Evelyn pursed her lips and then sighed. "Is it... no good?"
I sighed as well and then pulled her into a hug. "No. It's fine. I'm just... worried, Eve."
Evelyn's frowned. "Why? Is something going to happen?" She paused and then said, "...To me?"
My eyes widened.
Evelyn noticed and her frown deepened.
I sighed. Of course, her sharp intuition would have picked it up. I might have
"Alex..."
I shook my head and hugged her a bit tighter. "I can't tell you. There's nothing either of us can do about it yet. But... when the time comes to pass..."
If there really is no other way...
"...Trust me, okay? No matter what I do or what happens, I will only ever want you to be happy."
Evelyn tensed. But then she slowly nodded and said, "Okay, my love. I will trust you." She hugged me back and then leaned against my shoulder before whispering, "I will always trust you. The one and only person who has loved me as me..." She gently kissed my cheek and then said, "I will give you all I am. Even in death."
I froze at those words.
Did Evelyn... know?
Or did she pick it up from the way I was acting?
> Evelyn vi Eternia's affection towards you has reached the maximum.
> Evelyn vi Eternia will not hesitate to throw her life away for your sake.
> For you, Evelyn vi Eternia would give her all.
A flurry of system messages affirming what I already knew.
I suppressed my trembling heart and hugged her tight. "Let's hope that it never comes to that, Eve."
Evelyn held me for a while longer. But then she gently stepped away and grabbed my hand. "Come, Love. Let us talk about lighter things." She laughed, bright and carefree. "You have been quite busy recently, so we have not had much chance to talk. What have you been up to, Love?"
I shoved aside my worries and smiled.
Yes. It was important to talk about lighter things for now. What would come, would come.
Until then, I just had to focus on Eve. And so...
I poked her cheek and said, "Careful now. If you call me your love in public, I might just have to duel my way through half the school... maybe more, considering how many female admirers you have as well."
Evelyn giggled. "Well~ The man who has my heart must be at least that capable, is he not?"
I puffed up my chest. "Damned straight I am."
And if anybody tried pulling some stupid mob shenanigans right now to try and get Evelyn away...
Well. I was very genre savvy... and didn't play fair.
Evelyn giggled again and said, "So confident!" She looked at me with a soft gaze and said, "I love that part of you so much, Alex. Somehow... I feel like you can do anything. With you, I have nothing to fear."
I shifted my hand free and pulled her under my arm in a hug. Staring at the setting sun, I said quietly, "That's right. With me, you will never have to worry, Eve. Because even if the gods, the world, or death has claimed you... I'll take you back."
Evelyn was quiet. Then she whispered, "I know, Alex. I trust you. I love you."
I rubbed her side and walked with her. And as I did...
> You have taken a measure to defy the fated end.
> Only time will tell if it is effective.
> Various parameters have been affected by your actions.
> Check your status at the earliest occasion.
...I prayed that I would be enough.
===
The Headmistress's Tower, overlooking all of Starlight Academy.
Elio casually opened the door to Sophia's office and called out. "Headmistress Lux, I want to talk about something with... you?" He trailed off when he saw what was floating in the center of the office.
A giant holographic display of the gardens. And there, Alexander and Evelyn, walking together hand-in-hand, both with sweet affection in their eyes.
Elio blinked and then walked in, shutting the door behind him. As he did, he looked over at Sophia and said, "I didn't think you had a hobby of keeping an eye on your student's love affairs, Phi."
Sophia jumped out of her chair and quickly swept her hands through the air, shattering the holographic display. "E-E-Elio!" She blushed and said, "How many times have I told you to knock before you come in!?"
Elio laughed and pulled over a chair. "Every time. But I learned that you don't pay attention anyway when I do, so I stopped."
Sophia huffed and tossed her lilac hair to the side. "Rude. I am not THAT airheaded... anymore."
"So you say... So you say." Elio smiled and sat down. He glanced at where the scene of Alexander and Evelyn had been before saying, "But it seems that my niece finally had her way, hm?"
Considering how taken Evelyn had been with Alexander, it really was only a matter of time.
