Chapter 189

The ship arrived at the port, and a bridge was laid down connecting the ship to the dock. Then, people started rushing out from inside.

And among the passengers disembarking, there’s someone with strikingly pale skin and purple hair.

Victoria Bet.

With a proud expression, she starts walking toward us from the port when suddenly, she freezes upon seeing me and Polaris. Even through Victoria’s eyes, Polaris’s face shows clear shock.

Polaris runs up to Victoria. The height difference makes it look like a kid bounding over enthusiastically.

“Polaris? How did you get here?”

“This meeting is a miracle, Tori. We need to head back to the capital—right now.”

Without waiting for another word, Polaris grabs Victoria’s arm and tries to lead her back toward the ship.

“Uh…this hurts, Polar. Let go of my arm…”

“Oh…sorry.”

Polaris quickly pulls away, looking startled.

Hmm. Overreaction mode. Polaris is halfway into full-on panic territory.

But noticing this, Victoria carefully approaches and gently takes Polaris’s hand.

“You okay?”

Through Victoria’s perspective, I can see waves of fear leaking from Polaris’s face. It’s as if the dam holding back all her emotions has finally burst, distorting her expression completely.

But forcing those feelings back down, Polaris clenches her fists tightly.

“I’m fine. Victoria. We have to go back now—to the capital. Immediately.”

However, that clashes with Victoria’s plans.

Victoria wants to go to Bern City. Polaris insists on returning to the capital.

“Guess I didn’t think you’d leave without telling anyone, Victoria.”

“Huh?”

Victoria looks flustered while staring at Polaris, who isn’t interested in negotiating and just tries dragging her along. When she speaks, Victoria visibly tenses further.

Now the problem: they keep pulling in opposite directions. So I step forward.

“V-Victoria? How…how did you get here?”

“Left without saying anything to me.”

As I say this, I pull out the note she left behind from my pocket. She subtly avoids meeting my gaze.

“First, let’s talk. Assuming we can’t do anything about this ship, let’s stay here for the night. We need time to discuss things properly.”

Preferably, so we don’t move right now…

I suspect there will be riots involving bloodshed soon, but I point toward the town instead.

Even though Polaris glares at me from across the room, questioning why I’m not helping.

Yeah.

Sorry, but what’s happening in Bern City feels pretty warm and fuzzy. And I want some of that warmth here too.

2-1 vote.

In the end, Polaris gives up trying to force the issue and heads to an inn in town with Victoria.

We picked an inn quite far from the town center.

Unfortunately, due to lack of space, all three of us ended up sharing one small, cramped single room despite paying for a double. The bed is tiny, and the air smells musty.

This happened because most of the available rooms are occupied by protesters coming from distant places.

Good locations or well-equipped inns don’t have any vacancies left.

After settling into the cramped room, Victoria immediately asks us both.

“So, why is Polaris here?”

Unfazed by Polaris’s glare, Victoria turns to me for answers.

“Because you disappeared without warning, so I came to find you.”

“But how did you arrive before me?”

“I took an airship.”

At this, Victoria seems to realize something and looks at Polaris.

“Wait, did Polaris rent you an airship?”

“No. The royal family provided it.”

Victoria briefly marvels at this, remembering my connection to the royal family.

“I see. Well, then use it to go back. I plan to visit my parents before returning.”

“You can’t! Some twisted machine nearly tore apart the crew and used magic to try killing us mid-air! If we stay here, we might actually die!”

Polaris practically screams this.

Victoria stares at her, clearly failing to fully grasp the gravity of the situation.

“Bell? What’s going on?”

She’s seeking a third opinion.

“Someone doesn’t want people entering Bern City. They’ve blocked the harbor and land routes, and they’re using mechanical devices to shoot down airships. As backup, they’ve even deployed military weapons to eliminate anyone attempting entry.”

To summarize neatly:

Polaris nods in agreement with my explanation and immediately grabs onto Victoria’s clothes.

“Tori, let’s go back. These lunatics attacked even ships bearing the royal seal—they’re insane! Based on their use of such advanced weapons, it seems the army is blocking access here!”

That revelation significantly reduces the suspicion that the royal family is behind this.

While it’s possible the royal family wants us missing, they could simply handle it quietly at a military base. After all, despite my growing fame, no one really knows much about me personally.

