Because We Love Each Other
We love each other, so—
“Ah, blanket kick.”
On the way back to the dormitory. I’d stubbornly refused Sien’s offer to escort me all the way to the magic department dorms, and now here I was, trudging back alone. The moment I remembered what kind of pathetic display I’d put on in front of a girl who didn’t know anything, I felt the overwhelming urge to kick an imaginary blanket even though there wasn’t one in sight.
“…Haa.”
Yeah. I’m definitely doing that the second I get back.
“Still… thank goodness.”
The tension drained out of me all at once, and I sank right down onto the ground where I stood. When Sien had asked why I was helping her, I honestly hadn’t known how to answer. The truth was that it was nothing more than hypocritical self-satisfaction—an attempt to find comfort I didn’t deserve because I knew I could never truly atone. The instant those words slipped out, I’d been terrified of how she might take them.
…Fortunately, Sien had responded by saying she was grateful instead.
“The one who should really be grateful is me.”
I lifted my head with a bitter smile. Stars scattered like glitter across a dark canvas. Gazing up at the vast night sky that defied counting, I felt the last lingering traces of tension in both body and mind finally melt away.
“…This feels amazing.”
Her smile and those words of thanks kept circling through my head. To other people it might not mean much, but for someone who’d lived his entire life as a villain, it was the first time I’d ever received a genuine thank-you.
Puhuhu. A stupid laugh kept bubbling out of me.
“I can do this. I just have to do it right.”
Sien had chosen to change. Since she’d trusted me and found the courage to take that step, I had to repay the trust and courage she’d shown me. There were two things I needed to do: create a positive “environment” that would help her change for the better, and “protect” that environment so it wouldn’t collapse.
When it came to environment, the obvious choice was introducing her to people who could give her positive energy—in other words, friends.
“No matter how I think about it, those girls should be fine.”
The names of the young ladies from the four great families, the same as Sien, naturally rose to mind. Roselia Eliard, Aine Blair, and Chloe Asher.
“Where else in the world would you find nobles this kind to commoners?”
All three of them were from great noble houses, yet they’d treated a commoner like me with genuine warmth and goodwill. In a kingdom where the default reaction to commoners was “vulgar” and “uncultured,” they were practically saints. Just that fact alone made it no exaggeration to call their character outstanding… but the problem was that all three of them had extremely unique personalities.
They perfectly fit the description of “nice kid, but a little weird.”
“The one who sends three hundred worried texts. The kind-hearted but total tomboy. …And the one I genuinely can’t figure out what she’s thinking.”
…Now that I thought about it again, maybe I shouldn’t make them Sien’s friends?
“Still, there aren’t any better options than these three…”
I let out a low groan and weighed their advantages. As I’d mentioned when trying to appeal to Sien, they all came from the four great families. In the future they would become pillars of the kingdom, competing and cooperating in equal measure, but right now—while the four families maintained friendly relations—there was no better time for them to grow close.
“For now, I’ll just drop a subtle hint to Roselia.”
Three hundred texts was creepy as hell, but she was the closest to normal out of the three. Plus, we were in the same class, so it would be easier for me to get close to her. The classic “friend of a friend is my friend” strategy.
If I became friends with Roselia, it would naturally create an environment where Sien could grow close to her too. Since Roselia was known as the flower of high society, spending time with her would let Sien experience all sorts of things. Through that process, Sien could gradually overcome her distrust of people and her social anxiety.
“Seriously, this brain of mine is terrifyingly sharp, you little genius.”
Considering how much Sien still relied on me, was there really any better idea than this? A guy whose petty schemes were world-class. A guy who’d lived as a villain for ten years with nothing but that. Yeah, I deserved to be called a legend. That guy was me.
“Okay. Environment taken care of…”
Muttering to myself, I grabbed my knees and pushed myself up. But unlike before, a faint shadow had settled over my face.
“Alencia… and Seton.”
The moment I thought about the things that could destroy Sien, my soaring mood sank on its own. The rulers of the North—Alencia. Explaining their martial prowess and cruelty was a waste of breath. The real problem was that I currently had no power to face them.
And then there was Seton. A family of lunatics whose thought processes I couldn’t begin to understand. Even if their power was still weak right now, they were so insane that even Alencia would have to concede a step. In other words, a hopeless house that would achieve its goals through creative madness if brute force wasn’t enough.
“If only I had half my old power… hell, even four-tenths.”
I wasn’t even confident I could win against just one of them, yet I had to keep both in check. In the worst-case scenario, there might even be a third force in this world besides them.
“…And on top of that, I have to factor in fate too.”
Not to mention the coercive power of destiny that my actions would trigger. I was just trying to let one person live like a human being—why did it have to be this hard?
“Yeah, I’ll take it. Guess this is karma too.”
