Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance Chapter 49

“Why are you hurt?”

 

“That’s…”

 

Saturday evening. Cordelia’s eyes flashed murderously as she caught sight of the bruise on Eileen’s wrist. It hadn’t been there until this morning.

 

“Uh…”

 

Eileen, wearing a long cardigan to hide the wound, pulled the sleeve down embarrassedly.

 

“Oh, it’s okay, I just got my arm stuck between a display case while I was shopping in the market, don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt.”

 

“Which store had finger-shaped display cases?”

 

Eileen’s tail twitched at Cordelia’s wry smile.

 

“It’s no big deal, really. I just had a little problem, but I got it fixed.”

 

“And you can’t tell me?”

 

“Hehe.”

 

Cordelia narrowed her eyes at Eileen’s attempt at laughter to deflect the situation, suspicious of what other reckless things she might be up to.

 

“Okay. If it’s all good, you’re coming out with me tomorrow.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“You’re going out tomorrow?”

 

The way Cordelia looked at her with that smug expression made Eileen shudder. Because her prediction had been correct.

 

For a moment, Eileen wondered if she should go with Cordelia. Tomorrow, she planned to go away to see if there were any rooms around that would be suitable for the children, and if there was anywhere else, she could leave them.

 

‘Though my first thought was Mother Gale.’

 

Eileen thought of Lua and Moa, who were still awkward to humanize. It was clear that they would be better suited to a less discriminatory environment with mature adults and peers their own age.

 

“I think the Baroness of House Fort, a regular at the Arboretum, said something about a male quarter.”

 

Eileen thought about asking Oslo about it, then turned back to face Cordelia. 

 

If she changed her plans a little and put off seeing the room, she could keep the subject of Lua and Moa from her.

 

“I’ll come with you then.”

 

“Hmph.”

 

Cordelia was the only one who noticed something in Eileen’s obedient acceptance of her company.

 

 

* * *

 

 

It was a Sunday afternoon when she learned why the children died in the original story.

 

As planned, Eileen and Cordelia hit the streets and Eileen mailed the letter she had written the day before in her dorm room. Then she went to a diner to have a late lunch with Cordelia.

 

She found it on her way to the post office, an old, small restaurant with wisteria hanging from the roof.

 

“I’ll have a ham omelet and homemade beef stew, please!”

 

The aging chef nodded and disappeared into the kitchen.

 

“Looks like we’re the only customers here.”

 

“Maybe because it’s two o’clock.”

 

A light breeze blew in through the open window, carrying wisteria. Cordelia jerked her chin as if she liked the sight and began to admire the scenery.

 

Almost simultaneously, the languid scene drew Eileen into a memory.

 

 

* * *

 

 

“Is it good?”

 

“Yes, it’s delicious!”

 

Cordelia patted Moa’s head affectionately as he grinned at the ham-filled bowl.

 

“Sis, me too!”

 

Lua urged, and Cordelia smiled pleasantly as she lightly stroked Lua’s hair, tucking it behind her ear. Then the satisfied child smiled, her eyes narrowing.

 

“I wish my brother could have joined us.”

 

“Lakquerta’s busy with his healing classes. Are you upset that your sister came instead?”

 

“No, I love it!”

 

Cordelia laughed happily, hugging both Lua and Moa at the same time. The elderly chef, Gorton, saw the scene as he came out of the kitchen and smirked.

 

“Well, they’ve been scaled again. No customers now, so it’s okay, but you’ll have to be a little more careful.”

 

“Oh, thank you.”

 

Cordelia made sure the window shades were securely closed before smiling at Gorton.

 

“I know it’s nothing to an old man like me, but there are a lot of weirdos out there.”

 

“I know, and that’s all the more reason to thank you for letting the children have such a nice room.”

 

“My grandson’s going to the capital, so I’ll have more room, which is a good thing. Never mind.”

 

Laughing heartily, he slurped the sausages from the pan onto the children’s plates.

 

“Here, eat up and grow big.”

 

“Wow, Grandpa’s the best!”

