Confrontation (2)
Leon sometimes had dreams in which the story continued.
In the dream, Leon was nothing short of a hero.
He entered a grand school built like a saint, met various friends, fought monsters and suspicious groups, and solved incidents.
He was betrayed by the blond boy he thought was a friend and fought him.
He felt sorrow over the true identity and words of the pastel-haired girl who sometimes mysteriously appeared.
And there was an extremely pitch-black... something so terrifying that one couldn't even bear to look at it.
Yet the hero who sealed that existence and protected the world's peace.
In the dream, Leon always held a white staff. Since it's a dream, when you wake up you forget it, so I don't know why I obtained it or for what reason.
After all, it's a dream. I just need to be satisfied with the free, solid, and reliable self-image.
And when I woke up, it was always empty, just as it always was.
I couldn't even imagine the daily life in the dream, nor did I have the energy to enjoy it.
Escapism. Leon defined it that way. When I look back on when I started having this dream, it began after my mother became 'that'.
In the dream, my mother was fine. She was always smiling, sometimes strict, and the vivid back view of her stirring delicious stew remains.
Really, I miss that time.
“ ... ”
Anyway, dreams are dreams. It wasn't the time to worry about it. I had to study to make medicine.
I worked hard, prepared, and successfully applied to the best magic school. The tuition was somehow provided by my benefactor.
But when I came to Stille, which I had been expecting, it was so similar to the place from the dream that I thought it strange.
'That must be...'
While walking past the cafeteria next to the school, I saw a familiar female student and male student and was startled.
One was a pitiful being whose life had been completely ruined by a heretic, and the other was the villain who tormented the people and Leon in the dream.
'But what...'
It was an absurd scene. A woman in an indescribable outfit rubbing her legs on a man from the top during broad daylight. The only word that came to mind was "indecent."
In the dream, that person hadn't been like that. That relationship hadn't been like that. Rather, one side had driven the other to death.
Thinking about it, Leon shook his head.
It's a dream, so if thinking logically, here they were just promising to marry normally. I couldn't judge the reality of the characters from the dream. It would be rude to them.
Then, his gaze naturally drifted to the woman with purple eyes next to him... no, to the man. This person isn't from the dream, I thought. The eye color and the constant glances. Curious, I looked at him and immediately apologized.
And the entrance ceremony.
I experienced a shocking event.
I could dismiss the unfamiliar school or familiar people as coincidence.
But explaining how I actually obtained the staff I had seen in the dream was difficult.
The Leon in the dream who met various people through the staff and continued the battle to save the world.
Does the real me also say that I will continue that future? Is fate guiding me along that path?
' ... What is that important.'
No matter how I thought, it was a dream. Just like those two characters had shown completely different appearances from the dream. Leon couldn't become a hero like in the dream.
Originally, even if they gave me something now, what could I do?
Better not to say it. Better not to.
It's not teasing people.
Just that.
The staff was immediately confiscated by Stille. It was really fortunate for Leon. Because I had wanted to return it anyway, it wasn't confiscation. It was necessary for those who were much freer and more righteous than me.
But weirdly, they returned it. It was almost forcibly handed over. And they started following me around, bothering me.
"Nothing works..."
Coming to the school to study quietly, I became the biggest issue in an instant, giving me a headache.
Hearing that murmur, Sugar raised her voice with 'Aah?'. Currently, Sugar seems a bit off because she's separated from Ryly. Ian next to her comforted her.
Then, Leon, who was about to say something, lowered his head.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. That friend of mine. Recently, strange things keep happening, and I've been acting immaturely. I've been staring inappropriately before. I apologize."
"Ah, no! It's fine!"
Ian immediately waved her hand.
Basically a polite young man. Recently, strange things have been happening, so it's just that my mental state has been difficult.
"Then... can I ask a question?"
"Yes. Please."
If I don't listen, she'll keep chasing me, so I decided to listen and end it cleanly. There's a distinguished person here, and moreover, there's a connection from the dream, so it was hard to drive her away.
Soon, Sugar opened her mouth.
"It's nothing special. I'll say it directly. I seem to have a bad feeling about the staff. It was a bit worrying."
"... Is this an interrogation?"
"No way. I don't have that qualification. I'm really asking out of personal curiosity."
"I don't know what answer you're expecting from me."
While saying that, glancing at Ian, it seemed to mean how can I answer honestly with the His Majesty here.
Ian stood up from her seat.
"Um... I'll go, so talk comfortably."
Leon looked up at Ian like that. Then let out a small breath.
"... No. Please sit. It seems this situation wasn't to my liking. Please forgive my rudeness."
"No, it's fine... Stop apologizing. Just treat me like a friend of the same age. Answer or speak comfortably. Really, it's fine."
"Is this an order?"
"... Please."
"I'll try. Then, I'll answer the question."
After Ian sat down and the surroundings were somewhat settled, Leon started talking.
"Allow me to guess what you're worried about... I'm not a heretic. Rather, I hope they disappear without a trace in this world."
Sugar accepted the favorable answer.
"Then, using that staff to directly do it?"
"How many people can actually do what they wish for?"
"That's true."
"Personally, there are more important things for me than that. First, studying comes first. And I'm not a devout believer either. I respect the Saint's achievements and all the good deeds the Saint Church does now. But... that's it."
"You respect it, but don't believe it deeply?"
Leon didn't answer. It seemed like he was watching Ian's cue. Ian, who goes around with Sugar who sleeps every prayer time, doesn't care much, but Leon wouldn't know that fact.
"That's understandable. But why did you frown at the expression that day?"
