Volume 2 Chapter 3 Dreaming Past And Hero Countermeasures
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The bright midday sun shone down on a quiet, deserted park. The ground was stained with the soft glow of blue tiles, and a small bench sat alone beneath the open sky.
’…Huh?’
Klock blinked. The scenery was unfamiliar—yet strangely nostalgic.
’Is this… Livorno? It’s been so long. But… why am I here? When did I come back?’
He tried to move but couldn’t. His body felt numb, frozen in place.
’What the… I can’t even turn my head?’
Confused and slightly alarmed, he tried again, but no matter how much he willed it, his limbs wouldn’t respond. It felt like his entire self was disconnected—like a puppet without strings.
”K-Klock…”
”Y-Yeah…?”
A familiar voice called out beside him, and suddenly, his head shifted toward it—on its own. Sitting next to him on the bench was someone unmistakable.
’Cianie…? It’s her…’
His heart began to race. The recognition struck deep, and his voice answered before his mind could catch up.
There she was—his childhood friend, looking just as she had in their youth. Klock immediately understood.
This was a dream. A memory from the past.
A gentle breeze passed through the quiet park as they sat side by side. Klock closed his eyes, trying to suppress the fluttering in his chest. He remembered what came next.
Their lips touched—clumsily, nervously, but sweetly.
”…Hehe, we did it, didn’t we?”
”Yeah… we did…”
Their cheeks flushed bright red. Cianie peeked at him, eyes shining with happiness, while Klock looked away, embarrassed. Their feelings might’ve been slightly off-tune, but in that moment, they clicked together like gears finding their place.
’Even now, all these years later… it still feels fresh.’
It was a bittersweet memory. Back then, Klock had been engaged to another. But despite that, his feelings for Cianie had grown stronger every day. This scene must’ve been right after their first kiss—an innocent beginning clouded by the weight of guilt.
”Klock… one more time?”
”Y-Yeah…”
Their lips met again, more confident this time. Klock hesitated, still unsure, but Cianie leaned closer with a smile. Her warmth made it hard to resist.
”Hey, Klock…”
”Y-Yeah?”
”…Can I have a hug?”
She leaned into him gently.
They had hugged before, but today—right after their first kiss—it felt more intense. It wasn’t hard to do, but somehow, it felt new again.
”…Ugh… Kugh…”
”Eh?!”
Klock tensed, overwhelmed by the moment, then pulled her into a tight embrace. Surprised at first, Cianie didn’t resist. She smiled and returned the hug with soft, slow arms.
”Hehe. So happy~”
”Ahaha… yeah…”
Her smile radiated warmth. She had recently taken to asking for hugs whenever they were alone. Klock didn’t dislike them—on the contrary, he enjoyed them. But despite that, a part of him always hesitated.
”…Umm…”
”…Wh-what?”
”…It’s… kind of awkward again…”
Klock flinched. She noticed. He tried to pull away, face bright red, but she held on gently. He covered himself with a hand and turned his face to the side, filled with embarrassment.
”Boys get like that when they’re close to girls. It’s okay.”
”…Sorry.”
”No, I’m sorry.”
They both apologized at the same time, then fell into a quiet silence. Still clinging to him, Cianie didn’t let go. Klock, still embarrassed, kept his face hidden and his hands in place. It was awkward, and that made him feel even worse.
Why did he react like that? Why couldn’t he just enjoy the moment?
Just as he thought they should part ways for the day—
’Umm… I mean, I could help calm you down?’
”…Huh?”
’What?’
Klock froze.
Even his older self, watching through this memory, was shocked. But not because of her offer—rather, because this didn’t match any memory he knew.
’Wait. What is this? This never happened.’
Cianie had always been forward, sure, but not like this. And definitely not back then.
’I remember our first time. It was with her… but not in this park. And definitely not this young.’
Yet, here she was, moving closer to him with that same teasing smile.
’This is wrong. This memory is fake.’
A heavy feeling grew in his chest. This wasn’t right. The warm, innocent memory he had treasured was being overwritten, reshaped by something unnatural.
This wasn’t real.
And as the dream began to blur and distort, Klock’s thoughts turned heavy.