 

Gorton and Cordelia smiled as they watched the children happily continue to eat. It was a peaceful, happy memory.

 

It was only for a moment.

 

 

* * *

 

 

“Ugh! You forgot your hair tie.”

 

“What can we do, we don’t know when they’ll be back.”

 

The two children fumbled with the thin ribbon in their hands as Gorton went into the kitchen to tidy up.

 

“Do you want me to get it for you?”

 

“But we’ll get in trouble if we go out.”

 

“Sister just left, so maybe she’s still right outside?”

 

Lua and Moa studied each other, their slit pupils and thin scales well hidden.

 

“Then let’s go out front and come back as soon as she’s gone.”

 

“Okay, promise!”

 

The children pushed open the door and walked out. The cool autumn breeze tickled their cheeks, but they couldn’t stop themselves from running, eager to see Cordelia again.

 

It wasn’t long before they caught a glimpse of her in the distance.

 

“Sister!”

 

Cordelia disappeared around a bend in the alley. The excited children scrambled to catch up to her, running faster and faster.

 

Faster and faster. Hearts pounding in their chests at the thought of seeing Cordelia again. It was then that the humanization of the excited children came crashing down.

 

“Ah!”

 

“Bodies!”

 

The panicked young snakes squirmed against each other.

 

‘We have to go back!’

 

‘But my sister is just around the corner!’

 

‘Oh, Moa, don’t go!”

 

Moa, biting down on the ribbon string, scurried around the alleyway, away from Lua’s protests.

 

Kong.’

 

Moa looked up happily at the paws blocking her way.

 

‘Sis!’

 

But it was not Cordelia, but a man, black from head to toe.

 

‘Moa, let’s run!’

 

As Moa crawled to Lua, who had caught up to her, the man, who had been looking away, slowly lowered his head.

 

“What are these snakes?”

 

He said irritably, looking at the snakes at his feet with disgust,

 

“I thought I was Lucian’s handmaiden, and now all I have to do is keep an eye on the little girl, and now she’s got snakes.”

 

The man unsheathed the sword at his waist.

 

“You should have stayed hidden, why are you running around out here?”

 

It didn’t take long for him to catch up to the young snakes as they fled in wide strides.

 

It was just as quickly that their little lives were snuffed out.

 

“No!”

 

Eileen screamed as Gorton slammed the ham omelet down on the table, jolting her out of the horrifying original.

 

“Eileen, what’s wrong with you all of a sudden!”

 

“Student, are you okay!”

 

Next to the ham omelette, a ripe sausage was cut into bite-sized pieces, and Eileen covered her mouth to stifle the rising nausea.

 

“Eileen!”

 

As Cordelia and Gorton screamed and shouted in panic, Eileen, who had fallen to the floor, grabbed the hem of Cordelia’s skirt with a trembling arm.

 

“Cordelia, we have to go somewhere.”

 

“Wait, Eileen, if you’re not feeling well, you need to rest first.”

 

“It’s now or never! Cordelia, please.”

 

Eileen shuddered, and the unnerved star clung to her side and began to cry with her, the wisteria dropping its soft petals in response to her sobs.

 

Cordelia looked down at Eileen with unreadable eyes, but soon pulled her to her feet.

 

“Yes, come with me. I’m sorry, my friend isn’t feeling well, so she’ll have to come another time.”

 

Cordelia, who had given Gorton a generous sum of money that more than covered the cost of the food, helped Eileen to her feet and they left the store.

 

Eileen, who had been leaning on Cordelia for a long time, spoke up, her voice a little weak.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

Cordelia hugged her dear friend with many secrets a little tighter.

 

“I’ll make it up to you later.”

 

She tried to sound playful, and Eileen let out a giggle.

 

“I’ll make you as happy as I can.”

 

Cordelia spoke again as Eileen said that, trying to forget the death she had witnessed so clearly.

 

“We’ll be happy together.”

 

Eileen’s eyes widened for a moment, but then the gun returned.

 

“Yes.”

 

With that short, resolute answer, Eileen broke free of her support and began to walk. A gentle breeze still blew through the alley, mixed with wisteria.