After Adam and Beatrice disappeared together, Chloe, left alone to clean up the debris, was still beaming.
'…Aren't you smiling a bit too much?'
'I'm just happy that Adam said he trusts me. I have no other thoughts.'
'Really?'
'Of course.'
Chloe, brushing aside future Chloe's skeptical gaze, used [Chain Binding] to clear the debris to one side.
Those words that Adam said, that he trusted and relied on her.
Why did those simple words make her so happy?
'Back at the research lab, I was the one asking him to rely on me.'
'That's right… It's been a while since I heard those words from Adam.'
'Did you hear them often in the future?'
'No, that was the problem. I couldn't overcome that menopausal bitch's shadow after all.'
Future Chloe, despite being just a mental presence, had a complicated expression.
A mix of self-deprecation, anger, patheticness, self-harm, and jealousy.
Emotions so deeply ingrained that they had become commonplace.
Dark and heavy emotions.
'…Adam didn't rely on me. He only accepted me as a companion after I chased after him for a long time.'
'What? Was Adam not Rank 1 then? Did he have other companions?'
'No way. Adam was always Rank 1, and he was alone. He refused my offer to follow him and wandered the continent alone.'
'...…'
'He said that if I followed him, I would die too. He told me to live my own life.'
The future that future Chloe spoke of calmly.
It was something that future Chloe, worried about the merging of their minds, tried not to talk about as much as possible.
Was it because she was swept up in the mood, or did she think it was okay to talk about this much?
Chloe quietly listened to her future self.
…Since it was about Adam, Chloe couldn't just ignore it.
'But I was the one who followed him until the end. I tried to help him secretly, with magic, without being noticed.'
'Adam didn't know?'
'He's Rank 1. It's natural that he wouldn't notice the signs of magic unless it was large-scale. But… he somehow knew I was following him. It seemed like he was trying to shake me off, but he failed every time. And then he finally accepted me as a companion.'
'That's…'
'I was happy. I was truly happy that Adam needed me. But it didn't last long.'
'Why?'
'I quickly realized that that menopausal bitch still held a big place in Adam's heart. The despair I felt when I first learned that…'
Future Chloe was laughing. But it was a self-deprecating laugh.
'…You were so embarrassed that you couldn't even speak properly.'
'That's right. And because of that, I thought that if I desperately helped Adam, he would turn to me first. It was a foolish thought.'
Deep regret and self-loathing.
Future Chloe, speaking with such emotions, seemed less mature and more worn out.
Chloe, momentarily speechless, quietly swallowed.
Because there was something she had wanted to ask for a while now.
'Hey, future me.'
'What?'
'I've had this question since I first met you and heard your stories. You don't have to answer. Just let me ask.'
'Go ahead.'
'You…'
After graduating from the academy…
'Didn't you go back to the Magic Tower?'
'...…'
'Right? You said the Headmistress died and the academy collapsed? And then you went after Adam. That means you didn't go back to the Magic Tower.'
'...…'
'Why? In the first place, you came to Grandis Academy to escape the political strife within the Magic Tower at Master's suggestion. Shouldn't you have gone back after graduation?'
There was an answer that came to mind. That Adam was more important to her than the Magic Tower. Considering future Chloe's obsession, it wasn't hard to understand.
But that was precisely why she couldn't accept it.
'You could have just taken Adam to the Empire. Or you could have asked Master for help.'
'…Sigh.'
'Why? No, why isn't there any mention of the Magic Tower in the first place?'
There wasn't a single word about what happened to the Magic Tower in the future, or what happened to her master. Only stories about Adam, the Headmistress, and a few other people.
It was puzzling. She was currently at the academy, but the place where Chloe had spent her entire life was the Empire and the Magic Tower. It hadn't even been half a year since she came to the academy, but she had spent years at the Magic Tower.
And yet, future Chloe only talked about her days at the academy. She couldn't help but feel a sense of dissonance.
