Hakushaku to Yousei - Volume 23 - Chapter 6

Chapter 6 ♦ Because I care for you

Nico, who got drunk and was tired out from frolicking, snored as he lay against Raven’s knee.
As he lay facing upwards defencelessly, his belly fur appeared to be soft and fluffy. Even so, Raven held himself back from trying to stroke that fur.
Nico is a gentleman. Even if his necktie is distorted or if he is drooling, he is a gentleman. There’s no way I can stroke a gentleman’s belly all of a sudden.
(That’s some beautiful fur.)
The Knocker beside, looked fixedly at Nico, who was completely exhausted and whose fur looked like a carpet.
(If I made waistcoats out of this, I’m sure it’d be pretty warm.)
(It’ll probably be alright if we get just a little.)
Another Knocker peered towards the fur as well.
(How about fur from the tail?)
Even if his tufty tail was held up, Nico continued to sleep without noticing anything.
“Please stop.”
Raven glared at them silently.
“Mr Nico’s tail belongs to everyone.”
(Oh, is that so?)
(There’s no helping it if that’s the case.)
After ascertaining with his own eyes that the Knockers had given up, Raven was satisfied.

​As night advanced, the Knockers’ bar also quietened. There were some which went home, but also quite a few who were so intoxicated that they just flipped over and slept on their backs just like that. There were also still some who were engaged in talk, whispering to each other.
Leaning against a rock wall, Raven too shut his eyes as he thought he should sleep. He felt the resonance of something sound-like that came from somewhere; the depths of the rocks, or somewhere deep underground.  
Raven inadvertently opened his eyes. Just now, he felt that he heard the melody of ‘Greensleeves’.
He tried to listen carefully once more, but he couldn’t hear it. That’s right. As that thought came to mind, he pressed his ear against the rock wall.
I hear it. It’s disconnected, but it is ‘Greensleeves’.
“Mr Nico, please wake up.”
Raven called out to Nico and stood up.
“Someone is playing the melody of ‘Greensleeves’, deep inside this rock.”
“Hmm… huh? Greensleeves?”
“I’ll go and take a look.”
(There’s no one outside the village at this time.)
(There was no one who’d leave the village at such a time when the Nuckelavee appeared.)
The Knockers said so unanimously, but this made Raven want to see for himself even more.
“In any case, I must verify who it is who’s playing the melody. If we can’t find a clue to defeat the Nuckelavee, then we can’t save Lady Lydia.”
Nico finally got up and rubbed his sleepy eyes.
“Lydia will… Ahh that’s right. Alright, I’ll go too.”
Together with Nico, who stood up while yawning, Raven travelled along the walls while trying to hear and decide which direction the sound came from.
(The tunnels extend endlessly like the mesh of a net, so much so that there are times when even we get lost in the tunnels.)
(Bring this along with you. It’ll light up the way back for you.)
The Knockers handed Raven a mineral which was the same as those which were shining in the lamps that hung on the walls. Putting that in his pocket, Raven decided to descend the stairs which continued further down.
“Seriously, what narrow steps. Raven, be careful.”
As Nico had said, because the steps were dug out from the steep incline of the bare rock, it was of a size which fit the Knockers, and so was extremely difficult to use.
“Mr Nico, can you hear it?”
“No, I can’t hear a thing.”
It seemed that Raven could only depend on his own ears. Following the sound, Raven walked through the tunnels which were complicated by tunnels opening to the sides and stairs. However, after progressing for some time, he became unable to hear the music of ‘Greensleeves’.
“The sound has disappeared.”
“What? Just as I thought that the bothersome sound from the flow of rainwater since a while back has started to die down.”
“I wonder if he decided to stop playing.”
“But as I thought, it doesn’t seem like anyone would be in a place like this. Those Knockers can’t hold a proper tune and can’t use musical instruments either. It’d be scary if it was Miss Rose’s ghost.”
“Mr Nico, let’s return. In any case, I’ll report this to Lord Edgar.”
Nico nodded in agreement, and Raven took out the mineral he received from the Knockers.
The passageway they just came through was lit up by a faint light. Although the light emitted from the crystal was weak, the pathway came to view brightly such that one could even see the depths, as if the pathway itself glowed with light.
When they started to retrace their steps, Raven sensed a moving shadow at where the path split into two, and paused in his tracks, tensed.
“Something is there.”
“Eh, a fairy?”
Nico swiftly went round to Raven’s back.
“… I would think that humans wouldn’t enter the Knockers’ tunnel recklessly.”
“Don’t tell me, that Teran or the Nuckelavee…”
Suddenly, the shadow flew towards them.
Grabbing Nico, Raven swiftly jumped aside.
The sound of hooves kicking against rocks resounded throughout the tunnel. The black shadow jumped up towards the rocky area above and when it stood up straight there, it looked down towards them and spoke out.
“What, isn’t this the raven boy and the cat?”
When Raven strained his eyes and looked upwards where it was dim, he saw that it was the jet back kelpie there.
“Kelpie? You, why are you here? Rather than that, I’m not a cat!”
Kelpie snorted at Nico’s rage, and transformed into a human figure as he jumped and landed near them.
“I came after the Nuckelavee. Have you seen it?”
“We saw it near the stone circles before sundown.”
