“—Sia Unnie!!”
“……….”
At the sound that reached my ears, I instinctively turned around.
I hadn’t even seen the figure, but the moment the first syllable of my name hit my eardrum, I knew exactly who the owner of that voice was.
But still, I couldn’t help but turn around.
Because that person I knew couldn’t possibly be here.
This was not something you could easily brush off with a simple ‘Oh, I see.’
Why. How.
Those two questions intertwined and stubbornly lingered.
“Hehe, Unnie~!!”
“….Elli…s..?”
There stood a small child, wearing a pitch-black robe with an impressive red floral pattern.
My ominous intuition was strangely never wrong.
Sure enough, with those short words, I could accept the reality.
A little child.
The outfit, clearly overly large for the child who had to wear it, was distinctly styled.
I had to lower my gaze just to barely see that adorable mouth, almost hidden beneath a hat that covered her entire face.
Even though the sleeves were wrinkled from being folded several times, they drooped and swayed as if they would fall through her armpits.
I worried whether the ends of her long attire would drag along the ground.
She looked like a child who sneaked into an adult’s clothes, yet somehow it suited her perfectly due to her inherent charm.
But despite that sight, my emotions were more focused on confusion than joy.
“Wu…wuuh, it’s uncomfortable.”
Wiggle, wiggle.
Was it because the hat was blocking her view?
The child seemed to be trying to walk toward me but stumbled around aimlessly, unable to keep her balance.
It was a sight that made anyone watching smile involuntarily.
As she tried to push the hat aside to see in front of her, her flailing arms over the loose sleeves achieved nothing; instead, each time, her rolled-up sleeves loosened and slid down, leaving her in a state of indecision.
In four words: awkwardly flustered.
Yet such a clumsy sight had its share of onlookers who were absolutely focused on her.
Sadly, I was one of those dazed observers.
…So unfortunate.
Thump!
“Ah, ow—!?”
….!!!!
It was such a nerve-wracking sight.
I found myself feeling a contradictory urge, hoping she wouldn’t bump into something, yet at the same time, hoping she would, captivating everyone’s attention in an instant.
Everyone held their breath, watching where the child’s footsteps were headed.
Well, the miracle created by the immature desires of adults eventually came true.
When she bumped her head against a nearby streetlamp with a dull thud, it was clear everyone around was trying to suppress their smiles by lowering their heads.
An unification of humanity.
If such a concept that only existed in imagination were to materialize, wasn’t that moment right now?
But I tentatively questioned whether this peace achieved through such means truly held any meaning.
“……”
Still, I couldn’t tell whether the expression I was wearing was a smile or something else.
…Alice, why are you here…
“……”
“Hehe….!”
Whether she was angry or simply excited, Alice let out a higher-pitched laugh as she gazed irritatedly at the crooked streetlamp she had collided with.
The words I couldn’t bring myself to utter faded into a long sigh and dispersed into the air.
Alice.
That child appeared right here in the academy, in the very heart of the Akard Empire’s capital.
It might be shocking to some.
Perhaps it was expected by others. Just a fact.
However, that fact alone didn’t create any real issue.
The royal academy’s research institution, Museion.
An academy that trains ‘promising’ talents from other nations.
This place, which could be said to serve both functions, may seem like a highly closed-off and strictly guarded facility, but the truth is far different.
In fact, it was remarkably open, allowing even ordinary citizens from the empire’s capital to enter without hesitation.
Like going for a stroll in a public square.
Well, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit with the stroll analogy.
Anyway, the reason connects to the very essence of the academy’s existence.
Of course, the academy does encourage students here to think pro-imperial thoughts and policies, preventing other countries from easily invading the empire, functioning like a hostage shelter.
But those are merely secondary outcomes.
The true essence of the academy lies in its use for ‘external propaganda’ to elevate national prestige.
The subordinate nations willingly offer their important figures to the empire.
And by not oppressing them and allowing them freedom while respecting their rights, the empire creates a positive image not only for neighboring countries but also for its own citizens.
Hence, another nickname given to Museion is — ‘Showcase.’
It acts as a museum to publicly demonstrate the subservience of the countries under its control, showcasing the empire’s strength.
That’s why, indeed, there is free entry for both outsiders and insiders at the academy.
What happens if an unidentified suspect enters and causes trouble here?
Well, you might wonder, but the truth is, a person like that would never even step foot in the empire’s capital, let alone get into this place.
Moreover, the likelihood of causing trouble while evading the watchful eyes of the noble escorts from other countries, the patrolling guard, and the staff standing in polite attention is almost nonexistent.
So, Alice being here itself is no problem.
Yes.
The very fact that she ‘arrived.’
“—Who is that child?”
“Is that a lost child…?”
“……!!”
Gradually, people passing by began to halt in their tracks, throwing curious glances at Alice, standing there alone.
Someone’s maid.
Someone’s guard.
Or maybe, nobles from other nations.
Those who could relay rumors across vast distances with just a single word.
They all turned their attention to Alice.
Perhaps they were enchanted by her adorable actions, the presence (or absence) of her protectors, or the brief glimpse of the child’s beauty peeking out from beneath the swaying hat.
The reasons may vary, but the more important fact is — many began to recognize Alice.
Yes.
The ‘survival of Alice’ might become known —
— directly to her.
“…….Damn.”
People continued to gather.
The murmurs grew slightly louder.
What started as just a few onlookers swelled to a dozen within mere minutes.
Unfortunately, this path was the only way to get to the dormitory, and it was clear that as time passed, rather than dispersing, the crowd would only grow more dense.
What should I do?
What am I supposed to do right now?
It felt like staring at a new page of an exam sheet when mere minutes remained on the clock, with zero answers filled in — that kind of feeling.
I squeezed my unresponsive brain, trying to think of the best course of action in this situation.
And the conclusion I came to was but one—
—Right, let’s kidnap her.
Once I had made that decision, I didn’t hesitate to dash straight toward Alice.
“…..This is insane.”
“Sia Unnie~”
Unbeknownst to her of the current situation, Alice ambled toward me, completely at ease.
Well, of course, Alice had no idea what the issue was.
She was just here to see her sister, who was attending school.
So, the problem lay with me.
Our selfish decision disregarded the child’s opinions or thoughts.
Like a sultry night suddenly hit by a downpour from the sky.
In that moment, I and Saelli decided on the direction of our lives ahead.
To simply forget the sad past as it is, and to live happily together, the three of us.
To hide and distance Alice from her miserable past and connections.
I knew it was wrong, but it was the best option.
There was no trace of Saelli around.
The fact that she, who was always by Alice’s side, was absent meant that Saelli had entrusted Alice’s safety to me.
If she abandoned Alice like this without a word, something serious must have happened.
But if that were the case, I would have preferred a word or two from her.
Of course, Saelli couldn’t have known that ‘Remi Akaia’ was in the academy I attended.
If she had, the cautious person she was wouldn’t have left Alice here alone.
Thud.
“—Wha—!?”
“…Save the talk for later—!!”
My hands suddenly bore the weight of the child, lighter than a feather.
I charged toward Alice, maintaining my pace, lifting her and slinging her over the shoulder opposite my unsheathed sword.
Startled by my sudden action, or perhaps unable to grasp the situation, Alice let out an odd exclamation, but I had no luxury to banter back.
I truly felt sorry.
I had to get away from this place right now.
“Heheh—!! This is fun~!!”
“Wheee––!!”
Like a student swiftly snatching a cat from the roadside, I whisked away this cat named Alice back to my dorm room.
The tranquil daily life I had found began to tilt once more.
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