'Master…'
'Can you answer? Or will you remain silent?'
If she answered, that would be good. And if she remained silent, she could still glean information from that.
Future Chloe wasn't revealing the future because she was worried that her mind would completely merge with the current Chloe's. The more important and crucial the future, the less she would speak about it.
And if she remained silent about the Magic Tower and Master, that would mean the future regarding them was very important.
Chloe had her own thoughts and questions, but…
'Master, Master, the Archmage. The Rank 8 of the Empire.'
'…What's wrong?'
'He's a great person. A great mage, and the founder of the Magic Tower, a hero who will be remembered in the history of the Empire.'
'...…'
'But that's it. Just, that.'
Future Chloe answered. But it was a vague answer that felt like she hadn't answered at all.
Why was she reacting like that about the Magic Tower and Master? If she had been completely negative, she could have assumed something had happened, but future Chloe's attitude was truly ambiguous.
It seemed favorable yet negative. Moreover, it was difficult to judge whether it was an important future or not.
Future Chloe, muttering something unintelligible for a moment, said,
'If you're really curious, check for yourself.'
'What?'
'When you reach this level, you can sense things. A presence… A very powerful presence is coming this way from the Empire.'
'W-wait. Does that mean…'
'Who else could it be? Your beloved Master.'
Why was Master coming to the academy? So suddenly?
Chloe, momentarily speechless at future Chloe's sudden words, realized something and muttered,
'…The terrorist attack.'
'Master and the Headmistress know each other personally. Maybe he's coming as a representative of the Empire?'
'But I report to Master every week through the magic tool. Even if I see him in person…'
'It's better to see him in person at this time.'
'What?'
'In many ways.'
Future Chloe didn't say anything more. She just remained silent.
Chloe briefly urged her future self to answer, but…
Someone was rushing towards her from afar.
"Piste! Piste!"
"…Dean Billend?"
Dean Billend of the Magic Department, from the Imperial Magic Tower.
The one she occasionally met and talked with because they were both from the Magic Tower.
He was approaching with a somewhat serious expression, his aged body moving slowly.
Why?
Chloe shivered with an unknown anxiety.
***
For Amatriuss Delphia Beatrice, every day was new and enjoyable these days.
Some would ask, "Did you really overcome your chronic illness? If you're always in a state of mana exhaustion, won't you die soon?"
Some would whisper, "You're just a hostage, why are you acting so arrogant? Just stay quiet."
Some would scoff, "Is it appropriate for the fourth princess to be working in a grocery store wearing work clothes?"
Countless gazes and words from others.
But Beatrice was free from all of that.
'It's amazing.'
Fate was truly amazing.
When she was first chosen as a hostage from the kingdom, everything felt hopeless. Actually, it was more accurate to say she was pushed rather than chosen.
A princess with talent but unable to control her magic due to a chronic illness. The royal family had long given up on Beatrice.
They had been trying to find a solution for over a decade with no progress. The problem was that the royal mages were only at the beginning levels of Rank 7, so there was a limit to what they could do in this small kingdom.
In the end, Beatrice was often treated as a burden, and her fate was to be sold off to another country in a political marriage, using her beautiful appearance and ample bosom. Before that, her last use was the academy, practically as a hostage.
'That's why I tried so hard to go back.'
Because while she was at this academy, in a foreign country, her next fate would be decided back home.
She tried to return to the kingdom to do something, anything. That's why she approached the Finance Director and tried to meet the Headmistress by bribing him.
But who knew that meeting would change everything?
"…Finance Director."
"Yes?"
"I just wanted to call your name."
Finance Director Adam Keynes.
It was as if Beatrice's fate had been to live in despair until now, just to meet this person.
Her chronic illness, which had given her hope while simultaneously plunging her into despair, was resolved. If that was all, she would have considered him her lifelong benefactor, but this person was truly contradictory.