’Cianie… I’m sorry. I won’t let this fake scene replace the truth.’
* * *
A sudden, overwhelming surge swept through him. Unable to hold back, Klock’s body tensed. He sat up slightly, his hand resting on the girl’s head as the sensation peaked and spilled out.
A warm rush. A release that left his breath caught in his throat.
”Mmm… mmm…”
Still caught in the haze, Klock blinked. The weight of drowsiness clouded his vision, but as he glanced downward, he finally saw her.
”…Adelina…?”
She was kneeling by the bed, head lowered in his lap, moving gently, her mouth pressed close against him.
Her position was oddly serene—like a girl plucking fruit from a tree with both hands hidden beneath the leaves. The image was pure, yet the act was anything but.
Of course it felt strange. It wasn’t just a dream—it had started that way. Somehow, without him realizing, she had taken initiative… in a very personal way.
’Why… this early in the morning?’
He couldn’t even be angry. Fatigue still clung to his limbs, and the fading waves of pleasure dulled his thoughts. Klock let out a slow, resigned sigh.
Everyone has their innocent memories—ones that stay with them, untouched, no matter how much time passes.
For Klock, it had always been Cianie. His first love. Their moments together were still the clearest in his heart. Many would call him a fool for thinking about her like this. A coward. A thief.
’I wonder what she’s doing now… probably married. Living a peaceful life somewhere far from here. Forgotten all about me.’
The memory twisted in his chest, sharp and unwelcome. She had been the most beautiful part of his life—and also the most painful. Their parting had changed everything. It had started his downfall.
And now, even in dreams, he couldn’t escape her.
”Tch… seriously, what the hell…”
With a bitter mutter, Klock sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing a hand through his hair. He felt miserable. It was the worst kind of morning to wake up to—dreams tangled with memories, and stress that clung to his chest like smoke.
He needed a distraction. Something to pull him away from the past.
And just then, he noticed Adelina—still quietly at his side.
”…Hey,” he said, almost absentmindedly, “think you can… help me unwind a little more?”
Adelina looked up at him wordlessly. Then, without saying a thing, she climbed into the futon beside him, moving with calm familiarity.
She adjusted her position beneath the blanket. A moment later, Klock felt her rest against him again—soft, deliberate, and close.
He exhaled.
The morning was quiet. Not a word was spoken between them.
* * *
”I’m heading out for a bit. Gonna do some shopping.”
Saying that, Klock left the inn. Adelina stayed behind, seeing him off with a small wave. The gesture was oddly domestic—like a wife sending her husband off—but her face, as always, was blank. That contrast made the scene hard to describe.
She didn’t speak. Her face barely changed. And yet, she clung to people—even those who treated her poorly. She must have gone through a lot. Maybe it was the merchant, maybe someone before him. Only she knew. And it wasn’t something Klock could just ask.
There was nothing he could do. At least, not now. He shelved the issue for later and turned his focus to the day ahead.
Normally, he would’ve left the city by now. But after lying in bed last night, thinking things over, he chose to stay one more day.
First priority: get a proper weapon. And if possible, something with magic. Armor with enchantments would be nice too, but with just one gold coin, it might be a stretch.
Up until now, Klock never cared much for fancy equipment. Magic gear always felt like overkill. But that changed after the last incident—the pursuit from the other day, still vivid in his memory.
Holy Knight Tiet’s insane pressure and sheer strength had burned themselves into his mind. Running alone wasn’t going to cut it anymore. If he wanted to survive, he needed countermeasures.
Even summoning sirens and monsters barely slowed her down. Power alone wasn’t enough. Maybe enhancing himself would be more efficient. Boots with wind magic would be ideal… if they existed. Learning to use them would take time though.
The main street was crowded as usual.
Adventurers filled the roads, all shapes and sizes. There had to be a good hunting ground nearby, judging by how many gathered here.
Klock slipped through the crowd quickly, not looking at anyone too closely. Along the way, he bumped into people three times and mumbled quick apologies. But no one seemed to mind. This was the kind of place where bumping shoulders was just part of life.
