Handling the Situation

Leaving the academy, I headed to Modiste, where Estelle was waiting.

,Welcome, Lily-nim.”

Perhaps because she was with her sister again, Amber’s voice sounded much brighter than before.

Before I could even greet Amber, Estelle, wearing her usual black cat mask, crossed her arms and glared at me.

,Why are you so late! You fatso!!! Did you stop to eat something on the way!”

,I came straight here.”

With a sigh, I asked.

,So, what’s the matter?”

Inappropriately for my question, Estelle let out a deep sigh.

,Haa, Roel got into trouble.”

,…?”

The words didn’t make sense.

,Do you know what Roel was up to during the vacation?”

Well, he probably spent a pleasant summer vacation at the beach with the heroines. It was also the time when the first group illustration, including Ellie, appeared, so I remember it as a special day even without looking at the setting book.

But Estelle’s annoyed reaction must mean something went wrong. Could something have happened at the beach?

Feeling uneasy, I asked.

,May I ask what kind of trouble?”

,Roel messed with the Order during the vacation.”

,Huh…?”

I asked back in a daze. My brain couldn’t process the simple words.

,Neru, the 8th of Confession, and six executives of the Order are dead by Roel’s hand!”

A danger alarm went off in my head. I instinctively realized the reason. This was a huge variable that went against the original flow. A variable that could even change the ending if things went wrong.

The strongest weapon I have right now is knowing the future flow. If I know the flow, I can throw a rock and change it in the direction I want. I can eliminate the beginning of a tragic story without anyone knowing, or change it for the better.

Roel and the Order don’t directly clash until the winter vacation. Moreover, Neru was a villain who wouldn’t die by Roel’s hand until two years later.

I can’t predict how big of a variable it will be for someone who should have retired in two years to retire earlier than planned.

Confession already had three vacant seats. If the 8th seat of Neru is also vacant, the Pope might make a more powerful and unpredictable enemy into Confession.

My very existence has already created a huge variable. The things that a disposable extra, who should have retired long ago, has done at the academy for half a year have become a huge typhoon, and may have already changed the ending I knew.

But it can’t be helped. That disposable extra was me.

I know that if I do nothing and run away, I can safely see the end. But now I can’t run away. I can’t turn a blind eye to the fact that my loved ones and friends are being swept away by the storm.

I must control the variables as much as possible and change the future flow in the way I want. I desperately hope that the final destination of this whole story will be a new happy ending.

Getting back to the point, I thought about why Roel fought the Order during the vacation.

Even without hearing it directly from Roel, I feel like I know.

The starting point must be the lie that the Order is after my life. It was only natural that Roel would be interested in a cult that threatened his sister’s life.

If it was Roel’s personality, he would have wanted to check if it was a threat to his sister.

,The atmosphere of the Order is unusual. Everyone is showing interest in the fact that a member of Confession was killed by a mere student.”

It’s a variable that started with my lie. Then I can’t blame Roel. It’s ridiculous to forcibly blame his pure heart for thinking of his sister. Of course, I have to handle the variable.

I maintained my composure and thought about what happened after Neru’s death.

The Pope will be interested in Roel. He will use the Vice-Pope to test Roel’s strength and try to win him over.

For now, that’s reassuring. I can handle it enough. It’s just a matter of diverting the Pope’s attention.

I asked for confirmation.

,Is there any other movement from the Order?”

,According to our clan, the Order is busy with the Great Forest, so fortunately there is no other movement yet. Only some of Confession are showing interest in Roel. But if you stimulate the Order any more than this, the Pope might gather Confession and try to kill Roel.”

Fortunately, as expected, it was still just interest. Seeing my slightly relieved expression, Estelle burst into anger.

,You fatso!!! Is this the time to look so calm? If the Pope orders me to kill Roel, I have no choice but to obey!”

,I know. Don’t worry. I’ll handle it well.”

The problem is how to divert the Pope’s attention elsewhere.

,Haa, anyway, persuade Roel not to approach the Order anymore. Don’t let me get caught up in your mess when I’m busy, got it?”

I nodded at Estelle’s firm warning, and she listlessly waved her hand to tell me to leave. As I stood up, Estelle clapped her hands as if she suddenly remembered something.

,Ah, and there will be a Modiste gathering soon. You also have the name Lily, so why don’t you participate.”

Something I’d been wondering about came to mind. It wasn’t particularly important, so I’d only thought about asking each time and then forgotten. Since I remembered, I asked before I forgot again.

,By the way, why Lily out of all the names?”

Lily is a flower with quite a bit of symbolism. There’s no way she would have given me the name Lily without any meaning-

,Ah, there was a lily in front of me.”

,Please change it then.”

I answered as soon as the words were out of my mouth.

Looking at me with a pathetic gaze, Estelle confidently crossed her arms.

,Of course, there’s another reason.”

,What is it?”

,….”

,You’re not thinking about it now, are you?”

Looking at her with suspicious eyes, Estelle slammed the table-! and stood up.

,What are you talking about! You suspicious pig!!!”

As I stared at her without answering, Estelle, forgetting that she was wearing a mask, scratched her forehead and belatedly answered.

,…Lily is a flower related to death, right? That’s why.”

,What do you mean that’s why? That’s not a sufficient explanation.”

,You idiot! Can’t you tell just by looking? The kind of coolness of nonchalantly throwing a lily at a fallen opponent…!!!”

I wanted to ask if she was going through a late adolescence, but I held back because I thought I would get cursed at.

But Estelle’s words sparked an idea in my head.

,Lily’ and ,Pope’.

If I mix these keywords, I might find a way to attract the Pope’s attention.

,…You said the Pope is interested in me, right?”

,Huh? I did. Why? Is your memory fading like a goldfish?”

If Amber wasn’t by her side, I would have taken off her mask and scolded her until she cried and apologized. I’ll postpone that for later and organize the thoughts that came to mind first.

,The reason for the interest is….”

,It’s because of the space magic you have.”

This might actually work out well. It’s something that was already in my plan anyway. Then I can just modify the plan to fit the situation.

As I stroked my chin and organized my thoughts, Estelle, who still had some sense, waited quietly.

I asked in a cautious voice.

,What happens if the Order orders you to disclose information about Modiste’s guests?”

,You don’t have to worry about that. The Pope promised that Modiste is an independent group of the clan. The clan’s restrictions don’t apply here either.”

I thanked my past self for creating a convenient setting.

,So even if Modiste’s guest is an enemy of the Order, it’s hard to find out their identity, right?”

,Yeah! That’s why I told you not to worry before. You narrow-minded bastard!”

I shrugged with a sly smile. Estelle’s fist trembled at the sight. I opened my mouth before her fist could fly.

,I need Estelle’s help.”

,You greedy fatso… Huh? Wh-what did you say?”

Estelle, who was about to get angry without listening to me, tilted her head cutely.

,Heung~? The pig’s words are too small to hear~? What did you say~?”

Is this what it means to be annoying? But I don’t feel particularly annoyed or angry.

She’s not really cursing, and her intentions are so obvious that it feels cute.

More than anything, I wish she would unify the title, whether it’s pig or fatso.

I said what Estelle wanted to hear.

,I desperately need the help of Modiste’s Guild Master and my co-destiny, Estelle-nim.”

Estelle proudly puffed out her chest. Unlike her small chest, she had tremendous confidence.

,Heheut, good. If you beg me that much, I can’t refuse~ What kind of help do you need?”

,Do you happen to be good at acting?”

Estelle tilted her head at my sudden words. It was a look that suited her cat mask well.