The Crisis World XX

Chap. 151: Blaircass Castle

I've decided that I'm going to go find my parents.

Those were my words two years ago when I steeled myself to go to a place very far from Japan. Westward. Europe is quite cold, if not wrongly named Ireland. Of course it wasn't an easy thing for me who wasn't even twenty yet.

Traveling alone, without preparation, armed with mediocre money, and without clear instructions. One of the clues I had at the time was from the woman I met on the station's radio at the time.

Someone with blond hair like me and called me by the name 'Herlinia'.

And the other clue is My own The Unseen — Banshee. After I checked it out on the internet, the Banshee was a mythological creature that came from Ireland. That's what made me so sure I was leaving.

And if you ask me how I can travel abroad so far. Nezumi helped me, she told me that going abroad had to use a passport, so she helped me make a passport and with my savings, I bought a plane ticket.

But when I arrived, I lost my way. What to do first I did not understand, even my English skills were limited at that time.

A week or so I became a nomad and slept moving around, whether it was on the side of the road, under the bridge, even had time in the church. But I ran out of money quickly and couldn't buy food for days.

Until one day, when I was at the end of my limit, on a day with the rain that began to subside. I was sitting down and suddenly a man was paddling me.

Then long story short, you could say I was adopted by them. Because hitchhiking in his house sounds like I'm a brash and ignorant person.

The man who found me was named Edmund. She and her parents accepted me quite well and in return all I could give was to help her parents make a meal and not ask for anything from their family. Hitchhiking or I'd rather be called if I'm 'adopted' going on until now.

Thanks to them, I was able to continue my search more easily. And I've found some things I've found about this city and its mysteries.

This is a modern city, while retaining some old-fashioned building accents that are mostly interpreted as the identity of the city or maybe the attraction of tourists who want to visit here.

However, there is one awkwardness that makes me think, there is a large lake in the middle of this city. And in the middle of the lake, there was a small island that stood a large castle in the middle of it, or at least that's what I heard from the internet.

So tonight I'm going to check with my own eyes. I looked at the clock stuck to the wall and it was almost midnight. The right time to get out.

As long as it is not noisy, I can get out as freely as possible at night through my bedroom window. Because it happened to be on the second floor, so just by jumping then I was already in the front yard of the house.

"Yosh."

Get out of bed and open the window. After exiting, do not forget to close and lock it — even though I already told Banshee to guard this house for almost seven days twenty-four hours, he said, but that was only part of the ethics I learned from Yuuki-san.

When I looked to the right and left after descending on the yard, no one saw me. "It's time to investigate into that palace" I murmured.

"What are you doing outside the house at this hour?"

"??!!"

Someone called me from behind. But I didn't see it and the sound of the call came from behind the pillars of the porch of the house, until he showed it. The truth is I already know who it is.

"Germund."

"Yes, it's me."

He was the one who found me and saved me. The son of the owner of this house. I should praise him because he can escape my surveillance, even though I am a bit relaxed and loosened my guard because this house is already guarded by Banshee.

Lately he's been suspicious of me. Whether it came from his personal instincts or just baseless guesses, but he was sharp enough as well for ordinary people. Right, he's not an Exception. That's also why I want to stay here.

This morning, for example. He daydreamed while looking at me long enough and made himself almost hit by a car. Luckily, I managed to pull it off with my abilities before bad events happened. Whether he is conscious or not.

"Why is he silent? I'm asking you."

I think I thought too long. No need to mind it and let's just get out of here, shall we? I turned around and walked away leaving her without answering her question.

"Oi! Don't just leave!"

Huh ... He's more stubborn than I thought. I have to do something. It would be troublesome if he reported me to his parents, being expelled from here when my investigation was not completed could make it difficult for me.

So I reached into the jacket pocket and gave him some money. "This. Assume you don't see me now."

"I'm a kid who can be bribed with money?!"

Tch. Fail.

He came closer and grabbed my shoulder holding me back from going anywhere. Pretty brave, Edmund. But didn't this get into sexual harassment? So I looked at him longer hoping he understood what I meant.

"W-what? Begging won't make me melt!"

Edmund's face blushed. It also happened several times when I got too close to her, her face turned red. Well ... I don't think he's used to being close to women his age.

"Take it off."

"No will! Until you tell me where to go!"

"If I yell, you could be in big trouble."

"Just try it."

Our eyes stared at each other for a long time. His stubbornness reminds me of someone. And unknowingly, those memories made me the withered one. I threw my face away before speaking. "Lake Roscommon" I replied.

"What?"

"I want to go to Roscommon Lake."

"I heard that, but for what?"

"There's something I want to investigate there. Not wanting to trouble your parents, I chose to go out at night."

"That's all?"

"Have you satisfied now? Can you let me go?"

Edmund finally took his hand off my shoulder. After that I immediately turned around and left here, but Edmund still didn't want to let me go. Geez, this one guy is really stubborn.

"Wait!"

"What else?"

He didn't answer me and went straight to the garage. Moments later, Edmund came out riding a bicycle with a basket in front of him. That bike was Edmund's mother's.

"It's a long way from here and it's too late to take the bus, so I'll drop you off."

"No, I can myself—"

"If you refuse, I'll report to my parents and you can't leave the house without my supervision."

"...."

**

Being ridden by a bicycle by Edmund was the way I reached the lake and the time until we also became longer than I expected. If I run, I can reach the lake three times faster.

The cold night piercing air. Is she gonna be okay? In a tilted sitting position at the back, I tried to see Edmund who was shaking with all his might. His breath sounds exhausted.

"You can put me down if it's not strong" I bargained.

