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In the bedroom, the clattering sounds from next door indicated that Zenith and Lilia were preparing some luggage for Rudeus, along with the summer clothes they had just made for Allen but hadn't yet given to him.
Downstairs, Paul was chatting with Philip, who had a towel draped over his shoulders, reminiscing about the past and the present.
Rudeus was in his own room, packing his things.
Though it was sudden, both of Rudeus's parents were former adventurers. Sudden changes and a "do it now" attitude were nothing unusual for them.
For example, in the original story, they had knocked Rudeus out, loaded him into a carriage, and taken him away without a second thought.
They were efficient, to say the least.
—
Allen sat at his desk, packing his drawers into a box. The drawers were filled with letters and some gifts from Roxy.
Behind him, Sylphiette was helping by stuffing his clothes into a suitcase.
With a click, the suitcase was closed.
Sylphiette's soft, deliberate footsteps approached, and Allen smiled, clapping his hands.
His desk was mostly cleared now.
"Alright, that's about it. So, what's next—"
His wrist was grabbed.
It was Sylphiette's hand. Her palm was small, her fingers slender.
But for some reason, Allen could feel a certain "strength" in her grip.
He was about to turn around, but Sylphiette stopped him with her words.
"Don't turn around, Allen… I want to say something to you."
"Huh? Uh… Can't this wait until later?"
"I want to become an adventurer with you and Teacher."
Allen was stunned, the words he was about to say stuck in his throat.
"I've thought about it for a long time. If one day I can become as skilled as you and Teacher, can I join the adventurer team you promised? As a companion, exploring dungeons together?"
Allen was at a loss for words and instinctively asked, "Huh? Weren't you already part of it? The adventurer team we talked about…"
"…Was I?"
"Weren't you? And Rudeus too."
"…We talked about adventurers together, but when you and Roxy were discussing it, I felt like I wasn't included. And in the letters Teacher sent me, whenever she mentioned the adventurer team, your name was always there, but I felt like… I wasn't."
"I can't explain why I feel this way, but I can tell."
"The 'adventurer' team you two promised seems different from what we talked about…"
Allen was speechless.
"Don't be ridiculous. An adventurer team can't just have two people—"
He was interrupted by Sylphiette's voice.
"Your adventurer team doesn't need Rudeus."
"It doesn't need me."
"And that's fine."
Allen was truly baffled now. He didn't know how to respond.
The two of them fell silent for a while.
Finally, Sylphiette spoke again.
"Downstairs, Uncle Paul, Aunt Zenith, and Uncle Philip were talking about serious adult matters. I shouldn't have interrupted, but I really wanted to ask…"
Allen felt Sylphiette's voice was faint, like a soft note dissolving into the sound of rain hitting the window.
"I really wanted to ask…"
"I wanted to ask you…"
"Are you leaving me out of the adventurer team?"
"Because it seems like this time, when you and Rudeus are going to Roa, you look…"
"Happy."
"Allen, you've met your long-lost father and have a cute little sister about my age…"
"I know, I understand, and I'm fully aware that I shouldn't be saying something so selfish right now…"
"But I feel like the adventurer team doesn't need me."
"I just couldn't help but ask you…"
"Am I right?"
The bedroom window was tightly shut, isolating the room from the pouring rain outside. The storm couldn't invade the interior.
Yet Allen could hear the sound of raindrops falling.
Close, behind him.
The sound was faint, as distant as clouds gathering moisture in the sky.
But it was clear in his ears.
In his gaze, the two holes burned into the desk by the "Future Sight" incident were still there.
Last year, Zenith had insisted on replacing the desk.
But Allen had ultimately refused.
Why?
A calm inner voice answered.
'A detestable future is meant to be shattered.'
'So now… is the situation before me something I detest?'
'Is the choice already clear?'
'Yes.'
'It's very clear.'
'There's no need to hesitate.'
