Chapter 4: The Approaching Footsteps of Destruction

“So how is it? Fortune Lover, I mean. Have you played much?” my otaku friend, Acchan, asked with a slight grin over lunch break.

“I’ve done the arrogant prince and the playboy, but I just can’t deal with that terrible sadistic prince... The rival character, that villainous noble lady, interferes too much!”

Acchan’s grin seemed to only widen as I sighed, complaining about my lack of progress. “Heh heh. I’ve already cleared all the routes!”

“Eh!? All of them!? Already?”

“Yep! The four potential love interests were a given, but I’ve also cleared the hidden character’s route! It’s all done!” Acchan said, a seemingly invincible smile on her face. Once again, I found myself gazing at my otaku friend with a newfound respect.

“Ah... as expected of you, Acchan... You’re so fast! Wait... so there was a hidden character, as expected?”

“Yes. If you clear the routes of the four main characters, that hidden one opens up. So... do you want to know who it is? Do you?”

“W-Wait! Don’t tell me... no spoilers!” I said, covering my ears.

Acchan smiled mischievously, leaning in slowly as she did so. “The hidden character is...”

“Nooo! Lalala! I’m not listening!!”

“Young miss, it is already morning. Please wake up.”

“N-No... I don’t wanna... I don’t wanna hear it...!”

“Young miss. Please do stop lazing around. If you do not wake up soon, you will miss your morning lessons.”

“...Hnn...?”

My personal maid, Anne, was the first thing that I saw as I opened my eyes. To be precise, it was Anne standing with her hands on her hips, in quite the imposing pose.

“Ah... Anne. Good morning.”

“Yes. A very good morning to you too, young miss. If you are indeed awake, then please do make the adequate preparations.”

As I stared at Anne, who was weaving through the room and preparing one thing or another, I started to remember something about the dream I had just seen. The cogs in my mind had barely started moving.

“I feel like I... just had a really... important. Dream...”

“...A dream, young miss?” Anne responded, having noticed me murmuring to myself.

“Yes... a dream that I was having... right up until just now. For some reason, I feel like it was a really important dream... But of course, we usually forget dreams immediately after waking...”

“...Is that so? I did hear you talking in your sleep, young miss... but they really did not seem like words of much importance to me.”

“Hmm? Is that so?” Then maybe it was just... my imagination? It was no good. I couldn’t remember what kind of dream it was at all. Though if Anne said it wasn’t important, then it probably wasn’t.

Was I just imagining that it was important? Am I just overthinking things...? Having no choice but to draw such a conclusion, I started my preparations for morning classes at the academy.

Before I knew it, half a year had passed since I had started at the Academy of Magic. The seasons started to change, too — the colors of autumn soon gave way to the frosty winds of winter.

I was now steadfast friends with Maria, the protagonist of Fortune Lover. And I had gotten closer with some of my classmates outside of the student council, too. All in all, I was very much used to life at the academy.

Of course, I found myself fighting with my constant drowsiness, and my magic had not yet bloomed either. In other words, everything was going just fine. No matter how many tests and examinations the academy issued, all I had to do was look at my friend’s notes, study what I could, and then I would pass with average grades.

Nicol and the president, in particular, were quite good at tutoring me on various subjects, and I was very much indebted to the both of them. I had made many truly wonderful friends.

The fields were doing well, and I had slowly perfected my projectile-snake tossing motions. From my perspective, I was fully prepared for any kind of incoming Catastrophic Bad End.

There was, however, one thing I still could not determine — the all-important information on who exactly Maria’s love interest was. It was the same for all the other potential love interests. I had no idea who they liked, which was troubling, considering that the information in question could heavily influence events in the future.

No matter how much I asked Maria who she liked, she would always derail the conversation by responding with “I really respect you, Lady Katarina.”

Maria had no idea that she was incredibly popular. “The boys in the Student Council are all dazed by your charm, Maria!” I would say.

“That is all but impossible, Lady Katarina. After all, there is already someone else that everyone has been charmed by,” Maria said, with a notably surprised expression.

How could it even be possible? The charismatic love interests of Fortune Lover leaving behind the charming Maria, and instead looking at someone else...? There’s no such person.

While I did think that Maria was doing her best, as usual, I supposed this was none other than her protagonist traits kicking in. Notably, her amazing capacity to be “dense,” and have creative “misunderstandings.”

Even Keith, who had assisted me when I investigated Maria a while ago, muttered, “Really... how dense could you be?” Judging from his words, I guessed that even Keith thought that Maria’s denseness was on another level. Even the potential love interest characters would have a hard time keeping up with this... density.

And so, I continued living my peaceful life at the academy, with everything going well, other than that one question about who Maria and the others liked. Perhaps that was why it felt so, so sudden.

Finally... the gears were set in motion. The game was afoot.

On the lunch break of a particularly chilly day, I headed towards the cafeteria with a few of my classmates.

Usually, my friends, brother, or members of the student council would be with me. Today, however, they all seemed somewhat busy, and told me that they would join me at a later time.

In retrospect, that was where it had started — where it was... different. All of my friends in the council had become busy at the exact same time, and all of them were unable to go to lunch break, needing some time to finish extra work. Although this did happen at times, I had never seen an occasion where they were all absent at once.

I hardly questioned this turn of events at the time. My mind was filled with thoughts of what that afternoon’s offerings at the cafeteria would be. That was when it happened — all of a sudden, without me noticing, as I idly strolled into the cafeteria.

“Katarina Claes. We have some important things to talk about.” Standing before me as I took my first step into the cafeteria was a noble lady of considerable social standing.

To be precise, she had been the one who was widely thought of as Jeord’s fiancée — at least, until I came into the picture. While she often hissed insults at me under her breath and spent a good deal of her time staring at me, I had never seen her speak to me upfront and in person.

However, with her similarly upward-slanting eyes and thin lips, she shared similar villainess features with me — and at one point, I had even thought of her as a villainess-faced comrade of sorts...

The mean-faced student narrowed her eyes, as if to accentuate her antagonistic qualities. She also refused to move from where she stood. Unable to process the situation, I could only stand rooted to the spot, staring straight at the noble lady in question.

It was then that I noticed the dozen or so other students behind her — and much like their ringleader, those girls were staring at me too. As expected, the students behind her were the very same ones who often gossiped behind my back.

This seemed like a scene that was somewhat... familiar.

“Katarina Claes. We will expose your numerous wrongdoings today, here and now!” the noble lady before me said, her voice echoing loudly off the cafeteria’s walls.

Under normal circumstances, the cafeteria would be a hive of activity — natural, given that half of the academy’s populace was usually gathered here at this time. Now, however, the room was silent, and I could suddenly feel the gazes of all its patrons focusing on me.

As if pleased by this development, the girl’s lips curled upwards ever so slightly. All I could do was stand and stare, too stunned to even speak a word, having suddenly been thrust into the center of it all.

My numerous wrongdoings...? But what could those be? Me tossing projectile snakes? But it’s not like I’ve thrown those at other people. I don’t feel like I’ve done anything to cause trouble...

Or is it because I had tilled a field on the academy grounds? That I carried out agricultural activities at a place as prestigious as this...? Is it something like that?

The noble lady before me, however, hardly cared about how I was lost in thoughts, merely continuing her statement.

“You, the eldest daughter of a duke and Prince Jeord’s fiancée, have been observed abusing your power and social standing on multiple occasions, using these privileges to oppress those who have no choice but to bend to your will! Not only that, you have also been bullying Maria Campbell, wielder of Light Magic, and favored member of the student council! Time and time again, you have subjected Maria to horrible bullying and intimidation!”

“!?”

Her phrasing reminded me of a particular scene — and it was then that I remembered... that I had seen this all somewhere before.

This was the one event I had witnessed countless times when playing through Fortune Lover — the public prosecution of Katarina Claes. Here, the many sins and wrongdoings of Katarina the villainess would be laid bare, and she would face the collective public judgment of the student body.

To think that I had been on alert the entire time, earnestly avoiding Bad Ends of all types... and here I was, right in the middle of this terrible situation.

I gazed blankly at the noble lady standing before me, still in a daze. Everyone was staring at me with faces full of tension.

But then... something about all this was... off. While this event was unmistakably “the Public Prosecution of Katarina Claes,” the ones who had confronted her with these sins were none other than the members of the student council — in other words, all the potential love interest characters of Fortune Lover.

In the case of Jeord, he would be standing in front of Maria, as if to shield her. In the case of Keith, he would be doing that instead — but either way, I saw no sign of them now.

I was confused. Why were these noble ladies standing where the student council should have been, and why were they accusing me of these supposed wrongdoings?

“Playing dumb won’t save you! I have proof of your wrongdoings right here, in my hands! We even have witnesses!”

Saying so, the girl raised a sheaf of papers to my face, before tilting her head slightly, gesturing to one of her subordinates, who was still glaring at me.

Written on the paper were countless instances bullying and hurtful behavior directed towards Maria. I had no memory of any of these events, of course, but I was made out to be the culprit and perpetrator of these acts on these papers. In addition, the so-called witness testified that they saw me hurt Maria on multiple occasions.

As the accusations were rapidly slung at me, I, as well as all the students in the cafeteria, could only listen on in a stunned silence. Soon, an uneasy blanket of silence covered the cafeteria.

The students of the academy seemed to collectively hold their breaths, as if they were watching for some sort of reaction. It was then that they arrived — Maria and my childhood friends, the members of the student council. Having entered from an entrance directly opposite to mine, they appeared behind the group of noble ladies who were accusing me, and soon approached us.

“What, exactly, is transpiring here?” Jeord said, amidst the painfully still and tense atmosphere. He eyed the noble ladies and me with a questioning gaze.

In response, the noble lady who was once the most promising candidate for the position of Jeord’s fiancée began explicating my various supposed misdeeds once more, just as she had done before.

The student council members before me — my childhood friends, my adopted brother, and even Maria’s expressions began to slowly twist. Ah, this was exactly what happened during the Public Prosecution of Katarina Claes... However, under normal circumstances, only Jeord or Keith would be here...

Maria’s current expression was just like how it was in Fortune Lover, as she stood behind Jeord or Keith.

In the original setting of Fortune Lover, Maria would muster up her courage — and with unwavering eyes, step out from behind Jeord or Keith, confronting the villainous Katarina, whose evil acts had been finally exposed. And then say...

“This is the truth, and nothing but the truth! I have always been bullied and hurt by Lady Katarina Claes!”

The students in the cafeteria, in turn, would be in awe at Maria’s dignified attitude, silent strength, and courageous stance.

As I was reminiscing about Fortune Lover’s scenario, the noble lady had finally finished rattling off her lengthy list of accusations. And then, just like it had happened in the game, Maria stepped out from the shadows, emerging at the front of the crowd.

Having awakened the memories of my past life, I was not like the original Katarina Claes. Unlike her, I hadn’t done anything wrong. Even so... things were really progressing like how they did in the game. At this rate, I would soon come face to face with a Catastrophic Bad End. I would either be exiled from the kingdom where I stood... or be killed by Maria’s love interest at the time.

Do I have a projectile snake in my pocket right now...? If I were exiled from the kingdom, would I be able to at least take my favorite farming hoe with me...?

Maria’s eyes were filled with an an aura of unwavering will, just like how I remembered them. And then, slowly, she spoke.

“These are lies! These accusations are nothing but lies and slander! I have never once been subject to any of these things by Lady Katarina Claes!” Her dignified voice echoed throughout the silent cafeteria.

And then, Maria turned her gaze to the noble ladies, as if to shield me from harm. “To come up with false accusations like this... how DARE you insult someone I hold so dear?!” It was a voice I had not heard before — a steely, determined voice.

Although the noble ladies initially froze up at Maria’s unprecedented reaction, they soon resumed their assault. “Whatever are you talking about, Maria Campbell! We are doing this for you! We are exposing Katarina Claes’ wrongdoings out of consideration for you!”

“That’s right! These aren’t lies or slander! We have written testimony, evidence, and even a witness! You are the one who is being deceived by that evil woman!”

“Exactly! To be tricked by such a detestable woman... how pitiful, how sad! Maria Campbell... WE are your allies,” the noble ladies kept going, each bolder than the last.

“But alas... to claim circumstantial evidence such as this, as real evidence? Most amusing, is it not...?” Jeord said, holding the sheaf of papers in one hand.

Although Jeord had suggested that the situation was amusing, there was not a single trace of a smile on his face. Instead, his expression was stoic, almost chilling. If the usually stoic Nicol was the one who had delivered this line, it would have been one thing. But this was Jeord we were talking about... Jeord, who always had a smile on his face.

Jeord’s blank expression, as well as the slowly expanding aura of pressure that he was exerting, soon caused the noisy noble ladies to clam up altogether. Up until a while ago, they were so eagerly chattering on. Now, however, they pursed their lips, looking on in apparent fear.

“In any case... it would be all but impossible for my simple-minded and pure Big Sister to carry out such specific and detailed acts of bullying. If I may say so... I usually spend my time by my Big Sister’s side. However, I do not recall seeing this witness of yours... not once. Did you genuinely witness my Big Sister, Katarina Claes, carry out these specific acts...?” Keith said, looking up from the paper of detailed accusations.

On his face was a cold smile — one that I had never seen before. A single glance from Keith was enough to cause the so-called witness to retreat, with her giving an involuntary squeak as she took a few steps backwards.

“Honestly! Lady Katarina would never do such a thing! It is as Master Keith says — Lady Katarina is indeed simple and pure! She is all but incapable of such intricate and complicated plans!” Mary declared, a tense expression splashed across her features.

Immediately after, Alan spoke up too, in his usual brusque manner. “It’s as she says! There’s no damn way this idiot could plan something difficult like that! She’s stupid, see?! All she can do is face you in a sincere one-to-one!”

Sophia chimed in next. “Exactly so...! Lady Katarina would never do anything like this... planning behind someone’s back?! She’s not that capable! Lady Katarina simply does not have the capacity to act in such a way!!”

“Well said,” added Nicol.

Although everyone seemed to be protecting me from these outlandish accusations... for some reason, I couldn’t help but feel like they were severely underestimating my capabilities...

And then, as soon as my friends delivered their statements, the familiar voices of a few classmates started ringing out through the cafeteria.

“Yes! Lady Katarina would never do anything of the sort!”

“Lady Katarina bullying another student? Unthinkable!”

The voices rose up, one after the next. Soon they grew louder, flooding in from all corners of the room. And then...

“It is as everyone says. Lady Katarina is not the kind of person to bully or hurt another! While the accusations and details written on this paper — about me being bullied, are true... Lady Katarina was in no way the perpetrator! In fact, Lady Katarina herself protected me from these bullies, time and time again! Also... I clearly remember the faces of those who really did bully me, and attempted to cause me harm. If there is really a need, perhaps I should name them, one by one, here and now...”

It was as if she were someone else. The usually gentle, calm, and soothing Maria... was now courageously deflecting the accusations directed at me, swatting them away one by one. From the corner of my eye, I could see a few people seated in the cafeteria slowly turning pale.

Upon closer inspection, some of the noble ladies who were accusing me reacted in a similar way, lowering their heads. The girls were now obviously at a disadvantage. No longer able to continue their accusations, their voices slowly grew softer and softer, a sharp contrast from their initial tone. Soon, they trailed out of the cafeteria.

Immediately, Maria came to my side to reassure me, as I had been silent for the entire ordeal. “Lady Katarina, are you all right?” she asked, looking straight into my eyes with an expression of pronounced worry.

I nodded deeply. “Yes... quite. Um... Thank you, everyone.” I said to my friends, as well as my other classmates who had spoken up for me.

“No... In fact, I apologize, Katarina. For not being at your side when this began,” Jeord said, placing a hand on my shoulder.

“Sorry we were late, Big Sister,” Keith added, doing the same.

Before I knew it, the tension in my shoulders faded slowly but surely. And with that came a deep, familiar rumbling. It would seem that my stomach, still not having any lunch, was at its limit.

“I never thought those girls would dare to do something like this to Katarina.”

“I agree, Prince Jeord. While it is indeed true that they view Big Sister as an enemy of sorts... I did not think that they would go this far.”

“Yeah. Even if she were the way they claimed... she’s still the eldest daughter of a duke. To insult her would be... endangering themselves. More than just their standing, I mean. They didn’t seem like the type to go this far.”

“Also, there is the matter of this evidence... no matter how one would spin it, I hardly believe that their little group is capable of such. Especially this... the level of fabrication is all but too high.”

“It is as Lady Mary says... I do not think that those students are... capable of creating such well-crafted pieces of fake evidence...”

