“Ugh, should we now call it the ‘Black and White Lily of the Fanggriffon’? Hmm, that sounds a bit weird. After all, ‘Fanggriffon’ is just a family name… But then again, the term ‘Fanggriffon’ itself sounds like an alias. It’s like I’ve tacked on two aliases.”
“Maybe it’s because I just saw Sylvia riding a griffon earlier.”
At that moment, Alice, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, finally chimed in.
“Well, the name ‘Fanggriffon’ in the old Imperial language means ‘the leader of the griffons.’ It’s also referred to as the dominator.”
Huff.
I heard a sound that seemed like an exaggerated sneeze. Looking up, I saw a griffon looking down at me. It had that smug demeanor, sitting proudly like a cat baking bread while staring down at me.
That sneeze probably sounded like a chuckle from a human.
…Anyway, aren’t you going home?
It felt odd that it was still sitting behind me, eavesdropping after the battle ended.
If that’s the case, why didn’t it just fly away from the start?
Was it timing its entrance for when I was in danger? Trying to make a cool entrance at the most crucial moment? I thought it couldn’t cross the barrier created by the goddess’s power until just a moment ago, but now I was beginning to wonder.
“…I don’t know if it agrees or not, but someone did acknowledge it as the Fanggriffon.”
Alice paused briefly before continuing the conversation.
“So, the name ‘Fanggriffon’ attached to Sylvia is not just a family name; it’s also, at the same time, an alias. So if you attach another alias like ‘Black and White Lily’ to it, it would look like you are calling it by aliases alone.”
Saying the ‘Black and White Lily of Fanggriffon’ is like calling a person by two nicknames.
“No, wait a minute.”
I raised my hand, cutting off their conversation.
“…Where did that term ‘Black and White Lily’ come from?”
I felt like I knew, but I pretended not to, holding onto a tiny glimmer of hope.
“Of course it’s from when you were at ‘Grace’s Estate.’”
“I was never a child of Grace’s Estate—”
“Oh my, isn’t that an alias you got while wandering around? You were the one who diligently attended balls and parties and made a name for yourself in high society.”
“……”
Pop.
I could hear the sound of that little glimmer of hope shattering.
Charlotte smiled elegantly as she spoke.
“Why, did you think I wouldn’t remember? It’s not as clear as day, but I can recall it well enough to say ‘it’s definite.’ It feels like a dream, but I know it actually happened.”
Of course I thought she couldn’t remember.
After all, the only ones who had memories from that world were me, Claire, and Alice. Because I was created by the goddess’s power, and Claire was the one who seized that power. Alice was under the influence of that fake Alice.
Charlotte had no recollection of me in that world. The reason we got close from the start was that she took an interest in me, someone with a solid position in the Imperial social scene.
“Sylvia.”
Alice looked at me with pity.
“Think about those who were able to cross the barrier meant to stop the goddess’s power.”
“……”
“Whether it was due to their strength, or because the goddess intended it—at least passing through that barrier means you benefited from the goddess’s power for even a moment.”
Uh…
Wait a second…
I looked around.
Everyone’s eyes were on me now. My friends and acquaintances were gathering around me after finishing their respective tasks.
“There’s another possibility.”
Claire, who had been chatting with Leo, spoke up.
“The place where we blew away the goddess’s power at the last moment wasn’t really this place, right?”
Ah.
Right.
Conceptually, it wasn’t this place. It was a sort of illusion hastily created by the goddess. It was a place that was simultaneously a fantasy and reality. If the goddess’s power had transferred to the goddess while in that place, it would have turned that world into reality rather than an illusion. The goddess must have been mindful of that when she created that world, even in that brief moment.
And the place where I shouted ‘continue!’ with Claire was that fantastical world.
So, the mechanism that activated and sent the goddess’s power away wasn’t here, but ‘there.’
By the time the world returned to normal, the effects of the goddess’s power had already ended, so there was no time for the memories from that world to fade away.
Listening to Claire’s story gave me shivers down my spine.
“W-wait, does that mean other people’s memories besides us—”
Seeing me startled enough to almost forget my character, Claire shrugged.
“Well, I don’t think you need to worry too much about that.”
Claire’s attitude seemed so much like her usual self that I almost forgot where I was.
“Anyway, the others probably lived almost identical lives. Those unrelated to you will just experience a bit of déjà vu. They might think of the events that happened after the war as just a nightmare. They wouldn’t have the slightest thought that such a thing occurred.”
“……”
I see, maybe that’s true?
“And even I, who experienced that event firsthand, couldn’t be completely sure until I saw your reaction.”
Charlotte chimed in with her explanation from the side.
“Well, let’s put it this way—it’s like a dream I had last night. Most parts are vague, but some parts are quite vivid. Especially the memories of being with you are uniquely clear. So, I think the only parts you really need to worry about are those you directly interacted with.”
And seeing her smile, it was apparent that Charlotte fully understood the meaning of what she was saying.
…
The reason I got the nickname ‘Black and White Lily of Grace’ is simple. I was that active in high society. I hardly interacted with those my age but mingled eagerly with older nobles who could be called the pillars of the Empire.
That means that those who directly spoke with me are likely to remember that nickname.
Of course, they’d probably think of it more as a vague dream. The image of me with long hair and a dress is different from how I look now. I’d have no intention of talking about Grace or the goddess with them.
But even so, that nickname inscribed deep in their perceptions won’t just vanish easily.
The name ‘Grace’ may fade away easily, but—
“…Ah.”
At that moment, my brain froze once again.
Right.
In that illusory world, I had been the daughter of the Grace family for a very long time.
The Baron and Baroness Grace had loved me dearly. I could understand why Claire had grown up so bright and healthy. Even though they only saw me as an orphan living a bottom-tier life, once accepted as their daughter, they treated me just like Leo without any differentiation.
Well, they did differentiate based on ‘daughter and son,’ but being so active in high society made me, in many ways, a ‘model noblewoman.’ There was no room to feel that kind of discrimination.
And of course, I often conversed with Baron and Baroness Grace. After all, we were parent and child.
The relationship was harmonious. In fact, I sometimes felt they were like real parents to me—
—while still keeping some distance, thinking of this relationship as merely one in an illusion.
“Perhaps it’s time I visit my parents again. Sister Sylvia.”
“……”
At those words from Leo, I froze with my mouth agape.
Of course, Leo spoke with a hint of mischief, but I could also sense the sincerity behind it.
…Just like I had a parent-child relationship with Baron and Baroness Grace, Leo was also my brother.
“Now that I think about it, didn’t we really become siblings?”
Claire said with genuine joy, and Alice gave a bitter smile.
Alice walked up to me and patted my shoulder.
“Well, if there are parents out there, we should at least greet them. I’m sure this sister can understand.”
No, rather than using the name of the Fanggriffon, you should just let it be!
But I knew Alice’s personality well enough, having spent time as a sister with her.
…It feels like after defeating the final boss, a bigger boss is waiting behind.
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