‘Oh no······.’
While I was gone, a huge problem arose.
I already have three absences in my major subjects.
At this rate, I’m going to fail due to insufficient attendance.
I tried to request attendance recognition, but—
“I refuse.”
“······.”
Since it was Ludwig I was dealing with, I was immediately shot down.
No matter how much I argued that my absences were unavoidable, it was useless.
There’s no such kind-hearted relief system at the Imperial University.
I had no choice but to take a strong stand.
“As the Regent of the Freya Empire, I command you. Please recognize my attendance, Professor Ludwig.”
“I refuse. If you bother me, I’ll pressure the Chairwoman to dismiss you.”
“······.”
Of course, that didn’t work either.
Pressure the Chairwoman?
There’s no way I could pressure an Elf like Alexia with mere national authority.
Moreover, Alexia was unreachable, completely out of contact.
I heard that she had been in this state since I was attacked by Tiltitz.
‘Right. I might as well give up on the second semester.’
I decided to take a breather for a whole semester.
No matter how hard I tried in classes from now on, I’d still get an F, so I resolved to retake everything next year.
That’s only if I’m still in this world, of course.
Once I gave up on the second semester, I felt lighter.
Now I could come and go wherever I wanted without worrying about attendance.
So this is definitely a win.
Anyway, that’s how it is.
“The moment you showed up, the kingdom suddenly tucks its tail. Isn’t that funny? Is your authority higher than the Emperor’s······?”
“That’s not true, Your Majesty.”
For a few days after my return, I had a lot to do in the Imperial Palace.
Every time I came, Aria would sit me down and grumble that those who caused chaos the moment I vanished were now perfectly cowed.
While the kingdom was just empty threats, the situation in the desert was really serious.
The Elf clans, who usually growled and lived scattered, had several meetings and suddenly their cavalry started to gather…
Thanks to that, the Development Area in the desert was overflowing with military forces, creating a tense atmosphere just short of war.
Of course, now the cavalry units and all the rest had scattered to roam around.
“That’s not true. Everyone across the continent saw the light you unleashed when you defeated that Ancient Monster. So, of course, they’ll think of you as the Son of God.”
“The Son of God? What are you talking about?”
“Did you not know? There are quite a few people outside the Empire who believe such things. If they see you in person, they would know how slow, indecisive, and cowardly you truly are.”
“······?”
I gained a new understanding of Aria’s evaluation of me.
But how on earth did she get such an impression of me?
I can’t think of a time I showed any of those traits!
I was just confused.
“But speaking of which, why aren’t you drinking? Hurry up and taste it.”
Aria, shaking her cup, impatiently offered it to me.
A cup filled with scarlet liquid.
I checked it once with ‘Scan,’ took a whiff, and then gulped it down.
[Wine]
[Status: Cleanness]
[Description: This is wine fermented from grapes of the Imperial Palace for three years. The highest quality grapes were strictly managed during fermentation.]
“Three-year-old grapes, huh? You can tell a lot of care went into making this.”
“Oh! Looks like you know how to enjoy wine. Yes, that’s right. How does it taste?”
Knowing how to enjoy wine? What a joke!
I was just reciting what I’d ‘scanned.’
My empty mouth only knew how to say it’s delicious, but I couldn’t tell how much it was worth or what kind of grape it came from.
“It’s excellent.”
But even I could tell this.
The wine once served by Schlus Hainkel in the other world was beyond exquisite.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but after coming back and comparing it, I finally felt certain.
It had to be delicious, being produced by a winemaker with a hundred-thousand-year experience.
Thinking I might never taste it again brought a hint of nostalgia.
Of course, that doesn’t mean I want to go back.
*
‘That bastard······.’
While I was away, I had received a short communication from Hertlocker.
– Schlus Hainkel must be alive. I’ll continue the investigation. End.
Should I say it’s typical of him?
Of course, he wasn’t hoping I’d sniffle and rush back; I was just feeling frustrated.
Looking over the mid-investigation report from Hertlocker—
‘Ataatürk is already on the move?’
It seems something big is about to happen in the desert soon.
According to the original story, it would be about a year later when Hertlocker gets there.
I also wondered if Hertlocker stepping into the desert might trigger the incident.
‘I have to head to the desert soon.’
If I’m going, now’s the perfect timing.
Last time, by gathering the cavalry, it showed that the Elf clans might unite at any moment.
I had to ensure that their spears would not be pointed at humans.
Moreover, in the parallel world, they said things started to go south due to failed diplomacy with the Elves.
To prevent repeating that mistake, I must succeed in diplomacy with the desert.
‘It’s right around the corner.’
I had brought the Great Forest under my friendly influence, and the kingdom was nearly reached; now I just needed to resolve the desert.
Then, finally, a pan-human alliance could be formed to face the Asylum and Majin.
There might be some hiccups upfront, but it wouldn’t matter.
Once the fight truly begins, everyone will be bound together no matter what.
“Are you going to the desert?”
“······!”
My body jolted at the voice that flowed in from behind.
Emilia had wrapped her arms around my neck from behind and was whispering into my ear.
“How did you know······”
“I know everything. You have this disease where you can’t help but stir chaos in noisy places.”
“······.”
I had no reply.
It wasn’t entirely untrue.
