An Unwelcome Shadow
I couldn't shake the lingering discomfort of having gone against Inji Ernen's wishes, but that didn't mean I would push Julia away. No matter the reason, nothing could take priority over the girls—including Julia—in my eyes. Even if it invited danger to me personally. Above all, I genuinely enjoyed the time I spent with Julia. Even if it wasn't the form I truly desired, being able to bring her even a little joy was enough. For that reason, today as well, I had planned to take Julia on a tour around the inside of the Academy.
But then.
“Senior.”
A voice called out to me. It was a familiar one.
'It's Elion.'
I immediately recognized the owner of the voice. At the same time, a sense of gladness washed over me. With everything that had been happening lately, I hadn't had a proper conversation with Elion. I had helped Elion and his party during the 'Knight of the Lake' incident, but I'd been hiding my identity at the time, so there hadn't been any chance to talk. I'd been thinking it was about time to check in on what he was up to, and here we were, running into each other.
With that faint warmth in my chest, I turned my head toward Elion.
'…Huh?'
I froze for a moment. Elion's face was chillingly cold.
'…What's going on?'
I found myself slightly flustered. After all, it was an expression I'd never seen before. Even in the game, I'd never witnessed Elion make a face like that. No matter the situation, Elion had always maintained his composure. Even when deep anger welled up in his chest, he had never expressed it in such a way. And yet here he was, wearing exactly that expression.
'Did something unpleasant happen?'
Or perhaps something serious had occurred. Worry naturally rose within me.
“What are you doing?”
Elion asked abruptly. Even that question felt unlike him, and so did his tone. Someone might call it ordinary, but considering the speaker was Elion, it came across as strangely stiff—almost aggressive.
Startled, I still answered his question.
“Ah… I'm in the middle of showing the Saintess around the Academy.”
It was a calm statement of fact, without a single lie. There was no reason to hide it.
“Is that so?”
Upon hearing my words, Elion shifted his gaze. His blue eyes moved away from me and toward the person standing at my side.
Julia, who stood there quietly.
At that moment.
'Hmm?'
I doubted my own eyes. For a split second, I thought I saw hostility flicker in Elion's gaze.
'…I must have seen it wrong.'
I quickly shook my head. It was impossible. At least when it came to Elion. This was Elion—the protagonist who seemed as if he had stepped straight out of a painting, righteous and fair. He almost never directed negative emotions toward others, and even then, only when the other party was clearly a villain. And yet, this Elion was harboring hostility toward Julia of all people? It was unthinkable.
Convinced that I had definitely seen something wrong, I shook my head once more and looked into Elion's eyes again. Sure enough, there wasn't the slightest trace of hostility in them.
'Of course.'
It seemed I had indeed been mistaken.
“So, what brings you here?”
Now relieved, I asked Elion. In response, he said,
“Nothing much. I was just passing by and saw you, Senior, so I came over to say hello.”
He answered casually. I nodded. This was the usual Elion. His expression had already returned to normal as well.
“I see?”
As I nodded in relief,
“You said you were showing the Saintess around the Academy?”
Elion suddenly asked. I readily nodded.
“That's right.”
At my answer, Elion smiled the same way he always did and said,
“Would it be alright if I joined you?”
“What?”
It was an unexpected question. But then,
'Well, why not?'
The thought crossed my mind. There was no harm in having one more person. If it were someone awkward, that would be different, but since it was Elion, it didn't matter. In fact, it might even be an opportunity.
I had once said that the talents of the girls, including Julia, were the greatest in this world. While there was some favoritism mixed in, it was also an undeniable truth. Their talents were real. Even if one scoured the entire world, there would be no one with talent surpassing theirs.
However, that didn't mean no one came close. There was exactly one person. I knew someone whose talent rivaled theirs.
None other than Elion.
It wasn't certain, but Elion's talent was probably on par with the three girls. When I thought about it, it made sense. After all, Elion was the protagonist destined to save this world. In the game, he had even grown strong enough to defeat the villainesses they became.
In that sense, this could be considered an opportunity. The phrase birds of a feather flock together came to mind. Perhaps Elion, with talent equal to theirs, could become friends with the girls including Julia. Considering what lay ahead, it wouldn't be a bad thing. The protagonist growing close to the Saintesses could only lead to positive outcomes.
