they collected only worked if there was someone else around. Maybe this chair was like that. Its effects would only be visible when it affected someone other than the one who sat on it.

“Welp, looks like you’re not good enough for that chair.” Leyla snickered. It was one of her usual jokes, but John felt a sense of rage filling him as he watched her laughing face.

“Shut up! Don’t think you’re better than me!”

“Well, I am better-”

“Go to hell! You really think just because you’re some kind of higher being, you can act all smug and stuff?”

Leyla’s smile froze. Slowly, it turned into a frown. “Me- Me!?”

“You’re useless! It’s best if you never come!”

“Wh- What!? Have you forgotten just how much I helped you!?”

The memories of their journey together flashed in his mind, but what filled him wasn’t a sense of longing or nostalgia. It was anger. Hatred. He regretted ever traveling with her. All the troubles he faced wouldn’t have existed if she weren’t there.

“I could have done everything alone!”

“How dare you say this now!?”

“Flat.”

Leyla’s face twisted in shock. “H- How dare you!”

John remembered that insult not working on her. This time, however, her expression changed to one of fury. Her cheeks reddened, her glare sharpened. She clenched her fist, ready to punch him.

“Weak!”

“Small!”

“Ugly!”

“Scum!”

The two of them threw insults at each other. Eventually, Leyla had enough.

“Fine! We’ll see who gets that chair first!”

“Fine!” John stood up, pointing at her. “I’ll… I’ll…” John trailed off. He recalled the words he just said. Now that he stood up, all the anger faded.

“You’ll what?” Leyla folded her arms and glared at him. John scratched his head, looking back at the chair. Much like the other chair, it changed him. He winced.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean what I said.”

Leyla raised an eyebrow, her frown remaining on her face. “What?”

“It’s the chair. The chair made me angry.”

“... I guess I said some terrible things as well. Sorry.”

“No, it’s my fault.”

Had he not sat on it, they wouldn’t have fought. It reinforced just how dangerous the chairs were. He didn’t realize when the change came into effect. All he knew was that he was angry. He didn’t know why. He didn’t know when. His emotions were changed within a flick of a finger.

“Let’s call Kei.”

John didn’t want the chair there. He wanted it to be gone as quickly as possible.

“So not all the chairs are useful?” Leyla murmured, the anger fading away from her face.

“Maybe.”

John held the key tight, and Kei appeared not long after.

“Congratulations! You’ve found another chair.”

This time, John had a question of his own. “What… is the purpose of this chair?”

“Hmm?” Kei wasn’t expecting such a question to be sprung at her the second she arrived. “Why are you asking?”

“It’s just… It changed me immediately when I sat on it. Why make it in the first place?”

He couldn’t think of any positives coming from such a chair. One could argue that being angry changes people, and certain people might use it to force their opponents to make mistakes. Do things that they would regret. Still, that was a very specific use case. Other methods would be easier.

John wasn’t the only one curious. Leyla also waited for Kei’s answer.

“Everything in life has a purpose, John,” Kei answered. “The good and the bad. I can’t explain everything.”

Some things better remain a secret…

He didn’t want to ask Isak things because he feared he might learn something he didn’t want to.

And… I guess not knowing does have its benefits?

It might be a stretch, but if Leyla didn’t know how to teleport, their journey would be much different. It might take longer, but she would have more freedom to use magic.

“... Alright, I won’t ask.”

Kei smiled. “Thank you for your hard work,” she said as she disappeared with the chair.