One's Eden: Hanayuki Travel

Chapter 33: Upside down

“Thank you for buying come again next time.”

The clerk said and handed over a piece of bread into my hand. I took the bread and put a gold coin as payment.

“Gold coin, this is too much… One bread only costs 10 copper… Miss, are you listening… This is too many. We don’t have enough coins for change. Do you have 10 coppers?”

I could hear her and not.

I turned my body away from the clerk and said:

“You can have the change… I don’t need it.”

After walking away from the bakery, I sat down in the bench chair at a community park. It's early in the morning, lots of people are already here to visit.

I turned my glance at the bread in my hand. I took a small bite and tried to chew.

(This is just a nightmare.)

I heard Berry’s words and had my stomach turned upside down.

(... I thought you were strong, but in the end, everyone died… Don’t worry about me. I’ll go meet them myself… Weak people like myself deserve to die after all.)

No! No! No!

I was able to save Berry from the massive explosion, but then we made our way to the other city. Berry stabs her chest and has her body fall on the bridge.

And, I can’t do anything.

She missed her sibling so much she killed herself optimistically thinking that they would meet each other in heaven. She was smiling when she died and crying. Berry knew her situation full well. The cruelty that hits her life.

I tried my best to encourage her… The little girl could not take reality and end her own life.

Remember Berry, the kids in the sewers, Cake, Rasp, Chelsea, and everyone.

Worsen my stomach…

“Blech… Bleeeeecchhhh…”

I vomit liquids. No solid food can be found. It squeezed my stomach tightly.

“Bleeeeecchhhh!”

It's already one week since the tragedy, but still, I could not eat properly. I’m forcing myself to eat because I need a source of energy to move forward.

Every time I thought about moving forward, I felt hands grabbing my body dragging me down into an abyss of darkness. Traveling to travel time with Cake and her siblings. I got close to them.

When I tasted traveling with a companion, I felt like I was important to something. I’m a part of something. I’m not just a traveler walking around searching for my memories. The precious memories of creating new colorful memories. I have fun making them with my friends.

Simple things like eating together feel very warm.

I’m used to traveling alone… Being alone again should not hurt me.

But I can’t just run away knowing about the danger Princess Noah could cause. Eula, I’m not sure if she’s still alive. How can I explain Cake and her siblings to her? The reason we went to the Draculon continent was to bring the beastmen back to their homeland. It was a promise made by Eula to Cake and her siblings.

Right now, there is no way for that promise to be fulfilled.

And that is because I’m not powerful enough to protect my friends.

“Are you okay, little miss?”

Asked by a kind woman. She took a bottle of lemon tea and offered it.

“... Here, have a drink.”

She looks very worried and refusing to offer might hurt her feelings. I took the bottle of lemon tea, took off the cap, and had a sip little by little.

“Thank you so much. It was a huge help.”

I greeted the woman, but when I turned my glance on her, she suddenly disappeared.

The lemon tea bottle is in my hand. I’m sure she was standing in front of me just a second ago.

After drinking the tea, I felt better. My mind calmed down and my heart wasn’t as heavy as before.

I turned my eyes to the clock tower that could be seen in the park. Look for its hand to move… Each second passing by was seen by my eyes. The movement of the long hand and the movement of the short hand. Staring at the clock tower… I knew that I had been staring at it for over an hour.

Beneath the view of the clock were people. Different types of people.

I was wondering if I could just become like them… It is not my problem in the first place. Why am I so affected by the tragic event?

I could just run away and take it easy… I’ll just have my real goal in traveling, to find my real memories.

My heart has already given up… I give up. I don’t want to get involved in something ridiculous again. Politics, monsters, demons, and more… I want to find my happiness on my own.

Me and…

An image of an unknown girl appeared on my head. In an unknown wide lake, there was a wooden house. A beautifully crafted wooden house. The wide like is so beautiful. The water sparkles when hit by sunlight. Giving the impression of stars swimming in water. Sitting on a wooden sofa, I’m waiting.

“Mama, can’t give up... Mama is my hero!”

She said.

Her face is blurry like the certain blonde girl that always appeared in my dreams.

Going back to reality, my eyes are shedding tears on their own. I felt something very fond hearing the voice of the little girl.

Calling me Mama… Who exactly is she? I’m sure I’m not married to anyone or give birth to anyone.

I wiped my tears and stood up. I already put myself in a situation. I made a promise to Eula to help her in her quest. I can’t just give up. If I give up right now, the life of Cake and her sibling will be in vain.

Already knowing the true color of princess Noah. I can’t have a blind eye and let her plan go.

“Audrey… I’ll make sure that she will suffer the same level Cake and the kids felt when they died. I’ll hunt you down in the depths of hell.”

After I decided, I searched for the giant ship floating in the sky. The country near the border was destroyed. There is no reason for Princess Noah to stay in that country. It was possible that Princess Noah would go to another country and make all the residences like their dolls again. That’s likely to happen.

The continent of Draculon is wide and chasing Princess Noah is hard because they are always on their ship. If this goes on… I might never make it.

…

“What is this place?”

The last time I remember I was sleeping in an Inn. What is this place? Giant bookshelves explaining the eternity of the sky. Countless books of all sizes.

While I was wondering about this mysterious library, I met a girl with a book in her hand.

“Good to see you, Hanayuki.”

“You know me? Who are you?”

“It's not important… I’ll tell you in the future. Right now, I’ll give you some guidance.”

“Why would I listen to a stranger who refuses to tell her name?”

“That makes sense… But we don’t have much time. It's up to you if you believe me or not. All I wanted was to guide you in your travels. Just like you, I hate Noah… This will be part of your growth, Hanayuki… I’ll tell you the location of Noah’s Ark… Second, I want you to help the orphans in the future. Helping them will lead you to meet the most important person in your life.”

The most important person in my life…

“What do you mean by that?”

When I asked, the whole library disappeared and everything turned into darkness. The location of Noah’s Ark was transferred directly to my brain. Same with the faces of orphans that I have to save. The orphans are inside a city surrounded by giant towering boulders.

It was already morning when I opened my eyes.

I immediately exited the Inn and had breakfast. The information transferred to me told me about the for Noah. She is indeed planning on creating another army of exploding dolls. I have to save that certain city.

My next destination…

“Everfloria city.”