Time had passed quite a bit.
Along with the sound of her sobs, the trembling that had been coming from her body gradually began to subside.
Eventually, the room fell silent. I carefully opened my mouth.
“Have you calmed down a little now, Princess?”
“………”
“…Princess?”
Perplexed by the lack of a reply, I lightly tapped Hela who was in my arms.
There was no response. All I could hear was the gentle sound of her breathing.
“…Is she asleep?”
“Looks like it. I doubt she fell asleep because of a dream or anything like that. More like, after crying her heart out, the exhaustion hit her all at once.”
“Hoo… I see.”
“You really are a sinful man, huh~?”
Lily let out a sly grin as she crunched on her candy. She was clearly amused by the sight she’d just witnessed.
Meanwhile, I felt like I’d aged ten years and was on the verge of death.
What a carefree dragon she was.
“What’s your relationship with the princess?”
“…We were just an adventurer and a client, that’s all.”
“Hmm… Really? That reaction over there didn’t seem like it was just that, though?”
“That’s enough. Please stop teasing me.”
“Aww, but I was just getting to the good part~”
I gently laid the sleeping Hela down on the sofa.
The traces of tears still on her face bothered me, so I wiped them away with my hand.
…Both she and I had a hell of a day today.
Still… what now?
Fortunately, we had both made it through today’s incident unharmed.
But what came next was the real problem.
The relationship between Hela and me.
Through the dream, she had come to share memories of the past, and because of that, she now knew the things I had done.
Considering her reaction earlier, it couldn’t exactly be called a good development.
I’m still Hela’s archenemy.
In a way, it was a continuation of what had happened with Ren.
A sudden redefinition of our relationship.
Both Ren and Hela would no longer see me as an object of hatred.
And that was the problem.
The relationship between a playable character and an archenemy.
According to fate, in the end, one of them was always destined to die.
Even during the journey to that end, I might end up hurting them again.
Even if we grew closer, it would only increase the pain when we eventually parted ways.
That was why I kept my distance from them.
…I’m still not certain.
I had become an archenemy in order to save them.
But… what came after was the real issue.
One way or another, in the end, one of us was still fated to die.
It was still the same path I had followed in the game. The process had improved, but the ending remained unchanged.
Whether they died or I died, the fact remained that someone would die.
I had no certainty that everyone could survive.
There is a way… there is a way….
There was definitely a solution.
Like that great witch from thousands of years ago, who shattered the fate that had cursed her entire bloodline.
If I could reach the “Akashic Records”.
If I could distort the fate they were bound to at that place…
Maybe—just maybe—everyone could survive.
The book I had.
If all the fragments of this relic were gathered, one would gain the right to access the Akashic Records.
A half-complete relic. Four pieces.
If only… I could find them all.
Honestly, I thought it was close to impossible…
Even before coming to the Academy.
I had wandered across the entire continent, searching for the whereabouts of the remaining fragments.
As a result, I came to know the locations of most of them. But in the end, I still hadn’t gotten my hands on them.
I had plans, but not a single one was without danger. My life was on the line.
I couldn’t guarantee success.
If I had to weigh the odds, they were slim.
That was why I couldn’t be certain.
Naturally, I couldn’t help but think of a backup plan.
If I couldn’t gather all the fragments in time.
If, in the end, I couldn’t change their fate.
If either the playable character or I had to die.
…Because this time, I promised I’d be the one to make the sacrifice.
A thousand years ago.
On that day, when there was no choice but to accept fate.
Just like that guy who died in my place.
.
.
.
“…Sheesh.”
I clicked my tongue and shut my eyes tightly.
I forced myself to break free from the whirlwind of thoughts.
There I go again.
Maybe it was because I had only just woken up from a nightmare.
Negative thoughts and emotions kept filling my mind.
Like a habit I’d grown used to, I rubbed the frown between my brows with my hand.
“Hmm? Are you feeling sick?”
“…It’s nothing.”
I answered Lily’s question and stood up.
I cast a brief glance at Hella, who had finally fallen asleep.
And at last, I sorted out my thoughts.
“………”
There was still a solution left.
But I might fail.
Which was why—
…I should keep the backup plan.
For now, I would keep my distance from her.
In Ren’s case, the side effects made it unavoidable, but Hella was different.
At least until I was certain, I shouldn’t let this relationship grow closer.
With that resolve, I turned to leave.
“Already heading out? Classes are all over. Why not stick around and rest a bit more?”
“…I have plans.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to meet a girl?”
“………”
“Leaving the sleeping princess behind to go see another woman~?”
Ugh, this damn lizard.
That annoyingly teasing tone of hers seriously got on my nerves.
“…Anyway. Please look after Hela for me.”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll make sure she gets back to the dorm safely, so don’t worry about it.”