Raven answered conscientiously.
“It was just a while ago. The rain stopped and I found it loitering in the wilderness but when I followed it, it entered a rocky cave. That’s why I too chased after it… Speaking of which, why are you guys here as well?”
“We came together with Lydia. Because there may be something here that might be able to drive the Nuckelavee away.”
“What did you say? Lydia’s here as well?”
It appeared that Kelpie was unaware, and he flew into a rage.
“Seriously, why is she at where the Nuckelavee is headed?”
“That demonic creature came looking for the Blue Knight Earl. It seems that it heard from someone that if it’s the Blue Knight Earl, it could be saved.”
“What did you say? … Don’t tell me, that woman seriously made the Nuckelavee approach Lydia?”
“Woman… That’s right, it said that he was told that by a woman. Do you have any idea who it was?”
Kelpie, who frowned deeply, glared at Raven as if he was venting his irate feelings on him.
“It’s your sister! What is she thinking? She disappeared as she pleased again. That guy Teran is loitering around this area as well so it’d be bad if she was found.”
“My sister…? Why?”
“As if I’d know! Seriously, she’s a woman who’s more troublesome than Lydia!”
Kelpie turned back in a hurry.
“Watch out for Teran, he’s a man with a scar on his forehead.”
Saying that, Kelpie dashed off towards the depths of the passageway.
“What’s going on? Does he mean that Ermine made the Nuckelavee come here?”
Nico said so uneasily, while still clutching Raven’s foot.
“Let’s hurry.”
Raven hastened his steps, as he thought that he ought to return to Edgar’s side.
​

*
​

Perhaps because the rain had stopped, for the sound of underground water became distant at some point in time.
Lydia was asleep, as she leaned against Edgar’s shoulder. Her body felt slightly hotter than usual. As he gently touched her forehead, it seemed that she indeed had a fever.
Is it because she’s anxious? She wasn’t in perfect health since a while back. I caused her to push herself too much, thought Edgar as he reflected on himself. Because he was unable to hear her out properly, she worried over matters all by herself, all the while having her life targeted; it was a miracle that she didn’t collapse.
Unable to sleep, Edgar thought about how wonderful it’d be if time could just stop like this.
For Edgar who shouldered the memories of Prince and Lydia who may be the Prophet’s betrothed, there was already little time left for the two of them to be together with simply their feelings for each other, without being bothered by those things. Edgar couldn’t help but feel so.
Isn’t the path ahead just full of problems that seem to tear the two of us apart?
If they manage to reach Ibrazel, Edgar might be able to eliminate Prince. Although that alone is but a faint hope, it seemed unlikely that Prince’s organization would wait for that before taking action.
And now, he didn’t know if even Ibrazel would bring salvation to him. Even if Edgar became the Blue Knight Earl in name and reality, Lydia may leave him.
If so, to Edgar, he wondered if there was any meaning in hurrying on the path to Ibrazel. The position of the Blue Knight Earl only meant something because Lydia was with him.
Because he found Lydia, who went so far as to say that she would not go to Heaven was lovely, he ended up thinking that he might as well bring her to even Hell. 
Edgar somehow managed to suppress those dangerous feelings which were within him.
Such feelings brought Edgar closer to Prince. Even though he wanted to wish for Lydia’s happiness, the arrogant desire of wanting to simply bind her to himself was festering.
Grasping the music box in his pocket tightly, Edgar calmed his feelings down.
The betrothed of the Prophet was unable to bear the child of another man. Even after knowing about that, Edgar still didn’t know what kind of words he should say to Lydia.
Things like not needing children, words like that would probably not solve the problem. Whether he was able to accept the whole of Lydia’s destiny, those words which Nico said sometime back, probably included this as well.
He had to steel his resolve even more. Although he thought so, he was already doing all he could now to simply tell himself not to drag Lydia down with him.
“Lydia, I’m sorry. Please wait for me without abandoning me for just a little more.”
Lydia slept on quietly. Although she had a fever, it was a relief that she didn’t look like she was in pain.
“Because I’ll definitely become a man who is worthy of your love.”
Even though he said so, the possibility that he didn’t have a future to trouble over, was always on his mind.
He, who shouldered the monster called Prince which may change him, was the same as the Nuckelavee youth.
Once the young boy transformed into the Nuckelavee, he lost his heart as a human and only wreaked havoc as a demonic creature. Edgar too would probably cease to be who he was now once Prince’s memories were unleashed due to some trigger.
He couldn’t even imagine the extent to which he could remain as himself. He wondered if the feelings of love he had towards Lydia would disappear. If that were the case, he wondered if he would even make use of her.
Unable to say for sure that it wouldn’t be a method like Teran’s, Edgar felt pained simply at the thought of it.
In the worst case scenario, he’d have to sacrifice himself in order to bury ‘Prince’. If that were the case, then his farewell from Lydia would not be that far off in the future.
When that time comes, he wondered if he’d be able to accept it calmly. He wondered if he would be able to think that he’d had no regrets if he were able to grant even one wish which would make Lydia happy.
Sensing that the lights from the minerals lighting the plaza flickered, Edgar lifted his face.
In front of where the moss carpet came to an end, was someone standing at the entrance.
She had on a black coat and had black hair, but her face which was so fair that it seemed transparent, was fixed on him.
