Ch.58Beyond the Mountain, the Mountain of Chaos

I talked with Nepy and had many conversations that had built up between us over time. These were genuine words, not remnants of speech driven by twisted instincts.

It was amusing to see Irefi gradually shrinking whenever I brought up situations that had disappointed me. Of course, I soon stopped since a smiling face suited her better.

The sparkling castle town beautifully illuminated our night path, as if blessing the new crossroads we had finally won. No, to be honest, I’ve seen countless moonlit nights like this since falling into this world.

However, I can confidently say that this moment features the most beautiful starry sky ever woven.

Irefi. It’s because you’re beside me. Because I’m connected to you at this close distance.

We held hands. We made a weak but proper hook with our fingers and interlocked them. Just that action filled my heart, and emotions flowed between us even without words.

She hides her pitiful eyes, still moist, and says:

“Nepy.”

“Yes?”

“I’m scared.”

“Of what?”

“…”

“Irefi?”

Irefi’s rose-pink lips puckered, creating wrinkles. I was bewildered by her fear that seemed to go beyond mere discomfort.

“Don’t tell me your Malice is already acting up?!”

“No! That’s not it, Nepy!”

“Phew, you scared me. What is it then?”

“Well… I still have all my memories of the past… no, the future.”

“Hmm.”

“When we return, I don’t know how to face the Emperor, Empress, or Charle… I already disliked the Empress, and now it will be even more awkward…”

“You originally disliked the Empress? No, I’ll hear about that later… But I understand, I’d feel uneasy too. Should I go report alone instead?”

“No. I think I need to face them properly. Just stay by my side, Nepy.”

Irefi leaned her feather-light weight against me. I felt an impulse to hug her tightly and fill my entire body with her presence.

My first girlfriend… or perhaps I could even call her my lover now. She was precious and exciting, and I didn’t want to be apart from her for even a moment.

Just as my thoughts reached that point, a question suddenly struck my mind like lightning.

‘Wait, are we officially dating now? Is today day one…?’

We resolved things in a good atmosphere, but there wasn’t a definitive answer to my heartfelt confession! Come to think of it, I don’t remember Irefi making any definitive verbal expression!

Should I… confirm this? But asking would seem pathetic.

‘No, no. Calm down. Irefi said she loves me too. Isn’t that enough? But it could be a narrative trick. Maybe she loves me but we’re not in that kind of relationship yet? That would be just like Irefi. After all, she’s the same Irefi who slept embracing me in the same bed without even dating!’

I feared my once-in-a-lifetime confession might have been ambiguously lost.

I turned my head stiffly like a rusty mannequin. In my view appeared the top of Irefi’s head as she affectionately walked with her arm linked through my right arm.

I cautiously broached the subject.

“Irefi.”

“Nepy?”

“I like you. Sincerely.”

“Wh-what, I, I like you too, Nepy…”

“So about that.”

“Yes?”

“What are we… now?”

I asked with a face heating up like an active furnace. I couldn’t bring myself to meet Irefi’s gaze, so I averted my eyes.

That is, until I sensed an eerily cool air around my normally warm body.

“…… What?”

She asked after a long pause. For some reason, I had the distinct feeling that I had made a terrible mistake.

She followed up with a deliberate, articulate inquiry.

“What. Do. You. Mean. By. That. Nepy?”

“Umm? Just to be sure, I thought we should discuss what our relationship is now… Aaack?!”

At that moment, there was a cracking sound like chicken bones breaking from my right arm that Irefi was holding. While suffering from intense pain due to my sensitive nerves, she confronted me with a serious expression.

Her focus disappeared, and her eyes became dead like frozen fish, creating a chilling impression.

“Nepy… Nepy. Nepy. Nepy. Don’t tell me. After saying all that. After doing all that. You were planning. To treat me. Like before. Like in the past?”

“Ngh… I-Irefi?!”

“That won’t do. You must take responsibility. I can’t be without you now. I trusted you. I hoped your lifetime would become my lifetime. You seem to be testing me. Am I mistaken? Tell me, okay? Nepy!”

“W-wait! You’re misunderstanding, Irefi! Besides, your Malice is leaking out! Please calm down!”

“Haa, haa, haaauuugh…”

Irefi calmed her mind with deep breaths at my desperate plea. Fortunately, the Malice soon disappeared, and she returned to her normal self.

“First, I apologize for my statement that could cause misunderstanding, Irefi.”

“I accept. So, what was your intention with such a comment?”

“This might sound ridiculous… but we do like each other now, right?”

“Is that even something to ask at this point?”

“Ugh. Then, are we dating now…? We’re lovers, right?”

“Hmph, hearing it directly makes me embarrassed. Are we not?”

As Irefi’s eyes began to turn menacing like blades, I frantically waved my hands to explain.

“No! You’re absolutely right. You’re completely right, Irefi!”

“Hehe. Of course. That’s how it should be. Otherwise, who knows what might happen to you.”

‘…She’s not influenced by Malice, right? Right? Our Irefi has changed…’

Ahem!