“...It is also odd that we were all summoned at the same time to perform various tasks.”

While I was finally able to tuck into my much-deserved lunch, my friends all seemed to be engaging in some difficult topic of conversation. I, however, was simply happy that I had survived the Public Prosecution of Katarina Claes, and in turn, avoided a Catastrophic Bad End.

Given that the scenario of Fortune Lover officially ends during the graduation ceremony next spring, I still couldn’t let down my guard... But even so, I had gotten out of that terrible situation thanks to everyone’s help. That was truly a good thing.

I was caught up in my own thoughts, and didn’t notice that Maria alone was silent, as if thinking about one thing or another. With lunch break finally over, everyone was just about to return to afternoon classes... when Maria suddenly spoke up.

“There is someplace... I would like to go. Please go on ahead, everyone.”

“Should I go with you, Maria?” Although it seemed like the bullies would no longer trouble Maria, I still asked after her, worried for her well-being.

“No... it is nothing important. I will be fine on my own. Please, do go on ahead,” Maria said, staunchly refusing my offer.

Perhaps her stomach hurts? Does she need to use the washroom? Maybe she shouldn’t have eaten so much over lunch break...

“Hmm. All right then. We don’t have long before afternoon lessons begin though, so make sure to come back quickly.”

“Of course, Lady Katarina,” Maria replied with her usual smile, before heading off in the opposite direction of the classrooms.

After this, I would deeply regret not having gone with Maria.

Although I had asked her to return quickly, she was nowhere to be found in the classroom. Assuming that she was unwell, I thought to check the infirmary, but there was no sign of her there either.

After this, we all searched for Maria... but no matter how hard we tried, we couldn’t find her anywhere. It was as if Maria Campbell had vanished into thin air after we had parted ways at the end of the lunch break.

It was now the second day since Maria’s sudden disappearance. Although my friends and I desperately searched the academy for her, we could find no trace of Maria’s whereabouts at all — not even a single clue.

All I could do was panic, my mind a hysteric mess. Why didn’t I just go with her...? I would come to regret my decision even more in the coming days.

“Here. Drink this and warm up. You look terrible, Lady Katarina,” said the student council president as he handed me a cup of freshly-brewed tea.

“...Thank you very much.” I said, graciously accepting the cup. It had the same gentle taste, and soon, its warmth spread through my body.

I was in the council chambers, as I always was. I stared at the chair that Maria used to sit in. Normally the president would offer me tea, and Maria would offer me a homemade snack, all smiles. However... that smile was now conspicuously absent.

“Miss Campbell has a good head on her shoulders, and wields strong Light Magic. I am sure she will be all right,” the president said, attempting to soothe me as my gaze remained fixated on the empty chair — Maria’s chair.

The president had assisted us in searching for her, and even attempted to cheer me up in his ever-so-gentle voice. Even now, he was showing me so much consideration.

I hardly thought that I was the only one suffering... I could see that my friends felt the same way. After all, the president was close with Maria, too. There was no way he wouldn’t be hurt by this development.

Even so, he had taken care to cheer me up, to be considerate. Wallowing in regrets and being depressed will do nothing for me. I should put those feelings aside and do what I can.

I’ll definitely find you. Please... be all right. Wait for me... Maria.

It was the night of the third day that Maria had gone missing. After finishing my evening meal at the dormitory, I was heading back to my room to prepare for tomorrow. It was then that Jeord invited me to his quarters with a grave expression on his face.

It was hardly a time for social calls — but more than that, Jeord’s severe expression instilled a sense of dread in me.

“What is it, at this hour...? Don’t tell me... Has there been news of Maria...?” I asked, my voice quivering as I did so.

Jeord simply shook his head. “Not quite. We still have not located Maria. However... we have discovered something that might be related to her disappearance. I thought to inform you posthaste.”

“Something... related? To her disappearance?”

“First... look at this.” Jeord presented to me a sheaf of papers — documents, perhaps. They were the very same papers that had listed all my supposed sins and wrongdoings, the ones that were shoved in my face the previous day.

“This is... from yesterday...”

“Indeed, the documents those nobles confronted you with the other day. Something about these papers caught my attention, and I’ve been investigating them alongside the affair of Maria’s disappearance...”

Jeord had long been aware of those noble ladies that had attempted to frame me at the Public Persecution of Katarina Claes — specifically how they harbored an intense dislike towards me. However, those nobles had neither the social standing nor power to cause me harm in any tangible way. As such, Jeord had mainly opted to leave them be.

In spite of Jeord’s earlier assessment, what happened yesterday had indeed hurt me. There was one problem, however — according to Jeord, those noble ladies shouldn’t have had the resources or capability to create the accusatory documents they’d used against me.

Jeord, unwilling to overlook this glaring contradiction, had apparently been looking into the matter, as well as searching for Maria. And then...

“Most peculiar, is it not? The conclusion is obvious — those nobles were not the ones who created these documents.”

“...What does that mean, then?”

“Another party, Katarina. Somebody other than these nobles was responsible for these documents. But the plot thickens; when questioned, the nobles claim to have no memory of how they came across these papers in the first place.”

“But how could they not remember? That makes no sense...”

“Of course, it was most unbelievable. Even I thought that they were lying at first, and did an appropriate amount of investigation... but it would seem that they were all telling the truth.”

“...”

Those nobles did not know where the so-called evidence came from? They received it from another party? Impossible. After all, they presented the papers with such confidence!

To begin with, presenting accusations like that as evidence is absurd... Did the nobles all collectively lose their memories of the incident...?

Still wearing that same severe expression, Jeord continued on, in spite of my stunned silence. “Alas, Katarina, it goes even deeper... For some reason, all of those involved seem to have absolutely no memory of the events that transpired... for that entire day.”

“...Eh?!”

“It is beyond a doubt that those girls harbor ill will towards you... that much is plain fact. However, it is unthinkable that they would be so bold as to publicly level accusations against you.”

Jeord had a point — those noble ladies did dislike me. In fact, they would often curse me under their breaths if I walked past them while unaccompanied. Even so, they hardly seemed to have the sheer guts, or perhaps courage to actually attempt to harm me in any way.

After all, I, Katarina Claes, was the eldest daughter of a duke, and the fiancée of the third crown prince of the kingdom. I had quite a bit of political power and influence, so half-hearted attempts at causing me harm would merely backfire... with notable consequences.

While the noble ladies involved were of considerably high social standing when compared to the average noble, I could hardly see any of them having the gall to pick a fight with Katarina Claes herself, much less in public.

Even so... yesterday’s events did indeed happen. For some reason, those noble ladies were all overtaken by an irresistible urge to conduct a “great counterattack against the terrible oppressor, Katarina Claes”... and those sentiments coursed through not one, but all of them at the same time.

However, once they retreated from the cafeteria, those emotions apparently quickly faded, and all the noble ladies in question were left clutching their heads, wondering why they had done such a thing in the first place. When Jeord had started looking into the matter, the nobles involved were all visibly apologetic for their actions.

“But... if what you say is true, Prince Jeord, then that’s really suspicious. In fact... it almost seems like those nobles were being controlled by someone else... against their will.”

Jeord’s expression immediately darkened at my words. “If I had to say, Katarina... it would not be an assumption, but a definite reality. The nobles were being controlled by someone, of course.”

“Eh...?!”

“The overall demeanor of those girls was indeed strange at the time...”

“B-But... controlled? By someone else? Is that...”

Controlling something like an earthen golem is one thing, but actual, living humans...?

Anyway, I’ve never heard of anything that resembles hypnotism in this world. Is it even possible to control the minds of that many people at once...? I was truly confused.

Jeord continued his explanation once more, looking more and more severe with each passing moment. “To control the mind of another, yes... it is indeed possible — with the power of Dark Magic, that is.”

“...What? Dark... Dark Magic? Is there even such a thing?”

From what I understood, the magical elements in this world were Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, and Light. Those born with magical capability would have their powers manifest at a certain age. This was what I had been taught by the academy, and even the tutors who educated me in my childhood. It was a reality that everyone understood.

There were only five kinds of magic — Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Light. We were not informed of the existence of any other kinds of magic, not even after enrolling into this prestigious academy.

“Yes, Katarina. The sixth magic... Dark Magic. A ‘Wielder of Darkness,’ so to speak. Those who wield magic woven from such magical energies, the Dark Arts, are capable of controlling the hearts of others.”

“...But I haven’t... Darkness magic? Dark arts? I’ve never heard of anything like that...”

“Of course. Dark Magic is a very dangerous thing. It is forbidden, and often hidden away. Only certain individuals in this kingdom know of its concept and existence.”

“Dangerous...?”

“The capability to control and dominate the hearts of others. Those who fall prey to this domination have absolutely no memory of it. A most fearsome magic, is it not?”

To have your very own mind controlled without warning... and have no memory of what you could have done during that time. It was as Jeord said — a most terrifying prospect indeed.

“As such, it is fair to conclude that the noble ladies involved in this particular incident were being controlled by someone who wields Dark Magic. In other words, Katarina... this incident may very well be the result of you being targeted by a Wielder of Darkness.”

“...Me? Targeted? By a Wielder of... Darkness? ...Why?”

While most of the noble ladies simply disliked me because of the fact that I was Jeord’s fiancée... was there something else I had done to earn their ire?

“I know not of the reasons, Katarina. We do not even have any suspects lined up. However... it would do you well to be cautious. Take care to avoid solitary movements from now on, if you would...”

“...I understand...”

I thought that the incident of the noble ladies harassing me had already been solved by everyone’s collaborative efforts. To think that there was such an ominous backdrop to all of this... But... wait...

Why is a Wielder of Darkness targeting me in the first place? If their target was indeed me, then why...

“Why did Maria disappear, then...?” If the Wielder of Darkness did indeed mean to target me, Maria should have been left out of this entire affair.

“Ah, well... Assuming that this mystery individual’s target was you, Katarina, Maria should have been left alone. However... Maria Campbell is a Wielder of Light.”

“Yes, there is that... but what does that have to do with anything?”\

“It is said that those born with Light Magic are able to... sense Dark Magic when it is used. They are opposites, you see. It is even said that only those with Light Magic are capable of perceiving and identifying the Dark Arts when they are used.”

“What?! Then, Maria was...”

“She most likely picked up on something during the incident... and made contact with this Wielder of Darkness. It is my assumption at this point that she has been kidnapped by this individual.”

Darkness Magic... the Dark Arts. Magic that was capable of dominating the mind of another. Did Maria notice that? More importantly, where had she been taken to? I felt my head spinning at all the information I had been presented with. I couldn’t make sense of any of it.

The very existence of Dark Magic was unknown to me before now. A forbidden magic that was often hidden away... Eh? But then... what would happen to individuals born with Dark Magic in their veins?

“...But... Prince Jeord, if Dark Magic is indeed dangerous and often hidden away... what happens to people who are born with it? Do they hide their powers as they manifest? And anyway... if Dark Magic is so secret, wouldn’t it be difficult to keep tabs on these so-called Wielders of Darkness, if their powers awaken?” I said, immediately questioning Jeord further.

“You see, unlike other kinds of magic, Dark Magic is not something that one simply has at birth. Dark Magic, and by extension, the Dark Arts, are a... new type of magical power, obtained sometime later in a magically capable individual’s life.”

“Obtained later in life...? A new type of magical power...?”

Isn’t magical capability and aptitude something that’s determined at birth? A power that can be obtained later on in life... what does that mean?

As if sensing my growing sense of confusion, Jeord continued his explanation — lowering his voice as he did so. “To obtain Dark Magic, a certain ritual is required.”

“A... ritual?”

“Yes... a ritual. It is said that...if a certain something is offered up as an offering in that ritual, the one performing it would become a Wielder of Darkness.”

“An offering?”

Jeord nodded deeply at my question, before pursing his lips, and then finally inhaling deeply. “You see... according to what we know about Dark Magic and its rituals, we can say that one becomes a Wielder of Darkness... when a human life is offered up as a sacrifice. As such... anyone who wields Dark Magic would have obtained it through an exchange. Magic... for the life of another.”

It was a world of darkness. Pitch black. I stood in a world where I could not tell up from down.

At my feet were the fallen bodies of all of my dear friends. Jeord, Keith, Mary, Alan, Sophia, Nicol, and Maria. There was no hint of life in their faces.

“Everyone... wake up! Please wake up!” I shouted, as if my life depended on it. I shook each and every one of them desperately. Not a single one of my friends moved.

“...Why...? How... did this happen?” I knelt down amongst the unmoving bodies of my friends. I could feel my body shivering, the tears welling up in my eyes.

How did it come to this...? How could I lose everyone I cared for in such a way...? If this was the end that would embrace us... I alone should have headed towards catastrophe. Towards the end.

“Why...? Why...?”

My tears only continued to flow, silently, in this pitch-black world.

What greeted me as I opened my eyes was the familiar ceiling I was used to. To be precise, it was the ceiling of my dormitory room — the one I had been living in for these past six months.

The room was dark. I couldn’t see any hint of light outside my window. It was fair to assume that the sun hadn’t risen yet.

“A... dream? All of that?” My voice was quivering, faint. I could still feel myself shaking.

I was covered in cold sweat. I placed a few fingers on my cheek, and found that my fingers were wet. Apparently I was crying as I lay in bed, dreaming.

What a terrible dream that was... I held myself as tightly as I could with both arms.

One had to exchange another’s life in order to gain Dark Magic — to become a Wielder of Darkness. Magic paid for with the life of another. Perhaps it was because I had come to know of something so terrifying that I had such a horrible dream.

However... such a future was impossible. There was no way it could come to pass. In the original setting of Fortune Lover, the only person at risk of losing their life was the antagonistic rival villainess character, Katarina Claes. And that was only true in Alan’s, Keith’s, and Jeord’s routes.

To be fair, I had yet to clear Nicol’s route... but then again, the rival character in that scenario was Sophia. Nicol, being fond of his little sister as he was, could not possibly do anything bad to her. So... there was no way anything like that could happen.

The only one in danger in this game world was none other than me — Katarina Claes. Only me. For these past seven years, I had made various preparations, all for the sake of adequately overcoming these dangers and trials.

“It’ll be alright,” I said to myself. But in spite of all my efforts... that dream, and the visions I had seen... hardly faded.

In the end, I never fell back asleep.

The next day, I started feeling unwell before noon. Perhaps it was because I hardly got any sleep last night, after witnessing such a gruesome sight in my dreams. Keith and Jeord accompanied me to the infirmary, where I could hopefully get some rest.

Maybe it was because I hadn’t slept enough, or because I was reassured at seeing their faces, but I fell asleep almost immediately after I was tucked into the warm bed.

When I woke up, quite some time had passed. It was now almost lunch break, and Jeord and Keith had long since returned to their classes. My head was now clear, thanks to the short nap I had. After thanking the nurse, I made to return to the classroom.

Although Jeord had cautioned me against going anywhere alone just the day before, it was only a short distance from the infirmary to the classroom, so I figured it would be all right.

Crossing through the courtyard from the infirmary would take me back to the classroom quickly, and that was the route I took. Warm sunlight shone down on me as I stepped into the open courtyard. It didn’t take long for my eyes to settle on a small bench — the very same one that Maria had intended to eat her lunch on, not too long ago.

Maybe a little while longer would be fine. What harm could it do? I approached the bench, before sitting down slowly on it. Before I had gotten to know Maria, she would always eat her lunches here, alone.

Maria is cute and gentle... I thought that I could be with her forever as good friends. I wonder where she is now...?

If what Jeord said yesterday was indeed true, then Maria was in a lot of danger indeed... After all, it was possible that she had been taken away by a Wielder of Darkness — someone who sacrificed the life of another to gain Dark Magic.

“Lady Katarina? Whatever are you doing here?”

I turned around at the sudden voice that called my name. Standing there was none other than the president — with his usual, lovable smile.

“Ah... I was feeling a little ill, and so I took a short rest at the infirmary. I was thinking of returning to the classroom immediately after, but...”

“Is that right? However, we still have not found Miss Maria. It is dangerous to sit in such a place by yourself. Perhaps I could walk you back to the classroom?”

“Th-Thank you very much...”

With that, the president held out his hand. But it was then that a thought flitted into my mind. What is he even doing here? Lessons were currently being held at the academy, and I was the only student who was at the infirmary.

So yeah... what is the president doing here? I should ask him. The question floated up to the surface of my mind. I craned my neck, looking up at the president. His head full of red hair, now illuminated by the sun’s rays, almost seemed to be sparkling.

