# Chapter 79
“Um… should we step back? Is it dangerous?”
“It will be quite loud. You’d better cover your ears.”
Rite couldn’t hear the conversation between Irace and Arden. He slowly approached the front of the carriage.
Irace, with her ears tightly covered, gestured with her eyes to the people around. The people began to cover their ears one by one. A man raising his arms to cover the ears of a child on his shoulders, the child in turn covering his father’s ears, boys covering their own ears while giggling and making eye contact with each other.
“Ri… Dennear, you should cover at least one ear too.”
Arden approached and gently pressed Rite’s ear before letting go. Rite nodded, placing one hand over his ear and the other on the lever.
Arden also covered one ear as he stared intently at Rite’s hand. The most nervous person of all was Arden, who had built the machine.
He recalled the blueprint in his mind, reviewing the process of creation to check for any mistakes.
Rite’s thick, strong arm easily moved the lever. Along with the sound of gears turning, a loud noise erupted. It was as loud as a thunderclap. Dense gunpowder smoke temporarily obscured their vision.
A long tube traced an arc and disappeared into the sky. Arden watched it vanish among the clouds, then pulled a smaller lever. After inserting another object identical to the one just launched, he looked at Rite.
‘Rite.’
He mouthed only the shape of Rite’s name, and Rite pulled the large lever again. With another explosive sound, a second projectile shot into the sky.
There was no visible change—the clouds didn’t darken, nor did rain immediately fall. Everyone looked at Arden. Even as people murmured amongst themselves, Arden quietly kept his eyes on the sky.
“Eden? Was it successful?”
“…”
“Eden?”
Arden continued to stare steadfastly at the sky despite Irace calling him.
It had to succeed. The entire journey had been filled with uncertainty. For Rite’s sake, if nothing else, Arden had to succeed.
“…Rain.”
Rite was the first to notice the change. A small droplet fell on the bridge of his nose. Rite spread his palm toward the sky.
“Arden. It’s raining.”
Rite whispered in a very soft voice. Only then did Arden turn his gaze to look at Rite.
“Rain! That was definitely a droplet just now!”
Someone in the square shouted. Blue droplets began to fall intermittently. Plop, plop plop. Dark marks appeared on the uneven stone ground.
“It’s raining! It’s raining!”
The sky, which had been dropping thin raindrops, suddenly intensified, and soon heavy streams of water began to pour down forcefully. Raindrops emitting a mysterious blue light began to soak the entire area of Menden.
Arden furrowed his brow as a droplet fell on his eyelashes. Through his blurred vision, he took in the sight of the people. Some watched the blue rain from inside their homes through windows, others danced and laughed in the rain, and among them was—
“Arden.”
—someone calling him with a smile brighter than the sun.
Arden impulsively stepped forward. Almost diving toward Rite, he embraced him tightly. Though Rite had grown too tall to fit completely in his arms, his body temperature remained higher than others’. The sound of their hearts beating together mingled with the sound of rain hitting the stone pavement. A strange excitement spread among the people who were laughing as if at a festival.
“Thank goodness. Thank goodness.”
“…”
Despite being caught in the rain in the middle of winter, it wasn’t cold. Unlike the rain that had coldly pelted them at the end of last summer in the Winter Forest, when Arden had confessed his cowardice.
I wish we could stay together like this forever. On snowy days, on rainy days, and on days when nothing falls from the sky. Forever.
This desire had come only after experiencing loss. Arden tightened his arms, pulling Rite closer. Rite, who had remained still until then, raised his arms and hugged Arden back. Rite’s stronger arms pressed down on Arden.
Feeling a pleasant pressure, Arden raised his head from Rite’s embrace. He didn’t know since when Rite had been looking at him. When their eyes met, Arden pulled up the corners of his mouth. It was the biggest smile Rite had ever seen on Arden’s face.
Many people accompanied them on the way to the train station. The rain continued, and the excitement that had boiled up gradually faded with the raindrops.
“It works well, but I can’t guarantee its durability. I don’t know how much longer it can be used. Since it’s made from a self-driving carriage, it shouldn’t break down from rain, but don’t drop it in water. When not in use, it’s best to keep it indoors to protect it from rain or snow.”
Irace was still busy enthusiastically writing down Arden’s words. Adriang, standing beside her, continued to wave his hand with his usual friendly smile.
