I Favor the Villainess

"Phew...."

I was breathing on the balcony facing the main hall of the royal castle.

Looking up at the sky, the stars twinkle in the night sky and the moon pours soft light.

Escaped from the hustle and bustle of the hall, I was relieved by the quiet landscape that nature brings.

"I know it's important to celebrate, but I'm not good at being the main character..."

Tonight in the castle - no, what is happening throughout Bauer is a victory celebration.

He defeats the three great demons, king of the demons, celebrates the end of the long struggle with the demons, and raises the country to celebrate.

Here, the men of war have been invited to the royal castle, and His Majesty the King has honoured them with words of hard work.

I also participate as one of them, but there are too many people who call.

It was good to hear praise from people who didn't even know it at first, but it gradually got easier.

Originally, I don't like festivals very much.

Especially when it comes to occasional dancing.

I'm not very good at dancing.

I've practiced a lot, but I still don't have enough time for celebrities who want to dance with me.

- Can you show me the results of your practice?

Speaking of which, I feel like I've danced with someone noble before.

I didn't feel so depressed at that time.

I wonder when that happened.

I knew you were here.

When I was on the balcony alone at night with my head bothered, there was a calm voice coming from behind.

"Dear Lily...."

"Is it okay for the main character of the celebration to skip here?"

In the dress room, Lily is a monk's uniform from the Spirit Church.

Spiritual costumes are used as formal costumes.

Lily, who had been demoted as a nun of Ping, also said that she would become a Cardinal for this achievement.

Lily came to the neighborhood naturally and gave me a drink.

It was like water, not alcohol.

Thank you very much.

"Please give me a break.There are limits to wearing the skin of a cat. "

Shouldn't we just be normal?

"So all the people invited here are Bauer and dignitaries from other countries, right?I don't want to mud His Majesty's face. "

"Fufu, I don't seem to think about anything, so it seems that Ray-san is thinking about it properly."

Lily giggles.

"I don't seem to think about anything... that's terrible.I've been thinking a lot. "

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you.For example, what are you thinking now? "

"Now? Well... what do we do now?"

From now on?

Lily leaned her neck strangely.

"The threat of the Empire is gone, and the battle against the Demons is over.So, what do we do now? "

"Well, isn't that easy?You should normally live happily ever after.With Lily and the others, with four and one. "

I know what Lily has to say.

She wants you to come home.

Actually, I haven't returned to Bauer's house yet.

I'm borrowing a spiritual church hospital for medical treatment.

The truth is, my body is almost healed, but something in me refuses to go home.

Lily, do you want to get out of the celebration?

"... eh?"

"I just wanted to walk."

"Eh, eh? Is that okay?"

"The ceremony is over, and all we have to do is eat and drink.I won't be bothered if I get out. "

"Yes, that's right. Then I'll come with you."

Lily returned the drink glass to the waiter and walked side-by-side next to me.

"... where are you going, Ray?"

"Ah, stepfather, stepmother."

"Even Lily.... Aren't you the main characters tonight?"

Their parents in this world - van Taylor and Mel Taylor.

They were running away from Euclid worrying about me in a coma after a duel with the Demons.

I'm glad to see you're safe.

"Hey, I'm coming out."

"You two?"

"Yeah."

"That's not what the feast leads to."

"You don't say wild things.Hey, Lily? "

"Eh, eh!? Er... yes..."

Lily nodded reddishly at the words of her mother, who was winking.

"Well, it's dark outside. Be careful."

"Yeah."

Excuse me, stepfather, stepmother.

"Welcome."

Having been escorted by the two of us, we left the dinner room behind.

When I left the royal castle, the king's capital was still bustling.

People celebrating the victory are cheering everywhere.

Few people know my face because there are no photos in this world.

It didn't stop me from walking around town.

"Where are you headed?"

"To the Academy"

"It's a place of memories for Ray."

"Yes"

The Royal College and the Royal Palace are not so far apart.

If you arrive soon, you will enter at night at the entrance.

The evening academy was somewhat quiet compared to the center of town.

The students would have celebrated in some way, but it is time to turn off the lights.

Some of the research buildings were still lit, but the academy was mostly asleep.

"At the academy, you were in the room with Misha, right?"

"Yes, thank you very much for your help."

Misha, a cool beauty and a carefree attitude, took care of me.

Especially...

... that?

What was it about in particular?

"... Mr. Ray?"

"I'm sorry, I got a little dizzy."

"Maybe you're tired of the celebration. Do you want to sit down?"

Lily pointed to the east house in the courtyard.

I decided to sit down there with my back down.

"Did you enjoy your college life?"

"Yes, it was very fulfilling.I was obsessed with what I liked.I also worked part-time. "

"That's right, that's good.If Lily had gone to college, she would have met Ray sooner. "

"Fufu"

While laughing back at Lily, I remembered one more catch.

I thought you liked it.

What were you obsessed with?

What was my part-time job?

Ray-san, are you trembling?

"... eh?"

I didn't notice until they pointed it out.

But I did hug my body and tremble.

"Are you cold? I'm not in the mood yet, so don't be rude."

Lily held my hand.

Warm.

But the tremors never subsided.

"Master Lily, I think I've forgotten something very important."

"Important...?"

"Yes. Never forget something very important and fatal."

……

Lily looked puzzled.

I held down my trembling body.

"This world has become peaceful.The threat to the Empire is gone, and the battle against the Demons is over.There's Lily, there's May, there's Aria, and there's nothing to be upset about anymore. But... "

"... but?"

Lily kindly urged me to prioritize.

"But it's not enough. Something is definitely missing."

"Ray-san....."

"No matter how peaceful the world is! No one has to question anything!I'm the only one who has to remember that!I need something of that! "

Suddenly, I wonder if Lily would feel creepy about me getting upset.

Will I be outraged to say this when I leave my beloved family behind and don't come home?

Or you might cry like you always do.

I was so afraid that I couldn't help but say.

Lily's reaction...

I see. Then you have to remember that. "

It was a warm, loving smile, none of which I feared.

"Do you believe me...?"

"Believe it or not, it's what Ray says.Lily has always been and will always be on Ray's side. "

"Dear Lily...."

I couldn't speak.

Perhaps Lily has noticed.

What I'm trying to remember will ruin this happiness with Lily.

As long as I accept this now, I can live happily ever after with Lily.

Still.

Still, Lily accepted my choice unconditionally.

"Why... why is Lily so..."

"It's simple. Because I like Ray.Lily's happiness is Ray's happiness.I can't let Lily keep laughing at Ray. "

That means that Lily had always realized that something was wrong with me.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Lily..."

"Ahahah... I thought Lily was kind of weird.I don't know if Lily's with Ray. "

"That's not true...!"

"That's okay, Lily didn't give up on anything else.When Ray remembers what she has forgotten, Lily will do her best to be a lover again. "

Please be prepared, Lily laughed.

I couldn't cut my chest enough, but it was a shadowless smile.

"Dear Lily... I..."

"Rather, the question is what Ray has forgotten.Do you have any clues? "

Lily stopped me from trying to fix it and moved on.

I wanted to say something without an excuse, but I swallowed the words and answered it.

"Nothing specific...I just sometimes remember someone's voice. "

"Voice?"

"Yes, it's a confident, prideful voice, but it's a bit fragile."

I wonder how you can be so specific about it, even though it's almost a fragment of memory.

I was wondering myself.

"Hmm. It was a shallow hint of a trick, wasn't it?"

The voice sounded sudden.

Turning around, there stood a strange woman in a college uniform.