Chapter 157: Test (4)

Test (4)

“Do you like me, Shion?”

Soliette’s voice, carried by the moist wind, echoed over the waves of the sea. I watched her from a distance, lost in the scenery.

I hesitated for a moment.

Why would Soliette say something like this?

What led her to harbor such thoughts?

Scratch-

Suddenly, a scratching sound echoed from my pocket.

It was a signal from Gerkhen and Layla.

“Just a moment.”

I pulled out the card.

[We found another market, but there are already 48 people there. Sorry, if we enter, it will be full at 50]

A hastily written message, implying they should handle it themselves.

Clearly Layla’s work.

“It seems we’ve been betrayed?”

I chuckled dryly, showing her the card.

“.......”

But Soliette’s face didn’t waver. She continued to gaze up at me with steady eyes.

“Shion. You’re avoiding the question.”

Her eyes were clear, refusing the change in subject.

I scratched the back of my neck and put the card back in my pocket.

“I’ve been thinking too, Shion.”

Soliette’s voice was breathy.

“From the beginning, you approached me as if you knew me. You knew what I needed, what I lacked, everything.”

Her lips moved steadily, slightly trembling.

“......As if you’ve been watching me for a very long time.”

She said, her expression shy and drawn out.

I gave a bitter laugh.

For a moment, I contemplated.

Should I confess honestly?

Even if I reveal my biggest secret—the fact of my regression—wouldn’t the current Soliette believe me?

Wouldn’t she understand me?

......But.

Belief and empathy are always separate.

Soliette and I, we started from different points.

Even if she could believe me, if any relationship is built on that premise, it would be no different from before.

A relationship built on sympathy, compassion, pity.

That’s what we were in the past.

I don’t want to repeat that mistake.

So now, perhaps a different kind of honesty is needed.

At least, that’s what I think.......

“Yeah. I did like you. A lot.”

“......!”

When I confessed my feelings honestly, colors swirled in Soliette’s eyes.

“Quite a lot.”

She inhaled sharply. Her tightly clenched hands trembled.

I’m not sure.

Is it because of this sea of souls? Is it the prism-like spreading wind and sea that resonates with my heart?

“......And.”

I looked down at her.

Things that have been frustrating, even though I’ve understood them until now.

“I’ve thought about you as much as you’ve thought about them.”

Words I would never have said under normal circumstances.

I poured them out to her.

“If anything, I’ve thought about you more, never less.”

I loved the Soliette before the regression.

Soliette pitied me, but I also felt compassion for her.

Loss.

That sorrow isn’t only yours.

My compassion turned into love, while your pity remained just that.

“.......”

Soliette froze. It seemed like even her breath had stopped. Her face, looking up at me, was as stiff as wax.

“......But.”

I gave a small smile and shook my head.

“Not anymore.”

Unrequited love.

It gets tiring if it goes on for too long.

Of course, I might still like her.

Deep down, I might be fighting the desire to be with her.

But, the Soliette I’m referring to isn’t the one standing here.

The Soliette I loved was the one before the regression.

“Is that so?”

Soliette asked in a whisper.

I gave a bitter smile and nodded.

“Yeah. If you like someone too much, for too long, there comes a point when giving up becomes easier.”

“Ah......”

For the first time, Soliette lowered her head. Unable to meet my gaze, she bit her lip. I looked at the scenery instead of her. We stayed quiet for a while on the colorful boat in the sea.

...Beep-

Suddenly, a sound rang out from my pocket.

I pulled out the card again. Something was written on it.

[Help!!!]

It was Layla’s handwriting again.

“What’s this all about?”

Didn’t she betray us just 10 minutes ago?

[The thing about finding a market was a joke, you know? We would never betray you!!]

[So please save us!!!]

Something seems to have happened in the meantime.

Although it’s annoying, we desperately need a change of topic right now, given the awkwardness between us.

I replied to the card.

[I’ll send you the coordinates, come here]

“Layla contacted me.”

I showed the card to Soliette.

“Do you want to go together?”

Soliette nodded slightly.

“Yes.”

The corners of her eyes drooped as she responded.

* * *

“......What?”

Layla flinched. The seniors in the market stirred.

“You just said we found the right place!”

──Ha ha ha ha! Yes! But the question itself was a trap-! You stupid and pathetic fools-!

“What, what did you say?!!”

Layla’s face turned ashen.

──This is the Planarium! How could you fools who don’t easily believe human words so easily believe the words of a soul! It’s your fault for believing so naively!