I clear my throat to dispel the tense atmosphere. The arm that had been pressing like iron now felt as soft and gentle as cotton. Still, I was happy. Even though I felt somewhat trained, it didn’t matter.

“Then we should probably… report this.”

“Report?”

“To Miren. We’ve been hanging around together so much, and if we tell her we’re in this kind of relationship now, it might be quite a shock to her…”

Irefi seemed to agree with my thoughts as her face darkened.

“You’re right. She’ll definitely find it strange. She’s known my feelings for a while, but she never would have dreamed we’d become like this. My image isn’t really compatible with being a lover, after all.”

“Sigh…”

While we were worrying, another urgent concern suddenly occurred to me.

“Irefi. There’s another big problem.”

“What is it?”

“Miren knows I went out to fight with you. I sent her a letter.”

“Wh-what?! Why would you tell Miren of all people!”

“Well, I might have really died. I needed to leave something like a will. Just in case…”

“Ugh. This is ultimately my karma. Whew! …… Then this is no time to dawdle! Let’s hurry to Eldrion. Quickly!”

“Y-yes! Let’s go!”

Irefi released my arm without hesitation and picked up speed. I maintained a full sprint to keep up with her, afraid of losing my way.

The scenery stretching out like solid lines dampened my excited emotions. While continuously overworking my legs, I had to admit:

‘Even with our changed relationship, Irefi is still just Irefi.’

It was ridiculously typical of us that I couldn’t find even a tiny bit of romance in our newly reversed relationship.

If it’s fate, I’ll accept this too…

I felt somewhat deflated by this realization.

◇

It was still before sunrise. Scattered cirrus clouds were tinged with the deep blue of dawn, sending down fresh breezes.

Our full-speed dash was truly superhuman, allowing us to reach Eldrion in less than half a day.

Both Irefi and I swallowed hard with dry throats as we finally arrived in front of Chester Estate.

It was difficult to gauge what to say first.

‘We successfully completed the mission to subdue your sister…? Or, today is our first day as a couple? No, that’s not it. Am I going crazy with Malice?’

“Nepy…”

Irefi seemed at a loss for words too as she silently turned to me. But I didn’t have any brilliant ideas either.

With the mindset that it’s better to face the music sooner rather than later, I took a step into the estate. If only I had Zikharun’s Spirit Blood right now, I could deflect any punishment.

…What am I thinking? The situation has become extreme in a different sense, and I’m just sitting here with strange fantasies.

Our only option was to steel our hearts and leave our footprints toward Chester Mansion.

Creeeeak…

The garden gate made a desolate sound, rusty from disuse. Past the garden was the entrance to the mansion. It was a shabby and narrow building for a duke’s residence.

Just then, the voice of the girl we had been so afraid of pierced the darkness of early dawn.

“Elpi sister… Brother Nepy…”

“Gasp!”

“Huh.”

Miren was sitting alone on the steps in front of the main door. Her deeply furrowed face and brightly shining golden eyes gave us a hint of her condition.

“Miren…”

“Ah, um, have you been well? Mire…”

Just as I was about to ask a perfunctory greeting, my words were cut short. Because I saw Miren suddenly standing up and running toward us with all her might.

At first, I thought there would be a touching reunion with her hugging her sister. That’s how the cliché based on the atmosphere should go.

I only realized my misconception when I noticed that Miren’s momentum was alarmingly fierce.

Thudududududu!

I witnessed the terrible wrath that had settled on Miren’s face. Anger burned hot, enveloping her entire body.

Immediately after, her body floated into the air and released a terrifying amount of kinetic energy.

“Mireeeeeeen Kiiiiiiiiick!!!”

A concentrated strike! A kick aimed precisely at Irefi’s center rose high under the dawn sky!

I recognized this famous kick.

“H-Hectopascal Kick?!”

Swoooooosh!

Irefi instinctively defended, but her feet carved deep furrows in the ground as she was dragged back a considerable distance. While questioning Miren’s mysterious physical abilities, I gaped at her puzzling behavior.

“Haa… haa…”

“Miren…?”

It was a strange sight—Irefi, who had been hit, was fine, but Miren was the one taking rough breaths.

Miren, who had safely landed and was now kneeling, was trembling. The vibrations surrounding her body conveyed anger and fear. But Miren’s true emotion as she faced the bare ground was…

“With this… I’ll forgive you. Stupid sister. Really stupid. Really foolish. Really, really, really…!”

“Miren…”

“Sob, hiccup… Wel-welcome back. Elpi sister… Waaaaaah!”

Worry and longing. Or joy.

Forgetting all pretense, Miren collapsed on the spot. She shed pearl-like tears abundantly, like drawing eternal spring water from a golden fountain.

Irefi hesitated briefly, then gently embraced her younger sister with sunset-tinged eyes. I couldn’t help but feel a tightness in my nose at the reunion of the white sisters.

