It might be an emergency… but I couldn’t just rush in blindly.
The opponent was none other than the Scriptwriter. I needed to be more thoroughly prepared than ever before.
“What do you think?”
“If you go as you are now, you’ll die.”
“Probably.”
I asked the Wonder Mage about my chances of winning, and I got the answer I expected.
If I go in like this, I’ll die.
This time, the opponent was immune to unpredictability.
More than that, unlike other villains, he can see right through my thoughts. This won’t be easy at all.
“You need to get stronger. You must train your personal combat skills.”
“I know.”
The Scriptwriter had information.
He likely knows all about my behavioral patterns, tendencies, and abilities. If I want to catch him off guard, I’ll need techniques he’s never seen before.
The simplest way to do that is to increase my own fighting power.
I need to become stronger than I was before….strong enough that it defies his expectations.
It was a difficult task for someone like me who lacked talent… but even I had one thing that might be called a gift.
“That’s why I’m going to the Magic Tower.”
Illusion magic.
That’s all I can do.
Of course, there’s a problem.
The opponent is a machine.
Confusing its senses probably won’t work from the start.
“It needs to be magic that’s visually convincing, not just deceptive.”
“That’s right.”
Still, the Scriptwriter must be perceiving us in some way.
Exploiting that field of vision is key.
In any case, for this plan to work, I need to grow stronger.
Which means—
“From here on, I’ll go alone. No matter what, I can’t bring an undead into the Magic Tower.”
“Why not? I’m curious.”
“No.”
That damned curiosity.
They say curiosity killed the cat….but maybe because the Wonder Mage is already dead, he’s even more reckless.
“Well then.”
After barely managing to stop the Wonder Mage from entering the Magic Tower…
“Guess I’ll go get beaten up.”
Seeing is believing.
Since I have no talent, learning through physical experience is the fastest way.
So let’s go get beaten up by Olga Helmod.
***
There are times like that.
That moment when you realize you’re dreaming and somehow, the dream becomes even more vivid.
“Did I pass out or something…?”
It was a good idea to ask Olga Helmod for training. She accepted readily, too.
This is why connections matter.
If I was just an ordinary student, I wouldn’t even have had the chance to meet her.
It was probably only because Yuna and I are engaged that she agreed.
Of course, I couldn’t receive her guidance alone.
It was more like tagging along with Yuna’s training.
As a result, I ended up getting hit in the head by Olga Helmod’s illusion magic.
The last thing I remembered was the sensation of my brain being scrambled.
Right….and now, in this very moment, I’ve realized I’m dreaming.
“It’s been a while…”
Once again, I was face-to-face with the fractured part of my consciousness.
I used to think it was a younger version of myself… but now that I looked closer, it was slightly different.
Based on everything I’ve pieced together so far, this guy is probably the Demon King’s soul.
Though, at best, it’s just a leftover scrap.
The original soul had been split into 72 fragments.
Is that why?
Today, his blank expression gave me the chills.
He held out his hand to me.
As always, stars gathered above that hand.
Stars gathered in small hands, cradled like a precious bundle. A slow but steady step toward Alice’s legacy.
Before accepting those stars, I stared directly into his empty eyes and asked,
“What is it that you want?”
“……”
“Why are you helping me?”
Is he trying to take over my body?
But… there are too many things that don’t quite add up for that.
If he wanted to possess me, he probably had plenty of chances already.
Even right now, my consciousness is completely gone, and that’s why I’m here.
Not just now, either. There was also the decisive battle with Tillis.
But even then, he didn’t do anything.
He’s just been slowly and steadily gathering stars.
“……”
No answer came.
He just looked up at me with those empty eyes and held out the stars.
Watching him like that made me feel like I was doing something awful.
What am I even trying to do…? Am I scared or something?
“…Forget it.”
I simply accepted the stars and decided to leave this space.
If he truly wants something, he’ll say something eventually.
The moment I accepted the stars, my consciousness began to flicker again.
My vision blurred, and I felt the sensation of waking from a dream.
“…Gone.”
I could’ve sworn I heard a hollow voice from somewhere.
***
“Urgh!”
My head was spinning.
I didn’t even know if I was lying down or facedown.
I had completely blacked out from Olga Helmod’s illusion magic.
Seriously, does she not know how to hold back?
“You’re awake. Let’s continue.”
“W-Wait…”
Maybe asking a soldier who’s spent more than half her life on the battlefield was a mistake.
Where else would you find this kind of Spartan training, right after regaining consciousness?
“Ugh?!”
But I couldn’t even get the words out before the world spun again.
I tightly shut my eyes. But for some reason, I could still see.
Brutal.
Not only did she cast illusion magic, but she also reinforced my vision so I couldn’t break free from it.
The spell strengthened my eyesight to the point that I could see even through my own eyelids, amplifying the impact of the illusion magic.
Crack!
I can’t even lose consciousness.
This was practically torture.
A cruel illusion you can’t escape from until your mind is completely shattered.
I never underestimated Olga Helmod, but I didn’t expect this.
This isn’t about power.
It’s about cruelty.
“Hhkk…”
Alright, time to fight back.
I tried to focus with my still-dizzy head.
Yeah, I’ve grown.
This is the moment of awakening! With my newfound strength, I should be able to overcome this crisis.
With my enhanced abilities, I broke free from Olga Helmod’s illusion magic.
“Oh my, you broke out of it. Then let’s move on to the next stage.”
Ah, wait….can’t you at least give me a moment to adjust…?
