Hunting: Memories (I Transmigrated as a Memory Hunter)

Arc 1: Kumoshima Part 20

(a/n: still haven't proofread. I apologize if you find grammar mistakes and unclear sentences. Note will be deleted once done proofreading)

Chapter 20

“Young Master!”

Nephrite saw Shier walking towards him, a bowl in his hands. “What are you doing here? I thought you were not feeling well?”

Shier then saw Kazuyuki standing not far away, his expression dejected. He also saw Lord Katsuhiro walking toward the other person with a concerned expression.

When Hiro saw Shier looking at him, he gestured to bring his young master away.

“Shier,” Nephrite suddenly spoke, startling him.

Nephrite stared at him, eyes empty. “Packed your things, we are going to Rose Valley as soon as possible.”

“Young Master, we can’t. You know I can ride a horse but I am not good enough to carry another person. Plus it just rained. The road is slippery. It will be very dangerous to travel.”

“But you can ride alone even in this terrain, right?”

Shier paused. He realized something was definitely wrong with this person.

“Come to my tent first, let’s talk when we get there.”

_______

Kazuyuki sat dejected on his bed, his eyes filled with confusion. Katsuhiro just kept standing nearby, observing his friend.

He put an arm over Kazuyuki’s shoulder, “Let him go for now.You said it himself. He doesn’t feel well. His worry heightened his emotions. It will be alright once he feels better. Come with me.”

Kazuyuki followed but his heart felt confused. When he shouted Keisuke’s name, he felt it was wrong. That saying it just added not just a wall but even a distance between them.

Katsuhiro left him in his room to rest but he couldn't help but think.

It wasn't the first time he felt this way. Ever since he confessed to Keisuke, a part of him doesn’t want to call him by that name.

But why?

Also, Keisuke said he was still in love with Aijin.

But Kazuyuki was certain of his feelings. He won’t confess if he still have Aijin in his heart.

Kazuyuki left his bed and grabbed his cloak. He wasn't a child anymore. Sulking won't do anything. There were lots of matter he needed to take care of. He can’t let things turn this way. For him, for Keisuke or for anyone. The enemy was just waiting for them to fell apart like this.

Though his and Keisuke's situation was a different story, the enemy will not hesitate to strike at his weakness once they spotted it.

Kazuyuki will never let it happen.

________

“Young Master, I found someone who can bring us to Rose Valley. But they said it's really not safe to travel right now. If you don't mind, he suggested to leave before dawn instead."

Leaving with no choice, Keisuke agreed. “Yes, we must hurry. By the way, have you heard when the bandit’s attacks pace up?”

Nephrite asked while still in bed. Under the sheets, he was reviewing Keisuke’s past life. Because of the changes he’d made, the enemy’s plans were already delayed by almost two months.

He needed to make sure that the major changes in the world weren't directly caused by himself. One of the rules he has to follow was aside from anything directly involves his vessel’s and his requests, he wasn't allowed to change a major event in the world. Unless he wasn't directly involve with it, and that though he influenced an original citizen to do a major change, it should be upon their own desire and not because he ordered it.

Nephrite was really worried. Though his emotions overcame him earlier, he really hoped Kazuyuki would go to Aijin because it’s a major part of the plot of his soul’s life. As a person directly involved with a memory fragment holder, it would be troublesome if some important interaction changed and occurred to her.

“Young Master, I heard from Lord Katsuhiro that it started four days ago. He passed on this letter. It was a report sent by Kuro to Young Master Kazuyuki, then this.” he showed another letter. “This one was actually for you but Kuro stated in it that if our Young Master wasn’t around upon arrival, the person in charge can open it."

Nephrite’s heart hurt upon hearing Kazuyuki’s name again but quickly ignored it.

He decided to leave the bed and took Kuro’s letter for him, “Shier, could I borrow your ink and some paper?’

“Feel free,” Shier gestured to the messy table.

The table was full of scrolls stacked on the side of the table and two scrolls spread over it. Nephrite saw a list of weapons and a number of poison and antidote Shier sent to each camp, “Spring Blossom?” he said, surprised. It wasn’t in Keisuke nor Aijin’s memory. He wasn't aware that Kazuyuki would send assistance for a third town.

“Yes, Young Master. Apparently, Lady Aijin will arrive because of the conditions she agreed to for Chunan and Shuijing.”

