A Leash Would Be Enough
It could even be considered no more than putting on a leash. Sena’s healing ability had always been the subject of endless rumors. It was only natural—how could someone who wasn’t even a priest wield healing magic superior to any clergyman? Everyone was curious about the secret, yet Sena never offered an explanation. He would simply wear an ambiguous smile and slip away.
As time flowed on, talk of the method itself gradually faded among the academy students. After all, only priests cared about the art of saving lives. Instead, people focused on Sena as a person. They loved him for offering help to anyone without the slightest prejudice. No one tried to gauge the weight he carried on his shoulders—not even Silvia, who believed she stood relatively close to him.
Now she finally understood how he performed those extraordinary treatments. It came at the cost of Sena consuming his own lifespan.
“Ta-da. Candy. I’ll give you one.”
Sena, hoping to lift Silvia’s spirits, held out the sweet with a bright smile. Silvia, already utterly exhausted, stared at him with hollow eyes. How could this man still smile like that?
The sight filled her with such sorrow and frustration that her words came out sharp.
“...I don’t need it. I won’t take candy from a liar.”
“Still going on about that? I’m really going to get angry now.”
Sena widened his eyes in a fierce expression. It only came across as adorable. Silvia lowered her head and murmured.
“Please take it back.”
“Take what back?”
“The lifespan you gave me. Take it back. I was meant to die pathetically from hydra venom. Saving me that way doesn’t make me happy at all—”
Sena shoved the candy into her mouth. He clasped his hands behind his back and grinned.
“How is it?”
“...Sweet.”
“Good. It suits your taste. Now let’s head over there.”
Smiling, Sena took her hand and led her away. This had been the pattern ever since they left the order. No matter how persistently Silvia asked, Sena refused to answer. He only offered awkward smiles. Today, he insisted he simply wanted to enjoy himself, dragging his ailing body from place to place—eating sweet desserts, throwing darts, haggling over things he didn’t even need. When he caught a street con artist’s scam and grabbed the man’s arm, Silvia had been delighted to see him clap in admiration.
But it wasn’t fun.
No, that was a lie. It was fun, which made it not fun at all. Every smile, every bit of warmth, every kindness Sena showed today only hurt more because she knew how little time remained.
“It was short, but it was fun, wasn’t it?”
In the early afternoon, Sena and Silvia stood on the rooftop of a tall building overlooking the entire capital. Silvia buried her face against her knees and mumbled.
“If you’re having that much fun… can’t you just live a little longer?”
The tears she had been holding back finally slipped free.
“I’m terrified of the mornings that will come without you, senior.”
Sena gazed at her with complicated emotions. After a brief hesitation, he sat down beside her. Lacking the courage to look at her face, he spoke while staring at the sky.
“That moment will come without fail.”
Night had not yet fallen, yet faint stars already glittered overhead. They shimmered within Sena’s clear blue eyes. Silvia stared at him, transfixed. The thought that she must remember this instant forever kept her from blinking even once.
“Everyone dies eventually.”
For the first time, Sena spoke openly of death. He offered no excuses, only honesty. Then he looked at Silvia and added playfully, “I can’t deny mine is coming a bit early, though.”
He shrugged.
“What can you do? It’s fate. Still…”
Sena smiled brightly.
“I want to live joyfully until the end. It would be a waste of what little time remains to drown in gloom, wouldn’t it? That’s all I want.”
Silvia bit her lip. How could anyone facing death speak such words? Shouldn’t he be struggling desperately to survive, even if it meant becoming ugly or pathetic? Why was he still trying to comfort others at a time like this?
Who is the one who actually needs comforting right now?
The more she thought about it, the tighter her chest felt.
In a small voice, Silvia asked, “Senior… are you not afraid of dying?”
“Not particularly?”
Silvia’s trembling gaze, as always, drifted to the space above Sena’s head. Liar. The taste in her mouth turned bitter. She lowered her eyes.
Yet now she understood what he truly wanted to convey. He seemed to wish to depart quietly. He didn’t want to run away, nor did he want his death to be known. The lie that he wasn’t afraid was only because he didn’t want her to grieve like this. That was the kind of person he was—someone who cared for others to the point of foolishness.
If that is what senior wants…
Silvia was Sena’s knight. She had not sworn her oath lightly. She had chosen to bind herself because she loved this very aspect of him. She believed she must carry out that responsibility to the end.
A stronger conviction than ever filled Silvia’s eyes.
“Senior.”
“Yes?”
“…Whatever you desire, I will make it happen. I will remain by your side. Until the very moment you die.”
Silvia renewed her vow. She would never speak of what she had learned today to anyone. No matter the hatred she might face. No matter the price she would have to pay. She would act only for Sena.
“So the misunderstanding is cleared up, right?”
Sena’s eyes held a trace of anxiety. He had wanted to frame today’s events as nothing more than a misunderstanding. Silvia barely swallowed the tears rising in her throat. She smiled as brightly as she possibly could.
“Of course, senior. You’re awful, creating such strange misunderstandings.”
“Ahaha, sorry.”
It was fortunate the misunderstanding had been resolved. Another incident successfully handled today!
Still, I basically made it official that I don’t have much time left.
It was a painful truth, but unavoidable. No matter what he said, Silvia refused to believe him. He felt like the boy who cried wolf. In the end, the only way to convince her had been to reveal the real truth he had tried so hard to hide.
As expected, even after he played the recording—It’s not divine power. I don’t use that method when treating people—she hadn’t believed him. But the moment he spoke from the heart, she accepted it.
…He would probably regret it someday. Yet it was still better than becoming the most pitiful person in the world.
By the way, what kind of image do I usually give off that she immediately believed I treat people by sacrificing my own lifespan?
