New chapter of Nameless Hero is out! (2/3 chapters)
Paradise Cyans
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The City of Water, Dali Amor. I thought I’d never come back here again after escaping with Kea the other day. But I managed to return, thanks to Liona-san’s disguise skills.
And yet, in a female appearance… It’s so humiliating. This time, it’s not just the face. My clothing is also soft and feminine. I’m wearing layers to hide the combat suit underneath. The combat suit is a tight, jet-black leather outfit meant for covert missions. It is made from crocodile leather, and it has high defensive properties. It’s equipped with a concealed knife and has slits on the right arm for the Thread Fist. Martin-san custom-made this suit just for me.
On my back, I carry a modest hammer. One side of the hammer is a crowbar, designed for use as a tool in dire situations. While the interior is hardened for combat, the exterior makes me look like a girl running errands.
In this outfit, I wandered aimlessly through the city. Practically begging to be kidnapped.
—
The day before the operation, I stayed at the Stride Household’s house in Barwitch. That day, Parcine-san was also present at the mansion, and I briefly greeted him with Alfred. Parcine-san looked much more haggard than I had imagined. Unlike the vagabond-like Martin-san, his hair was neatly groomed, and he wore the clean attire of a nobleman. However, as a father who had lost both his son and daughter, he appeared deeply anguished.
His eyes had lost their vitality, surrounded by severe dark circles. His face lacked luster and had an overall disheveled appearance.
“Are you Jack-kun? Please… Please save Charene and Irene… If you can bring those children back, I’ll do anything!” (Parcine)
I was determined to fulfill his request. This was my first direct interaction with the victim’s parent, but the situation was graver than I had anticipated. As someone who hadn’t grown up loved by a father, I couldn’t quite understand this sense of fatherly love.
I wonder if I’ll understand it when I have children someday.
We sent one of the Stride Household’s maids to Soltaire to look after Lindsay. Leaving a pregnant woman, a Goddess, and a deranged man alone in the house had worried me, so this arrangement was a great relief. That evening, Alfred, Tristan, and I gathered in a room for a final strategy meeting. The atmosphere reminded me of my time with Liberta, which was exciting.
“Jack, your strength lies in your exceptional combat ability and agility for someone so young.” (Tristan)
“Yeah.” (Jack)
“But that makes it hard to erase your presence. If you cause any commotion, the enemy will notice, and they’ll overwhelm you with sheer numbers.” (Tristan)
This time, we were facing three potential enemy factions. While not confirmed, there was no doubt the enemies were numerous.
“I can’t teach you the art of stealth in a short time, but I’ll entrust this to you.” (Tristan)
Tristan handed me a strangely shaped ring. Its silver band was flexible, with a glossy sheen. It was adult-sized, so it was loose on my finger.
“Just wear it. I’ll give you a chain so you can hang it around your neck.” (Tristan)
“What is this?” (Jack)
“It’s a magic tool called the Presence Recircular. It prevents your presence from being sensed by others. As long as you’re not visually detected, you won’t be noticed.” (Tristan)
“A magic tool!” (Jack)
Magic tools, as the name suggests, are magical items. They’re crafted with magical techniques to grant their user magical benefits.
—
That evening, I walked alone through the city. With nowhere to go, I wandered to a hill overlooking the sea. The sea, bathed in the setting sun, was beautiful. This city is truly a wonderful place. Tourist season had passed, so there weren’t many people around. The sunset illuminated only me. Alfred was probably watching over my wandering figure from somewhere.
—
A red, red world. It resembled the crimson scenery I saw during battle when my heart went berserk, causing me to lose my senses.
*Thump, thump*
My heartbeat quickened on its own. The world started to slow down. I could no longer hear the sound of the waves. The world turned eerily red, as if scorched, transforming into a desolate wasteland. No, this was a field of red soil. The city had vanished, leaving only the wasteland, the setting sun, and me.
“Huh? Where is this?” (Jack)
This sensation was different from the usual. My body felt normal. Well, as normal as it could while cross-dressing, but it wasn’t like the slow-motion world I’d experienced during battles. It wasn’t my first time having this experience.
