Searching in the Dark (9)

"Have you forgotten? You came to help us, didn't you?"

Me? Or the 'character' I'm playing?

Who exactly does "us" refer to?

The moment I heard Orlie's words, my thoughts became a chaotic mess. How could I feel anything but uneasy when a stranger suddenly approaches as if they know everything? It was even more frustrating because I had no information to go on.

First of all, I was equating myself with the innkeeper.

When I saw my reflection in the water, the innkeeper's appearance was no different from the face I remembered. And since I started here as Citizen No. 1,001, an unremarkable extra with no ties, it seemed unlikely that the contract Orlie was referring to had anything to do with the innkeeper.

If there was some hidden setting about this body, I would have noticed it during the process of unlocking my own information, at least to some degree.

Which means, Orlie was referring to a contract that I, as my own self, had made. As for why I don't remember it—well, that could be dealt with later.

For now, it seems like Orlie is on my side, but what happens if they find out I have no memory? Would that be the end for me?

Right now, Orlie is in a corpse-like state. Something seems to be inhabiting the body, moving within it. Mimicking the living, it feels oddly familiar. If that's the case, what's the connection between this and the entities mentioned in the underground waterway?

Are they kin?

If those entities and Orlie are on the same side…

And if it's true that I made some kind of contract with Orlie before I lost my memory…

Could it be… that I've been sent here as some sort of 'villain'?

When Leonardo was still Leovald, it's clear from the circumstances that he saved Sinistra from them 10 years ago.

And in the typical development of a fantasy story, the seeds of evil the protagonist once fought against often creep back out, serving as a stepping stone for the hero's next actions. In this world, the entities mentioned in the underground waterway would likely fit that role.

Then, if this 'seed of evil'—a human who suddenly pretends to be friendly—is approaching me, am I really a villain or a hero?

Various scenarios unfolded in my mind. What if my true task was to steal the spotlight from the protagonist, Leonardo, and drag him down to the role of an extra, taking control of this world for myself?

If the reason I ended up in this world in the first place was due to the contract Orlie mentioned, that would be just too much. I nearly died in the early part of the scenario, reduced to ashes.

Thrown into an unfamiliar world with no knowledge, I managed to barely survive, dragging my role up to an 8% share in the story only because I fought tooth and nail.

If this had been an unfair contract, I would have reported it immediately. As I struggled to control the shifting expressions on my face, Orlie spoke quietly.

"Well…"

Clink. The sound of his armour echoed as he took a slow step closer. I tried not to back down, but it wasn't easy.

Behind Orlie, the towering stained glass distorted the sunlight. As the colourful light poured over his body like a watercolour painting, it felt like an unnatural splash of paint had tainted a black-and-white image. Orlie spoke softly.

"It seems you've lost your memory."

There was an edge to his simple words. Should I accept this or not? While I was wrestling with the decision, Orlie kept his indifferent gaze fixed on me. In my mind, the ticking of a stopwatch grew louder.

His black eyes, like stagnant pools, carried a subtle hint of something strange.

"I did think it odd that you didn't come sooner. But it's fine. We had expected this, to some degree."

I didn't understand what he meant. I didn't know the details, but I sure felt like I was in deep trouble.

I hesitated and stepped back, but Orlie moved a step closer. Just looking up at his face made me feel like the colour was draining from my own. It was terrifying.

"It would be better to move."

"No, I—"

"…It seems you're misunderstanding something. Contrary to what you may be worried about, I am not one of them. Yes, I did use Orlie's corpse for a while."

Different? You, the corpse-walking thing that mimics humans, are different?

When I looked more closely, I saw his fingertips were pale and lifeless, like a corpse. His lips, though he tried to hide them, were dry and withered, a deep blue. 

It seemed less like another being had inhabited his empty body and more like he was controlling the corpse as a puppet with his will. Orlie continued.

"You've forgotten, but we made a contract. You were supposed to help us, and in return, we would give you life again."

Life. 

Now that I thought about it, from the very moment I arrived here, I had been assuming 'death' was a given.

[—To think it would be like this even after dying.]

Strangely, I didn't find that thought odd. It felt natural, because it was an undeniable truth. I had died once. For sure.

But how did I die again?

A dull ache pulsed in my head. I could probably recall it if I tried hard enough, but at the same time, I didn't want to. A psychological term like "defenCe mechanism" briefly floated through my mind before sinking away.

My limbs began to tingle, and my heart started pounding uncontrollably.

[Main Author: Fool!]

Suddenly, words appeared in front of my eyes.

[Main Author: He's anxious!]

Surprisingly, Orlie stopped speaking after seeing the words. It wasn't just a matter of timing; it seemed like he had actually recognized them.

No one had ever read those words before. What was happening in front of me made no sense at all.

And above all, author? 

"I'm sorry. I thought this was a good opportunity because I happened to come across it by chance."

[Assistant Writer: I'm sorry. I thought this was a good opportunity because I happened to come across it by chance.]