It was utterly absurd. Just how selfish did she think he was? Only a short while ago he had secretly eaten candy without Astria knowing.
Anyway. Now that Silvia had been comforted, it was time to handle what needed to be done.
“Right, then let’s head to the church.”
“…Why the church again?”
“Because the church is full of rotten priests! Slip them some money and they’ll happily escort you outside the capital. If necessary, we can throw in a little blackmail.”
“You still haven’t given up?”
Of course not. Giving up would erase his very reason for existing. Returning home for euthanasia—that single line was something he refused to trade for anything else of value. On the contrary, he was determined to achieve it no matter the cost.
If he abandoned it so easily, he might as well be dead right now instead of in sixty-three days.
It was the moment Sena’s resolve burned strongest.
“Yes.”
Silvia gently wrapped her arms around him from behind.
“Do whatever you want to do.”
Sena blinked, feeling her hand stroke his hair.
“Uh… yeah?”
When had she become so assertive? She even knew how to pat her senior’s head now. Sena smiled awkwardly.
“Instead.”
“…?”
“I’ll be a little greedy too.”
What exactly was she being greedy for? He wasn’t sure, but…
When it comes to Silvia, I no longer have any choice.
He had burdened her with far too much. Whatever decision she made regarding him, the ship had already sailed. All he could do was accept it humbly. It’s here, he thought.
“…Yeah. I understand.”
“You’re allowed to refuse things like this.”
Silvia gazed at him with bittersweet eyes and pulled him closer. Sena scratched the bridge of his nose.
“There are some things that can’t be helped, right?”
“Couldn’t you at least offer a little resistance?”
“I won’t. There’s no point.”
Sena stared at the ground with a faint smile. A brief silence followed.
Silvia whispered into his ear.
“Let me stay like this for a little while. Then we’ll go to the church.”
“Okay.”
“Please forgive me.”
“Hugging is fine. I don’t dislike it.”
A wind blew through—not the refreshing breeze of spring, but a cold gust announcing winter’s approach. Yet Sena felt no chill. Silvia’s warmth enveloped him completely.
He grasped the arm she had wrapped around his neck.
How much time passed?
Silvia finally released him. Yet the gesture somehow suggested she could seize him again at any moment. She spoke with her usual bright expression.
“Let’s go now, senior.”
Silvia helped him to his feet. The two walked briskly toward the church.
There were two churches in the capital. One stood at the center, the other near the slums. Though they were currently in the bustling downtown area, Sena was heading for the one closer to the slums. He calculated that the central church would be less likely to accept his request.
Smiling couples, mercenaries shouting at one another, merchants who had grown so heated during haggling that they lay sprawled on the ground—Sena took in every sight the capital had to offer. After all, he would probably never return.
Sena and Silvia left the center and moved toward the outskirts. Along their path stood the Silania Cathedral they had visited that morning.
Sena recalled the earlier conversation.
The order is not entirely beautiful.
Still, when you lose your way and don’t know what to do,
please come find us anytime. The order—no, at least Silania Cathedral—will help you as much as we can.
After all, we need to make a good impression so you might become a priest for us, right?
Priestess Ellie. She was a rare, genuine member of the clergy. He still didn’t understand why her remaining lifespan stood at forty-five days. But as that number decreased, the shape of events would likely become clearer.
I should tell Seria in advance.
By then Sena would be a true terminal case with only about twenty-three days left.
…It was disheartening that he had no choice but to rely on others again, yet it could not be helped.
“Senior.”
Just as they reached the front of Silania Cathedral, Silvia swallowed hard.
“I sense Chris senior’s presence. And this mana…”
“Hm?”
As Sena turned to her in confusion—
“Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!”
The booming voice seemed to split the heavens. Sena’s silver hair shot straight up.
“Her Majesty is nearby.”
“…!”
Sena’s decision was instantaneous. He sprinted into the cathedral, half-kicking the door open as he shouted.
“You said you’d help me earlier!”
“B-Brother?”
Ellie, who had been preparing for a baptism, jumped in surprise. The flower wreath and vial of holy water in her arms suggested she had been in the middle of a sacred rite. He felt truly sorry, but there was no time for explanations.
“Please hide me!”
In a flash, Sena crammed himself into the cleaning supply closet, curling up as tightly as possible.
“You too, Silvia!”
“Hiding is one thing, but why does it have to be this cramped—wait, there must be a better—”
Sena grabbed her arm and pulled her inside, slamming the door shut. The musty smell of old rags filled the space. A sliver of light slipped through the narrow grate.
“S-Senior, it’s too narrow.”
“Stay quiet…! And suppress your mana! At least down to my level!”
If we’re caught now, it’s over.
Had he been too complacent? He had never imagined she would come in person. What was this—Astria descending from a clear blue sky?
“Dear sisters…!”
The thoroughly flustered Ellie spoke while peering at the white bundle visible through the grate.
“You can’t do this…!”
“You’ll protect us, won’t you? You will, right? You wouldn’t abandon a lost little lamb, would you?”
“A-Abandon? I would never do anything so terrible, but please explain the situation properly.”
“A wicked emperor is trying to take me away. Please help.”
“Y-Yes?”
At the word “emperor,” Ellie’s face went blank.
What do we do? Our sister really has terrible luck.
“A wicked emperor. Did I mishear, Sir Chris?”
“Such blasphemy deserves a rather severe punishment.”
“Hmm. What would be appropriate?”
Sena’s already pale face turned ghostly white. Astria was staring directly at their hiding spot. Her hair was still damp from a recent bath; she toweled it lazily, wearing an utterly fed-up expression.
“What are you doing, my physician? Come out here and grovel this instant. Beg well enough, and I might even consider it no more than putting a leash on you.”