episode_0249

After treating Charlotte, I ran away and looked up at the sky with my cloak pulled down.

The sky, half hidden by the cloak, was so clear. Unlike my complicated mind, it was spotless and clear.

“… … .”

Was it a good thing?

A sentence with such a distant meaning filled my mind that it seemed like it would leak out.

Charlotte is a witch. He is a villain who has created countless victims. It is evil itself, carrying on its back the evil karma that one is reluctant to even utter out loud, and the fate of life that is so far away.

However, the Charlotte I saw was not that kind of person. Although it was not directed at me, the images shown to Hermel were clearly images that a cold-blooded person or a crazy person who enjoys evil could never show.

When I talk about Charlotte, I am not just talking about what I saw in the alley just a moment ago.

Around the time when Charlotte was attending the academy. I was talking about the appearance that Charlotte showed when she was with Hermel around that time.

“… … .”

At that time, Charlotte was always laughing as she walked around with Hermel. It wasn’t because he liked seeing his plan work out or because he was satisfied with using Hermel.

She was smiling because she was so genuinely happy.

Because I enjoy being with Hermel. Because I have a little place to lean on. And because I have someone to confide my feelings to.

Of course, this may not be accurate as it is an inference based on the information given and my experience accumulated over the years. No, I might be wrong.

However, the two people I saw today and the question and answer with Charlotte gave my inference some credibility.

At least I got to the point where I could nod my head thinking that way.

… So it was even more confusing.

“Ha… .”

return.

Thinking of the keywords that came to mind during the conversation with Charles, I lowered my head with mixed feelings.

It was hard for me to believe it at first too. What a regression. Isn’t this a story that only appears in novels or movies? no… . In that sense, possession is similar, but… .

“This conversation did resolve some questions, but… . It’s such an absurd story that it doesn’t make sense… .”

Anyway, it was during my first conversation with Charlotte that I was reminded of the idea of regression, and it was through the conversation in the alley earlier that I became convinced of it.

―There is such an ending?

―I don’t have a very good relationship with the crown prince.

In addition to the lack of any information about the original knowledge, her explanation does not fit at all with the original story of Seria bullying her and becoming distant after entering the academy.

And above all… .

―You were an uncertain element, showing completely different behavior from Seria in the original work――… .

“I had no idea… .”

The female-oriented visual novel ‘Rise Under the Moonlight’ is an Academy romance fantasy with Seria as the main character.

Since the base is a visual novel and the playable character is Seria, very little information is given about Seria compared to other characters in order to increase the immersion of the person playing the game.

That’s true even at the beginning of the game.

[I finally entered the academy! My academy life begins today!]

The game begins with that one monologue, without any explanation of one’s past or world view.

The past of the character Seria was revealed when the setting book was released a few months after the game came out.

Since there was only one line written, ‘Although she is a natural orphan, she is always positive and spreads energy to those around her,’ it can be said that there is not only little information about Seria, but almost none at all.

Above all, looking at the playable character that moves according to the player’s decisions, I thought it was the ‘original Seria’. Anyone who knows anything about the game will wonder.

Even more so if it was a story from before entering the academy.

“If she is a possessor and a returner… .”

And if it is her nature that she only shows to Hermel.

What on earth happened to make him such a villain? Why did Charlotte make that choice? There were too many things I didn’t understand to say that I moved only for Hermel.

About Sera, about Mel, from the incident at the Spring Festival to the Duke of Rochelle’s affairs. What on earth was such an evil act committed for?

―The witch is all bad.

-That witch took everything away!

―If it weren’t for the Hero of Dawn, we would have withered to death here. What a damn witch!

Why did she take on the evil herself and be subdued by Hermel instead of moving for Hermel and making him a hero and joining him?

The reason why he had to become evil itself, erasing his existence from everyone’s memories, including Hermel…

for a moment… . The reason it had to be… ?

“Inhale… .”

