Chapter 15: “Commencement: The Journey to the Coordinates”
Chapter 15: “Commencement: The Journey to the Coordinates”
—From the Memoirs of Oliver Jones
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Section 1: The Morning of Departure
The air that morning was strangely quiet.
A lingering mist clung low to the ground, and the garden of the Bird Estate carried a sharp, dignified chill.
I remember quietly stroking Hachikō’s head.
I was no longer a boy, and my hair had already turned completely silver.
“…It’s time, Hachikō. I can’t stop anymore.”
He barked once. That bark… I believe it was one of understanding, and agreement.
In the yard, the Harley stood ready—retuned for the road.
The underwater modifications had been stripped away; this time, it was in “land” mode.
Prepared to cross Bermuda and venture far, it was ready for the long journey ahead.
That was when Katie burst out of the front door.
“Brother!”
As usual, never one to hold back.
“Are you sure? You’re really going again?”
“Rafaella is out there. The coordinates have finally been calculated.”
When I said that, Katie pulled a letter from his pocket.
“…A letter from Zeus. It says, ‘If you’ve found that girl’s coordinates, don’t hesitate.’”
I silently accepted the letter and nodded.
Then Katie slapped my back with a solid pon.
“Tell Rafaella that Fei-tarō’s been doing well! Emil’s been looking after him. Hard to believe it’s been two years already. He’s grown into such a stylish young man—it feels like fraud, doesn’t it?”
“…Haha, may Michelangelo IV stay safe.”
“Don’t jinx it.”
And then, the usual ridiculous banter.
“You still keeping in touch with Master Dan and Zeus?”
“Of course! I do a proper weekly LINE video call with them. Well, I forgot for the past two months… but you know what they say, no news is good news, right?”
“Idiot! Master Dan’s been worried sick! Call him right now!”
…Honestly, I can never win with him.
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Section 2: Road to Maharaja
I mounted the Harley and left the Bird Estate behind.
Through the city, across the plains, cutting through the wind.
My destination: Shiva Town, an oasis city west of Bermuda—Maharaja’s temporary residence.
At a hydrogen station along the way, the robot attendant looked at me wide-eyed.
“Silver hair… are you perhaps the husband of Las?”
“So that name’s really spreading now, huh?”
“Las is the name of miracles. People are saying the hero’s returned, just like the old legends.”
“…But I haven’t come back yet.”
That’s what I said with a smile. Somewhere deep inside, though, I carried a near certainty.
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Section 3: The Prince’s Permission
When I arrived at Shiva Town, Maharaja was seated beneath a golden parasol, sipping fruit wine.
Graceful as ever.
Beside him stood a robotic steed, white as a noble horse—Eshkaar.
Truly, he looked every bit the picture of a king.
“Your Highness, Oliver Jones reporting.”
“Let him through. …It’s been a month, hasn’t it, Silver Joker?”
I was starting to get used to that title.
I handed him a tablet packed with gate wave records and coordinate analysis data.
“Will it work?”
“It will. High reproducibility. With the next cycle, we’ll reach the timespace she’s in.”
Maharaja thought for a moment, then clapped his hands.
“I’ll send a unit. You’ll be supplied with a custom-made suit and a new backup AI.”
“There’s no need. I’ll go. Alone is enough.”
“…Yes, I suppose. But remember this.”
His voice was calm, but his words carried weight.
“When heroes shine for others, they often fail to notice their own shadow.”
I let out a quiet breath.
“…Then I’ll borrow a little, just this once.”
“…Good. Make it count.”
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Section 4: Transfer Preparations
Six months later, beneath the facilities of Shiva Town.
There, the old crystal gate once left by Zeus had been fully restored.
“We’ll resonate it with the Bermuda seabed gate. The moment the waveforms sync, fire the sequence.”
I gave the order as I checked the terminal.
For just a moment, Emil’s hand froze.
“Oliver. There’s no guarantee you’ll make it back.”
“If Rafaella is there, that’s enough.”
Then I heard it—the familiar sound of heavy, steady footsteps behind me.
“You’re coming too?”
When I turned, Hachikō was there.
He wagged his tail once and gave a powerful bark.
“…Let’s go. Our journey isn’t over yet.”
The gate began to shine.
I mounted the Harley, Hachikō in the sidecar at my side—
And together, we leapt into the time where Rafaella awaited.
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To be continued in Chapter 16
