The Struggle of Returning to The Other World

I, the former witch, speak to Ardina, the current witch.

If you say so, I guess Mr. Quinn couldn't even stop you. A word of apology to her for the bewilderment, I slipped myself into the hallway at night.

The hallway was quiet.

Warm shades of lighting lights the way down the hallway.

Looking left and right, I don't see a shadow.

Several rooms in this vicinity are addressed to the women of Ardina-like caregivers.

Master Ardina has not been informed of his room, but it is probably the deepest part of the inn. There's supposed to be a soldier on the escort in front of the door, so you'll see that.

(But me, I'm meeting with Master Ardina now, and I wonder what you're going to talk about with that)

I want you to go back to the original world now.

I haven't decided to tell you that yet.

Still, a voice calling to me from somewhere in my head that I should. Tomorrow night, we'll be in the king's capital. With that in mind, tonight will be the last time Lady Ardina can return me to my former world before returning to the royal palace.

(I can't say hello directly to the owners of the diners because I can't help it)

I think so, and I have to be convinced.

(I also missed Mr. Ordis and... Corey and Luna from the Magic Institute.)

That too, I can't help it. I can't even thank those people who have been helped.

(Both school uniforms and bags will remain in this world)

That might not be a good idea. But I can't help it either.

I have to be convinced. And I have to go home.

If doing so will fit all sorts of things round.

And to Noel - I'm never gonna see him again.

When my thoughts got that far, I felt much more comfortable tightening my chest.

It's a pain I once tasted.

At that time, at four or six o'clock, I stayed on Noel's side. Compared to that, now we only had enough time to count together.

(... painful thoughts are the same thing)

Tears are about to seep in.

But I managed.

That's when.

From the other side of the hallway, I heard only a few people talking. Both are the voices of a man. Maybe he's from the inn, or maybe he's one of the guards who's looking around.

Either way, I just wanted to avoid being overlooked wandering the hallway by myself late at night. Sometimes I didn't really feel like talking to people right now.

Before that talk approached me, I stepped out of a nearby passage into the backyard.

The backyard was lit up everywhere and felt bright for the night.

When I closed the door of the universal mouth carefully so as not to make a sound, I leaned against the wall just on its side and crouched as it drifted.

Blurry, view the garden at night.

Quiet, I thought.

All you hear is the sound of tree leaves and grass swinging in the wind.

If you close your eyes gently, you won't even be sure where you are right now.

Long, short, days spent in this world.

That should have been only for a few moments in my life, but there were so many things that I didn't think so very well.

Everything seems to be realistic, and so the wind I feel on my cheeks is whimsical, no different from my world.

I can't believe these days were what happened in my dreams.

For me, after all, it's real.

How long have you been doing that?

Probably not much time had passed.

Only when I kept staying on the spot, not to get past the eyes, but just to hit the wind at night. I thought it was a hundred million hips up. All this time, I don't want to move.

Eventually, with a slight sound, the door of the universal mouth was opened.

If you looked up as you sat down, it was - Noel - who showed up from across the door.

Why is Noel here? I thought so.

At the same time, I realize that I am relieved to have been able to see him again.

"What are you doing, in here"

"... Noel is the one"

Noel sighed in dismay, closing the door with his back hand and standing in front of me.

"I got a report from Quinn. You left the room alone."

……

"I thought you were going to Ardina."

If you're finding out that much, you no longer have anything to say. I'm sure Noel understands what he was trying to get to Master Ardina for. And it also means that I, sitting alone in the backyard, couldn't even give Master Ardina the courage to get in.

"What did Natalie tell you during the day?

Noel looks really closely.

"... can I believe the word that I don't want to be a witch?"

"Is that all?

"And then, well, a lot more"

Tired of keeping my face up, I dropped my gaze as I answered. You didn't like that, Noel holds his mouth for a moment. And he got on his knees before me.

When I got my eye on him, I finally felt like I couldn't get away from him.

"I thought you told me to go back to the old world while I could."

……

"That's what that samurai's gonna say."

I feel the depth of Noel's anger in his pungent words. Scary.

"So, to Ardina?

You're right, so I just have to snort.

But even I had a say.

"Not because Natalie told me, but because it's the result of my own thoughts"

"You say it's best to tell no one anything and walk away secretly?

"... because with me, that's the only thing that's gonna cause a lot of problems"

"I've had a lot of problems since you weren't around. That royal palace."

"He said it was about Master Frahamti. You know what I mean. I'm sure he's trying to keep me at his disposal as a convenient tool. I don't know how to fight it."

Ever since the beginning, in the end, it was rolled over that guy's palm.

The only thing that would have been unexpected about Lady Frahamti was that the summoner, Mr. Luno, flew me to a witch's pilgrimage. of boulders. I wonder if he was in a hurry too. Slightly drinks down as well.

I've seen a lot of scattering, but just for a little while, maybe I can compliment Mr. Luno.... No, I figured I'd stick him down for once.

"If you thought about going home now for Ardina. Returning to the original world without returning to the royal palace is no good."

Noel continued his words calmly, even while I stuck Mr. Luno down in my head.

"What do you mean?

"Lady Frahamti knows you've returned to this world. I think I should lay low on that fact now, so maybe that guy keeps his mouth shut too. But when Ardina returns you at her discretion... Lady Frahamti will no longer be silent. Instead, now you must try to make it a 'weapon'"

Oh, and I almost made a voice out of it.

Dear Ardina, who arbitrarily re-summoned the witches of the other world and further arbitrarily returned it.

If that were made public, her position would be worse and worse. Lady Frahamti is going to grip me for decisive weakness.

