PandoraHearts ~Caucus Race~, Vol. 3 Read online

  She’d been the one to shine a light on this being called “Jack,” when even he hadn’t been able to find meaning in him. The one woman whose direct gaze had picked “Jack” out from this vast world. Lacie.

  I couldn’t care less about the fact that I was living and that I would eventually die.

  Until I met you, Lacie—

  “That’s right, Lacie. You are my light. This is all for your sake.”

  He murmured as if singing, as if whispering. That alone had become the meaning of Jack’s life.

  A pleasurable feeling almost like intoxication spread through his body.

  I could never want anything else—

  “…Jack.”

  As Jack left the tower, Oswald called to him. He’d been standing beside the door.

  Jack had been told that he was probably napping in the shade of the forest somewhere nearby, and he was startled; he straightened up and looked at him.

  “It’s you, Oswald?”

  Unless he was ordered to do so by his master or had a particular reason for being there, Oswald never visited his sister’s room. Levi didn’t seem to have forbidden them from meeting; apparently it was Oswald’s way of drawing a line.

  Indifferently, Oswald asked, “What did you discuss with my master?”

  “Well, we—”

  On the verge of replying, Jack seemed to catch himself. He thrust out an open hand in a theatrical gesture, as if to repel Oswald.

  “Ah, but I can’t tell you what we talked about.”

  “I see. It doesn’t matter.”

  Even though he’d been the one to ask, Oswald didn’t seem particularly interested. After saying it didn’t matter, he fell silent. He only watched Jack, steadily. Jack fidgeted, seeming vaguely uncomfortable.

  “Well, um, Oswald… I’ll be going, then.”

  With that, Jack began to move away from Oswald. Oswald spoke to his back:

  “—Your sword is warped.”

  “Huh?”

  Jack stopped, turning around.

  Oswald’s expression didn’t change. As he continued, he kept his eyes fixed on Jack:

  “…Your basic form isn’t bad. However, the balance between your offense and defense is uneven. With your skills, even against me, you shouldn’t get so injured. Why do you use your sword purely for offense, without defending?”

  Coming from Oswald, this was a long speech, and Jack looked startled. However, he soon gave a little smile and responded:

  “Because getting wounded isn’t a condition for my defeat. Why would I need to defend?”

  Jack said this as if it was only natural, and Oswald narrowed his eyes in a glare.

  “Later, then,” Jack told him, raising a hand, and this time he did leave. Silently, Oswald watched his receding back.

  3

  Then Jack’s attempts began again.

  It was the day after he’d spoken about weaknesses with Levi and Lacie.

  That afternoon, Jack cut through the forest and came to the tower, but he didn’t go inside. Instead, walking stealthily, he searched the area.

  Today, it was just as Levi had said.

  It didn’t take him long to find Oswald. He was sitting under a Japanese zelkova, leaning back against the trunk, breathing quietly in his sleep. There was a songbird perched on his shoulder. It was pecking at his black hair, playing with it, but Oswald was as still as a statue. He was fast asleep.

  He really isn’t waking up, Jack thought, silently impressed. Slowly, he crept toward Oswald. He clenched his right hand, the one closed around the hilt of his lowered sword.

  Without making a sound, he drew closer to the zelkova where Oswald slept. Little by little, the distance between the two shrank.

  Carried on the forest wind, the faint sound of Oswald’s breathing reached Jack’s ears.

  “……He’s sleeping really well,” he murmured.

  His voice was tense.

  Just a little longer, just a few more steps, and he’d be able to reach him with his sword.

  Oswald hadn’t moved. His breathing was quiet and regular.

  I can do this, Jack thought, and just as he took the last step—

  Snnnap!

  His right foot came down on a dry branch that had been lurking under the fallen leaves, and a sharp sound rang out. At the same time, the songbird launched itself from Oswald’s shoulder, furiously flapping its wings and loudly crying cheep cheep! This flustered Jack, and:

  “Agh, n-no, don’t!”

  …Without thinking, he yelled.