When was it?
There was a moment when the people around me suddenly disappeared, leaving me alone in the world. But I couldn’t remember it clearly. Why? My memories were fading. I was just here, unable to recall why or how.
“What’s wrong? Are you lost?” (??)
A woman spoke to me. I recognized her, or at least, I felt we had a close connection. But I couldn’t remember.
“I’ll take you to a place more beautiful than this. Come with me.” (Woman)
“Okay.” (Jack)
Without hesitation, I let her lead me. Her invitation carried a devilish allure, as if laced with some demonic magic. Normally, I would have been more cautious, but I took her pale, delicate hand without a second thought. A white hand. My own right hand holding hers was just that of a boy.
A normal hand? No, this isn’t my arm. My right hand shouldn’t look like this. But what kind of arm was it? Why did I even question it for a moment?
“Paradise is waiting.” (Woman)
“Paradise?” (Jack)
“Yes. A peaceful, beautiful world without conflict or discrimination.” (Woman)
Wow, that’s a good world. There is no fighting, discrimination, persecution, or plunder. There is no violence there.
An ideal world. What is an ideal world? Is that really what I consider ideal?
A lone warrior from a story I read a long time ago. They fought with pride, unwavering and resolute. No hesitation, no doubt. Yes, that’s my ideal. A warrior in relentless pursuit, fighting amidst chaos. Even if bathed in countless streams of blood, their conviction remains unsullied.
“Come now, follow me.” (Woman)
“No. That world doesn’t exist!” (Jack)
“What…?” (Woman)
The woman looked bewildered. Peace isn’t what I desire. What I truly wish for is salvation for all humanity.
“I will continue to fight in this world full of battles…!” (Jack)
—
“Huh…?” (Jack)
When I came to, I was sitting quietly inside a moving carriage.
When did this happen?
It seemed to be early morning. The air was uncomfortably chilly, and I could see patches of snow through the gaps in the tarp covering the cart. Snow at this time of year meant we were likely in a high-altitude mountain region. This must be the “mountain facility”. That means I succeeded in being kidnapped.
“You’ll be alright. We’re almost there.” (??)
An unfamiliar adult spoke to me. To my left and right sat two soldiers each. The one who had spoken was seated on my right. It seemed there was also a coachman driving the cart. I stole a glance at the man who had spoken. His face was familiar.
“What’s wrong?” (Kreus)
It was Kreus Magrill.
A member of the Light’s Droplet Orchestra. I’d only met him briefly during the pre-festival celebration, where he played the viola. He’d mentioned he used to be a soldier, but it seemed he was still active.
“N-nothing at all.” (Jack)
I raised my voice slightly to respond. Since my voice hadn’t changed yet, I could still pass as a girl. Humiliating, but unavoidable. I never expected him to be involved in this kidnapping incident.
I hope Medna-san is alright. Also, there were children in the Light’s Droplet Orchestra, like Alisa and Reingard. I can’t help but worry about them.
Wait a minute. Reingard… and the Light’s Droplet Orchestra. Kreus Magrill. Former soldier. A Dali Amor Royal Guard. When Reingard was chasing me, he was addressed with -sama honorifics by the Dali Amor Royal Guards. Could it be…
“We’ve arrived. Come along with me.” (Kreus)
Kreus stepped off the carriage first and helped me down by taking my hand. I grabbed his with my left hand to hide my right arm.
“This is Paradise Cyans.” (Kreus)
The facility called Cyans was an overwhelmingly grand structure. The carriage had stopped inside the gates. Contrary to my imagination of lush, verdant mountains, the area was desolate, with sparse vegetation. The massive facility seemed built along the cliffs of these barren mountains, encircled by walls and a gate.
“Don’t worry, the other children are here too. There’s nothing to fear.” (Kreus)
I was about to be escorted inside. At this point, Tristan should be near the gate outside. I needed to resist here to signal that I’d entered the facility.