“I’ve also handed over the blueprint, so you can show it to another engineer and have them take care of it.”
“What are you saying?”
Irace, who had been diligently taking notes, abruptly lifted her head and interrupted Arden.
“If it breaks down or if a more fundamental solution can be found…”
“Who could do it if not Eden? There couldn’t be a better engineer than Eden. You said you came from Moran… you really are different.”
Arden closed his mouth, unable to find words. He was reminded of how Irace had recently claimed that an engineer had ruined her music box.
“Next time, come with more time to spare. You’re welcome anytime.”
Irace smiled brightly as she took Arden’s hand and shook it lightly. Arden could only smile awkwardly without responding. Arden and Rite were in a situation where it was difficult to casually promise future visits.
“Then we’ll be going now.”
“Take care.”
“Goodbye, Eden! Goodbye, Dennear!”
Arden and Rite disappeared into the station, receiving farewells from the people. Even after passing through the ticket gate, they looked back several times, negating the purpose of leaving early, but they managed to board the train safely.
* * *
They arrived in Idelven the next morning. The temperature was still below freezing, but after coming this far, the winter day didn’t feel cold. It was quite warm compared to the Winter Forest.
Arden looked at the note in his hand. It was the address of the magician’s house that Irace had written down. When asked about the magician, Irace had sighed and grumbled. She advised them to look for another magician, saying they probably wouldn’t be able to meet this one, but Arden didn’t want to do that.
When there was a magician on the shortest route, why go farther? Following his efficiency-focused plan, Arden secured lodging as soon as they arrived in Idelven.
“May I ask you something?”
“Yes, yes.”
“I’d like to go here. Could you draw me directions to this place?”
When Arden showed the note to the staff member, the friendly expression on the employee’s face gradually hardened.
“Uh… if you’re looking for this place.”
“I heard it’s a magician’s house.”
“Yes… it’s the magician’s house.”
The employee quickly scanned Arden and Rite’s attire. This was the first time they’d encountered such a wary gaze since boarding the train from Winterishe.
“Why would you want to go there…”
“I have business.”
“It would be better if you didn’t go…”
Rite, who had been quietly listening to the conversation between Arden and the employee, abruptly intervened.
“Why?”
“Many people come looking for it. So many that I can tell where it is just by seeing the address. But…”
“…”
“No one ever gets to meet them. Just yesterday, an outsider came and then stormed back, demanding a refund and cancellation of their stay, making a huge fuss.”
If the magician wouldn’t meet people who came in person, it was no wonder Irace’s letter had been ignored. Arden and Rite exchanged silent glances.
‘What should we do?’
‘What do you mean? We still have to go.’
After finishing their communication with just eye contact, Rite sighed and spoke again.
“Please help us anyway.”
“…I’m telling you in advance… according to our policy, we don’t offer refunds.”
“Don’t worry. We won’t cancel our reservation.”
Only then did the employee let down their guard and draw the directions. The map was simple. The magician’s house was located halfway up the mountain surrounding the village. Arden, who had booked lodging near the station without knowing this, felt belated regret, but he had already paid.
The two walked toward the mountain. Idelven wasn’t a large city, but it had quite a few tourists. However, the streets lacked vitality. Arden’s gaze turned to an old woman sitting by the roadside.
“…”
There was no strength in the black pupils beneath her drooping eyelids. She didn’t try to grab anyone for sympathy. She merely tapped her basket with her wrinkled hands. There were more homeless people visible on the streets than tourists.
Was it always like this? As Arden tried to recall a faint memory from the past, someone tapped him on the back.
“These are bracelets that bring luck.”
When he turned around, there were two children. One who looked only about five or six years old, and another who appeared to be around ten. The older one, who seemed to be the sister, had a large wooden tray hanging from her neck with strings woven together, and on the tray were colorful bracelets.
“…Luck?”
“Yes. This stone here brings good luck.”
It was a bracelet made of colorful threads woven together. Arden furrowed his brow. This was troublesome. They weren’t leisurely travelers. They couldn’t waste money. However, looking at the innocent eyes gazing up at him made it difficult to flatly refuse.
How much could it cost? Maybe I should at least ask the price. Just as he was about to speak, the smaller child beside him let out a sharp scream.
“Ah, it hurts. Let go, please.”
Rite was gripping the child’s wrist.
