Did the former owner and residents of this residence have an obsession with the garden?
Rapunzel opened the door with its upper half broken, revealing a snowy garden, and Moore squinted his left eye at the brightness.
Although the sky was lightly cloudy, the faint sunlight penetrated, reflecting on the white snow, making it dazzling for Moore, who had just awakened.
Inside the brick fence, traces of flower beds and broken angel statues could be seen. Unconsciously, he briefly pondered how the owners used to take care of it when they were still present.
"The footprints are... over there."
Three sets of footprints in the front yard—those of familiar sizes undoubtedly belonged to the women.
Following those footprints, Rapunzel, supporting Moore's shoulder, began to walk slowly.
Adjusting his pace to match hers, Moore walked out of the garden. Instead of an expanse of snow, it seemed to be a small village nestled between mountains.
Decaying houses, with no signs of human presence in any of them. While silence enveloped the village, a gust of cold wind passed through.
He recalled the map left by Snow White, which mentioned information about the village approximately 2 km west of the lighthouse.
"Aren't you cold?"
"I'm fine."
"..."
"...I'm fine."
"Hehe."
Their first encounter was when he handed over Marian. Speaking without honorifics or formal language to someone not much different from a first meeting was quite troublesome.
Perhaps he involuntarily responded with respect. Sensing Rapunzel's gaze on him as she lent her shoulder, he continued with a corrected response, and the saint smiled calmly as if she liked it.
"...Walking with someone like this, it's been a while."
"...I apologize for the trouble."
"No, please don't worry. I'm rather happy."
"...Happy?"
"Yes. It reminds me of the past."
Turning to Rapunzel's profile, who mentioned the past, he gazed into the distance—recalling the past. She was looking slightly upward with forget-me-not-colored eyes.
The sound of footsteps crunching the snow faintly echoed, and the journey seemed to be coming to an end.
.
.
.
.
----
"I'm not saying this because I like it!!"
When they approached the outskirts of the village, a familiar voice—Anis' voice, but in an enraged state—resounded. Whatever the reason for her anger, she seemed lively.
"It's over there."
Rapunzel, guiding him to the collapsed barn, matched her pace. As soon as he saw the three familiar figures lined up in front of the barn, he let out a deep sigh of relief.
"Aren't you regretting it, Anis!?"
"What... I am too... Even I...!!"
"Both of you, stop. It's not too late to decide after the commander wakes up."
"Did you call me?"
Though it wasn't dignified, Moore, supported by Rapunzel's shoulder, spoke to the women. Instantly, everyone turned their faces as if bounced, and each widened their eyes.
"To be shouting with such energy, it seems like you've completely recovered. That's good. Isn'it, Brother?"
"...Brother? I'm not particularly religious..."
"I want to call you that. Is it okay?"
"Well, it's fine, I guess..."
Living a life far from the church and, above all, despising the existence or concept of God thoroughly, Moore, as such, felt a slight hesitation about being called that. However, when the saint supporting him lowered her gaze and asked with a worried look, he couldn't refuse.
In the end, as soon as he gave his consent, Rapunzel smiled gently.
"Commander!"
"Master!"
"Is your body okay? How are you feeling?"
The subordinates who had rushed over seemed to be repaired. While Anis and Neon greeted him, Rapi looked up at him with her red eyes in a worried manner.
"Oh, I'm fine. It's not that bad."
"That's good."
She spoke just two words—whispered with deep emotion.
"How about this area? Can we set up a temporary camp here?"
While supporting him, Rapunzel asked Rapi. Hearing that, she casually shook her head from side to side.
"No, I think it's better to move. There might be a snow avalanche because of more snowfall than expected, and Rapture is still lingering due to the delayed deployment of the decoy."
"I see. Then let's find another place and move—"
"No, it's better to go back."
In response to Rapi's report, the saint nodded. Just as she was about to continue walking ahead, Anis interjected.
"Commander, let's come back after getting treated in Ark. What do you think?"
Looking up at him with her hazel eyes, Anis, grabbing the sleeve of her winter combat suit, pleaded.
"Anis."
"It's okay. I'm not in that much of a hurry, and we can contact Snow White later and come back."
"I don't want to, Master."
Rapi urged her to hold back, but Anis ignored it and pressed on with determination. However, following that, Neon voiced a clear rejection.
"It's a waste to go back without gaining anything after going through so much trouble. Just shoot something and make it explode! That's the spirit of firepower!"
Moore couldn't quite understand the latter half of Neon's reasons for refusing to return, but he could sense the meaning she wanted to convey.
In any case, a decision was necessary, but—
"That is..."
