I had a decent conversation with Alice, but the problem was that there were plenty of potential conversation partners around that could really get on my nerves at this moment.
I remember all the situations when I turned back time—no, even if I don’t remember everything, there were plenty of people that made this situation extremely uncomfortable.
That’s right. I was just rushing to deal with the situation right in front of me without thinking about what would happen next.
But really, how many people could think about what’s next in that situation? Even the Emperor charged in without a second thought, and me having to deal with him—without any preparation, no less—how could I think about what came next?
With fake Alice before me creating a somewhat somber atmosphere, I stepped back a few paces and scanned my surroundings.
Just that alone made me realize that the people making eye contact with me were almost surrounding me.
Of course, it wasn’t like they were truly surrounding me, more like a psychological barrier. Physically, they were spaced apart enough that it wasn’t like a wall or anything.
I quickly racked my brain.
First, I picked out the people who followed me that weren’t uncomfortable to be around. For example, the Sword Saint, Jennifer, and Carolyn, maybe? Both of them were somewhat acquainted with me but hadn’t suffered any disadvantages because of my abilities. In fact, the Sword Saint had a look that said he found this situation quite amusing, and Jennifer seemed lost in thought.
Also, Carolyn was my homeroom teacher. Under normal circumstances, the teacher-student relationship would feel somewhat awkward, but thinking about it now, there really was no better relationship. We would have a solid reason to ask each other how we were doing after this situation was over!
If I mixed in some conversation, we could probably chat for quite a while, right? I mean, who would want to intrude on a student talking to their teacher?
Therefore, I decided to approach the teacher-student group that met my gaze immediately.
That was my resolution.
In other words, I never realized that resolution.
“……Fanggriffon.”
Um, that was a title I had barely heard since coming here.
Of course, it’s true that the name Sylvia comes with the surname Fanggriffon. In fact, when I sign, I write the surname Fanggriffon properly.
But that doesn’t mean anyone calls me “Fanggriffon!”
Friends I hadn’t gotten close to yet or staff members meeting me for the first time—no one called me “Miss Fanggriffon” or “Lady Fanggriffon.”
There’s a massive psychological barrier here.
If you translate a surname to English, it becomes a “lastname” or “family name”… Anyway, something with “name” attached. In other words, it’s part of the name.
And just calling out that heavy surname “Fanggriffon” was way too weighty.
I’m not sure if titles like “Miss Windsor” are used in England, but in this world, I’m addressed much more by my first name. People calling me or Alice usually said either “Crown Princess Sylvia” or “Crown Princess Alice.” This was especially true for distinguishing between us, and when we were alone, it’d simply be “Princess.”
Naturally, my close friends just called me by my first name. Alice and I spent a lot of time together, so if someone referred to us as Fanggriffon, it’d be impossible to distinguish between the two. Plus, considering “Fanggriffon” is also the imperial family’s surname and the name of the first Emperor of the Empire, it made it awkward to call out publicly.
However, for someone to specifically address me as Fanggriffon right now, it meant that name held quite an importance in the conversation we were about to have.
Just the thought of hearing that name almost yanked my gut out; it physically made me roll on the floor, yet I was still managing to stay put—impressive, if I do say so myself.
Not that I was particularly proud of it.
Stiffly turning my head like a broken wind-up doll, I caught sight of Sophia’s face as she grabbed hold of my sleeve.
That expression… it was something beyond explanation.
What kind of expression would someone believing in a god have if they lost faith right in front of them? Would they cry like they’d lost their country? If anything, it would’ve been better if she had because Sophia’s eyes looked completely dried out.
They weren’t just dry; they looked hollow, like peering into a dry well. That look in those eyes, which should always be at least a little moist, only solidified my urge to escape.
But even if I ran away here, it wouldn’t end the story. The presence before me was a real person, not some character in a story.
“…It’s enough calling just by that name.”
Still wanting to clarify that I was not okay with the title Fanggriffon, I said something that didn’t really fit the situation.
“……”
Sophia’s eyes shifted.
Looking at Sophia gazing up at the gryphon still seated in a baking-bread position, I pondered how I would clear that misunderstanding.
That gryphon was not under my control. Just like when I arrived here, once it thought its work was done, it would probably fly away again. Additionally, Fanggriffon wasn’t just one gryphon but a “group,” apparently.
I wonder how many people have ridden a gryphon in this day and age, but that still makes it a bit far-fetched to call me Fanggriffon.
It seemed Sophia wasn’t particularly interested in starting an unnecessary argument either.
“…Is the Goddess not coming anymore?”
…I think an unnecessary argument would have been better.
“……”
I carefully chose my words.
Back in middle school, there was a kid in my class who wanted to be a pastor, and I once asked him, “Are you planning to hit on married women?” After he said, “My dad is a pastor,” I replied, “Then your dad too,” and got slapped.
Religious people can be quite sensitive about these issues.
“It’s true that I intervened so that wouldn’t happen.”
I decided to stick to the facts.
Sophia was… at first, a character that came off as a fanatic psycho, but as the story progressed, she became a character more entwined with the protagonist, gradually getting cleaned up. I found it somewhat irritating that she was completely scrubbed clean in just one work, but if you took a closer look, it was quite plausible.
She had been raised in the Papal State from childhood, learning that it was the truth. Not to mention, something like ‘evil opposing the Goddess’ had emerged, so she was probably thrilled.
But before facing that overwhelming evil, Sophia met Leo. And then me.
As a result, she had become a character quite different from the original.
This Sophia wasn’t the original content Sophia but my friend Sophia. So, it was better to speak the truth than to tell a half-hearted lie.
“You are….”
It seemed Sophia was also choosing her words carefully.
“Who are you, exactly? What is your relationship with the Goddess?”
I imagined there were hints she already knew and perhaps stories she had heard directly from me—
…Yeah, I promised, didn’t I? After everything was done, I would share the story.
“I am indeed someone sent by the Goddess.”
I calmly stated.
I was aware that many people were looking at me. Not only for my actions but also the imperial knights who had been tied up and glanced over here since earlier.
But what good would hiding anything do at this point? We were already mounted atop gryphons.
“I was also a person meant to be used for the Goddess’s plan.”
“Then why did you betray the Goddess at the last moment?”
Sophia’s words seemed like a casual inquiry, but her tone was so flat that it didn’t give off any feelings of resentment. It felt more like she was just confirming the facts, asking without any emotion.
“……”
I paused for a moment.
How was I supposed to express this?
When I first arrived in this world, the ‘character’ I built was to blend in with the protagonists. I considered it somewhat successful because I really did join the protagonist’s party.
My opposition to the Emperor was all to create a happy ending where everyone survived. And that worked; in fact, no one died.
My overturning of the Goddess’s plan was… because I wanted to be part of that happy ending.
…
Was this a happy ending?
I quietly contemplated while watching a believer who had lost their god.
Would Sofia understand the answer I give her?
But I had to respond. I promised I would.
“I want to be with you all.”
So, I answered.
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