Chapter 25: The Key Left Behind

“My spirited son swatted away the chocolate I gave him. Then he asked if I thought he looked like a beggar… I don’t remember going that far.”

As I read Grandfather’s Diary, I couldn’t help but feel strangely wronged.

It was true that I rejected Grandfather that day.

But it hadn’t been to that extent.

All I did was swat away some chocolate.

“So that’s how he remembers it.”

For no reason, I awkwardly brushed my arm a few times.

It was true the day I met Grandfather was one of my worst days, and I was on edge.

But it was also the happiest day I ever had.

If I hadn’t met Grandfather that day, I never would have lived these days.

Maybe I’d have scraped by as a petty thief somewhere or ended up as a local troublemaker in some rural village.

That Grandfather was my benefactor was, as if declared in advance, an undeniable truth.

Just as I was about to turn to the next page of the Diary, the study rapidly shrank away.

In the blink of an eye, the study became just an ordinary room.

“…What… why?”

“Mister, whatcha doin’?”

The moment I tried to grasp the situation, No-Rani’s voice rang out.

No-Rani, rubbing her eyes, let out a long yawn as she entered the study.

“Oh, No-Ran? Can’t sleep? But just now, the room…”

“Hmm? Room?”

“Wasn’t it just really big? There were a lot of books too.”

“Uuung. Nah, just a room.”

The moment No-Rani came in, the room returned to its original state.

“Is it reacting to me? Or is it reacting to the spirits?”

I had no idea which it was.

One thing was certain—now, not a single belonging of Grandfather’s remained in the study.

It was just like any other guest room.

“So strange.”

“What is?”

“Hmm… Something like a mysterious magic? Anyway, No-Ran, you’re up? What about Naru?”

“Couldn’t sleep. Naru’s sleeping.”

The fatigue clung to the corners of her eyes.

I set the Diary down and immediately picked No-Rani up in my arms.

Despite how much she eats, No-Rani still feels as light as ever.

She’s like a fluff ball, a fluff ball.

“Why can’t you sleep? Should I make you some tea?”

It wasn’t like the Tea Shop, but this house did have a few tea leaves.

I could easily make a tea that would help her sleep.

No-Rani shook her head at my suggestion.

“Don’t want it.”

“But if you don’t sleep, you’ll be tired tomorrow?”

“I know.”

Puffing out her cheeks, No-Rani pouted.

She really was just so adorable.

“Then, should I sing you a lullaby? Or read you a story?”

“Noo. But, Mister, you smell nice.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Like Grandfather.”

“…Not sure if that’s a compliment, but thanks.”

As I gently stroked No-Rani’s head, her own head began to bob and droop.

After playing so much and running around all day, it’s no wonder she’s tired.

She was reaching her limit.

“Want to go to bed with Mister?”

“Hmm… huh?”

No-Rani’s eyes grew wide for a moment.

What’s gotten into her?

“No-Ran?”

“Mister, that.”

“That? Ah, this is Grandfather’s old Diary.”

“Want to read it.”

No-Rani reached her hand out.

The Diary could be read anytime.

But since No-Rani wanted to read it now…

I took the Diary and handed it to her.

“Here you go.”

“Sniff sniff. Smells like Grandfather.”

Does it smell like me?

“Huh?”

No-Rani took a big whiff of the book, then slowly opened the first page.

Adjusting herself for a better reading position, she furrowed her brow.

“Mister.”

“Yeah?”

“There’s nothing here.”

“What? That can’t be.”

“Look. Here, look.”

No-Rani tapped on the book.

I followed her gaze, but the Diary was still filled with writing.

“See? Nothing?”

“Uh… but it’s here?”

“No, look. Here.”

No-Rani, as if pleading her case, flipped through the Diary even more thoroughly.

After several pages, her hand came to a stop.

On the page where No-Rani paused, there was indeed nothing written.

Why is this happening?

“No-Ran?”

“…Mister, we have to go to the Tea Shop now.”

