The Archmage's Chaotic Arrival
I'd been rolling around on the fluffy bed, killing time, for quite a while now.
I had no idea exactly how long it had been.
Carsella had brought me a clock, but the problem was it was an analog one. In this sunless basement, distinguishing morning from afternoon was impossible, and I wasn't even sure if the number of times I'd slept and woken actually equaled full days.
"...How many days has it been since I got here?"
At my question, Carsella, who was brushing her hair in front of the mirror, answered in her soft voice.
"It's been exactly a week today."
I see. So today marked day seven in the basement.
Time had passed faster than I'd thought.
"So, what are you up to?"
Today's Carsella was unusually busy. She'd glance into the mirror over and over, check my hair and clothes, and neatly set out cookies and black tea on the tea table.
"Preparing to welcome a guest."
"Ah, she's arriving today, huh."
Finally, the grand mage, Elisiel Barentia, was coming.
Honestly, I was a little excited. She had no illustration in the game, but there was that description: 'a peerless beauty with golden hair and green eyes.'
"They say she's an incredible beauty."
At my offhand comment, Carsella's brushing stopped.
"...Is that so?"
A subtle reaction from Carsella.
I quickly added,
"But you're the prettiest, Carsella."
"Oh, no, that's not... I didn't say that hoping for compliments like..."
"I fell for her at first sight in the game. Silver hair and blue eyes are the meta, after all. I stuck with that one game for six years just to see you smile, you know?"
I even made a V-sign with both hands for emphasis.
The effect was tremendous.
Carsella, who had zero resistance to praise, turned red all the way to her neck in an instant. She set down her brush and covered her face with both hands.
"Whew..."
"Is it that embarrassing...?"
She took deep breaths for a while, but the flush didn't fade.
"B-before you praise me... give me a little time to prepare my heart, Flora. It's not good for my heart."
Carsella fanned her reddened cheeks with her hand.
Right then—
Bang!
The heavy basement door flew open roughly.
"Carsella!"
Urgent footsteps rushed in.
The grand mage of the demon world, Elisiel Barentia.
She was definitely worthy of being called a beauty.
After spending days with Carsella, my standards for beauty had risen a lot, but even so, she was stunning.
Just... that pretty face was currently twisted in a scowl.
She panted roughly, clearly having run here in a hurry. Her hair was a mess, and fresh sweat beaded on her forehead.
Elisiel's eyes scanned the basement wildly before finally locking onto Carsella.
"Carsella...! In the end, something's happened to your head after all...!"
"...What?"
Carsella asked in disbelief, but Elisiel seemed not to hear. She clutched her face with both hands and muttered in a heartbroken voice.
"I should have been firmer."
"Elisiel. I don't know what misunderstanding you're having, but..."
"I knew your obsession with your sister was abnormal...! I was a fool not to want to fight with you and let things slide until it came to this...!"
"Elisiel, I'm perfectly normal."
"Don't worry, Carsella! On the honor of the grand mage Elisiel Barentia, I'll restore you to normal."
"You're ignoring me again."
Carsella let out a short sigh and forcibly pressed a cup of prepared black tea into Elisiel's hand.
"Drink this and calm down."
"Do I look like I have time to sip tea right now?! This isn't the time. We need a mental magic specialist now..!"
"Excuse me."
Finally, unable to stand it, I spoke up first.
Elisiel's gaze slowly turned to me.
Our eyes met.
"Nice to meet you."
I even waved friendly-like.
"...?"
Elisiel's head tilted with a creak.
Crash!
The teacup in her hand shattered on the floor.
"Whoa, a normal reaction for once."
"...Flora, you say that like my reaction was abnormal."
"Honestly, it was weird. She's way more normal right now."
"Hmm..."
Then Elisiel shot toward me like lightning.
"Y-you're talking?!"
"You scared me."
"S-say more! Anything, just one more word!"
"Whatever."
"She's actually talking?!"
"Eek."
Suddenly, Elisiel's hands grabbed my cheeks. She turned my face this way and that, then swallowed hard in disbelief.
"Is this an illusion? No, there's no illusion magic that could fool me..."
"Hey, let go of my face."
Squish squish.
"Elisiel."
Carsella's voice turned icy.
"Hands off my little sister."
Elisiel reluctantly let go, but her eyes gleamed suspiciously.
***
A moment later, we sat facing each other across the round table.
Carsella sat right next to me, and the grand mage took the seat opposite. Carsella made no effort to hide her open wariness toward the guest.
"Why am I the one being treated like a threat?"
A grumble that sounded genuinely aggrieved came from her.
"Because of what you just did."
"That was... I was just surprised."
She scratched her neck awkwardly.
"So... an outside soul possessed Flora's body?"
"That's what Flora said."
"Carsella doesn't seem to fully believe it."
"No, I do believe you."
"Doesn't look like it."
"Your waking up mattered more than my surprise."
Elisiel, chin propped on her hand, stared piercingly at me.
"...This is completely ridiculous."
"That bad?"
"It's beyond common sense."
She stated it with absolute certainty.
"I've told Carsella this many times... Flora Alberich was born without a soul, so there was no room for treatment."
"...Yeah. You said it would be more merciful to let her go than force her to live in pain."
"That was the truth back then."
The air grew heavy in an instant.
To avoid a long silence, I spoke first.
"Is it that weird?"
"Weird doesn't cover it—it's unprecedented."
Elisiel answered promptly, quick on the uptake.
"You call it possession, but a soulless body can't be possessed in the first place."
I blinked.
"Huh? Wouldn't an empty body be easier?"
"No."
She tapped the table with her finger and continued explaining.
"Being born without a soul doesn't mean just an empty vessel. It means the vessel to hold a soul wasn't even formed. That's why no other soul can enter. That's normal."
"...So what about me now?"
"I said it's impossible."
The grand mage leaned in, gazing intently at me.
"Even if you handed me 'Flora Alberich's soul' right now, no one—not even me—could integrate it this perfectly. But you... your soul and body are perfectly fused."
"...So what do you think? Am I the real Flora Alberich?"
"I don't know."
A frank, honest answer.
"Whether you're truly a complete outsider, or Flora's lost soul returned, or something entirely different... I can't say for sure."
Even to an expert, my condition was a mystery.
And it seemed to please this grand mage greatly. Her green eyes sparkled as she looked at me.
"Elisiel, don't look at my sister like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you're about to stuff her in a sack and kidnap her."
"Busted."
"...Elisiel."
"I won't. I know how much you treasure Flora."
She grinned slyly and raised both hands in mock surrender.
"Anyway, now that we've grasped the situation, I have a favor to ask."
Carsella said.
Elisiel nodded as if understanding.
"Lifting the seal, right? Got it. I'll prepare right away."
"...That's unexpected. I figured you'd object."
"Object? Why would I?"
She reacted as if she genuinely couldn't comprehend.
"I can't just leave a miracle like this rotting in a basement."
She suddenly grinned wickedly and looked at me.
"Hey, Flora~ Once the seal's off, wanna come with big sis? I'll give you some really tasty candy! Candy~"
"...Am I being kidnapped right now?"
"Pfft, kidnapped? Don't say such scary things. It's an observation tour. Observation tour."
Elisiel beamed.
No matter how I looked at it, that wasn't the face of someone joking.