“…Ermine.”
She was always dressed in male clothes and her hair which extended only to her shoulders swayed slightly. Suddenly, her figure disappeared. Gently resting Lydia, who was sleeping while leaning against him, against the moss-covered wall, Edgar stood up.
Chasing after Ermine’s figure, Edgar progressed through the one-way passageway that extended from the plaza. At the end of the passageway, she stood there, as if she was waiting for Edgar.
As he approached closer to her, Ermine kneeled down slowly.
“Lord Edgar, it’s been a while. Please forgive my insolence for appearing before you once again, given the countless betrayals by me up until now.”
“You’re being awfully formal, even though we were comrades who supported each other through difficult times.”
“The me from then has died. Furthermore, now, I’ve come as the messenger of a certain person.”
“Who?”
Not answering that question, Ermine averted her eyes.
“Lord Edgar, please become Prince.”
It was not something surprising. Ermine used to be Prince’s spy and even after she was reborn as a selkie, she was Ulysses’ subordinate.
But her subsequent words made Edgar perplexed.
“Even if you manage to reach Ibrazel, you would not be accepted by the said country. You would not be able to become the Blue Knight Earl in the real sense.”
Ermine should have been at Ahés’ place half a year ago. He had heard that she escaped from Ulysses. It was Ahés who told Edgar that if he aimed for Ibrazel he might be able to find salvation. Yet Ermine had just negated that.
He had been trying to find hope in Ibrazel. Although he always had the feeling that it may be futile, he was reluctant to have it so clearly declared.
If what she said was true, didn’t that mean that there was already only despair for Edgar?
“You, are you still Ulysses’ subordinate now? Or…?"
“I had no choice but to do so, in order to crush Prince’s Organization and to save Lady Lydia from Teran.”
If I am to believe in those words, then at the very least, it means that Ermine does not belong to Prince’s Organization.
If so, who is behind her?
 As he thought through matters, Edgar asked her back.
“Are you asking me to die?”
“Yes.”
Our farewell is not far from now. Just when I felt so.
Has that time arrived already?
Edgar took a deep breath. If Lydia could be saved; this is what I hope for at the very least. With this, Edgar accepted this declaration of death and calmed his feelings down.
He would bury himself together with the whole of Prince’s memories, and bring that Organization down as well. This was a method that had the greatest certainty.
Although he wanted to be by Lydia’s side for even a little longer, if the situation was such that that was no longer possible, it couldn’t be helped.
“Why, have you appeared only now?”
“That, is something I’ll tell you someday.”
However, Edgar still couldn’t bring himself to swallow what Ermine said. He wondered if it was true that there was nothing he could do but to risk his life and throw himself into the Organization.
Moreover, Edgar thought that he was the one who would decide how he would fight against ‘Prince’ and that Organization, as well as how he would protect Lydia.
“The person who sent you as a messenger, I don’t suppose he intends to ask me to die without even showing me his face.”
“Certainly, he said that he’d want to speak with you directly… If you would stake your life for the sake of the Earl family and your wife’s life.”
For the sake of the Earl family huh.
If so, Edgar wondered if that meant that Ermine was on the side of the Earl family.
Whether that would be Edgar and her brother Raven’s side, or, the old Earl family’s side…
“I see, it’d be troublesome if Prince was able to go to Ibrazel. So that’s why, you’re rushing for a decision.”
“Teran is rushing as well. He senses a threat from the Prophet and in order to bring you in quickly, he doesn’t intend to be bothered over the method he uses.”
“The Prophet…! That Organization knows about the existence of the Prophet?”
“There’s a possibility that Teran’s the only one who’s aware. But he should still not know who it is and how he would be a threat.”
Does this mean that they do not yet know of Lydia’s role? But if they were to know, what will happen to Lydia? She’d be driven into an even more dangerous position.
And, the only one who can stop Teran with certainty, is ‘Prince’.
Just the thought of what Teran intended to do to Lydia was sufficient to enrage Edgar. He somehow managed to suppress that and keep his cool.
“Ermine, regardless of who it is behind you, I have no intention of doing as he says. If you say that it’s for the sake of the Earl family and Lydia, then the one who should shoulder the responsibility is the head of the house, me, and it is my role to make decisions.”
“That person is fully aware of that.”
“Then, I’ll have you back down until I call for you.”
As Edgar said so, he heard the voice of someone calling his name; Lydia appeared to be searching for him.
Ermine too had probably heard that. She lowered her head silently.
“If possible, please decide at the soonest.”
Saying that rapidly, she disappeared.
“Edgar, are you there?”
Lydia, who ran towards him from the depths of the passageway, found Edgar’s figure standing there, and looked relieved.
“Because you weren’t at the plaza, I wondered where you went.”
She appeared to have searched for him in a hurry. Perhaps it was because she ran, she was out of breath, and she looked up towards Edgar worriedly. Lydia’s eyes carried the shine of a real peridot when seen in the fairy realm.
Perhaps she had sensed a difference in Edgar, who was just told a moment ago to become Prince, from how he was usually, those eyes of hers swayed with slight unease.
If I were to disappear, will I cause my beloved wife to make such an expression again?
I don’t want to see that. And, my wish to see her face won’t come true.
