I Was Confessed to by the Golden Sun

74 – 74. But the Akashic Records…

The hidden view of the city was almost as I had expected.

It looked very developed, but now there were neon signs that had been turned off and no traces of life visible.

The sensations that should be felt on land where living things should exist were absent.

‘I would be glad if even insects came out..’

Even the common bugs not appearing made the wide-open sight feel even more reproachful.

Perhaps due to the stillness, even the chilling gown that covered my entire body made me shudder.

“Ugh, it’s unnerving for no reason.”

If it hadn’t been Lucia muttering next to me, I probably wouldn’t have been affected by this apocalyptic atmosphere.

Francis said that he had exhausted all his magic creating the portal and couldn’t enter this dangerous place, so the only ones here now were me and Lucia.

Even if we didn’t want to rely on each other, we had no choice but to move forward together.

“What’s with being so cute even in this situation…”

Of course, I was already halfway smitten with Lucía’s cuteness, so I didn’t feel reluctant to rely on her. In fact, I wanted to.

“Come here, I’ll protect you,” I said.

However, it was quite a blow to my pride to say it so confidently with that bold expression. I extended my hand, and Lucía giggled and moved forward as if she found it amusing.

“To be honest, just a moment ago, I was extremely tense.”

We were facing the defeat of what could possibly be the last episode, the eighth episode. Just until we entered the portal, I was so nervous that I had to swallow hard.

“What are you waiting for? Come on!”

Still, I couldn’t feel the tension watching her hop around so cheerfully in front of me. Her vibrant energy even managed to dispel the tension that had built up.

“Here we go,” she said.

Recovering from the momentary daze, I shook off the distractions and followed Lucía to where she had gone ahead in search of any remnants of the princess.

“So, what are we looking for?”

But I couldn’t wait even for a short time before she came rushing toward me and clung to my arm, like a summer cicada.

“Sometimes I wonder if this person ever listens to mission briefings…”

Of course, hearing that made me feel somewhat dumbfounded. We had discussed the mission multiple times, even while riding the carriage to this important location. But she asked so naturally, as if she had never heard it before.

“Come on, just tell me!”

Maybe she sensed my frustration, as she looked at me with a pitiful expression like a cat with boots from Shrek.

“Acacic Records, that’s probably what the princess is looking for here. So, we should look for it too.”

I knew it, but I couldn’t help but respond to her question after being hit by her attack.

“Hmm…”

Nodding a few times and tilting her head, Lucía asked another question.

“Wasn’t that Hohum Coolus thing made with Acacic Records’ knowledge? So, the princess doesn’t need to come all the way here. She could have taken it with her when she first came in, right?”

“..I didn’t hear a single thing.”

Even though she had come to her own conclusions after pondering over it, her initial premise was already wrong.

“Princess discovered the existence of the Akashic Records and the design of Homunculus is correct, but even the princess doesn’t know where the Akashic Records are.”

It was concluded that the design of Homunculus was not directly found from the Akashic Records, but rather they were trying to find it from another place.

If the princess had possessed the Akashic Records, which contain all the information in the world, her coming here itself would be absurd.

We can be certain that the princess came here, as we confirmed it when we were on the carriage.

“The best option is to find the Akashic Records, and the second-best option is to capture the princess. If we succeed in either of these, the situation will be resolved.”

Based on what has been said so far, it may seem like capturing the princess is the best option.

“But beside the princess, there’s Nihil..”

It’s obvious that Nihil, who left the island when we were actively moving around, would be here.

And we have to confront Nihil directly.

hahahaha, it’s insane.

“..But do you know where the Akashic Records are?”

“I don’t know.”

“…?”

Lucia asked me as she watched me walking forward aimlessly as if I had a predetermined destination.

To be honest, even I don’t know where the Akashic Records are.

As she heard that, she looked at me as if she couldn’t believe it, but it is a reasonable judgment.

“According to Francis, when they investigated, the extent of the city connected by the portals was not that wide, or more precisely, it seemed like it was hastily separated from the outside.”

Because the range of this city we entered is limited.