That was it. It was this very sight. Suddenly... a memory resurfaced from the depths of my mind.

“The hidden character route was really something, you know...? Unexpectedly difficult!” Acchan said, once again with that self-satisfied smile of hers. She continued on, despite knowing that I hated spoilers for the game’s scenarios.

“He’s quite a dangerous person, you know? With Dark Magic! If you succeed in the route, he spends happy days with the protagonist... but if you fail... the protagonist, her friends, and everyone in the student council... die. Everyone will be killed by this hidden character! A terrible Bad End, isn’t it? Ah, also, he has a head full of red hair and grey eyes—”

Yes... it was exactly like I had heard from Acchan. The existence of a hidden character, and the endings that awaited... In other words, the dream yesterday was not impossible at all. A horrible ending in which the protagonist and everyone in the student council lost their lives... it did indeed exist.

I felt beads of cold sweat trickling down my back. How could I have forgotten something so important...? I really, really am a fool...

Red hair and grey eyes — just like the person standing in front of me smiling gently. Student Council President, Sirius Dieke. As expected, he was yet another person with impossibly high specifications. He was popular too, of course.

This man before me was none other than the hidden character of Fortune Lover, and the one who wielded Dark Magic.

I couldn’t believe that my gentle, dependable senior would do such horrible things... that he would end the life of Maria, the Student Council, and everyone I cared about...

However, if Jeord’s words were to be believed, there was a high chance that these recent incidents were caused by one with Dark Magic. And if my memories from my past life were indeed accurate... then the president, Sirius Dieke, was most likely the same Wielder of Darkness who was behind all this. Magic paid for with the life of another. The Dark Arts.

“Lady Katarina... is something wrong?” Sirius asked, perhaps noticing that I remained frozen and seated, despite him now holding my outstretched hand. He had his usual, gentle expression on his face. Could it really be him?

“I... President, are you really a... Wielder of Darkness? Also... what have you done with Maria...?”

“...What is this all about...? Wielding Darkness?”

I had uttered the words before I knew it. Sirius, however, only looked slightly worried. He had an expression that suggested he knew nothing. Nothing whatsoever.

That’s right... the very existence of Dark Magic was unknown by the masses. Even I didn’t know anything about it — not until I had that conversation with Jeord. Even if he did have Dark Magic in the original setting of Fortune Lover, the current reality may be somewhat different.

After all, even my close friends had remarkably different personalities than they used to in the game, so even the President himself could be different. The Wielder of Darkness could have just been someone else.

“Oh, of course... you wouldn’t know, president. How could our gentle student council president have Dark Magic, or do anything terrible to Maria...?” Again, the words left my lips before I knew it. There was no way such a gentle person could sacrifice the life of another to gain Dark Magic. It was impossible.

With those thoughts in mind, I turned my eyes to Sirius once more. Sirius’ gaze, however... was different. He regarded me with a coldness in his eyes — one that I had never seen.

“President...?”

“Gentle, huh... You always say that about me, don’t you...?”

“...Of course... It’s because you are a gentle person, President...”

I found my voice quivering under his cold gaze. Upon hearing my answer, however... the president’s expression... twisted.

“That’s just an act. It’s easier to get by if I pretend to be gentle and calm, you see? You all, being the fools you are, were completely taken in by this little charade.”

“?!”

The corner of Sirius’ lips curled up at my expression of bafflement and surprise. Soon, a smile surfaced, twisted and mocking. This was far from the usual charming smile he had on his face.

“On another note... just so you know. The one who took Maria Campbell was me. All because she realized something she was better off not knowing. And also, Katarina Claes... I hate you. You are a hypocrite! A false altruist seeking to save the lonely and ostracized! The more I look at you, the more irritated I get!”

In an instant, his tone became cold and hurtful. The words that left his lips dripped with hostility. Sirius tightened his grip on my hand, still held in his. It was starting to hurt.

“You know what...? You should just fucking disappear!”

The lonely and ostracized...? Saving them? A hypocrite...? I didn’t understand what he was talking about. However, from the blatant hostility in his tone, I could tell that Sirius was not fond of me in the slightest.

But... as I thought. Sirius was the one who had done something to Maria. Then... would Sirius claim the lives of Maria, of everyone in the student council, of all those I cared for... just like how it was in the game?

I gazed into Sirius’ grey irises. He no longer had his usual, calm expression. His eyes were cold, chilling me to the bone. He himself admitted that he had kidnapped Maria... and that his gentle disposition was nothing more than a façade. His words dripped with hostility and hate. Even so... why?

“...Are you... okay?” I asked, raising my other, free hand, slowly to his face.

With his cold eyes, and hateful words, Sirius stood before me. In contrast to his words, however... I could see only pain in his face. Even now, it looked like he could start crying any second. His face was pale — as if he would collapse at any moment. My fingers brushed against his cheek — his skin was ice-cold.

“...Y-You hypocrite! That’s enough! Don’t pity me, don’t get involved with me! Stay away! Don’t look at me with that smile of yours...! Just... Just get out of my sight!” Sirius shouted, roughly knocking away my raised hand.

As he did so I could feel a blanket of darkness slowly falling over me. Somehow, my consciousness seemed to fade...

“Sleep. Just like that. Until your life ends...” Sirius said contemptuously.

Through my fading sense of awareness, the last thing I saw was... Sirius’ face, and the tears that flowed freely from his eyes.

★★★★★★★★★

“The tea that you brew has such a gentle flavor to it,” my mother said, a calm smile on her face as she slowly patted me on the head.

Those were calm and happy days. However, that happiness was suddenly... all taken from me — and in such a hideous fashion.

That was when I swore. I swore that I would exact my revenge on those who had snatched my happiness away from me. That I would take everything they had — their social standing... their lives... everything.

I am the only son of Marquess Dieke — Sirius Dieke. That is the name I have now.

As I had magical aptitude, I enrolled into the Academy of Magic on my fifteenth birthday. My high magical and academic skills soon came to light, and I was chosen to be part of the prestigious student council. In doing so, I brought honor to the Dieke family.

I first heard the name of that individual upon crossing paths with my old childhood friend, Nicol Ascart, at the Academy of Magic. The last time I had met Nicol, he had barely turned ten. Now, five years later, I had run into him again.

However, Nicol had changed in those five years. Before, he was a youth with eyes that reflected a perpetual sense of loneliness. Now, however, there was a sparkle in his gaze — not a single bit of loneliness was reflected within those jet-black eyes.

It was a pity, honestly, given that I had felt a sense of camaraderie with this youth with the lonely eyes. It did not take long for me to discover the name of the individual who had caused Nicol to change in this particular way.

“Katarina Claes.” The eldest daughter of the Claes family, and fiancée to Prince Jeord, third crown prince of the kingdom. The once silent and stoic Nicol often spoke of this girl. The more he spoke of her, the more his usual, unchanging expression... wavered.

If I had to guess... the one who had taken away the loneliness in Nicol’s eyes... was none other than this girl.

In the spring of next year, I was elected as student council president... and that was when she appeared before me.

From all that I had heard about Nicol, I had assumed that she was some sort of impossibly beautiful saint. Upon actually meeting Katarina Claes, however, it dawned upon me that she was a normal girl, who hardly seemed special, and she did not leave much of an impression on me.

Although she did possess somewhat attractive features, another girl elected to the council this year, Maria Campbell, was much more attractive in that regard. In addition, she was not particularly smart, nor was she gifted with strong magical aptitude.

If I were to phrase it frankly, all Katarina Claes seemed to be was Prince Jeord’s fiancée, and the eldest daughter of Duke Claes. It seemed like she had nothing beyond her station.

However, this relatively normal and unimpressive girl was respected and much-loved by her peers — said peers all being skilled and capable individuals, newly elected to the council.

That was also why they had leveled a threat against the lecturers and teachers: “If Katarina is not allowed free entry into the student council chambers, we will all rescind our nominations to the council,” they said.

What exactly was so special, so desirable in this plain girl? Mysterious as it may have been, I didn’t give her much of a second thought — none of this would matter as long as she never interfered with my revenge.

For the sake of executing my revenge, I had to maintain my act as the capable and calm student council president. I would, of course, have to get along with the new council members to some degree. To that end, I had to be kind and pleasant enough to this Katarina that they all loved so much — to a certain extent, anyway.

That was the thought I had in my mind as I brewed some tea for Katarina Claes that day — that it was nothing more than a hollow gesture.

“The tea that you brew has such a gentle flavor to it, President,” Katarina Claes said with a peaceful smile as she raised the cup to her lips.

I felt a wave of unrest spread over my being at her words... and smile. So much so that the mask I had worn for years... almost seemed ready to shatter at that very moment.

Up until now, the other student council members only had the usual pleasantries to say about the tea I brewed. That it was “delicious,” or something along those lines. However, there was only one person in my entire life... who said that the tea I brewed had a “gentle flavor.”

To make things worse, the way she smiled was much like how that person used to smile. I felt something deep in my chest stirring. With my previously unwavering resolve shaken, I found myself not knowing how to appropriately deal with Katarina.

Even so, the deception that I had steadily maintained across the years allowed me to interact with her somewhat normally. Ever since this incident, however, all of my interactions with Katarina Claes only served to spread even more shockwaves across my being, dampening my resolve.

On the day that everything was taken from me, I had sworn to have my revenge. I would put on this calm and gentle mask of mine, pursue academic achievements, and continue deceiving everyone else around me... all the while using the Dark Magic that I had obtained. I would weave plan after plan, preparing for the inevitable.

I gathered funds, fabricated crimes and evidence. The day would soon come when I could exact my revenge on those who had snatched away my happiness all those years ago. However... I found myself unable to continue on with my tasks. Not after I met this... Katarina Claes.

For the sake of my revenge, I was capable of doing anything, even if it meant dirtying my own hands. Up until now, I had not felt a single shred of regret or hesitation. Never once had my resolve been shaken. And yet... and yet.

When I looked into those azure eyes — Katarina’s eyes, and that smile on her face — I could feel my heart, my emotions... twisting and swirling like a maelstrom.

There was a girl by the name of Campbell in the student council. Maria Campbell. She was a commoner, and yet a Wielder of Light. A special girl.

Maria was capable in both academics and magic. She had a good head on her shoulders, and a most charming visage that easily captured the hearts of all those who gazed upon her. A truly blessed girl.

Even so, she often had a certain look of loneliness in her eyes. That look was exactly like the one Nicol used to have. I felt a sense of camaraderie towards this girl, too.

However, she changed. Somewhere along the line, the aura of loneliness around her being all but vanished — and soon I saw her with Katarina even outside the council chambers, as if they were the best of friends.

Ever since then, Maria’s eyes seemed to chase after Katarina. Should their eyes ever meet, she would smile ever so faintly, as if overcome by joy.

Surrounded by the smiles and laughter of many... Katarina Claes. She was the one who brought this sparkle to Nicol and Maria’s eyes. They were happy just being at her side. Looking at her then, I finally started to understand why Nicol seemed to view her as some sort of saint.

My heart, however, was filled with a vortex of emotions every time I cast my eyes upon her... so much so that the mask I had developed, this deception that I had maintained for all these years... sometimes seemed ready to crumble and fade.

“Why are you bothering with someone like that? Continue the preparations for your revenge!” another voice within me said, as I felt my very heart ravaged by the very sight of Katarina.

Now that it had come to this... it appeared that I could no longer disregard the existence of Katarina Claes.

It was pure coincidence that I witnessed the bullying of Maria Campbell. Although I knew that she was the target of petty bullying by students who were jealous of her, this was the first time I had seen it in person.

As the student council president, there was no way Sirius Dieke wouldn’t intervene. And so I did what I had to do, giving a stern warning to the nobles bullying her.

“Are you all right?” I asked.

“Thank you very much. I am all right,” Maria said, as if the experience had not bothered her in the slightest.

Even so, I couldn’t help but feel baffled and exasperated at the sheer petty foolishness of these young lords and ladies. Maria Campbell was a commoner, and as such had a relatively low social standing in the academy. Even so, she was a Wielder of Light. If anything, she should be a valuable presence — one of the rare few blessed with Light Magic in this kingdom.

In fact, the Magical Ministry had long since had its eye on Maria, ever since she enrolled into the academy. Blessed with Light Magic and high magical capabilities, Maria Campbell was sure to obtain a high position in the ministry upon graduation.

To bully and harass someone like Maria, who would be accepted into an association that held the reins of power to the kingdom only second to the king himself... it was plain to see that they would pay for their crimes one day. And yet, they did not realize this... what fools they were.

It was then that the idea struck my mind. Why not frame Katarina Claes? Frame her for all the bullying and harassment that Maria Campbell had experienced.

If I succeeded in this endeavor... even Katarina Claes, the eldest daughter of Duke Claes, wouldn’t be able to get away with it unscathed. If everything went according to plan, Katarina might even disappear from the academy... and disappear from my sight.

If I could do that... my heart would no longer waver. My resolve would never again be shaken. With that in mind, the rest of the plan was simple. All I had to do was investigate what kind of bullying Maria was subject to, and then have Katarina do the exact same things.

To that end, I had to control Katarina with my Dark Magic, and then have her bully Maria in those specific ways. My plan, however, did not come to fruition.

Dark Magic was said to be able to dominate the hearts and minds of others. However, the means by which one would attain such powers, as well as the dangerous nature of Dark Magic itself, meant that its very existence was hidden from the public at large.

In spite of all this, Dark Magic was not omnipotent — far from it. One could not exactly control the hearts of others however they pleased. Erasing certain memories, or snatching away one’s consciousness for a set period of time... that much was possible. Dark Magic, however, was not capable of creating something that was not already there.

For instance, Dark Magic could not make someone hate what they loved... nor could it make them suddenly adore what they detested. What it could do was cause the seeds of jealousy, envy, or even hatred, to slowly grow — and this would eventually incite the individual to act. However, if the person in question did not have any jealousy, envy, or hatred in their heart in the first place, nothing could be done.

And of course... Katarina did not have the slightest feelings of envy towards Maria. I had assumed that amplifying her envy was enough. Sooner or later, she would move on to bullying Maria. However... I could not amplify something that wasn’t there. In the end, I was unable to incite Katarina into bullying Maria.

As a result, I had to change my plans... In the end, all I could do was amplify the envy and hatred of those noble girls who bore ill will towards Katarina, provide them with fabricated circumstantial evidence, and then have them publicly blame Katarina for all the bullying — and even that took quite some effort to pull off.

Efforts were made to lure away Katarina’s friends, her dependable knights, on the day of the incident. While she did seem cornered initially, her knights came to her rescue earlier than I had anticipated, and my plan ended in failure. The false evidence that I had crafted was immediately dismissed by the knights who loved her so. Even Maria Campbell, who had indeed been bullied and harassed, stood up for her, claiming that “Lady Katarina would never do such a thing.”

Honestly speaking, my inability to dominate Katarina’s mind meant that this plan had a low chance of success to begin with... but for it to fail to this extent...

I did, however, erase the memories of those girls, and modified the memories of all those involved in preoccupying members of the student council that lunch break. As a result, there was no way anyone could trace this incident to me.

I hadn’t suffered any backlash for tor this failure. The plan had a low rate of success — I suppose nothing could be done about it. That was when the other voice in me spoke out.

“There was no way that you, wise as you are, would not have anticipated this. You knew from the start that this plan would not work. Were you really serious about getting rid of that annoying woman?”

Was I really serious? Was I? Of course... I had to erase her — remove her from my sight.

Yes, that was exactly it. That woman caused my resolve to waver. I had to erase her... and that was why I had thought up this plan in the first place.

However, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of... contradiction. Even though my plan had failed, I somehow felt... relieved?

I gazed at Katarina from a distance. There she was, surrounded by her friends, smiling happily. With a complex mixture of disappointment and relief in my heart, I plodded back to the council chambers.

With this, the curtains should have been drawn on this event. Upon returning to the council chambers, I set about arranging some documents... and it was then that she appeared.

Maria Campbell. The one who had so magnificently shielded Katarina moments ago — the very same one who had foiled my plans... and the only Wielder of Light in the Academy of Magic.

Lunch break was already over. Why would she be here at this time...? My question, however, was soon answered. Her face pale, Maria began to speak.

“I noticed some time ago, President... that you were occasionally glaring at Lady Katarina. I assumed that I was just imagining things... but then I was thinking about what just happened. I... did not want to think that you were involved in this incident, President. And so I thought I could come to check on you... Well then... what exactly were those things?”

