18. Your Voice

Huff... huff...

'You can stop running now. Adam can't... follow you anyway.'

"I know. I know that. But still."

Still, she couldn't be sure.

Chloe swallowed the words she'd been about to say. Adam was 1st Rank. There was no way he could catch her after she'd fled using teleportation magic and a full sprint. Adult Chloe was clearly right, yet Chloe couldn't bring herself to feel safe.

Because something incomprehensible had already happened.

'What just... happened back there? Adam definitely heard your voice, didn't he?'

'...It seems so.'

'How is that even possible?'

It wasn't simply a matter of Rank. If Adam's 1st Rank status were the only reason he couldn't hear Adult Chloe's voice, then the Chairwoman and the Archmage — both 8th Rank — ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠would have heard her long ago.

The Archmage, her master, had sensed an unknown mental entity inside Chloe, but even he hadn't discerned exactly what it was or what it was saying.

Chloe had suspected as much. When it came to magic, the Elf Archmage stood at the continent's pinnacle — and beyond that, the magic he wielded through his "Eye" shattered every convention.

But Adam's case... was something she'd never even imagined.

That was why she'd fled without thinking.

'Don't tell me he's been listening this whole time?'

'...No. You saw how Adam reacted just now.'

'Then it just suddenly became possible overnight? Does that make any sense?'

The last time she'd seen Adam was about ten days ago, at the Charity Ball. Had something special happened since then?

The students had been rebuilding the academy for extra credit, lectures were running normally, and even the terror attack had only struck the outskirts, so life had slipped back into routine.

What on earth had happened to Adam in the meantime?

She wanted to ask, but approaching Adam again was no simple matter.

'All right, let's assume the most optimistic interpretation. For some unknown reason, Adam suddenly gained the ability to hear your voice just moments ago.'

'Along with your confession, which went off like a dud.'

'...Does my voice sound oddly attractive to you?'

'That's just your imagination.'

'But if that's the case, it means he heard every last bit of that cringeworthy drivel you were spouting earlier!!'

'I didn't... drivel.'

'You absolutely did! You were so embarrassing I couldn't even listen!'

That was exactly why she'd bolted on the spot.

After coexisting for several months, Adult Chloe had already shown her every embarrassing side imaginable. And if Adam really had heard every word Adult Chloe had spoken...

Didn't that mean he'd heard all her shouting about rings and confessions and whatnot?

Even if that was a future version of herself, Chloe was mortified beyond words.

'What do I do if Adam asks me about it later? What am I supposed to say... should I tell him it was just a delusion?'

'......I won't speak when Adam is around.'

'Obviously! You said in the future you were so awkward you couldn't even talk properly, so why are you so composed now?'

'In the end, you're the only one who can see me. Knowing only you can see me, oddly enough, gave me courage.'

'You absolute bitch!'

Technically she was cursing at herself, but Chloe couldn't stop the profanity. As always, Chloe Pisti was an artist when it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠came to getting under someone's skin.

The two had been squabbling for a while when ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Adult Chloe finally let out a sigh.

'So, what exactly just happened?'

'I don't know. Adam mentioned my master earlier. Could it be connected?'

'Are you saying Adam received the Eye from the Archmage? That's impossible.'

'Nothing else comes to mind, so what should I do?'

'More importantly, what about what I said earlier — that he doesn't like you...'

'Seriously, shut your mouth. Are you cheering me on or cursing me out?'

'.............'

She had a point. Adult Chloe was just a mental construct anyway. And hadn't they agreed that if Adam was going to fall into someone's hands, better the current Chloe than the Chairwoman, her greatest rival?

Chloe, who'd started out indifferent, was now displaying an odd affection for Adam. By all rights, Adult Chloe should be pleased that the plan was working.

Yet Adult Chloe seemed to both support Chloe and secretly delight in her misery.

Having called out that contradictory attitude and shut Adult Chloe's mouth, Chloe wore a serious expression.

