The Traveling Hero Won’t Let the Innkeeper’s Son Escape

"Ruth, where's Ruth?!

In a pure white world, look for the person you want to meet most often while calling for their name.

From where Alec stands now, he can only see white spaces that run all the way. There were no mountains or skies in the distance.

"Where are we...? Were you in a weird space again on your journey?

It was common for Alec and the others to be taken to strange spaces, dropped, or taken from themselves on their journey. In the early days, I was surprised by the sudden change of location, but when I found out that it was the result of technology a thousand years ago, the surprise quickly turned into common sense. I can't be more surprised.

It wouldn't be strange to have friends nearby, but I don't see them either. I wonder if they've all fallen apart because they've been thrown into strange spaces.

"Well, they do it every time, and we'll figure it out.... more like Ruth. I have to see Ruth."

Alec walks out of the scene early enough.

At this point, Alec felt compelled to see Ruth at once. I couldn't help but feel relieved to see that face.

That's why I didn't care that I didn't have any memories before I came into this space. That seemed irrelevant compared to Ruth's existence.

"I can't find it...."

I walked around for a long time, but I never found Ruth.

I feel like I've been walking around for days and decades. Soon your legs will tremble and complain of tiredness. The reality that I am confident in my health and can't find it even if I feel so tired gradually becomes blue. Your heart sounds louder from anxiety.

We must discover Ruth as soon as possible. Come on, come on. Hurry up.

"Nh, calm down, calm down... me"

It was common for me to want to see Ruth on the way. It hardly changes before or after you let your feelings go through. Now that I was able to use the transfer technique to get around somewhat freely, I felt less anxious, but in the beginning it was painful and unbearable. If you say "I'm back because I'm lonely", I can't do it because I'm absolutely stunned.

At that time, I felt like I was writing a letter and having Ruth listen to me, or I was distracted by remembering Ruth's face in my head. You can calm down by doing that again this time.

"... you've calmed down. All right, let's resume our search."

Again, Alec walked out of pure white space just to find Loose.

I couldn't find any other purpose or target, but I didn't feel surprised by the fear of “other than not finding Luce." I felt that if I found out, everything would be all right.

"Haha... it feels like it was a long time ago."

While he was hunting for Ruth, Alec remembered his childhood self.

This is how young Alec, who was only four years old when he first came to the village, always looked for Ruth. Without Ruth, I would have gotten half-baked and asked where I was. It doesn't matter what time it is. I've walked around the village before until I found it. On the contrary, he got lost in the woods and was discovered by Ruth.

"That was a kid...."

Now Alec was incredibly weak. There was nothing I could do without Ruth. Daniel and Fritz were teasing me, so I laughed.

"But... why was I so looking for Ruth?

When I was digging into old memories that I didn't want to remember very much, I had such doubts.

Alec starts thinking as he walks through a world of nothing.

As a prerequisite, "I liked Ruth." Some of them said that they had no parents and were weak in the village. There must have been only Ruth who could have spoiled it.

But there must have been a life without Ruth in front of us. If you're bad at eating at church, doing errands, studying, and sleeping time, it's much better not to be with Ruth.

--But all I remember was looking for Luce.

"Ah...?

Ruth often talks about Alec, who had just met and was a crybaby. However, Alec himself realized that he did not remember in detail about a year after his first encounter.

"... no, that's what I remember when I was four or five years old."

I wonder if Ruth has a particularly good memory. Maybe it has something to do with the memory of the previous life.

"Hmm? But... I think I forgot something..."

Something, something important.

There is a rattling sound in the corner of your head.

"-That's right. The teacher of the orphanage was not Father Johann at first...!

Somehow I suddenly remembered that.

The first person Alec was introduced as a priest of the church and teacher of the orphanage was not a personality, Father Johann.

A violent, obsessive, fierce man with a good face for adults.

"You Honza bastard..."

Now that you're an adult, you can say "bastard," but for Alec, a four-year-old, unsupported child at the time, that wasn't the right person to say that.

Father Honza-Alek was afraid of the existence, unwilling to resist, and caught up with Luce, who was a protective presence. I don't want to recall Honza, who was the object of fear, and it may have been erased from my memory. It's not impossible for me to be weak.

"Yes, that bastard! The first year or so was bad because of him. But someday Father Johann came to the village and he was gone... hmm? Why did Honza suddenly disappear?

Honza wasn't a rock 'n' roll person, but she was still deeply involved in her life. And Alec didn't remember why or when he disappeared. I don't remember hearing about it from my surroundings.

"I feel like my memory is broken. Since Father Johann showed up in the village, I remember something else... like when Ruth fell down in front of the church... and people around him started hitting Ruth and challenging him. Danielle can't even fly... hmm?

The question arose again. Something feels strange.

"I... have you suddenly changed your character?

Father Honza was afraid to catch up with Ruth. Cowardly enough to erase its existence from memory, it was a weak crybaby. I can't imagine facing someone.

Ever since Father Johann arrived, he has been challenging others, going straight to them, and even covering for Ruth.

"... ah?

Ruth may have fallen suddenly and gone crazy, but he was so timid in the first place that he would have had the courage to have his friend fall in front of him and finally be able to speak calmly.

Even the adults were surprised at Ruth's condition. But Alec soothed himself calmly without letting go. I feel strange when I think about it carefully.

"Why did I stay calm...? Until then, it wasn't strange for me to panic with you...."

Confronting the unknown is a terrible thing. How long have I had such courage without the help of anyone?

"I don't remember at all... is Father Johann the reason? No, but...."

At that time, the priest had just come to Hashi Village and had just begun to live with Alec and the others. He was still young at the time, and he didn't understand Alec's character as he is now, so I don't think he was given the courage to speak. And even if Father Johann was a personality, he wouldn't have forgiven his presence because of Honza.

Then who the hell...

I can be Alec.

"Ah... let me..."

I feel like someone told me such a dialogue.

The word of destiny that changed Alec.

'I can be Alec' - I wonder who said that. Alec, who could only follow Ruth, was given the courage to confront the unknown.

"Qu-k."

"Ruth?"

When I was trying to remember the past, I felt like I heard Ruth's voice that I was looking for.

Forgetting the questions that had just come to mind, Alec regained consciousness in front of him.

"What is this...."

Somehow a large cliff was formed. A dark cliff cut off from the pure white world. I felt a voice echoing from behind.

"Are you there, Ruth?

There was no response to the voice pointing down the cliff.

Alec looks back again. A pure white world that lasts forever.

I don't feel anxious, but...

"If there's any chance... I'll go anywhere."

Alec jumps off the cliff.

I can be Alec ─ Take the courage you gave me when I was a kid.