“Ugh…” (Jack)
“Hm?” (Kreus)
“Waaahhhh!” (Jack)
I began thrashing wildly on the spot. Taking advantage of the chaos, I hurled the hidden knife concealed in my right sleeve toward the gate. This knife was a makeshift weapon crafted from a jewel I’d taken from the Stride Household
The knife arced through the air, leaving a red-black trail before landing beyond the gate. It had likely reverted to its original jewel form by now. Even if someone noticed the knife, I could pass it off as a tool for self-defense. As long as it caused no harm, it shouldn’t raise too much suspicion.
“What the?! Is this kid prone to tantrums?” (Kreus)
Kreus seemed flustered. The two soldiers around me were equally perplexed by my antics.
“Huff… huff… I-I’m sorry.” (Jack)
It was blatantly unnatural, but it would suffice. If I behaved from here on, it wouldn’t cause further commotion.
“It’s okay. We’re not here to hurt you. We’ll protect you.” (Kreus)
Kreus spoke reassuringly, but his sugary words couldn’t mask the malevolence I now associated with him.
“Okay.” (Jack)
“Let’s head inside then.” (Kreus)
Tristan, please find the jewel.
—
The interior of the facility was warm, a stark contrast to the cold outside. The massive structure had grand double doors leading inside.
The first thing that caught my eye was an enormous statue. The architecture resembled the San Amolina Great Cathedral, with light streaming through stained glass windows, casting an ethereal glow. At the center stood a pedestal with a statue of Goddess Kea.
Goddess Kea. Now the mascot-like girl of Liberta. She lacked any of this solemnity or divinity.
Her typical response was “Ahw”… like a dog.
“Today’s the perfect day—it’s the Holy Spirit Hymn ceremony. Would you like to join us?” (Kreus)
Kreus called out to me as I stared absentmindedly at the statue.
“Holy Spirit Hymn?” (Jack)
“It’s a ritual where we sing hymns in gratitude to the gods who granted us life.” (Kreus)
Is this a new cult or something? It’s not the kind of facility I had imagined. I had imagined adults cruelly tormenting children. Children forced into hard labor, or sexual abuse. Organ trafficking, human trafficking, human experiments using children and so on.
I had imagined such horrifying things entirely on my own.
“What’s your name, by the way?” (Kreus)
“Jac… queline.” (Jack)
“Jacqueline, is it? That’s a nice name.” (Kreus)
The female name had already been prearranged.
We moved to the venue where hymns were being sung. It seemed to be toward the back on the right. As we approached, the singing voices of children reached my ears. Kreus slowly opened a heavy-looking door and gestured for me to go in. I wondered if it was a soundproof door. The scene that appeared beyond the door was strange. The venue resembled a cutting-edge concert hall.
Stairs led downward from the door, followed by rows of audience seating. On stage, I could see a woman playing a massive pipe organ. Standing upright on what looked like a conductor’s platform was a girl, her hands clasped in prayer as she stood still. The adult woman had her back turned, so I couldn’t identify her.
Seated in the audience were numerous children, all singing hymns with intense devotion.
Even at a glance, there were over a hundred of them.
“…” (Jack)
The sight left me speechless.
In one word, it was creepy. Though it might not be my place to judge, the children had lost their innocence. They sang earnestly with the discipline of a military unit.
The eyes of the boys and girls I could see were lifeless. There was no will behind them. It was as if they were possessed.
“You’ll make friends with everyone in no time. Just observe for today, okay?” (Kreus)
Why were these children participating in such a suspicious ritual? Did no one have any doubts? Didn’t they want to return to their parents? Or was it magic?
I went to a nearby seat and stood, observing the unsettling scene. With the end of the pipe organ performance, the hymn also came to an end.
