There were parts that couldn’t be explained with words from the very beginning.
In a problem where a liar needs to be found, if we find contradictory statements, one of the two could be the culprit.
The Magic Hat and Pina were making opposing claims, after all.
Demon King and Hero.
Magician and Magic Swordsman.
The ability to use lies and the talent to perceive the truth.
While they both hid their true gender, it was both similar and different in nature.
“My memories are contradictory.”
The memories of those two didn’t align to the point where it felt alien.
Pina’s white hair was due to the Demon King’s attack when she was a child.
But, strangely enough, the one responsible, the Magic Hat, showed no sign of remembering her.
What could the reason be?
Was it because they disguised themselves with glass armor? Or did they erase it from their mind because it was a trivial event?
If not that, was everything just an act to catch Pina off guard?
“No.”
The card containing Queen Bellin’s spirit.
The Magic Hat took her hostage to sway Emperor Rock.
That scoundrel was also a chosen successor like me by Pantoze.
Perhaps, having been killed by Emperor Rock in a previous life, they devised their clever scheme.
Crucially, the Magic Hat knew the Nameless Saintess.
The probability of mixing her up with someone else or forgetting was extremely slim.
“If that guy could be reborn from the past, he would have definitely done so.”
What the Nameless Saintess showed me was the future that might happen soon.
If I killed Pina before connecting with her, everything I had accomplished so far would become intertwined.
Just like a clockwork mechanism made of exquisite devices.
[Lee Soo-hyun♡Pina Grancia 90% ‘NEW!!’]
[Confirming a good ending with Pina Grancia increases relationship level.]
The status window reappeared before my eyes.
As I looked at it, I felt my body lighten.
───Crackle!!
With the sound of snapping branches, I fell into some bushes.
“…Ugh.”
My muscles twisted all over, and I felt my joints scream.
How many times do I have to shuffle through time and space?
Thanks to the Magic Sword Horizon I was wearing, I was fortunate not to be severely injured.
“I need to find the past Pina.”
As soon as I regained my senses, I struggled to assess my situation.
According to the original history, she would be attacked by the Magic Hat.
I needed to find Pina as quickly as possible and twist fate somehow.
“Is this…?”
Looking around, I felt something holding onto my ankle.
A scent so rich it was suffocating tickled my nose.
Flowers blooming in a variety of colors, showing off their extravagance.
Finally, this place, marked by a wolf sculpture made of steel signifying the imperial family.
“Is this a garden made entirely of roses…?”
Red, blue, white, black… the garden was filled with roses of all kinds.
Even the fountain adorned in gold was visible.
Perhaps this place was a garden made by a wealthy magnate, or if not…
It surely belonged to the Grancia Imperial family.
“Is anyone there..?”
──Rustle.
Someone stepped through the large bushes in front of me.
A small figure about my waist height.
Black hair that seemed to transport the night sky.
A girl, signaling her wariness with wolf ears and a tail perked up.
“…Pina?”
“…? Who are you.. and how do you know me..?”
It was the past Pina Grancia.
As she looked at me in black armor, she gradually began to step back.
“This is a place anyone shouldn’t enter..?”
With a suspicious figure in a helmet appearing in such a location, it was only natural for her to be frightened.
“Princess Pina, please calm down. I am…”
“My father said not to talk to strangers..!”
What in the world should I say? Would she believe me if I said I came from the future?
Even if I raised my hands to show I meant no harm, her expression was still terrified.
“I, I need to call the Royal Guard.. an intruder in the secret garden!”
So, the Magic Hat hasn’t arrived yet.
I let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
Seeing Pina say that means it’s not too late.
Then perhaps it would be better to get myself captured by the imperial guard and confess the truth.
That the Demon King of Truth would soon target Pina… No, there’s no way she would believe me.
‘Rather, it would be fortunate if I get lumped together with the assault squad.’
I was racking my brain while facing young Pina.
Suddenly appearing and saying, “I’m your boyfriend here to save you from the future,” would not work at all.
“I am not a suspicious person, Your Highness.”
“D-Don’t move..!!”
Like a scared puppy, Pina crouched down, trembling on the spot.
Even trying to calm her down would likely backfire.
“I understand. But instead…”
I began to chant a spell.
“From the flames, be born anew.”
Now my affection level with Pina was at 90 percent.
Most importantly, meeting other versions of her from different world lines made me become sincere about my feelings.
“Woof!”
“Puppy…?”
Summoning a spirit shouldn’t be out of the question now.