He helped others without caring for himself. Beatrice's gaze fell on Adam's front pocket, where the military stimulant she saw at his dormitory was still tucked.
He used those to focus on his work and lived alone in that old and gloomy dormitory. He suffered from an excessive workload every day, but he even sacrificed his sleep and rest to continue studying finance.
He was such a hard-working person. She couldn't just stand by and watch. She wanted to help him in any way she could.
That's why she gave Adam some of the jewels she brought with her maid, Suzanne. It was under the guise of a bribe, but she truly hoped he would use them for himself.
'You said you contacted the stimulant merchant, right?'
Even as the fourth princess, she had that much influence. She had told the merchant to sell them cheaply, even at a loss, so Adam could save some money.
She couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Was this how nobles who sponsored poor scholars and artists felt?
'His skin seems a bit better.'
Did he eat properly? He must have bought something to eat with the money she gave him. That thought made her feel motivated to work.
It was a small amount of money, but she was saving little by little. Should she buy him a fountain pen with it?
Beatrice, recalling Adam's cheap fountain pen, giggled.
"Anyway, please accept this. You'll be well-fed from now on."
"Thank you, Princess Beatrice."
"…You're welcome."
If she continued to build up his favorability like this, surely an opportunity to take Adam away would come. For some reason, she felt that if she returned to the Delphia Kingdom with Adam, she could change her fate even more drastically.
To do that, she had tried to meet the student council president through Milia, whom she met during the deserted island midterm exam.
'That female student next to Adam earlier, she was definitely Milia.'
She had been trying to meet Milia recently, but it was difficult. What happened that made her contact Adam in the meantime?
She had already obtained all the information about the student council, so there was no need to maintain a close relationship with Milia, but she was still one of her few connections. And Beatrice was certain that Milia was hiding something.
So she simply asked Adam.
"By the way, wasn't that Milia next to you earlier?"
"Do you know her? Ah, you were in the same group during the midterms, right?"
"Yes. I haven't seen her recently, so I was surprised to see her next to the Finance Director."
"Hmm… Student Milia is currently helping us because she can't pay her tuition. She's here today as part of that."
"Aha."
If that was the case, there was no need to worry. Rather, Beatrice wanted to ask about the student council president, Cassandra, more than Milia. She had heard that Adam and Cassandra were personally acquainted.
But it would be strange to suddenly ask about Cassandra out of context. He might even take it as her asking for information in exchange for these jewels.
Beatrice didn't want that. Of course, she had something she wanted, but she didn't want to have only a business relationship with Adam.
Even if she had some personal feelings, she wanted him to know that it was ultimately out of goodwill.
"…Princess, for a moment."
"Suzanne? Finance Director, that…"
"Please go attend to that. I'll be waiting."
Beatrice wanted to talk more with Adam, but the sudden appearance of her maid, Suzanne, interrupted their conversation.
Suzanne had been taking care of Beatrice for a long time. She was quick-witted and wouldn't interrupt their conversation unless it was something urgent.
That meant it was something urgent enough for Suzanne to intervene, and…
"There's a message from the Delphia Kingdom. Through an unofficial route, of course."
"They didn't get caught, did they?"
"They didn't get caught, but for safety reasons, we won't be able to use it anymore. Anyway, the message from home is…"
"What is it?"
"…His Highness, the Crown Prince, is coming to the academy."
"What? My brother?"
Beatrice couldn't believe it.
The Crown Prince of the Delphia Kingdom and the next king, Beatrice's half-brother.
The brother she knew…
…was someone she really didn't want to see.
***
While the two female students were flustered for their own reasons,
Milia, left alone in the middle of the street,
'I want to go back and rest.'
She hadn't been told she could go back and could only wait indefinitely,
Cursing Adam, who had entered the grocery store with that work clothes princess and hadn't come out as if they were making a baby.
She crouched down, leaning against a wall.
She wanted to go home…