Ch.183The Path (3)

“It’s nothing special.”

“I’m always on your side.”

After that day.

There was a small change in the relationship between the girl and me.

To be precise, Ameila was the one who changed.

She became a bit more clingy, you could say.

Unlike her previously prickly demeanor, she now wore a rather gentle smile.

It meant she had become more at ease.

“Why do you keep trying to go somewhere?”

“You promised you’d always stay by my side…”

“Take me with you.”

How should I put it?

It seemed like the frequency of her clinging to me had increased, knowingly or unknowingly.

It felt like the last solid wall between us had crumbled.

It wasn’t particularly difficult to understand.

“I want you to need me too.”

“The way I need you.”

No matter how resolute her determination might be.

At her core, she was still just a girl who hadn’t even gone through her coming-of-age ceremony.

Having destroyed her own family and left alone in the empty snowy plains.

As a child who hadn’t yet become an adult, she needed somewhere to rely on.

And I happened to be the one supporting her back.

“Judas.”

A hand clutching my sleeve.

That pitiful gesture was both touching and heartbreaking.

Like facing a self-portrait from the distant past.

I simply embraced this vain girl and patted her trembling shoulders.

The more I did so, Ameila burrowed deeper into my warmth.

I simply indulged her whims.

“Today too… I’d like you to kiss me.”

This time was no different.

As I continued to indulge her, our physical contact naturally increased.

Ever since I kissed her forehead one day, she seemed to like it and kept asking for it.

With her face turning bright red and her eyes wavering, she would mumble her request with effort.

I couldn’t bring myself to reject such childish whims.

I simply wanted the vain girl to feel secure.

“Of course.”

Because I haven’t left yet.

I’ll stay by your side until you can stand on your own again.

You’re no longer the sixteen-year-old girl who cried silently at dawn.

Since you’re no longer bound, you can fly anywhere.

So.

“If it’s your request, gladly.”

Everything will be alright.

That’s what I wanted to tell her.

So that from now on, each day wouldn’t be filled with anxiety.

And so she wouldn’t feel lonely.

“Mmh…”

Gently—

I cup her pale cheek in my palm.

Then slowly, I brush aside her blue bangs that hang down.

Perhaps it was due to the bitter air and the fresh spring scent.

The warmth of her forehead was transmitted even to my untouching fingertips.

As if drawing closer to that tenderness.

Chu…

I lowered my head.

Beyond the softly brushing lips, a faint lingering warmth.

The cool, fresh scent of the snowy plains tickled my nose.

Only a brief death rattle remained on the vain girl’s forehead.

Even though she had asked for it herself, the way she tightly closed her eyes was just like her.

I unhurriedly pulled away.

“My lady.”

“Ah…”

Ameila, belatedly coming to her senses.

After acting like she was momentarily broken, she averted her eyes as if sinking.

Even in the midst of that, as if trying to maintain her pride, she didn’t completely turn her back.

If she was that embarrassed, she didn’t have to force herself.

I couldn’t help but smile at such innocence.

“Pfft.”

“D-don’t laugh… What’s so funny?”

“Not at all. I just thought that my lady is still a child.”

“What? We’re the same age, yet suddenly you’re treating me like a child…”

“It just means that my lady has a youthful face.”

“…Are you teasing me again?”

“Oh, I’ve been caught.”

“You really…!”

Bickering—

The atmosphere returning to normal.

I continued to tease the pouting Ameila several more times.

Our momentarily halted steps resumed walking along the path.

Just as we were about to head back to the dormitory.

“Shall we head back now? The others must be waiting…”

“Indeed. We’ve been waiting.”

“I thought you were taking too long.”

Familiar voices came from behind.

I momentarily stiffened before turning around.

At the end of my gaze stood girls with orange and red hair.

Both with cold gazes.

“So that’s how it was.”

“Hmm.”

The fox and the rose.

They appeared suddenly.

Had they come to meet us?

Judging by the chillingly subdued atmosphere, they seemed to have witnessed everything.

Irene had her arms crossed, and Elise was giving a cold look.

As an aside, seeing the rose out of her wheelchair still felt strange no matter how many times I saw it.

While I was momentarily lost in these trivial thoughts.

Hug—

“My lady…?”

Suddenly.

The vain girl hugged my arm.

And naturally rested her head on my shoulder.

Her dazzling blue hair cascaded down.

“……”

“Ha.”

Perhaps they took that as some kind of signal.

Two pairs of eyes descended coldly.

Their piercing gazes flew and stuck into me.

Meanwhile, regardless of that, Ameila showed no intention of letting go.

Thanks to her, the uncomfortable atmosphere was entirely my burden.

“My lady.”

Usually when the fox and the rose fought, I would either mediate from the side or quietly observe.

But now Ameila was directly throwing wood into the fire.

She truly embodied the proud warrior and guardian of the snowy plains.