Edgar extended his hand towards her cheeks which were more flushed than it was usually. But she herself was probably so tense that she did not realize that she had a fever.
“I’m sorry, I made you feel lonely.”
When he embraced her all of a sudden, Lydia struggled in his arms in a panic.
“Th-that’s not what… Erm, you know, Nico and Raven came back and it’s terrible! We heard that the Nuckelavee has entered underground.”
“What’s that? Just as I thought that you desperately came looking for me because you woke up and felt lonely.”
When he showed her a look of disappointment, Lydia looked troubled.
“Well… I was a little worried.”
“A little? Didn’t you run over here, extremely panicked?”
This time, she turned red.
“Urgh, it’s fine isn’t it, whichever it is.”
“No, it’s not. I want you to tell me that you were extremely lonely.”
“Yes yes, I was extremely lonely.”
It seemed that she was gradually finding it to be troublesome.
“Not like that. Like this, hug me tightly.”
When he grabbed Lydia’s arms and placed them around his waist, she pushed him back in a way that said that now was not the time for that.
“Edgar, are you listening? The Nuckelavee has entered the Knockers’ tunnel!”
This side of her in which her cheeks were flushed while she got angry with him was also adorable. With that, Edgar decided that he was satisfied.
“Yeah, I was listening. Have you spoken to the Elder?”
“Nico is speaking with him now. In any case, let’s return to the plaza.”
At that moment, several screams resonated through the passageway. Those came from the direction of the Knockers’ village.
Turning to face each other, Edgar then ran off together with Lydia.
Once they came out at a place where they could look down towards the village, they saw the figure of a raging Nuckelavee on a rocky slope which was carved into the valley.
After it dashed rapidly up the rocky area with its horse-like lower body, the Nuckelavee chased after the Knockers who escaped into their rock houses. When it raised its long arms which muscles were exposed and brought down its sharp claws, even the rock houses crumbled easily and the Knockers ran about once more, trying to escape.
“It’s terrible… It’s my fault. What should I do?”
“It may not necessarily be because it chased after you.”
“But."
Lydia was so panicked that she looked like she would have dashed down to stop the Nuckelavee if it weren’t for the fact that the steps going down to the village were dangerously narrow.
“If it finds you, it’ll target you. Lydia, you should hide yourself here…”
Edgar just began saying that but it was too late.
Perhaps the Nuckelavee had sensed Lydia’s scent, for just as they thought that it twisted its head around, its eyes stopped at them.
That large single eye locked in on them.
Edgar pulled Lydia’s arm. In the short space of time when they ran into the passageway beside them, he caught a glance of the Nuckelavee dashing up the rock wall swiftly.
The pursuing footsteps got increasingly closer to them. Even if they ran desperately, they could feel with their backs that the distance between them was shrinking.
“Edgar, ahead of us is a path which is just large enough for humans to pass through.”
“Ok, got it.”
When they escaped into an even narrower path, they sensed from the Nuckelavee’s presence that it had stopped in its tracks.
Even as they passed through that path which they had to crouch to get through, they felt relieved as it seemed that the demonic creature was unable to enter and chase after them, and so slowed down their steps. Once they went a few more steps further, the path expanded again and the fact that they were able to stand up straight also made them feel greatly relieved.
At the moment when he released the strength he had in holding Lydia’s hand,
“Kyaa!”
Suddenly, Lydia let out a scream.
The Nuckelavee’s long arm grabbed on to Lydia’s leg. It tried to drag her out of the narrow pathway in that manner. Edgar wrapped his arms around her out of reflex, but he only ended up nearly being dragged along with her.
“Earl, lay down low together with Lydia!”
Suddenly, they heard a voice. When they lay down low without a second thought, rocks came crashing down, together with the sound of the earth shaking.
The violent noises and vibrations stopped, and when they raised their faces in the midst of the smoke of dust, they saw Kelpie in the form of a young man standing ahead.
In front of them was a large boulder which was dropped and was blocking the passageway. Perhaps the Nuckelavee’s arm was crushed by the weight of the boulder, for the monster’s hand which was grabbing Lydia had vanished.
“Kelpie, thank you.”
“That’s reckless. What would you do if the boulder fell on Lydia?”
Even though he was grateful, the rivalry between him and Kelpie over Lydia made Edgar want to say something sarcastic.
“I took care to make sure it doesn’t hit her.”
“Even so, will the Nuckelavee chase after Lydia regardless of where she is? Even this place still isn’t safe.”
“It’s the end once she is caught. That monster will devour its prey on the spot.”
Lydia trembled slightly. Even so, she spoke out with determination and spirit.
“But Teran doesn’t intend to let the Nuckelavee eat me right? I think it won’t bite me immediately after it catches me.”
That being said, it couldn’t be perceived to be the better option. It’s thought that Teran was well-versed in methods to inflict unbearable pain and suffering without taking a person’s life.
“I wonder about that. Because even if you lost your limbs, there’ll still be uses for you.”
Edgar put himself on guard. That voice could be heard from the other end of the passageway which wasn’t blocked by the boulder.
A man who wore a hat, came forth from the other end which was away from the boulder.
“It’s Teran.”
Lydia whispered.
