Behind the Mask
It seemed like my scolding the other day might have worked as a form of shock therapy.
After that day, Lydia seemed a bit more subdued.
Hoping she was done with dangerous thoughts, we continued our Journey.
Captain? Um... Can I skip training tomorrow?
I think you were right, Captain. I shouldn't have recklessly gone to such a dangerous place...
Did something happen?
...Ever since I came back from the Nahum Mine, I haven't been feeling too well.
Maybe... it's because I was affected by the Void Force left there...
Maybe the reason she'd been so quiet lately was... because she wasn't feeling well.
If it is because of the Void Force, I think I need to cleanse myself of it tomorrow.
I'll just stay in my room and spend the whole day washing myself like we do in the West.
I'll be in my room, but... since I'll be undressed all day...
You're not going to come check on me just because you're worried, right...?
...Don't worry, I won't.
Hmm... But if I said, "I wouldn't mind if you did..." and blushed a little...
Would you feel tempted?
Nope!!
Hehe, I believe you.
The day Lydia took a break from training, as we agreed.
While I was at Candle Square to plan our next training schedule, Claire showed up.
There you are, Captain.
What brings you here?
There's some paperwork regarding the wagon rental for training that you need to fill out.
Could you please sign here?
...Didn't I already sign for that last time?
...?
That was for the last rental.
This is for today's rental.
Today...?
Yes. Early this morning, Lydia came by and said she was borrowing it on your behalf.
She said, "The Captain is too busy right now, so I came to pick it up instead."
Come to think of it, you're back earlier than I thought.
You...
...Captain?
You tricked me! LYDIAAA!!!
C-Captain?!
Mm...
Mmm...
...Wasn't it this way?
No... I'm sure it was this way...
Right? This is the right direction, isn't it, Kuku?
So why... can't I see anything?
Guess I have no choice. I'll just retrace my steps and go back to—
...Huh?
I know I left markings on the wall along the way...
...Oh.
I'm lost.
Ngh...?! Footsteps...?!
Who's there...?!
Ly—
...?! Captain?
Lydiaaaa!!!
...I said I was sorry, didn't I?!
Why did I lie?
Well... if I told you, Captain, you'd tell me it was too dangerous and forbid me from going, right?
Plus, you got really mad at me last time...
That's why I thought I'd just sneak out and come back quietly...
...I'll admit my plan was a little sloppy.
But next time, I'll come up with a much better scheme to fool you.
After all, a perfect lie that no one catches onto isn't really a lie, is—
Ouch...! Owwie...
That's not the point.
...Huh? Then what's the problem?
I was worried about you!
...Hmph. Did you really have to flick my forehead for that?
Still, since we're already here, you have no choice but to help me now, Captain.
Help? With what?
Well, obviously, finding the Void Core with the Void Force.
But something's weird.
Kuku's telling me it should be nearby...
But all we're doing is going around in circles without a peep of the Void Core.
You heard it too, right, Captain?
Okay, okay. I get it. I know it's close by, but—
T-the ground...!
W-whoooa?!
The ground beneath our feet suddenly gave way.
Through the broken rocks, something pitch-black started thrashing about.
Lydia, are you okay?!
I'm... fine! Actually, this is perfect!
I've got it, Captain!
Don't worry! It'll all be over once Kuku swallows the Void Core...!
It's caving in! We need to get out of here!
Not yet...!
If it's too dangerous, Captain, you should leave first!
We might not get another shot at swallowing it in one go after this!
We need to absorb it before it burrows somewhere deep and gathers more Void Force!
The Core...! I need to feed Kuku the Void Core!
Just a little deeper...! You can do it, Kuku!
Yeah, bite into it! Yes...!
Just above Lydia's head, as she hung precariously in midair...
A large boulder came crashing down.
Huh...?!
Watch out...!
A tremendous impact struck my entire body, and everything went dark.
When I opened my eyes, we were already outside the cave.
Where... am I?
...Don't worry. It's all over now.
Kuku swallowed the Void Core. Though, he hasn't absorbed all of it yet.
The excess energy that Kuku couldn't absorb must've thrown us out here. That's how we got out safely.
...I see. That's good to know.
Captain?
Hmm?
You know you almost died just now, right?
...Why did you do that?
You know that this was all my fault.
I came here on my own to claim the Void Force.
I lied to you and did whatever I wanted.
Even though we needed to get out, I got caught up trying to grab the Void Core.
I brought all of this on myself.
If I'd just listened to you, none of this would've happened, right?
I lied to you, I ignored you, and I tried to use you.
So why did you still...
Isn't that obvious?
...You're my Journey member.
...You really risked your life for such a ridiculous reason?
That's reason enough for me. And also...
Also...?
You don't need some grand reason to save someone.
Huh...?
*Sigh* Seriously, Captain...
...I can't tell if you're stupid, naive, or maybe even...
...?
Never mind. I just want to say...
...Thank you.
Let's head back.
Yeah.
But you know, you're a fool, Captain.
Where's that coming from?!
How do you expect to survive in such a harsh world when you're so soft?
If you keep trusting people blindly and giving everything away, you're going to get burned one day, you know?
You're exactly the kind of person a con artist would love to prey on, Captain.
While we're at it, should I give you some special training?
Like a course on how to deal with bad people... or maybe how not to trust people so easily...!
Lydia looked up at me with that usual smile of hers.
...But maybe it was just my imagination, but behind that smile, her face looked oddly young and fragile.