'First of all, it's not the Eye. I didn't detect any magical signs of it from Adam. Didn't you think the same?'

'...That's true. But if it's the Archmage, he could deceive both our eyes.'

'I suppose, but he wouldn't go so far for Adam, who isn't even a Pisti. Unless he was trying to turn him into a biological familiar... Ah.'

Her master, the Elf Archmage's "Eye," was extraordinarily special. Even if the recipient was low-Rank — even if they weren't a mage at all — it allowed them to wield the magic inscribed within the Eye.

Strictly speaking, it resembled an artifact, but its power and efficiency were in a different league. That was why the Archmage bestowed his Eye only upon the most rigorously selected individuals.

Those individuals were the Pisti — those the Elf Archmage called family. Originally, Chloe herself would have received the Eye soon, had she not been forced to take refuge at Grandis Academy due to internal Magic Tower politics.

But occasionally, the Eye was given to those outside the family as well.

And that was a gift wrapped in a time bomb.

'Don't tell me it's to spy on the Chairwoman?'

'It's not impossible. The Archmage doesn't directly antagonize that menopausal hag, but he still views her as a threat capable of slaughtering his entire family.'

'But if the Chairwoman found out he'd turned Adam into a biological familiar, she'd be furious.'

'It probably wasn't full-on familiarization — more like he wanted to use the Eye to restrain Adam. Though he'd have been cautious about getting caught by the hag, so likely he just offered it.'

'...But in the end, whether or not the offer was made, Adam didn't take the Eye.'

'Which means there's another reason Adam can now hear my voice.'

Adult Chloe's expression twisted. Her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠face all but announced that a guess had occurred to her. Chloe glared at her.

At the look that demanded she spit it out, Adult Chloe hesitated — uncharacteristically.

'It's too absurd a hypothesis.'

'Just say it.'

'......Adam must have come into contact with the Dark Sword too.'

'What? Then does that mean Adam... might not be Adam anymore?'

Contact with the Dark Sword. Wasn't that exactly the same process by which Chloe had met Adult Chloe?

The difference was that Adult Chloe had been a peak 7th Rank mage, and because she had resisted the merge, they had been able to split their consciousness and coexist.

Adam's case was different. If he'd truly touched the Dark Sword, one personality would have been erased.

And it was obvious which one that would be.

She'd never heard the details, but she'd gathered enough to know that the future Adam was, in many ways, far more formidable than the current one.

'No, that's not it.'

'You said he touched the Dark Sword! Then like me, Adam's personality...!!'

'If Adam really had regressed, then... in that case...'

'Then?'

'...There's no way he'd look at the past me and stay that composed. I'm certain of it.'

'................'

That was less a rational, logical statement than an emotional conviction.

A belief grounded in the relationship between Adult Chloe and the future Adam — a relationship the current Chloe knew nothing about.

Adult Chloe herself seemed only half-convinced, but she clearly wanted to believe it.

And Chloe, however faintly, could understand that feeling.

'So, even though you were awkward, overshadowed by the Chairwoman, and couldn't even confess properly, you two still built that kind of bond?'

'...You really know how to wound with words.'

'I just get it, that's all.'

Hadn't she felt it herself just ten days ago? The universal desire to claim a piece of your beloved's heart — as much of it as possible.

Wanting them to search for you the moment you vanished. Wanting to prove you were an indispensable presence in their life.

'Assuming that's the case, what state exactly is Adam in right now?'

'I wouldn't recommend approaching him lightly. The regressed Adam might see me and... feel nothing at all.'

'Enough of that. In any case, it's clear Adam's in a strange state right now. I felt something unsettling from him, too.'

'Unsettling?'

'You didn't sense it?'

'Not at all.'

'You're 7th Rank and you felt nothing? It was faint, but there was definitely something ominous emanating from Adam himself. Whatever it was.'

After agonizing over it, Chloe finally clenched her fist.

