The Fatui often go out on missions. The children of the House of the Hearth are no exception. When they are young, all they do is eat and play, but once they grow older, they sometimes accompany the Fatui on missions as apprentices to prove their value to Crucabena. Sometimes they complete their missions and return safely; other times, they are wiped out. If they return, that is considered fairly good. If they are annihilated, well, that is simply unfortunate.
Why was I bringing this up? Because I was being sent on a mission. And I was only a twelve-year-old kid. I was the youngest in the history of the House of the Hearth. Usually, children were sent out at fifteen, but it seemed the higher-ups were awfully eager to see what I could do. Crucabena looked displeased too, as if to say, “I need to make this child study, so what mission are you talking about?” But several Harbingers had ordered it, so there was nothing she could do.
Capitano was among those Harbingers, and he would personally be handling this mission. There were many who admired him, moved by his character, so missions alongside Capitano usually drew fierce competition. Yet this time, oddly enough, he seemed to have picked me up himself. It was even a two-person mission with just Capitano and me.
The day Capitano personally arrived at the House of the Hearth was in early summer.
"Arlecchino, I have come for Avrora."
"Hmph. I need this child for another long-term mission. Why are you trying to take him? Have you been captivated by his potential as well?"
"Let us say that I have. Bring the child to me."
"Peruere, bring Avrora here."
"Yes, Mother."
Peruere came to get me while I was studying, and when I went down to the front gate, I was startled to see a familiar face.
"It has been a while. I did say I would return, though it took some time."
"What? Avrora, you know this guy?"
"I happened to meet him a few years ago while ice fishing."
Crucabena's face soured. Apparently, she did not want Capitano taking me from her. From my perspective, I would welcome going with Capitano with both arms open, but to accomplish my plan, I had to return to the House of the Hearth.
"A mission has been assigned. Her Majesty said I could assemble my team as I pleased, so I chose you in particular. I hope it will be a worthwhile time."
"I'm going on a mission? But I'm only twelve?"
"Your age is irrelevant. Simply watch what I do and learn."
Peruere realized I was leaving and began to tremble.
"Brother... you're coming back... right?"
"Yes, Peruere. I will definitely come back."
"White-haired girl. You are still too young to take part in this mission. Wait for your brother's return."
Peruere gripped my arm tightly, refusing to let go. She seemed terribly afraid of me leaving.
"Do not worry. I swear on my name that your brother will return."
"Who are you... to say something like that...?"
"You could call me a loser of a bygone era. But I will not lose anymore."
Hearing the resolve in his voice, Peruere seemed to make up her mind at last and released me.
"Then I will go prepare and come back down."
I went up to my room, took the Alley Flash Capitano had given me and an Empty Vision of the Hydro element, then came back down.
"Then let us go. The mission will be over by summer's end."
"Yes. Understood."
And so, five years after Crucabena had forcibly taken me in, I finally went outside the House.
"So, what is our mission?"
"..."
Without saying a word, Capitano merely walked toward the city of Fontaine. After we had gone far enough that the House of the Hearth was out of sight, I asked once more.
"What kind of mission requires only the two of us?"
"There is none."
"...Pardon?"
"Her Majesty merely asked about your safety. I came only to check on your condition."
"Then the mission Her Majesty assigned..."
"I was given the order to listen to what you have to say. She said it could strengthen the connection between you and us."
Just how far ahead could the Tsaritsa see? Had she noticed that I was from another world?
"Then let us have the conversation we could not have years ago. Who are you?"
"...I have seen the future."
"Hm. What future do you mean? Fontaine's future?"
"No. I have seen the futures of extraordinary people as well. Capitano—no, Thrain—your future too."
At those words, Capitano stopped walking.
"You know quite a great deal. Now I understand why Her Majesty instructed me to watch over you. Then I shall ask you this. Will I meet my death?"
Capitano could not meet death. The curse of immortality would continue. Still, he had given the God of Death the middle finger and achieved the ideal he desired, so that was what I should tell him.
"The curse of immortality will last forever."
"Is that so..."
Regret could be heard in Capitano's voice.
"But you will achieve your goal. You gave the God of Death a grand middle finger, after all."
As though he wished to continue the conversation, Capitano sat on a tree stump.
"Go on."
"Go to Natlan. Return to the battlefield where you once fought. The answer will be there."
Capitano lowered his face toward the ground, seeming to sink into deep thought. Was he considering whether to believe me?
"You even know that I fought in Natlan. It is wrong to let you rot away in a place like that. How does the humiliation of being trapped in a cage feel?"
Humiliation? Being unable to go outside was driving me mad, but I had friends in there, so it was not all bad.
"I have friends, so it is all right."
"Yes. Friends... they are truly precious. I will get you and your friends out of that house as quickly as I can. You deserve that."
Uh...? This was not part of my plan. I needed to give Crucabena the middle finger. Should I tell Capitano about it?
"Um, Capitano... there is something I would like to tell you..."
"Yes, speak."
"Do you know what Crucabena intends to do in Fontaine right now?"
"A report has already been sent to the higher-ups, so I know well enough. She intends to kill Fontaine's god. I oppose that plan. It sullies honor, and above all, it is ugly. Her attempt to place you on the throne and manipulate Fontaine as she pleases is truly ugly."
As expected, Capitano, with his deep sense of justice, thought the same as I did. If so, perhaps my plan could make some progress too.
"Then, Capitano, I have a request."
"Of course. I cannot be the only one receiving a reward. Go on, then. What do you need?"
"Please buy me a house in central Fontaine."
"...A house?"
He made the same gesture Focalors had, wondering about my purpose. Had I said something strange? People at your level could just do that, could they not?
"The Northland Bank can arrange a house in central Fontaine on its own. But you must decide which house to buy. Will one be enough?"
"One will be sufficient."
"Then let us go into Fontaine City. I hope we find a house suited to you."
"No. I have already chosen the house."
"Oh?"
I entered the Court of Fontaine. It was fascinating to see the exact scenery I had seen in the game. But the view was not what mattered right now. Once I was allowed outside for the exam, I could look at it whenever I wanted, so I went to secure an asset for the future.
"It happens to be vacant. As though someone had foreseen that it would have an occupant."
"I did not expect it to be vacant either, but good is good."
If this was to be the lodging we would use in the future—Peruere, really—there was nowhere else it could be. A sign bearing the house's name greeted us.
『Bouf d’ete Residence』 For Lease
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