MTFBMP Chapter 6

 

Although he had left the world behind and settled here, rumors of his existence had spread like wildfire among the pirates, and that was why this seaside village had always been so peaceful.

 

“This child is my grandchild, and I vouch for her identity.”

 

“Old man, you’re sending him to these people?”

 

Iris glared up at Simon as if she had been betrayed, but he gave her shoulder a firm squeeze and then turned to Dion.

 

“Very well. I’ll leave you with a debt in return.”

 

Dion seemed less amiable than he looked.

 

“If your grandchild ever deceives us, you will help me once.”

 

“Very well. I’ll stake my sword on this promise.”

 

A knight’s sword symbolized his honor.

 

“We’ll be leaving in three hours, be ready by then.”

 

Before anyone could protest, Dion wrapped things up. Following him, a group of pirates rushed out of the inn.

 

It was now just Simon, Iris, and me left in the inn.

 

“Gabe said you looked a little out of sorts, so I guess he was right, but you’re not always all bravado.”

 

Simon said, in a joking tone, as if nothing had happened. Iris, on the other hand, was in disbelief.

 

“This is ridiculous. Where are you sending her?”

 

A sharp voice came from the impatient Iris, “How can you make such a promise? How did we get here?”

 

“If she’s grown up enough, she should be allowed to choose her own path.”

 

“But…!”

 

“Iris. This kid must have been thinking more than we have.”

 

Simon put an end to the argument firmly. Iris pouted a few more times, but Simon didn’t budge.

 

“Iris. Your daughter is traveling far away, and you will not send her off empty-handed. Bring her something to eat.”

 

Iris’s jaw dropped at Simon’s commanding request, and she slid off the counter and into the kitchen. Judging by the thumping of her footsteps, she was still not convinced.

 

When we were alone, Simon turned to me and said.

 

“Antheia, there must be some reason why you must leave with these men now.”

 

I nodded, not adding anything in my mumble. Simon regarded me with compassion. It was a gaze of understanding and acceptance.

 

The older he got, the more his eyes sparkled as if they could see into the depths. Sometimes his gaze was so deep that even I, the creator of this world, could not fathom his meaning.

 

“Then be careful. We’ll be rooting for you.”

 

“…Thank you for believing in me.”

 

At my softly whispered words, Simon smiled warmly and stroked my hair. Then, suddenly, he stopped and said.

 

“I always knew you were a special child, Antheia.”

 

“What?”

 

“Did you think I, your grandfather, didn’t know that sometimes you acted like you were seeing strange things?”

 

Reflexively, I tried to tell him that I wasn’t special at all. I couldn’t call it ordinary that I remembered my past life and knew the fate of this world.

 

Then I remembered the vision that had flashed through my mind when I saw the pirate ship by the window.

 

“Surely, you will see more of this in the future.”

 

It was as if Simon had read my thoughts. He had been in the Imperial Court for countless ages. Maybe he knew something I didn’t? I couldn’t answer him except to gape.

 

“As your grandfather, I hope you don’t see too many things that will hurt you too much.”

 

“Like what?”

 

“I don’t know, but there must be a reason you decided to do this, right?”

 

The question cut right through me. Still at a loss for words, I nodded.

 

“I don’t have much to say to you as an inadequate grandfather, but I want you to keep this in mind.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You must beware of those who recognize your uniqueness.”

 

Simon’s eyes were full of conviction. It was the wisdom of a lifetime as an adventurer and warrior.

 

“Because I can’t be by your side anymore.”

 

Simon’s eyes were filled with regret.

 

Twee—!

 

The cry of an unknown flying beast echoed in the distance. At the same time, Simon and I turned in the direction of the sound.

 

Beyond the window, we could still see a huge ship. My gaze descended to the ship’s basement, now hidden by the sea.

 

‘What?’

 

Something shimmered beneath the surface.

 

💫

 

It was rare for light to reach the deepest depths.

 

So the beast was keenly aware of even the faintest glimmer of light that leaked through.

 

‘It’s out there.’

 

The stream of light felt like the glowing figure he’d seen earlier.

 

Soon he could feel eyes watching him from not too distant. It was not like any other ordinary human. Out of all the humans, he could sense the presence of only one person.

 

His senses were tingling. It was a sensation distinctly different from a beast’s instincts.

 

‘I wasn’t seeing things after all.’

 

How had it gotten so far away when it had only been a moment ago, but that fact mattered little to the beast now.

