Chapter 261: CH 260

Feb 18 2021

“Haah….”

I was out getting some air on one of the balconies of the royal palace’s banquet hall.

Turning my gaze to the sky, I saw the twinkle of the stars and gentle moonlight.

Having retreated from the clamor of the banquet hall, I hoped the tranquility of nature would soothe my heart.

“I get that celebrations are important, but I’ve never liked being the star of the show…”

Tonight, a ceremony at the palace―no, celebrations across all of Bauer commemorated our victory.

Having defeated the Three Great Archdukes who had ruled over the demons, we dropped the curtain on our long standing conflict with them. Tonight, the entire country celebrated together.

Here at the royal palace, people who had distinguished themselves during the conflict were invited to receive gratitude and awards, directly from King Sein.

I was one of those people as well, but had been overwhelmed by the amount of people who called out to me.

While the storm of praise from people who I had never even seen before had felt good at first, I very quickly grew tired of it.

I had never been huge on large gatherings in the first place.

In particular, I was troubled by the occasional request for a dance.

I wasn’t very good at dancing.

Though I had improved through practice, there was no way I could partner up with the celebrities that would request a dance at this kind of event.

―Would you show me the fruits of your practice?

Come to think of it, I vaguely recall dancing with high nobility before.

I get the feeling that I had been able to do so without feeling so melancholy…

I really wondered, when exactly had such a thing happened?

“Ah, so you were here after all.”

My worries looped within my head as I exposed myself to the night wind. As I stood, looking out from the balcony alone, a gentle voice called out to me from behind.

“Lily-sama…”

“Is it okay for the star of the celebrations to be all the way out here?”

Though the dress code was formal, Lily-sama was in her usual Spirit Church habits.

It seems for the faith’s followers, those clothes were considered formal.

While Lily had previously been demoted to a regular nun, it seemed some voices were calling for her return to Cardinal due to her recent contributions.

Naturally coming to my side, Lily-sama offered me a drink.

Not an alcoholic one, but water.

I was grateful.

“Give it a rest already, I can only keep up the act for so long.”

Lily-sama giggled.

“Appear thoughtless… How could you say that. Even I have a lot on my mind…”

“S-sorry. I didn’t mean that in a bad way. So, for example, what are you thinking about now?”

“Now? Well… about what I want to do from now on, I suppose.”

“From now on?”

Lily-sama tilted her head in confusion.

“The threat of the empire is gone, and our fight with the demons has ended. So, what should I be doing from now on?”

“I-isn’t that just simple? It’s fine to just live a normal, happy life. With Lily and us, four and one.”

I understood what Lily-sama was trying to say.

She simply wanted me to return home.

In truth, I had yet to return to our home in Bauer.

Under the guise of receiving medical treatment, I was still borrowing a room from the Spirit Church’s treatment facilities.

Though my wounds had more or less all healed, there was something within me that rejected the thought of returning home.

“Lily-sama, should we ditch the ceremony?”

“… Eh?”

“It seems… I’m in the mood for a walk.”

“E-eh? Do you think that’d be okay?”

“I mean all the formal functions are over, all that’s left is the banquet. I’m sure even if we slipped away, it wouldn’t cause anyone trouble.”

“T-that’s true. Then, I’ll accompany you.”

After she returned our drinks to one of the waiters, Lily-sama and I walked side by side.

“… Where are you going, Rei.”

“Ah, father, mother.”

“Even involving Lily-chan… Aren’t you two both the stars of tonight’s celebrations?”

It was my parents―Van Taylor and Mel Taylor.

Having heard that I was in a comatose state after our final confrontation with the demons, they had rushed here from Euclid out of concern.

I was glad that I was able to show them that I was fine.

“Just… stepping out for a bit.”

“Together?”

“Yup.”

“The stars of the banquet shouldn’t―”

“Dear, don’t say something so boorish. Isn’t that right, Lily-chan?”

As though she had figured us out, she said those words and winked. Lily-sama’s face was flushed as she nodded in response.

“Is that so. It’s dark out there so be careful.”

“We will.”

“Then excuse us, father, mother.”

“Have a good one.”

As my parents saw us off, we left the banquet hall.

Having left the palace, it appeared the capital was quite lively as well.

All over the area, people were cheering, celebrating the victory.

As photographs did not yet exist in this world, there weren’t many who recognized my face.

Thanks to that, we were able to walk through the town without interruption.

“Where are we going?”

“To the academy.”

“That place holds many memories for Rei-san, doesn’t it.”

“Yes.”

The royal academy and the royal palace were not too far apart.