“Whatever are you talking about, Miss Campbell...? What do you mean by ‘incident’...? Did something happen to Lady Katarina?” I responded, a fake expression of worry on my face.

To think that I had let my mask slip and openly glared at Katarina a few times... what a colossal mistake. Even so, Maria didn’t have any evidence to back up her words. All I had to do was erase that memory.

“You don’t know...? But... that is impossible. You must be connected in some way... after all, it’s the same. That black aura around you... looks exactly like that black presence that was drifting over the noble ladies harassing Lady Katarina!”

“?!” My eyes opened wide, in spite of myself. A black presence, an aura... was she referring to the presence of Dark Magic?

Up until now, no one had pointed this out, although I had been using my magic all this time. I took it for granted that no one around me was capable of perceiving Dark Magic in the first place. Could it be...

Ah. Because she is a Wielder of Light. It was a reasonable assumption. I hadn’t encountered a single Wielder of Light, not since first obtaining my Dark Magic powers.

Dark and Light were pure opposites. Maria Campbell and her Light Magic... was it because of this that she was able to perceive it? The formless Dark Arts?

Maria, with her stern expression, appeared to have seen right through me. Now that it had come to this... continuing the charade would be difficult. In that case...

“Ha. Haha. As expected of a Wielder of Light. That’s right. I was the mastermind behind this entire incident. All so that I could erase that irritating woman...”

“?!” Maria, frozen to the spot with her eyes wide, could hardly react as I walked to her, ever so slowly. After all, Dark Magic could not activate without contact. I placed a single hand on Maria’s shoulder.

“...But you see... this is not something you need to know.” I would simply erase this, and several other memories from Maria’s mind. In a few seconds, Maria would forget about this conversation... or so I thought.

“Well then, Miss Maria. If you don’t return to the classrooms soon, lessons will start without you.”

“...What are you talking about, President...? We’re not done here.” Maria said, suspicion and surprise written all over her features.

...Could it be?! I let my Dark Magic slither across Maria once more. However...

“What have you been trying to do... since just now?” Maria said, with that same expression. It would appear that she was unaffected by the Dark Arts.

Wielders of Light must be immune to the Dark Arts... I won’t be able to erase her memories...! In that case... I cannot simply allow her to leave.

“President... why would you... Lady Katarina...”

If magic didn’t work, a physical tactic would. Soon, Maria was unconscious. She had discovered something that she was better off not knowing. With me unable to erase her memories, I could not simply allow her to return to Katarina and the rest.

And so... I carried the still unconscious Maria to a hidden chamber in the academy grounds. I had planned and schemed so well... up until now. This was my biggest failure.

All this... all this. Was because I got involved with Katarina Claes.

“That woman is a hindrance. Erase her. Now. Quickly!” the voice within me demanded.

Maria’s disappearance was soon known to Katarina and her friends. Before long, they started searching for her in earnest.

The existence of a hidden chamber in the academy was only known to a few in the Dieke family. Surely, they would not easily discover where Maria was hidden. Even so, I couldn’t exactly lock Maria up forever.

Since then, I had tried many times to alter or erase Maria’s memories with the Dark Arts. Maria, however, showed no sign of succumbing. I was now at a loss.

It was then that the voice within me spoke once more. “Well then... you might as well just kill her. What better way to silence her once and for all?”

I took some time during a self-study period to check on how Maria was doing on the fourth day of her confinement. Assuming that the Dark Arts could still work on her should her spirits be dampened, I continued observing her — and yet... despite being cooped up in a dark room for an extended period of time, Maria still seemed stubbornly steadfast.

Irritated at the unimproving situation, I made my way back to the classrooms... and that was when I saw a figure. A familiar figure, seated on a bench in the open courtyard. It was none other than the culprit herself, the one responsible for putting me into this mess... Katarina Claes.

“Lady Katarina? Whatever are you doing here?”

Katarina turned around, surprised by a sudden voice calling out to her from behind. “Ah... I was feeling a little ill, and so I took a short rest at the infirmary. I was thinking of returning to the classroom immediately after, but...” Indeed, she did look rather pale.

“Is that right? However, we still have not found Miss Maria. It is dangerous to sit in such a place by yourself. Perhaps I could walk you back to the classroom?”

As Sirius Dieke, the student council president, I had no choice but to say those words to her. I extended my hand to the seated Katarina.

“Th-Thank you very much...”

As Katarina placed her hand into mine with a smile, I could feel my heart wavering, now stronger than ever before. I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable in this open, warm courtyard, so lovingly caressed by the sun’s rays. I wanted to quickly return to the classrooms. For some reason, however... Katarina was now frozen and unmoving, her hand still in mine.

“Lady Katarina... is something wrong?”

Her azure eyes stared into mine. And then...

“I... President, are you really a... Wielder of Darkness? Also... what have you done with Maria...?”

Although it was a huge shock to hear those words all of a sudden, I was able to quickly recover, in no small part due to the continuous deception I had maintained across the years.

“...What is this all about...? Wielding Darkness?” I pretended to know nothing of Dark Magic, assuming an expression of confusion and feigned worry.

Katarina lowered her head slightly, as if lost in thought. Why would she say something like this, all of a sudden...? Has she known of the existence of Dark Magic from the very beginning, or has one of her capable knights sniffed me out? Still, I can’t be sure that’s the case...

Much like Maria, Katarina seemed somewhat unsure of herself. All I had to do was bluff my way out of this with the adequate smoke and mirrors... or at least, that was what I intended to do.

“Oh, of course... you wouldn’t know, President. How could our gentle student council president have Dark Magic, or do anything terrible to Maria...?” Katarina mumbled, more to herself than anyone else.

Upon hearing those words, I could feel it: a cracking sensation... deep inside of me. Before I even realized it, the calm, composed mask of Sirius Dieke, painstakingly maintained across all these years, had been ruthlessly torn off my face.

“President...?” Katarina said, looking at me, shaken.

“Gentle, huh... You always say that about me, don’t you...?”

“...Of course... It’s because you are a gentle person, President...”

Still the same words even after my mask has been torn off, Katarina... What a foolish woman you are.

“That’s just an act. It’s easier to get by if I pretend to be gentle and calm, you see? You all, being the fools you are, were completely taken in by this little charade.”

“?!”

I allowed my lip to curl upwards, as if to ridicule the wide-eyed Katarina with a well-placed, menacing smile. “On another note... just so you know. The one who took Maria Campbell was me. All because she realized something she was better off not knowing. And also, Katarina Claes... I hate you. You are a hypocrite! A false altruist seeking to save the lonely and ostracized! The more I look at you, the more irritated I get!”

It was as if a dam had burst within me. The words continued pouring out, each faster than the last. “You know what...? You should just fucking disappear!” I hurled my hostile, hateful words at the girl before me.

With this, even Katarina should be sufficiently terrified... perhaps she would even throw some hurtful insults my way, or maybe even regard me with hateful eyes. That was what I... expected.

“...Are you... okay?” Katarina’s response was a question. In her eyes was... worry. I didn’t know why, but she seemed worried for me.

Why...? Why is she looking at me with those eyes, again...? Did she not hear what I just said? I clearly recall claiming that I was the one who had kidnapped Maria.

And then Katarina slowly raised her free hand, reaching out to my face, gently brushing my cheek. Like she was... empathizing with me.

Why, why, why...?! Why do you not fear me, why do you not hate me...? Don’t look at me with those eyes!

I immediately knocked aside her warm hand. “...Y-You hypocrite! That’s enough! Don’t pity me, don’t get involved with me! Stay away! Don’t look to me with that smile of yours...! Just... Just get out of my sight!”

If I stared into those azure eyes any longer... If she approached me again... If she smiled at me just one more time... I felt like I could no longer continue being who I had been all this time.

“For the sake of my revenge, I would do anything,” I once swore. Now, more than ever, I could feel my resolve dangerously shaking.

“Erase this woman...” the voice within me said. Obeying, I allowed Dark Magic to flow into Katarina’s outstretched hand.

“Sleep. Just like that. Until your life ends...”

Katarina fell slowly, before my eyes, collapsing onto the ground. Having been spirited away into the land of dreams, she no longer had any free will. She would most likely sleep, and continue sleeping... until her life itself ended.

Now, finally... that annoying eyesore of a woman was gone. I would now be able to continue living my life for the sake of revenge... just as I had done before. My resolve would no longer waver.

Or so I thought... Then why? Why has this vortex of emotion in my heart not calmed down in the slightest? In fact, the very sight of Katarina sleeping... only served to intensify this feeling.

A strange, water-like fluid began falling from my eyes. What, exactly... is this?

★★★★★★★★★

I was seated in a dark, dim room, on a chair next to a bed. Filled with unease, I stood up once more, reaching out towards the bed’s pillow. How many times had I done this?

I could only sigh with some degree of relief as I affirmed her temperature and steady breathing. A girl was peacefully sleeping in a bed, in a certain room of the student dormitories.

To me, Anne Shelley, the girl in the bed was the most important person to me. Yes... she was none other than Lady Katarina Claes.

Although she still drew breath, her body would not move an inch. The young miss merely continued her deep sleep. What if the warmth started to fade from her body...? Such thoughts would cross my mind every ten minutes or so, filling me with a deep unease. Once again, I would get up, ascertaining her temperature and breathing.

It had been two days since Lady Katarina had fallen into such a state. I had been by her bedside all this time. I found myself unable to sleep... nor did I have much of an appetite for anything.

Although my colleagues had offered to take my place so that I may rest, time and time again... I just could not allow them to. It did not feel like something I could do. Should anything ever happen to Lady Katarina in my absence... no. I could not possibly leave her side.

I held Lady Katarina’s hand in mine, looking at her serene face. The boisterous, rowdy young miss, who would often kick off her blankets and pillows in her sleep... was now sleeping motionlessly. I simply could not shake the feeling that this was disturbingly abnormal.

How... how did it come to this...?

It was two days ago that Lady Katarina was found collapsed near the courtyard near the school buildings, when the sun was almost ready to set. She was then carried back to her room in the dormitory.

According to Prince Jeord, the young miss was unwell that morning, and had been escorted to the infirmary to rest. Later, he would visit the locale again, only to be told that Lady Katarina had already returned to the classrooms.

Thinking that he had missed her, Prince Jeord returned to the classrooms, but the young miss was nowhere to be seen. In a panic, he searched for her everywhere, before finally locating her, collapsed in a corner of the courtyard.

No matter how many times he called her name, Lady Katarina never responded. Prince Jeord immediately brought her to the infirmary, and promptly summoned some doctors to tend to her. “She is merely asleep,” the prince was told.

Afterwards, the prince continued to call her name, but Lady Katarina merely continued to slumber — and so she was brought to her personal quarters. Again, a doctor was summoned, only for the prince to be told that she was “merely sleeping.”

Unable to bear with Lady Katarina’s unnatural state of stupor any longer, Prince Jeord exercised his royal rights as the third crown prince to call one of the most acclaimed doctors in the kingdom. Armed with a magnificent moustache, the visibly senior doctor was responsible for the health and well-being of the royal family itself — he was one of the very best in the kingdom, if not all the lands. I had hoped that this doctor would be able to do something. I sincerely hoped that this would be so, and yet...

“It is most unfathomable, honestly. She does not seem physically unwell — this much I know, from all the examinations I have done. Perhaps she may awaken immediately... perhaps she may never open her eyes again.”

“What, then... would happen to Katarina if she continued sleeping like this...?” Prince Jeord inquired with a grave expression. The doctor, however, could only give an apologetic answer.

“...If the young lady continues to sleep, Prince... she will be unable to have any water or any food. If this circumstance is prolonged... I fear she will lose her life.”

“WHAT?! Impossible! How could something like that...?!”

Even the usually calm and collected Master Keith momentarily lost his cool, relentlessly demanding answers from the aged doctor.

WHAM! My eyes instinctively followed the sound of the impact. Prince Jeord, who only ever had a smile on his face... Prince Jeord, who never once raised his voice... had his fist up against the wall.

Lady Mary, too, had become completely pale — I could almost hear her rattling as she shivered. She seemed ready to faint at any moment.

Prince Alan’s expression was one that was foreign to me. His features were incredibly stiff, as if his entire being was dedicated to maintaining a stoic expression.

Lady Sophia was simply standing where she was, as tear after tear dropped down from her eyes, opened wide in shock. Not a single wail escaped her lips.

And Master Nicol... his fists were clenched so tight, it almost seemed like his skin would start changing colors the very next minute.

From where I was seated, I could only watch over all of the young miss’ friends in her room... I, too, would immediately collapse should my determination waver. Lady Katarina may very well lose her life. I could feel myself impaled by the notion, sinking slowly into despair at the thought of such a possibility.

After this, many other doctors were summoned to her bedside. None of the doctors, however, understood the reason for the Young Miss’ slumber. None of the doctors could wake Lady Katarina. Occasionally, one of the Wielders of Light would show up — one of few individuals blessed with Light Magic in the Kingdom. Even so... the outcome remained unchanged.

A day, and then another... and yet, there was no sign that Lady Katarina was any closer to waking. She was the one who had given me purpose... the one who allowed a tool such as myself, to once again become human. The most important person to me in the world.

I’ve already decided that I would live my life by your side... so please. Lady Katarina... I beg of you. Please... please do not leave us. I thought, as I strongly held the young miss’ hand in my own.

★★★★★★★★★

“No, not at all. Please don’t worry about this, Your Highness. It is a small wound, one that can be easily hidden with my bangs! There is no problem at all.”

Much time had passed since that day. Seven years since the girl before me had smiled and said those words. My dearest fiancée... Katarina Claes.

My existence was all but forgotten at the castle, and all I had were days of boredom. Yes... Katarina Claes. The mysterious girl who had suddenly appeared before me. With her strange words and amusing actions, I found myself slowly drawn in. The more time I spent with Katarina, the more I realized that the world before me — that once grey, drab world, was now filled with vibrant color.

All I had known was boredom. Tedium. I knew nothing of happiness... or the very notion of fun. Of enjoyment. I knew nothing of such things, and yet Katarina taught me all of it. Even jealousy, sadness... emotions that I surely would not have felt, had I not met her.

Seven years had passed since our fateful meeting. I could no longer bear the thought of returning to that grey, drab world... a world without Katarina.

In the beginning, it was nothing more than a calculated arrangement, a political engagement. However... before I knew it, I had come to love Katarina Claes more than anyone else in the world.

Alas, she was naturally born a charmer, and many would flock to her... but I had long since made up my mind. Now that she was in my hands, I would never let go.

And yet... and yet. How could this be...? I knew nothing... nothing, of Katarina being exposed to danger. I was unable to protect her. All I could feel were strong pangs of regret and guilt. I blamed myself for my failings.

Perhaps the Dark Arts were responsible for Katarina’s catatonic state. Such was my assumption, and I had even summoned a Wielder of Light... to no avail. We knew nothing.

“Perhaps one with an even stronger magical aptitude, one also blessed with Light Magic... they may have some answers,” or so I was told. But of course, the only individual with such qualifications was Maria Campbell. Maria herself was still missing... The situation was most dire.

I could only curse my own helplessness as I slammed my fist straight into the wall.

★★★★★★★★★

“Keith, we are brother and sister, you know. You should call me Big Sister!”

That was what she said to me, with that smile on her face. I couldn’t believe it had already been seven years.

Even so, I remember all of it as if it were yesterday. Of how I was verbally abused, said to be a monster... of how I would hug my knees to my chest in a dark room, living my lonely life. And yet she turned to me with a smile, soothing me with a warm hand on my back.

“I’ll stay with you forever!” she said. The ray of light into my world of darkness... my adoptive sister, Katarina Claes. Her warmth, her gentle smile... as if the love she had for me was more than what an older sister would have for her brother. The most precious, most important person to me in the world.

I had always been with her... always. And we were supposed to be together — from here on out, as well. I had no intentions of handing her over... not even to her fiancé, Prince Jeord.

I had sworn to protect her... with these very hands. To that end, I had put my entire being into mastering the sword, honing my magic, and even the appropriate etiquette one would display as a noble. All for the sake of protecting Katarina with my own hands.

How could this have happened? Why was I not with her then...? Even though I’d sworn to protect her...? I could hardly hold back the regret in my heart.

After I became the adopted son of the Claes family at the age of eight, whenever things were hard, Katarina was always there, with that gentle smile of hers...

All I wished now was to see that smile again. I did not... I could not lose Katarina...

I raised a hand to my shoulder, trying to quell the tremors that assaulted my body.

★★★★★★★★★

“You have quite the green thumb, Mary! Maybe even green hands too, ha! Yes! Green thumb, hand, you know! You’re a special and wonderful person!”