"Did you see that? What about that... I didn't have any big bad feelings. I just got emotionally agitated alone thinking it was too late."
"Why? What's too late?"
"... It's about family matters. Do I have to talk about this?"
"If it's hard to talk about, it's fine."
"Just... I came too far compared to when I wished for strength. Have you ever had regret like 'If this had happened then...'"
Of course. Anyone would have thought about it.
When something ends disappointingly, later thinking of solutions.
Like losing earphones and buying new ones, but finding the old one under the bed. Um, this isn't it? Anyway.
Regrets common in daily life.
Nodding his head, Leon opened his mouth again.
"If you've had that regret, it's fine. Just think of it as that kind of thing. Has your curiosity been somewhat satisfied?"
"Somewhat. It was a strange question, thank you for cooperating. As a return gift, I'll buy you something to eat. Choose whatever you want."
I took her to the cafe for this, but Leon shook his head and stood up.
"No. I'm tired, so I'll go in."
Since the rough understanding is done, it's fine to go. Sugar nodded.
It seems he's not a villain. His polite attitude is the same as in the original. A bit more cynical, but it seems like an influence from experiencing some event.
'Family matters...'
A family with only the mother. Unlike the original, what happened to her? Or perhaps the father from back then.
Family events change personality. I understand.
If Sugar had experienced something like losing Ryly when she was young, what would she do? Or if Ryly lost Sugar.
In some worlds, the saint's apostle who is normally righteous would not believe in the god and lose interest in saving the world in a world where the family suffered a misfortune.
Family is that important an existence. They are happy with family happiness and sad with family sadness. It's good to be together, warm, and miss when far away. There are families worse than others in the world, but in general situations, yes.
" ... "
Ryly idiot.
Suddenly, the thought came.
Sugar's family. The precious younger brother. Now a young man much taller than Sugar.
I was about to gather the information I heard today since there were no more classes and think about it, but bad thoughts kept coming up.
His happiness would be Sugar's happiness, so why do bad thoughts keep coming?
Bad heart.
Bad feelings.
Sugar's expression started disappearing again.
After one incident ended, the scene I saw earlier came to mind. Ryly, who was surrounded by women and making a fuss— if I make a face, I didn't, but anyway—came to mind. The feeling of internal magic boiling.
Meanwhile, Leon greeted Ian and left the cafe. Ian watched his back for a long time, then turned her head to the seat he was sitting on.
" ... Eh?"
There was something white, so I wondered what it was and picked it up, and it was a white handkerchief.
"Sugar. There's a handkerchief here-"
"Annoying..."
"What?"
Muttering. Strange sound, and when I looked, a gasp came out. A fierce aura completely different from her usual gentle appearance. It seemed like she could harm someone just with her momentum.
"Ah, um... Sugar. Stay here quietly. I'll go get a handkerchief..."
Run away. I can't handle this. It seemed okay, but it got worse. I don't know what, but the button must have been pressed.
Ian went behind Sugar and chased after Leon.
'Should I make a suggestion to the Stille side... Please ease the public indecency penalty conditions...'
Even in this situation, Ian is thinking of her friend. Even though she said to treat her as a student, when using power, she has to use it. If I act stiffly, I can't do anything.
'But still... Can the His Majesty make such a suggestion...'
Lots of worries.
Anyway, the couple is falling apart. The problem is them. They should just get along normally, why are they fighting. It's absurd that even the fight is because they don't want to be apart.
Thinking while walking quickly, I saw Leon's back from afar.
"Leon!"
When I called the name, he turned around. His pitch-black eyes filled with melancholy looked at Ian.
I swallowed my breath. When I first saw those eyes, I was a bit surprised. It's the aftereffect of that time. Something that felt like it hit my heart directly.
" ... Your Highness."
I thought I could call by name instead of title.
Approaching with the thought that I had to say this while handing over the handkerchief.
Then, Leon suddenly opened his eyes wide and ran to grab Ian's wrist.
"Ah?"
Soon, a car passed by the place where Ian was standing. A vehicle made of wood and iron with wheels. A magic stone glowing faintly from the exposed power device is the characteristic of the moving means.
I was crossing the main road while thinking other things and couldn't pay attention to the surroundings. But this level of 'escort' would somehow help.
Still, since he saved me, I have to greet.
"T-t-t-t-thank you..."
My words came out strangely from the slight surprise.
The large hand of Leon that was holding my wrist was bothersome or somehow I was conscious of the close face. None of those things.
"Are you okay?"
The low voice echoing in my ear was all of it. Just, startled, my heart was beating. This world is not a romance novel. It's a world far from me.
"Ah... Yeah. I'm fine."
"I'm glad. When crossing the main road, be careful with your surroundings... Ah, sorry. Forgive my rudeness--"
"It's fine. Stop apologizing..."
"Sorry, no, understood."
Ian smiled softly while looking at that figure. A bit stiff, but not bad. The question from Sugar would be bothersome, but he answered seriously.
From the first impression. When our eyes met, he immediately apologized. It was the first time among the many students I had met eyes with.
" ... You can call me by name. Ian."
To such Leon, I said boldly and handed over the handkerchief.
From today on, you're my friend.
There's a connection through the staff, and I just saved you. It's a personal favor. A favor as a friend.
The His Majesty who always allows names to people I like. Showing that personality, I smiled refreshingly. The slightly folded purple eyes give an attractive handsome face. Of course, the lively blushing cheeks fit 'beautiful girl' much better than 'handsome man'.
Watching that face for a while, Leon soon lowered his head.
" ... The handkerchief. Thank you."
After greeting like that, he picked up the handkerchief and turned around immediately.