“Who are you taking with you this time?”
“Well, I’m not sure how many can come since it’s the school term. Still, I can’t take everyone this time. It has to be a small, elite group.”
“Hmm. Anyway, make sure to be careful. Don’t get hurt.”
“As if you’re not coming with me?”
“Huh? Am I going?”
“No.”
“Tsk······.”
“Ow.”
Emilia bit my neck hard.
As expected, I couldn’t take Emilia with me.
She wasn’t particularly strong in combat, yet being taken hostage would be my greatest weakness.
Plus, if Emilia is absent, controlling the Institution’s Intelligence Agency would become a problem.
I felt more secure knowing Emilia, who is definitely on my side, was keeping things under control in the agency.
And most importantly, I intended to take along some people I definitely didn’t want Emilia to run into······.
“I was expecting it. I won’t whine and beg you to take me.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. But I’ll be very sulky about it.”
“So how do I un-sulk you?”
“Um… think it through.”
Emilia gripped my head and leaned me back against the sofa.
Then she tilted her head and kissed me.
The awkward position made both of us fumble in our movements.
“I······ want to go on a honeymoon.”
“We’re not even married yet, what are you talking about?”
“I mean, once we are married. If I can’t go with you this time, I feel like I’ll catch that disease of dying without visiting the desert.”
“What kind of······.”
“So once everything is settled and peaceful, let’s go on our honeymoon to the desert. Okay?”
Her tone was incredibly serious.
Once everything is settled······
For a moment, I wondered if Emilia had seen through everything.
Returning to reality after watching the ending or getting married and heading out for a honeymoon.
It was a matter of choice.
Of course, I had no reason to hesitate in making that choice.
“Sure. Let’s go.”
“Yeah······.”
I couldn’t bear to leave Emilia behind.
I concluded that as long as this girl isn’t dead, there’s no way I would return to reality.
*
“I think I need to ventilate this place.”
“Yeah······. Ugh. Just a moment. My legs aren’t working well yet······.”
As I pulled away a damp towel, a clean sofa seat was revealed beneath.
I felt good about laying it down just in time when my legs kicked in.
“Hey, haven’t you been to the Lichtenburg Mansion lately?”
“Yeah. I’ve been busy.”
“That’s a lie. You’re not even going to school.”
“······.”
Emilia shifted her body, leaning on me as she said that.
Now that I thought about it, it had been three days since I last visited the Lichtenburg Mansion.
Not even once since I returned through the dimensional gap.
“Are you feeling uneasy about meeting that Julia girl?”
“It’s not that… Well, it might be.”
I am uneasy.
Somehow, I felt lacking in some way.
I wasn’t sure.
Since that day, I had been reluctant to meet Julia.
Even though it is a parallel world, I must have shown my thoroughly corrupted self.
Or is it because I am gradually perceiving Julia more like my beautiful one?
I definitely felt something while being stuck to her all day that day; Julia seemed to resemble the outward appearance and even the personality of that girl.
Could it be that she looked exactly like the way she was before I met her?
“Ah, I get it. You’re scared to meet her.”
“What······.”
I’m scared to meet her.
That expression fit perfectly.
I was so spot on that my words got stuck in my throat.
“You’re scared because you might end up liking her even more. That’s why it feels daunting?”
“Don’t say things that can be misunderstood, please.”
But still, my conclusion veered off at the end.
It is true that I’m scared to meet her.
It’s also true that I find it hard to face her.
That’s because Julia is the only person who knows too much about me.
She knows that I embodied into this world and that I’m the author of this story.
Because I laid everything bare, I ended up not knowing how to approach her.
What if we ended up feeling distant?
Ding dong······
“Is it a guest?”
“Ugh······. You stay here. I’ll go out.”
Just then, the doorbell rang, and Emilia stumbled her way toward the door.
After looking outside, Emilia turned back to me with a smile.
“Who is it?”
“Just go look for yourself.”
“No······.”
Then, she opened the main door without anyone saying to let them in.
It was absurd, so I stepped outside to find—
“Hello, Schlus. Long time no see.”
“Julia······.”
Julia was sitting demurely in her wheelchair, smiling at me.
Caught off guard, I was tongue-tied.
For the typically reclusive Julia to come all the way here.
“I heard that Schlus’s attendant makes a mean cup of tea. Is it alright if I get a taste?”
“Where did you hear that?”
“Where else? Me.”
Erica, gripping the handles of Julia’s wheelchair, answered gruffly from behind.
She didn’t seem particularly fond of the situation, but I was impressed that she brought Julia here in the wheelchair for her sister’s sake.
“Emilia. Can you prepare some black tea?”
“Sure! I’ll get right on it.”
“Come on in. Emilia’s black tea is the best, so look forward to it. Watch your step; there’s a threshold in the middle.”
As I looked into Julia’s, or rather, Emilia’s unwavering gaze, I realized.
There was no reason to feel awkward.
I could treat her just as I had before.
“So, can you tell me what happened in that parallel world?”
“Didn’t Julia tell you?”
“Yeah. She’s being awfully tight-lipped. Seems suspicious.”
“Then I won’t say anything either.”
“Hey!”
It felt good to finally have a companion.
Someone who, even after death, keeps reincarnating to remember and protect my secrets.
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