Bab 22: Vacation Across The Sea (1)
Rocking.
The light swayed within the room as rain poured incessantly outside.
Black clouds, neverending water and rough waves.
Within the room, a fountain pen moved in the beat of the ocean as words imprinted onto paper and that paper then made a page.
"Aren't you afraid?"
A voice called out.
"Afraid? Miss Jill, even if this boat capsized, I could care less. This is because I know that you will somehow save me."
Alvis said, his eyes not moving away from the book he was writing on.
"Though if this boat truly does sink, it will be a pity. All this time recording my journey thus far would have been a waste."
Setting the pen down, Alvis closed the book and packed his belongings within his suitcase.
"Who knew going to America could be so tough?"
The large ship made for commercial use felt as if it was going to break at any moment.
Ignoring the sound of water crashing into the boat, groans of people resounded.
'To think that even the weather could be influenced to such an extent by a large concentration of mana…'
Alvis sighed.
"Though, Miss Jill?"
"Yes, my dear slave?"
"...I thought our destination was Paris in France, not the United States of America…"
"Why do you think so?"
"I mentioned it before… Didn't I?"
Jill the Ripper's head turned to its side.
"We can just go next time."
Alvis sighed.
"I'm going to step out Miss Jill, of course I can't do anything if you choose to follow."
As the wooden door opened, the groans of the people resounded louder.
Through the circular glass windows, the roaring of rain and thunder overlapped with the sounds of humans.
The normally white paint of the ship was reduced to a dull gray.
"..."
'...This atmosphere is quite depressing.'
As Alvis walked on the wet wooden floor of the boat, the boat suddenly tilted to the side.
"Ah…"
"..."
"...Miss Jill, this pose is quite embarrassing. Would you mind letting me go?"
Wordlessly, Jill the Ripper let go of Alvis.
"...Are you not going to speak?"
Jill the Ripper smiled before walking towards the deck.
"?"
"Miss Jill…?"
Holding the guardrail, Alvis walked at a steady pace.
As the corridor neared its end, Jill the Ripper stepped into the rain soaked deck.
"!?"
"Miss Jill!"
Letting go of the guardrail, Alvis ran into the rain.
'...Where… where did she go?'
"Hey!"
The voice was muffled as it traveled through the rain.
"You need to go back into your room! The outside is currently not safe, we are in a mana concentrated zone!"
Alvis turned back at the man's words.
As he opened the door, a familiar voice resounded.
"Oh? I was expecting you to stay out for a tad longer."
"...Miss Jill?"
"Yes?"
"..."
"No, no. It's nothing."
***
There are many problems within this world.
Unlike the modern society where many issues are gone but smaller issues appear, this world is still in the process of eliminating those issues.
For one, slavery is still common within the United States and in some parts of London as well.
Perhaps it was because my time was spent within London and in captivity for the majority, but I never truly felt the issues within a world in the late 1800's.
I stared at the blatant display of demi-humans in chains.
"..."
'...Is this what they mean by 'ignorance is bliss'?'
My left hand held my face as I watched various demi-humans in servitude with humans.
It truly made me wonder as to how demi-humans were captured.
In almost all aspects demi-humans were superior to humans yet in the end their fate was as follows…
Though many mythological races had died out, some remained.
Demi-humans.
A faint chance of vampires.
And others.
Crunch.
A sweet taste melted in my mouth.
"Where did you get that?"
From my side, Miss Jill asked.
"Huh?"
Within my hands was a glass container filled with cubes of sugar.
'When did this get into my hands?'
Strangely, God had a sweet tooth.
Within my briefcase (which was enlarged with magic), were nine other of the same glass containers of cubes.
For some reason, lingering traces of God's behavior stayed.
His sweet tooth was one.
His mind is another.
While cases are not yet trivial, I could say for certain that they were now easier.
"Ah…"
Another glass container was confiscated.
I watched with a bit of disappointment as the container disappeared in Miss Jill's hands.
Even now, after working with her for two years, I do not know where things confiscated from me go.