Moreover, Elion wasn't just talented—he possessed an outstanding character as well. He would be the perfect person to become the girls' friend.
However.
Even if I wanted that, I couldn't simply accept Elion's suggestion without thought. Right now, Julia's opinion was the most important.
“That's what he says. Is that alright with you, Saintess?”
At my question,
“……”
Julia looked at me once, then shifted her gaze to Elion.
“……”
“……”
Their eyes met. Elion was smiling, and Julia wore her usual expressionless face. Both of them were acting completely normal.
…On the surface, at least.
Clearly, nothing was out of the ordinary, yet for some reason, I felt an inexplicable sense of unease. A feeling that something bad was about to happen… No, that something bad had already happened. And that unease only grew stronger the longer their locked gazes remained unmoving.
I was about to say something when Julia finally looked away. Then, she gave a faint nod. It was permission.
With a slightly awkward expression, I nodded as well.
“…Then, let's go together.”
And so, the Academy tour resumed in a strangely tense atmosphere.
Thankfully, my anxiety did not become reality. Even with Elion's sudden addition, the Academy tour proceeded more smoothly than I had expected.
“……”
Julia was the same as always.
“Senior, I want to try that too!”
“I want to do that as well!”
“Wow! So this place exists!”
And Elion, for his part, showed his usual bright and unburdened self. …No, he actually seemed even brighter than usual. It was a bit strange, but certainly not a bad thing.
In any case, contrary to the unease I had felt, the day's tour came to an end in a warm atmosphere.
“Then let's call it a day here.”
Watching the sun set as if leaving work for the day, I said.
“……”
“Shall we?”
Both Julia and Elion expressed their agreement. And so, another day came to a close.
“See you next time, Senior!”
Elion waved at Kyle with a bright smile. Kyle waved back without a word and left. Once his figure had completely disappeared from sight,
“……”
The smile that had been on Elion's face vanished in an instant. A hard, expressionless mask took its place. Anyone who knew the usual Elion would feel a strong sense of alienation at the sight. After all, Elion had never once shown such an expression in front of others.
In the blink of an eye, the atmosphere around him changed completely, as if he had become an entirely different person.
With that sunken expression, Elion slowly turned his gaze. Toward Julia, who stood quietly staring in the direction Kyle had vanished.
Perhaps sensing his stare, Julia slowly turned her head.
“……”
“……”
Their eyes met. A heavy silence settled over them. After some time, Elion spoke.
“…I'd like to join you like this from now on. Would that be alright?”
His voice was calm and even. Yet for some reason, it sounded icy cold. Perhaps because there wasn't a single trace of warmth in the eyes with which Elion looked at Julia.
“……”
In response, Julia simply stared at him silently.
Would it be fine if they continued to travel together from now on? It was a question that required no thought. No, it was a question she wouldn't have paid any attention to in the first place. She wouldn't have cared one way or the other.
But the current Julia could not do that. She was clearly bothered by the author's suggestion. Why? Why was she paying attention to such a proposal?
Julia fell into thought. In truth, it was a strange situation. If it had been the old her, this situation would never have arisen. A tour of the Academy? The old her would never have taken interest in such a thing. Whether it was food, games, or tourist spots—none of it would have caught her interest.
So why had she suddenly become interested in such things? Why had she refused the prince's proposal and accepted the man's?
She already knew the reason. It was simple. Because she was interested in him. Because she had taken an interest in that man, Kyle Berwen.
But if one were to nitpick, that itself was the most unusual part. The very fact that she had taken interest in someone.
Why had that happened? Why had she become interested in that man? Was it because of the unique way he looked at her? Because his eyes looked so incredibly sad? No, that wasn't it.
At this very moment, Julia finally understood the reason. The reason she had felt interest in the man and had sought him out of her own accord.
'…He resembles him.'
That man resembled him. He resembled Gunter. Not in appearance. If one only considered looks, there wasn't the slightest resemblance between them. But somehow, they were alike. Even Julia couldn't clearly express why she felt that way. She simply felt it.
Julia wanted to know. What part of the man resembled Gunter? Why did she feel such familiarity from him?
Therefore.
“…I don't like it.”
Julia did not want an interloper getting in the way.