I stared at Orlie in shock. This "assistant writer"—could it be…?!

[Main Author: It's still too early to make contact.]

"But it seems like my memories were also chipped away during the process of being inserted as an extra. Since we've come this far, at least a little explanation…"

[Main Author: Later. Interfering like this might make him notice.]

[Main Author: Just give a hint and avoid direct mention.]

[Main Author: Make some vague excuse and roll it back quickly.]

['Main Author' Roll-back request: Reverting to a certain point.]

[Request reason: Fixing background corruption error.]

What is this? Wait a minute!

"Hold on. Are you the writers of the scenario notes? What's going on right now? Don't do this—explain something!"

[Main Author: I'm really sorry. Not yet, but you'll know everything soon.]

[The voting session is held.]

['Main Author (40% stake)' votes in favour.]

[Sub Writer 1 (39% stake)' votes against.]

['Sub Writer 2 (??% stake)' is currently unavailable. The vote is considered invalid.]

['Assistant Writer (13% stake)' votes in favour.]

[Notification: A majority of 53% has voted in favour of the rollback. The development will be reverted to an earlier stage.]

And then, the sound of a page turning.

The lights abruptly went out, and the stage was swallowed by darkness.

***

…When I looked up, a paladin clad in silver-white armour stood silently before me.

The colourful light projected through the stained glass cast various shades across his face. He turned towards me.

Our eyes met naturally.

[Accessing information on the designated entity.] 

[The designated entity's rank is higher than the caster's, so most of the information is excluded from viewing.][Viewing information.]

Rank: Supporting Character (Scenario weight ■■.■%)

Role: Sir Orlie

Script: [A knight guarding the underground sanctuary. Also instructs Leo in swordsmanship.], [10 years ago, fought alongside Leovald, but ■■.], [Usually behaves in a manner that ■■■■, leading to ■■■■■■■■...]

Dialogue: None.

Oh, I got lucky.

It seems that Orlie, who first appeared in 'Scenario Note #001,' is exactly the sanctuary keeper I've been searching for.

And as a supporting character, it probably means he'll get involved with Leonardo later on, just like Vittorio. If I take a guess at the censored parts… did he teach Leovald swordsmanship?

Maybe he appears as a mentor, someone who recognizes the skill of his disciple, and in doing so, helps prove that Leonardo = Leovald.

Since ancient times, fantasy epics have often featured touching friendships or teacher-student bonds between warriors, clashing swords to prove their worth—it's a traditional motif, isn't it?

How should I approach this?

As I pondered, Orlie's expression softened slightly.

"…Are you planning to look around the library? I can guide you more thoroughly."

The priest leading the way smiled, pleased by the suggestion.

"Sir Orlie himself? How wonderful. What do you think, patron? Sir Orlie is the most experienced and seasoned member of the Sinistra Church."

Well, that's in my favour. I smiled brightly and nodded eagerly. But is it really okay for a knight to be giving me a tour? Are you that free?

It seemed like he was.

Orlie, with his hunched back and blinking eyes, casually passed by a monk copying text and led me toward the shelves. It was all religious texts and there were no real clues, so it would be a lie to say I wasn't bored—but I could manage this much.

As Orlie explained the origins of the shelves, we reached a somewhat secluded area. It was deeper than the other shelves, shaded appropriately and with the gaze of others blocked, making it a pleasant place.

"Scriptures are often said to be books that convey wisdom," Orlie said.

Orlie quietly approached me and reached out his hand. I wondered what he was trying to do, so I followed his movement up to the book resting near my head. He took it off the shelf.

I was trapped between his arm and the bookshelf, watching him carefully. He held the thick scripture in one hand and started flipping through its pages with a rustling sound.

"In ancient parables, there are stories of saints who achieved great deeds by following the scriptures' teachings. In other words, the scriptures are the plan of the heavens, words written by the Almighty."

Suddenly, was this a theological debate? Orlie seemed to be the stereotypical devout knight character.

"There's a famous riddle related to the scriptures. One day, the Almighty did not reveal the scripture to a traveler who had the potential to become a hero. But instead of becoming a hero, he met a tragic end. Can you guess what happened in the middle?"

Now it was a nonsensical riddle. It was a bit absurd, but I figured if I wanted to gather some information, I should at least try to engage and answer earnestly.

"Well, I guess there are about three possibilities."

Orlie gently pulled the scripture he was holding, taking it from me.

"Someone might have interrupted and snatched the scripture away."

He marked a passage with his finger, making a check.

"Or they might have distorted the content."

He pretended to tear a page, though he only mimicked the motion. I was relieved he didn't actually rip the page.

"Or perhaps the scripture itself was destroyed."

Orlie placed his hand gently on the scripture and responded quietly.

"Perhaps all three could have happened. It's a riddle with no correct answer, so anything could be the answer."

"Whoever it was, they must have been cruel."

A lost hero, huh?

This… oddly sounds like Leonardo, doesn't it?