MEMORIES AND ABU HORMUZ

Episode 11 - Where to Turn Now

The place where they dug the grave and buried the remains of Udin in a white cloth

it is in the middle of the hill. A tombstone they had placed on top of the simple grave. Udin's name is inscribed on the tombstone, along with the red crescent symbol. Although they were only members of the training, they were still members of the reserve force. Udin's tomb was marked as an organizational symbol.

Other graves also symbolize a red crescent moon, some of which are old enough, so the paint fades. Quite a lot of bodies of Red MooN troops who make this hill as a final resting place. At the top of the hill there is a tower that soars high into space. It was a sight that made the eyes hurt.

The tower was the place where Haruhiro and the others were first raised. How long has it been since that time has passed? Maybe less than a month, but it feels longer. Were they really born from the tower? When viewed from its appearance, the building does not have a door or entrance. So, where did they come out? Haruhiro did not know, nor did he care.

The cost of cremation was 50 bronze, and the cemetery on the hill was also valued at 50 bronze. The total cost is 1 silver. The death of a man is valued at 1 silver. No more than 1 silver. Haruhiro had paid for it using his own money, but did that not matter? Udin had 7 silvers and 21 bronzes on his savings. His clothes were burnt along with his body, but there were still short sticks, backpacks, and other personal items. What will they do with Udin's belongings? Haruhiro's heart ached even more when he thought about that.

Udin has gone. He really has gone. Not even a full day had they been abandoned by Udin. They took him to the crematorium last night, and a worker told them to come back again at midnight. After Udin's remains were returned to them, they were not sure what to do next, so they returned them to the Priests in the Luminous Temple. Master Honnen offers to keep the remains overnight at the temple, but Haruhiro does not agree to let his friend be there.

But in the end, they had to agree that Udin's remains were placed in a corner of the temple grounds. Haruhiro and the others sat in a circle to accompany Udin's remains until dawn. No one is sleeping. Maybe they were half asleep, but no one could fall asleep comfortably. They look dazed when the morning comes, and is it due to lack of sleep? Although they sat in front of Udin's remains, none of these facts seemed real to them.

Alice was already tired of crying, to the point that she had to support herself so as not to collapse. Even sitting down felt very heavy for him. Vina was staring at the clear sky today, maybe she was watching the birds flying past her. The large figure of Barto seemed to shrink, and blank stares continued to radiate from his eyes. Then Marco.

Why does he stay silent all the time? If it wasn't him who made a fuss, then who else? All right then. Haruhiro intended to break the silence.

"It's weird," he started talking while picking the grass.”This is totally absurd. I'm not the only one who thinks so, am I?”

Marco looked at him, but not a word came out of his mouth which was usually a taffy. His expression said that right now his brain could not think of anything.

"Udin once said," Haruhiro continued while mowing the grass. ”It looks like we're going through a game. I thought the same at the time, but what kind of game is this? I don't know. This isn't a game. It's not a game at all. Damn ... fucking.”

In the end, Haruhiro did not know what he really wanted to say.

What time is it? The middle of the day is over, maybe even soon the sun will set . On Atalante, bells ring every two hours to indicate the time. His bells clang once at six in the morning, twice at eight, three times at ten, and so on. How many times did the bell ring today? He can't remember.

Marco rises slowly ”I'm out."

"Where?" Ask Vina.

Marco laughed briefly, and his expression showed that he did not care what Vina said. ”Is it important? There's no point sitting here forever. Now, there's nothing more we can do.”

"Idiot!" Snap Vina.

Marco did not return the insult. It's not like his usual self. He leaves, and Haruhiro chases after him, Barto follows him, but Haruhiro stops to look back. There, he saw Vina who was hugging Alice's shoulder. But Haruhiro was too far away, so he wasn't sure if the girl was

nodding or shaking his head. He had a feeling that the two girls would be here longer. Is Alice going to be okay? Perhaps he was the hardest hit, even more devastated than Haruhiro. After all, Alice must have liked Udin.

Marco seems intent on returning to Atalante, and Haruhiro wants to ask him where he is going. But Haruhiro changed his mind. He doesn't care. The bell rang seven times before they reached Kaen Road in the northern part of the city. The time has already shown at 8 p.m., and as usual, the streets are filled with activity

the people.

Marco was about to enter a large building. The sign in front says Sherry's Shop. Haruhiro recognized the tavern as a place where Red MooN members used to gather. Even though he's been through this place before, he's never been inside. Udin used to visit the Sherry Shops for information, but no party member ever went with him to this store. Everyone never knew what Udin was trying to do for the benefit of the team.

I did too, Haruhiro thought. I just kept going with him and doing whatever he said.

Sherry's shop is a large and spacious place. The room was lit by a dim light hanging from the ceiling. The place had two floors, although half of them were only stairs. At this hour, the place is not crowded. However, even though half the visitors have not arrived, the number of visitors there has reached 100 people. The room was filled with babbling sounds, loud laughter, and occasional cries of anger. Everything was mixed with the voices of the girls who were eagerly serving their customers.

