Chapter 58: Jose

The caravan seemed to stretch endlessly. The forest path was incredibly straight. Though it felt like hours had passed, the sunlight remained fixed, shining into the forest at the same angle. “You’re saying that we’re actually in a box, and everything here is fake? And that we have different identities outside the box?” Selene asked, her voice trembling. She looked away from the sky, giving up on finding any cracks or inconsistencies.

“That’s right,” Richter nodded.

After they found each other, they went into an empty carriage. It seemed that Jose hadn’t bothered to add any characters to it. The horse was moving on its own. A whip, floating in the air, would occasionally flick down, perfunctorily creating a sense of “normalcy.”

“…You don’t believe me? I have many ways to prove it. First, those faceless people outside…”

Richter was about to explain further when Selene waved her hand.

“I believe you. So, we need to find a way to get out of here? It’s a wooden box outside, right? Should we set it on fire?”

“…No need,” Richter sighed. “If the 【Scene in a Box】 miracle could be broken so easily, it wouldn’t be called a ‘miracle that can’t be replicated.’ We need to find Jose first. He’s the key.”

“Also, we need to find a way to get you out of this amnesia role-playing… Let me see. Do you feel anything unusual about your memories? Or do you have any deep-seated obsessions or impressions?”

“Sort of,” Selene touched her hair. “For example, in my memories, I should be an intelligent child, but I don’t think so at all. Also, emotionally, I feel like this environment is normal and familiar, but my intuition tells me that it’s very strange. That’s why I’m willing to believe you.

“And, any obsessions? Let me see… Well, there’s this strange thought…”

“What is it?” Richter asked sincerely.

“Invent a vibrating machine that will bring peace to the dead,” Selene said, emphasizing each word. She tilted her head, puzzled. “I don’t know what it means. Is it something from outside?”

“…I don’t know. It’s probably some special term you know. But it sounds like some kind of resentment towards someone… Strange. I’ve never heard of such a thing…” Richter pondered for a few seconds, then sighed softly, “Do you want to try some other methods?”

“Like what?”

“The Great Memory Restoration,” Richter said earnestly. “The details are…”

“No, no. Just hearing that name makes my back crawl,” Selene immediately took a few steps back, hitting her head on the door frame and falling onto the floor of the carriage. “My intuition tells me it’s not very friendly, and it’s probably not related to ‘memory restoration.’ Do you have any safe, painless methods?”

“Not really,” Richter shrugged. “Divine spells and magic related to the mind and consciousness are the specialty of clerics of the Spirit Tribunal. Other superhumans have limited abilities in this area.”

“Then let’s wait… How should I put this? After I realized the anomalies around me, I felt incredibly uneasy. But after meeting you, I feel a strange sense of security,” Selene said, frowning, “It’s very strange. Even now, there’s this warmth welling up inside me, and my intuition tells me that you’re… incredibly trustworthy… Were we very close outside?”

Richter was silent for a few seconds, then smiled.

“Maybe.”

“Though I don’t remember anything, I don’t think I like little boys,” Selene glanced at Richter, who currently looked about ten years old, and muttered to herself.

Richter’s face darkened.

“I’m twenty! This body is just because of the special rules of this world!”

“Just kidding,” Selene stuck her tongue out. But for some reason, after making that gesture, she felt a subtle sense of disgust. “Since restoring memories isn’t going to work, should we look for… Jose? Why are you so sure he’s in here, anyway? He could be anywhere…”

“Because I was very close to him, before he was expelled from Mittal,” Richter said calmly. “Ten years ago… or rather, in the time outside the box, he was just a somewhat well-known artist. He had good skills, but no representative works or patrons. He lived day-to-day, making a living in the capital’s Silver Shield district.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Then he met Duke Russell. With his help, he held a small exhibition, using the Duke’s name to attract many high-class visitors. He was very talented. After that, his fame grew rapidly. From the capital to the Sallyke district, from Mittal to the entire South Continent, from humans to elves… Perhaps because he had struggled before, he always remained humble and polite, possessing the charisma of a true artist. He had many friends.

“I was one of them. And after a conversation, he told me about his experiences—in 1446, he left Mittal and embarked on a three-month journey, witnessing many beautiful customs and scenery. He said that this trip inspired him greatly, and the most profound influence came from what he saw at the foot of the Loki Mountains.”

Richter spoke softly.