Also, they do not return unless I specifically ask for them.
Though in the case of anything 'sugar-related', she refuses.
Counting the various containers of sugar cubes taken from me, it now totaled to eleven.
Around myself was a city almost identical to London.
Of course the nuances of the buildings were slightly different but when almost everything is the same, is it not right when I call it the 'second London' in my mind?
As we wandered around 'second London', I watched just how ignorant I truly was.
If there is a clear difference between London and 'second London' it was the market.
The stores of 'second London' were without another adjective to use, strange.
In one store I saw, they sold mana devices meant for all sorts of purposes but besides the store was a store that sold children's toys.
And on the other side of the mana device store was an alchemical store that sold all sorts of remedies.
'Is this another side of my ignorance?'
No, it wasn't.
Rather the cultural differences of England and the United States were fundamentally different.
England which still held more old traditions didn't welcome the change of mana stones and the next cultural revolution.
Holding these beliefs, London saw a sharp decrease of mana related stores.
Unlike England, the United States which held beliefs of freedom was the opposite in this sense.
And so, this strange scene of mana stores was created.
It was somewhat ironic that despite England having the famed August institute yet it still held older beliefs.
I headed into the alchemy shop to explore and Miss Jill as well followed me.
Ring~
The pleasant sound of a bell rang as the scent of flowers stung my nose.
Like an overdone perfume, the scent of flowers was overwhelming.
Walking around, I realized that not even the greatest potions in the shop could match Dr. Frankenstein's failures.
Though that was to be expected.
Rather, the potions themselves were more glorified beauty products though labeled as a 'Alchemy Shop'.
My interest with the products quickly faded as I looked around hoping to find something interesting.
'Why would you use ■ here? ■ would be better…'
Such comparisons were made as I walked by.
'...Hm? Oh?'
"How interesting…"
Looking purely at the ingredients used and the outcome it hoped to achieve, this was a product that Dr. Frankenstein would give a passing regard rather than throwing a fit like the others.
'This is the only decent alchemical product here.'
Of course, comparing it to the failures that Dr. Frankenstein makes would be foolish.
'...Created by Laplace?'
It was another Institution, one in which I had not yet heard of.
Rather, I had not heard of any Institution focusing on mana research except for the one located in London.
Though that either means that all talents go to the August Institute, everyone else is incompetent, or they all died.
Of course those weren't the only possible scenarios.
'If I have the time, I would like to visit this institution.'
I had visited the August Institute before while trapped inside my own mind but compared to the slow progress it made, this new 'Laplace' piqued my interests.
Not only that, but the August Institute was already filled with corruption, an example being the Academy director. Who was an elderly man yet still a powerful mana user.
'It seems the United States also has quite a few new places to explore.'
After finishing my examination of the potion, I put it back in its place as Miss Jill as well put down another potion and followed me.
Bringing out my watch from my pocket, the time read five o'clock in the afternoon.
Looking up into the sky, the sun was in the middle.
Like a deity watching humanity from above, so the time on my watch was wrong.
'...What was this called again?'
'...Ah, yes. It was the difference in time zones…'
I put my watch back into my pocket, as I was going to change the clock at a later date.
"Miss Jill, it seems around the time for lunch. Do you have any preferences or would you like to try the local food?"
…
Within my mind I sighed.
It was surreal.
Was this reality?
Being in the United States with Miss Jill without any worries.
All problems lay within London and we had escaped.
The only problem now was Miss Jill, whom I could only treat as a glorified pillar.
An existence I could not touch due to varying reasons.
But it was simple.
Much more simpler than having the greatest detective and police force chasing you.
'But…'
As I indulged in my fantasy for a bit longer, I realized that it was not reality.
There was no possibility where my past within London won't one day catch up to me.
Using my intellect and run?
Perhaps that is a possibility.
But what is the point of a life that's only meaning is 'to run'?
I want a meaningful life, one that I will not regret.
To leave a beautiful mark, like a calligrapher's brush stroke onto the world.