Marco found an empty table in the corner of the first floor, and he took his seat. Haruhiro and Barto followed suit. When the servant girl came, Marco immediately raised three fingers and said, "Three beers."

He did not ask if Haruhiro and Barto would be willing to drink together with him.

"I don't want to drink" Haruhiro protested.

"Well, what do you want? Milk?” Marco crossed his arms over his chest, and tapped his feet on the floor. ”Bego. This is a drinking shop. This is BAR.. BAR!! You know what BAR means!! That means, you should drink alcohol here.”

"But ..." Barto bowed, as if his large body was shrinking. ”Drink at a time like this?"

"Stupid! Indeed at a time like this you should be drinking," Marco snorted, while rubbing his eyes.”Udin. Damn it often comes here for drinks, ‘ right? But he ... You know, he ... Not that we came here to represent him drinking, anyway..

"True," Haruhiro said as he placed his elbow on the table. Haruhiro head hanging low.”You're right."

The servant girl came back with a beer, and after paying him, the three of them toasted together then sipped the beer. It might be because they were thirsty, but the bitter drink tasted very fresh. Did Udin order the same beer they ordered during a visit to this tavern? Does he like the taste?

He was indeed gulping down alcohol, but a different hot sensation burned his face, and his mind

become empty. Marco and Barto's faces also flushed. Marco suddenly slammed his glass on the table.

"This is the worst. This is really the worst. I'm stopping. I don't want to do this anymore. I'm not kidding. I was never willing to do this in the first place, but I had no choice but to go with you. You two feel the same way, ‘kan? What the hell is a Warrior? What the hell is that Thief? What is the Dark Knight? What the hell ... That priest? I'm fed up. I'm stopping. I quit everything. Starting today, I quit forever.”

"Stopped?" Haruhiro gritted his teeth. ”Lantas what will you do if you stop?”

"I won't do anything" Marco replied. ”There's nothing wrong with that. Do I have to do something? There are no rules that require me to do anything. Even if there is such a rule, I don't care.”

"We all have no choice. That's why we became a border troop.”

"I didn't know that!"

"If you don't know, then what are you thinking ?!"

"Whispering!!"

"K-Kumohon," Barto places himself between Haruhiro and Marco. "You two. Don't fight.”

"Shut up!!!" Marco pushed Barto roughly. ”Even if we continue to progress, then what else??!!! From now on, what can we do??!! Udin is gone!!!”

"I know that!!! You don't teach me the things I already know!!!” Haruhiro.

"Then, answer me!!! When you get hurt in a fight, Udin is the one who will come and save your ass!!! What can you do if he is no longer with us??!! ANSWER ME!!!!"

"I…………."

"In fact, Udin ran out of magic so he couldn't heal his own wounds…. This is all because he healed you who got injured so many times!!!!”

"Marco, you ... Do you really think that I'm wrong???"

"No ..." murmured Haruhiro.”You're not wrong."

"This is all because you suck at fighting!!! You're always hurt, and it's hurting the team!!! It's all your fault!!”

"STOP!!!" A roar of anger sounded. That was the voice of Barto. For a moment, all the visitors in the tavern mute a thousand languages. Barto's eyebrows stiffened when he was angry. Haruhiro was surprised. He did not believe that Barto could explode this angry. ”This is not the time to fight each other!!! Calm down

you two!!”

Haruhiro shifts his chair.”…Sorry."

"You too," Marco shrugged.”Don't be so angry. You also need to be calm.”

When Barto glared at him, Marco curled up. ”Sorry! I will be more careful from now on! Really, I'm serious! You don't have to be that angry ..”

"Actually," Barto sipped a beer and loosened his shoulders. ”The problem is, what we will do from now on."

Haruhiro rubbed the back of his neck.”I know, but I'm less interested in talking about that now. Not that, I can think clearly now.”

"I'll say one thing" Marco hit the table with his glass. "It's not that I'm pessimistic or anything, but I think that it's impossible for us to continue this without his help. You'll understand what I'm doing if you count how many times he's saved us."

"So," Haruhiro glanced sideways at Marco.”We're not doing anything? Isn't that just as impossible? What about daily income? We need food and lodging every day. Are we going to find another job?”

Marco frowned, while resting his chin on his palm.”That's one option we can consider."

"I don't really matter. But you're a Dark Knight. Your guild won't let you leave

they were just looking for another job" Haruhiro expressed his opinion.

Marco stuttered too.

"Have you forgotten your own position?"

"I didn't forget! But ... but once you become a Dark Knight, you will forever be a Dark Knight? DAMNIT DAMNIT!!! Why did I choose to become a Dark Knight !?”

Barto sighed heavily and long.”Other work ..."

"Hey!" The voice that greeted them was a voice that Haruhiro had known before. When he looked around, he saw a stranger. This guy waved his hand as he approached them.”Hey, hey, hey! You guys are here apparently! I don't remember your name, but a long time ago we didn't meet, yeah! How are you guys doing? Still spirit?”