  In the next instant, he hastily clapped a hand over his mouth, but it was too late. It was hopeless. If there was a racket this close by, anyone would wake up—

  But.

  “…………………………………………………………………Nn.”

  Oswald gave a little groan, stirred slightly, and that was all. Nothing else changed. He was nowhere near waking up. His breathing remained peaceful.

  On seeing this, Jack looked deeply moved. He really isn’t waking up!

  Carefully, boldly, Jack stood right in front of Oswald, who slept at the foot of the zelkova. The sun was behind Jack, and his shadow fell across Oswald’s face, but it wasn’t enough to provoke the smallest reaction. Slowly, Jack raised his sword above his head.

  Oswald kept right on sleeping.

  “!”

  With a sharp exhalation, Jack brought the sword down. Its steel blade reflected the sunlight, slicing through the wind, bearing down on Oswald.

  To the very end, Oswald’s eyes remained quietly, peacefully closed.

  But.

  “………Huh?”

  Having brought the sword down, Jack froze. A dazed murmur escaped him.

  As it raced toward Oswald, the blade had been caught. Easily and firmly. By Oswald’s right hand.

  Oswald’s eyes were still closed. It was as if he was still slumbering peacefully.

  No:

  “……Nnuh.”

  With a little groan, he raised his head slightly. His eyelids opened, vacantly.

  Jack gulped. A shiver ran down his spine.

  “Uh, no, this was, um, you see, Oswald—”

  Flustered, Jack hastily tried to explain himself, but there was no explaining this particular situation. However, Oswald only turned his half-open, unfocused eyes on Jack. He gave no other response.

  He was in a daze.

  “Um, Os…wald.”

  “…………………”

  “Oswald? Are you still…half-asleep?”

  “…………………”

  “Oh, there’s a caterpillar on your shoulder.”

  “…………………”

  “Ah! A boulder’s about to fall on you!”

  “…………………”

  “Aah, Oswald, your master is in trouble!!”

  “………………………………………………………………………………………………”

  Oswald’s daze was endless.

  Th-that’s amazing, Jack marveled.

  His shoulders shook and his breathing was rough.

  He’d gotten worked up and spoken to him in spite of himself, but come to think of it, this was an opportunity. Gently, Jack pulled at the sword that Oswald’s right hand had caught. Oswald released it without a struggle.

  “Phew.” Jack exhaled. He raised the sword again, his eyes grew sharp— A flash.

  He swept in from the side, aiming for Oswald’s torso.

  This time, he didn’t hold back. He struck with all his might.

  His sword was caught again.

  Oswald’s left hand had stopped it this time, in a beautifully spare motion.

  “……………………” Dazed Oswald.

  “Oswald?! You actually are awake, aren’t y—”

  Something tugged at his sword. “Huh?” said Jack.

  The pull had been stronger than he’d expected, and the sword left his hand.

  And then.

 
Grasping the tip of the blade, Oswald swung the sword around, and the pommel connected solidly with the side of Jack’s face.

  It was a brilliant, bewitching attack.

  “Obwuh?!”

  Jack fell unconscious. Having regained his peace and quiet, Oswald nodded off to sleep again.

  A little while later, when Oswald slowly opened his eyes at the foot of the Japanese zelkova, he stood and spoke to Jack, who was lying in front of him. He didn’t seem to remember any of what had happened while he’d been half-asleep.

  “Jack? You’ll catch a cold if you nap there.”

  THE DAY AFTER THAT.

  Jack stood in front of Oswald, a cherry tomato concealed in his hand. They were on the tower’s first floor, in the space that acted as an entry hall. Oswald had been just about to climb the stairs; maybe Levi had summoned him. Jack was blocking his way.

  “Did you need something?” Oswald asked, dispassionately.

  Jack held his sword in one hand, ready to slash at him at any moment, but Oswald didn’t seem to register it; he was relaxed. He made no move to reach for the sword hanging at his own hip.

  “Hallo, Oswald. Beautiful weather today, isn’t it?”

