Published at 1st of September 2019 8:09 pm

[ Day Five ]

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

I didn't do any oversleeping today, and managed to get up at the usual time. Maybe getting to bed early last night had worked out.

I left Efi with an instruction to search the mansion for the bluebird again. As for myself, I wandered the town as always.

I'd heard that the bluebird would appear before townspeople - even the gloomy ones. And since those people found the mansion too eerie to approach, that indicated these meetings had to be outside the mansion.

So there was a need to search out here too, and a decent likelihood of finding her. ...But likelihood alone doesn't mean anything. Assuming that "only appearing once a week" was true, my investigation was rendered fundamentally useless...

"Sure feels like a standstill..."

Truthfully, having not personally met the bluebird, I felt like I was making no progress. Maybe it'd be better to search with Efi in the mansion?

Just then, I saw a huge shadow from overhead.

"Hm?"

Something was flying in the sky. It was no bird.

It looked like a person with wings growing from their back, but it was not the bluebird. It had a familiar face, so I knew I couldn't be mistaken.

While I pondered, the flying man noticed me, and gradually descended down to the ground.

No, that's fine. You can stay up there.

"...It's been a few months."

Despite my plea, the man gracefully touched down in front of me and started talking.

He had blue hair with bits of white in it, and two hair pins in different colors. Over his right eye was a black eyepatch. And he had a stupidly huge build. He was a dragon, captain of a police force, named Neil.

"What brings the captain of the force way out here? Sightseeing?"

"No," Neil shrugged, smiling bitterly. "As you can see, I'm on duty."

Me and the captain here had a familiarity with each other since I was little. His force was an organization that set out to investigate and resolve cases all around the country. I always had a slight habit of getting tangled up in such cases, so he was a man I happened to meet often.

"What name are you using nowadays?"

"Al."

And he could, of course, read me rather easily. So there was no need to cover up my normal attitude.

"Al, I see. If you're here, that's better proof than any something is afoot in town."

"That's a bit heartless, captain..."

Then again, I felt the same way. The police being sent out here told me that yes, something was afoot.

But was it the work of humans, or otherwise? It'd be good to get some more information out of the captain.

"Hm? Whoa!"

Suddenly, a black mist of sorts came up from my feet, and I quickly stepped away. Sensing danger, I took out the knife hidden on my waist and pointed it at the mist.

"Ah, sorry. Seems that startled you. This black shadow is my subordinate, so drop the wariness," Neil told me admonishingly.

Shadow? Subordinate? Any subordinate of Neil's would be a dragon, I supposed.

Well, but also, surely something like this could only be produced by a dragon.

The hazy black mist came together in one spot to become a single cluster. From that cluster emerged a young man characterized by pink hair and a sharp glare. He looked so young, it made me question him being Neil's "subordinate," but given the uniform, it seemed to be the truth.

"Captain, I've been investigating, and I believe it's more or less as you've supposed."

"I see. Good work."

As Neil complimented the young man's work ethic, he noticed and turned his gaze to me. Or his glare, rather.

"...What?" Why would you glare at me at our very first meeting? This guy has no social skills.

"Captain, who's this... person?"

The young man ignored me and questioned Neil. Huh, did he dislike me? Couldn't imagine why.

"He's Al. And Al, this is Brett. He's still an apprentice, but he's very capable." Neil slapped Brett's shoulder and pointed toward me.

Despite the introduction, Brett continued to glare at me unabated, not opening his mouth.

"...Sorry. He's a little shy. Forgive him for that," Neil apologized, smiling wryly.

I felt this might be stepping over the line of "shy"... And well, more importantly, this Brett guy seemed awfully young to imagine him being with the police.

"Is the force taking on the duty of looking after little brats?"

"How dare you speak like that to the captain?! I'll drag you out into the city and tear you limb from limb!"

That's the first thing you're gonna say to me? Definitely not what you wanna hear from somebody dedicated to protecting peace, either...

"Brett, you're being rude. Sorry if he's upsetting you, Al. He's not great at controlling his power yet either, so don't get him too stimulated."

"Hey, I'm not doing anything."

"I can smell the crime coming off this man!"

Talk about relentless. Granted, that was a spot-on judgement call.