"Navig ..." Haruhiro blinked a few times.

Unmistakably, Haruhiro remembered that never-difficult face. He was the Gori who never had any trouble. But he is different now, or at least his appearance is changing. He was wearing armor reinforced with metal cladding, and he had a sword whose tip looked luxurious. When viewed from his armor, it was likely that he was a Warrior.

"Yo yo!" Seringai Gori tore her face off. He raised his hand to toss Haruhiro and the others. Haruhiro responded to his toss.

Without asking, Gori took a seat and sat down between Haruhiro and Barto. ”Bir, beer! Is your beer good? Beer!” He called the waitress and ordered a beer. ”So…. So then…. So then…. So then! How are you doing? How are your days? Is everything okay? Are you making a lot of money? What is a place called ... Damrowws! You guys work in the area, right? I've heard it! I really heard it! A while ago, I met Udin here, so I know all about him! Tell me! Tell me! Is your hunt smooth?”

As usual, Gori was always optimistic, and it was quite annoying. Being a little overwhelmed, Haruhiro answered truthfully, "... Things aren't going well." Maybe it's too honest. ”Actually, Udin ... Udin ….. Udin ..”

"What?!" Gori pushed back her body. ”What what what?! Nah! No way! No. mungkiiiiiiin! HE'S GOING TO JUDGE!?"

"No way!" Haruhiro said while correcting Gori's words by slapping her back. Gori flinched with bulging eyes, as if her eyes were about to pop. But Haruhiro had no regrets after hitting him violently.

"Not that," Marco said with a sour expression.”He's already dead. He was killed yesterday.”

"Whoa ..." Gori rubbed the back of her head while tugging at her chin.”Ii'm sorry. Excuse me. I'm really sorry, okay? I didn't mean anything. It's just ... I never thought that he would die. I always thought that he was a man who could solve all sorts of problems, but in a different way than Hector. Or maybe it's no different. I don't really understand the nature of various people, but ... Oye! Have drinks here! Okee! I think this is not a good time to toast. Wellh, anyway let's drink together.”

Haruhiro moved his neck to the left and then to the right. He suddenly felt very exhausted. ”It seems like you've been in good health all along, Gori. Did you find a party to join?”

"Yes! As soon as I left you, I joined a man named Toki. A nice guy, but kind of *****. Is he here? I will introduce you ..”

"No, don't bother."

"I get. You guys don't have to rush. Udin is a Priest, ‘kan? That profession is the backbone of the Party, ‘kan? Priest's death rate was not low. They are easy targets for the enemy. "

Barto slowly set his sights on Gori.”Really?"

"Isn't it clear?" Gori swallowed her beer with vigor. ”What were we talking about? Ah. Yeah…. About Priest. The enemy knew that the Priest was the party healer, so naturally they would kill him first. And a warrior like myself? We are between the enemy and the Priest to protect him. That is the usual strategy of fighting. That's the base, you know.”

Barto buried a face in his hand.”... I didn't protect her at all. All I did was ask her for help ..”

Gori patted Barto on the shoulder with sympathy. That's what an old friend should have done, or maybe not.”Don't think too much. Everyone has failed. Mistakes and failures are the first steps to finding the right path. It's okay, everything's gonna be okay."

"But ..." Barto shakes.”Udin won't be back."

"Right," Gori raised both her hands in agreement. ”That's true, but if I were you, I would go on. You might think that I can only say things like that because I never had a teammate killed, but on the other hand, it was, I can say this because I never had a teammate killed. Wait for. Are both things the same? Whatever it is, for now, don't look back. Keep looking forward with optimism.”

Haruhiro's gaze fell on the glass lined up on the table. Did Gori say that she should not give up like this? There was no reason to listen to what Gori was saying, but...if Udin had been here? Udin was the one who could direct them without even using words. Udin could create an atmosphere, which made all the Party members optimistic.

"Even as we go forward," Marco began to speak with a half-mumble.”No matter what hinders us up front, our party no longer has any Priests."

Gori looked at them. The expression that was painted on his face seemed to say “Alas why?”

“Then, what if you guys look for other Priests. Wait, I know what you're trying to say. You want to say ‘No Priest wants to join our Party. Am I right?’ By the way, I'm no longer a trainee. I've signed a contract with Red MooN. I am a full member now. Wanna see? Do you want to see?”

"Not really," Haruhiro sighed.”But your words are not wrong. No Priest wants to join our Party.”

"Actually ... there is someone .." said Gori.

"What?"

"I know a lot of people and a lot of people know me. Red MooN, there he is. There's someone I know. This guy could probably be you guys recruit.”

Marco leaning forward curiously.”Who?"

"But before that!" Gori looked at them in turns. "Who is your name? Pardon me! I've tried to remember it, but I completely forgot. Can you introduce yourself once again?”