Chapter 183
-Don't mention it.
-I'm always on your side, after all.
Since that day.
A small change had occurred in the relationship between the girl and me.
More precisely, Emilia had changed.
Perhaps it would be more accurate to say she had become a little more dependent.
Unlike before, when she always had a prickly demeanor, she now wore a rather gentle smile.
It meant she had found some peace, I suppose.
-Where are you always trying to go?
-You promised you'd always be by my side...
-Take me with you too.
How should I put it?
It seemed her frequency of clinging, subtly or not, had increased.
It felt as if the last sturdy wall had crumbled.
It wasn't that I didn't understand.
-I wish you needed me too.
-Just as I need you.
Even if she harbored a resolute will.
At her core, she was still just a girl who hadn't even come of age.
Her family had been destroyed, and she was left in the empty snowfield.
As a child, she must have needed a place to lean on.
And it just so happened that I was the one who supported her back.
-Yuda.
A hand grasping my sleeve.
That pitifulness was both tender and heartbreaking.
It was as if I had encountered a self-portrait from a distant past.
I simply held The Vain One and patted her trembling shoulders.
The more I did, the more Emilia burrowed into my warmth.
I simply indulged her dependence.
“Today too... I wish you would kiss me.”
It was the same this time.
As I indulged her, physical affection naturally increased.
After I kissed her forehead one day, she seemed to like it and kept asking for it.
Her face would flush crimson; her eyes would waver, yet she'd mumble, trying hard.
It was impossible to push away such childish dependence.
I simply wished for The Vain One to feel at ease.
“Of course.”
*I'm not leaving yet.*
*Until you can stand on your own again, I'll remain by your side.*
You are no longer the sixteen-year-old girl who cried silently in the dawn.
You are no longer bound, and so you can fly anywhere.*
*So.*
“If it's your request, then gladly.”
that everything would be alright
I wanted to tell you,
so that your days ahead would not be filled with anxiety
and so you wouldn't be lonely.
“Ugh...”
*Swoosh—*
I cupped her pale cheek in my palm.
Then, slowly, I brushed aside her long, blue bangs.
Perhaps it was the bittersweet air and the fresh scent of spring.
The warmth on her forehead was conveyed even without my fingertips touching it.
As if drawing closer to that tenderness.
*Mwah...*
I lowered my head.
Beyond the gently brushing lips, a faint warmth lingered.
At the tip of my nose, the fresh scent of the cool Snowfield wavered.
Only a short, stifled gasp remained on The Vain One's forehead.
Even though she had asked for it herself, the way she squeezed her eyes shut was so typical of her.
I slowly drew back.
“Lady.”
“Ah...”
Emilia came to her senses belatedly.
She acted as if she'd short-circuited for a moment, then averted her eyes as if she were sinking.
Even then, perhaps trying to maintain her pride, she didn't quite turn her back completely.
If she was that embarrassed, she didn't have to force herself.
I couldn't help but chuckle at her youthful innocence.
“Pfft.”
“D-don't laugh... What's so funny?”
“Not at all. It's just that I thought, 'Ah, the Lady is still a child after all.'”
“What do you mean? We're the same age, why are you suddenly treating me like a child...?”
“It just means the Lady looks very young for her age.”
“......You're teasing me again, aren't you?”
“Oh, I've been found out.”
“You really...!”
*Thump-thump—*
The atmosphere returned to its usual bickering.
I teased the pouting Emilia a few more times.
Our steps, which had paused for a moment, resumed down the path.
We were about to head back to the dormitory.
“Shall we head back now? The others must be waiting...”
“Indeed. We *were* waiting.”
“I wondered why you were taking so long.”
Familiar voices came from behind us.
I stiffened for a moment, then turned around.
At the end of my gaze stood a girl with orange hair and another with red hair.
Both wore chilling gazes.
“So that's how it was.”
“Hmph.”
The Fox and the Rose.
The two appeared suddenly.
Had they come to meet us?
Based on the chillingly subdued atmosphere, it seemed they had witnessed everything.
Irene had her arms crossed, and Elise wore a cold expression.
As an aside, the sight of the Rose out of her wheelchair still felt unnatural no matter how many times I saw it.
I paused for a moment with such trivial thoughts.
*Cling—*
“Lady...?”
Suddenly.
The Vain One clung to my arm.
Then, she naturally rested her head on my shoulder.
Her dazzling blue hair cascaded down.
“......”
“Hah.”
Had they taken that as some kind of signal?
Two pairs of eyes settled coldly.
Chilling gazes shot towards me and pierced me.
Meanwhile, Emilia showed no intention of letting go, regardless.
Thanks to her, the uncomfortable atmosphere was entirely my burden.
“Lady.”
Normally, when the Fox and the Rose fought, I would either mediate or simply watch from the sidelines.
But now, Emilia was directly throwing logs into the fire.
It was truly the dignified appearance of a proud Snowfield warrior, a Guardian.
I couldn't help but offer an awkward smile.
“You two... seem to be getting along well?”
