I watched the reconstruction efforts as the carriage swayed along the road.
It had been one week since the day Oliver went on his rampage and the Stampede occurred. Since then, almost every Explorer in the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky had been drafted into the recovery efforts. I heard that the last of the rubble was cleared yesterday, and full-scale reconstruction would begin today.
In line with the shift in the city's focus, the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky had finally returned to its regular duties.
During the initial cleanup and the search for survivors trapped under the debris, my [Object Float] spell proved invaluable. It had gained more fame than I’d ever anticipated. Originally, the spell could only lift light objects, but I’d refined it with the help of the Magic Development Room during the preparations for the Thanksgiving Festival.
As a result, I’d succeeded in making it lift objects heavier than a person. However, it still couldn't lift humans or other living creatures. My guess was that the inherent magic resistance of living beings interfered with the spell.
It might have been insensitive to think about it given the situation, but sales of the [Object Float] Magic Tools were also skyrocketing.
I’d spent the last week buried in the aftermath of the disaster, but now that the initial rush had settled, my mind kept drifting back to that day.
I had lost to Oliver.
When his sword pierced my abdomen, I’d prepared myself for the end. Yet I didn't die. When I finally regained consciousness in the forest south of the city, Oliver had returned to his senses.
The look on his face then—as if some foul spirit had finally left him—remained burned into my memory.
"Orun, you must push straight ahead on the path you’ve decided for yourself. No matter what choice you make, we will respect it."
The words he’d spoken before being handed over to the army still swirled inside me.
Why did Oliver destroy the city? Why was he so serene once he woke up? And most of all, why was I still alive?
There were too many unanswered questions. I intended to investigate every single one of them. Too many things lately defied logic, and I had a feeling I couldn't simply brush them off as coincidences.
Since that day, I’d been haunted by the same recurring dream. It covered the gap between my defeat and the moment I woke up in the forest. In the dream, I was overwhelming the supposedly invincible Oliver from start to finish.
I knew it was just a dream, but the sensations were so vivid, so visceral, that I felt a strange lingering ache every time I woke up. If, by some one-in-a-million chance, those events were real, it meant I possessed a power I didn't understand. But if that were true, how did the "me" in the dream know how to use it?
◇
Since it seemed it would take a while to reach my destination, I decided to organize the facts once more.
The incident was actually two events occurring at once.
First, there was Oliver's destruction of the city. According to the reports, Philly Carpenter, another member of the Hero Party, had been aiding in the destruction. Furthermore, Anneri and Derrick had been caught by Wil and Rain-san while attempting to attack the Guild.
Because of this, every member of the Hero Party except for Philly was currently in custody. She had vanished immediately after the battle. That was the extent of what I knew regarding their status, though I expected to learn more soon.
Second, there was the Stampede—the phenomenon where a massive number of Magic Beasts surged to the surface. It had occurred simultaneously at all five Labyrinths surrounding Tsutrail.
Stampedes were incredibly rare. Even with so many Labyrinths in the kingdom, a Stampede only happened once every few years at most. For five to erupt at the same time was statistically impossible. The cause was still under investigation.
We only managed to handle the Stampede because Selma-san’s Ability allowed us to react before it was too late. While the area near the West Gate took some damage, the other districts successfully repelled the monsters, keeping the city's overall casualties to a minimum. Given the scale of the disaster, the outcome was actually quite a miracle.
◇
As I finished my mental summary, the carriage came to a halt. The door opened shortly after.
"Master Orun, we have arrived."
An elderly man in a tailcoat greeted me.
"Thank you, Philip-san."
Philip-san was the Chief Butler of the Marquis Forgas House.
I stepped out of the carriage and looked up at the massive mansion. It had been a few months since I’d last been here, but it was as imposing as ever.
I was at the estate of Marquis Forgas. A messenger had arrived yesterday, requesting my presence today. Philip-san led me inside, but instead of the Marquis's usual office, I was brought to a lavish reception room reserved for high-ranking nobles.
"Yo, Orun! Been a week, hasn't it?"
The first voice I heard belonged to Haruto-san of the Copper Afterglow. He was sprawled out on a sofa as if he owned the place. He certainly had a lot of nerve.
"So, you are Orun-kun. Firstly, allow me to thank you. You saved this city."
Marquis Forgas stood up and bowed his head to me.
The prideful Marquis Forgas is bowing? To me?
I struggled to process the sight. And what did he mean, "So you are Orun-kun"? He spoke as if we were meeting for the first time.
"...It has been a long time, Lord Forgas. You too, Haruto-san."
