“Your Majesty.”
As Acella’s heart raced…
The sixth Emperor of the Empire just passed away before her eyes, leaving his last decree.
It was an undeniably heroic end.
Everyone in the Imperial Family had suspected the time was near for the Emperor’s era to end.
Even Heike had been discreetly preparing for the succession since the state funeral, considering the Emperor’s health.
But no one expected it to be today.
Acella bowed her head in respect. Heike, George, and Lau did the same.
He was her father, fifty years older than her. Due to rank and status, the sense of family felt faint for Acella.
However, a corner of her heart felt warm.
“All troops, advance!”
After a moment of silence, the knights rallied, displaying their fighting spirit like never before to fulfill his last command.
—
After the battle, Acella looked for Lars.
She felt anxious seeing the devastated town of the Duchy, fearing something terrible might have happened to him.
Walking the streets with only minimal protection, she soon realized the scenery looked familiar.
“Have I been here before?”
She pondered deeply, but it didn’t seem like it.
With each step, her heart raced more and more.
Turning a corner, beyond the crumbling houses…
In the midst of the ruins, she spotted bright, shining hair.
She rushed toward him in joy but came to an abrupt stop.
Having seen the hero standing before her, Acella finally understood.
This was the scene she’d witnessed with clairvoyance.
“Teacher Gothberg.”
She knew what she would say next.
“Come with me.”
Until now, her clairvoyance had never exactly repeated itself in reality. That meant her magic had become more refined, but there was no time to rejoice.
“If we go together, does that mean a hero party?”
“Yes. It will be a tough journey, but… I promise.”
Lishe firmly replied to Lars.
“I will definitely protect you, Teacher.”
Acella covered her mouth and hid behind a wall.
The thought of Lars venturing into that dangerous place was unbearable.
Of course, there was no healer with skills surpassing his in the continent. He had proven it time and again, both in the Inner Palace and at the martial arts conference.
He was more than just the party’s healer; he might even be selected as a saint.
Even if it came to that, there was no way Lars should set out as a hero.
“Lars is my attending physician.”
Acella would not let him go, even if the world crumbled around her.
…But why?
She wanted to jump out at any moment to interrupt their conversation, but her feet would not budge.
“…Ugh.”
Only then did Acella realize why she had fled from the future, no, from her present.
She didn’t want to hear Lars’s answer.
If she heard whatever he was about to respond with, the future would be set in stone.
If Lars said he understood…
If she heard those words…
There would be no turning back.
It would be better to block her ears and not witness at all, so perhaps the timeline wouldn’t solidify.
“I’ll trick Lars later. If I keep him from talking, only the timeline where Lars stays by my side will remain.”
She would choose which timeline would become the true history with her own hands.
With a single-minded determination not to lose him, Acella turned her gaze and began to run.
“Royal Princess!”
The knights on guard were startled as they chased after her. Acella ran without looking back.
Thud! She stumbled over debris, falling embarrassingly. Quickly, she stood up and rubbed her stinging knees.
“…Ouch.”
Blood seeped out from the scratched place.
“Are you alright?”
“I’ll call the attending physician.”
Acella extended her hand to the guard, refusing.
…She wanted treatment.
She missed Lars’s touch.
Still, she endured it.
Hoping that he made the right choice, Acella made her way toward the fortress.
—
—
—
—
—
Warning
• You are at a crossroads.
• This choice cannot be reversed.
—
—
A message appeared in the status window.
From now on, my answer to Lishe will have a significant impact on the good ending that will occur in the future.
It was the same as receiving an offer for an adventure from Gishta.
Lishe’s request to fight together as the healer of the hero party.
A path to become a renowned hero recorded in history for future generations.
Lishe calmly awaited my answer.
Her outstretched hand trembled slightly, indicating that she was secretly nervous.
It was likely a request she had given considerable thought.
She would undoubtedly grow upright.
Never knowing despair, she spreads hope and courage around her—truly the ideal hero.
There might be times when she feels frustrated, but deep down, she wouldn’t abandon the light.
One day, she might become the Charles I once knew, and together we could lift our cups.
—
The conversation stopped, and pitter-patter. The small flames crackled, filling the silence.
In front of me, the status window displayed another message.
—
—
—
• 20% of the ending remains.
• Clues for your choice will be provided.
• One [Ending Viewing Pass] has been awarded.
• Experience your desired ending only once.
—
—
“An viewing pass.”
Is it a kind of future vision?
If I use it, I’ll know what happens in the good ending, which will help me significantly in my selection.
“Not needed right now.”
I swiped away the status window.
Whether I saw the future or not, my answer here was already determined.
Without hesitation, I spoke to Lishe.
“I cannot go with you, Hero.”
Lishe smiled bitterly and lowered her arm.
“I knew you would respond like that.”
“Did you?”
“Yes. There was no way you would choose me over the Royal Princess.”
“Was it that obvious?”
“No, it wasn’t obvious.”
Lishe teased, sticking her tongue out.
Well, she was spot on.
Currently, the person I most wanted to experience an ending with was none other than Acella.
“Teacher, I have one request instead.”
“Sure.”
Lishe leaned closer to me, her hair fluttering in the wind.
“Can I call you ‘older brother’?”
“Out of the blue?”
“Well, I’ve always wanted to call you that. My sister always speaks informally to me, and I feel a bit jealous. But since I’m younger, calling by name seems off.”
“Well, she didn’t know my age at first. But sure.”
That much should be fine.
“Feel free to call me that. I already have a younger sister.”
“Okay, Lars-oppah.”
“I didn’t mean for you to speak informally.”
Lishe seemed delighted, showing off her teeth with a bright smile.
She loosened her body and clenched her fist.
“Leave the Demon King’s army suppression to me. I’ll fight hard enough to make up for the older brother who ran away out of fear.”
“I trust you.”
“Oh, but can we find another healer as good as you? Wasn’t that person from the Kingdom of Law? Will they come as a saint?”
While we were talking, a figure of a pure white garb was hopping toward us from a distance.
“Teacher Gothberg!”
It was Ambrosia.
“Sister, are you injured?”
“I’m fine. But more importantly, the Emperor…”
“Thank you for your hard work. Is there anything I can help with?”
“Matters concerning the Emperor are being prepared in the Imperial Palace. I was searching for you as there’s work to be done in the Moonlight Palace as well. Hmm? What’s that?”
I put the gown that the Pope from the Kingdom of Law had dropped over Ambrosia’s head.
It was the veil of the previous saint.
Swoosh!!!
Suddenly, it felt as if daylight had pierced through dark clouds, and massive divine power poured down from the sky, illuminating Ambrosia.
“Wh-what in the world is this?!”
“Congratulations on being selected as the saint, Sister.”
“The girl is a… What on earth did you just say?!”
Ambrosia’s mouth dropped open in shock. Standing alone in the white light amidst the dark weather felt like a one-person play on stage.
I turned to Lishe and said, “You can take her now.”
Lishe’s expression went blank as she stuck her tongue out like a puppy. She burst into laughter, looking at Ambrosia who was flailing her arms.
“Thank you, saint!”
“N-no, Hero, that’s not it! The girl… I have no clue what’s happening!”
In a daze, Ambrosia extended her hand.
The two shook hands.
Thinking about it, I’m not too bad at greeting either.
—
—
—
—
[Path of the Hero]
• You are human 0%
• Hero and Saint 0%
• The ending has been deleted.
—
[Path of Desire]
• The attending physician is ■■■ ■ and ■■■■
25% → 51%
—
Checking the messages in the status window, I took a step toward the last remaining good ending.
There was something I needed to discuss with Acella.
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