A Genuine Confession
After listening to Rita, I made up my mind. I would do exactly as she suggested. Honestly, it was not an easy choice. I knew all too well that the plan had next to no chance of succeeding, and the risks involved were enormous. Still, I resolved to go through with it. The reason was simple: there was no other way. No other method existed to hold on to Alice. If it made no difference whether she left or stayed, that would be one thing, but since it did, I had no choice but to use the only option available.
Even after deciding, however, I remained troubled. The question of exactly how to broach the subject weighed on me. Rita had said I should simply speak from the heart, but following that advice to the letter didn’t seem wise. From Alice’s perspective, the words would sound utterly absurd. So I hesitated, unable to take the first step.
“There’s no time!”
Rita’s urging cut through my indecision. She told me Alice looked ready to leave the Academy at any moment. In the end…
“…Haa.”
I steeled myself. I would go meet Alice. Given the nature of what I needed to say, I required time alone with her. Considering every factor, her lodging would have been ideal, but Rita ruled it out entirely. The reason was simple: I would never be able to enter. Apparently Alice had used magic to set up certain measures. With the lodging option discarded, I followed Rita’s lead to create the right circumstances.
We wandered for some time in search of a suitable location. Before long, the day before Alice’s departure from the Academy arrived.
The final lecture ended. Alice felt no particular emotion at the fact. It was only natural. She had never held the slightest interest in the Academy’s classes to begin with. No, it went beyond education. She had never taken any interest in the Academy or anything that occurred within its walls.
Therefore, the conclusion of the last lecture and her departure tomorrow stirred no regret in her at all. In that dry state of mind, she followed Rita’s guidance toward her lodging.
Then, along the way—
“……?”
Alice sensed something amiss and lifted her head. The path Rita was taking did not lead to the lodging.
“Rita, where are we going?” she asked immediately, unable to suppress her doubt. “This isn’t the way to the lodging.”
“Ah! Well, you see…”
Rita turned around. “The Academy’s management department asked you to stop by before you leave.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
Alice nodded. If that was the case, then so be it. The request was rather sudden, but not strange. After all, she had ignored the designated period and advanced her departure date; it would have been odd if such a decision hadn’t created minor complications. Without further comment, Alice continued following Rita.
Yet after more time had passed—
“Rita.”
Alice called her to a halt once more. “Are you certain we’re heading to the management department?”
She had sensed something strange again. Although she did not know the entire Academy, Alice had memorized every path she had ever walked. The route Rita now followed differed from any she remembered. Even if she hadn’t known the layout, the growing absence of people would have alerted her.
At that moment—
“Ah, as expected, the Saintess is quick to notice.”
Rita turned with an awkward smile.
“…You.”
Alice’s brows drew together. She hadn’t needed to hear the words; Rita’s expression alone told her something was afoot. Just as she prepared to demand an explanation, ready for any contingency—
“One moment, please.”
Rita stretched out a hand to stop her.
“……?”
Alice’s frown deepened.
“That person will explain everything.”
So saying, Rita pointed toward a spot in the distance.
“What in the world…”
Though she furrowed her brow at the abrupt, incomprehensible gesture, Alice followed the direction of the finger with her gaze and—
“……!”
Her face twisted into the most ferocious scowl imaginable.
“Rita, you…”
Alice whipped her head around and glared at Rita with burning intensity. Rita returned an awkward smile.
“He has something to tell you!”
With those words, she stepped back.
And then.
Step.
He advanced one pace forward. The man—Kyle Berwen.
I watched Rita withdraw. Then I saw Alice’s face. Feeling my heartbeat thunder in my chest, I took one step toward her.
Perhaps sensing my presence, Alice’s head turned in my direction once more.
“……”
Our eyes met. Her heavily furrowed expression made it clear at a glance that she despised the situation. The face alone radiated intimidation, yet what truly shook me were her eyes—eyes swirling with unpleasant emotion and raw hostility, blazing as if set aflame. Eyes that looked capable of reducing a person to ashes with nothing more than a glance.
Overwhelmed by that gaze, I simultaneously felt a sharp ache in my chest. Even now, her hostility toward me remained vividly clear. Nevertheless, having read that unmistakable enmity, I did not retreat. I could not retreat. I refused to let this opportunity slip away.
This was a chance Rita had gone to great lengths to create. Perhaps the last one I would ever receive. Therefore, I had to fulfill the purpose that had brought me here.
“What is this?” Alice demanded. Her voice, of course, carried not the slightest trace of goodwill. “What exactly are you trying to pull?”
Facing Alice as she questioned my intentions, I opened my mouth.
“I heard you will be leaving the Academy tomorrow.”
“……”
Alice’s gaze flicked briefly toward Rita before returning. “…So? What of it?” Her voice dropped. “What does that have to do with you? Or are you writhing in frustration because you failed to achieve your goal?”
Her mocking words raked across my heart, yet I continued.
“I would prefer that you not leave, Saintess.”
“……!”
Alice’s eyes widened. The reaction lasted only an instant. Her gaze sharpened again—sharper than before, burning with even greater heat.
“Don’t spout nonsense,” she hissed. “Still clinging to that pathetic greed of yours? Now you’ve set your sights on me as well? Look at you—pretending to be so pure and innocent, and in the end—”
“That is not the case.”
For the first time, I cut her off.
“……”
Facing Alice’s deepening frown, I pressed on. “As I told you before, I did not approach you with any such purpose.”
I spoke the words I had prepared. “I desire neither money, power, nor position. I harbor no impure intentions.”
Rather than fabricated reasons meant to persuade her, I chose to lay bare my genuine feelings. Rita had said it was the best approach. Any made-up motive would be seen through instantly. Fabricated reasons could never hold Alice back. Therefore, I decided to speak the truth.
“I simply wish to remain by your side, Saintess.”
“……!”
Alice’s eyes trembled. Or perhaps it was only my imagination. Regardless, I continued.
“And I only wish for your happiness, Saintess.”
Why had I lingered around her? Why had I refused to leave despite her overt hostility? Why was I trying so desperately to keep her here? If one were to summarize the reason, it came down to this: I wanted to stay at her side. I wanted her to be happy.
To achieve that, I needed to hold on to her.
Honestly, even now I held no certainty. I did not believe I possessed anything capable of changing Alice’s outlook on life. Yet I refused to hesitate. If even the faintest possibility existed, I would stake my life on it—if doing so could make her see life as even slightly worthwhile.
“You appear to be someone who finds no meaning in living, Saintess.”
I wanted to change the attitude with which she showed interest in nothing. “I wish to change that. I hope you come to feel greater interest in this world and in life itself.”
Of course—
“I do not know whether I possess such power. To be completely honest, I lack confidence as well.”
However—
“Even so, I wish to remain by your side, Saintess. I want to try. If even the slightest chance exists that you might become happy, then I will.”
These were not fabricated words. They were my honest feelings.
“……”
Having said everything I intended to say, I waited for Alice’s response. Honestly, I held little hope. Even to my own ears the words lacked persuasive power. Moreover, if the object of her hostility suddenly spoke in such a manner, she would likely scoff and walk away.
Yet as I had told myself earlier, there was no other choice. This was the only method left. Still, I could not imagine her reaction would be favorable. She might laugh in contempt, unleash a torrent of curses, shake her head and ignore me, or—if things went truly wrong—become so enraged that she would attack me on the spot.
To be truthful, nothing but worry filled me. But the die had been cast; there was no taking it back now. I waited with the anxious heart of a defendant awaiting a judge’s verdict—
—and at last, Alice’s voice reached me.
“…Enough.”
An unexpected voice, faint and trembling.