"Ah, I suppose you were a member of the Hero Party, weren't you? Have we met before?"
"Lord Forgas, you're just going to confuse him," Haruto-san interjected. "Orun, the man’s got amnesia. He’s lost the last ten years of his life. Basically, he has no idea who you are."
"............What?"
I couldn't help the dumbfounded sound that escaped my throat. Amnesia? Ten years' worth of memories, gone?
"So it would seem," the Marquis said. "Now that the initial recovery efforts have stabilized, I wanted to speak with both of you. Orun-kun, please, have a seat."
Still reeling from Haruto-san's bombshell, I sat down next to him.
"Now then, Haruto-kun, won't you tell me? I want to know the truth of the incident that I caused."
The Marquis caused it? Was he the one behind everything?
"Right. I’ll tell you what I can. To be honest, I don't know if Lord Forgas technically caused it, but based on what Luna told me, the blame lies with you."
I was taken aback by Haruto-san’s blunt tone, but the Marquis didn't seem to mind.
"Things are a bit tangled," Haruto-san continued, "but Lord Forgas's amnesia was caused by Philly Carpenter. Her Ability is [Perception Alteration]. She can rewrite memories. My guess is she’s been using it on the Marquis repeatedly over the last ten years."
[Perception Alteration]...
Just the name sounded terrifying. But if such a power existed, it explained the strange behavior I’d noticed from the Hero Party lately. It was only natural to assume she was behind their changes too. If Haruto-san’s theory was correct.
"The Marquis probably knew too much about something over the last decade. She likely wiped his memory so she could discard him. Whether he’s still alive because of her whim or some other plan, I couldn't say."
I’d always wondered how a complete unknown like Philly Carpenter had secured a spot in the Hero Party. If she had the Marquis under her thumb, it made perfect sense.
"And," Haruto-san added, "I believe Oliver's rampage was triggered by Lord Forgas because he feared Philly was about to get rid of him. As for how he did it, I can't say—there’s a chance someone might try the same trick again."
"So you're saying Oliver's actions were based on Lord Forgas's orders?" I asked.
"No, not exactly. The Marquis gains nothing from the city being destroyed. He likely meant to point Oliver at Philly. A rampaging Oliver is in a league of his own. Orun, you probably know that better than anyone."
"...I do. His strength was abnormal."
I’d used a Septuple Buff and fought with everything I had, even while trying not to kill him, but I’d still lost.
"I see," the Marquis murmured. "So while I didn't intend for the city to be ruined, I was the one who pulled the trigger."
"That's about the size of it. And sorry to pile on more bad news, but the Stampede can also be traced back to Oliver’s rampage."
"How so?"
"That was Philly again. She’s a busy bee. Oliver’s rampage likely messed up her original plans, so she triggered the Stampede to compensate. I don't know the specifics of her plan or how a Stampede helps her fix it, but she was definitely the one pulling the strings."
I’d suspected the Stampede was man-made, but hearing it confirmed was chilling. Controlling Magic Beasts... was that an application of [Perception Alteration] too?
"Haruto-san, who exactly is she?"
"She’s an Executive of the Cyclamen Cult. Not just a member, but a high-ranking official."
"—!?"
The Cyclamen Cult was one of the two most dangerous criminal organizations in the world. And she was an Executive?
"To think I was so close with such a person..." the Marquis said, his voice trembling. "Then it really is my fault..."
"Keep in mind this is mostly speculation," Haruto-san said. "I can't prove it’s the absolute truth, though I’m fairly certain I’m on the mark."
Silence fell over the room. Haruto-san looked like a man who had said his piece, while the Marquis sat with his eyes closed, lost in thought. Finally, he spoke.
"Haruto-kun, thank you for the truth. It seems I must atone. I will take responsibility and step down as the Lord of this city."
Resignation. It was a logical way to take responsibility, I suppose.
However, I couldn't let that stand.
"Is stepping down really how you atone?" I asked.
The Marquis looked at me. "Yes. Even if Haruto-kun's story became public, I likely wouldn't be legally punished. That is why I must choose to leave."
"It’s true that Haruto-san's story could be considered a delusion. There’s no physical evidence."
Haruto-san gave me a look that said Hey..., but I ignored him and stared straight at the Marquis.
"Without evidence, you won't be punished. And yes, resigning is one way to take responsibility. But I don't think that counts as atonement."
Emotions were boiling over inside me.
"If you truly want to atone, then cling to that seat and work yourself to the bone for the people who suffered. Isn't your real duty to rebuild this city as fast as possible and protect the people who rely on you?"
I knew I had no right to lecture a noble. But the words wouldn't stop.
