Chapter 43

In a certain room within the palace, Rozeline was watching the battle situation. Clermont, who had been forced into a disadvantage from the breach of the city gates, was now like a flickering flame. This palace could no longer be called safe.

"Your Highness, it's only a matter of time before this place falls. Please escape while you can. If anything happens to you, I will have no face to show the late Duke Chartres."

"It's too late. Once they've invaded the city, there's no escape. Even if I use a teleportation spell to run, I'll be caught soon enough."

Rozeline's words, dressed in battle attire, made her subjects weep. The thought that the Commune would end with her generation was unbearable.

"You should lay down your swords and surrender. If I'm captured, this war will end. There's no need for you to suffer as well."

"I'm sorry, but I cannot follow that order. They have falsely accused us of being vampires and invaded. Our existence as humans is inconvenient to them. They will eliminate us and obscure the truth. Besides, you, Your Highness, are our only lord. We cannot bow to the despicable Vaiscel Empire. I wish to accompany you until the end."

"…Really. I don't know whether to lament my disobedient subjects or to be pleased with those who remain loyal until the end. But it's not bad."

Rozeline smiled wryly. Her subjects laughed together.

The door to the room opened. The laughter stopped, and everyone's gaze focused on the entrance, thinking it might be a messenger. A girl in a white robe opened the door and looked around.

"Why is a girl in such a place… No, could you be Marie Alexia von Zavarish!?"

"Yes, that's right."

Alexia, the enemy commander, coming to the enemy's headquarters so boldly was unexpected. Rozeline and her subjects were taken aback, but when they realized Alexia was the enemy commander, they were stirred.

"There should have been soldiers guarding various parts of the palace. Could you have defeated all of them?"

"It took some time, but I put them to sleep for a while."

Rozeline and her subjects were convinced that Alexia's words were true. Despite the fact that the enemy had easily approached the most important person, no soldiers were gathering. If the soldiers were safe, they would have rushed to this place where the commotion was happening, and they would not have let the enemy approach silently.

The boldness of a commander who entered the enemy's headquarters alone and the strength to make such a reckless move were beyond what one would expect from a young girl. Rozeline and her subjects etched in their hearts that she was a formidable opponent, not to be deceived by her appearance.

"Rozeline-sama, we cannot let you be touched by a single finger! We will protect you until the end and avenge you against them! We will not be swayed by such words!"

One of Rozeline's more hotheaded subjects leaped forward in anger.

"Then are you saying we should waste time and needlessly sacrifice our soldiers? You must understand the situation. The resistance of the Commune soldiers in this city is already weakening. The Vaiscel Empire's troops will soon flood in. There's no meaning in further sacrifices. We should end this war before it gets worse."

Confronted with the facts, the subjects were taken aback. Alexia's logic was correct, but emotionally, they could not accept it. Even though she was a powerful mage, being lectured by a young girl and seeing the Commune's history come to a close stirred their emotions. Pride made a sense of rebellion rise in them. And the current Alexia, who was thinking rationally, could not understand the nuances of human feelings.

"Shut up! We will protect Rozeline-sama until the end and avenge you against them! We will not be swayed by such words!"

"Stop! All of you!"

"Ridiculous… Is this what those in power do?"

Ignoring Rozeline's attempts to stop them, the subjects, their emotions laid bare, attacked Alexia. Alexia, whose expression did not change, seemed to despise their actions, and her words were sharp.

"Then I will use force."

Repositioning her staff, Alexia began to take down the subjects one by one. There was no one in the room who could match her strength. Rozeline tried to stop her subjects multiple times, but they ignored her words and continued fighting until the last man. Not one of them managed to seriously injure Alexia.

With all her subjects lying on the ground, no one was left to block Alexia. She approached Rozeline step by step. Unable to stop her, Rozeline knelt and shed tears.

"Rozeline-sama, surrender. Do you intend to increase the number of victims?"

Thrusting her staff forward, Alexia's ultimatum left no room for negotiation. Rozeline had no choice but to follow her words.

***

"Let's look for Rozeline and Alexia-sama. We have to hurry or it will be too late."

"Kaios, Rozeline is the princess here, right? Why do you address the Vaiscel Empire's noble with 'sama' but not the Commune's ruler?"

"I've heard stories about saving the princess, but I'm curious about the circumstances when you hear it from the person who is close to her."

"Hey, you two. We're in a hurry. Save that for later."

Cornelia and Liam started to argue, but Havoc scolded them with a mix of exasperation and annoyance.

"The crowd is over there. Rozeline might be there."

"How can you tell? I don't think we can figure anything out from here."

"That's the map."

"Map?"

Oops. If Havoc and the others are residents of this world, they can't display the game system map. Indeed, they looked puzzled and questioned the word "map." I can't say I'm checking with the map. I have to cover it up.