“You, you crazy bastard!! You lunatic-like stone statue!!”

Layla shouted at the statue, waving her fist.

“I abandoned my team because of you!”

──It’s your fault!

Then, Layla’s eyes welled up with tears.

“......You shouldn’t have betrayed.”

Worry-decision-joy-surprise-anger-sadness.

The fierce and steep change of emotions that occurred in just 5 minutes.

“Sob sob.”

“......”

Gerkhen calmly looked at his ticket.

[00 : 00 : 10]

There were only 10 seconds left.

“10 seconds.”

As he said that, time ran out.

The magical barrier protecting the market weakened, and all the seniors were exposed to danger.

“What the!”

“Hey, hey look at the ticket!”

“Hey! Hey, time’s up?”

The seniors each looked at their tickets, their faces hardening. Red dots were rushing in from all directions.

Layla quickly scribbled [Help!!!] on her card.

“Gerk, I’ve asked Shion for help, okay?!”

“Didn’t you stab him in the back 5 minutes ago.”

“......I’ll add that it was a joke just now.”

She wrote more on the card.

[The thing about finding the market just now was a joke, you know? We wouldn’t betray you!!]

[So please save us!!!]

──Ha ha ha ha-! If you want to give up, tear the ticket anytime-!

With those last words, the statue hardened again. Layla gritted her teeth.

“That damn stupid statue.”

“Guys, follow me! I know of another hiding place nearby!”

Brown shouted. Layla tried to follow him, but Gerkhen was standing still. In one hand he held a card, in the other, cotton candy.

“Gerk! What are you doing?!”

He glanced at Layla. Then he showed her the card.

[I’ll send you the coordinates, come here]

It was Shion’s reply. But the coordinates he sent were almost the exact opposite of Brown’s. It seemed like he was going to dive right into the red dots—the ‘it’ in the game of tag.

“I’m going this way.”

Gerkhen chose that direction.

“Wh, what?”

Layla looked back and forth between Gerkhen and Brown, hesitating but......

“I’m going with you, Gerk!”

She quickly followed Gerkhen.

* * *

Gerkhen and Layla reached the coordinates Shion had guided them to. It was a beach.

“There’s nothing here?!”

They stood by the water’s edge and looked back. The murderous intent of the enemies who had chased them to their chins touched their skin.

“Gerk! It’s just the sea! Oh no! Did Shion realize we betrayed him and decided to lure us here to die, then hide and laugh at us?!”

Layla rambled on with her delusions. Gerkhen squinted at the sea beyond.

Vroooom...

Something was stirring the faint currents, rushing towards them.

A boat.

An engine boat large enough for about six people.

“Wha-!”

Soon, Layla also discovered it and her eyes widened.

“Shion!!!!”

She shouted loudly, then sat down on the beach, scooping up water with both hands and splashing it towards the boat.

“Hurry! Hurry up!”

It was an inexplicable action for Gerkhen. Would the boat come faster if she did that?

Anyway.

He finished off the remaining cotton candy in one bite. He drew the sword from his waist. Looking back, he activated Magic Body.

Swoooosh──!

The enemies’ spears that rushed in at that moment. Gerkhen split them with his sword.

“Get on!”

Just as it touched the shore, Shion shouted. Layla jumped on first, and Gerkhen, fending off the following enemies’ attacks, belatedly got on the boat.

The moment the four people got on the boat, a massive sword strike from the Death Knight swept in.

Kwaaaaang───-!

A sword blade that seemed to shoot out the crescent moon.

It hit the boat, but

Ping─!

It bounced off weakly.

“We still have four hours left.”

Shion said so, looking alternately at Gerkhen and Layla.

“Are you okay?”

“Shion......”

Layla looked at Shion. Her eyes were moist with emotion, shining brightly.

“You’re really a good guy!”

She shouted loudly, then lunged at Shion. She hugged him with both arms.

“Are you crazy? Let go.”

“Thank you!!”

Shion was slightly taken aback, and Soliette next to him stared at the scene, then pulled Layla’s hem a little harder.

Rip─! The clothes almost tore.

“Eek!”

Layla, who was pulled off, looked at Soliette with a surprised face. Soliette said expressionlessly.

“Sit down. If you’re not careful, you could fall off and drown.”

“Drown?”

“Yes. It’s the sea, isn’t it?”

“......Uh, sorry.”

Layla obediently sat down.

The four people on the boat looked at the water’s edge from the boat. Not only the Death Knight but also enemies with indistinct forms were standing there.

As if they were regretful for not being able to catch them.......