shining

As the three of them start rebuilding the tower, Shining glances over at the owner of the house.

He is seated by the window, longsword still in hand.

Meanwhile, his child is sitting with the two women, pushing some of the fallen blocks in front of Nightingale before continuing to stack them up.

One more... to go... And, done!

We can start playing the game now!

The rules are really easy. First, you roll the dice, then you pull out the same number of blocks from the tower and stack them on top. Whoever knocks it over loses!

Let's roll the dice to see who goes first.

The die bounces several times under their gaze before coming to a decision.

I'm going first then?

Yup!

Nightingale picks up the die and lets it roll off her palm.

She can't muster much strength, but it's okay since this is the first block.

You're up next, nice lady in black.

Shining takes the die next and casts it.

She takes note of the number, and turns to the wooden tower.

While removing a block isn't inherently difficult, the tower will naturally start falling apart as the game progresses.

Past choices and occurrences accumulate, stacking up layer by layer, and applying ever more pressure on the future.

A sensation she finds disagreeable.

But rules are rules, and she must abide by them.

And so, another block is stacked on top.

Phew... How are you feeling, Liz?

Mm... No issues here...

We're already quite far from the lab. It's not likely that they'd catch up to us at this point.

We still have a long way to go. Let's get some rest and have a bite to eat.

I'm not hungry yet...

Shining opens her bag and finds she has only one piece of fruit left.

We only have a bit of dry food left. Can you eat the fruit first?

There should be a village just across the bridge where I can buy us some food.

Here, go ahead and eat. I've peeled it for you.

Thank you...

As soon as they step into the village, they are surrounded by a constant chorus of surprised murmurs, as if they were beasts that had broken loose.

But Shining doesn't care about that. The Victorians won't see them again after they're done buying food.

Hello, can I help you...

D-Devils?!

Good day. I'd like to purchase some bread.

Away with you! I don't do business with devils!

Just name your price. I'll pay.

Hah. If I accepted your money, who'd still eat my bread?

Now scram. There are customers behind you.

My apologies.

Shining's hand presses into the hilt of her sword.

The morning light flashes by.

*sigh*...

Eeeek!

M-Murderer!

Wait—

Shining had long since noticed the Confessarius guards tailing her, so she had deliberately been avoiding crowded places to keep a low profile.

But as the bread stall owner runs towards the crowd, yelling and shrieking, more and more people start to gather.

'That devil's a murderer!'

'Someone get the police!'

'Isn't the village chief's son a caster? Hurry and get him over here!'

She only wanted to buy some food to fill her stomach, but she has no choice but to hastily flee the village in the end.

Her companion can only clutch fearfully at her robe, trembling uncontrollably.

And even further behind them, screams and curses continue for a long while.

Shining?

Hmm?

When she focuses on the present again, the three of them had already been playing together for quite some time.

Several of the wooden tower levels are supported by only a single block, yet the rickety tower somehow still maintains an uneasy equilibrium.

It won't be long until a winner is decided.

Is there anything I can help you with?

I think... I can do this.

The block she grabs is wedged so tightly that all blocks above it wobble every time Nightingale tries to move it.

Nightingale and the child continue staring intently at the block, neither noticing that Shining and the owner of the house have stood up at the same time.

I think I left my wallet outside.

You...

Would you mind keeping an eye on my friend? I'll be right back.

What's wrong?

It's nothing. Let's continue.

She tries again and again, hoping that the tower's center of gravity might change.

But the pressure exerted on that single block of wood does not let up.

What would Shining do? She ponders.

She remembers that Shining would draw out the blocks faster than the eye can see, without giving the tower even a chance to wobble.

She prepares to give it a try.

You can do it!

Mhm.

Nightingale takes a deep breath, grabs the wooden block, and forcefully pulls—

The morning light outside the window disappears in an instant as the tower collapses.

Yay! I win!

For whatever reason, the young girl takes Nightingale's hand and starts dancing around, as if they had both won the game.

Her pure, genuine emotions send a ripple through Nightingale's stony heart.

You're back.

I saw everything. One flick of your sword, and...

Are you two on the run too?

Shining looks out the window. The rain gradually subsides, and the deepening darkness serves well to conceal the corpses.

Eight Confessarius guards, and six assassins of unknown origin. Two different groups had arrived at the same doorstep.

So, the other group of six—

Came to kill my child.

Is that why you were willing to shelter us from the rain?

It's because... you're Sarkaz.

It was a race against time. And the guard I hired hasn't gotten here yet.

You two are Sarkaz, and I know for a fact that that hoity-toity noble would never deign to hire one.

You seemed capable, so I decided to hedge my bets. But I never thought you'd...

It's fine. I understand.

In any case, you've done me a huge favor. If you're in no hurry to leave, feel free to stay the night.

Thank you, sir. We truly appreciate your kind offer, but unfortunately time is not on our side either.

One sec.

It'll be tough for you to buy food along the way, right? Here, I have some bread and jerky.

This is... Thank you very much, sir.

I should be thanking <i>you</i>, Sarkaz.

I haven't seen my daughter having this much fun with others in a long, long time.