I scratched my head and let out a deep sigh. Who was I trying to impress by already sounding so weak? And was I really the kind of person who had any right to sound weak?
“Absolutely not.”
The first human in history to reach the Truth. The one who had turned the entire world against him and still lived to tell the tale. The one who had ultimately escaped fate by sending that very world back into the past. No matter how weakened I’d become, the Truth still existed inside me. And this time my opponents weren’t the entire world—just a handful of trash.
It was a suitable penalty. In fact, the conditions were actually in my favor.
“Who do you think you are, Rain?”
I was a mage. And theoretically, if even a 1% chance existed—
“Let’s show them. My true ability in this world too.”
The genius of effort who would always seize that 1% no matter what.
+++
“How cute.”
Just thinking about your smiling face makes me smile too. How can you be so adorable?
“And yet you also show such a dependable side, even though you’re a man.”
I already knew you possessed extraordinary skill. Ether, was it? Even to me, who could see through most magic at a glance, the way you handled your spells was completely incomprehensible. So I wasn’t surprised that others would fall before you… but you’re strong. Far stronger than I expected.
Especially the way you use magic with such proficiency. The way you deploy spells at exactly the right moment and place makes me suspect you must have worked as a combat mage for decades.
“I’m so curious about you, Rain.”
What kind of past did you have to wear such a sad smile? What experiences could possibly make you so skilled in combat magic?
Your favorite food, season, music, painting, novel, color, scent, flower, animal, game. What kind of atmosphere you like to read books in. What kind of stories you enjoy talking about most. What position you sleep in. Whether you put more weight on your left foot or right when you walk. Which part of your body you wet first in the shower. How many minutes you brush your teeth. What kind of weather you like best and what you usually do when that weather comes. What you think about when you’re doing nothing. How you hold a pen. What your handwriting looks like.
I’m curious about everything.
I want to know every single thing about you so thoroughly that all the long years I didn’t know you become meaningless. I want to tell you everything about myself too. I want to show you that I can do anything for you.
If you want, I can change my hairstyle, the way I speak, my expressions, my habits, my personality, my makeup, my fashion, my tastes, my body shape, my perfume, my appearance—anything at all. Everything. I can change it all exactly the way you want.
I can make your wishes come true, erase the things you hate, and destroy anything that bothers you.
“I’m sure you feel the same way about me.”
I like you, and you like me too. All we need now is time to get to know each other. That’s all.
So—
“First, I need to get rid of anything that interferes with my time with the prince.”
Hehe. Just remembering what you said on the platform today makes laughter slip out again.
“No matter how much it was for my sake, that statement today was incredibly dangerous.”
To openly disparage nobles right in the heart of noble society. That alone would put your life at risk, and to make matters worse, they are the future leaders who will guide the kingdom. Countless nobles—too many to even count—will use every means possible to harm you. But the silver lining is that there will definitely be major guilds that take a liking to your ability.
Among them, there should be at least one foreign guild willing to protect you from the kingdom’s nobles. Ether. A school so rare that even the Magic Tower has only heard the name in passing. Guilds that are practically geniuses at sniffing out profit would never miss the scent of money coming from a unique Ether user.
“But, my prince. Even so, you’re still too weak.”
Right now, no one can stop you. Even if I fought with everything I had, I wouldn’t be able to defeat you. But what about two years from now? After more time passes—five years, seven years, or even further into the future—will you still be able to show the same level of skill?
Unfortunately, the answer is no.
I don’t know how you can cast such incredible magic with such crude mana circles, but it’s clear that your limits are well-defined. For now, you’re simply hiding those limits with some unknown method. Before long, the clouds covering the sun will part.
———But don’t worry.
“I’ll protect you. No matter where you are.”
My twin older sisters and my little older brother are scary, but they can’t become my enemies. I still can’t beat my eldest brother yet, but I have no doubt that in one year I’ll be able to. Father and the head of Alencia will take three years. In seven years, I’m confident I won’t lose to anyone. In ten years, I can protect you even if the entire world becomes your enemy. No—I could cut down the entire world.
“I endured fifteen years. I can endure ten.”
What a ridiculous thing to say. If I’m with you, every moment will pass by in the blink of an eye. What’s ten years? I can give it. Ten years, twenty years—however long it takes. As long as I can live the rest of my life happily with you.
So———.
“Just don’t ever look at anyone else.”
With a flash of light, a single sword appeared in Sien’s hand. The blade was wrapped tightly in cloth of an unknown material, yet its overwhelming presence was so sharp it could be felt even through the scabbard and fabric.
The holy sword Laid.
The great blade that had not yet awakened had already recognized its master and bound itself to her.
“You can do anything else, but please… only look at me. It’s not that hard, is it?”
A gentle expression laced with something chilling.
“———Because we love each other.”
It was the smile of a girl in love.