"That may be an accurate intuition, but you need conclusive evidence to pin someone as a criminal. Until we can do that, he's to be treated as a common citizen for us to protect."

...Was he actually saying that to defend me or not? Feels like he's practically saying the answer.

"What was that black mist about?", I interjected to change the topic. Brett refused to speak to me as usual, so Neil answered for him.

"We call him a shadow dragon. Like you just saw, he can assume the form of a shadow and pass through solid objects. And that ability can be used not only on himself, but on other objects."

"Handy ability."

I tried offering a casual compliment, but Brett had no reaction. Made me feel awkward being here.

"...Say, captain, what'd you come to this town for?", I pressed, since that was the top thing on my mind. "I've only been here a few days myself, but it must be a serious case if you're coming in person."

All over this country, there are incidents day after day, big and small. The force had plenty of members they could split up and assign to them all.

Of those, it was mostly murder cases and big disputes that Captain Neil came out in person for. Or... cases that had to do with dragons.

"Right... We received a request from someone in town. Many of the citizens here seem troubled by some rather mysterious phenomena."

"Mysterious phenomena?"

"Seeing people who should be dead, seeing things that shouldn't be there. Even being attacked by giant bugs, I heard."

...That's rough.

The gloomy residents had told me about seeing ghosts and all that, but if the phenomena were that unrealistic, I began to wonder if some shady drug was spreading around.

"And these phenomena got you to come out here, huh?"

"That's right. There's a force we believe could be causing these mysterious events covering the entire town. The townspeople have no idea as to the origin of or reason behind this massive force. We can't deny a link to criminal organizations or acts of terrorism, so we decided to head over."

A force covering the entire town?

This town was significantly bigger than your average town, and that much more populous. If there really was some force looming over it, causing all these strange occurrences... Maybe the gloomy residents, and the mutual belief that the other residents are monsters, could be due to that force's influence.

Neil seemed about to continue, but Brett interrupted with displeasure. "Captain, should you really be divulging our intel to this man?"

"Is there a problem? All I'm saying is to take caution."

"You're giving far too many details for that. He should be plenty cautious already. Time is of the essence. Let's return to our investigation."

Despite being an apprentice, he was already talking like he was on Neil's level. Then again, the power and age of dragons didn't always show in their appearance, so maybe they really were on equal footing.

"Sorry, we should get back to work. Try to keep your distance from any citizens seeing such phenomena if possible, and don't interfere."

"Got it. Oh, right, there's one last thing I want to ask..."

"Captain!"

I called to stop Neil, but Brett shouted to get his attention. The shadow around him swayed like a flame. Maybe he was angry.

"Don't worry, it'll be quick."

If I could just ask him this, it could put a lot of pieces together. So I absolutely wanted to ask it here and now.

"What is it?", Neil responded. Brett gave a sour look and retreated a few steps.

Aha. I could quickly get the info out of Neil with some coercion, but this Brett guy was pretty stubborn. Maybe he'd prove to be a powerful foe.

"About that force covering the town..."

"...I see. Thank you. I just wanted to know."

I turned and decided to leave this place. 'Cause I felt like Brett's displeasure gauge was going to max out soon enough.

"Why are you in such a foul mood, anyway?"

I had that sudden thought, and twisted my torso around to say it to Brett.

He stubbornly refused to talk, so I asked again. "We've never met before. So what's the reason for it? If I don't even know why I'm pissing you off so much, I'm not gonna be able to help it."

Maybe it was like tossing a match into oil. But contrary to what I expected, Brett slowly answered while averting his eyes.

"...I don't know either. But when I see that scar on your cheek, I get irritated all of a sudden. That's all."

...What an irrational reason.

I'd lowered the scarf covering my mouth to talk to Neil, so the scar on my cheek was visible. But it'd been dealt to me ages ago for reasons which surely had nothing to do with Brett.

Observing the silence between us, Neil mumbled something.

"Did you get that wound... back when you were in that organization?"

"Yeah. Just when I was all glad to be saying goodbye to it."

"Hmm..." Neil went into pondering. "Dragons generally don't share memories or feelings with their master. But there are rare instances. Maybe Brett is one of them."

"What do you mean?", Brett asked with deep interest.

"You see, he used to..."

