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The Hares and the Hound – Part 04

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Translator: Kell

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The stairs were as dark as ever. Since they had to keep their eyes peeled for traps, they made slow progress. It felt like they had been descending for a long time now.

“Hey,” Julie called softly from behind. “You’re a nice boy.”

Kazuya looked up. He inclined his head, wondering what she was talking about.

Julie cast a glance at Victorique. “You’re trying so hard to protect the girl,” she said in a teasing tone.

Kazuya flushed. “N-Not really… Besides, she always has a bone to pick with me.”

“She wants your attention.”

Kazuya could not believe it one bit. “Can you elaborate?”

“She’s a girl like any other. She has a sharp tongue, but I think she trusts you. She lets you carry her things, and look, she never lets go of your hand.”

Kazuya focused on his hand. She was right. Despite Victorique’s grumbling, she was squeezing Kazuya’s hand tight. He wondered if she really trusted him. Or was she feeling nervous of the current situation?

There wasn’t the slightest hint of fear from her words and attitude, but her thoughts seemed to course through her hand. Kazuya squeezed her hand back.

“Let me tell you something, young man. People like her never give you their stuff unless they really trust you. You can bet on it.”

“Before coming here, I opened her bag without her permission and told her to reduce her luggage.”

“And if it were anyone else, she wouldn’t have let them get away with it. She wouldn’t go on the trip. She’d just turn around and head back home.”

Kazuya mulled it over. Julie watched him admiringly.

Feeling embarrassed, he said, “I just… feel responsible for our current situation.”

“Oh, are you the culprit?”

“Please don’t even joke about it. What I mean is…” Kazuya’s face clouded over.

It was him who brought Victorique along on this trip. As far as he knew, she had always been in the library’s conservatory, a cozy skylighted room on the top floor that the king built for him and his mistress. Victorique was a mysterious being, like a spirit or a tiny deity that lived in St. Marguerite, skimming through books and occasionally solving cases from the world below.

She spent each day of her life in peace, surrounded by wonder and mystery.

And yet, he invited her to a weekend trip and brought her to such a dangerous place. If something happened to her, it would be on him.

The only thing she had was her intellect. Her body was so small and frail. He was only a helpless kid, but he wanted to at least protect her.

These thoughts were the exact reason why people called him straight-laced and overly-serious. His older brothers and father, who was strict with himself and others, constantly reminded him to protect those who were weaker than him, even if he himself was powerless.

He never thought he could do it, that he was far from being a heroic character. It was simply impossible. But right here, right now, he didn’t want to show any sign of weakness to Julie. He had his pride.

“You’re a fine young man,” Julie teased. She wasn’t aware of what was going through his mind.

“Well, I’m the third son of an imperial soldier.”

“Or a baby boy.” Julie giggled. Kazuya blushed, then she added, “I like kids like you. Let’s get out of here alive, yeah?”

Her remark sounded innocent, but it made Kazuya embarrassed nevertheless. He clammed up, not sure what to say.

“We made it,” Ned, who was walking ahead, uttered with relief.

Finally, they reached their destination floor.

Feeling at ease, Kazuya turned to Victorique. “Just a little longer now.”

Suddenly, Maurice, who had been following Ned, let out a yelp.

Kazuya and Julie shared a look, and went down the stairs.

As they walked down the last two steps, there was a splashing sound. Through their footwear, they could feel themselves wading through water. The pale incandescent lamps showed seawater.

The floor was already flooded, murky water coming up to their knees.

The level, with its cargo hold and engine room, was very different from the one above. It was like being in a giant pipe. The corridor looked bleak and unsanitary. The dirty water churned little waves. It was a hopeless sight.

Ned and Maurice exchanged weary looks.

“What the hell is going on?” Maurice wailed. “We can’t get to the bow like this!”

Ned clutched his head and let out a low groan.

Julie came down the stairs late and started plodding down the hallway, knee-deep in water.

While the two men only stared at her, she turned around to Kazuya. “What are you doing? Move it! We can make it if we hurry.”

Kazuya hesitated for moment, then nodded firmly. “C-Coming!” He bent down. “Get on,” he told Victorique.

For a second, Victorique was bewildered.

“Get on already!” Julie yelled.

“Quick! We gotta hurry!”

Victorique gave a series of low grunts before reluctantly climbing onto Kazuya’s back. It felt like a dog or cat hopped on his back, too light for a human being. For all her hesitation, her slim arms’ grip around Kazuya’s neck was tight.

“O-Ow! You’re choking me.”

“…Tough it out.”

“No way. You’re gonna kill me.”

While they argued, Kazuya started trudging through the water. He could hear Maurice and Ned following behind.

“Thank goodness!” Julie exclaimed after a while. “The hallway here isn’t blocked. Guys, we’re on the bow now. Upstairs, quick! I’m going ahead!”

Kazuya quickened his pace. Feeling delighted, Victorique stretched herself and started swinging her legs. She almost fell into the water, so Kazuya put more strength into his arms. Whether she knew how tough he had it or not, Victorique continued swinging her legs happily.

They reached the stairs on the ship’s bow side, and slowly began climbing, carefully avoiding any traps.

“How did this happen?” Maurice mumbled. “There’s a Hare among them. I won’t let my guard down. I know!” He bolted to the upper floor.

They were still below the first floor, which was probably why the lights were dimmer and the carpet in the hallway old and shaggy. Originally red, it had darkened and begun to fade from the middle where people often walked. The lamps were practical in design, scarcely ornamented, and the planks used for the walls had noticeable knots.

Maurice hastily opened every door he could find. There were endless third-class cabins with quadruple bunk beds crammed to the ceiling.

“Hey, what are you doing?” Ned asked curiously.

“If this ship is a replica of the old Box, then there should be one around here. Yes… found it!”

Maurice’s face warped triumphantly.

Ned tried to get closer, but quickly stopped with a yelp.

Maurice faced them, holding a gun. Trembling hands gripped a chunk of metal that glimmered black as darkness.

With a squeal, Ned rushed behind the others. Maurice pointed the muzzle in their direction. The corner of his mouth quirked up.

“There were a lot of weapons hidden in the ship. In drawers, in vases, under carpets. Everywhere. This is one of them.”

“But why…?” Julie asked.

She regarded Maurice with a sorrowful look, her hands shaking. She was on the verge of tears. Maurice’s face was expressionless as he stared back at her. And as though it was the most natural thing to do, he began speaking with authority.

“To kill each other.”

“What do you mean…?”

The man shrugged. “Some were killed by traps. Others found weapons and killed each other. Things went according to plan. There was no point in having many survivors, you see.”

“What are you talking about?!”

“There’s no need for you to know. Also…” Maurice grinned. “There was a Hound.”

“A Hound?”

“Yes, a Hound.”

Maurice shut his mouth, then slowly pulled the slide of the gun.

Click!

There was an ominous sound of a bullet sliding into the chamber.

“Die, Hare!”

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