Being born from emotions, I called forth a black creature resembling a Pomeranian rather than a wolf.
“Huff, huff.”
“Uh, um…? Is this your spirit, mister?”
My spirit immediately recognized Pina and flopped on its back, exposing its belly.
Sticking its tongue out and grinning, of course.
No matter who it resembled, even in front of her, the change in attitude was too quick.
“So cute… Can I touch it?”
Nodding my head.
Instead of speaking, my spirit gave a small nod.
Pina, seemingly oblivious to me, kept staring at the black creature with twinkling eyes.
Having treated me as a suspicious person just moments ago, she couldn’t resist the cuteness.
She shut her eyes tight, gently placing her hand on the puppy’s belly.
“Ehehe, so soft…”
Once she confirmed the black creature wouldn’t bite, she opened her eyes.
Gently stroking its ears and head, she smiled at its wagging tail.
“Will you believe me now?”
“…That’s not it.”
I cautiously approached Pina, who was playing with my spirit.
She surely had some knowledge about spirits.
Considering my spirit wasn’t hostile towards Pina, I thought her suspicions might be easily cleared.
“You’re trying to deceive me with this lewd spirit, aren’t you?”
Staring at my spirit with wide eyes, she accused it.
A lewd spirit? Where could you find such an innocent puppy?
“I will not be swayed by such nefarious tricks…!”
“Whimper…”
Seeing her trying to hide her feelings, my spirit let out a sad sound.
Standing on its hind legs and wiggling its body, the creature caught Pina’s attention.
“Oh, I’m sorry… I didn’t mean that to you…!”
As if to say her anger wasn’t genuine, she went back to petting the puppy.
Every time she did that, the spirit clung to her, looking at her like a master. It was almost embarrassing to watch.
“Mister, what’s this puppy’s name?”
“How much time has passed?”
Pina Grancia approached me while holding the puppy.
She seemed interested in my spirit, asking for its name.
“Blacky.”
“Is it called Blacky because of its fur color…? Haha, that’s such a cute name!”
Pina buried her face in the black pup, sporting a satisfied expression.
A name given by her future self, indeed.
“How did you get in this place…? Only royal family members are allowed to enter here…”
After seeing Blacky, Pina spoke with a hint of softened caution.
There’s no way someone sent to assassinate her would act like this.
Even if she took on the semblance of a young girl, being the princess of the Grancia Empire means she knows.
“Your Highness, spirits are like mirrors reflecting a person’s heart.”
Seizing this moment, I spoke to dissolve her childhood doubts about me.
The actions of a spirit are connected to its owner’s emotions.
“Just as my spirit is favorable towards you, so am I.”
“…..”
I kneeled on one knee like a knight swearing an oath, offering my loyalty to her.
“I am a Black Knight sent to protect you.”
In fact, it was utter nonsense.
How could the identity of a suspicious person invading the garden be a guard knight?
No one would believe such a story, yet I trusted Pina’s gaze.
“…I know. I can tell you’re not lying.”
Then Pina looked at me intently, speaking.
“I have the ability to see when people lie…”
A talent she had since childhood.
It had helped her against the Demon King of Truth and when trying to persuade her after becoming the Demon God.
“If you were going to harm me, you would have done it sooner…?”
Perhaps wanting to stay with Blacky, she didn’t let go despite her trembling arms.
“Besides, a bad guy couldn’t possibly own such a cute puppy.”
“I’m not a bad guy.”
I immediately rebutted. How could she call me a bad guy out of nowhere?
I’m still young enough for that not to apply.
I just entered the academy as a fresh recruit.
“Even with that dark armor you wear?”
Pina mused, looking down at the heavy armor I was in.
Quite a reasonable deduction.
Doubtless, a heavily armored knight would be thought of as an older man.
“Would you like to check once?”
“…?!”
Clank—.
I lifted my helmet to show my face.
It was scarred, but at the very least, that should…
“Ugh, uh… uh?? Wa-wait… hic…”
Oh no, Pina seems to be malfunctioning.
She began to hiccup, her face turning as red as a bright tomato.
Her wolf ears and tail flailed like they might fly away.
“Your Highness, are you okay?”
“Uh, um… I mean… hic.”
Even as I asked if she was alright, she was grinning with a slack-jawed smile.
She was staring at my face with an expression that made her look a touch silly.
“W-wait a moment. You’re my… uh, older brother… I’m sorry…”
Her cheeks were flushed, her hands twisting her hair nervously.
