CHAPTER 5
THINGS LEFT UNSAID ARE OFTEN THE MOST DANGEROUS
Night fell gently over Rimba Village, enveloping Edon's inn in a comfortable silence. The oil lamps inside had been dimmed, leaving a faint, dancing orange light on the wooden walls. The atmosphere was warm and peaceful, yet fragile—like a beautiful soap bubble that could pop with the slightest breeze.
After they finished their simple yet filling dinner, Kyoichiiro lifted his gaze to Edon, who was clearing the table.
Kyoichiiro: "Uncle Edon, are there still two vacant rooms upstairs we could use?"
Edon paused for a moment, scratching his head as if pretending to recall. A slightly mischievous smile appeared on his face.
Edon: "Hmm… seems like only one room is still empty. Coincidentally, other guests have filled the rest."
His tone was too casual, a bit forced. Kyoichiiro caught that—Edon was clearly lying so the two of them would stay in one room. But rather than questioning it or requesting an additional room that might not exist, Kyoichiiro simply nodded in resignation. In a situation like this, separating from Claire would be riskier.
Kyoichiiro: (turning to Claire) "Alright. Let's go upstairs, Sis."
The room on the second floor turned out to be simple yet clean. There was only a medium-sized bed, a small table, and a window overlooking the back garden. Not many words were spoken. Kyoichiiro immediately took an extra blanket from the closet and spread it on the floor near the bed.
Kyoichiiro: "Sis, you take the bed. I'll be fine on the floor."
Claire, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, immediately shot him a sharp look. Her thin eyebrows rose, showing disapproval.
Claire: "What's the point of you sleeping on the floor? That's so foolish."
Before Kyoichiiro could defend his decision, Claire had already stood up, grabbed his arm firmly, and pushed him toward the bed.
Claire: "Just stay put. No need to act all gentlemanly."
Kyoichiiro fell silent for a moment, slightly surprised by his sister's strength and firmness. In his heart, he could only sigh.
Give me a break… he thought. She's still traumatized, yet still wants to control the situation.
In the end, he relented. He shifted to the side of the bed closest to the wall, leaving enough space for Claire. The girl then lay down on the other side—without uttering a single word—and immediately closed her eyes, as if trying hard to fall asleep.
Kyoichiiro lay staring at the dark wooden ceiling. His expression was calm, but his mind was active. He could feel it—Claire's body beside him was still stiff, her breathing not entirely regular. She wasn't truly relaxed yet. The world was still a frightening place for her.
Long after Claire finally fell asleep with more regular breathing, Kyoichiiro closed his eyes. His sleep was not deep, filled with the vigilance ingrained in him since the tragedy at the palace.
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Pale morning light was just beginning to seep through the gaps in the window curtains when Kyoichiiro awoke. Claire was still fast asleep beside him, her usually stern face looking softer and younger in sleep. With practiced, careful movements, Kyoichiiro got out of bed without making a sound. He walked out of the room, down the softly creaking wooden stairs, and left the inn without waking anyone.
The morning air in Rimba Village felt cold and fresh, carrying the scent of damp earth and dew. The village was still quiet, only a few roosters crowing in the distance. Kyoichiiro walked without a definite destination, simply observing his surroundings, trying to understand the place that was now their hiding spot.
As he passed through a narrow gap between two wooden houses that looked rarely used, something caught his attention. On the damp ground, there were unusual footprints.
Kyoichiiro stopped, then crouched down. The prints were large—far larger than an adult human foot—and had a strange pattern: three long claws in front with one smaller claw at the back. They were deep, indicating the creature was heavy. Carefully, he took a little soil from the depression of the print, brought it to his nose, and sniffed it gently.
The smell of damp earth… but there's something else. A fishy smell, like raw meat. And the soil… it's still warm. These tracks are fresh, maybe just a few hours old.
He observed the pattern of the tracks. They were aligned irregularly, as if the creature had been pacing or was restless.
Kyoichiiro: (whispering to himself) "These tracks… aren't from an ordinary animal. The claw pattern, the size… this is a magical beast. And the lingering scent… there's a faint residual magical energy."
He stood up, his eyes sweeping the surroundings warily. There were no other signs, but one set of tracks was enough to serve as a warning.
If a magical beast is prowling this close to the village… and its tracks are still fresh… that means there's magical activity or monsters around here. This village isn't safe. Too risky to stay long.
His decision came quickly, based on pure logic, not fear. It was a risk assessment. They needed a safer place.
With quick but calm steps, Kyoichiiro returned to the inn. As his hand opened the front door, he was surprised to find Claire already standing behind it, as if waiting for him. The girl's expression was flat, but there was a spark of anxiety and a hint of irritation in her eyes.