'Let's go to Rus Spero.'

'What?'

'Regression itself happens through the Dark Sword, doesn't it? We'll go to that crossdressing girl and sound out whether she's had any recent contact with Adam.'

It didn't matter anyway, since Rus Spero couldn't hear Adult Chloe's voice.

She had no particular justification or friendly connection to seek her out, but she could just engineer a coincidental meeting.

The moment she'd made up her mind and cast detection magic to locate Rus —

Chloe felt a flicker of confusion and glanced at Adult Chloe.

'What are you doing?'

'Ah... nothing.'

'Why? Is there something over there?'

'...No, never mind. It must be my imagination.'

'Boring.'

Adult Chloe answered as if the question puzzled even herself — but the direction she'd been staring toward was the academy's exact center.

Strictly speaking, it was where the Chairwoman's and Adam's office was located.

*

What on earth had that been about?

Leaving behind Chloe, who had vanished in an instant, I resumed walking through the streets.

That strange voice, and Chloe's sudden flight — both were curious, but I could ask her about them later.

More importantly, I had something to do while I was out.

'First, I need to get farther away so the Chairwoman catches me later rather than sooner.'

And while I was at it, I needed to meet the one person who could offer the most definitive explanation for my missing four days: the slave.

I navigated the alleys by instinct, taking the shortest route to an old dormitory. Still, it was considerably nicer than where I lived.

This was where Milia — the Finance Department's unofficial slave — resided.

'Asking Milia should settle it.'

Why she hadn't woken me while I was asleep was a mystery, but she would've at least shown up for work. Surely she wouldn't have skipped her duties for days just because I'd told her to leave right before I went to sleep.

Thinking that, I knocked and entered the dorm matron's office on the ground floor.

"Ah, Finance Director Adam! I apologize for being out during your last visit. If you'd only let me know beforehand, I would have come to escort you."

"Last visit... you said?"

"Oh? Was that not you? I heard you entered Student Milia's room about four days ago."

"...I see. In any case, I'd like to meet with Student Milia."

"Excuse me? Isn't Student Milia with you?"

"Pardon?"

"She vanished from her room four days ago without notice, so I assumed she'd been out on fieldwork because of the scholarship... Wait. Surely not—?"

"May I have the key to her room?"

"H-here!"

I set aside the revelation that I'd apparently visited four days ago.

Milia had been absent from her dorm room for four days? And when I'd woken up, she hadn't been in the Finance Director's office either?

That meant only one thing.

'She saw me sleeping and decided to take an unauthorized leave of absence?!'

Now I understood why Milia hadn't woken me. She hadn't come to work in the first place! Was this why the ancestors had preferred live-in slaves over those who commuted?

Since things had come to this, I might as well convert the storage room next to the office into a night-duty room for Milia. If she didn't like it, she could become Finance Department equipment. If she had a problem with that, she could forfeit her position in the Wish Order.

The dorm matron, apparently sharing my sentiments, hastily fetched the key. I took it immediately and headed to Milia's room on the top floor.

"Have you entered her room previously?"

"No, I knocked and even looked through the window, but she wasn't there... I avoid entering students' rooms without cause."

Then I had no such issue. It wasn't a student's room — it was a slave's room.

Dispensing entirely with the need to knock, I slotted the key into the handle and threw the door open.

BANG!

"Student Milia!"

"Milia...?"

"............."

Inside the room was, well... I knew full well that girls' dorm rooms didn't actually match the pristine, orderly fantasy, but even so, the state of this one was excessive. Had she been fighting in here? She seriously needed to tidy up.

But above all, Milia was sitting on the bed.

Not that I had any intention of interrogating the matron over it.

"No — Student Milia!"

"Adam Caines, you—"

"Where are you hurt that badly?! And what in the world is this knife wound?!"

"......?"

No.

Who had damaged our Finance Department slave's labor capacity? At least it was on her face — what if it had been her hands?! Which bastard did this?!