"Quit it. You're gonna put me in a bad mood."

"Ah," Neil responded.

Me being in that organization was something long over with, but the fact was, it still wasn't over. I didn't care for the past, 'cause I had a habit of remembering everything I didn't want to remember.

...But, huh. Dragons influenced by their masters aren't common? If you compared me and Efi, yeah, you'd get that impression. It's not like how a human kid can have a parent's face.

"...Well, 'scuse me. I'll see ya."

I decided there wasn't any more information to extract and got out of there quick.

Neil gave me a goodbye, but Brett said nothing, as grumpy as ever. Shortly afterward, I heard what sounded like a "tch."

*

"Oh!"

I heard a voice singing. It was quiet, but pretty.

"Is it the singer lady?"

I thought I met her in the entrance hall earlier, so did she move?

Well, it was the song she sang, so I figured it was her. It seemed like it was coming over from the big garden.

"Miss singer! ...Huh?"

I got to the garden, but the songstress wasn't there. Instead, there was the bluebird, sitting on a fence and singing.

"Hey, Efi. Good day."

She noticed me and hopped down off the fence. Just then, the song stopped, so I guess she was the one I heard?

"Was that you singing, miss bluebird?"

"Yeah, that's right. Mischa taught me."

I knew it. 'Cause it was the song the lady was singing.

"Are you old friends with miss singer?"

"Hmm. I mean, I've been with her since I was born... but that's only a year and some change. So not old friends."

A year and some change? I looked miss bluebird's body over. She was a little shorter than me. Do people get this big in a year?

Then again, yeah, she was a bird. And Al did say that there were a bunch of different kinds of "people" now.

"I know Mischa and Phil really well. Even their past. Curious?"

"Do you really? Yeah, I am!"

"Then again, you broke your promise with me. So I wonder..."

Oop. Right, she told me to keep her a secret. But then I went and told Al about her.

"Sorry, miss bluebird...", I mumbled shamefully. I was a bad kid for breaking that promise.

"Nah, I'm not bothered. I pretty much just say that as a greeting, it's not even that important."

"Really?"

"Really."

Miss bluebird didn't look fazed at all, so I guess she really didn't mind. Well, then I could not mind it too, I guess?

"Err... Mischa and Phil's past, right. I can only tell you what I know, though."

"Who did you hear it from?"

"From Mischa and Phil, of course."

Huh? She heard about "the past" from miss songstress and mister butler?

"...But miss singer doesn't remember things, does she?"

That's what the butler said yesterday. After three days, her memories before that went away. So she couldn't talk about the past, right?

"True, Mischa has an illness that impairs her memory. But as I think you've heard, she doesn't forget everything. If it's something important in her past, she seems to remember it."

Oh yeah. Mister butler did say that too. She'd remember her name and family and important stuff like that.

"Mischa has memories of her past, just vague ones. Like a park bench she always sat on. That must've been an important place to her. But she can't seem to remember what she did there at all."

"Maybe she sat on the bench and sang?"

"Who knows," the bluebird muttered, looking off into the distance.

"Every morning Mischa loses her memory, you know what Phil does? He wakes Mischa up, then says "nice to meet you.""

"...But he's not just meeting her?"

I mean, Phil remembers. Why would he say "nice to meet you"?

"Probably because it'd confuse Mischa. She forgets about Phil, so he wouldn't want to say "so, we meet again" or anything."

"Hmm..."

This seems kinda weird. She doesn't forget her songs or her name. But she forgets about mister butler...?

"What's up?"

"Even though mister butler has been with her so long...?"

I, too, was only just born and some change, but Al was important to me.

Was mister butler who she'd been with all her life not important to her?

"Yeah. But I think it's just something you gotta accept. It's like a curse, you can't fight it."

"Even though miss singer is such a wonderful person..."

"Doesn't matter. Curses and blessings are handed out equally to everybody."

Who knew equality was so awful... What do you say at a time like this? I guess, yeah, it's gotta be...

"I feel bad for her..."

"Yep. Both the cursed people and the blessed ones. Mischa and Phil are both pitiable people. And I'm sure I'm pitiable too for lending a hand to them."

"Huh?" What did she mean by that?

"Haha, I guess you shouldn't be calling yourself pitiable. That's a call for other people to make."