***
After undergoing what was basically torture under the guise of training from Olga Helmod,
I forced my unsteady legs to carry me toward Andvaranaut.
There’s a lot to do. If I want to leave for Creta within the next three days, there’s no time to rest.
Immun and Theseus were probably already caught up in the incident.
If I drag my feet, I might end up finding their corpses before I can even do anything.
Of course, it might already be too late.
They could’ve died the moment the incident began.
All I can hope for is that they acted with at least a little caution.
“Cattleya.”
“Right, you’re heading to Creta, aren’t you?”
“What makes you think that?”
“You’re not? I just figured you’d get involved in every single incident like always.”
“Well, you’re not wrong. But it’s not like I go looking for them. They keep calling for me, so I don’t really have a choice.”
“Sure, sure.”
Ugh, she’s annoying…
The more relaxed she seems, the more irritated I get.
Why am I getting more miserable while she looks happier by the day?
She’s a criminal! Why does a criminal get to be happy?
“…Anyway, it’s nice that we can skip the explanations. I assume you already know what I’m going to say?”
Whatever it is, it can wait.
Right now, Cattleya is still useful.
Saying it like that might make me sound like a terrible person, but she’s a criminal.
This line of thinking is perfectly legal.
“Call Emily for me.”
“No.”
“You’re just flat-out saying no now?”
“Mhmm.”
I already knew Cattleya was interfering with me meeting Emily.
Until now, I didn’t really care.
I already had two fiancées. There was no point meeting another woman without a clear reason.
Besides, something about Emily gave me a strange feeling. I had to be cautious around her.
Haah… this cursed popularity…
Anyway, putting that aside, I need Emily’s help right now.
If I want to break into Ex Machina’s fortress, an expert’s insight is crucial.
And since I’m no expert, I desperately need Emily’s support.
“Cattleya, there’s no point in forcing the issue. Even if you don’t make the arrangements, I can just go directly to the Robinhood family.”
“……”
“Wouldn’t it be better to cooperate now rather than have me badmouth you to Emily later?”
“…You’re trash.”
“This is all to save the world. A sacrifice like that is inevitable.”
So just cooperate already.
If you lose your connection to Emily, I’ll have no more business with you!
The money will come from the Ether Duke and the power from the Magic Tower.
And Andvaranaut? Hah! Just a bunch of merchants, nothing more!
“I get it, but let me say this one thing. You’re the type of person who should never be allowed to hold absolute power. Keep that in mind.”
“Sure.”
I already have it.
***
Through swift, precise, and entirely legal procedures, I managed to finish preparations in just two days.
I gathered everyone I needed for the upcoming operation.
“You’re trying to save the world?!”
“As expected of you, senior. Always living by noblesse oblige.”
“……”
First, Dietrich and Helena.
I called them just because. They’re capable, so I figured they could handle anything.
And then there was Jeff.
Unfortunately, Melana wasn’t present.
She still seemed to be in bad shape.
Maybe that’s why Jeff looked gloomy and hadn’t said a word.
“Miss Yuna.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
And now, the two strongest and most influential members of this group:
Yuna and Ariel.
“You look so unrefined.”
“It’s going to be a long trip. We might as well get comfortable.”
Since the last trip, Yuna had become more physically affectionate, just like she used to be.
She leaned against my shoulder without hesitation, snuggling up.
Seeing Yuna like that for the first time, Ariel seemed visibly displeased.
“Miss Yuna, you’re a noble now. You should start acting more maturely.”
“Maturely?”
“Yes.”
“Come to think of it, Lady Ariel has become more mature lately, hasn’t she?”
Now that it was mentioned, it did seem that way.
Back when we first met, she had accused me of being a fence-sitter.
She would get all snappy, then misunderstand something on her own, get all gloomy, apologize…
Honestly, she didn’t exactly give off a “mature” impression.
When did that start to change? Hmm… Was it when death came close? Or maybe after I saved her life?
Either way, it was after she got involved with me.
“Isn’t it exhausting to live like that?”
“Not at all.”
“Even if you act all mature, my body’s still more grown-up than yours.”
“…What?”
“Don’t fight, you two…”
Somehow, their dynamic had flipped.
Yuna seemed completely unbothered, radiating calm.
Ariel, on the other hand, perhaps worn out lately, looked at Yuna with clear disapproval.
It’s really difficult.
When one side finds peace, the other becomes a problem.
Finding balance is just too hard.
Am I going to have to live in this atmosphere from now on?
“Johan, what do you think?”
“Johan, what’s your opinion?”
Yuna grinned playfully, while Ariel asked with a frown.
Why do they always start the fight themselves and then turn the spotlight on me?
Well, whatever. At least this time, it’s clear whose side I should take.
“Ariel, I think it’d be good to relax a little for now. This is one of those rare times you don’t need to worry about how others see you.”
I left my right arm in Yuna’s grasp and used my left to pull Ariel down beside me.
“J-Johan?”
“This makes it fair, doesn’t it?”
“That’s not what I was trying to say…”
Ariel hesitated, fumbling for words, but didn’t try to move away.
She must not have hated it.
Well, that settles the problem.
Thanks to Yuna becoming a bit more mellow, something like this was even possible. So I guess you could say our relationship has made progress, right?
Of course, there was one issue.
“……”
“Uh… what is it?”
“……”
Emily who was sitting directly across from me was staring so intensely that it was almost enough to make me lose my mind from the pressure.
Say something, will you…?
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