Even now, I remember clearly... the day she held my hands, so tightly in hers. I was a coward, I was weak. Always with my eyes downcast, always running. I hated myself.

But then, Katarina Claes said, to me... that I was a special, most wonderful existence. I was very, very happy.

My older sisters claimed that I was “filthy.” They hated my eyes and hair — both the color of burnt sienna. Katarina, however, said she liked them. She said that they were pretty.

I put my all into becoming the ideal noble lady — one who could proudly stand by Katarina’s side. Honestly... there were so many times when things had gone wrong, when obstructions to my goal had arisen... But because Katarina was with me, because she was fond of me, because she said that I was important to her... I was able to overcome all these challenges.

The only reason why I am the Mary Hunt I am now... is all because I’ve been allowed to be by Katarina’s side. Even now, and into the future, I longed to stand by her forever. Katarina was important to me. So important that it made me want to just snatch her away from her fiancé.

And yet... when I gazed upon her as she was now, it was like all life had left her. The sight of Katarina, sleeping so peacefully, flooded my mind. I could feel my vision going dark... but I held on. I held on like my life depended on it.

There was no way I will just lose consciousness like this... No! I will not stand for it! For I am Katarina Claes’ dearest friend, Mary Hunt! I am NOTHING like those weak-willed noble ladies one would so casually find in this kingdom!

I have to do everything I can for Katarina...!

I righted my posture, raising my head.

★★★★★★★★★

“The same goes for you, Prince Alan — I do believe that you have skills you can be proud of, too. It is just a matter of... individual strengths and weaknesses.”

I had always been compared to my twin brother. I’d all but given up, and then she says that to me. With those azure eyes of hers, she turned to me and looked right at me... and never once let up in those matches we had. Katarina Claes, the girl who climbed up trees in that silly manner... like some sort of monkey.

I had lost myself to the voices around me, and was trapped in my own delusions. She was the one who snapped me back to reality. It was only after meeting Katarina that I could finally let all that pointless tension in my shoulders go.

Always looking straight ahead, never a lie in her words. I felt comfortable and peaceful next to Katarina. So... I just thought I’d continue standing by her side like I always did.

But then... this happens. The thought of losing Katarina made me feel a kind of fear I didn’t know I was capable of feeling. And that was when I noticed just how important Katarina was to me. And I realized that I wanted to be with her forever.

But I was stupid. I was dense. I only realized my own feelings when we were on the verge of losing Katarina altogether. She was my brother’s fiancée... there was no way my wish would come true. But... I still wanted to be by her side, as much as I was permitted to be. There was no way I could bear losing her right now.

Something... anything. I had to help Katarina.

★★★★★★★★★

“You really are blessed, Master Nicol, to have such amazing parents, and a cute younger sister.”

The day she said those words to me. Those words, that smile. I could never forget them.

Everyone had simply decided that I was unfortunate, and that I was to be pitied... because of my important family. “But I am fortunate.” No matter how many times I repeated this, no one would understand. And I felt that this was how it would always be, and that I should simply give up.

Katarina Claes, however... understood. My heart, which was once blanketed by frustration, was now instead cradled with warmth. From that day onwards, Katarina was a most special individual to me.

I was never very good at interacting with others. Often, I would turn my gaze away from theirs. But Katarina always looked at me with her blue eyes. She always faced me with a smile that was as bright as the sun. It was most calming to be with her.

Katarina Claes, fiancée of my childhood friend Jeord, third crown prince of the kingdom. I did not have to think much about it to know that we could not always be together. I understood that much. However... I wished to spend as much time as possible with her, at least within permissible limits.

“You are most capable! Surely you will become a most favoured candidate for succeeding the position of Chancellor.” That was what everyone around me said. However... what could I do in this situation? I hated myself for being helpless. I could not even protect one person — the most important person to me.

So much for the lauded Chancellor candidate... I tightened my balled fists once more. I could feel my nails digging in, and the sensation of blood slowly dripping from my palm.

★★★★★★★★★

“I think that your silky white hair is beautiful. That your ruby-red, sparkling eyes are beautiful. That... you... are beautiful.”

I was different. I... looked different. People would gossip... say that I was cursed, or that I was disgusting.

But then... this girl said that I was “beautiful.” She then held out her hand and asked... “Would you like to be my friend?”

At first, I thought she was just playing along... showing me a dream that was convenient at the time. But... that was no dream... For the first time in my life I made a friend. She turned to me, smiling gently...

From the moment I met the girl known as Katarina Claes, my world changed completely. I felt like I was propelled out of the dark room that I had confined myself into... and that I was now under the warm rays of the sun. Finally, I had obtained the happiness I had only dreamed of before — in my fantasies and thoughts, walled up in that dark room. I had wanted these days to go on forever.

That was my sincere wish... then why, why did this happen...? For those two days, tears would start flowing from my eyes the very moment I lost my focus. I cried and cried... until I felt like I had used up all the water I could possibly contain in my body. Even so... the tears simply kept flowing.

It had been two days since Katarina suddenly collapsed. Countless times I visited her chambers. So many times I called out to her... but I could not see even the slightest hint of a reaction. My heart ached at the sight of Katarina continuing to sleep soundlessly.

I really just... wanted to stay by Katarina’s bedside. However... my brother disagreed, dragging me back to my room. “That would simply not do, Sophia,” he said.

Now that we were physically apart... even now, I could feel it... a deep sense of unease... the thought of losing Katarina. For the past two days, she had been visited by a variety of doctors... but none of them could wake Katarina from her slumber, despite their many methods and attempts.

If she kept sleeping like this, Katarina could very well lose her life... When I heard those words, they just... did not seem real. The words were sudden, pierced into my reality.

No matter the kind of doctor that visited, not a single one of them had a concrete answer. Now, two days had passed... and those words slowly started feeling more and more real.

If this went on, I would really lose Katarina... I would never be able to see her smile ever again! No... I cannot accept that! I don’t want to lose her! The thought surged strongly into my mind. It was then that I heard it.

“That’s right! I cannot accept it! I don’t want to lose her, not again!” A voice, unseen... suddenly called out. It was a voice that I had no recollection of — and yet... it felt so, so nostalgic.

Surprised, I turned, looking this way and that around me. I had asked the servants to stand down, so there was no one but me, alone in my dormitory room.

“After all this time, we’ve met again... I don’t want to lose her! This time, for sure, I have to help her! So... don’t just sit and cry in a place like this! Bring me to her side! Quickly!” It was almost like the strange voice came from deep within myself...

Guided by the mysterious voice, I stood up and slowly walked in the direction of Katarina’s quarters.

“Lady Sophia?! Whatever are you doing here at this hour?” Katarina’s personal maid asked, involuntarily raising her voice at the sight of me.

But of course... she would say that. It was already this deep into the night, and I had visited Katarina’s chambers without even asking for permission. Under normal circumstances, this was something that would never, ever be done... it was an action that went against the grains of societal common sense.

Even so... for some reason, I felt like I simply had to do it... Like the mysterious voice within me instructed me to.

“...Lady Katarina...” I approached the bed, clasping her hands in both of mine. As I did so, I saw my brother approach from the corner of my eye. I suppose word of my social faux pas had already reached him...

“Sophia... calm yourself.” He placed his hands on my shoulders, trying to guide me back to my room... However, I refused.

Perhaps word of my stubbornness spread quickly... but before I knew it, Prince Jeord, Prince Alan, Master Keith, and Mary were all present. Regardless, I continued holding onto Katarina’s hand. I refused to let go. I was not going to move from this place.

I held her hand against my forehead, closed my eyes... and wished. Prayed — with all of my heart. “Please... I beg of you. Please help Lady Katarina”.

As I did so, I felt like I could see the face of a young girl in the darkness... She had black hair and dark eyes. There was no way I could have known her. And yet... something about her was so, so nostalgic.

“Okay, leave it to me! I’ll definitely bring her back! All you have to do is continue calling out to her from where you are!” the girl said, her gaze filled with resolute strength. And then, as suddenly as she appeared... she was gone.

★★★★★★★★★

It had been two days since I put Katarina Claes to sleep with the Dark Arts. Try as her knights might with all their methods to wake her... their wishes did not come true.

After all, Dark Magic could only be dispelled by the one who was responsible for casting it in the first place. If Katarina continued to slumber as she did... she would surely die.

That, precisely, was what I had wished for all along. Then... why? For some reason, my heart refused to calm itself. When I thought about how Katarina would be gone, just like that, I felt my chest tightening. It was hard to breathe.

...No. I don’t want to lose her... I have to dispel the Dark Arts I used on her.

“What foolishness you speak of!” the voice within me said, rage evident in its voice. “That woman is nothing more than a hindrance to your revenge! Those who dare get in the way of your revenge have to be erased... there is no other way!”

The more I hesitated, the more upset the voice within me grew.

“You’ve LIVED your very life for revenge! To utterly destroy those who took your mother’s life, the ones who used you as a tool! Were you not going to send them to the depths of hell? Was that not your reason for living? Have you forgotten your mother’s last words?!”

Yes... the last words of the mother I loved so much. The very last thing that left her lips. That was my reason for living. “...Please, avenge me...”

I had no other reason to live. All I needed was my revenge.

★★★★★★★★★

“How long are you going to sleep, you fool daughter?!”

Just as that thunderous voice shook me from my sleep, I felt my blanket being pulled away, too.

“...E-Eh? What?” I squinted my eyes, not used to the light and shocked by this sudden development.

The person who had pulled my blanket away was now glaring at me. “Don’t you ‘what’ me! How many times have I called for you and tried to wake you? You’re going to be late for school again!”

“...Eh...? M-Mother...?”

“‘Mother’? ...What’s gotten into you? Are you unwell? Did you oversleep and lose your mind?”

“...Eh? What? Ah... G-Good morning, Mom.” I stared up at my mom, who was now standing over me with a most intimidating pose. With her downward-slanting and somewhat beady eyes, she kind of reminded me of a fox one would find in the fields.

“Aren’t you already a high schooler? Can’t you make your own hair and tidy your own uniform?” she said, making me sit up. I caught sight of myself in the mirror. My face was much like my mother’s — fox-like, but somewhat normal-looking.

Why do I feel... like something’s off? Is this really my face? Hmm... perhaps, at one point, but my face now is more...

“What are you doing, still lazing around?! You’re really going to be late if you don’t hurry it up!” Mom’s screeching voice prompted me to look up at the clock. It was as she said — time was almost up.

I quickly jumped up from my bed and went through the motions to prepare myself for school. I took off my pajamas, jumped into my school uniform, doused my face with water, and then my preparations were complete.

“At the very least, do something about that hair of yours,” Mom said. But then again, my hair was stubborn, and no matter how I tidied it, there was a cowlick that simply wouldn’t go away. I decided to leave it.

However, my hair now was different... it was long and flowing. Every morning, Anne would help me prepare for the day, tidying and brushing my... Eh? My hair now? What does that even mean? What did Anne do...? Who was this Anne again?

Hmm... again, the feeling that something is very off. How strange. Something seems... wrong. Am I forgetting something very important?

Ah! It’s this time already? It’ll really be bad if I don’t hurry! The minute hand of the clock seemed to move unnaturally fast the moment I took my eyes off it.

I didn’t have any time to sit around and leisurely think about things! I rushed to the living room as fast as I could — and there, my older brother, who was currently enrolled in university, was elegantly eating his breakfast.

My other older brother, who was a salaryman, had already set off for work, just like my father. “Oh, good morning. When will you finally be able to wake up without having your blanket pulled off your sleepy self?”

My mother was standing next to my brother, who seemed somewhat amused by all this. She quickly thrust out a lunch box in my general direction.

“Thanks!” A low rumbling from my stomach could be heard the very moment I took the lunchbox into my hands. Although my sense of hunger was further amplified at the sight of the delicious meal laid out on the table before me, I hardly had the time to sit down and eat.

I scanned the dining table for something I could munch on while travelling... only to come up empty. Left without much of a choice, I rummaged through the fridge, looking for something that would fit comfortably in my mouth while cycling. There was indeed something — and so I quickly stuffed it into my mouth.

“Amf goin naw! Baai!” With a cheerful goodbye, I turned to the entryway of my home, turning back to look at my mother one more time before I left. For some reason, my brother was laughing uncontrollably behind her.

“Wait... what is that in your...” I guess Mom was saying something, but now was not the time for that. Paying her words no heed, I rushed out of the house, jumping onto my well-loved bicycle in one swift motion.

As my cycling speed increased, I could hear my mother’s voice calling out from behind me. “AT THE VERY LEAST! Make it bread! BREAD! Why is there a cucumber in your mouth?!”

As I started pedalling, I chewed down on the cucumber, which was apparently this morning’s replacement item for breakfast. If I had to guess, this was a cucumber from Grandma’s farm. While it was fresh and did have a distinctive taste of its own, it was rather dull without any seasoning. I regretted not putting some miso paste on it cucumber in my hurry to get to school.

With chunks of cucumber in my cheek, I weathered the terrible howls and barks of the dog that lived near my house and somehow managed to pedal all the way to school, just as the bells for the first lesson rang out.

Quickly, I headed to the classroom, and upon approaching could make out a bit of a ruckus. It would seem that our homeroom teacher had yet to arrive.

“I made it! A great save!” I muttered, entering the classroom quietly through the back door.

“Unfortunately... you did not quite make it,” my homeroom teacher said, glaring at me from his spot on the podium.

And so, for the terrible crime of being late for a few minutes, I was summoned and summarily lectured by my homeroom teacher during lunch break.

My lecture finally ended halfway through lunch break. Deflated, I made my way to Acchan’s classroom. She had been a great friend to me every since middle school — a great otaku friend, that is. Now that we were in our second year of high school, we had been assigned to different classes, but I made sure to visit her classroom every lunch break. It was then that we would have our otaku talk over lunch. This was part of my daily life.

Acchan, who already knew at that point that I was late, immediately said... “Let me guess. You were late, caught, and lectured again. When will you ever properly reach school on time?”

Apparently Acchan already knew of my unfortunate circumstances. Nonetheless, she delivered her assessment with an exasperated expression.

“I just stayed up a liiiiiittle bit last night... and then couldn’t get up this morning...”

Her exasperation seemed to intensify as she heard those words. “Playing games deep into the night again? You really should be more aware of the time...”

“...Ugh... I just kinda got annoyed and kept going I guess...”

Upon becoming a high schooler, I was introduced to otome games, and quickly got hooked with my very first one. I was always like this upon receiving a new game, and it was all too easy for me to forget the time as I got engrossed in the gameplay.

“Really... burning the midnight oil just for games! Did you at least make any progress on Fortune Lover?”

Fortune Lover was an otome game that I had purchased recently, and the very same game that kept me up that night.

“Yeah... I was thinking I should try out the path of the arrogant prince. Alan’s route!”

Alan was a potential love interest in the setting of Fortune Lover. He was indeed an arrogant prince.

Hmm... he’s a little arrogant at times, I guess. But isn’t Alan more gentle and nice most of the time...? In fact, it doesn’t feel like he’s as arrogant as the game made him out to be.

Huh...? Game made him out... to be? What am I even thinking about? It was almost like I’d met him in real life, as opposed to him just... being a character in a game...

“What’s wrong?” Acchan asked, regarding me with worry plain in her face.

“Ah... it’s nothing! Nothing at all. Oh, right! I have to quickly eat my lunch!” Thanks to my form teacher’s terrible lecture, I had lost half the time that I usually had for my lunch. I had to finish my meal quickly... after all, my stomach was mostly empty; I only had an unseasoned cucumber for breakfast.

My lunch was homemade by Mom herself. After we finished our lunches, Acchan and I enthusiastically spoke about our otaku hobbies and games. We had a lot of fun.

I woke up every morning, took Mom’s homemade lunch to school, and happily spoke to my friends. Such was my everyday life. It was an unchanging, normal life... but for some reason, it also felt somewhat nostalgic... like a most cherished memory.

Wouldn’t it be great if I could continue living these carefree days? For some reason, this thought floated into my mind.

A few days after that, I had made good progress on Fortune Lover. In fact, I was now in the middle of a certain sadistic, terrible prince’s route.

However... what was this feeling? Something about all this was... wrong. This feeling seemed to intensify the more I played Fortune Lover.

It was a most mysterious feeling... as if I had forgotten something that was very, very important to me. However... no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t quite figure out what exactly I was missing.

Those carefree days continued... until a certain lunch break. I was having my lunch with Acchan, as always.