"Well, well. Everyone, please calm down. It's not good to force a decision on someone who is tired both mentally and physically."
Perhaps understanding his hesitant thoughts, Rapunzel couldn't help but soothe them. Anis and Neon must have realized that they were pressing for a decision in their usual manner despite him suffering severe injuries. Both of them immediately dropped their shoulders.
"...Sorry."
"Ah... I'm sorry."
"Moreover, in such a cold place, one cannot make the right judgment. ──Both the body and the heart will freeze."
"Well... Certainly... It's cold."
Although the warmth sensed by Rapunzel nearby lessened the cold, the sight of breath turning white involuntarily reminded him that they were in the snow-covered northern region.
"...Like...Ardennen..."
"──Tch!?"
As he unintentionally murmured a word or a place name that crossed his mind, a momentary intense pain surged within his skull. Like a spring, the saint turned her face towards Moore, her forget-me-not-colored eyes widening. Concerned about his condition, Rapi called out to him as he frowned.
"Commander, are you okay?"
"I'm fine... No problem. ...Anyone got a cigarette?"
"Please wait."
Wanting to calm down a bit and distract from the pain, he asked for a cigarette. Rapi rummaged through her jacket pocket and pulled out his soft pack of beloved cigarettes. The remaining ones, a few, undoubtedly belonged to Moore and were kept in his body armor.
She plucked out one cigarette, brought it to his lips, and, acknowledging his acceptance, Rapi then pulled out a turbo lighter, pressed the button, and sent a blue flame shooting up. Toasting the tip, and soon the fire ignited, Moore leisurely let the purple smoke waft.
Taking a deep breath and feeling a bit of discomfort and pain, he didn't send it all the way to his lungs at once, savoring the sight and scent of the purple smoke. Seeing this, the saint briefly lowered her eyes but quickly raised her gaze to look at everyone.
"I'll guide you to a place that warms both your heart and body. Please come this way."
Next to him, the scent of cigarettes lingered.
That distinctive scent might be a source of disgust for some, but for the saint, it unmistakably evoked a sense of nostalgia.
Gently glancing sideways at him as he smoked, Rapunzel focused her forget-me-not-colored gaze on the uncovered left side of Moore's face. She once again felt an unavoidable resemblance.
-----
Author: The suggestive actions and gestures of the saintly lady continue, endlessly.
Did the former owner and residents of this residence have an obsession with the garden?
Rapunzel opened the door with its upper half broken, revealing a snowy garden, and Moore squinted his left eye at the brightness.
Although the sky was lightly cloudy, the faint sunlight penetrated, reflecting on the white snow, making it dazzling for Moore, who had just awakened.
Inside the brick fence, traces of flower beds and broken angel statues could be seen. Unconsciously, he briefly pondered how the owners used to take care of it when they were still present.
"The footprints are... over there."
Three sets of footprints in the front yard—those of familiar sizes undoubtedly belonged to the women.
Following those footprints, Rapunzel, supporting Moore's shoulder, began to walk slowly.
Adjusting his pace to match hers, Moore walked out of the garden. Instead of an expanse of snow, it seemed to be a small village nestled between mountains.
Decaying houses, with no signs of human presence in any of them. While silence enveloped the village, a gust of cold wind passed through.
He recalled the map left by Snow White, which mentioned information about the village approximately 2 km west of the lighthouse.
"Aren't you cold?"
"I'm fine."
"..."
"...I'm fine."
"Hehe."
Their first encounter was when he handed over Marian. Speaking without honorifics or formal language to someone not much different from a first meeting was quite troublesome.
Perhaps he involuntarily responded with respect. Sensing Rapunzel's gaze on him as she lent her shoulder, he continued with a corrected response, and the saint smiled calmly as if she liked it.
"...Walking with someone like this, it's been a while."
"...I apologize for the trouble."
"No, please don't worry. I'm rather happy."
"...Happy?"
"Yes. It reminds me of the past."
Turning to Rapunzel's profile, who mentioned the past, he gazed into the distance—recalling the past. She was looking slightly upward with forget-me-not-colored eyes.
The sound of footsteps crunching the snow faintly echoed, and the journey seemed to be coming to an end.
.
.
.
.
----
"I'm not saying this because I like it!!"
When they approached the outskirts of the village, a familiar voice—Anis' voice, but in an enraged state—resounded. Whatever the reason for her anger, she seemed lively.
"It's over there."
Rapunzel, guiding him to the collapsed barn, matched her pace. As soon as he saw the three familiar figures lined up in front of the barn, he let out a deep sigh of relief.
"Aren't you regretting it, Anis!?"
"What... I am too... Even I...!!"