Then miss bluebird yawned and did a stretch.

"Ahh, I'm tired again today. I get tired easily."

"Why's that?"

"Hmm. Maybe I just get too enthusiastic. I probably don't have to work this hard, but I gotta realize it's for Phil."

"For mister butler?"

She rubbed her sleepy eyes and answered. "Yeah. 'Cause Phil's a precious friend of mine."

"Hmm, I see!"

Miss bluebird was putting in a ton of effort for her friend. I wanted to try harder and harder too. And get bigger!

"Mmm... Can't stay up much longer. Night, Efi."

"Good night, miss bluebird!", I waved as she flapped her wings and rose into the air.

Dizzy and staggering, she flew over to the other side of the fence.

"Welcome back, Al!"

I laid in wait in the entrance hall, and when Al got back in the evening like usual, welcomed him back with a shout.

Just like the bluebird, Al was always stumbling around when he got back lately.

"Al, are you tired?"

"Yeah, sure am. Well, but this should be over soon. Back to the room."

Al tugged on my arm and quickly dragged me along. I didn't have any time to talk, and desperately kept from being left behind.

"...Oh, am I walking a little fast?"

"Nope!", I answered. But Al slowed down his pace a little bit for me.

In the room, Al took off his jacket and sat on the bed as always. I climbed up next to Al and sat.

"I was able to talk with an acquaintance today. Got to hear about this town, and about the bluebird. And there's a lot I've figured out now. We'll settle this tomorrow."

"Al, do you have any friends?"

Al twitched slightly.

"...Don't have any."

"Hmm..." I wasn't sure what response to give, so I just went with that. Maybe Al was a "pitiable person" too...

"...What's that response supposed to be? Whatever... Anyway, let's sum up the story so far. First, Mischa. I'm sure you heard this, but she loses her memory every three days."

"But she remembers important things, yeah!"

"Right. And there's a guy who lamented Mischa's illness and wanted to help her."

"Mister butler?"

"You're on fire today. Exactly right. So one day, Phil got the ability to help Mischa. And that had some major influence and damages elsewhere."

"Damages?"

"Just... bad stuff, in general."

In other words, mister butler was trying to help the sick Mischa, but it did something big and bad to this town...?

"Well, why's that?"

"What Phil got was the power of a dragon. I mean, dragon powers are sorta beyond human understanding. Not all that surprising if they could affect a whole town. Anyway, that power starting to influence the town coincides with someone appearing to Phil - the bluebird, who you met. That makes it highly likely the bluebird is a dragon."

"But when I asked miss bluebird "Are you a dragon?", she said "I'm the bluebird." And no lie monster appeared."

Al's face scrunched a little when I reminded him that.

"Yeah, that's right... That's the one thing I think I'll have to ask the bluebird about directly. Heck, we might not be able to get any further until I do."

"Well, miss bluebird was in the garden today, and the day before, so I feel like she'll be there again tomorrow. Maybe you can talk?"

"I see... So not once a week at all, it seems. Okay, I'll talk to her tomorrow. To see if she's a dragon or not, and if Phil is her parent or not."

If Phil's the bluebird's papa...?

"Today, miss bluebird said Phil was a precious friend."

"And did any lie come out?"

"Nope, nothing!"

"I see..."

Al folded his arms and got quiet. Seemed like he was worrying about stuff again. After a while, he let out a big sigh and fell back on the bed.

"Let's stop here for tonight and sleep. Okay, good night."

Al closed his eyes, but I poked him in the belly.

"Wait! One more, just one more!"

There was something I was kind of curious about still. Al looked sort of displeased, but sat up to look at me.

"Still need something?"

"Um, about miss bluebird's power? Is it the same as mine? Can she eat lies too?"

"No, the bluebird... ahh, I'm tired. Tomorrow."

Then Al's head dove into the pillow.

It was something I was really curious about, so I tried shaking him a little, and pinching his cheek, but he flicked my forehead back, so I obediently went to my bed.

Tomorrow, we'd end it. Once it ended, we'd leave the town.

This was how it always was. The time before, and the time before that. Once it ended, we'd leave town and it was over.

Ends are kind of sad things, huh. My heart ached a little, but I closed my eyes and got to sleep.

Share