"…I can sense her presence."

"But the girl called Alexia definitely went in that direction."

"What?"

Emilia pointed in a different direction from where Rozeline was supposed to be.

Right, the people in this world can't see the map, so they wouldn't know where Rozeline is. That means Alexia-sama might not be with Rozeline. In fact, it might take her some time to find Rozeline. A lot of time has passed since she fought Irene, but she might still be searching for Rozeline.

"Just because there are a lot of people doesn't mean the princess is there. The enemy has invaded the castle, so it's possible she's taken refuge in a safe place."

Liam's point made me nod. Indeed, my assumption is based on the idea that the princess, a VIP, would be surrounded by many guards because there are a lot of people in that area. This castle has escape routes and the 'Warp Portal' spell. There are many ways to evacuate.

"I don't think we can figure out where the princess is. The castle is large, so let's split up and search. Kaios, go to the crowded area. It's the most likely place for the princess to be. You have a connection with her, so you're less likely to be suspected. We can't convince them if we explain the situation."

"But Alexia-sama is the same. We might end up fighting."

"Of course, I'll try not to fight. Mentioning your name might make them listen. Don't worry, have a little more faith in us."

Havoc laughed heartily, trying to dispel the unease. Logically, since we can't determine their locations, the only option is to have everyone search.

"Got it, everyone, I'm counting on you!"

I parted ways with Havoc and the others and ran to find Rozeline. On the way to the room where Rozeline might be, I saw fallen soldiers. It must be Alexia-sama's doing. The corridor she took must connect to where Rozeline is. She might have already found Rozeline. I have to hurry!

As I got closer, the sounds of battle grew louder. I was too late; they were already fighting!

By the time I reached the room, the sounds had stopped.

"Alexia! Rozeline!"

The scene before my eyes made me catch my breath. Many people were lying around a single girl. The sight reminded me of that dream.

But Rozeline was alive. Shaking my head to dispel the memory of the dream, I ran to her.

It's not too late to change things.

***

"Alexia! Rozeline!"

Alexia turned around in surprise. The person she would never forget, the one she thought she would never see again, was right in front of her.

Forgetting about the enemy princess and the battlefield, Alexia lowered her staff and couldn't take her eyes off Kaios.

"Tea…cher…?"

Kaios approached Alexia within arm's reach. There were so many things he wanted to say, but not a word came out. Many thoughts floated and disappeared in his mind. Not knowing what to do, Alexia instinctively reached out.

"Ah…"

Alexia's outstretched hand missed. Without a word, Kaios ignored her and went to Rozeline.

Alexia watched him, her hand hanging, in a daze.

"Why…?"

Rozeline looked at the boy who was supposed to have fled, in shock.

"Are you safe?"

Kaios extended his hand to Rozeline. She took it unconsciously. Pulled up, she realized it was really him when she saw his face up close.

Rozeline couldn't understand. She had believed it was impossible for the boy, who was so shaken, to return to this place.

Despite his earlier agitation, Kaios seemed to be his usual self to Rozeline.

"Why did you come back!? This is a battlefield! If you come back here, you'll be involved. You might even have to fight your acquaintance! Why did you come back to the battlefield!?"

Rozeline said, pushing him away. The person in front of her was Kaios's acquaintance, and she couldn't imagine him fighting her. She wanted to get him as far away from this place as possible.

"I'm really scared, and I want to run away just as much."

"Then why!?"

"But I couldn't just leave. I didn't want to regret doing nothing."

"…You're an idiot. You're really an idiot."

Tears streamed down Rozeline's eyes. Kaios scratched his cheek, embarrassed.

Meanwhile, Alexia watched the scene with a sad expression.

(Teacher was always like that.)

Her teacher was someone who could reach out to others. Alexia couldn't imagine the circumstances that brought him here, but she deduced that he had met Rozeline, learned of her danger, and rushed to her aid.

Nostalgia welled up inside her. But it wasn't the only thing in her heart.

(Why am I not there?)

Why was the person by her beloved's side not her, but Rozeline?

Alienation, loneliness, emptiness, envy, and jealousy. No matter how much she longed for Kaios, no matter how close she was to him, she realized that he would never be within her reach. This realization clouded and corroded Alexia's heart.

Kaios turned his gaze to Alexia. Alexia also stared at him intently.

It had only been about a month since they last met, so there was little change in Kaios's appearance.

His unruly black hair, his indifferent face, his slender build compared to the average man. Everything was the same as before.

Yet, Alexia felt a strange sense of unease about him.

"Alexia-sama, it's been a while."

"It's been a while, Teacher."

"I didn't expect to meet you like this."

"…Yes, I didn't want to meet you like this either."

