kscans

Chapter 931 - Confession, Awareness, and Moving Forward

"—Once again, thank you for coming all this way…"

"You don't have to be so formal. We're in the same party, aren't we?"

As usual, I rendezvoused with Sayaka-san inside the Key Tree Maze. She led me to the Nortalia player war-time base, a place I was entering for the first time.

It was a unique castle with five giant, twisted towers reaching for the heavens, the same color as the sky above—at Fugrigand, Castle of Tranquil Garden.

I was shown to a private room where, as requested, I sat facing the Saintess, just the two of us.

…I'm sorry to say it, but I still harbor a slight sense of unease around her. However, after fighting alongside her for a week, a certain level of trust and familiarity has naturally developed. I no longer feel pressured when her emerald eyes gaze directly at me… or so I thought.

"…………"

"…Um, er… ?"

—But today, she seems a little different.

Her intense gaze is the same as always, but today there's… how should I put it? It's like…

There's a strange sense of resolve coming from her.

"…—Haru-sama."

"Ah, yes!"

And with that, it seems it's about to begin.

As I braced myself upon being called by name again, she smiled from across the table. In this blue room, differing only in its base color from Istia's, the Orb Law sat upon her sofa and smiled.

"I am now going to make a 'confession.'"

"Wh-wha?!"

"However, it is not the kind that you fear, Haru-sama. So please, I ask that you listen with a calm and peaceful heart."

"R-Right, uh, o-okay… R-Roger that."

She smiled, whether out of innocence or calculation. She flustered me right from the get-go.

"Now then… first, I shall have you get to know me."

She began to speak, composed and unhurried.

"—I was a child who loved to read."

"…………"

I, of course, remained silent, ready to listen.

She had given me a proper preamble, so it wasn't as if she had suddenly started talking about herself. There must be a reason, and it would be incredibly rude not to listen seriously.

"At school, or anywhere, really… there's always one, isn't there? The 'bookworm' who holes up in the library whenever they have a spare moment, devouring every story they can find."

I nod. The kind of person whose library cards are stacked so thick it's a sight to behold.

"I yearned for 'stories.' …To be more precise, I still yearn for them."

She closed her eyes for a moment, as if to take a breath, and then…

"All my life, I've been in love with fairy tales…"

Not the Saintess, but…

"—With a special person, a protagonist, who soars through a world of dreams."

What stood there was surely a dreamer, as innocent as a young girl.

"…It is not 'love.' And yet, perhaps it is 'love' after all."

"…………"

"I will likely carry this 'passion' with me for the rest of my life."

Her story had only just begun. The words were still few—but honestly, it was already more than enough. More than enough of something had been conveyed.

That's how much she, right now… no, that's not it.

"…So, Sayaka-san, you're…"

"Yes."

When I think back on it, nothing has changed.

Her eyes have always gazed upon one single thing, with pure, innocent devotion.

"You weren't really looking at me, were you?"

"…………—Yes. And, no."

She nodded, then shook her head.

"I adore you. Not you, the person, but you, the protagonist."

True to her word, she voiced her 'confession.'

"…The reason I came to this virtual world was to touch a story. To find 'someone' in this unreal world of dreams who could soar like a protagonist from a fairy tale."

As if placing a kiss on the word 'love.'

"To meet the one I yearned for, without the insurmountable barrier of a page separating us… I wanted to exchange words, and if possible, even connect our hearts—"

Ever the young girl, she smiled bravely.

"That's the kind of fairy-tale dream I wanted to make come true."

Her open eyes now reflected the 'someone' she had been searching for all this time.

"………………………………………………………………"

And I,

"…I see."

I didn't show my confusion, nor did I make light of her dream with false modesty. I simply nodded.

Nodded, and showed my understanding.

"I may be about to say something very, very rude, but…"

"That's incredibly rare, a rude comment from the Saintess. What is it?"

At my words, Sayaka-san let out a soft, graceful chuckle.

"…I am happy that you are aware of it yourself."

It wasn't so much rude as it was just an incredibly embarrassing thing to say to me.

…Well, you know?

"Yeah, well… I do have a complete 'memory' of the path I've sprinted down to get here."

"Fufu… Please, have confidence in yourself."

If I still wasn't 'aware' after all this, I'd be more than just your typical oblivious protagonist.

"You are, at least in my eyes—a magnificent 'protagonist.'"

I know that the path I'm on is by no means that of a 'side character.'

And so, I accept it, however humbling it may be. I endure the embarrassment and take it in. When someone lays out their 'dream' so openly, I can't run or laugh it away.

After all, there was a time I myself arrogantly shouted something similar.

"…'This is a world of dreams, so,'"

"'No matter how selfish, the one who dreams is the one who's right.' …I adore those words. Even though we had never met, I felt so strongly affirmed by them that I became completely captivated."

"Haha, you've got me there…"

That was the final blow. I can't escape from this person.

I have a duty to accept the admiration she has spoken of.

"—You said 'first,' didn't you?"

"I did."

"Then there's a reason you spoke of your feelings for me, the protagonist."

"Yes, there is."

I met the gaze of her emerald eyes, sparkling with dreams.

Now that I knew the reason—now that I understood, just as our general commander had intended—I no longer felt pressured by her. All I felt was a slight twinge of embarrassment.

If that's all it is, I'm used to enduring it with a smile.

"Please, tell me. Also, it took me a little while to come to terms with it, but…"

And so, I could now extend my hand without hesitation. I offered my palm.

"I'll do my best not to betray your expectations. It's a pleasure, Sayaka-san, once again."

"…Yes."

As always, she took my single hand in both of hers.

Now that I understood the nature of the 'passion' that enveloped me, it was crystal clear how I should respond. If it was confirmed to be fan service, then surely I would be forgiven.

I hope I'll be forgiven… and with that thought,

"Shall we move on to the main topic?"

"…Yes!"

Let's hear the real reason you called me here, Saintess.