He was a tall and thin man. His deathly pale face made it difficult to determine if he was young or not. But he should have lived for close to a hundred years, so even if he had the appearance of a human, he had an air about him which was different from that of humans.
That feeling of goosebumps may be similar to what Edgar felt when he faced the old Prince.
“So you’re Teran.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Your Highness. … No, I still cannot acknowledge you as Prince. When you become the real Prince, I will greet you anew then.”
Saying that, he threw a glance at the large boulder which blocked the passageway. That boulder shook greatly at the same time as the passageway vibrated. A strong force was being applied from the other side.
“The Nuckelavee huh… It intends to shatter that boulder.”
“That is immortal. You cannot escape.”
Teran revealed a thin smile and turned to look at Lydia and Kelpie this time.
“A fairy doctor who is able to make even a kelpie submit; you’re quite an interesting Lady. There probably would not be a better ingredient than you for magical experiments.”
“The way you flatter ladies won’t sway them.”
Edgar took a pistol out from his coat and pointed it at Teran.
“More importantly, I’ll have you understand thoroughly how sinful it is to make advances on my wife.”
It was only a matter of time before the boulder behind them crumbled. For them to be held back by Teran here was dangerous to Lydia.
At the same time he pulled the trigger, Edgar grabbed Lydia’s hand and ran.
The bullet should have hit Teran in the stomach. Although Teran crumpled to the ground on the spot, he ordered the Nuckelavee with a clear voice.
“Give chase, it’s sufficient so long as the woman is at least breathing. Capture her at all costs!”
At the same time when the boulder was shattered, the Nuckelavee flew out.
Even though the underground tunnels had passages which narrowed here and there, the Nuckelavee shattered the rocks by ramming its body against them and continued to give chase.
Edgar escaped into a tunnel by the side in a hurry. By choosing paths which diverged, Edgar tried to throw off the Nuckelavee’s pursuit.
“Teran too is immortal.”
“… Is that so?”
“Because he inherited the blood of the Unseelie Courts, he won’t die by human weapons.”
Edgar could only click his tongue.
Kelpie guided the two of them while sniffing out scents in the surrounding.
“This way. If a flow of underground water separates us, that thing will have to take a roundabout route.”
Lydia’s ears could also pick out the sound of water. She thought, just a little more, but the path ahead of them widened quite significantly; this made it easier for the Nuckelavee to move.
“Oi, we need to hurry more. It’ll catch up with us at this rate.”
“Kelpie, let Lydia ride on you and go over to the opposite side of the water flow!”
For a moment, Lydia looked towards Edgar in protest, but perhaps she thought that Edgar would be able to escape easier by himself than if he was holding on to her hand, she did as she was told even if she was made to ride on the back of Kelpie, who had transformed into a horse.
Edgar too dashed with all his might from behind Kelpie and Lydia who went on ahead.
But the Nuckelavee was significantly faster than humans.
By the time the sound of footsteps came right behind his back, Edgar steeled his resolve and stood his ground.
Teran should be unable to kill ‘Prince’. If so, the Nuckelavee too should have been ordered not to assault Edgar even if he was beside Lydia.
In order to stop the Nuckelavee, Edgar turned around and stood to block the Nuckelavee’s path.
“Edgar!”
Perhaps Lydia was looking towards him from Kelpie’s back, because Edgar heard Lydia’s cry. Without moving an inch, Edgar kept his eyes locked on to the Nuckelavee who was charging towards him.
At the moment when the thought that he may be crushed like a boulder blocking a path flashed by Edgar’s mind, the demonic creature came to a sudden stop.
The breath with a horrible stench which came from its widely spilt mouth could be felt on Edgar’s face. Standing that close to Edgar, it let out a low growl.
Is it saying to move aside?
“I won’t let you through here.”
As if I’d let you lay a finger on Lydia.
The Nuckelavee which started to move backwards, distanced itself from Edgar and pawed the ground with its front legs.
Does it intend to jump over me? As he thought so, Edgar touched the item in his pocket unconsciously.
It was the music box.
He had something he wanted to tell Lydia, something he had to tell her. Be it about Prince, the Prophet, or the future of the earl family, everything, he wanted to continue loving Lydia no matter what happened.
He didn’t know if she wished for that. There may be a better future for her in which she could be even happier if she were together with another man.
If Lydia could only be saved by him turning into ‘Prince’, then such feelings may only hurt her and make her sad.
That’s why, these feelings which he couldn’t express well, together with the melody of ‘Greensleeves’,  came to mind as it overlapped with the heartrending lyrics of love.
‘Greensleeves (She) was all my joy.’
‘Greensleeves was my delight.’
‘Greensleeves was my heart of gold.’*
That’s right. I have this don’t I?
It’d be great if I could hold the Nuckelavee back until Lydia crosses the stream.
The demonic creature which started dashing in one burst, jumped over Edgar’s head easily.
Edgar wound the spring of the music box.
The melody, that’s said to be the music of fairies, played.
Perhaps it reached the ears of the demonic creature, for it twisted its body, which was dashing towards Lydia in one burst, and looked back.
At about the same time, Kelpie probably jumped across the narrow flow of water. Lydia, who was on Kelpie’s back as he stopped there, turned around.
“Edgar…”
She was probably about to ask him to hurry. But she, along with Edgar, ended up keeping silent and watched on at the Nuckelavee.