  Jack smiled brightly as he spoke.

  At his words, Oswald glanced through the first-floor window at the sky. It was blanketed with thick clouds.

  “………………”

  After a short silence, Oswald responded:

  “Indeed.”

  To Jack, the answer seemed slightly pitying. However, his amiable smile didn’t flicker. That said, a closer look revealed that a trickle of cold sweat was making its way down his forehead. To put it bluntly, he was suspicious.

  Oswald cocked his head, as if Jack puzzled him.

  “If you don’t need anything, then move. My master has summoned me.”

  In response, Jack nodded enthusiastically, showing that he understood. …But he didn’t budge one step from his place in front of Oswald. He wasn’t about to get out of the way. As if to say, In that case, Oswald tried to cut around him and go up the stairs.

  As if mirroring him, Jack moved in the same direction, blocking Oswald’s path.

  What is this? Oswald’s eyebrows drew together in irritation.

  Jack still had that bright, ingratiating smile plastered across his face.

  …Jack’s hand held a single cherry tomato.

  If he tossed it into Oswald’s mouth, he’d freeze up, and he wouldn’t go back to normal for a while.

  The problem was how to execute the plan…

  It seemed easy, but it wasn’t.

  If they’d had an opportunity to eat together, that would have been one thing, but suddenly saying “Let’s go eat!” would be unnatural.

  Jack thought. All he really needed to do was get him to open his mouth. In that case, why not have him sing something? “Oswald, it’s such a beautiful day, I’d love to hear you sing!” …No, that would be far too suspicious. In that case, although this was a bit heavy-handed… He could watch for his chance, tickle Oswald’s sides, and the instant he laughed, toss it into his mouth—!

  No, if that had been possible, he wouldn’t have been doing something as roundabout as trying to take advantage of his weaknesses in the first place.

  As Jack worried and fretted, Oswald’s shoulders slumped slightly, and he spoke:

  “If you need something, then tell me. I won’t know what it is if you don’t.”

  “Uh, oh, that’s right! Oswald, could you open your mouth for a second?” Jack asked.

  While he’d been worrying about how to broach the topic, he’d gone and used on impulse the least likely approach to work. It was too late for regrets. Naturally, Oswald looked suspicious. He shook his head slowly, as if in disgust, and turned a direct, piercing gaze on Jack.

  “I have no idea what you’re saying.”

  Well, of course you don’t! Inwardly, Jack agreed with him. It was impossible to explain this away. It was hopeless, but he couldn’t turn back now.

  He managed to hang on to his insincere smile, so as not to make him wary.

  “It’s easy. Just say ‘Aaaah’ for me. You see? All you have to do is open your mouth.”

  “Why do you want me to do that?”

  “Ah, no reason. Nothing special. Ah-ha-ha, it’s nothing important.”

  It had been a perfectly natural question, and he hadn’t really answered it at all. There was no reason to expect a request like this one to work. Ordinarily, at any rate.

  However, as if he saw no help for it, Oswald opened his mouth partway:

  “Aaah…”

  “Huh?! You’re doing it?!”

  Even though he’d been the one to ask him to, Jack was astonished from the bottom of his heart. At his contradictory reaction, Oswald looked suspicious. …What a nice fellow you are! Jack thought, deeply moved. In the next moment, his eyes flashed, and he swung one hand.

  “!”

  The distance was point-blank. The open mouth was right there.

  The cherry tomato left Jack’s hand, streaking through space like a bullet. Nobody would expect to get a cherry tomato thrown at them under these circumstances. That meant even Oswald wouldn’t be able to react— Or so he thought.

  Shing.

  Oswald had been completely defenseless, but at his hip, the sword leapt from its sheath with a cool, metallic sound, and in the next instant… The cherry tomato Jack had thrown stopped dead in midair. Then a line ran through its center, and the tomato slid apart, falling to the floor in two pieces.

  The tomato squished with a light splut. Small droplets struck Oswald’s shoe.

  Silently, Oswald wiped his sword and returned it to its sheath.

