Almark – Northern Sword, Southern Wand

Until the grandmother's house, which lives in the house on the hill, Chennis continues as usual.

Carry water or take care of your surroundings for a lonely old lady with bad feet.

It's her job, as my mother told me.

Chennis always went to his grandmother's house every other day.

Today, my brother Phil got caught up in a mess in the morning, so I got out late when I was dealing with him.

Grandma, you'll be waiting.

"Grandma"

Hahahaha, I held my breath and opened the door, and there was no sign of my grandmother in the dark house.

Instead, there's one boy.

The age is the same as Chennis, about one below. is sitting uncomfortably in front of a fireplace filled with fire.

"Who are you?

Chennis asked.

I can't help but be alert to my voice. Because he was a boy I'd never seen before.

"What happened to your grandmother?

The boy shakes his head in trouble.

"Grandma's gone."

"Why?"

"Who are you?

On the contrary, they ask questions.

The boy is staring at Chennis' face. It's creepy.

"Who are you?"

That's what Chennis said, and he stepped back.

"I..."

The moment the boy said it, the fireplace firewood burst out in a loud noise.

It was the limit.

Chennis turned his back and ran out at a glance.

I wonder where my grandmother went. Who the hell is that boy?

While I was running, my vision seeped with tears.

I'm scared.

I'm scared.

Mother.

When I got home, my mother greeted me gently with chess as usual.

"What's wrong, Chennis? You're in such a hurry."

"Mother, at Grandma's house on the hill."

Chennis breathed and looked up at her mother and said.

"There was a boy I didn't know instead of an old lady."

Oh.

My mother keeps an eye on me.

"I wonder who. I've never heard of that grandmother."

"But he was a weird kid. I ran into the fireplace on my own without my grandmother."

It's been cold lately.

Chennis heard her mother's blunt words and strengthened her tone.

"That's funny, that kid. No matter who I asked, I didn't answer. On the contrary, you've asked me who you are."

"Yes."

Mother raises her eyebrows in trouble.

"But what should we do? She can't go to that house, so I can't go see her."

That's right. Mother can't go to that house.

"I'm in trouble...."

Chennis said to block her mother's words.

"I'll go again. Go and ask her where she is."

"Don't be too indifferent."

Mother only looks worried.

"It's okay. I'm only dealing with one boy, and if it's dangerous, I'll run away again soon."

That's what left Chennis out of the house again.

She breathed up to her grandmother's house on the hill.

Will that boy still be there?

The door that was supposed to pop out with it open just now is closed.

That means that boy must still be inside.

Chennis opened the door with all his heart.

The sunlight plunges into the dark room.

There's nobody here.

"... Grandma"

I'll call inside.

It's not a big house. I know somehow without making sure that there are no signs of people.

Still, Chennis called.

"Grandma, are you gone? Grandma, it's me. It's Chennis."

"Grandma's gone."

Suddenly a voice was heard from behind, and Chennis literally jumped up.

Hih

It was a boy just now.

I have some firewood in my hand.

I use my grandmother's firewood on my own.

Along with the surprise, the anger rises in the heart of Chennis.

"Who are you?!

Chennis screamed.

"Where did you send your grandmother? What are you doing here?"

As before, the boy slips through the side of the chess with a slightly troubled face and enters the room.

"Don't get in on your own. This is my grandmother's house."

Chennis was really angry with a boy who behaved as if he were his own.

"Get out. Where did you send your grandmother?"

Regardless of the words, the boy slowly turned his face to chess after giving him some firewood.

She had an unmistakable look on her face.

Grandma's not here.

The boy said.

"I'm sure he passed away a few days ago. I looked around the back of the house and found out. From the way it collapsed, there must have been a monster. It will rarely come out around here. I was unlucky."

Huh? Huh?

- What? - What?

What is this boy talking about?

I couldn't understand what the boy was saying to Chennis.

"What are you talking about? I just met my grandmother the other day."

Listening to that, the boy expresses himself in an unspeakable way again.

"There's no way. You know how rough this house is."

The boy spread his hands.

That's when I first noticed Chennis.

Everywhere in the house is broken.

There is dust piling up on the floor.

The fireplace in front of the boy has a fire, but cracks everywhere.

"What is this?"

Chennis backed down.

I don't understand the meaning.

What's going on?

I mean, the day before yesterday I was with my grandmother.

I couldn't understand why, so Chennis turned around and ran away.

I'm scared.

I'm afraid of that boy.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Mother.

Mother.

Help me, Mother.

But Chennis stops on the way.

I don't know the way home.

It's the way I always go.

There shouldn't be such a divergence.

I don't know which way to go.

In the middle of the night, Chennis kept walking, and when he noticed, he was again in front of his grandmother's house.

"You're back."

The boy waited in front of the house.

"... I can't go home anymore"

The boy expresses that expression again in Chennis' words.

"I happened to pass along on my journey. This....."

The boy hesitated a little.

To the abandoned house.

"Abandoned house....."

"I thought it was better than Nojuku. After spending the night, I was gonna leave."

The boy saw chess.

And then I met you.

That's how I turn my eyes away from Chennis.

"You too....."

The boy hesitated a little again.

"Did you get killed here too?"

He's been killed.

The moment I heard the words.

The memories of that day came back to life behind Chennis's head.

Yeah, that's right.

I rubbed a little with my brother Phil and got out of the house late.

Running all the way up here, opening the door, my grandmother.

My grandmother.

"Yes, me."

Chennis murmured.

"They killed me here. To the furry monster. With my grandmother."

Naturally, tears spilled.

"I'm dead. Here."

A boy is staring at chess.

Chennis finally understood the meaning of the expression.

That's the look on the mourner's face.

"Tomorrow, I was leaving."

The boy said as he watched the tears of Chennis.

"But I met you."

There was dark light in the boy's eyes.

"In the terrain around here, where the monsters seem to live, there are mostly eye stars."

Soon the boy was holding a sword in his sheath in his hand.

A very long sword, like that used by adults, that is grossly out of proportion to the height of a boy.

I'll take down the monster that killed you and your grandmother.

The boy seemed to be talking indifferently, trying not to get emotional.

"I'm sorry. That's all I can do."

The boy lowered his head to Chennis.

"Sorry."

Chennis stood up in silence in front of the boy. Tears overflowed without stopping.

I was surprised that someone called me.

A gentle voice.

It's your mother's voice.

Oh, I see.

Chennis understood.

I realized I was dead, so I can't stay here anymore.

We have to get to where we need to go.

A boy is watching chess. With a spicy expression.

Hey.

Chennis told the boy. Tears were no longer flowing.

"Tell me your name. And...."

Chennis felt his body wrapped in light. Very warm light.

"I want to see your smile."

Not that sad, spicy look.

I'm sure you'd be a very nice, cool boy if you laughed.

"... Almark"

The boy said.

My name is Al Mark.

The boy laughed at me. It was a tearful expression that I couldn't help but make.

"I'm Chennis."

Chennis said.

"Thank you, Almark. Thank you for mourning me."

And Chennis disappeared into the light.

When Almark scratched the fire pit, he put on a cloak.

How many more times do I have to think like this?

How many more times do I have to eat my teeth?

Can I get there? [M]

To Nork Magic Academy.

Far away.

The south is too far.

However, Almark, who left the abandoned house carrying his sword, already looked like a warrior.