"If Haruto-san is right, I can never truly forgive you. You made Oliver suffer and hurt so many innocent people. But if you feel genuine guilt, and your desire to atone is real... then don't run away."
Silence returned to the room.
"............I see. So my choice was merely an escape," the Marquis whispered.
"I apologize for my insolence," I said, lowering my gaze.
"No, you're right. I don't think I had truly faced my sins yet. Because I have no memory of them, I was treating them like someone else’s problem."
"Can't blame you for that," Haruto-san chimed in. "I said a lot of things, but the real villain is Philly Carpenter. You're a victim too, in a way. Personally, I don't care if you stay or go, but you seem like the type to give us a better deal now, so it’s probably better for me if you stay in power."
Haruto-san spoke with a grin, clearly trying to lighten the Marquis's burden of guilt.
"Thank you, both of you. I swear here and now: I will make this city the finest in the world."
"I’ll hold you to that. I like the vibe here. If it gets even better, I won’t have any complaints."
◇
"Lord Forgas, may I ask one more thing?"
Now that the atmosphere had improved, I decided to ask the question I’d had since I arrived.
"What is it?"
"Why was I called here? Was it just to hear Haruto-san’s story?"
I didn't quite get it. Hearing the truth was a huge step forward for my investigation, but it didn't feel like the only reason.
"Yes, that was part of it. Currently, the public is calling you a 'Great Hero' for stopping Oliver-kun and clearing the South Gate. As the greatest contributor to our survival, I felt you had a right to the truth."
The newspapers had indeed been calling me a "Great Hero." It felt strange, considering there was already a famous Explorer with that title in the Empire.
"I see. And the other reason?"
"Unofficially, I want to grant you a wish. I’ve turned your only childhood friend into a criminal, yet you still cleaned up my mess. If it is within my power, I will grant whatever you ask. Do you have a request?"
A request... This was perfect timing. I’d planned to negotiate with him eventually anyway.
"Thank you for your generosity. In that case, I do have one request—"
I told the Marquis what I wanted. Even if he’d said no, I had a plan to achieve it on my own, but having his official backing would save me an immense amount of time and effort.
"......I see," the Marquis murmured, his expression turning solemn.
"I have gathered all the evidence regarding the kidnapping," I added. "Is it too difficult?"
"......I think you understand that 'he' is a difficult case. However, a deal has already been struck regarding him under different conditions, so he won't face the death penalty. You can rest easy on that. As for the others involved, I promise to pull the necessary strings immediately."
That was to be expected. I knew I couldn't resolve the situation with that specific person immediately. Just knowing he wouldn't be executed was enough for now.
"I understand. Then, I leave it in your hands."
"Very well. Let’s hammer out the specifics."
◇
"—Then, I look forward to your assistance."
We spent some time ironed out the details. I was satisfied with the final agreement.
Through the meeting, I realized once again how capable the Marquis was. Despite his ten-year gap, he never missed a beat during our negotiations. I was genuinely impressed by the sheer competence required to govern a metropolis built around a Great Labyrinth. With his intellect and authority, he could have easily committed a perfect crime.
I couldn't forgive what he’d done to Oliver, but I felt the city was in good hands. Of course, if he ever threatened what I held dear again, I wouldn't hesitate to take him down.
"Umu. Leave it to me. I apologize for keeping you both so long. I look forward to your future exploits as Explorers."
◇
I left the mansion with Haruto-san and boarded the Forgas family carriage.
"Hey, Orun. Can I ask you something?" Haruto-san asked, sitting across from me.
"Sure. What is it?"
"How did you actually catch Oliver? I wasn't watching the whole time, but when I saw you two, you were definitely on the ropes."
Haruto-san was looking at me with a rare, deadly serious expression.
"...You might not believe me, but I don't really remember."
"..."
"When I came to, he was already neutralized."
"...I see."
It was a terrible answer, yet Haruto-san didn't push. I was grateful, but I wondered why he let it go so easily.
"Then, one more thing."
"Yes?"
"Are you going to stay an Explorer with the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky?"
I blinked. Why was he asking that? Was he trying to scout me?
"I’m an Executive there. I can't just quit. Besides, even putting that aside, I like my Clan. I have no intention of leaving."
"...Right."
Haruto-san fell silent after that. I didn't get the point of his question, but he seemed satisfied.
Now, it was my turn.
"Haruto-san, I have a favor to ask you."
"A favor? From me?" He looked genuinely surprised.
"Yes. From you."
"...Depends on what it is. What do you want?"
"I want you to teach me everything you know about that 'Ki' you mentioned once before."