 

It opened its eyes and raised its head. The light through the darkness of the prison was bright and clean. It became clearer, as if it were coming toward him.

 

He felt better just knowing that he hadn’t gone mad with despair.

 

‘Again. Please come to me again.’

 

Recalling his human form, the beast concentrated on changing his appearance, but his body refused to comply.

 

No matter how many times he tried, he remained a beast.

 

‘Not yet. It’s not enough.’

 

The beast rattled its claws.

 

The humans on the other side of the wall would not have heard it, for the streams of light that illuminated the underground continued to draw closer to the beast.

 

The beast decided to be patient. It was like the humans above me, I thought, casting their rods into the sea and waiting for a fish.

 

‘Just a little longer.’

 

The thirst it had forgotten to quench was satisfied.

 

💫

 

An hour later, I carried my bag a little heavier.

 

Iris had meticulously stuffed every nook and cranny of my backpack with pies, cookies, and other non-perishable food items.

 

“We’ll pay for everything later…”

 

“If you trust money, you will be ruined by money. Don’t tell me you have a lot of money.”

 

Iris tried to be her usual nagging self, but she couldn’t hide the fact that she was strangely avoiding eye contact. I leaned in close and whispered in her ear, hoping she’d keep doing that until we got on the ship.

 

“Third compartment of the storage room. In the right corner.”

 

That’s where I put the money. It must be half of the silver I have.

 

Iris’s eyes widened as she realized what I meant, and she lifted her head. Our eyes finally met.

 

“You, you…!”

 

“I’ve got plenty, so use it sparingly.”

 

I winked cheekily. Iris laughed, sounding as though she’d been cheated.

 

The moment the pleasantries faded, Iris raised her hand as if to slap me on the back. I flinched out of habit and squeezed my eyes shut.

 

There was no ensuing pain. Instead, Iris’s arms wrapped around me and pulled me into a tight embrace. I patted her on the back, feeling a little awkward.

 

“You’re such a bad daughter,” Iris said.

 

“It must be hard to have a daughter as pretty as me.”

 

I ended up getting another slap on the back from Iris.

 

Time passed quickly. The pirate ship said it would leave just as the sun was setting on the lighthouse rocks in the distance. I hastened into action.

 

“It’s not too late for you to reconsider,” Jade said in a blunt tone.

 

“Don’t worry.”

 

I glanced back one last time. I could see the guards standing in front of the inn, and Iris and Simon.

 

“Anthele, take care of yourself.”

 

Simon called me by my alias with a certain grace. He didn’t offer the words, ‘goodbye’.

 

We were a family without a speck of blood. We were more like coworkers than family, but there was still a certain camaraderie between the three of us.

 

I pursed my lips a few times, then braced myself and said.

 

“Mom, take care of yourself, and Grandpa too.”

 

It was the first time I had ever called Iris mom. Their eyes widened at the realization. Iris finally gave a small smile, biting her lower lip and turning her head away.

 

“From now on, pretend I never existed. If anyone comes looking for me, tell them that you don’t know, or that I’m dead.”

 

That would help them both live much better. Unable to stand it any longer, Iris embraced me again. It must have sounded very ungrateful, but I think she meant it, and my heart lightened a little.

 

“Grandfather must stay here and watch over Mommy. You can’t go anywhere.”

 

I hoped he would keep this beach from burning to the ground.

 

“And if anyone washes up on the beach while I’m gone, please pretend it’s me and be good to them.”

 

That’s probably how this story begins, but my absence doesn’t mean that Simon has to die unable to do anything.

 

Simon nodded, even though he didn’t understand.

 

“You always think of yourself.”

 

Simon whispered as he brushed my bangs out of the hat I was wearing.

 

Simone whispered as she smoothed my bangs out of the hat I was wearing.

 

He stared off into the distance for a moment, seemingly lost in thought, and then fiddled with the greatsword he’d secured to his belt. Suddenly, he peeled off the gold coin attached to it.

 

“Huh?”

 

No one else knew the value of that gold coin, but I did. It was a commemorative coin with the symbol of the Imperial Family, given to those who swore allegiance to the Imperial Family.

 

It was a special item, one of the few in the world, and a testament to Simon’s past.

 

“Come on. You’ll need it one day when you’re in danger.”

 

“Take this.”

 

“But.”

 

Simon extended my hesitant hand and squeezed the coin into it at the same time.

 

‘Oh?’

 

The coin glowed.