That is the life I wish to live.
However, does this 'stained' life mean it is a failure?
I believe that is not so.
Everyone, regardless of who, had to start from the beginning…
'Ah… I'm getting a bit too philosophical.'
Though I cannot discern the expression on Miss Jill's face, her face was quite intently facing me.
For a moment, I caught a smile within her 'mask'.
"...The food is going to get cold, Miss Jill."
"Yours as well. We both haven't yet touched our meals."
"..."
Within my mind I could only acknowledge her quick words.
"...How about we eat now…?"
"Go ahead."
In the end, I was the only one eating whilst Miss Jill let her food get cold.
By now I should have at least gotten used to Miss Jill's blatant stares but alas, I have not.
As our strange lunch ended, we once again explored 'second London'.
From the different sceneries to mana stores…
Truly we have explored all that we could have within that day.
***
I could only sigh.
A dream.
That was what this had to be.
Because It was far too peaceful and without worries that I feel as if all my muscles will melt into snow.
Several weeks have passed and it was in the middle of November.
Snow still hadn't yet fallen but the coldness of the weather was enough to know that winter had arrived.
I held my face as I watched the sky from a window.
The pen within my right hand rested on the wooden desk as I lost myself within my thoughts.
Peace…
It was a remarkable thing.
As I was in a daze while watching the sky, I caught a glimpse through the reflection of the window.
"...Miss Jill, one of these days I might mistaken you for a ghost due to how quiet you are."
Our conversations somehow always started like this.
Perhaps not 100% but at least 80%?
From what I assumed was her smile, Miss Jill replied.
"Is that so? Though I remember when you started working and how frightened you were."
"...Why do you bring that up now?"
My brows furrowed as I recall my first year.
I remember the prickly feeling of walking on needles to survive Miss Jill.
I glanced at Miss Jill who was pouring tea for herself.
"?"
For some reason, I feel like Miss Jill too has changed.
Though I cannot tell what exactly. Something. Something has definitely changed.
I sigh as my pen moves once more as my eyes lie back onto the half-filled pages.
Within the book I was making, my times within this world were written down.
I did this as a repentance of sorts, though because of my time that was rewritten by 'that being', I had made three books.
One as a personal diary, another of my time within this world and the last which wrote the actions 'it' took and rewritten my time.
Except for my own personal diary, the other two were made to be read by readers. Of course, merely writing and publishing my times would be no repentance.
'I wonder if London has yet to calm down yet?'
I had been avoiding any news of London.
Was it fear?
Or something else?
I simply wanted to ignore London as of the moment.
As if it doesn't exist.
I wanted this fragile peace to last even a day longer.
My pen stopped.
"Miss Jill, do you enjoy your life?"
Even though this rented house was nothing like the lavish lifestyle Miss Jill was so accustomed to, she still lived without complaints.
"Enjoy?"
"Yes, do you feel like your life is fulfilling? I want to ask because as of the moment I myself don't quite know the answer to this question."
I looked at Miss Jill who was sitting on a chair across from me.
She was perhaps the only person in the world whom I could never truly read.
After all, how can you read a person whose face is covered so thoroughly? In which, the only things you could see were the colors of the face but without shape and static-like in nature.
"..."
Miss Jill was deep in thought.
As I watched her for a few more seconds, an answer did not come and so, I once again started to write.
The feeling of writing with a metal pen was unfamiliar at first, but with practice my lines became much more well written and stylish.
"Alvis."
"Y-Yes?"
My pen went crooked.
'Ah, I'll need to write this page again.'
A wry smile appeared on my face.
"I don't quite know the answer to that question either."
I smiled.
"I see."
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
ObsessedNovelist
ObsessedNovelist Hello. I'm back from my 'hiatus', in all honesty I don't have many chapters written (though that was the entire point of my break). Ah well, this is starting to feel like my other FF again but anyways, I may or may not have to take another small break if I run out of chapters. I hope you enjoy my story, thanks for reading.
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