Before long, we had arrived. Following the procedures at the gate, we received permission for nighttime entry and went inside.

The academy at night was very quiet in comparison to the town.

Though it seemed that the students had been celebrating as well, it was already past curfew.

While some lights were still on in the research tower, it seemed that most of the academy had settled into sleep.

“While you were at the academy, you shared rooms with Misha, right?”

“That’s right. She really looked after me.”

For a cool beauty that could otherwise seem cold, Misha was quite caring. In a variety of ways, she had watched out for me.

Especially―.

… Huh?

Especially in regards to what again?

“… Rei-san?”

“Sorry, it seems that I spaced out.”

“It’s likely the fatigue from the ceremony. Shall we sit?”

Lily-sama pointed at a small rest house in the courtyard.

With no reason to decline, we sat under the gazebo.

“Did you have fun while at the academy?”

Responding to Lily-sama with a smile, I couldn’t help but feel something tugging at me.

What exactly was it that I had loved so much…?

What had I immersed myself into?

What exactly had I done for my part-time job?

“Rei-san, why are you shaking?”

“… Eh?”

I hadn’t realized until she had pointed it out.

But I was definitely shaking with my arms wrapped around myself.

“Are you cold? You’re not quite back in top form yet, so you shouldn’t push yourself, okay?”

Lily-sama held my hand.

It felt warm.

However, my shaking didn’t calm in the least.

“Lily-sama, I can’t help but feel that I’m forgetting something really important.”

“Something important…?”

“Yes, something that I should never have forgotten, something absolutely vital to me.”

“…”

Lily-sama’s face showed that she was at a loss for words.

As I tried to suppress the shaking, I continued.

“The world has found peace. The threat of the empire is gone, and our fight with the demons is over. Lily-sama, Mei, and Alea are all still with me. There shouldn’t be anything to feel dissatisfied about, and yet―”

“… And yet?”

Lily-sama kindly urged me to continue.

“And yet, it’s not enough. I feel like I’m missing something absolutely core.”

“Rei-san…”

“No matter how peaceful the world is! Even if no one else holds the same doubts! It’s something that I cannot allow myself to forget! To me, that something is absolutely necessary!”

I wondered if Lily would recoil at my sudden outburst.

I wondered if she would resent me for saying such a thing even though I had ignored my beloved family and refused to return home.

Or perhaps, she would break down crying as she usually did.

Even while fearing such outcomes, there was no way that I could hold those words back.

Lily-sama’s response was―

“Is that so. Then, please make sure you properly remember it.”

It was none of the responses I had feared, but a warm smile filled with affection.

“You’ll… trust me…?”

“Of course. It’s something that none other than Rei-san said. Until now and forevermore, Lily-sama will always be Rei-san’s ally.”

“Lily-sama…”

I was at a loss for words.

It was likely that Lily-sama had realized.

That whatever I was trying to remember would break my current happiness with Lily-sama.

That if I were to just accept the present, I would be able to live happily with Lily-sama.

Even so.

Even so, Lily-sama unconditionally accepted my choice.

“Why… why would Lily-sama go so far…”

“It’s simple. Because I love Rei-san. Rei-san’s happiness is Lily’s happiness. Having Rei-san maintain this forced smile, is something that Lily-sama can’t do.”

It appeared that Lily-sama had realized long ago that I had been acting strange.

“Sorry… I’m so sorry, Lily-sama…”

“Ahaha… actually, Lily thought that it was strange as well. That someone like Lily would be next to Rei-san.”

“That’s not…!”

“It’s fine, it’s not like Lily’s given up. Once Rei-san has remembered what she’s forgotten, Lily will do her best so that we become lovers again!”

Lily-sama smiled, as though telling me to resolve myself for it.

Her smile was heartrending… and yet, absolutely genuine.

“Lily-sama… I…”

“Rather than that, the problem is what it is that Rei-san is forgetting. Do you have any clues?”

Interrupting my attempt to make amends, Lily-sama pushed the conversation forward.

Though I wanted to somehow justify my actions, I swallowed those words and responded.

“I don’t have anything concrete… However, I sometimes remember someone’s voice.”

“A voice?”

“Yes, both prideful and full of confidence, but also just slightly fragile… That kind of voice.”

Even though I only had fragmented memories, I wondered why I was able to describe it so specifically.

Amidst my confusion over that fact,

“Hm, I see. It appears those shabby suggestions were too shallow after all?”

I suddenly heard such a voice.

Turning to face behind me, a girl wearing the academy’s uniform stood there.