"Both of you, stop. It's not too late to decide after the commander wakes up."
"Did you call me?"
Though it wasn't dignified, Moore, supported by Rapunzel's shoulder, spoke to the women. Instantly, everyone turned their faces as if bounced, and each widened their eyes.
"To be shouting with such energy, it seems like you've completely recovered. That's good. Isn'it, Brother?"
"...Brother? I'm not particularly religious..."
"I want to call you that. Is it okay?"
"Well, it's fine, I guess..."
Living a life far from the church and, above all, despising the existence or concept of God thoroughly, Moore, as such, felt a slight hesitation about being called that. However, when the saint supporting him lowered her gaze and asked with a worried look, he couldn't refuse.
In the end, as soon as he gave his consent, Rapunzel smiled gently.
"Commander!"
"Master!"
"Is your body okay? How are you feeling?"
The subordinates who had rushed over seemed to be repaired. While Anis and Neon greeted him, Rapi looked up at him with her red eyes in a worried manner.
"Oh, I'm fine. It's not that bad."
"That's good."
She spoke just two words—whispered with deep emotion.
"How about this area? Can we set up a temporary camp here?"
While supporting him, Rapunzel asked Rapi. Hearing that, she casually shook her head from side to side.
"No, I think it's better to move. There might be a snow avalanche because of more snowfall than expected, and Rapture is still lingering due to the delayed deployment of the decoy."
"I see. Then let's find another place and move—"
"No, it's better to go back."
In response to Rapi's report, the saint nodded. Just as she was about to continue walking ahead, Anis interjected.
"Commander, let's come back after getting treated in Ark. What do you think?"
Looking up at him with her hazel eyes, Anis, grabbing the sleeve of her winter combat suit, pleaded.
"Anis."
"It's okay. I'm not in that much of a hurry, and we can contact Snow White later and come back."
"I don't want to, Master."
Rapi urged her to hold back, but Anis ignored it and pressed on with determination. However, following that, Neon voiced a clear rejection.
"It's a waste to go back without gaining anything after going through so much trouble. Just shoot something and make it explode! That's the spirit of firepower!"
Moore couldn't quite understand the latter half of Neon's reasons for refusing to return, but he could sense the meaning she wanted to convey.
In any case, a decision was necessary, but—
"That is..."
"Well, well. Everyone, please calm down. It's not good to force a decision on someone who is tired both mentally and physically."
Perhaps understanding his hesitant thoughts, Rapunzel couldn't help but soothe them. Anis and Neon must have realized that they were pressing for a decision in their usual manner despite him suffering severe injuries. Both of them immediately dropped their shoulders.
"...Sorry."
"Ah... I'm sorry."
"Moreover, in such a cold place, one cannot make the right judgment. ──Both the body and the heart will freeze."
"Well... Certainly... It's cold."
Although the warmth sensed by Rapunzel nearby lessened the cold, the sight of breath turning white involuntarily reminded him that they were in the snow-covered northern region.
"...Like...Ardennen..."
"──Tch!?"
As he unintentionally murmured a word or a place name that crossed his mind, a momentary intense pain surged within his skull. Like a spring, the saint turned her face towards Moore, her forget-me-not-colored eyes widening. Concerned about his condition, Rapi called out to him as he frowned.
"Commander, are you okay?"
"I'm fine... No problem. ...Anyone got a cigarette?"
"Please wait."
Wanting to calm down a bit and distract from the pain, he asked for a cigarette. Rapi rummaged through her jacket pocket and pulled out his soft pack of beloved cigarettes. The remaining ones, a few, undoubtedly belonged to Moore and were kept in his body armor.
She plucked out one cigarette, brought it to his lips, and, acknowledging his acceptance, Rapi then pulled out a turbo lighter, pressed the button, and sent a blue flame shooting up. Toasting the tip, and soon the fire ignited, Moore leisurely let the purple smoke waft.
Taking a deep breath and feeling a bit of discomfort and pain, he didn't send it all the way to his lungs at once, savoring the sight and scent of the purple smoke. Seeing this, the saint briefly lowered her eyes but quickly raised her gaze to look at everyone.
"I'll guide you to a place that warms both your heart and body. Please come this way."
Next to him, the scent of cigarettes lingered.
That distinctive scent might be a source of disgust for some, but for the saint, it unmistakably evoked a sense of nostalgia.
Gently glancing sideways at him as he smoked, Rapunzel focused her forget-me-not-colored gaze on the uncovered left side of Moore's face. She once again felt an unavoidable resemblance.
-----
Author: The suggestive actions and gestures of the saintly lady continue, endlessly.