Claire: "Where have you been? I woke up and you were gone."
Her voice was flat, but Kyoichiiro could hear the tension behind it.
Kyoichiiro: (calmly) "Just getting some fresh air. The air felt nice this morning."
Claire didn't immediately believe him. Her eyes narrowed, scrutinizing her brother's face carefully.
Claire: "Where did you go? I didn't see you out front."
Kyoichiiro: (with a small smile) "Just took a little walk, saw the morning scenery. The sky is beautiful."
Claire stared at him for a few more seconds, as if trying to find a lie. Then, she let out a long sigh, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly.
Claire: "Good, then. Don't go off alone again without saying anything."
She turned and walked back inside, leaving Kyoichiiro at the door. Kyoichiiro followed, then sat on the sofa in the living room. His mind was still on the footprints he had found.
If I tell Claire now… she'll definitely panic. Or worse, want to investigate herself. Information about a magical beast near this village is too dangerous if not handled properly. And we don't know who to trust.
Before he could finish his thought, Edon appeared from the direction of the kitchen, his face smiling as usual.
Edon: "Thinking about something so seriously? You look tense."
Kyoichiiro looked up, his expression returning to neutral.
Kyoichiiro: "It's nothing. Just remembering something from the past that's better left forgotten."
He then continued, deliberately changing the subject.
Kyoichiiro: "Uncle Edon, are there other villages in this area? I'm curious about neighboring communities."
Edon nodded, wiping his hands with a cloth.
Edon: "There are. The nearest village is about a hundred and twenty kilometers from here, to the east. It's called Old Forest Village. But the road is quite difficult, through dense woods."
Kyoichiiro: "Thank you for the information."
Quietly, Kyoichiiro observed the inn's surroundings. The shelves in the kitchen were fully stocked with food supplies, even though, from his observation, the village wasn't in the midst of a bountiful harvest season.
Kyoichiiro: (pretending to simply ask) "I'm curious, this village seems to have quite abundant food supplies. As I recall, this isn't the fertile season for staple crops."
Edon paused for a moment, then chuckled softly. But his laugh this time sounded different—there was something behind it.
Edon: "Hahaha… you're quite perceptive. You're right, supplies usually aren't this plentiful. But lately, there's been a… distributor who regularly delivers goods."
Something in Edon's tone put Kyoichiiro on alert. But he didn't press further.
Kyoichiiro: (standing up) "If my sister is looking for me, please just tell her I went for a short walk around here."
Edon: (still smiling) "Alright. Be careful."
Kyoichiiro went out again, this time sitting on a wooden bench in front of the inn. His eyes observed the village slowly waking up. Some villagers were beginning to come out of their houses, preparing for the day's work.
Not long after, a man with curly brown hair and a thin beard approached and sat down beside him uninvited. The man appeared to be in his mid-thirties, with sharp brown eyes.
Brown-Haired Man: "You're the new kid here, right? I saw you arrive with that girl yesterday."
Kyoichiiro gave a brief nod, offering no more information than necessary.
Kyoichiiro: "Yes. We're traveling."
The man looked at him more seriously, his voice dropping to a whisper.
Brown-Haired Man: "Have you found out about it yet?"
Kyoichiiro's chest tightened. The sentence was ambiguous, but in the context of the fresh footprints he'd just found, its meaning became clear. So he wasn't the only one who sensed something was wrong.
But Kyoichiiro couldn't just admit it. He didn't know who this man was, or his motives.
Kyoichiiro: (in a flat tone) "No. I haven't found or learned anything of note yet."
The man's expression changed—from serious to relieved, then back to neutral. But his eyes still radiated anxiety.
Brown-Haired Man: "Good. If you already knew…"
He stopped, looking around as if making sure no one was listening.
Brown-Haired Man: "…the situation might be far more serious than you imagine. Sometimes, ignorance is the best protection."
After saying that, the man stood up and left without another word, leaving Kyoichiiro alone on the bench.
Kyoichiiro sat silently, staring at the ground beneath his feet. His mind worked quickly.
So the threat is real. And I'm not the only one who knows. But why isn't anyone taking action? Are they afraid? Or is there another reason?
The morning silence suddenly felt heavy, different from the false peace he had felt upon first arriving. And for the first time since fleeing the palace, Kyoichiiro realized one thing clearly: this tranquil, friendly Rimba Village might not be as simple or peaceful as it seemed. Something was hidden behind the smiles of its people, something dangerous, and they—he and Claire—might have stumbled right into the middle of it without realizing.