I could only manage an awkward smile.

“You two… seem to be getting along well?”

“I don’t know when you became so close, though.”

The temperature around us dropped dramatically.

It was a winter… no, a spring cold snap heralding flowers.

Afterwards, I had to offer explanations for quite some time.

Though they didn’t seem to have any effect.

***

Back at the dormitory.

Even after finishing my explanation, I had to endure their interrogation for a long time.

I looked at the vain girl as if asking for help, but.

—This is punishment for teasing me so much today.

She mercilessly ignored me.

This is why they say you shouldn’t take in black-haired beasts.

Although her hair was blue, I came to understand a bit of my ancestors’ hardships.

Only after suffering for quite some time did the rose and the fox finally stop their interrogation.

Usually they growl at each other, so why do they get along only at times like this?

I swallowed a bit of resentment.

“Still, I think it would be better if you stopped seducing her.”

“What are you saying, Master?”

“Hmm… denying it now?”

“I feel wronged.”

“I’m sure you do.”

Poke poke—

Selena poking my cheek.

Finding something amusing, she had been smiling gently for a while.

Beyond our meeting gazes, her red pupils sparkled.

It was a clarity with no trace of intoxication remaining.

“You seem to be enjoying yourself, Master.”

“Of course.”

Sitting side by side on the sofa.

In such a living room, the sounds of daily life could be heard.

The presence of the children resonated as vitality.

—My lady, here you should…

—It’s better to cut it a bit finer.

—Like this?

—Ugh… cooking is difficult no matter how many times I practice.

—How can a commoner like you be so good at it?

—W-well, because I am a commoner…?

In the kitchen, the villainess learning to cook.

And the protagonist teaching her.

—Why are you picking a fight again?

—Are you bored or something?

—Annoying princess.

—It seems like you’re the one picking a fight?

—Just a mere maid.

—Elise. No bad words.

—Irene, you too, stop it.

—Maid isn’t particularly a bad word, you know?

—Why have you been strangely taking her side lately, sister?

—Well. We ate snacks together.

—The book said if you share snacks together, you’re all friends.

—I can’t take sides between a friend and a sister…

—What kind of strange book did you read again…

Next to them, the fox and the rose bickering again.

With the fourth-dimensional princess intervening between them.

Bustling.

The melting of daily life flowing so peacefully.

Selena listened to it for a moment, then whispered as if relaxing.

Her voice was unhurried.

“It’s so peaceful like this.”

“A bit noisy, though.”

“Peace isn’t always just quiet.”

“How very true.”

Thud—

Selena gently leaning on my shoulder.

She had her eyelids closed, as if savoring the leisure.

“Sometimes I think it’s like a miracle.”

“A miracle.”

“Whether we deserve to enjoy such peaceful days.”

“Why wouldn’t you? You’re enjoying them right now.”

“It’s thanks to you, Judas. All of these… they’re stories cultivated by your hands.”

“I merely watched.”

“I’m always grateful.”

“It’s nothing special.”

Peace.

A word whose meaning I still didn’t fully understand.

As we approached the final chapter, future developments were difficult to predict.

The headmaster’s cryptic prophecy also remained.

Life, as always, was moderately unstable.

But.

“I need to work harder.”

I decided not to be anxious.

Yes.

These were stories I had cultivated.

It was about taming, and taking responsibility for relationships.

Putting aside various idle thoughts, I decide to focus on just one thing.

The destiny I shouldered as a possessor.

“For everyone’s sake.”

For the happy ending of this world.

***

Night had come at last.

The noisy presences had subsided, and the dormitory welcomed dawn.

I was sitting in the shadows, fiddling with something.

It was none other than the crystal ball connected to headquarters.

A soft blue light leaked out.

—{Commander.}

The voice coming through was that of the vice-commander.

The stiff tone delivered the main point.

—{The businessman.}

—{We’ve confirmed the destination of the target who had been elusive until now.}

—{According to our informant, he headed to the ‘Apple Tree’ auction house.}

—{Everything is as you arranged.}

After silently listening to the report, I soon rise from the sofa.

Outside the window, only thick darkness was surging.

A night where even a trace of moonlight was hidden by clouds.

I was smiling eerily.

“Good.”

According to plan.

The target was entering the net.

Hiding my twisted lips, I ruminate on the memory from a few weeks ago.

“I promised to make you pay the price, didn’t I?”

I wonder if he remembers properly.

Hopefully, he’s lying awake with anxiety.

With these trivial thoughts, I whisper into the crystal ball.

A declaration.

“Well then… shall we go catch them?”

One of the worst villains appearing in the original work.

A specimen embodying adult ugliness.

The enemy who burned down the fox’s village and drove the master to death.

I pronounce that abominable name as if chewing it.

“The adults.”

A dawn without stars.

Now, it was time for the real hunt to begin.