“He said that after arriving in Nymph Fu, because of Lanstier’s information control, he had no choice but to join a passing caravan. He traveled with them for seven days…”

【It wasn’t a very comfortable journey, Richter. You’re a student of the Archmage. You can’t imagine—the roads are bumpy, the carriages have no suspension, and even sitting still in the carriage is more tiring than walking around the capital all day. The sun is scorching. It can practically burn your skin off at noon. But at night, it’s freezing. Even wrapped in blankets, the cold wind from the mountains can make you shiver. The chill goes right to your bones.】

【Ha, ha. Luckily, the people I met weren’t bad. At night, they’d set up camp, the carriages forming a circle around a huge bonfire. And the girls in the caravan would sing and dance around the fire… Okay, okay, that’s more of a northern dwarven custom. Let me correct that. It was a group of men drinking around the fire. The smell of sweat and alcohol mixed together was practically unbearable…】

【But the scenery along the way made up for the discomfort of the journey. At dawn, the stars disappeared, and the first rays of sunlight slowly appeared from behind the majestic mountains, eventually illuminating the whole world… I kept looking up, until dusk, when the setting sun cast its final rays, dyeing the thin clouds pink. A while later, the sunset glow faded, and the darkness gathered in the sky, blanketing the mountains… But the darkness didn’t cover the earth. Before the stars appeared, lights flickered in the town, from the foot of the mountain to the slopes, connecting into a single expanse. They were like scattered lights, each one illuminating only a single house. But in my eyes, it was like I was suddenly immersed in a man-made sea of stars…】

Memories from several years ago suddenly flooded his mind. After a moment of silence, Richter continued,

“I think this world in the box is based on that journey. The caravan, the Loki Mountains, the destination town… There should be a poor painter who joins along the way.”

Selene silently observed him, noticing that he seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, his mood slightly melancholic.

But he quickly recovered his composure, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.

“Your identity is… the caravan leader’s daughter, right? Do you have any memories of that?”

Selene held her head and shook her head.

“Your ‘father’ might remember something,” Richter said without hesitation. “He’s the leader of the caravan, so he should be aware of everyone in the caravan. If he doesn’t have any answers, we’ll just look for her ourselves… I counted. There are only about seventy carriages here. It won’t take long to check them all.”

Selene nodded in agreement. But just as she and Richter were about to do so, she suddenly remembered something.

“Right, you said that the reason we were in the box was because we were looking for a friend, called Louise… How do we find her?”

Richter was startled, as if he’d only just remembered.

After a moment, he calmly replied,

“The same way. If she’s also in the box, then she’s probably in the caravan somewhere.”

That made sense.

Selene didn’t ask any more questions.

...

A young man, his face somewhat pale, leaned back in the carriage. The hand holding the brush trembled from exhaustion. His legs, pressed against the drawing board, were shaking, but his eyes shone brightly.

“I see, I see! Thank you, Miss Louise—I’ve always heard that elves have an unparalleled talent in the arts, but I never believed it. But now, after receiving your guidance, I’m truly impressed!”

Louise, sat on the other side of the carriage, a warm smile on her face. She wasn’t arrogant, nor was she humble, simply happy to have helped someone.

“There are indeed many exceptional artists among the elves, but it’s not entirely because of innate talent… It’s also because of our long lifespans, the accumulation of time and experience, and also because of our unique culture and way of thinking…

“Have you heard this saying—every elf is born in hope, and every elf dies in despair.”

“…That doesn’t sound very auspicious. Is it some slander spread by those vicious vampires?”

“No,” Louise smiled, “It’s a summary of our race, a conclusion drawn from our long history.”

Jose, the poor painter, suddenly felt a chill down his spine, an inexplicable sadness. He didn’t know where this emotion came from. After a moment of silence, he changed the subject.

“Could I paint you? If you’re willing to let my clumsy skills attempt to capture even a fraction of your beauty.”

“Of course,” Louise smiled. “You’re being too modest. At least, among those I’ve met in my life, your painting skills are definitely in the top hundred.”

This, coming from an elf, was high praise. Jose was greatly encouraged. In his excitement, he knocked over his easel and hurriedly turned to pick it up.

Louise, sitting across from him, had a puzzled look in her eyes.

…This Jose seemed like the “Jose from ten years ago,” like someone who also belonged in the box. He was a shy, introverted, and incredibly talented young painter.

At least, she couldn’t see any inconsistencies.

…Was he the key to escaping this place?

As she pondered this question, Louise suddenly felt a sense of unease—how did such a brilliant young man become the “Grandmaster” who mocked the gods, deceived others, and faked his death to escape and do unspeakable things?