When my thoughts reached that point, I took a deep breath.

Why you have to become evil. Why do you have to commit such evil deeds? Charlotte’s existence as a villainous character. The person who possessed her. return.

If you guess based on all this information… .

“Created evil… .”

With his cruel hands, he oppresses and manipulates ordinary people into the mold of a villainess. No, it wouldn’t have been just suppressed and massaged.

As a villainess, she must have cut out all the unnecessary parts, shaved off the angular parts, cut them out, and kneaded them, leaving only the necessary parts to create her existence.

As a result, the Charlotte La Rochelle of the past was created, and the one who overcame it all and survived by deceiving the world is the Charlotte of today.

“Ha… .”

How many deaths did it take for someone who could laugh and love someone to become such a vicious and twisted person? How much death have you experienced?

It was absurd. I couldn’t even imagine the amount of pain and suffering she must have experienced.

Maybe the real saint is her, not me.

“… … .”

As I closed my eyes and took a breath, feeling like my vision was becoming blurry, a shadow other than the cloak appeared.

“Were you here?”

“Ah. Mr. Baroque.”

“I was worried. After looking at the Holy Knights for a moment, they disappeared, and the citizens at the inn were confused as they said they had seen a saint… . If the innkeeper hadn’t passed on the saint’s words… .”

Mr. Baroque looked at me quietly without finishing his sentence, and I smiled bitterly at him.

“I’m sorry. Apparently, the hero didn’t want to reveal his identity, so we couldn’t talk to him unless he did so.”

“It is not for the saint to apologize. Because it was caused by my shortcomings.”

After saying that, Mr. Baroque sighed in relief and smiled slightly.

“Still, I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Mr. Baroque nodded at my words.

“Did you enjoy chatting with the hero?”

I was silent for a moment at that question.

A chat with a hero… . In fact, all he did with Hermel was that he was warned that he would kill her if he touched Charlotte, and he unilaterally said he was grateful at the end.

Actually, it’s not the hero I’m talking to, but the witch. What will Mr. Baroque say if he hears this?

Of course, I have no intention of telling this story.

-I don’t want to let go of my peaceful daily life.

-All we can do is believe. It’s difficult, but it can’t be helped.

“It was fun.”

There is no need to mention her. There’s no way I can say that straight away, right?

Not only did I not have the will to do that, I couldn’t do it either.

The help I’ve received so far, the pain and suffering she went through to get here, her consideration of even risking herself to listen to my insistence, and even the promise I made to her.

Considering what I received from her, I shouldn’t say anything about her.

“Is that so.”

“Yes. Well, my personality is still the same.”

Of course, that doesn’t mean she was actually a good person. She couldn’t help it either, I have no intention of bringing up the same story and trying to change people’s perception of her.

She is clearly a villain, and even though she couldn’t help it, it doesn’t mean the sins she committed go away. And she probably doesn’t want that either.

Obviously, the moment you defend her or say anything close to it, she will get very angry.

-I told you there was no need!! It’s none of your business!

okay. She has already set out to find her own happiness, and has found her own.

There is no room for me to interfere with that happiness. My consideration is actually a pity that insults her…

-I feel bad!!

――Because it’s just unpleasant interference.

okay. My job is done by healing her and keeping quiet about what happened today.

okay. This is enough. This is the end of my story with her.

As I looked ahead, I made eye contact with Mr. Baroque, who had a happy expression on his face, as if he knew how I felt or not.

“I’m glad you said that.”

I slowly blinked and smiled bitterly at those kind words, then nodded and let the thoughts about Charlotte sink deep into my mind.

I can’t show my down side for no reason. I am a saint. Because it is a light that illuminates all people.

When I opened my eyes again, I raised my voice with energy as usual.

“Now~! Well then, since we’re done with our business, let’s go see the sea!”

“I will follow.”

I smiled brightly as I said that, and Mr. Baroque nodded with a small smile.

What happened on one clear day became my secret.