The outskirts of the city, which is maintained in a square shape, are blocked by an invisible giant wall, and no matter what you do, it won’t open.

“So does that mean there must be a reason why only this space is separated.. like that?”

“Well, for now, even if the Akashic Records are not here, we won’t lose because we won’t obtain the princess.”

In the original work, when the princess escaped to this place, it is almost certain that there are Akashic Records here.

However, there is always the possibility that there isn’t, and if there really are no Akashic Records here, it might ruin the entire eighth episode.

“Ugh..”

As I pondered over whether the gods were punishing me for trying to ruin the story, my headache intensified.

-Thud!

But that’s a bit unjust.

Even now, the Crown Prince and Dylan, along with others, move effortlessly, dropping candies on the ground like Hansel and Gretel to lead the way.

Lucia, who watches this, wanting to eat, puts a candy in her mouth from her bag and drools. At least for now, even if she’s the second.

“Really, no matter how you look at it, it’s cute…”

For some reason, whenever I see her eating, I can’t help but think of a fluffy rabbit pushing food into its mouth.

I gently stroked Lucia’s head as if petting a pet rabbit I had seen in the market someday.

“Ah…”

..But does a rabbit make a purring sound when you pet it?

A rabbit that makes a cute purring sound when petted like a cat, it seems demand would be through the roof.

“I feel good…”

In that sense, I think I’m quite lucky to have obtained such a person for free.

Whether the situation was a bit tense or not, as I looked at her blushing face, silently accepting my touch, even my heart felt like it was healing for no reason.

So I spent a long time stroking her head and thinking about the plan.

‘..Hmm.’

While thinking about various things like this, as if there might be an Akashic record somewhere, my head started to itch uncomfortably.

A strange, intense sensation that felt like something was repeatedly hitting my head, a dizzying feeling lingered.

“It hurts a little…”

Since entering this portal, I felt it, but now it had turned into a slight headache. I let out a shallow groan, expressing my doubt about the subtle chilliness that had turned into a headache.

Lucia turned her head towards me and, with a worried expression, gently stroked my cheek, saying, “Are you okay? If it’s difficult, we can sit for a while before continuing.”

“No, I’m fine. I can’t waste unnecessary time because of me…”

My head throbbed, but I tried to laugh it off as usual.

Once again, a strange sensation surged in my head.

But this time, it wasn’t a dizzying feeling hitting my head, but a sense of direction leading my body.

‘What on earth is this?’

Impulsively, I looked at Lucia, unable to grasp where it was coming from.

She, seeming to have no problems at all, looked at me with worried eyes, but with a determined look.

‘Whatever it is, I’m feeling good right now…’

It wasn’t as pleasant as being in Lucia’s embrace, but I was gradually feeling a drowsiness washing over me.

“..Huh?”

My body began to move on its own accord.

It wasn’t my head moving my body, but rather my body overpowering my head and moving on its own.

Without making any judgment myself, my body moved as if possessed by something.

“Hey, hey! Where are you going all of a sudden while saying it hurts!”

I was so startled that I couldn’t properly gather my wits, and my body ran for a while leaving Lucia behind.

Soon enough, my body settled in a spacious empty space.

Forcing my unmoving head to turn back, I saw Lucia running towards me as well.

“At least that’s a relief..”

Just as I thought that, for a brief moment.

-Thump! Thump!

My hands suddenly started digging into the ground.

Lucia, who followed me with surprised eyes, froze for a moment.

-Thud!

My hands, after digging into the ground, made a dull sound as if they had hit something.

Digging more dirt away, what appeared there was nothing other than a small chest.

“This is really strange..”

As soon as I took out that chest on my own, I was once again able to move.

Whether that chest was calling out to me or not, I stared at the object that made me feel empty and put it back on the ground.

“Step aside.”

-Thud!

Lucia seemed frustrated and swung the chest down with a stick.

In the sudden situation, I was taken aback, and a faint golden light seeped out between the shattered chest.

“Oh, don’t tell me.”

I was hesitant as I flipped the chest to confirm the source of the golden light.

Soon enough, I saw a Akashic Record emitting a beautiful glow with my own eyes.

..What is happening all of a sudden?