Episode 21: And So the “Scenario” Begins

Before I knew it, I was sleeping in a bed somewhere indoors.

It was the kind of situation that made me want to say “an unfamiliar ceiling…” but unfortunately… well, nothing was particularly wrong, but anyway, I recognized the ceiling.

It was the ceiling of the Anciness family’s mansion.

I slowly raised my body.

“~~~…!!”

Every joint in my body ached terribly.

It was a pain like being scraped with sandpaper.

At the same time, I saw in my field of vision my own state, which made me want to say “well, that figures.”

My clothes had been completely removed, and instead… I was covered in bandages all over my body to the extent that you could say “in their place.”

Even my fingertips were thoroughly wrapped, and the rough texture tickled my skin.

I seemed to be quite the seriously injured patient.

But for me, I was just seriously injured.

My body trembled in small shivers.

Even that alone caused pain, but right now I couldn’t suppress it.

“…Ha”

I exhaled all the air accumulated in my lungs.

And then, I muttered almost naturally.

“…I’m alive”

***

I don’t remember what happened after that, as if that memory had been completely hollowed out.

I must have lost consciousness due to the headache from forcibly using magic, the gaping wound on my back, and various other aches and pains in my joints.

In fact, according to those who rushed over because something terrible had happened, I had collapsed as if dead. Well, anyone would think that seeing a blood-soaked, pale body.

However, in the end, I survived.

I am surviving.

Just savoring that fact almost makes me tremble with joy, but well, that’s fine for now.

The aftermath of what happened after I passed out was apparently quite chaotic.

Of course it was, since it was a tremendous incident where all the children nearly died and all the guards assigned to Eleanore were wiped out.

According to experts who analyzed the information, the monster that attacked us was apparently a type of “demon.”

The “demons” of this world are monsters that don’t perform life activities, born when negative emotions of living creatures condense.

And that thing we faced was probably a manifestation of the regrets of a child who died in that forest, according to the expert’s assessment.

To distract from the emotion of loneliness that constitutes itself, it apparently possesses or rampages around human children.

It seems they’re occasionally seen at places where trial ceremonies are held.

This is because there are indeed children who lose their lives during the ceremonies.

…However, “demons” born in such ways are generally weak enough to not be threats.

Though it sounds bad, they’re born from children who lose their lives during ceremonies, so they apparently don’t possess that much strength.

But that monster we faced… was frankly at an incredible level.

It was among the upper ranks even among “demons.”

In response to this, the theory arose that it might be an artificially enhanced individual, and a large-scale investigation was conducted, but even now no culprit has been found.

The investigation is apparently continuing for now, but that’s probably a slim hope too.

After all, there’s no testimony from anyone involved.

Because everyone who was there was a child, and all the adult guards had died, leaving no one to speak.

That also caused quite a commotion.

Naturally, since over ten knights had died.

Funerals, support for bereaved families, securing vacant personnel positions—it dealt a major shock both in practical terms and to people’s mental state.

I was hit pretty hard too, since I knew several of the knights among the guards.

The very fact that there was a monster capable of wiping out knights, who are combat professionals, planted great anxiety.

Including Adalbert, many people apparently rushed around to settle the effects of this incident.

Well, it all seems to have ended while I was sleeping though.

So, well, there was this kind of chaos.

As for damages: many seriously injured.

Deaths that couldn’t be counted on ten fingers, including children possessed by the demon.

Through this incident, what I realized was a sense of powerlessness.

I was a hopeless person.

What reaching the strongest? With such a pathetic performance, I’d die before getting there.

I actually nearly died and almost ruined everything.

…This incident is probably definitely the cause of death for “Eleanore’s childhood friend” in the main story.

So then, I overcame the brink of death! Bad end avoided! Yay!

As if that would happen.

I might face a life-threatening crisis from something else.

And then what, get saved by Eleanore again?

What good is being protected by the one I should be protecting?

In the first place, there’s no guarantee I’ll be present at the scene.

Well… maybe there is, but that’s beside the point.