Soon, he spotted a magic tools shop. Before entering, he checked his coin pouch—oddly, there were more copper and small coins than yesterday. He didn’t remember that happening.
”Oh, an adventurer, huh?” the shopkeeper greeted.
”Yeah, something like that. I’m a ranger. Show me gear with magic effects.”
He wasn’t lying. He really was registered as a ranger. He just… never did any actual adventuring.
”What kind of item are you looking for?”
”Something that helps me get away. You know—when you’re surrounded, or facing something insane.”
Klock subtly compared Tiet to a monster. He couldn’t exactly say “I’m being hunted by a holy knight,” after all.
The shopkeeper turned to a shelf. “Then maybe this. Ever heard of ‘insect wings’?”
Klock tilted his head. “Isn’t that just a cloak?”
It was a strange-colored cloak, shimmering like oil on water, changing hue with every angle.
”Looks normal, yeah, but it’s got a warp enchantment. One-use only. When you activate it, it shoots you away. You won’t control where you land, and the flight’s unstable. That’s why we call it ‘insect wings’—you just flutter off somewhere.”
”…I see. Handy, but hard to trust.”
”Got something else too.”
The shopkeeper motioned for him to follow deeper into the store. They passed the boots section, which told Klock there were no wind boots in stock after all.
”These here are waterwalkers. Let you cross rivers and lakes by foot.”
”Not bad. But I want something more flexible. Multi-use if possible.”
”Then there’s just one more thing…”
They moved even further back. The final stop: barrier devices.
Small, palm-sized tools, hexagonal or octagonal, each with fine lines engraved—likely magic circuits. Simple, compact defense.
”A bit pricey, but solid. Empire-made.”
He turned one over, revealing an emblem—flag of the Second Empire of Dusselhelm. Klock wasn’t sure it was real, but fake emblems were dangerous business. Selling counterfeit gear with the Empire’s seal could get you executed. So odds were, it was authentic.
”I’ve only got one gold coin… and three silver.”
He planned to hold onto at least one, so really, just the silver coins were available. Weapons would have to wait.
”So? We’ve got physical barriers, magic barriers, and a special one that hides your presence—blocks sight, sound, even smell.”
”I’ll take that one. The concealment type.”
Against monsters like Tiet and the others, brute defense wouldn’t hold. The moment they found him, he’d be dead. Disappearing was the better bet.
”Two gold normally, but for you—three silver today.”
”…That alright?”
”Sure. Not many people can afford these anyway. Consider it a first-time discount. Come back again.”
Klock nodded. A-tier adventurers might buy this stuff regularly. But once you were A-tier, maybe you didn’t need them.
After learning the basics—range, duration, how to recharge the magic—he left the shop.
He was now broke.
No weapon. No magic scrolls. But also no plans to fight anything. With Adelina around, combat was best avoided altogether. Deep down, Klock had already decided—he would protect her.
Now, he was left with: one silver coin, one copper, and one small copper.
Not even enough for a snack. Hopefully, some careless adventurer was nearby.
His eyes scanned the street. He’d spent days lifting coins from pockets. At night, drunk adventurers were easier, but also louder. Daytime had fewer risks. Less chance of a brawl.
Still, getting caught would be a pain.
Even so—today’s shopping was worth it. A few years of honest work wouldn’t have bought a tool like this.
He had a secret weapon now. A last-resort escape plan.
With a subtle smirk, Klock stepped back into the flow of the crowd.
Of course, in stories like these, when the thief starts grinning, it’s usually a sign.
That a hero is about to appear.
”Hey. You—didn’t you steal from me yesterday?”
Crap.
He’d been caught.
Notes:
• Cianie – A noble girl with a fluffy white and light blue dress, indicating her high status. She has a hesitant and flustered personality but is kind and courteous. Her relationship with Klock begins as an accidental encounter and develops into a romantic interest. She has a fiancé but expresses feelings for Klock, complicating their relationship.
• Adelina – The slave girl.
• Tiet – A companion and friend of Anna. A holy knight from the royal capital. She wears light armor and carries a shield adorned with a dragon holding a sword, indicating her affiliation with the National Military Police. She is concerned about Anna’s well-being and tries to support her emotionally.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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