When I wake up, Charlotte and Sylvia are nowhere to be found, and a wooden roof glances over my face.
... still alive.
That means Bettenburg must have helped me.
"... ugh, ugh"
No. I can't seem to get the word out for a while yet.
I still have pain in my stomach.
That's right. She is made of rocks. Because it's like hitting a flying rock at a high speed.
"Did you wake up?"
"Oh."
I respond abruptly to my voice.
The owner of that voice didn't realize for a moment that I belonged to the girl I had just covered, Sophia, and as soon as I realized, I jumped up.
"What, Sophia!?
"Go to sleep. I'm not hostile right now."
The word seems true and her sword is not found anywhere near it.
Even so, I think I could strangle him right now.
"Uh, what about here?
"It's a room in the city of mercy. I'm renting a house that was empty."
"Are you sure?
"Come on? Isn't that okay? I don't give a shit about the rules, because at the time I'm treating you like this, I'm disobeying the laws of the wise."
... not nursing rather than nursing?
I think about such an impeccable thing, but I stayed to put it in my mouth.
"What about the Bettenburg guys?
"They would, now mixed with meals at other tables. They're heroes of this city now."
"... ha. No, you're right."
Speaking of which, I don't think I was eating because of the situation I've been under.
That's when Zahr, who added bread from the back room, glanced at his face.
"Are you awake? I'm sorry, we're having dinner first."
"... Zahr? You're not going anywhere else?
"I don't know when this guy will try to kill you. Just in case, it's called escort."
That's all Zahr says, carrying the bread he had into his mouth.
Think about it, it's changed a lot since six years ago.
Zahr, who was my enemy, will be my ally, and Sophia, who was my ally, will be my enemy.
In only six years, it has changed dramatically.
If you think so, you have to face the "time" thing.
Sophia accidentally opens her mouth when I'm thinking about being so cynical.
"... uh, that, Lazareth. Why did you shelter me?
"Huh? Oh, you know, my body moved on its own, the..."
"Please"
Sophia trying to expose my true intentions with a serious eye.
I think it's just a little bit of a problem forgetting that Zahr is here.
"... so"
"Huh?"
"I like it, that's why. I told you before, look, when Isel"
... I left it to the momentum to talk then, so I wasn't as shy as I am now.
But confessing this face to face is an act of courage inside. I also know what it's like to rely on a love sentence for a maiden.
"... please. Please, don't worry about me anymore."
"Huh?"
"That! Well... it's not our relationship six years ago anymore, so don't even try to carry me"
... I don't know what intent she said that.
But I know what that fact means.
"... is it okay to say that it was flabbergasted?
"... Huh?
"But I'm sorry. Can I just let you still like it a little bit more? I want to sort out my feelings."
"Huh? So no...!
"That's it."
When I realize it, Zahr comes up to my pillow and looks down at Sophia sitting there eating bread.
I put every word of him in my ear after I saw him finish the bread he had in his hand.
"Brave man, just because you can't attack, is that a mental attack? That's a lot meaner, you are."
"Zahr......!
"No, I didn't mean to..."
"It wouldn't be, would it? You're just trying to escape your love for yourself. Don't let your own sword dull. To not question the will of the wise man's law."
"Zahr, don't"
I'll stop his mouth with my hands.
"She's not like that. I'm not such a selfish thinker."
"Why shelter? Enemy? Enemy? Enemy?
"It may be the enemy, but it's because it's Sophia. I'm still meant to be friends with her."
"... Raza, Les"
Zahr takes a deep sigh at my attitude and then just snaps "on your own" like he throws up and starts eating bread again.
... I don't care, but that's a lot of bread.
I managed to get up and moisten my throat with the tea I had on my desk by my side, and Sophia, who couldn't see the expression on her forehead, snapped in a bosom.
"... I knew I couldn't escape your position of burdens"
"Huh?"
"... sorry. But Lazareth. I'm really glad to hear your confession."
When I exhale the words to breathe, I remain silent.
As I was looking for a topic, I remembered that I had only one question I wanted to keep for her.
"Speaking of which, how is Sophia on the legal side of the wise?
"... for many people. That's all because so many people want me to fight."
"So many of those people will give their lives for you?
"You don't have to do that. I'm a brave man."
"... are you satisfied with that?
"... come on? What do you think?
It doesn't seem to mean that she gets the answer ripped off, and she spins the word following it.
"Lately, I don't know either. I don't want to be someone's package, so I kill myself and obey the laws of the wise, and sometimes I think,"
"'Does it make sense to be alive?'"
……
"Maybe Lazareth, who confessed his favor in this way, hates me back there, and he can't help but match me. So I fell into self-loathing..."
"... well. But, Sophia. Can't you think of something like this?
I force my wounded body to stand up and sit in a chair facing her.
"Hey, Sophia. Could it have been painful when you were talking to me? Didn't you like it? Were you about to cry? I'm not. It was a pleasure talking to you at last."
"... I, too, was delighted. But maybe I'll get over it and you'll hate me... if it's hard and you hate me, it could already break..."
"Maybe you're right, I'll hate you tomorrow. But that happy moment lasts a lifetime."
"Huh...?
... it was my intention.
No lies, heartfelt words.
"... so you're not alone anymore. There may be times when I feel burdensome. But I'm not alone."
"Raza, Les..."
"... you can cry now"
Threaded out my words, she nodded her face on my lap and cried out.
For six years, she was alone.
Bethenburg and Alice disappeared from her sight and lived alone.
The girl in front of her begins to shed six years of hard feelings with tears.
I kept the girl's back as gentle as I could.