Memories Lost to Time
"Hahaha! I like honest guys! Anyway, let's get right to it. I want you to go here."
The old man handed me a map of Anan Town.
One spot had been circled.
It was a house in a different Street from the residential area where I lived.
"It's an old house nobody lives in anymore. Apparently there's some kind of treasure-class item hidden in there."
"... Some kind of item? Like what?"
"No clue."
Seriously...?
"No matter how many expert appraisers have gone looking, nobody's ever found it. Find it, and I'll sell you the ore at half price."
"... Well, I'll give it a shot. But I might not find anything."
"In that case, you'll just pay the regular price. Sixteen gold coins."
T-that's expensive...!? Guess I'll have to search like my life depends on it.
"R-right. I'm off."
"Yep! Counting on you, kid!"
I left the shop and headed toward my destination using the map.
Passing through several streets from the bustling Weapons Merchant Street, I arrived in a residential area I'd never visited before, watching children running around and neighborhood ladies chatting by the well as I went.
There were far more mansions here than in the district where I lived.
Even the people walking around looked wealthy.
"Let's see... this way?"
… This street was dark. Kind of creepy.
According to the map, I had to go through here to reach the house. My legs wanted to freeze in place.
But if I completed this request, I'd be able to buy raw materials cheaply.
I swallowed hard and tried asking the wall beside me.
"H-hey... is it safe ahead? Is anyone there?"
(Feels like nobody's there~)
(Probably... most likely... maybe.)
(Can't guarantee it if somebody is~)
Which is it?
Ggh... no helping it. Time to steel myself.
Forcing strength into my trembling legs, I walked down the eerie alley.
It smelled a little moldy. But I didn't sense anyone around.
If nobody's here, there's nothing to be afraid of… please don't let anyone show up.
Comparing the map to my surroundings, I made my way through the maze-like back alleys.
After turning several corners, I finally saw an open area.
That must be it… thank goodness I didn't run into anybody.
I quickened my pace through the alley.
Ah... it's bright. Since the area opened up here, the sunlight reached it.
In the middle of the clearing stood the house marked on the map.
"Oh...? It's huge."
It was less of a house and more like a mansion.
Vines crawled over the outer walls, and moss covered the lower portions.
If someone cleaned it up, it looked like it'd still be perfectly livable. So why wasn't anyone living here...?
I walked all the way around the mansion, looking for anything unusual.
Hmm… some of the windows had been broken, and there didn't seem to be any entrances besides the front door.
Well, guess I'll just ask.
"Hey, got a minute?"
(... Well, well. It's been a long time since we've had a visitor. Welcome.)
Oh. Even a place this big could hold a conversation.
"How long has it been since you were left here all alone?"
(Lemme seeee~... I feel like I've watched soooooooo~ many full moons~...)
So it'd been at least a few years.
No... judging by how old it looked, maybe several decades.
"I'm here looking for some treasure inside. Mind if I come in?"
(The owner isn't here anymore, so please, go right ahead.)
"Thank you. Excuse me."
(It may smell, but it's still a cozy home. Make yourself comfortable~)
I'll pass on the smell, thanks.
Now that I had the house's permission, I opened the front door.
A long, creaking groan echoed through the mansion. It sounded like a ghostly scream.
Ugh... it was dusty. And there was the smell of rotting wood too.
"E-excuse me..."
I cautiously poked just my head inside first.
Directly ahead in the spacious entrance hall was a staircase leading to the second floor.
Hallways stretched off to both the left and right on the first floor, with several doors along them.
There were probably more rooms farther down those corridors.
The place was enormous. Could I really find some mysterious treasure in a place this big?
For now, I'd have to ask around. Maybe something here knew a clue.
I crouched in front of a shattered vase lying on the floor.
"Mind if I ask you something? I'm looking for a treasure in this house. Do you know anything about it?"
(What's a treasure?)
"I don't know either. I was only told there's something treasure-class hidden here."
… Listening to myself, I wasn't making any sense anymore.
There was way too little information to go on.
The vase fell silent for a moment, as though trying to remember something.
(Ahhh~... feels like there was... or maybe there wasn't...)
"Really!?"
(Or maybe there wasn't... maybe there was...)
"J-just a tiny hint, anything...!"
(Memory curve~)
What's that supposed to mean?
Sigh… looks like this one was no good.
Still, there were plenty of things left in this house.
If I asked every last one of them, surely something would remember.
All right… I'll just have to be patient.
What do you think about this chapter?