"Your breath says another, tuh."

Well ... I guess I'll let it go. A little more we'll be there anyway.

About ten minutes later, we finally arrived at a lakeside walkway. Edmund was still panting trying to take as many breaths as he could. "Are you okay?"

"B-give me a break .. one, no-no, five minutes."

"I told you before, don't drive me."

"Whispering. What do you want to investigate here?"

Right too, yeah. Something I want to investigate is access to the castle. Being in the middle of the lake, of course, access such as bridges or special roads will be seen from the edge of the lake.

But from here I don't see anything like a bridge or anything like that. In fact, I felt that something was blocking my view if I wanted to look into the middle of the lake. The fog? No, it's much thicker. However, fog can only be created under certain conditions.

"Hey, do you know about this castle in the middle of the lake?"

"Castle? You mean Blaircass Castle? I knew the castle had been abandoned by its owner for a long time. Formerly, a noble-blooded family, the Blaircass Family who occupied the castle."

"Blaircass ...."

I never heard that name. Even a search on the internet doesn't show anything about Blaircass. Are they trying to hide themselves from the outside world? But for what? Aren't they strong enough to appear gallant without fearing anything?

"Wait a minute, I'm mistaken." Suddenly Edmund corrected his words

"Do you know anything?"

"Citizens around Blaircass Castle is rarely seen because it is always covered in fog, but every one year, Blaircass Castle opens its castle for lucky people to attend an event called 'Mask Party'."

"Mask Party?"

"I don't know the details, but being a guest of the 'Mask Party' is something that people in this city really crave. Although the only ones who come are old people and rarely young people who are interested."

I contemplated it once more. The 'Mask Party' event could be the entrance to the Blaircass castle. All I need to find out is the condition to follow him. Lucky people, he said? There must be a requirement that I can fulfill.

"Oi, wait! Herlinia?! Don't go away so suddenly!"

I left Edmund to descend the area close to the lake water. And he followed me until he had to leave his bike.

Getting closer to the gravel rock area on the edge of the lake. Even after being this close, the fog was still too thick. It seemed like there was indeed someone who was trying to cover the gaze of the person who wanted to peek into the middle of the lake.

"Yes .. his name is also the enemy headquarters, it will certainly be difficult to penetrate," I muttered with a faint smile.

"Geez, why are you so fast, anyway?" grouse Edmund.

"Oh, don't you wait for me on the bike?"

"Where could I leave you on the edge of a dark lake like this?!"

"You're pretty manly too. Do you have a boyfriend?"

"P-questions pitched without further ado?!" Edmund was surprised by the flushed face. "N-nothing, I haven't had." Then she replied in a small and timid voice.

"Heh~?"

"Why are you, anyway?!"

I didn't answer the question. But, yeah .. I guess later whoever becomes his partner is lucky enough. Leaving Edmund still waiting for an answer, I refocused myself to the middle of the lake.

Then widen my eyes and focus the aura on both of my eyes. But as I thought ... That didn't work. There I saw it, though faintly, but there was a gigantic dome of aura surrounding whatever was in the middle.

So I decided to be a little patient and end the investigation tonight. "It seems like enough to get here. Let's go home," I said.

"Eh? Done already? I thought we were gonna meet something creepy, that's it." Edmund sounded disappointed.

"If there's such a thing, I'll run away from you." At first I was just joking, but it turned out that my words were stabbing at myself. "...?!!" I wanted to go back, stop my steps because I heard something approaching.

"What's wrong?"

"Pst! Don't be noisy."

The dark atmosphere made it difficult to ascertain who or what was coming near us, but the steps sounded heavy and sounded like a walking can.

"That is ...?!"

"Knight costume? But isn't it too early to celebrate Halloween?"

As Edmund said, the ones who approached us were two people in full knight clothes ranging from clothes, helmets, shields, to swords. If only cosplayers get drunk I don't mind, but there's something different about it.

His aura felt very dark and lifeless. The way of the road was also staggering, not showing the usual prowess a knight showed. That is definitely not the attitude that living humans show. More towards ... doll?

After all, if it was a human, they would at least ask what the two of us are doing here.

"Herlinia, be careful."

Hm? His vigilance is not bad. His male nature also made him stand in front of me, preparing to protect. Oh? Is he trying to look cool? Men usually like that kind of thing, anyway.

"Try cool?" many ensure.

"Can you just shut up and be a good boy for a second? I'm trying to protect you, oi!"

"Well ... we can run and we don't have to fight it, you know?"

"He's coming!"

As I was teasing Edmund, one of the knights came quickly. He put a shield in front of him and prepared to hit Edmund, but Edmund could firmly resist the impact of the shield.

"Gkhus?! Hyakhs!"

After that, Edmund pushed back the Knight who directly hit the knight's helmet and made him bounce far away.

"Eh? Not sick? And I am also ... as strong as this?"

He was instead confused by his own strength and did not focus on what was in front of him. "Oi~, when are you going to be there? Want me to stay, will you?"

My call resuscitated Edmund whom I had left halfway to our bike. He angrily and grumbled at me then walked up to me. While I sat down in the seat and waited for him to arrive.

"It's cool, you know, Hero."

"Tch! It's noisy!"

We also immediately left the two Knights. I had a look back, the Knight's helmet that Edmund hit turned almost in an unnatural direction for one's neck to look at. And without the slightest sign of pain, he instantly improved his position.

What is Blaircass Castle's defense system? Did someone set it up from somewhere? Questions filled my head as Edmund swooped his bike very quickly, making sure the Knight couldn't catch up with us.

They are not chasing at all.