I’m not particularly noteworthy nobility, and if the royal family wanted me dead, no one would bat an eye.

Most importantly—the mechanical device.

Why would they bother targeting the crew with such a thing? A disguised knight infiltrating the ship would’ve been more efficient to kill just me.

Instead, they attacked the entire airship, suggesting involvement from another group entirely.

“So…we can’t enter Bern City?”

“Did you see the crowd gathered earlier?”

At my question, Victoria slowly nods, though her memory seems hazy.

“Yeah.”

“They’re protesting being denied entry into Bern City.”

Upon hearing this, Victoria frowns deeply. Her expression suggests she understands what I’m saying but refuses to accept it.

“What?”

“You heard correctly. Going inside would be dangerous, Victoria.”

And I know she’ll interpret this as implying her parents might also be in danger.

Sure enough, her eyes flare up.

But it’s Polaris who restrains her.

“You’re right, Victoria. Let’s return to the capital first. If we report this directly to His Majesty, we can come back with proper military support. Okay?”

On a side note, Polaris seems much weaker than usual.

All her previous resolve has vanished, and now she appears eager to retreat to the safety of the capital. But this is the right choice.

It’s foolish to willingly step into hell.

Though…

Victoria can do it.

“Polaris, go back first. I’ll check on my parents. Bell can return with you.”

Yep. That’s Victoria for you. Determined and willing to face danger alone.

To counteract that mindset, here’s what works:

“If you leave me behind, remember—Morris and Beatrice have a chance to accept me. And I can’t bring back the dead, Victoria.”

In the worst-case scenario…

Victoria will deeply regret leaving me behind if failure results from that decision. Given the choice between my safety and her family’s, which way the scales tip is obvious.

“Together, Bell.”

“Yes, alright.”

That was the correct response.

Meanwhile, Polaris watches us with a distant look.

“You guys are gonna die.”

“Better to regret going than regret staying behind.”

Victoria responds firmly to Polaris’s warning. Coming from someone who once woke up in dire circumstances armed only with a crowbar, her words carry weight.

Especially since this same person resolved to detonate herself alongside any monsters threatening her.

“Bell, aren’t you scared?”

“Polaris Balwin Barrington.”

I’ll coldly swat away Polaris’s extended hand, shoving the harsh reality in her young face—a reality far too cruel for her to bear.

“I am a monster. Normal people should be afraid of me.”

It’s true. But very few recognize this fact.

And now, our way back is blocked.

BOOM!

Far off in the distance—but sooner than expected—an explosion erupts at the town center.

Soon, screams and blasts fill the darkened town. The cause is easy to guess.

Earlier, as the protest grew, so did the number of soldiers. Not all armies in this world belong to the royal family.

Technically, they do nominally, but regional nobles maintain private forces under different names. Most call them knight orders, but these ones are different.

The noble families controlling Bern City possess actual standing armies.

This arrangement exists because without local defense forces, towns would struggle against wild monsters.

Restricting such defenses would essentially sentence civilians to death by monsters.

So this system persisted until now—but its flaws are showing.

When questioned by the royal family, regional nobles usually claim everything’s fine. Since they have no other option but to trust them.

Of course, lies eventually come to light, so nobles rarely risk outright deception unless necessary.

Unless…

They have a reason to lie to the royal family. Either they’re allied with them or have acquired means to oppose them.

Like those controlling the mechanical device industry.

In faded memories of another world, these would be international oil conglomerates—entities wielding immense capital capable of overshadowing even established governments sometimes.

“What!? What’s happening?! Why is there an explosion?!”

I watch as Polaris loses control, shouting hysterically, while Victoria tries calming her down.

Polaris has reached her limit. No one stays calm in situations like this.

Smoke fills the air, explosions echo, and magical runes slice through the night sky.

In this world, even ordinary folks occasionally wield powerful magic. Having grown up in a village frequently attacked by monsters, many know how to handle weapons effectively.

If you try to suppress them forcefully, the resistance here is stronger than in the world of faded memories.

And amidst the chaos, countless bodies lie sprawled everywhere.

Heheh.

“Someone’s calling me, so you two better decide where to run.”

Leaving them behind, I immediately head outside.

Time to create a harvester.

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