“How’s your playthrough of Fortune Lover going?”

“Still on the route of that terrible, sadistic prince...”

For some reason, Acchan seemed a little worried upon hearing my response. For some reason, it felt like... she was different today. At least, when compared to most other days. While I couldn’t tell exactly what had changed... she seemed a little more... adult. Grown-up, perhaps?

“How has school been? Fun?”

“...Eh? Hmm... yeah, I guess.”

Yet another mysterious question from Acchan’s lips. The more I responded, the more I felt like something about her was different. It was something about her face. A face that I had known since middle school, someone who had been with me ever since then... or so I thought...

“Eh?!” I cried out in spite of myself. For a split second, Acchan looked different — I saw her as a beautiful young girl, with stark-white hair and ruby-red eyes.

What am I even thinking? There’s no way that could be what Acchan looks like. I rubbed my eyes, before gazing upon my close friend once more. There it was — Acchan was how she always looked. What did I just see, then? Was I just imagining things?

A wide smile came across Acchan’s face as I continued staring at her, mouth agape and slightly frozen in place. “I’m having a lot of fun. After all, I got to meet you, and live through these days again. But... this isn’t really your world anymore, is it?”

“?” This is no longer my world? What’s she going on about?

“You belong to another world now, don’t you? Another world... Many people are waiting for you there.”

“...Acchan? What... What do you mean?”

Acchan’s answer to my confusion was a quiet, gentle smile. “Listen. Can you hear them? Calling out to you.”

“Eh...?”

As if on cue, I found that I could suddenly hear a series of voices.

“Katarina... wake up! I cannot imagine a life without you.”

“Wake up, please... Big Sister! Did you not promise that we would be together forever?”

“Lady Katarina! Wake up, please wake up! If you aren’t here... how could I continue working hard, as I have until now?”

“Wake up! How long are you going to keep sleeping, you idiot?!”

“Katarina... open your eyes. Please.”

“I beg of you, Lady Katarina... please. Please open your eyes...!”

Those voices... what nostalgic voices. Voices that I’ve heard before. It was as if a veil of mist had fallen over my mind. I couldn’t remember, but it felt... wrong. And now, finally... that mist was lifting.

Nostalgic voices... My adopted brother and friends. All people who were important to me... How could I forget about something like that?

With that, the mist in my mind completely cleared. Fresh, vivid memories flooded back into my mind. Before I knew it... I had remembered everything.

It was exactly like Acchan said. My noisy and naggy, yet gentle family. My close friend and fellow otaku. The otome games I loved... True. This was really a calming, peaceful world. And yet... this was no longer a world I belonged in.

After all, I had long since stepped into a new world... another world. My new family, my dear friends. I had formed bonds with many important people in that world, too. And now... those important people — everyone was waiting for me.

I have to return to the world I belong to. The world where my important friends and family... are all waiting for me. The thought resounded strongly through my mind.

With that, a sudden, mysterious sound rang through the air — it was the sound of something breaking, cracking.

Surprised, I turned, surveying my surroundings. It would seem that my classmates had all vanished without me noticing, leaving me with an empty classroom. The only ones who remained were Acchan and me.

The floor began to crumble before my very eyes. We would soon be falling straight into what seemed to be a bright pool of light.

Ah... this is the place. Should I continue falling... I’ll definitely be able to return to the world I now rightfully belong to.

“Ah! Wait! There’s one thing! Acchan! I have to save Maria upon returning to my world! Surely you know where she is being held, Acchan! Please tell me!” Acchan, after all, had cleared the game long before I did. She of all people would know.

“Alright. Maria is still within the campus... in a hidden room on the grounds. The exact location is...” With that, Acchan concisely informed me on Maria’s whereabouts.

The floor continued to crumble, the pieces falling into the light. There was no time. I should have figured it all out faster. Remembered quicker. I had so many questions to ask.

“Ah... one more thing. Why is the President...”

Why was there so much pain in his expression? Why was he crying?

However...

Finally, my foothold crumbled, and I began to be absorbed by the light. Acchan looked at me with her gentle eyes — a most serene expression.

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Save the President... just as you have saved us. His real name is...”

“Eh?! Save? What do you mean? What real name?”

Unable to understand Acchan’s words, I asked question after question. All the while, I could feel my body half-submerged, steadily sinking into the light.

I could no longer see Acchans face. Somehow, I knew... that this would be goodbye. My close friend, who had always been with me since middle school. It was all thanks to her that I even managed to become a high schooler in the first place. Acchan was always looking out for me, always helped me.

But then... in that sudden accident, I was gone. I could not even say goodbye. This was my final chance.

“A... Acchan! It’s been a long time... but I’m glad I met you again! Goodbye, Acchan! Thank you for everything up until now!!”

Turning to Acchan, whom I could no longer see, I shouted at the top of my lungs. Did my voice ever reach her...?

“I’m glad too, to have met you again. This time... I will stay by your side, as Sophia. Goodbye and thank you, my dear, dear friend...”

Acchan’s last words, however, did not reach my ears.

The first thing that I saw upon opening my eyes was Sophia’s face, with large droplets of tears falling from her eyes. Behind her were Jeord, Keith, Mary, Alan, and Nicol. The people who were dear to me.

Ah... I have finally returned to my own world.

Sophia hugged me tight as I slowly awakened, before starting to sob loudly. Even Mary, who was usually so calm and collected, was hugging me too, tears flowing down her face.

Everyone else was looking at me with relief. I understood very well just how worried everyone was. My world was right here — where all those who were important to me lived. This was why I had to protect it... this world, and everyone whom I cared about.

A terrible Bad End like that... I refuse to let that happen!

The first thing I did upon waking was to stretch myself — slowly, steadily. I had, after all, been fast asleep for the last two days. My body felt dull and heavy.

Although I immediately set about looking for Sirius Dieke, the student council president, he was nowhere to be found. Perhaps he had heard of my awakening, and had escaped someplace... at least, that was what everyone else said. I, however, did not think this to be true.

If anything, he should still be in the academy grounds. Specifically, the place where Maria was currently being held captive. When asked why I thought this to be the case, I found myself unable to answer. Even so, I believed in it — the fact that Sirius was currently with Maria, and that Maria was safe. This was why I headed to that hidden chamber... I had to save Maria.

“He is a criminal who made an attempt on your life, Katarina. He is a most dangerous individual. You should leave this to us and the authorities, and rest in your room.”

So I was told. However... I wanted to save Maria with my own two hands. After all, I was the reason she had been captured in the first place. And also... I wanted to speak with Sirius one more time.

Sirius’ expression from right before I passed out — that scene was etched firmly into my mind. An expression of pain, of suffering. He had been crying without a sound. Although he had shown me such hostility... that expression was almost one of worry, and perhaps sadness.

And then there was that last thing Acchan said... the matter of his true name. Sirius Dieke. Surely he had some pressing circumstances of his own. To understand that, I had to meet with him once more myself. I had to make that journey.

Although they were initially unwilling to let me expose myself to any more danger, everyone eventually agreed — under the condition that I would be accompanied.

And so I, my adopted brother, and my friends set off together. Our destination was where Maria was being held... and where Sirius was.

We found ourselves in a somewhat dark forest, some distance away from the academy’s main buildings. Our target was a storage facility of sorts — it was closer to the Magical Ministry’s laboratories than the student dormitories, and as such didn’t usually see much traffic.

After pushing open the strangely heavy door, we cautiously entered. It was a space almost as big as the Claes manor’s guest parlor. Various bits and pieces, their purpose unknown, were scattered all over the room. Avoiding the small piles of junk and clutter, I went deeper and deeper into the room’s recesses.

I finally stopped, standing in front of a large shelf. We were now at the farthest point from the building’s entrance. It was a heavy and imposing shelf — not one that a single person could casually move. However, I quickly located a raised surface, much like a button, subtly positioned on its side. It was just as Acchan had described.

Without any hesitation, I gave the button a solid push. Almost immediately, the shelf slid over to one side, its movements hardly producing any sound. With the shelf now out of the way, we came face to face with what appeared to be a solid, black door.

“There really was such a thing!” Everyone else who was with me exclaimed in surprise.

I had told them earlier that this whole hidden chamber affair was a premonition I had seen in a dream. While my friends all looked at me with a certain degree of doubt at first, they eventually believed me and had followed me to this building. It would seem like they still had their reservations, however.

I reached out, placing a hand on the doorknob. I’d assumed that it wouldn’t simply open, but I was luckily mistaken. With a simple turn, the door swung open, revealing a small room about the size of my accommodations back at the student dormitories.

Without any hesitation, I stepped into the room. The room was lit only by a single, tiny window in the ceiling — it was a dark, dank space. After allowing my eyes to adjust, I looked around. It didn’t take me long to discover the silhouette of a girl, sitting alone in a corner.

I immediately made my approach. “Maria!!”

“...Lady Katarina...?”

It was a painful sight. Maria had a shackle around one foot, connected to the wall by a thin chain. Thankfully, she didn’t appear to be hurt. While she didn’t exactly look like she was in the best of health, her eyes looked straight into mine, and her voice was steady.

“...Maria. I’m sorry I’m late...” I held her tight. I did, after all, take quite a while to come to Maria’s aid.

“...I should be the one to apologize... I have greatly inconvenienced everyone...”

Perhaps it was because she was relieved, or maybe because she was just putting on a brave face. I felt the strength and tension fade from Maria’s body.

“No. Didn’t you do what you did for my sake?”

Maria nodded, albeit with a slightly troubled expression. It was as I suspected; she had already noticed something on the day of the accident, and had tried to help me by exposing the truth.

“Thank you, Maria.”

A slight shade of crimson crept into Maria’s cheeks as she smiled faintly in response. I heaved a sigh of relief. While it was truly a blessing that Maria had been discovered unharmed... I still had one more goal left to fulfill.

“Say... Maria. He... Sirius Dieke is still here, isn’t he?”

“...Yes, Lady Katarina. He is... just beyond that black door,” Maria said, her expression darkening slightly as she pointed out the door in question. It was well hidden, to say the least. At a glance, it was no different than a simple wall.

“...Do you already know what the president had done to you, Lady Katarina?”

“Hmm... I suppose I could say that I do. But in reality... there are still many things I do not know.”

While I had discovered this hidden chamber thanks to Acchan’s advice, there were still many unanswered questions. Why would the president do this? How did he even receive his Dark Magic powers to begin with? Was he really capable of causing such a tragic and terrible Bad End, like he did in the game? So many questions... so little answers. Even so...

“...I still can’t think of him as a bad person, you see. This is why... I feel like I should at least speak with him, just one more time.”

“Have you no sense of danger? Aren’t you being too kind?” My friends around me protested, but even so... those were my honest feelings at that moment.

“Is that so... I suppose he hasn’t done anything bad to me, other than placing this shackle around my leg... He brought me my meals, too. Perhaps... maybe. Maybe he is not a bad person... But he does possess some mysterious powers, Lady Katarina...”

It was just as Jeord had said. Maria, who naturally wielded Light Magic, was able to detect the presence and use of the Dark Arts.

“...I suppose you know about his powers, Maria?”

“Can you sense it too, Lady Katarina?”

“I have... heard of it, yes. But unlike you, I cannot sense it. After all, only those who wielded Light Magic were capable of such a thing. Isn’t that right, Maria?”

Maria nodded in response. “Yes... During the incident at the cafeteria, there was some sort of black mist or presence surrounding those girls, and the president too. In fact... the black aura around the president has only grown bigger and stronger in recent days...”

Eh?! Why? Did he use his Dark Magic on some unwitting victim again? When? What for?

Maria patiently continued her explanation despite my confusion. “But... that mist is different from what I saw before, Lady Katarina.”

“...Different?”

“Yes... The mist I saw before was external. It almost... clung to him, like a film over his being. The mist now, however, seems to be coming out from within the president himself. If I had to describe it... it would almost seem like the mist is controlling the president himself.”

What does that mean? Did he lose control of his Dark Magic somehow, causing it to go berserk? I tilted my head this way and that, unable to understand the circumstances. Maria herself seemed equally at a loss, appearing more worried by the second.

However... we had come this far. I wasn’t simply going to give up and run away, claiming that it was “too dangerous” or anything along those lines. My friends and adopted brother seemed to have similar sentiments, although they were obviously unwilling to let me go. Even so, not a single one of them raised an objection. While they did have their misgivings, they probably already knew that I was dead set on doing what I came to do, and wouldn’t simply give up even if told them to do so.

“...I’ll come with you, Lady Katarina.” Maria said, looking straight at me.

“But... you’ve been locked up in this place for all this time, Maria... you really should rest.” Even if Maria hadn’t been hurt, she was locked up in this small, dingy room for an extended period of time. If anything, I wanted to have Maria examined by a doctor, and have her leave this room as quickly as possible.

“No... I’m coming too! Am I not the only one who can perceive the president’s mysterious powers, Lady Katarina?! Then it should be clear that I should come along too!” Maria did have a point. Amongst us, only she was able to perceive Dark Magic.

“Even if you say I can’t... I’ll still come along! Somehow!” Maria said, her courage reflected in her eyes. I could tell that she had already made up her mind. We freed her, and soon enough, we found ourselves all standing in front of the door, ready to enter.

This door, much like the previous one, opened without much difficulty. We were greeted by a staircase instead of a room, however, extending deep underground. It was a narrow, unlit passageway. Only one person could fit through at a time. We all made our descent, with Jeord providing some lighting via his fire magic.

Before long, we discovered yet another door. Jeord, who was leading the group, placed his hand on the dark, heavy door, and pushed. The door opened, once again, with hardly a sound.

For some reason, this room made me feel... sick. Although it was almost the same size as the chamber that Maria had been locked up in, there wasn’t a single window — no sunlight could enter. By what little illumination the room had, we could make out some dark, sinister letters, lining the walls in a seemingly endless scrawl.

It almost seemed like the air in this room had crystallized, stood still... and in the middle of it all was none other than Sirius. Looking at his face, illuminated faintly by the lamp he held, I could tell that he was far worse for wear, more so than the last time I had seen him.

Turning to us, Sirius’ expression was one of exhaustion. He had the look of someone who had given up... that is, until he turned his gaze onto me.

“...Why are you here?” His expression immediately changed to one of shock.

Eh? I thought he already knew that I had woken up, and so hid himself down here... did he not know, perhaps?

“...Because the sleeping spell you had cast upon me was dispelled.” Since Sirius didn’t seem to know, I thought it was best that I informed him.

“That isn’t it! I KNOW that it was dispelled! How... Why are you here? After what I did to you? Why would you appear before me!” Sirius exclaimed, his expression darkening.

“Ah, that. Right.” My friends did say the same thing, after all — all of them, actually, upon hearing that I wanted to go to where Sirius was. Now I was hearing it from the person himself.

I suppose he does have a point. Sirius did say quite some mean things to me, and also used his Dark Magic to put me to sleep.

If I had continued to sleep, unable to wake, I would have surely died... or at least, that was what everyone told me. In any case, I did manage to wake up, so the only real damage done here was my bones feeling a little stiff after having slept for two days straight. If anything, I probably needed that sleep — I felt a lot better after sleeping. And so I decided to answer Sirius truthfully.

“Well... I don’t really think that you’ve done anything particularly terrible to me...”

“...You. Do you even... do you even know what was done to you?!”

Ah, that look. Sirius thinks I am a fool, no doubt. How unfortunate.

“No, I do know. You used your Dark Magic to cast a sleeping spell on me, right?”

“Exactly! And with that sleeping spell I would extinguish your life!”

“Hmm... That is a lie, isn’t it?”

“A... lie...?” Sirius’ expression seemed to darken further. But I paid it no heed, continuing with my little speech.

“After all... if you really did want to kill me, you would have done it there and then, not simply put me to sleep. Isn’t it faster that way?”

There were no other people present in the garden. As far as I knew, we were the only ones there. It would have been extremely easy for Sirius to kill me if he had really wanted to — there was no point in going through the trouble of putting me to sleep.

While I was not exactly very smart or quick on the uptake, even I could understand this. Similarly, Sirius was a capable, skilled individual. I couldn’t believe that he didn’t notice this himself. This was how I came to the conclusion that the person standing in front of me had never really intended to kill me in the first place.

“...” Sirius simply stared at me blankly, as if his words had been snatched away.

“I wanted to meet with you one more time, President. So we could have a talk.”

“...Talk?”

“Yes. Because... you looked like you were in pain back then. Because you were... crying.”