The demonic creature had transformed into a young boy.
He was looking at the music box Edgar held in his hand.
(That melody, ahh that’s right, I remember… Mother is calling for me.)
And with that, he looked up towards Edgar with melancholic eyes.
(Blue Knight Earl, please bring me to where this melody was born. Mother is waiting for me there.)
“Little boy, did your mother say that?”
On the other side of the small stream, Lydia asked so.
(Yeah, she did. She said that she’d make me forget all the pain and suffering.)
“Do you believe in your mother?”
(Yeah)
“She may have hated you didn't she?”
(Hated… Yeah, that’s right. But if so, why would she call for me?)
Lydia, who had gotten off from Kelpie’s back, crossed the stream which wasn’t even a footstep wide by holding up her skirt, and walked over to the young boy’s side.
“… If so, I’ll bring you there.”
The Knockers’ friend, Miss Rose, had left behind the method to eliminate the demonic creature. Edgar couldn’t imagine that she held feelings of love towards this child of a Nuckelavee. Regardless of that, did this mean that Lydia believed in Miss Rose, just like the young boy did?
“What are you doing? Did you forget my orders?”
Hearing a voice behind him, the young boy’s shoulders shuddered. It was Teran.
Edgar ran over to Lydia’s side.
“Hurry and go. Capture the woman.”
The young boy’s hair stood on its ends at the low voice. Even so, he did not move immediately. His body appeared to be trembling in pain. It looked as if he was desperately trying to suppress the transformation back into a demonic creature.
“You cannot go against me. Because I myself am your will.”
Edgar guided Lydia as they took steps back slowly. It would be the end if the Nuckelavee pounced on them before they crossed the stream.
While the Nuckelavee is resisting the transformation. Though Edgar thought so, Teran, who noticed his intention, held out a pistol.
At the same time as the sound of a gunshot, the Nuckelavee jumped forward to right in front of them.
While still in the form of a young boy, he took the shot from Teran’s pistol and looked up towards Lydia while pressing down against his shoulder.
(I’m sorry, run, quickly, I’ll become a demonic creature again…)
Edgar nodded and ran off together with Lydia.
They heard gunshots again, but the bullets only made the sound of hitting rocks. 
Jumping across the stream, once they progressed further in where they could hide amongst the outcrops of rocks, the gunshots stopped.
As they heard the roar of the young boy who had probably transformed into the Nuckelavee, Lydia said:
“Don’t forget, because I’ll save you!”

*
​

I wonder why Miss Rose let the Nuckelavee listen to that melody.
If it was to guide the Nuckelavee to the place where that melody was born, I wonder what her intention after that was.
The next morning after they returned to the hotel, in the parlour which doubled as a dressing room, Lydia was in deep thought as she rested her chin against her hand.
Lydia and company, who escaped from the Nuckelavee’s pursuit by slipping out from the Knockers’ tunnel, met up with Raven and Nico and returned to the town. Although she had rested from then on and had just woken up, it was already noon.
This was at a time when the Knockers had gathered inside the room, restless, because this hotel, which was surrounded by canals constructed to draw water for daily use and for the fields, was safe.  
Certainly everyone from the Earl household were putting their heads together and discussing about the problem of the Nuckelavee, but Lydia directed her gaze towards the moorlands which could be seen outside the window, and was mulling things over in her mind alone.
I wonder if it’s as Edgar said, that Miss Rose intended to put an end to the Nuckelavee which she gave birth to with her own hands. Or…
I want to think that she intended to save him. That’s why Lydia ended up telling that young boy that she would save him.
They were together for as long as five years. She had raised him inside of her. Although she may had cursed the existence of the Nuckelavee as she was in the midst of a suffering beyond what was imaginable, Lydia thought that she should have sensed the human blood which flowed in him.
It was probably because of Edgar that Lydia thought of things that way.
Because he told her that he wouldn’t be able to go to Heaven, and that sounded like he was saying that someday he would leave her and go somewhere far off.
Even if he shouldered Prince’s memories, Edgar’s soul wouldn’t be defiled by it. Yet, because Lydia knew that Edgar had always lived with the thought that if he ceased to be himself he’d have no choice but to die, Lydia felt pained.
The both of them had progressed thus far by believing that there should be a method to resolve this. But it may be Lydia’s fault that he was unable to abandon thoughts about the worst case scenario.
Although it was his misunderstanding that led to him preparing the divorce papers in the event the worst case scenario occurred, that was because Lydia was unable to tell him about her situation properly.
To Lydia, she couldn’t even imagine herself using those papers.
Even if one’s heart was encroached by a demonic nature, a person’s soul should not change. That’s why, no matter what happened, her feelings towards Edgar would not change.
Even if they were unable to eliminate Prince’s existence, even if Prince’s memories changed Edgar, the feelings Edgar had in loving her from the bottom of his heart would not vanish.
In the end, it may be because she believed so, that she thought of bringing the Nuckelavee to his mother’s side.
Even the heart of the young boy inside the Nuckelavee would not be erased by the true nature of the demonic creature. Ms Rose should have called him towards her because she knew that.
“So, the problem is where the birthplace of ‘Greensleeves’ is, right Lydia?”
