You’ve done it now, Roselia.

The moment I heard Erika’s words, that was the only thought that crossed my mind. She’s gone and exposed everything.

Of course, it wasn’t entirely unexpected. Secrets have a way of leaking through even the smallest cracks, and Roselia was someone with far too many cracks. I had no idea what situation she found herself in, but she had clearly used that secret to ensure her own safety.

Or perhaps she’d been so obsessed with catching me that she’d lost all reason. Either way, I needed to assess just how much information had leaked.

“What do you mean?”

“No, I just… only heard what was being said…”

“So. Why exactly do you think that? Were they really going around saying I’m an elf?”

“To be precise… it seems Roselia said something about you. That you have something belonging to the elves. The story got exaggerated, and that’s how the rumor started going around.”

“Hmm…”

At least she hadn’t told them everything. That was something of a relief. At the very least, it meant the marks hadn’t been discovered.

But at the same time, it meant Roselia still held her position of influence at the academy. That was something I could never view positively. Roselia, standing atop a seat of power, had always been difficult to deal with.

“Anyway, that’s why I’m asking… are you… an elf, Lope? Just thought I’d ask…”

“Do I look like an elf to you?”

“Tha…! Of course I don’t think so. I was just… asking.”

“Right. I suppose so.”

“But…”

Erika’s gaze shifted in a peculiar way. She seemed to genuinely dismiss the possibility, yet a flicker of doubt was clearly taking root. Rumors were always just rumors, but there was invariably a grain of truth at their source.

But before that doubt could bear fruit, a heavy metallic clang trampled it underfoot.

“Madam President. Are you busy.”

“Ah! Uh… no. Is something wrong?”

“Miss Lena seems to be unwell. It would be good if you could check on her, Madam President.”

“Yes. Understood. I’ll be right there.”

Her tone was gentle and measured, but Rebecca’s voice carried a force that compelled obedience. As Erika disappeared inside, Rebecca quietly closed the door.

It was too perfectly timed to be a coincidence. Rebecca made no particular effort to hide that fact, either.

“Looks like you two were having a conversation.”

“Yes.”

“I think we need to have a talk as well. Shall we take a walk?”

“…Yes. Let’s.”

I had an inkling of what this was about, so I quietly nodded. Then, falling in step with the metallic rhythm of her gait, I began walking toward the forest.

As with yesterday, the sunset inhabited her footsteps. Each stride that crushed the pooled twilight beneath it was accompanied by a cold metallic clatter, and as if startled by the force, the dark red earth sprayed upward, spewing dust in every direction.

Just how much of her body was made of metal? As if reading my curiosity, Rebecca tossed out a casual question.

“It must really bother you. You keep staring.”

“It’s not that, I just… was wondering how much of your body is still left.”

“Why. Want to see?”

“No… well…”

“To put it abstractly, enough is left. But when men ask, it’s usually not with that intention. If that’s what you meant, well. I’ll at least tell you that you could still fuck me.”

“…Has someone actually asked you that?”

“A superior of mine, famous for being a pervert. He even ordered me to jerk him off with this hand, though I’m not sure what fetish that was. With the glove on, no less.”

“What happened?”

“I followed the order faithfully. And then I made it look like an accident so his family wouldn’t be traumatized.”

Her story stirred a wicked imagination. But there were more important matters to discuss, so I didn’t press any further.

“So what did you want to talk about, Ms. Rebecca?”

“…I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but I heard your conversation with the Student Council President. It sounds like that girl Roselia has been blabbing about the elves’ secret. Right?”

“It seems she only told them that I possess something belonging to the elves. She probably said it to generate just enough curiosity and motivation.”

“Either way, it’s clear that girl has no intention of keeping the secret any longer. There’s no telling when she might spill everything.”

“Yes.”

“It’ll be hard to keep it a secret forever.”

A sharp clack interrupted the conversation. That cold sound always pierced the space between reason and emotion. But Rebecca spoke without the slightest tremor.

“You need to make a choice now. Lope.”

“…”

“If a ship really did depart from the mainland, it’ll arrive by the end of this week at the latest. Even if soldiers stormed the coast tomorrow, it wouldn’t be the least bit surprising. Time keeps moving forward.”

“I know that too.”

“Then you need to decide in your heart who you’ll go with. Even if that person isn’t on this island, you should at least choose who you’re willing to abandon.”

“I don’t know anyone on the mainland anyway.”

“Right. Then you’d better choose quickly. Unless you plan on showing mercy to a beggar whose name you don’t even know.”

With those words, Rebecca came to a halt. When her steady, forward-marching stride stopped, the conversation naturally fell silent. Uncharacteristically, the silence stretched on for a long time.

But I knew what she was going to say next. Even knowing, I felt I needed to hear it from her lips, so I deliberately shared in the silence.

“Have you perhaps already made up your mind?”

“The marks are still on my hand.”

“I see. You must still have a lot on your mind. Then listen, Lope. If you haven’t decided yet…”

“…”

“If you haven’t decided yet, I mean. Then…”

“…”

“So…”

Her hesitation didn’t end with just one attempt. Inexplicable emotions took turns clogging her throat. Yet Rebecca ultimately forced out those words.

“…I have a son. I mentioned it last time, too.”

“Yes.”

“My husband betrayed me once, and I won’t live much longer anyway. But that child… of course, I don’t even know if he’s still alive. He’s surely hiding in the basement of our house, but it’s been a while since I’ve had any word. Even so, I… damn it.”