Nephrite quickly checked the progress bar. He didn’t pay any attention to it for awhile, not expecting any progress.

Upon checking now, the memory fragment quest now reached 90% completion. How?

In the original plot, Chunan was already dead at this point so he wasn’t able to meet Aijin. And though Shuijing was still alive back then, he wasn't able to interact with Aijin either.

If Nephrite would think deeply, it was possible for Aijin to help those two under given circumstances. But on how it happened, he could only ask those two brothers in the future.

So, this matter with Spring Blossom was probably the reason why Kazuyuki looked bummed, Nephrite wondered. He can’t help but feel concerned. Yet he knows he can’t just casually ask him after what happened.

Nephrite checked the letter but did not expect the contents. When Kuro returned to Rose Valley, the bandit’s level of harassment was already hard to deal with. It's been almost a week since then. And just four days ago, it escalated further.

“Shier, we really need to go there soon. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

__________

Holding the letter Nephrite wrote and some things Shier owned, the latter led him to a small wagon waiting outside the camp the next day.

Nephrite was worried about the situation in Rose Valley right now. Though he can’t rely completely on Keisuke’s original plot, if he based on what's happening right now, that attack from Keisuke’s quest was just around the corner.

These enemies were too cruel. Even if the Minister of the Right only commanded to capture all the members of their clan, they wrecked havoc after they saw that Rose Valley has no value anymore, they decided to destroy everything. Houses burned, no help coming from normal civilians. Enemies mixed with people sent by the Fujiwara Clan, killing brutally. It was like hell on Earth for the peaceful people of their hometown.

Nephrite didn’t know what happened back then nor why there was no help when it was clear that innocent people were caught up. But if what happened was something related to Kazuyuki dispatching people in Spring Blossom, then it makes sense.

The road was not muddy anymore but the sky was still dark.

Even so, it didn’t stop them as the horse galloped faster to their destination.

Shier handed him a dagger and a bow and arrows. Aside from that, he also gave him a bag of the usual paralyzing powder and antidote.

“Young Master, please wear this leather glove and be careful. I already put poison on your weapons. If you need to remove a poison from the blades, you must wash it.”

“Thank you, Shier.” As he said that, he couldn't help but glance at the wagon driver.

Shier noticed him, too. “Are you worried about the driver?”

Nephrite looked at him, “Nothing like that. Just a bit curious how you manage to find someone so we can leave. I can’t stand this place any longer.”

Shier stared at Keisuke, his curiosity peaking. However, despite this person vowing to tell everything as long as it’s not forbidden, it doesn’t mean that Shier would also pry in his private affairs. Unless this person tells it on his own, he will stay out of it.

“You better have some rest. I wasn't able to concoct some medicine because you demanded to leave as soon as possible,” Shier also glanced at the driver.

Before any of them could react, an arrow struck just beside the seat of the driver, startling their horse. Their wagon shook as their horse sped up out of fright.

Despite what happened, the driver didn’t stop their horse, instead tried to whisper some words to calm it, completely ignoring the attack.

“What was that,” Nephrite exclaimed as he got back to his senses.

“Bandits,” the driver said. Nephrite froze. The voice sounds very familiar but before he could react, they heard multiple clopping sounds.

Three people on horseback were running after them.

Shier brought out his bow. “They probably thought we’re a real merchant group. Young Master, let me handle the rear.” An arrow suddenly flew between them, hitting a crate behind them. “Go, master!”

Nephrite didn’t question him. First, Shier was really a good archer. He can hit moving targets in the darkness of forests, what more was this group of humans. Second, someone must protect the driver.

“I’m sorry,” the driver said as he reached the front of the wagon, “I went on so they ran after us.”

“It’s fine. It’s not like we can stop anyway,” Nephrite answered. He pulled out a sword then struck it lightly on the wooden floor of the wagon, just enough to hold on. Nephrite then kneeled and closed his eyes. He wasn’t as good as Shier nor this driver in front of him but he still had an advantage that only he could do.

The driver didn’t bother him as he extended his consciousness to the surroundings. He hadn't tried it before and the idea only came to his mind now.

There is nothing to lose. Focus. Listen to the wind.

Firefly-like images slowly build up inside his brain. As sound resonated to every movement, Nephrite started to visualize everything around him. One by one, the surroundings materialize before the mind’s eye, from the wheels of the wagon to Shier’s expert archery, he can see all of it.

Great!