Lydia was drawn back to the discussion from her thoughts at Francis’ voice, and nodded hurriedly.
In the end, it seemed that Francis had escaped by himself from when they were at the stone circle, returned to the hotel and kept himself in it. Francis, who looked a little hurt by the cold looks from Raven, was enthusiastic, perhaps because he wanted to redeem his reputation.
“Hey, Knockers, can’t you remember?”
(Even if you tell us that it’s from somewhere, our music can always be heard anywhere any time.)
(The entire moorland is the birthplace of the music.)
However, that was most probably something which only the Knockers could hear.
“Even if the music of fairies can only be heard at every place in the moorlands by fairies, it’d only make sense that the melody can also be heard by humans depending on the circumstances and location. Otherwise, the melody would not have been circulated amongst people.”
“That’s right. Because even if humans heard what the Knockers sang, humans would not hear it as music.”
Nico murmured so.
“If that’s the case, does that mean that the melody of ‘Greensleeves’ had been continuously played in a form which even humans can hear?”
Lydia nodded at Edgar’s question.
“Since people have heard it near the spring. Right Francis?”
“Eh? Yeah.”
“About that, I heard that the elderly lady from the general store is hard of hearing; the hotel manager said so earlier.”
When Edgar threw a doubtful glance towards Francis, he panicked.
“…B-but! The granny really said she heard it!”
“I also heard it, though it was disconnected and was somewhat similar to Greensleeves. I tried to search for its source together with Mr Nico, but it soon vanished.”
Helped by Raven who he was supposed to be struggling with, Francis appeared to be grateful, and placed his arm over Raven’s shoulder in an overly familiar fashion.
“Right? It seems that we get along well.”
“I can’t share your view.”
Being declared so without reservation, Francis retracted his arm dejectedly.
“But there’s no way someone could be singing the melody continuously since hundreds of years ago right?”
Edgar folded his arms, troubled.
“That’s right. I wonder where the music is from and why it can be heard.”
Everyone fell into deep thought. The sound of a knock came through, as if to break that silence, and Kelly entered the room.
“Master, you have a guest.”
Saying that, she looked towards Lydia with a troubled expression.
“A guest? Who came so far to this place?”
“Mr Darnell Finn.”
Edgar furrowed his brows with displeasure from simply hearing that name.
“I have no business with a violinist.”
“This time, I came as a person from the McKeels.”
Darnell spoke up from behind Kelly.
His eye-catching red hair was not combed as usual. Carrying his violin case, he looked around the room without even a smile.
He could probably see the Knockers. His eyes stopped for a short while at the sofa where the Knockers were at, but turned to look at Edgar and bowed without being bothered by the Knockers.
“A representative of the McKeels? You’ve become quite remarkable. Or is it that since you’re the Prophet, your status was high to begin with?”
“Mr Patrick is the one who is entrusted with everything by the Clan Chief. I came at my own discretion, because even if I had requested that Mr Patrick accompany me, I thought it’d probably only get on your nerves.” 
“Even you too get on my nerves.”
Even as Edgar said that, he glanced at Lydia.
He should have noticed that she was on tenterhooks.
“In any case, let’s hear you out.”
Darnell took a seat on a chair gestured by Edgar, and Lydia patted her chest down.
“I wonder if I could be of assistance in the matter regarding the Nuckelavee, since most probably, the McKeels are also responsible for this.”
“The McKeels? What do you mean?”
Previously, when Lydia visited the McKeels, she found out about the events that led to the birth of the first ‘Prince of Calamity’. By that time a hundred years ago, the ability to control the magic of the Unseelie Courts was only passed down in the McKeels. A McKeel fairy doctor had abused that ability and cast magic on an illegitimate child of a Stuart Prince, thereby creating an existence which Unseelie Courts would obey.
According to Darnell, it seemed that that person had cast magic which created an existence of a mixed race from a Nuckelavee and a human.
The McKeels had executed that fairy doctor who was a traitor, but they couldn’t do anything about what he had created.
Be it the Prince of Calamity or the Nuckelavee brothers, they were hidden away by Prince’s organization.
“We too have searched for methods to neutralize the Nuckelavee. To be honest, we haven’t found a method at the current moment. But I sensed that your coming to Cornwall was because you had some discovery.”
Darnell continued meekly.
“If there is anything I can do, I hope you’ll let me help.”
“I see. Although that’s a thankful offer, you people don’t have a solution either right? What way can you be of help?”
“Based on what I’ve heard, I understand that you are investigating into the folk tune ‘Greensleeves’? I would think that I’m well-versed in music.”
Because they had gone around town asking about that, it wasn’t surprising even if Darnell obtained information on that. Furthermore, Darnell, being knowledgeable in music, may be able to uncover a breakthrough on the point where Lydia and company were stuck at.
“Lydia, what do you think?”
Lydia was a little surprised that Edgar asked her that. Edgar should be unwilling to let Darnell approach her. But if it was for Lydia’s sake, Edgar intended to listen to even the ‘Prophet’s’ advice.
Lydia was painfully aware that more than his personal likes and dislikes, Edgar first considered Lydia’s welfare.
“Since it’s about music, we’d be thankful if we are able to receive your assistance.”
If I had greater strength, if I was more well-versed in magic, there’d probably be fewer things which Edgar would be worried over.