“Alright, everyone, unite your hearts and offer prayers to Goddess Kea-sama! Arel Kea!” (Grace)
The organist spoke in a voice that resonated throughout the hall as she turned around. In unison, the children followed, shouting, “Arel Kea!”. I recognized the woman who had spoken. Ever since seeing Kreus beside me, I had a suspicion, but…
“What good children you are! Kea-sama’s blessings are upon you.” (Grace)
As she said this, the woman raised her hands above her head, scattering particles of light throughout the venue. Each time those light particles descended, the children let out squeals of joy. However, the light in their eyes was absent. Every single one of them had sickly eyes and wore hollow smiles only on their mouths.
…This is a worse situation than we had imagined.
“Well then, the Holy Spirit Hymn Ceremony will be next week! The day after tomorrow is the Holy Communion. Look forward to it!” (Grace)
The lively voice belonged to the woman speaking was Grace Grayson, a beautiful woman with pale blonde hair. She exited backstage. Following her, the girl with horns sprouting from her head, Alisa Hailwood, who had stood on the platform. She also left the scene.
—
After the hymn ritual ended, the children, once again disciplined like a military unit, left the hall in an orderly fashion.
The Light Droplet Orchestra… To think that the mastermind behind these children’s abductions was the orchestra itself. So, is this what they had been doing behind the scenes? Had their concert at the pre-festival been meant to entice the children?
Thinking back on it now, the children’s enthusiasm after the eve of the festival had been unusual. Had they already been under some kind of magic spell then?
“Come on, Jacqueline, let’s go receive the first baptism. Once you do, you’ll be one of us.” (Kreus)
Kreus prompted me to take the next step, while I stood there stunned.
The first baptism? Does that mean I’ll be turned into some sort of shell, like those other children? This is no joke. I won’t join such a group. But I can’t make any suspicious moves here. Is there a way to avoid this baptism?
But with my thoughts scattered, before I knew it, I was being guided into the baptism room.
The door to the baptism room was reinforced with a heavy iron grid, and a grid pattern was etched into the pure gold door. Within the grid were reliefs of the gods. At the very top was a relief of Kea.
*Clang *
The tip of a spear hit the floor. When the two soldiers on either side of me saw that Kreus and I had arrived before them, they simultaneously thrust their spears downward, signaling something. Then, the door began to open on its own. The space beyond the door was pitch black.
“Go ahead. It’ll be over soon.” (Kreus)
There’s no way a child would willingly walk into such a suspicious place. Yet, despite being urged in such a way… considering how the children acted earlier, it’s probably safe to assume they’ve been brainwashed.
What’s waiting behind that door? If there’s a terrifying monster, I could handle that. But somehow, I feel like something far worse is lurking there. Should I just start causing a ruckus and try to escape? At this point, I’ve gathered enough information. But leaving those children behind is…
“Come on in.” (??)
“…What…” (Jack)
I heard a voice in my head, and before I knew it, my body was being pulled by some strong will. I was led smoothly into the room beyond the door. When I entered roughly, the door slammed shut behind me with a loud bang.
It was dark, and I couldn’t make out the details of the room. I was so frightened that I couldn’t stand. I sat on the ground clumsily, staring straight ahead. At the same time, the figure before me began to glow faintly. Her red eyes locked onto mine.
“You’re frightened, aren’t you?” (??)
*Thump, thump *
I could feel my heart pounding. I didn’t want to reunite like this. But considering the orchestra’s involvement, I had a feeling this was what was happening. I had a feeling, but I didn’t want to think about it.
“It’s okay, it’ll be over soon.” (??)
The red eyes began to shine even more intensely. Those were the eyes of a magic user. If I stared into them, I would probably end up like those children earlier, as if it was nothing but an empty shell.
“…” (Jack)
A hazy light illuminated the figure of a witch sitting on a chair before me. Her black dress seemed to blend into the darkness, with only her white skin, pale face, and long, pure white hair standing out.
――Jack-kun, are you going to be an adventurer?
The figure that appeared shattered my memories effortlessly.
――I see. That’s a shame.
The pounding in my chest slowly turned into a painful throbbing. My chest ached, and I felt the blood drain from the back of my head.
――You have such beautiful hands.
“Welcome to Paradise Cyans.” (??)
Medna Lauren…! The white witch clad in black…
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