Rozeline finally realized the relationship between the two from their conversation. It was unusual for someone as young as Kaios to take on a disciple, which is why she hadn't considered their relationship. Not being very familiar with the details of mages, Rozeline had assumed her instructor would be older, but the reality was the same.

Another reason she found it hard to believe they were teacher and student was the vast difference in their abilities. Kaios was certainly a powerful mage, but even Rozeline, who was inexperienced in battle, could clearly see that he was not on Alexia's level. The gap was so vast.

"Alexia-sama, vampires are involved in this war. That's why I want you to stop fighting."

"Teacher, before that, can you tell me something?"

Interrupting Kaios's words, Alexia asked him a question.

"Where is the staff you used to have? The one with the Dragon Soul embedded in it, which you used when we were in the same party."

"The staff…?"

Rozeline looked puzzled. Kaios's hesitation was unusual. It was strange to hesitate over the location of a staff.

The Dragon Soul was a well-known gem. A staff with such a gem would be easily recognizable once seen. However, Rozeline had no memory of Kaios having such a staff.

Weapons are not changed frequently, but they are consumables. Even a valuable staff with a Dragon Soul could wear out and need to be replaced. However, Rozeline couldn't think of a reason why Kaios would hesitate to explain the staff's whereabouts if he had replaced it.

"Lost it."

Kaios replied to Alexia in one word.

Alexia's expression was serious, and even Rozeline could tell that the staff was something very important to her. It might have been a gift from her, Rozeline thought. As a noble, Alexia could have given the staff to the commoner Kaios.

But could someone so important to her really be lost?

Alexia felt a complex mix of emotions. The pain of knowing that the staff she had made to match hers no longer existed, and the sadness of thinking that Kaios might not have had much attachment to it.

However, she couldn't rule out the possibility that Kaios had replaced the staff due to wear and tear. Alexia knew that he had changed his staff multiple times during their time together.

But the word "lost" stuck out. It wasn't "replaced" or "discarded," but "lost." Alexia couldn't imagine a professional adventurer like Kaios losing his staff, a crucial weapon. She remembered that he always carried it with him, hidden somewhere she couldn't see. It was unimaginable for him to lose it unless he willingly let it go.

And then, Alexia voiced the most significant source of her unease.

"…Then, why are both of your eyes black? Your eyes were black and blue."

The mismatched eyes. That was the source of her unease.

Alexia would never mistake the appearance of the person she longed for. During the time she spent with her teacher, his eyes were black and blue.

But the eyes of the Kaios in front of her were both black. It was impossible for his eyes to change from blue to black.

"That's…."

Kaios hesitated again, falling silent. It seemed like he was carefully choosing his words.

That brief moment of silence solidified Alexia's suspicion into certainty.

"You're not my teacher."

"Alexia-sama? What do you mean by that?"

"Are you human?"

"…Not human? Why would you say that?"

"Then why are your eyes a different color!?"

Kaios tried to defend himself, but he couldn't explain why his eyes had changed. Even Rozeline, his enemy, found his agitation suspicious. To Alexia, it seemed like he couldn't come up with a good excuse.

This land was where vampires existed. Alexia knew from books that vampires could turn humans into their thralls.

When a human becomes a vampire, physical changes occur. For example, fangs. They are not easily noticeable unless the mouth is opened wide, but some signs appear on the human body when they become a thrall.

In fact, she had encountered many such thralls on her way to Clermont.

If the same applied to thralls of other monsters. For example, if being a thrall changed a human's eye color.

—Could the teacher-like being in front of her be a monster?

She had thought only vampires were active, but the attack on Brandenburg was by griffins and unknown monsters. It was possible that other monsters were involved.

Kaios was strong. But against cunning monsters like vampires, simple strength might not be enough. They could use his kindness to trap him.

If this body was that of her real teacher, but he had become a thrall of some monster, there would be no way to return him to human form.

All expression vanished from Alexia's face.

The negative emotions that had been gnawing at her heart—alienation, loneliness, emptiness, envy, and jealousy—disappeared.

Not just the negative emotions, but all her feelings for Kaios were swept away.

"Be silent."

"Alexia-sama?"

"I said, be silent."

Alexia, her head bowed, spoke in a low, resentful voice that didn't seem to come from a young girl. Kaios, taken aback by her sudden change, called out her name, but he was shocked when she looked up.

Alexia was crying. But it wasn't just tears. Her eyes burned with intense hatred, and they glared at Kaios as if to pierce through him.

"I will not forgive you."

The void in Alexia's heart was filled with sorrow, anger, and hatred.

She could not forgive the existence of a monster in the form of her teacher. To her, it was an unforgivable sin.

Alexia pointed her staff at the enemy in the form of her revered teacher.

"I will never forgive you! I will use everything I have to defeat you!"