In the first place, there is no doubt that Master Ardina is already in a pretty bad situation at a time when he has subpoenaed me on his own. In the end, I was able to correct the 'tempo' properly, so to talk about the result aurai... I don't have to, maybe.

No, that, too, depends on how Lady Frahamti feels.

Anyway, he knows everything, so it's okay to say that he's the only one who can decide to move on and off with Master Ardina.

Perhaps if I were to go back to the royal palace properly and discuss it thoroughly with Lady Frahamti, who is nobody else, in order for Lady Ardina to continue to be a witch.

I don't care what happens after I leave, if I can't cut it off.

(Me, I'm not sure I'll confront Master Frahamti)

The fact that there is no standing anywhere is also a hard thing.

It's bad to go home on your own, and it's bad to go home to the royal palace. It's both something I'm prepared to do.

(... but)

If I hadn't stood alone in front of Master Frahamti, I might have abandoned them all and chosen my way back to the original world.

But I'm not alone right now.

Yeah, for a long time, I wasn't alone in this world either.

No matter who else is out there, only Noel, because he's been on my side the whole time.

- Noel, I knew I'd go back to the royal palace and talk to Lady Frahamti.

I stared Noel in the eye from the front and told him so.

"I'm just not sure I can talk to Master Frahamti on an equal footing... I want Noel to stay with me"

Don't distract me, be careful.

To be clear, Noel opened his eyes to surprise.

I'm sorry, Noel.

I've always known you were watching over me, and I've been, I've been distracting myself from Noel. You kept chanting like a spell, not to rely on it, not to be sweet, but in the end it was supported by your kindness.

So if you feel independent and face a situation you can't help yourself with, expect Noel to help you somewhere in your mind. Always then, really, Noel came to help me out saying nothing.

But, you know, it was a lot more pitiful than honestly relying on it, right?

About the end of the day, in my own words, I want you to lend me Noel's help.

"You... you finally relied on me."

It was also in the meantime that he showed surprise, Noel immediately narrowed his eyes and then put his right hand on Pong and my head.

"Ugh, is that right"

"That's right. Just to make sure you're okay on your own, you scorn the scatterers."

"No, it's just sweet like before. Think it's me, huh? I've tried to be independent, but I still can't seem to be independent, you know, I'm sorry."

Somehow, it's too rare and nervous that Noel is smiling gently.

I mean, I just realized, overall, wouldn't it be a little too close?

"It's a lie. You're nothing wrong. I'd rather... I'm the one, sorry."

What!?

Now it was the night I peeled my eyes off.

Because Noel apologized!? To me!? Sorry!?

Oh, but why!?

Without hesitating to turn a startling glance at Noel, he pulled in a smile until then and suddenly looked serious. My right hand, which should have been on my head, is slipping down to my cheek at some point.

"Now is the perfect time for you to go back to your old world, knowingly."

――

Noel's fingertips are hot.

"If your safety is your top priority, you should go home now. Even if I stay in this world any longer, there's nothing good for you. First, I don't have that in-laws either. Besides, you always said you wanted to go home."

What should I do?

Why am I staring at Noel so close at night?

I'm embarrassed to death, but I can't get my eyes off you. I have myself thinking I don't want to hear a word out of Noel.

"But I don't want you back."

That was a very small whine.

Maybe as much as the wind is going to take me away at night.

"I can't give you up twice"

The closeness of the whispered voice made me feel dizzy.

- Now, Noel, what did you say!?

"Oh, that"

"What?"

"I'd like to make sure."

"Oh."

"This isn't a dream, after all."

"I'd be in trouble if they told me about it in my dreams."

"Uh, why did we suddenly, suddenly, talk like this?

"Right, I should have told you sooner"

Noel narrowed his eyes slightly again. But now I'm not laughing.

"I like you."

Finally, I thought my head would explode.

"... Ugh, that's a lie"

"I'm not lying."

"'Cause I, that time, I confessed and they shook me"

"Instead, I just gave you the answer you wanted. I'm sorry to hear that again."

"What, what do you mean?

Since that time, does that mean Noel liked me?

No, no, no way. My thought circuit seems to be in a bit of shape right now.

Yeah, but, me, I'm totally confused.

Before, Noel told me to think more about me, but I didn't think about it properly in the end, and here I am now.

I've really, in many ways, strayed my attention from Noel.

"Ah... you know, Noel"

I tried to speak calmly.

"Noel's probably mistaken."

"Mistake?"

"I've always relied on Noel, haven't I? So Noel assumed that I wouldn't be able to do it without him, and he mistook that sense of duty for a favor."

"How long do you think it's been since you stopped relying on me?

Noel won't pull a step.

"First of all, I know exactly how I feel."

"But..., Master Ardina"

Unexpectedly, those words uttered.

"Enough, say nothing more"

Unexpectedly, Noel's right hand slipped away from my cheek.

I don't have time to feel lonely about that.

In that next moment, Noel held me tight.

"Now, I don't expect you to accept it right away. I just wanted to tell you. I wanted to keep you - in this land. Even if you know it's a bad thing."

The voice is close, too close! There's exhalation in my ear!

A beating as hard as an early bell must have definitely passed on to Noel as well.

"No, no, no"

Noel, I couldn't even call my name satisfactory.

There was also a physical cause, just because my face was pressed against his shoulder.

It was time for my thoughts to fly in the direction of the day after tomorrow, whether I should faint like this anymore.

The power of Noel's arms around my back can be inadvertently loosened.

Looking almost at Noel in tears, he hit and changed and gave him a harsh look, just looking back sharply.

"Are we done, you two?"

When did you get here?

Mr. Ars was standing behind us.

In his hand was a long sword that reflected the light of the moon and glowed demonically.