“Now?”

It was almost midnight.

Way too late to be going to the Tea Shop.

“It’s too late. Let’s go tomorrow.”

“No! We have to go now, now!”

No-Rani clung to my collar, shaking me with surprising strength, almost enough to knock me over.

Just in case, I set No-Rani down, knelt to match her eye level.

“No-Ran? Why do we have to go now, all of a sudden? The Tea Shop isn’t going anywhere.”

“We have to go now! There’s something I have to give you, Mister.”

“To me?”

“Yeah.”

“Does it have to be right now?”

“It must! Absolutely!”

No-Rani was adamant.

If I said no, she looked ready to throw a fit and protest right on the floor.

Though many thoughts and worries flashed through my mind, my conclusion was simple.

“Alright. But you have to change clothes first. You can’t go out in your pajamas.”

“Ugh, there’s no time!”

“Or we can go tomorrow.”

“I’ll change! I’ll change!”

No-Rani threw her hand up and dashed off to her room.

I didn’t know what she wanted to give me.

But now I was curious how important it was, to make her act this way.

***

No-Rani came back quickly, changed, and pulled me by the hand.

“This way.”

“Okay, okay. It’s dark, so hold onto me.”

“Hm?”

I picked up No-Rani and quietly slipped out of the house.

On the way to the Tea Shop, No-Rani kept yawning and nodding off.

Noran.

“Have to go… Tea Shop…”

I thought for a moment about turning back, but just as I spoke, she snapped awake and answered.

So I had no choice but to make my way to the Tea Shop.

Ding.

“We’re here, at the Tea Shop.”

“Hmm… put me down.”

Though she’d been nodding off just a moment ago, as soon as her feet touched the ground, No-Rani shot off like a bullet.

“Go slowly! If you run and fall, it’ll hurt!”

“Tea Shop!”

No-Rani dashed off toward the Warehouse.

There shouldn’t be much in the Warehouse besides tea leaves, flower petals, and some fruit.

What could she possibly be looking for?

I followed No-Rani and headed toward the Warehouse.

“No-Ran…?”

I entered the Warehouse, but No-Rani was nowhere to be seen.

The familiar Warehouse was barely three pyeong, a tiny Chamber.

Surrounded by the Pantry, there was nowhere for No-Rani to hide.

“What the… No-Ran. No-Ran??”

I called out, but only my voice echoed in the Warehouse.

“What’s going on…”

As I searched every corner, suddenly, my hand was grabbed.

Looking down, there was No-Rani, as if she’d always been there.

“No-Ran, where were you?”

“Mister. Here.”

No-Rani pressed a small House Key into my hand.

The House Key was golden.

But as it rolled in my palm, it shimmered with subtly shifting colors.

“No-Ran, what’s this?”

“This is something you need, Mister.”

“For me?”

“Yeah.”

No-Rani laid her hand on top of the House Key in my palm.

Her small hand, in that moment, looked enormous.

As if it was the world itself.

Or maybe like the will of the Universe.

“It’s okay.”

No-Rani’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I looked up to see her shedding Yellow Light Powder.

“No…ran…?”

The atmosphere around No-Rani was utterly different from usual.

Warm, mature, radiating a sense I’d never felt before, like a mother’s embrace.

The smile on her face was the same.

“It’s okay.”

“What?”

“You have received Permission for this Chamber.”

“Permission? What permission?”

“You’ll know once you use that House Key.”

With that, No-Rani closed her eyes.

“No-Ran?”

“I’ll sleep now. See you next time.”

No-Rani’s body slowly collapsed, like a feather drifting to the ground, so it was easy to catch her.

Holding her in my arms, I felt strangely odd.

It was as if I was holding not No-Rani, but… some kind of godly being.

“No-Ran?”

“Umm…”

Calling her name, blurring the boundary of reality, No-Rani answered with a sleepy whine.

Just in case, I touched her forehead. No fever.

She really was just asleep.