Just as Allen was lost in thought, a commotion erupted downstairs. It sounded like Paul was exclaiming something, and hurried footsteps rushed up the stairs, heading straight for Allen's room.
Paul's voice was loud enough to shake the door as it grew closer.
"Allen!!"
The door slammed open.
His next words followed.
"How could you tell Philip you're taking Sylphiette to Roa?! What are you going to tell Laws?!!"
As the words fell, the last ripple in Allen's thoughts settled.
'Since falling from the snowy valley…'
'I've never hesitated.'
Taking Sylphiette to Roa.
This was the choice Allen had already made.
Who needed to "remind" him?
—
Hearing Paul's footsteps, Sylphiette quickly wiped her face.
But wiping her face wasn't enough.
How could it block the sound?
It was too clear.
So clear it felt like it was pounding on her heart.
Her hand froze on her face.
Her expression was one of shock.
The tears she had been holding back couldn't be wiped away. No matter how much she tried, they only kept coming.
Falling to the floor.
The heavy rain outside continued without pause.
From the moment she felt Allen's intention to leave Buena Village this afternoon, her heart had been in turmoil.
And now, seeing Allen's constant smiles, the tears she had been holding back finally burst forth.
Why had she been holding back her tears?
Why hadn't she been like Eris, boldly stating her desires and thoughts?
Why hadn't she followed the original story's pattern, clinging to Allen and crying, begging him not to leave?
Why?
Because.
Allen didn't like it when children cried.
Sylphiette felt she was no longer a child.
She didn't want Allen to dislike her.
—
Paul stood frozen at the door, blinking rapidly, completely stunned.
At that moment, Zenith appeared out of nowhere, grabbed him, and dragged him away, slamming the door shut behind them.
So decisive!
Allen blinked, scratching his head in confusion.
He turned around.
The white-haired girl was crying uncontrollably, her tears unstoppable.
Sylphiette's mind wandered to Roxy, who always seemed so composed. She felt embarrassed.
If Teacher were here, she wouldn't be like this, right?
Thinking this, she looked down at her stained dress through her tears and said,
"My dress… is dirty."
"Ah, when we get to Roa, I'll buy you ten prettier ones."
"…One is enough."
"Ten."
"…"
"Okay."
Downstairs, another commotion broke out.
It was the loud voice of a certain little lioness and Rudeus's frantic shouting.
"You're really arrogant! I don't need you to tell me to make Sylphiette my tutor!"
"Please! Don't shout so loudly!! I told you to quietly convince your father!"
"Huh? Why do I have to be quiet?"
...
"Hey, hey, I can hear you, you know."
—
Outside, the rain continued to fall.
The raindrops pattered against the ground in front of the Greyrat household, evoking fleeting memories of the past.
In the rain,
Allen walked to the front door of the Greyrat house and reached for the handle.
But he stopped.
His voice carried through the rain, clear to Philip's ears.
"I have one more condition."
"Among the tutors, I want to add one more person."
Philip looked at Allen's profile, his eyes narrowing into slits.
"Alright."
If you want to take something, you must first give something.
That was all.
—
[Fate has already changed. Who else is trying to stir the waves?]
[A new fate has already been quietly woven in the countless moments of determination in the past.]
[Allen.]
[Under the gaze of everyone, have you left your mark in their eyes?]
[The answer is obvious.]
[Tutoring Period Participation Score: Increased!]
[Current Stage: Young Tutor Period. Cumulative Participation Score: 23 points.]
[Being reminded by Sylphiette's tears to make a change is nothing compared to making a firm choice from the start. This is the only path to earning extra participation points.]
[You've done it.]
[And your goal wasn't even for the sake of points.]
[Evaluation: Amidst intense 'variables,' within just a few hours, you've made the most perfect 'choice'!]
Allen didn't look at the system window that had suddenly appeared. He just sighed and said to Sylphiette,
"So, like I said, we still have a lot to do tonight."
"When we get to your house, I'll have to convince your parents too."
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 157 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 110 power stones I will publish the next chapter.