“…”

“I know I shouldn’t be doing this. I know it’s shameless. But once I knew, I wanted to at least say it out loud. No, that’s not true—I want more than that. Honestly, even saying this much is just… damn it…”

She finally hung her head low. A death row inmate begging the executioner for their life couldn’t be more wretched than this.

Truth be told, Rebecca could have threatened me. For someone who hadn’t even graduated from the academy to reach the port safely, her help was absolutely essential. But she didn’t do that. She could have at least dropped to her knees and pleaded, but she didn’t do that either.

Merely tossing out the possibility had wracked her with guilt. There was only one thing I could say to her.

“I understand what you’re saying.”

“…”

“Is that enough for now?”

“That’s enough.”

At those words, Rebecca lifted her head with an expression so detached, as if she’d never been so troubled. And then, as though nothing had happened, she casually shifted to another topic.

“Now, as for the academy business, the preparations are essentially complete. The kids will only be helping with very minor details. If you say the word, we could move as early as tomorrow.”

“That’s good news. Thank you, Ms. Rebecca.”

“All that’s left is your decision. Tell me whenever you’re ready.”

She continued in a businesslike manner, then paused briefly. And then, with a markedly different tone, she spoke once more.

“And be careful, Lope. That girl Lena, especially.”

“Right now, I’m more worried about Roselia.”

“I imagine so. You must want to sever that toxic bond.”

“But right now, you should be more afraid of a bond that might reunite than one that’s already been severed.”

“Senior!!!”

When I returned to the hideout, Haru let out an unusually loud shout and charged at me. But due to the innate limitation of being blind, she ended up in Rebecca’s embrace instead of mine.

“That’s not me.”

“Ah, missed again. I’ll have to get it right next time. Now, come here voluntarily. I’ll give you a proper hug.”

“Haa…”

I let out a thin sigh and lifted my head. Beyond Haru’s clinging embrace, I could see the faces of the others. They wore expressions markedly different from this morning.

They had only been here for a single day, but they must have done a great deal of thinking. Could they really trust this man named Lope they’d only heard rumors about? A ship was supposedly coming, but was boarding it to the mainland the right choice? And what on earth was that bizarre story they’d heard today?

Should I really be staying here?

If even the things I could immediately call to mind were this numerous, their thoughts must be far more tangled. Add the pressing time constraint, and their minds must be ready to burst.

“Ugh… stop squirming. Let me smell you.”

“…”

Even amid all that, Haru kept nuzzling her head against me. Come to think of it, aside from our very first encounter, she had followed me without any hesitation. Was she simply not thinking? Or was she overthinking?

I hadn’t paid it much mind until now, but suddenly I was curious.

“Haru.”

“Yes?”

“What exactly do you see in me that makes you trust me so much?”

“What do you mean, see? There’s nothing to see. So actually, I’m still not even sure whether you’re handsome or not, Senior. That was a secret, by the way—did you know?”

“Don’t joke around. Why do you follow me so devotedly?”

“Hmm… I wonder.”

Despite my serious tone, Haru tilted her head back playfully. Then, with a small grin, she answered.

“They say animals imprint on the first creature they see when they’re born and follow it as their parent.”

“What does that have to do with…”

“If by some miracle I were to truly open my eyes someday, the first person I’d want to see is you, Senior. Isn’t that enough?”

“Hah…”

The nonsensical words, devoid of any logic or reason, drew nothing but a laugh from me. But I had to admit, it was a very Haru-like answer. She had made her choice a very long time ago.

Or rather, perhaps my own thinking was simply too slow.

With that thought, my lips moved of their own accord.

“Everyone. Hold on a moment.”

“…Hm?”

At my words, everyone except Haru, who was still clinging to me, turned their heads. The gathered girls. Erika. And even Lena, who had been sullenly keeping her head down. I met each of their eyes, one by one.

“I told you this morning. That I’d give you time to decide. But you all know there isn’t much of it. Even just today alone, we’ve faced any number of situations.”

“…”

“So I can’t give you a lot of time. Personally, I’d want to storm the academy this very moment. But that’s not realistic. So I’d like you to decide as quickly as possible.”

“As quickly as possible means…”

“Think it over thoroughly tonight. You remember what I said, right? Whether to board the ship. Or to stay here. Of course, regardless of that, it’s also fine if you want to help us rescue someone at the academy.”

“…”

“Decide by tomorrow. The food we have to sustain ourselves here is limited, so we can’t hold out any longer than that. Consider everything carefully and make your decision. I’ll say it again—by tomorrow.”

I emphasized that last sentence with particular weight. One by one, the eyes that had met mine dropped to the floor. Everyone’s anguish merged into the deep shadows. Then Haru, letting out a long yawn, spoke with casual indifference.

“Judging by the silence, it seems no one’s made up their mind yet. What’s so hard about it?”

“It’s only natural to be conflicted. If anything, you’re the strange one.”

“I’d prefer ‘exceptional,’ if you don’t mind. Say, Senior… um… did Saya go somewhere? She doesn’t seem to be here.”

“About that.”

Haru whispered the question at the very end. But instead of answering right away, I cast my gaze toward Lena. Then, without a trace of concealment, I replied in a calm voice.

“At the very least, she’ll be away from the hideout today.”

“…”

“She won’t be here tonight.”

“I see…”

Perhaps flustered by my response, Haru let her words trail off ambiguously. I patted her shoulder while still watching Lena. She visibly flinched, but offered no further reaction.

It was time to choose. Not just for me, but for everyone in this room. To make that happen, I had no choice but to accelerate the time for decision.

As Rebecca had said, at the very least, I needed to decide who to abandon.