Meanwhile, I felt awkward as Miren cried and made a fuss in Irefi’s arms. I couldn’t casually intrude between them, nor could I divert their attention.

Just as I was becoming a third wheel like a borrowed sack of barley, Miren maturely stopped her whining and looked at me.

“Brother Nepy.”

“Yes, Miren.”

“Thank you. I think you went through a lot of trouble because of our stupid sister.”

“What?!”

Irefi’s transparent cheeks turned as red as her eyes at Miren’s scathing criticism.

“This much is nothing for Miren.”

“No. I always feel like I’m just receiving from you, Brother Nepy, so I feel shameless and sorry.”

“Not at all!”

“…So, Brother Nepy. I think there’s one thing I can give you.”

“Hmm? That’s okay…”

Miren’s expression still showed traces of tears. Even as tears dripped down her cheeks, she remained steadfast.

Despite my protests, Miren’s lips trembled as they opened.

“Since it’s you, Brother Nepy, it’s okay. I’ll give you our Elpi sister. With her personality, she’d never be honest even if she died, but the truth is she’s had feelings for you. So I’ll say it for her instead. If I don’t do this, you two would just keep circling around each other forever.”

“…Ah.”

“…Um.”

“Brother Nepy? Elpi sister?”

Miren’s eyes widened at our lukewarm response. She clearly expected me to be greatly surprised or Irefi to shout in embarrassment.

She didn’t seem to have considered the possibility that she was already one step too late.

“Miren…”

“You see…”

Irefi awkwardly wrapped her hand around mine. I also held onto her with a flushed face, feeling strangely embarrassed.

“We’re that thing from today. You know… that thing.”

“Y-yeah. That thing, Miren. You know? That thing.”

“Brother Nepy…? Elpi sister…?”

Miren’s golden eyes spun wildly. Her head repeatedly turned from side to side as she stared at us.

While we were scratching our necks with embarrassed expressions, there was a rustling sound from behind, and a hearty, masculine voice shook the early dawn.

“You two! As of today, you are bound together! You are now lovers! Why aren’t you proudly announcing such joyous news to your family?”

“Young Duke!”

The owner of the voice was Bartlant. Judging from the situation, it seemed he had just finished reporting to the imperial palace and was now stopping by the mansion.

Miren covered her mouth with both hands, but she couldn’t hide her shock.

“Brother Nepy and Elpi sister…? Finally…?”

“Yes, the Young Duke is right.”

“It’s true, Miren.”

After hearing our confirmation, Miren’s eyes curved strangely. Her legs trembled, and she began to mutter incomprehensible words to herself.

“It’s been so long… so long. The day has finally come when my efforts are rewarded…”

Miren’s hands, which had covered her mouth, had now spread across her entire face. Although I couldn’t see clearly, her bright joy was unmistakably conveyed.

Looking back, Bartlant was resting his chin on his hand and staring over Miren’s shoulder at the mansion’s main door. He scolded someone beyond the door as if he could see through it.

“However… Arnel? It’s good that you didn’t leave the young lady alone, but eavesdropping is not appropriate. Come out here.”

At Bartlant’s solemn reprimand, the door slowly opened and a boy peeked out.

Arnel Chester. He was one of the Chester twins who followed Miren around.

“I’m sorry, brother. And I apologize to Marquess Justitia and Marquess Alteon as well.”

“Arnel didn’t do anything wrong! I asked him to do it!”

“Is that so? I’m glad we haven’t caused any trouble then.”

The situation seemed to be resolving smoothly. But we soon had to deal with another wave of confusion.

“Move aside!”

Bang!

A girl burst through the door, panting heavily. The girl’s eyes were brimming with moisture like puddles after rain.

Enella Chester. She was Arnel’s twin sister, known for her somewhat rough temperament.

“Brother Nepy. Is it true? Have you really… found a lover?”

Enella appealed as an ordinary girl, unable to maintain her elegant manner of speech while sobbing.

I silently nodded.

“Ugh… hiccup…! This can’t be… how could this…”

Mist formed in her eyes, green as lush foliage. Soon after, tears fell drop by drop like pouring rain. The pitiful figure of the girl naturally evoked sympathy.

While I stood still, unable to do anything due to my surprise, Enella sniffled and wiped her tears several times, then turned around and ran back into the mansion with a clatter.

“It was my first loooooooove!!!”

Crash, bang, boom!!!

“…”

My mind went blank.

So far, I had fought a fierce battle with Irefi, confessed to her, had various conversations with her, and met Miren. Finally, I had unintentionally become the cause of Enella’s first heartbreak…

‘Well, that figures. This is my daily life.’

Perhaps the essence of my existence in this world is days where laziness and chaos coexist.

I closed my eyes tightly and tilted my head up toward the blue sky where dawn was breaking.

I could feel Irefi’s slender fingers in every corner between my fingers.

Even as we belatedly entered the mansion, I was moved by the reality that I was openly holding her hand.

Just as I was suppressing the urge to hum a tune, Bartlant casually asked:

“By the way, you two, when are you planning to get married?”