“Thank you. Then, I’ll be off…”
.
.
Click.
He quietly opened the door of the principal’s office and stepped out.
“Hmm.”
Lily stared blankly at the door the boy had just exited through.
Before long, she turned her gaze to the princess lying in bed.
A bitter taste lingered on her tongue as she chewed her candy.
What’s the point of having power? I can’t even help them.
Their story belonged to them and them alone.
Interfering with fate was a realm even she found difficult to tread.
After all, she herself wasn’t free from those shackles either.
Frustrated, she kept swallowing candy one after another.
…Still. What the heck is going on?
She unwrapped a new piece of candy and popped it into her mouth.
Then, with her head tilted slightly, she gave a puzzled look, as if she really couldn’t figure it out.
Her sleepy-looking eyes narrowed further.
He just looks too much like him.
That expression and tone of voice.
A thousand years had passed, yet she had never once forgotten that man.
The more she watched from nearby, the more the boy reminded her of him.
She recalled something he had said back then.
– You look so pretty when you smile. You should smile more often.
“………”
She looked at herself in the mirror.
Unlike back then, her body was now that of a mere child.
A lifeless, nearly expressionless face with no distinguishing features.
Slide—
She used her fingers to forcibly pull up the corners of her mouth.
…It didn’t really suit her.
“Pretty, my ass…”
She chewed on the candy with a sigh.
What on earth was she doing? Seriously.
Was she still clinging to the past?
Or had she truly gone senile?
“Tch.”
Crunch.
Crunch.
The pile of empty candy sticks grew.
As she blankly stared out the window, the sun was nearly set.
…For the first time in a while, she drifted into thought, reminiscing about old memories.
***
“Hoo…!”
I arrived at my destination in a rush, even using aura in my haste.
Thankfully, thanks to Lily’s healing, my condition wasn’t too bad.
Clatter—
As I opened the door and stepped inside, a familiar space greeted me.
The training facility I had visited just yesterday.
I looked around quickly as I walked, searching for her.
“…What— Did she already leave—”
“I’m here.”
“Ah, shit. You scared me.”
A whispering voice right beside my ear sent chills down my spine.
Startled, I whipped my head around, only to find Ren snickering as if she was amused by my reaction.
“Ain, your reaction is hilarious.”
“Why do you always sneak up on me like that?”
“Because it’s fun, obviously.”
From my end, it felt like my heart was about to drop.
But I couldn’t bring myself to scold someone with such a cheerful face, so all I could do was let out a deep sigh.
“And besides, this is your fault.”
“…What is?”
“You came way too late. I already finished training.”
As if to prove it, beads of sweat clung to her face.
Judging by the bag slung over her back, she looked like she was just about to leave.
“You promised to spar with me…”
“…Sorry.”
“Hmph.”
Ren turned her head away, pretending to sulk.
Sure enough… after everything that had happened with Hela, the sun had already set.
It was indeed getting rather late.
Thankfully, the side effects didn’t get any worse.
I observed her carefully.
I was quietly anxious, wondering if she might’ve forgotten even the promise we made yesterday.
Fortunately, that didn’t happen.
“I’m mad at you, Ain.”
“Uh, I said I’m sorry…”
“If you’re sorry, keep your schedule open tomorrow.”
“…Huh? Tomorrow?”
“Come with me somewhere tomorrow.”
Tomorrow was the weekend.
For me, it was precious time I needed to move around busily, preparing for various episodes.
I couldn’t afford to waste a day like that being tied down by her.
“Uh… about tomorrow…”
“Can’t you…?”
“………”
This time, she truly looked upset. Her eyes were welling up with tears.
…When she looked like that, it made me feel like I was the real asshole.
Well, fine. Since the first episode with the princess got resolved earlier than expected, I do have a bit more time…
Spending a day together wouldn’t be so bad.
With that decision made, I slowly nodded my head.
Ren smiled brightly at my choice.
“Ain. Since we didn’t get to spar today, let’s at least go have dinner together.”
“Dinner? What about Ron… was it? What about him?”
“Hmm, who knows… He said something came up and that he’d be gone until the weekend.”
“…I see.”
It was probably because of my request.
He must’ve headed to the Magic Tower right after class to gather materials.
“Ain. Let’s eat together. I have to eat alone today, and I feel lonely.”
“…Alright.”
“……….!”
Grab.
Ren suddenly took my arm and linked hers with mine.
Her smile deepened even more. It seemed like she was in a really good mood.
Her emotions were much livelier than they’d been yesterday.
“Let’s go, Ain. Hurry.”
“…Um. Could you at least let go of my arm…?”
Drag, drag.
It was as if she didn’t even hear me.
I was being dragged along like a pet on a leash.
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