Elio knew his niece was determined. And she was also the type to go after what she had chosen with everything she had... so he was glad that this time she chose something... or rather, someone, good for her.
Alexander might have hidden it well. But the reason behind his recent requests to jump into Gates was more than transparent.
Someone else might have missed it. But to Elio's eyes, he saw that Alex was desperately searching for the answer to 'something' regarding Evelyn. Enough that he was disregarding his own health.
There had been more than a few close calls in those Gates...
But Elio was getting distracted.
Sophia had regained her composure and sat down again, looking every bit the prim and proper headmistress she was supposed to be. She nodded and then said, "That is correct. It appears the imperial princess won over our reckless student here... Hopefully that will keep him from risking his life on pointless endeavors again."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Elio mumbled.
Considering everything that had happened thus far, it would likely only accelerate Alexander's actions.
But then again, that was why Elio was around. To make sure a promising young man like Alexander lived long enough to surpass him. And speaking of Alexander...
Elio raised an eyebrow and said, "You always were fond of talented students... but I wasn't aware my sponsee was one of them."
Sophia sighed, her perfect facade crumbling a bit as she grumbled. "It's unfair. If Alexander had been trained properly from a young age, he would likely be our peer by now."
Elio's eyes widened. "I could tell that Alexander was talented from how easily he took to Gate Exploration... but that talented?"
Sophia wasn't one to exaggerate. If she was saying that...
Elio clicked his tongue. "It seems like I'll have to work harder."
There were no shortcuts in life to time. But there were shortcuts that could emerge in Gates.
Elixirs to refine the physique, enemies that when killed would grant massive experience akin to years of training, artifacts that defied comprehension and vastly improved training efficiency...
If Sophia was speaking so highly about Elio's sponsee, then as the sponsor it was imperative he did his best to cause Alexander's talents to bloom.
Sophia sighed. "If Alexander can live long enough, then I could leave this world without any regrets or fears." She paused and glared at Elio. "And that's why I won't forgive you if you lead him to his death in those Gates, Leo."
Elio held up his hands and said, "Hey, Phi. You know I'm not that sort of person. Even if I die, I'll make sure my charges get out alive." He paused and then let out a wistful smile. "Especially now that my beloved niece has given her precious heart to him."
For a brief moment, Elio recalled the loving gaze that had been on Evelyn's face. And then he recalled a similar expression on a young woman he once knew, decades prior.
Sophia noticed and then quietly said, "You still can't get over her, can you?"
Elio was silent for a moment. Then he nodded and said, "How can I, when Evelyn looks just like her? If her hair was silver instead of Eternia's signature gold... she would be a spitting image."
Sophia sighed. "...Then you haven't given up, have you? On breaking through Tartarus to bring her back to life?"
"Of course not." Elio spoke with conviction. "I never will."
Sophia stared at Elio and then said, "Even though she chose someone else?"
"Even then." Elio nodded and looked at Sophia with clear eyes. "All I want is for her to have the chance to live and be happy, Phi. I don't care about me."
Sophia let out a bitter smile. "You fool. You had a woman in front of you who would love you with all her heart and you chased after one who would never have chosen you to begin with."
Elio gave Sophia an apologetic gaze. Sighing, he murmured, "I know, Phi. And I'll always be sorry for that."
Sophia waved her hand. "Forget it. That girl's dreams of a normal life were crushed long ago. And she is... relatively happy as she is now." Although she said that, when Sophia looked at Elio, her eyes shimmered with a hint of wistfulness and longing.
Elio met her gaze, feeling mixed emotions. But then he shook his head and reached into his bag. "Enough reminiscing, Headmistress."
Hearing his professional tone, Sophia looked a bit regretful for a moment. But then she straightened, donning the mask she was used to as Headmistress. "Yes. Enough reminiscing... What did you come here for, Professor Endless? You mentioned wishing to speak with me?"
"I did." Elio reached into his bag and handed over a stack of papers. "I looked into it. The incident at the midterm exam. And I confirmed it." He narrowed his eyes. "The guards and heroes who tried attacking the students were all sent under recommendation of my 'dear nephew.'"