I must become stronger.

I must have the power to repel anything.

Besides, right now, I’m realizing that I mustn’t die.

My relationship with Eleanore is also gradually changing.

Well, the main cause is on her side, though.

I am becoming… someone who must not die.

***

A sunny afternoon when the sun was showing its face energetically.

And yet I was in a dimly lit room with scarcely any sunlight.

“Um, Eleanore-sama. Won’t you let me go already…?”

Inwardly nervous, I spoke out.

While trying to keep my mind as blank as possible regarding the soft sensation pressed against my left arm.

“…No. If I take my mind off you, I worry that you might go somewhere far away… my heart fills with that worry.”

“No… yes. I fully understand that, and, um. I’m grateful or rather I feel bad about it…?”

I looked at the black tentacles binding both my hands.

No matter how much I pulled, no matter how much I tried to use magic, I could tell they possessed strength that wouldn’t break.

“But at least, um, could you remove just these restraints…?”

“I refuse. Today I haven’t yet felt ‘Arcs’ enough.”

She said while puffing out her cheeks like a small child.

Seeing that, I couldn’t be forceful.

Well, I couldn’t be forceful from the start anyway.

“N-no… even so…”

However, I did want to escape this situation somehow.

I could easily imagine this wasn’t a situation that should occur between a proper butler and master.

Besides…

“We’ll be entering the academy soon… so please restrain yourself a bit…!”

I lamented, almost in tears.

───Five years since the incident.

Eleanore and I would turn fifteen.

And that age means… yes.

It’s when the story scenario of “Celestia Kingdom” begins.

I’ve somehow managed to survive this far.

Considering when I resolved myself five years ago, this was a result worth celebrating.

Well, I was lucky.

But the price wasn’t very small.

The cause is, well, various things.

One of them relates to my unique magic Celestia.

That… magic that broke through the moment when I was closest to death, its effect is to “copy” the target’s Celestia.

Copy any person’s unique ability and use it freely!?

Super strongest!

That’s what five-year-old me thought when this magic manifested, but well, things wouldn’t go that conveniently.

This “copy” has a demerit.

That is…

“Once you copy a magic, you develop extremely low resistance to it.”

Simply put, for example, if I copy a magic that flows 10V of electricity, and then get hit with the original magic afterward, it’s like 1000V of electricity would run through my body… that kind of feeling.

Honestly, it’s quite a fatal flaw.

At the very least, strategies like copying an opponent’s magic during combat to catch them off guard are extremely difficult.

And that means, essentially.

I copied Eleanore’s Celestia.

Her magic has truly high versatility.

In offensive uses, I’d probably be fine now, but… other uses.

For example, when used for restraints and such, I’d be practically powerless.

In the first place, what’s important in magic is imagination.

Restraints performed through her solid imagination would have few who could match them even among ordinary people.

Therefore, right now I was in a state where my limbs were restrained and I was almost powerless.

Even if Eleanore went into confusion and pointed a knife at me, I probably couldn’t resist.

Well, knowing her, such a thing would never───

Suddenly, Eleanore opened her mouth.

“…That’s why, you see? Since we’ll have more time apart at the academy, I must feel Arcs now while I can.”

The strength gripping my arm intensified.

The sweet smell that wafted at that moment somehow stirred my thoughts round and round.

“Ah, that’s right.”

As if suddenly thinking of it.

“If there are any troublemakers at the academy… and times when you can’t be rough with them, tell me, okay?”

After sharing plenty of silence, she… continued her words.

“I won’t forgive anyone who disturbs our peace, no matter who they are.”

Probably, bouncing musical notes were attached to the end of her words.

It was light enough for that,

Said while maintaining an innocently smiling face without break.

My gaze was involuntarily drawn into her pure black eyes that harbored not a single speck of white.

Whether due to the angle of the light, or due to emotion…

I no longer wanted to judge.

She hasn’t already fallen to darkness… right?

Right after the main story begins, even.

Looking at her now, I couldn’t help but think such ominous thoughts.