Even for the matter concerning my inability to carry his child, I could have known of a method to deal with it.
But my abilities are limited; I’ve been able to come thus far because of the help I received from the people around me, and now I also need someone who could help.
“He may be plotting something.”
Edgar openly observed Darnell’s countenance in front of Darnell.
“I don’t think Mr Darnell is the sort of person who would do sneaky things behind our backs.”
“You have trust in him.”
“That’s not… It’s just that, somehow...”
He’s an honest person, Lydia felt so.
“Fine. Since it’s you people from the McKeels who’d even kill me to get your hands on Lydia, you’d probably not hand her over to Teran no matter what happens.”
Now that it’s decided, they had to resolve the problem quickly. Lydia bent forward towards Darnell.
“Hey, Mr Darnell, ‘Greensleeves’ was originally the music of fairies. It seems certain that the melody was born from the land of these Knockers and was propagated in the world when humans heard it; what we’d like to know is where and how this melody came about.”
“Even the Knockers do not know?”
“Yes, it seems that they can hear it from somewhere. There were also people who did in fact hear it. Is it possible for music to be played even though there’s no way that someone is playing it?”
As Darnell thought about it, he stroked his violin over its case which was placed on his knees.
“I see. I don’t think it’s impossible. Because there are places, especially cave-like places, where sounds are created when winds blow through, based on the same principle of how a flute works.”
“Hehh, in other words, it’s possible for a situation like a pipe organ to occur when multiple sounds overlap.”
“But I wonder if winds will blow through so conveniently. Since the same music could be heard countless times?”
“It’s true that for winds, there is variation in terms of its strength and timing, so the same sound may not necessarily be created each time.”
Darnell fell into deep thought for a short while, and spoke up again.
“Then, how about underground water? There is a possibility of water veins flowing in every direction underneath bedrock.”
(Ohhh, if it’s water veins, they’re everywhere.)
The Knockers said so unanimously.
“Speaking of that, I have the impression that the granny said that she heard the melody when the rain stopped.”
Francis whispered softly as well.
“Lord Edgar, it was also raining that night. I think that I was unable to hear it as the rain stopped.”
Raven’s words appeared to have pleased Francis, who was a little depressed, once more.
“Raven, as I thought, we do get along well…”
“I think not.”
“Well then, Mr Finn, can we really hear melodies from the overlapping of the sounds of water veins?”
Edgar furthered the conversation.
“The sound of water can vary in strength depending on the geography, and its tone can also change. The sound can break off at places where the flow stops and water accumulates. A melody may be created when such conditions are met and gathered together.”
“That’s amazing. If that’s really the case, then it’d mean that such a beautiful melody was created by chance.”
Darnell nodded with his usual expression of indifference.
“It’s not only the problem of the water veins, but depending on the shape of the rocks which reflect off the sound and the position of the listener, the way one hears the sound would probably differ.”
“Then, does that mean that the birthplace of the melody, would be a place where that melody can always be heard?”
“That’s right. Moreover, after the rain, the water volume would increase and so would the volume of the sounds. And so I’d think that the range at which the melody could be heard would widen.”
“That’s why when Raven heard it, the sound disappeared as the rain stopped.”
Nico, who re-crossed his legs, tapped Lydia’s arm in order to encourage her.
“Lydia, if it’s water, it has the power to seal the Nuckelavee.”
If things go well, Lydia would no longer be targeted. But Lydia was even slightly perplexed.
If the birthplace of Greensleeves was a location which was surrounded by underground streams, then the place which the Nuckelavee was being beckoned to by his mother, was a place which was dangerous to him.
Lydia wondered if it was her huge misunderstanding to think that she could save him.
“But, wouldn’t that fairy not get close to rivers?”
Darnell’s concern was legitimate.
“No, that’s the only place where he’ll definitely come.”
Edgar declared so. Because the Nuckelavee should be drawn by the melody of ‘Greensleeves’.
Instead, the problem was what lies ahead of that. Lydia wondered what his fairy doctor mother meant in those words she left behind, ‘the time when the rose blossoms in red’. She wondered what Miss Rose intended to do with the Nuckelavee.
In any case, at this rate, Lydia would continue to be exposed to danger. That Nuckelavee too was being enslaved against his will. They had no choice but to locate the birthplace of the music.
“Lydia, regardless of how things turn out, it’s what that young boy wished for.’
Edgar said as he tried to confute Lydia, who was troubled over the conclusion that the melody came from water. Edgar then furthered the discussion.
“Well then, about where we should start investigating from.”
“It’d probably be appropriate to start from a place where the music was heard.”
Darnell gave his views calmly. Edgar too, did not appear to disagree. At this moment, Edgar regarded Darnell as someone with whom they collaborated.
“If so, then it has to be from the green springs. But is there a place from which we can enter near there?”
(If it’s that, you can enter by passing through the space between the two rocks beside it.)
Edgar nodded at the Knockers’ advice.
Lydia was probably still hesitating over whether she should guide the Nuckelavee there. But she also thought that she wanted to ascertain Miss Rose’s true feelings.

------------------
[1] Lyrics of Greensleeves: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/A_Handful_of_Pleasant_Delights/A_new_Courtly_Sonet,_of_the_Lady_Greensleeues