“Though I'm not sure when you became *that* close.”
The ambient temperature dropped sharply.
It was a winter... no, a late spring chill, signaling the arrival of spring.
Afterward, I had to offer explanations for a long time.
Though they didn't believe a word of it.
***
Back at the Dormitory.
Even after my explanations, I was interrogated for a long time.
I looked at The Vain One, as if asking for help, but...
-This is your punishment for teasing me so much today.
She mercilessly ignored me.
Is this why they say you shouldn't take in black-haired beasts?
Although the one in question had blue hair, I came to understand a little of my ancestors' sorrows.
Only after being tormented for quite some time did the Rose and the Fox stop their interrogation.
They usually snarled at each other so much. Why did they only get along at times like this?
I mulled over a hint of injustice.
“Still, I think it might be best if you stopped charming them, you know.”
“What are you talking about now, Master?”
“Hmph... Denying it now, are we?”
“I'm being unfairly accused.”
“I suppose so.”
*Poke-poke—*
Selena poked my cheek.
She had been smiling sweetly for a while now, as if greatly amused.
Beyond our locked gazes, her reddish pupils sparkled.
It was a clarity no longer clouded by intoxication.
“You seem to be enjoying yourself, Master.”
“Of course.”
They were sitting side-by-side on the sofa.
In the living room, the sounds of everyday life drifted in.
The children's presence soon echoed with vitality.
-Lady, like this...
-It's better to chop it a bit finer.
-Like this?
-Ugh... Cooking is hard no matter how many times I practice.
-How can a Commoner be so good at it?
-W-well, because I'm a Commoner...?
In the Kitchen, the Villainess was being taught how to cook.
And the Protagonist was teaching her.
-Why are you picking a fight again?
-Are you bored again?
-Weakling Princess.
-It seems you're the one picking a fight?
-You, a mere maid.
-Elise. No bad words.
-Irene, you too.
-'Maid' isn't really a bad word, you know?
-Older Sister, why have you always subtly taken her side?
-Well. We ate cookies together.
-The book said if you share cookies together, everyone's friends.
-Between a friend and a younger sibling... I can't take just one side.
-What strange book did you read *this* time...?
Next to them, the Fox and the Rose were bickering again.
Even the four-dimensional Princess was caught in between.
*Bustle-bustle.*
The melting into the gently flowing everyday life.
Selena listened to it for a moment, then whispered, as if relaxing.
Her voice was unhurried.
“It's so peaceful like this.”
“Though it is a bit noisy.”
“Peace isn't always quiet, you know.”
“Those are truly wise words.”
*Thump—*
Selena gently leaned her shoulder against mine.
She seemed to be savoring the tranquility, her eyelids closed.
“Sometimes, I think it's like a miracle.”
“A miracle, you say.”
“Whether I'm allowed to enjoy such peaceful days.”
“Is there any reason you shouldn't? You're enjoying it right now, aren't you?”
“It's thanks to Student Yuda. These are... all stories you've cultivated with your own hands.”
“I merely watched.”
“I always feel grateful.”
“Don't mention it.”
Peace.
It was still a word whose meaning I couldn't quite grasp.
As the final act approached, the future developments were hard to predict.
The Dean's ominous prophecy also remained.
Life, as always, was moderately unstable.
But.
“I'll have to work harder, then.”
*I decided not to be anxious.*
*Yes.*
*Because these were the stories I had cultivated.*
*I had to take responsibility for the taming, and for the relationships.*
*Putting aside various distracting thoughts, I decided to focus on only one thing.*
*the destiny I bore as a transmigrator.*
“Even for all of you.”
*For the Happy Ending of this world.*
***
Night had fallen.
The noisy presences quieted, and the Dormitory welcomed the dawn.
I sat perched in the shadows, fiddling with something.
It was none other than a crystal ball connected to Headquarters.
A faint blue light seeped out.
-{Captain.}
What came from beyond was the Vice-Captain's voice.
Her stiff tone conveyed the main point.
-{Businessman.}
-{The whereabouts of the target, which had been elusive, have been confirmed.}
-{According to our informant, he is heading to the Apple Tree Auction House.}
-{Everything is proceeding as you arranged.}
I, who had been silently listening to the report, soon rose from the sofa.
Outside the window, only deep Darkness surged.
A night where even a sliver of moonlight was hidden by clouds.
I was smiling chillingly.
“Excellent.”
*It was as planned.*
*The target was entering the net.*
I covered my twisted lips and savored the memory from a few weeks ago.
“I promised I'd make him pay, didn't I?”
*I wonder if he remembers properly.*
*I hope he's so anxious he can't even sleep.*
With such trivial thoughts, I whispered into the crystal ball.
*A single declaration.*
“Then... shall we go catch him?”
*This is one of the worst characters to appear in the original story.*
*This is a prime example of adult depravity.*
*This is the enemy who burned the Fox's Village and drove my Master to her death.*
I pronounced that detestable name as if chewing on it.
“The adults.”
The starless dawn.
Now, it was time for the real hunt.