“What on earth was that just now?”

One thing’s for certain—it wasn’t No-Rani.

Someone else was borrowing No-Rani’s body.

But who could it be?

What exactly is this House Key given to me?

Questions floated through my head and vanished.

My mind spun, and I felt dizzy.

“It’s just like when I took on a major Project.”

What to do, how to do it, where to even start.

It’s like being dropped into an endless sea with no clue.

In times like these, it’s best to keep it simple.

“What can I do, right now?”

If I can think that far, all that’s left is to move.

First, I laid No-Rani down in the Tea Shop’s small room.

I wanted to bring her home to rest, but there was still work left.

“There must be a reason it had to be tonight.”

I looked at the House Key in my hand, then returned to the Warehouse.

Though it was a scene I knew, at this moment it somehow felt different.

“If I’m to use the House Key, it would be here.”

No-Rani had emerged with the House Key from this place.

So if there’s anywhere to use it, it must be here.

I thoroughly searched the Warehouse.

I picked up the Material Jars, emptied all the ingredients, even moved the Pantry.

Certain I must have missed something, I searched every inch.

“The lamp’s shadow is always darkest.”

I found a door hidden under my feet.

Usually covered by a carpet, I’d never noticed it.

I tried to lift it by hand, but it was firmly locked and wouldn’t budge.

I was sure this was the place and fitted the House Key No-Rani had given me.

Click.

Just as expected, with a fitting sound, the firmly closed door opened.

“Oh.”

As I slowly lifted the door, a stone staircase leading downward appeared.

It was just wide enough for a grown man to fit through.

It felt as if it had been made just for me.

As I took a step down, a faint light came from the stairs.

Thanks to that light, the way down wasn’t dark.

I pushed aside my anxiety and fear, and slowly went down.

After descending about the equivalent of two stories, a new Chamber came into view.

“Where is this?”

If I had to describe it, I’d say… it was like a museum.

All sorts of objects I’d never seen before were displayed everywhere, mysterious and precious.

On one wall was a massive Green Glow Wall Mural, seemingly carved from stone.

From the stone of the mural itself, a subtle green light emanated, so it was definitely no ordinary mural.

“Is this a sword? That looks like armor.”

Each and every item looked completely foreign to the modern Earth.

I approached one, and felt a strange sensation.

As if it wasn’t time yet, or something like that.

Trusting my intuition, I stepped back and turned my attention elsewhere.

“These are books.”

A bookshelf covered one side of the wall, filled to the brim with books.

I took one out, but it was written in an indecipherable script I couldn’t read.

Definitely, this wasn’t any language from Earth.

I put the book back in its place and slowly looked around.

“…This is amazing.”

The very fact that such a Chamber was hidden beneath the Tea Shop was unbelievable, and incredible.

Why did a place like this exist?

And how was it connected to Grandfather?

The more I tried to learn about Grandfather, the less I seemed to know.

“Well, that’s okay. I’ve still got plenty of time.”

I’d found Grandfather’s Diary, and Grandfather’s time was no longer running.

If I take my time, I’ll eventually learn the truth.

About the life he lived, and the kind of person he was.

Thinking that way, my heart felt a little lighter.

Now, with the heart of a tourist, I looked over each object, when suddenly my eyes caught a Cup.

It was a rough wooden Cup, as if carved with a knife.

Floating, encased in glass, the Cup seemed oddly special.

Maybe because, unlike the other objects, it felt less out of place.

As I studied the Cup from every angle, I felt a tingling sensation.

“Is the Cup calling to me?”

The other objects seemed to reject me, but only the Cup felt like it was calling out.

Almost in a trance, I slowly reached my hand toward the glass.

“Huh?”

As if waiting, the glass crumbled away into powder, and the floating wooden Cup flew into my hand.

As if it had been waiting.

This feeling…

Yes.

It was like a puppy that had been waiting for its owner for a long, long time, finally wagging its tail in joy at their return.