Honestly speaking, though, I couldn’t quite remember what I had said back then. To be fair, I was put into a magically-induced sleep for two days, so I could hardly be blamed for this lapse of memory. I remembered one thing, however — Sirius’ face, tear-streaked, as I fell from the bench I was sitting on.

Why? Why did he have such a pained expression...? It was something that I couldn’t stop wondering about.

“So... I wanted to see you one more time, to see if we could have a proper conversation...”

Sirius’ face twisted in response. “...You hypocrite... And? Then what? Are you going to save me like you saved these other fools? Saint Katarina Claes?” His lips were twisted in distaste, much like the rest of his face, as he spat out his words.

Hypocrite? Save? Saint? I don’t know what he’s talking about.

Hmm... come to think of it, Acchan did say something about saving, didn’t she? That I should “save the president”...

However...

“That’s impossible!” I declared resolutely, keeping my gaze trained on Sirius. “I am not the protagonist, after all! I am nothing more than a rival character, a villainess of a noble! There is no way I am capable of saving anyone!”

Maybe he couldn’t possibly have predicted such a response. Sirius’ jaw hung limply from the rest of his face, and for a while, he was frozen in that expression. I could hear some whispers amongst my friends. “Rival character? Villainess noble?” They seemed confused too.

Before I could stop myself, I had already blurted out those words — although it seemed like no one really understood what I had to say. Perhaps they are currently all thinking about how strange I am. “Ah, what peculiar things that girl says...”

Even so, those words were the truth, and nothing but the truth. In the otome game world of Fortune Lover, I was not the protagonist, but the antagonist villainess rival character. That was my role. I could hardly measure up to the other rivals either. I couldn’t hold a candle to Mary or Sophia, with their beauty, high magical capability, and smarts.

I wasn’t all that beautiful, my magic was half-baked at best, and I wasn’t smart at all. Yes, I am a most disappointing rival character. I am Katarina Claes. How could someone like me be expected to heal the trauma and pain of others, like the protagonist? To heal and soothe someone’s broken heart? There was no way I could do that!

Even so, there was the one thing, no, the only thing I could do —

“I cannot save you from your pain... or make it go away. But... I can stay by your side.”

I was, after all, nothing more than a villainess. I didn’t have it in me the abilities to miraculously save other people. Even so... I could be there for them.

“I could stay with you. When you’re sad, when things are hard... I can listen. I can stay until you’re happy again, or maybe just okay again.”

Suddenly recalling all the memories of my past life... realizing that I was a villainess... working so hard every day to achieve my goals. There were trying times and there were happy times. And then there was everyone else... my friends. My dear friends who stayed by my side all this time. My friends, who listened to me, who accompanied me until I could cheer up again. That was how I managed to come this far.

I was not alone. Standing beside me were my trusted, important friends and comrades. Even if I alone couldn’t hope to save Sirius from his suffering, or even alleviate it... my friends would surely be able to offer him their help.

I slowly made my approach, taking a step towards Sirius. “So... you don’t have to cry alone.”

It was almost like a dam had broken inside Sirius. His pained expression, his crying face. What exactly was it that hurt him so? Why was he suffering so much? I understood nothing. Right now, I knew nothing. However... he had been crying. Quietly, as quietly as he could, alone, in this dark room all by himself. He was only adding on to his pain.

And then... when he reached his limit, perhaps we would all end up like that nightmare I had. That terrible, hideous Bad End. To avoid that... to prevent such a tragedy from coming to pass...!

“Come. Come with me... Raphael.” I raised a hand, reaching out to the crying Sirius slowly. I called him by his name — his real name, just like Acchan had told me.

Upon hearing those words, Sirius’... no. Raphael’s eyes opened wide. He stared straight at me. Honestly, I didn’t understand what this entire real name affair meant. Even so... somehow, I just felt like that was the more fitting name for him.

Raphael slowly raised his hand. Trembling, he slowly reached out... His skin was ice-cold. I raised another hand, clasping it over his. “It’ll be okay.” I tried my best to smile, so that I could cheer him up ever so slightly. I focused, trying my utmost best to not look like a smiling, mean-spirited villainess who had something up her sleeve.

“...The black mist... it’s fading...” Maria, who was standing some distance behind me, muttered. I didn’t really know what she meant. However... I noticed something as I gazed into Raphael’s eyes — they were now a familiar, gentle color.

★★★★★★★★★

“What are you doing in a place like this?” A gentle voice, from above my head.

I had been bullied by the other children who lived nearby, and had hidden in a corner of my home. Looking upwards at the direction of the voice, I saw my mother, whom I loved very much, looking down at me with a worried face.

“...It’s nothing. I’m okay.” I didn’t want to worry my mother. I blurted my words as I rubbed away my tears in a hurry.

“If you cry in a place like this, all alone, those painful feelings won’t go away. When it hurts, Mom will be by your side. I’ll sit by you and listen to you, so don’t cry alone,” my mother said, holding me tight as she did so.

By the time I had become aware of myself, I was already living with my mother. We were otherwise alone. My mother continued to work as she raised me. Although it was hard on her, the smile never once faded from her face.

We did not live comfortably, nor were we of any means, but my mother always said the same thing: “I am truly blessed to have a wonderful son like you!” she would say, while hugging me tight. My mother loved me very much.

Those were peaceful, blissful days. I didn’t know anything about my father.Not his name, not if he was dead or alive. Because of this, I was often picked on and bullied by the other children who lived nearby. It would be a lie if I said I didn’t once wonder, or care. But even as a child, I noticed that my mother never spoke of my father. After all, children hardly gave these matters much thought.

However... I would eventually come to regret this. If I had at least known something about who my father was... then perhaps I would have been able to change what happened.

Eventually... the peaceful life I shared with my mother abruptly ended. It happened in the spring of my ninth birthday, in the evening, as my mother and I were walking home together.

Without warning, a few burly men I had never seen before ambushed us — before pressing a cloth to my face. The cloth had a sweet smell about it... and that was the last thing I remembered.

I found myself in a dark room as I regained consciousness.

The room didn’t seem to have access to natural light, and was lit by a lamp. By the light of that lamp, I could see sinister letters written all across its walls. It was so unsettling.

There were about ten people there. I was lying down on my back in the middle of the room, and those people stood, surrounding me.

The burly man who had restrained me before I passed out was also present. If I had to guess, these were the people who had brought us here.

My limbs were tied down. I tried to move, to no avail. There was also a cloth gag in my mouth — I found myself unable to speak, or make much of a sound.

Before me was a man dressed completely in black, and... a woman. The woman wore a vibrant, red dress, and around her neck were several large jewels. A woman in red... she didn’t seem to match her surroundings very well.

“The child is awake. Quickly, now. Bring him here,” the woman in red said, and one of the burley men stepped up. In his arms was what appeared to be a boy of my age. The boy was placed next to me, on top of a beautiful piece of fabric. It seemed like he was sleeping peacefully.

Upon closer inspection, the boy was thin... very thin. He was also somewhat pale, and seemed to have trouble breathing. He seemed very ill indeed. However... looking past his afflictions, I noticed that he looked very similar to me. Red eyes, grey hair... even his face. Who was this child...?

As I continued to inspect this boy, the woman in red started to speak. “With this, the preparations are complete. Well then. Let us begin. Present the sacrifice.”

Preparations? What do they mean? Is something going to happen in this dark room? What was this “sacrifice”? I felt like I had heard the word before, in a book my mother once read to me... What was it, again?

Still confused about the situation, I kept pondering upon the meaning of the word. Another man stepped forward — this one opposite the burly man who had placed the boy on the cloth. This man, too, seemed to be bringing someone along.

That person was... none other than my beloved mother. He was dragging her into the room. Her beautiful face was bruised and battered. She was roughly pulled and made to walk, as if she had suffered injuries to her legs.

“Mother!!” I yelled, desperately struggling against my cloth gag. In reality, only a slight, muffled sound escaped. I tried to get up, tried to approach my mother. However, one of the men standing near me pushed me down roughly, pinning me down onto the cold, hard floor.

“Stop it!!” my mother shouted, trying to walk towards me. She, too, was subdued by one of the men.

Regarding us with a chilling stare, the red woman spoke once more. “Please. Do not be so rough with that child’s body. After all, his body belongs to my precious Sirius.”

That child? Does she mean me? What does she mean by my body belonging to this... Sirius? Who is Sirius? I couldn’t understand what was going on at all.

“Madam Marchioness, please... if you hate me, do with me as you please... but please, please spare the child...” my injured mother pleaded with the red woman desperately. My mother referred to this red woman as “Madam Marchioness.”

Does she know this woman? Why would this woman hate my mother? My mother was very kind to me. She was also very nice to everyone who lived around us. Everyone loved my gentle and kind mother. I couldn’t think of any reason why someone would hate her.

However, the red woman stared at my mother coldly. “What an impudent woman you are. First, you take my husband from me, and then was gifted with a child... and yet you ask for more?”

“...I am nothing more than a passing fancy of the marquess, and was only with him for a short time. As I said before... I have no intentions of approaching the marquess ever again. All I want to do is live quietly with my child...”

A dry smack echoed across the dark room. My mother, who was pleading with the red woman, had been slapped across the face.

“MOTHER!!” I tried to scream, but I was still gagged, unable to speak.

“...Both fathered by Marquess Dieke. Both children take after him... and yet. Why are we so different? Beauty... health. A healthy child... Why are you so blessed? And yet I have nothing. I am not beautiful. I am sickly. I am unloved by my husband. When I finally bore my child, he was sickly, and was born with an incurable disease. He has not long to live...” the red woman said, roughly grabbing my mother.

“...To think... That you two, mother and son, could live happily forever... I will not allow it! I will NEVER allow it! Begin...!”

At her words, one of the men in black approached my mother, standing before her. In an almost emotionless voice, he started to speak. They were the most mysterious words I had ever heard; they were foreign, much like the language of a faraway land. However, they were also strangely... nostalgic.

I could feel a wave of goosebumps rising over my skin as the man continued to speak. I felt sick. It was like the air itself stagnated and became still.

And then... the man’s words stopped. At that, the entire room was enveloped by a thick blanket of darkness. In the pitch-black dark, I couldn’t see. All I heard was my mother’s screams.

As soon as light began to enter my vision, I started searching for my mother. It didn’t take long for me to find her. About two, perhaps three steps away, was my mother, sprawled out on the floor, dazed. I desperately tried to approach her, struggling against my bindings.

Upon finally managing to get close to her, I noticed that my mother’s face was pale. She was no longer breathing. Although she was injured before, she was not dazed in such a fashion. Why? What happened?

“Mother! Mother!” I yelled pointlessly into my gag. I saw myself, reflected in my mother’s eyes. She stared straight at me.

“—please...”

In a voice too faint to be heard, in a voice that sounded like it would fade away any moment... my mother took her last breath. And then all was silent.

“Well? Was it a success?”

“Yes. As stated in the texts... it would seem that the adequate powers had been attained,” the man in black responded.

“Is that so? Then do it, quickly. Use that power to transfer Sirius’ consciousness into that child’s body.”

Although I could hear their conversation, nothing entered my mind. I couldn’t accept what had happened here. Just moments ago, I was talking with my mother about what to have for dinner, and we were walking home together. Before I knew it, I had been taken to this dark place... and here, my beloved mother... stopped breathing.

“Yes. Then, we shall begin.” The man in black placed a hand on the body of the boy sleeping next to me, and then another on my head. In that moment, a rapid series of images filled my mind. They were strange images, too, complete with sound. Unknown places, unknown people... it felt like someone else’s life.

As the images continued to flood my mind, I was assaulted by a searing headache. And then... as the images finally slowed down and stabilized, I found that I suddenly knew everything. Why I had been brought here... and why my mother had stopped breathing in this dark room. The images that entered my mind told me everything I needed to know. The plans of that woman in red...

The woman in red was the wife of Marquess Dieke, a noble. She was the mother of the boy lying down next to me. Sirius was his name. However, the Marquess did not love his wife. He was a womanizer, and continued sleeping around with other women even after he got married. After they got married, the Marquess did the bare minimum. After ensuring that his heir Sirius was born, he quickly left, seeing no need to stay by his wife’s side.

Perhaps that was the reason why the madam became intensely dependent on her only son, Sirius. She would speak of her misfortunes to this young child every day. She became emotionally dependent on him.

However... the child, the one and only place where she could rest her heart... was soon afflicted by an incurable disease. She used all her money, all her power, and hired many doctors. Failing that, she even ventured into the occult. But no matter what she did, her son’s health did not improve, and he got sicker with each passing day.

The woman could not accept that she might lose her only child. One day, she became aware of a certain kind of magic — Dark Magic. Magic that was able to dominate the hearts and minds of others. Magic that could replace the memories of others. Upon hearing of that... an idea came into the woman’s mind.

If she had transplanted her son’s memories into a healthy body, he would surely be saved. It was a nonsensical plan. Realistically, such a reckless plan would have no hopes of success.

However... there were no other ways to save her child. The woman, unable to bear the thought of losing her son, decided to chance it on this reckless plan. And so, the woman started to search for a way to obtain Dark Magic, and a suitable vessel for her son’s memories.

The vessel... the new body for her son, had to be healthy. It also had to be of a similar age and appearance as her son. After all, a body that looked completely different could not claim to be the heir of the Dieke family. It was then that the woman found what she was searching for. A child about the same age as her son, with a similar appearance. It was almost like the boy had been born to serve as a vessel for Sirius...

That boy was none other than the illegitimate love-child of Marquess Dieke and one of the maids in his service that he had laid his hands on. The maid worked at the Marquess’ abode, and was well-loved by her employer. Soon after, a child was born to the maid, and it was around that time that she vanished from the household. The maid, upon leaving the Marquess’ service, bore a healthy and happy child, a child that looked very much like the Marquess. It would seem like she lived happily with her child.

And so it was decided that this child would serve as Sirius’ vessel. The woman successfully discovered a means to obtain Dark Magic... said means being that of sacrifice — exchanging a life for the Dark Arts. In other words... a living person had to be sacrificed to become a Wielder of Darkness. The woman made up her mind. She would sacrifice the ex-maid, who was so happily living with her child.

Finally, the woman carried out her plan. She captured the vessel-child and his mother, who was to be the sacrifice. She instructed one of her underlings with magical aptitude to sacrifice the child’s mother. Upon him gaining Dark Magic, he would then use his powers to transfer Sirius’ consciousness into that of the child.

As per the woman’s plan, Sirius’ memories would be transplanted into the vessel, said vessel being me. Upon this happening, I would cease to be, and instead be reborn as Sirius Dieke...

However, even with all of Sirius’ memories, all he had seen and heard, suddenly crammed into my head... I was still me. It was without a doubt that Sirius’ memories were fresh in my mind, but that was all there was to it. There were only memories in my mind — the youth known as Sirius was nowhere to be seen. All I felt was a sad, sad wave of emotion.

“I am tired. Please let me rest,” it seemed to say.

Before Sirius had even become aware of himself, all he had to listen to were his mother’s complaints and grudges. This carried on even as he fell into the clutches of an incurable illness. The youth had no choice but to listen, and now he only wished to be set free. Despite his age, the youth was already tired of living. What flowed into me were only memories — Sirius’ will was nowhere to be found.

As such, I never became Sirius, only gaining knowledge of his memories, void of all emotion. The woman’s plan had failed. However, if she figured this out, she would have me killed on the spot. I made a mental declaration to Sirius’ memories.

I cannot die here. I cannot not die here... It was a strong feeling, stronger than anything I had felt up until now. I cannot die. Not yet... not before fulfilling my mother’s last wish...

Before I knew it, the gag had been removed from my mouth. I suppressed my emotions as much as I could, and then turned to the woman I hated most in the world.

“...Mother dearest,” I said, just like how Sirius Dieke had referred to her.

Upon hearing those words, a wide smile came across the woman’s face. “Ahh, Sirius! It is you! The Dark Magic succeeded!” she said, holding me tight.

I could feel myself shivering from an extreme feeling of disgust and hatred. And yet I endured. I couldn’t die here, not yet. I had to live... and fulfill my mother’s last wish.

“...Well then, madam. My work here is done. Could I please return with my family to our homeland, now...?” the man in black asked, somewhat fearfully.

“Yes... you have done well. Thanks to you, my Sirius has finally obtained a healthy body.”

“...Well then, can I please return to my family?”

“Oh, of course. I’ll let you see them now. Men.” The woman gestured to a the men who had restrained me earlier, who had been standing in the corner of the room this entire time.

The man in black seemed to have a look of peace about him. The burley men approached him, and... pierced the man in black with their swords.