  Jack was frozen, still posed as if he’d just thrown the tomato. The two of them stared each other right in the eye.

  “………………”

  “………………”

  Wordlessly, Jack and Oswald looked at each other.

  The sword Oswald had sheathed at his hip wasn’t the fine blade he generally used.

  Jack was using a blunted sword meant for mock battles, and the sword Oswald wore was edgeless as well. How much skill would it take to split a thrown cherry tomato cleanly in two, without crushing it, with a sword like that?

  “—Was that all you needed?”

  At Oswald’s words, Jack nodded vigorously and stepped aside. Oswald passed him, heading up the stairs. Partway up, he glanced back, looking down at Jack. Jack found himself the target of a gaze that had an iron reticence about it.

  It was possible that he was angry, but at the very least, Jack couldn’t read anger in his expression.

  “One thing, Jack.”

  “Y-yes?!”

  Jack flinched, straightening up on reflex. Oswald spoke, briefly and simply:

  “I’m not fond of those. In future, be careful.”

  Oswald disappeared upstairs, leaving Jack behind.

  “…My. He really is amazing, isn’t he.”

  Voicing an honest compliment, Jack held one hand up in front of his face. Then he bent the fingers down, counting.

  “Napping didn’t work, cherry tomatoes didn’t work. Hmm. All that’s left is…”

  Lacie’s words rose in the back of Jack’s mind.

  “The people Nii-sama likes are probably a weakness, too.”

  “I see,” Jack murmured.

  His expression was cheerful. He opened the hand he’d been using to count and held it against his chest, on the left side.

  “I can just use that.”

  4

  “Jack seems to be working hard.”

  In the room, Lacie spoke. She was lying on the sofa, looking up at the ceiling.

  Levi turned from his place by the window; he’d been gazing outside.

  “It doesn’t look like he’s getting results, though. After we told him those weaknesses, too…”

  “…And? Why are you making him do it?”

  Lacie’s question came abruptly,
and her voice was cold. “……Huh?” Levi cocked his head, an extremely weird look on his face. Lacie glared at him; her eyes were stern.

  “I asked if you were just killing time, and you said that wasn’t it. You still haven’t given me an answer.”

  Levi looked pensive, as if he had no idea what she was talking about.

  He didn’t seem to remember what Lacie had asked him on the day Jack and Oswald first crossed swords behind the tower, but Lacie didn’t help him. She only watched him coldly.

  Before long, Levi clapped his hands together lightly.

  “Oh, that question. Huh. You remember some really petty stuff.”

  “If it isn’t to kill time, then why?”

  Lacie repeated her question; she didn’t intend to go along with Levi’s bantering.

  Hmm. Levi hemmed a bit, but maybe he didn’t feel like keeping it a secret at this late date. He answered plainly:

  “For reference. For a novel.”

  Lacie blinked several times. “A novel?” she echoed. Levi liked reading, and he also wrote novels himself. Occasionally, he took them to publishers, hiding his rank as the head of the Baskervilles behind a pseudonym.

  “I was writing a tale of chivalry. I modeled the two protagonists on Oswald and Jack. In the final scene, the two of them duel; I brought this up with Jack because I thought I could use it as a reference, but… The stuff he’s giving me isn’t interesting at all.

  “If Jack doesn’t put up a better fight than that…” Levi said, shrugging his shoulders.

  “Have you finished that novel already?”

  “No, I got bored and quit. I’m working on another one now.”

  “Then there’s no point anymore in what you’re making Jack do, is there?”

  “Well, no.” Levi laughed.

  “The one I’m writing now is a detective novel. It’s a showdown between a great detective who lives in the old part of town and a mysterious killer.”

  “…How clichéd.”

  “Didn’t you know? They say authors who snub the classic approaches are the first to die.”

  “And who said that, I wonder?”

  “That’s obvious. Me.”

  Lacie looked disgusted. “—I see,” she said, and that was all.

  Levi looked mischievous.

  “Did that make you want to read it?”