“...Why...?” he asked, blood flowing freely from his body as he reached out with his hand questioningly.

“You said you wanted to return to where your family was, right? Well, your family is already in the afterworld... waiting for you.” The woman smiled elegantly.

“...I only worked for you... because you promised me that you would... let me return to my family. After we had... done all this... You... You lied to me...!”

“Did I really have a choice? After all... it is a power considered taboo. Few, if any, have obtained such powers before. But now that everything has come to an end... wouldn’t it be most dangerous to simply let you live, now that you are a Wielder of Darkness...?” The woman smiled, as if she were extolling a truth of the world.

The man in black, his face scrunched up in pain and fury, stared right at the woman. “...Curse you, curse you... I will never forgive you...! I will take away all of your... power, your social standing... no matter what... I will see that you fall into hell...” The man’s outstretched hand brushed against one of my toes.

“What are you going on about? You are a dead man writhing. Men, finish him.” At her command, the men thrust their swords deep into their victim... and soon he stopped breathing.

At the same time, Sirius Dieke, the boy who had been lying on the cold floor next to me, breathed his last breath.

I lived my life as Sirius Dieke from then on. I swore to take revenge against the Dieke family — the people who took my mother’s life, and who turned me into a tool.

It was soon after I had started living my life as Sirius Dieke that I noticed that I had strange, mysterious powers. I found that I was able to read the hearts of others, and to control their actions. This was Dark Magic. Honestly speaking, I didn’t know why this power manifested in me in the first place. Even so, it was something I could use, and I welcomed its presence.

Since then, I had lived only for the sake of revenge. Time passed by... and then I met her. The girl who said the same things as my beloved mother did. The girl with the same gentle smile on her face, just like Mother’s — Katarina Claes. Ever since I crossed paths with her, all I could feel was a tumultuous vortex of emotions in my heart. My resolve to live for revenge... started to falter.

This was why I had to get rid of Katarina once and for all. I lulled her into a deep sleep with the Dark Arts. She would sleep forever, and eventually die.

However, my unbreakable spell was overcome. I understood this to be the case when I went to check up on Maria in her little hidden room, and saw that my Dark Magic had been undone. I should have been panicking over the situation, but instead, I felt a deep sense of peace.

The spell I had cast on Katarina was broken. With this, she would be saved. Perhaps that is for the best, I thought. With Katarina’s awakening, my deeds would be brought to light. Surely I would be arrested and dealt with.

“You can’t let yourself get caught here! You have to escape, so you may continue planning for your revenge!” the voice within me said, somewhat forcefully. However... if I were caught here, then everything would end. Perhaps that was a good thing.

“Have you forgotten your mother’s last words?” the voice said once more. I felt my heart stir. “Please avenge me...” — my mother’s last words. I had lived all this time in hopes of fulfilling that dream. But I was... tired, you see. I no longer wanted to hurt anyone.

Once the authorities got wind of this, surely this place, hidden chambers known only to the Dieke family, would be discovered too. The chambers were originally constructed so that Madam Dieke could carry out occultic research in hopes of saving her son. Soon after, research in the chambers shifted to the Dark Arts. It was for these purposes that this place was built — hidden away in the forests, and yet still on the grounds of the Academy of Magic.

The place where my mother’s life had been taken away. Where my life, my future, had been snatched from me. For it to all end here... perhaps this, too, was fate. That was why I kept waiting in this hidden chamber. Waiting on my own destruction.

I did not have long to wait. Soon, I sensed several presences in the room I had locked Maria in. The room I was in was set deeper into the ground. With the descending stairway and a thick door between me and them, I could not exactly observe the situation in the other room.

However, the very fact that I sensed a presence in that room was enough for me to understand. At last, Maria would be saved, and I would be arrested and detained.

“You can still escape! Quickly, use the Dark Arts on them! All of them!” the voice within me cried. The voice would not stop. And yet, I found myself quietly waiting for the end.

And so... after the sound of approaching footsteps down the stairwell, the door to my room opened. I had expected the authorities, perhaps armed with a variety of weapons. Instead, I froze upon recognizing a certain individual in the group that entered the chamber.

Jeord Stuart and Keith Claes. Student council members... I expected this. The prince, who had long since lost his heart to Katarina, surely desired to arrest me, one who had made an attempt on her life, with his own hands. Naturally. I had assumed as much.

But... no. I remained rooted in place, staring at the person before me. Why is this person here? I could not understand. I had said such hateful words, even made an attempt on her life. Then why... why would she appear before me now?

“...Why are you here?” I asked, only for her to answer, almost absent-mindedly.

“...Because the sleeping spell you had cast upon me was dispelled.” Katarina Claes stood before me, with that same attitude of hers. It was almost like she’d forgotten what had happened in the courtyard. What I had done to her.

“That isn’t it! I KNOW that it was dispelled! How... Why are you here? After what I did to you? Why would you appear before me!”

“Ah, that. Right. Well... I don’t really think that you’ve done anything particularly terrible to me...” Katarina said, as she always did. As if nothing of note had happened at all.

I had set out to kill her. What was she thinking? Was she really that much of a fool...? Or did she really possess the forgiving, accepting heart of a Saint? Or, perhaps... there was an even simpler explanation.

“...You. Do you even... do you even know what was done to you?!” I asked.

“No, I do know. You used your Dark Magic to cast a sleeping spell on me, right?” Katarina replied, as if it were the simplest, most obvious thing in the world to say.

“Exactly! And with that sleeping spell I would extinguish your life!” I had no choice but to lay it out clearly, as Katarina seemed to have trouble understanding the scope of the situation.

“Hmm... That is a lie, isn’t it?”

“A... lie...?”

“After all... if you really did want to kill me, you would have done it there and then, not simply put me to sleep. Isn’t it faster that way?”

“...” There it was again. That blatant, straightforward way she answered my questions. I found myself speechless.

It was exactly as Katarina said. It would have been much simpler for me to kill her, as opposed to going through the trouble of putting her to sleep. Then... why did I not just do that? No... I couldn’t. I could not do it. In truth, I—

“I wanted to meet with you one more time, President. So we could have a talk.”

“...Talk?” What is this?

“Yes. Because... you looked like you were in pain back then. Because you were... crying. So... I wanted to see you one more time, to see if we could have a proper conversation...”

Her aqua-blue eyes looked right into mine. I felt my chest tighten up. I could hardly breathe. The maelstrom of emotions ravaged my heart.

“...You hypocrite... And? Then what? Are you going to save me like you saved these other fools? Saint Katarina Claes?” Before I knew it, the words had left my mouth. She hardly knew anything about me. Nothing. What would the daughter of a duke, raised happily and lovingly, ever know?

Even if Katarina Claes had said something along the lines of how she would “save me,” I would surely brush it off. No... I would despise her for being full of herself — just the folly of some lovingly-raised noble lady of a powerful family.

Unexpectedly, however... Katarina said the exact opposite.

“That’s impossible!” she declared, staring straight at me. “I am not the protagonist, after all! I am nothing more than a rival character, a villainess of a noble! There is no way I am capable of saving anyone!”

Protagonist? Rival...? I couldn’t comprehend these words, uttered with such force. She declared that salvation was “impossible”... I could not possibly hope to understand the thought processes of Katarina Claes. All I could do was stand, looking back at her with a blank expression. And then —

“I cannot save you from your pain... or make it go away. But... I can stay by your side,” Katarina said, smiling gently as she did so. “I could stay with you. When you’re sad, when things are hard... I can listen. I can stay until you’re happy again, or maybe just okay again.”

Words... much like what my mother had said to me, such a long time ago. I had hidden in a corner and cried alone, not wanting to worry my mother. When she found me however, she held me tight, saying similar things to me. When I finally remembered that memory — I felt something break deep within me. It was almost like the fog in my mind had cleared.

In truth, I had always, always suspected, in a corner of my mind. “Please avenge me” — supposedly my mother’s last words. But could my gentle, loving mother, who always worried more about me than herself... ever leave me with such words?

And now I remembered. I finally remembered that my mother had hardly left such hateful words. Why? How could I misremember in such a fashion?

My mother’s actual last words — “...Please... live. Live on... be happy. I love you...”

Yes. My mother had never sought revenge. Until the very end, up until her last breath... she had wished for my happiness. That was why I thought I should live on... that I had to continue living on.

Before I knew it, Katarina had moved quite close to me. “So... you don’t have to cry alone.” With a gentle smile, she reached out with her hand.

Why did my vision distort in such a way? My cheeks were wet.

“Come. Come with me... Raphael.”

Raphael. My real name. The name that my mother had given me. A truly important name. Slowly, I reached out with my hand towards Katarina’s. But then...

“Hey. What do you think you’re doing? Don’t listen to the words of someone like that! In fact... they’re careless, and have approached you. Take her hostage and escape! You can still escape!” the voice in my screamed, agitated.

I, however, turned to the voice — and responded. “I don’t want to do anything like that. I’ve already had enough of revenge!”

“...Wh-What?” The voice in me seemed afraid.

I asked it a question. “Also... who are you?”

I had lived my life according to what this voice that preached endlessly on about revenge said. It was this very voice that had brought up the memory of my mother’s last words. However... those last words were false. My mother never said such a thing.

It was this voice that had enticed me into doing all this. This “other me” who shouted about revenge, and who twisted my beloved mother’s last words. I finally realized it. This thing was not me.

My belief that this voice was me had clouded its true form. I could not see it for what it was. For so long, I thought that this voice was another side of me. In truth, he was the man in black. The very same man in black who had taken away my mother’s life.

“So... you notice at last.” The man in black smiled, bitterly, in defeat.

“...All this time. You’ve been controlling me... pretending to be me.” I remembered. How his fingers had brushed against me right before his death. I suppose it was right then that the Dark Arts had seeped into me and controlled my will. And that was how it twisted my mother’s last words.

“All I was doing was granting your wish. I was just helping you,” the man in black said hatefully.

“...Yes. I hated them... hated them all. ... But, I did not live on for the sake of revenge! I lived on so that I could one day be happy!”

That was my mother’s last wish — that I would live on, and find happiness. So... this man in black had to be erased. The supposed fact that the Dark Arts could only be dispelled by the individual who cast the spell... this girl before me was proof that it could be overcome.

“It’ll be okay.” Katarina’s warm hands gently held mine.

I started at the man in black, focusing on a singular thought in my mind. “...This is the end. There will be no more revenge. Your existence is no longer needed.”

“Damn it all... who do you think was the one who had led you all this way? You are weak... you traitor...”

With those last words, the man in black vanished.

Looking up, I saw Katarina’s gentle smile, and felt her warm gaze.>

★★★★★★★★★

Sirius Dieke — real name Raphael Wolt.

He told us everything; about how he had been born to Marquess Dieke and a maid in his service, about how he was raised, and how he had been living as Sirius Dieke... and also about how he had obtained Dark Magic. Finally, he also told us about how he had been controlled for the past seven years by that very same Dark Magic.

Although everyone was intent on presenting him to the authorities and pinning him as a criminal behind this entire incident, their opinions changed upon hearing Raphael’s story. I had never thought to persecute Raphael for what he did. Maria, too, decided to forgive him for having confined her to that chamber for several days.

It would seem that Maria had been looking at Raphael’s eyes at the moment when the Dark Magic cast upon him was dispelled, and in doing so became more convinced of the truth to his words.

However, Raphael decided that he should turn himself in to the authorities. “I want to tell them about all this myself. About my mother and I... and the man in black, and the real Sirius. Although I was being controlled, I still have a duty to speak of the things I had done...” Raphael said, deciding the inform the authorities about all that had transpired.

The sins of Madam Dieke, her men, and Raphael’s own sins were hence laid bare. A while after Raphael had turned himself in, news of Madam Dieke and her men being arrested spread across the circles of noble society. We never heard about what became of Raphael for his involvement in forbidden magics, nor was the incident ever made public. It was probably safe to assume that he was now atoning for his sins in some manner.

There were no details in the rumors of Raphael and his fate after he turned himself in. I could only continue to worry, not knowing what had become of him.

Several months passed. We were now about a month away from the graduation ceremony. With the graduation ceremony occurring soon, the members of the student council were all accordingly busy. So I decided to focus on my agricultural work, not wanting to get in the way of their duties. I set off for my dormitory room, intent on retrieving my farming implements.

“Lady Katarina Claes.”

A familiar voice. I turned around. Standing there was a somewhat unremarkable, brown-haired youth, wearing attire reminiscent of officials from the Magical Ministry. He had a normal, almost boring aura about him — if he had not called out to me, I would probably have walked past him without ever noticing that he was there. He didn’t stand out in the least.

Hmm? Who’s this? The fact that he called out to me and knew my name meant that I had known him in some capacity before... and yet, I could not remember.

As those thoughts crossed my mind... I looked into the youth’s eyes. It was then that I remembered — those were the gentle, grey eyes I knew so well.

“...Wait... could it be? Raphael?” I blurted out.

As I did so Raphael’s eyes opened wide. “I am surprised you could tell. Especially since my appearance has changed so much.”

Ah, it is Raphael after all... I hadn’t seen him for a few months, and he did look entirely different — but those gentle, grey eyes remained as they always had. He smiled, as if embarrassed, upon hearing my explanation. It was a smile I had not seen in quite are long time.

“You’ve come back?” The fact that Raphael was standing here meant that he was able to return to the academy... or so I assumed.

“Yes. Thanks to the various testimonies that everyone provided, I was able to return to this place once more.”

We all did what we could to help Raphael’s case. We told the authorities what we knew of Raphael’s story, Maria’s eyewitness testimony, and how he had been gentle and kind to us up until then. In addition, we also utilized some social connections, directly launching a petition to the higher levels of authority in the land. If what we did would help Raphael, even in the slightest way... then that was a good thing.

I couldn’t help but be surprised at his current appearance — so different than how he was before. Why was it necessary to change how he looked to this extent? “Could it be that... you were thinking of enrolling in the academy again, as a new student...?” I asked.

After the incident, Raphael left the Academy. On the surface, he had left “to recuperate” because of “health issues.” However, rumors of Madam Dieke’s arrest had already spread through the intermingled layers of noble society, and many assumed that her son, Sirius, was somehow involved in the incident as well — at least, that was the image I had gotten.

It would be difficult for Raphael to enroll as Sirius Dieke once more, especially not with that face, which was widely-known to the student body. However... now that he had altered his appearance so much, it was perhaps possible to enroll in the academy again as someone else. Those were the thoughts that flitted through my mind as I inspected Raphael’s new appearance.

“No. I will no longer return to the academy... It is a little unfortunate that I could not graduate. However, I have actually obtained a position at the Magical Ministry, and will be working there from here on out. As Raphael Wolt, of course.”

As the Dark Magic cast on Raphael dissipated, gone, too, was the source of his power — Raphael could no longer utilize the Dark Arts. Even so, he had high magical aptitude. It would seem that he was valued for his skills, and eventually offered a position within the Bureau.

However, there was another angle to this, perhaps. Considering that Raphael had been acting under the mental influence of forbidden magic for a time, it made sense that the Bureau would want to monitor him. In other words, he was now under the Bureau’s supervision and care.

Due to these circumstances, Raphael was assigned to work at the research facility on the academy’s grounds. This was why he had to change how he looked — so that he would not be recognized by the student body, hence avoiding a commotion. As for why he looked like someone else altogether... he apparently had the assistance of a professional disguise and make-up artist.

A professional... disguise artist? What sort of profession is that? They even changed his facial shape... a well-done disguise indeed. Yes, as expected of a professional. Apparently, until noble society at large had calmed down, Raphael was to stay in this disguise.

“Then, I suppose we will meet like this again sometime?”

“Yes. I would think so... we are on academy grounds, after all.”

“Ha. Then... should we have a chance, would you put on a pot of tea again, in that delicious way that you do?”

“Of course. Gladly.” Smiling, Raphael suddenly knelt before me, reaching out with his hand. It was a reminiscent of what Jeord had done when he had asked for my hand in marriage.

Eh? What? What’s this all about? What should I do?

“Lady Katarina Claes... allow me to introduce myself once more. I, Raphael Wolt, would like to live by your side. Would you permit me the honor of doing so...?”

Hmm... what stiff, formal words. I suppose Raphael means that... he wants to be friends and get along from now on? Well then.

“Of course. I hope we get along well from now on, too,” I said, holding his outstretched hand in mine.

“Ah... but. Well... perhaps you really should not be calling me by my full name. It is a little unnerving. Just address me like you always have, yes?” Raphael smiled, as if at a bit of a loss, upon hearing my words.