Solitude I hadn’t felt in a long time enveloped me. The sensation of spending the night alone in the trees returned like nostalgia, tickling the tip of my nose. Driven by an inexplicable impulse, I snatched a leaf that caught my eye and, for the first time in a while, gave its tip a gentle bite. 

It didn’t taste of any particular memory. If anything, it was so utterly bland and hollow that I considered simply spitting it out.

Compared to the bread Lope had given, the bounty of nature was remarkably unremarkable. In truth, the same went for everything else. The birds’ voices rubbing through the leaves, the warm moonlight embracing my shoulders. Even the coastal scenery filling my vision. None of it stirred any emotion in me anymore.

Was this how my father felt when he fell for my mother? He used to say that an elf who falls for the human world can never return to what they were. My father said so, adding that giving one’s heart to a creature that couldn’t even live out a quarter of our lifespan was a dangerous thing of that magnitude.

…

Then you shouldn’t have sent Mother here in the first place.

Chewing on a rebellion that would never be heard, I thought of my mother, and her face once again came to mind. 

For the past few days, a single thought had taken hold of my mind. And it concerned the one who was tormenting Lope even now. Those eyes, still lingering in my memory, were inflicting pain not only on Lope but on me as well.

Until now, I had never felt anything resembling personal emotion toward her. But ever since hearing Lope’s story, strange thoughts kept creeping in. Even knowing they were twisted conjectures, I couldn’t shake them off.

What if. Really, what if.

What if it really were true.

My captive heart, unable to be contained, scattered into disarray. Even as I hugged myself and curled into a ball, my heart kept pounding violently, running wild.

And from within it, the sensation of violence I had tasted before seeped out.

The way it had crumbled so horrifyingly easily.

That sensation from back then.

…

Splash…

“…!”

Suddenly, a strange sound grazed my ears. It was unmistakably the sound of waves crashing against an artificial structure made by humans. Just in case, I listened closely once more.

…

Splash…

“Good heavens.”

There was no room for doubt. It was undoubtedly the wail of a ship’s prow surging toward the island.

At that moment, I swiftly kicked off the tree and climbed. Scattered leaves flew up all at once, as if trying to grasp my ankles. For a fleeting moment, I had the illusion that all my past agonies were floating along with them.

Before that illusion could catch my ankles again, I began to sprint fiercely. At this very moment, it felt like nothing could catch up to me.

Behind me, the sound of the waves echoed once more. I pressed my lips shut and squeezed my fist tight without realizing it. The moment of beginning was finally approaching.

Or perhaps the end.

Lena’s legs had given out, leaving her barely able to walk. But I somehow managed to drag her along, forcing one step after another. During the sluggish march, the morning wore on, and the high-rising sun brushed over our heads.

As soon as we returned, the one to greet me was, inevitably, Haru. The moment I opened the door, she rushed toward me in a panic.

“Senior!”

“Haru.”

“Did I get it right this time? Is it you, Senior?”

“Yes. It’s me.”

“Where have you been! It’s total chaos right now! Right now… right now…!”

Haru stammered urgently, gasping for breath. But before she could finish, a calm voice enveloped her words.

“Lope.”

“…Saya.”

“A ship has arrived.”

“Yeah.”

“It bore the crest of the Anbert family, too.”

“Thank you.”

Saya summarized the entire situation in a single breath. I already knew this, so it didn’t stir much emotion in me, but we held each other’s gaze for an exceptionally long time. Having been each other’s source of worry throughout the long night, this moment of finally facing one another felt profoundly special.

Of course, the world didn’t grant us such a luxury of time. Soon, Ms. Rebecca approached and spoke in a heavy voice.

“Lope. The time has come.”

“It was faster than I thought.”

“If anything, it’s late. More importantly, it’s time to decide. If you want, we can depart immediately.”

“You’re right. I need to… decide right now.”

At her words, I bowed my head. The ship had come into view, meaning it would reach the island today; once the situation settled, the Anbert family would undoubtedly set out to find Roselia. The time left until then was a day at most. Perhaps even less. Before that happened, we absolutely had to find her first.

To do so, we needed to act fast. Now, the time for a decision had arrived for everyone, not just me. Still holding Haru in my arms, I lifted my head again.

Then, everyone in the room began to look at me simultaneously. Saya. Ms. Rebecca. Erika. Lena. And the others. Each and every one of them harbored their own circumstances, expressing a myriad of emotions.

Naturally, the most palpable among them was fear. They probably hadn’t expected the “tomorrow” I spoke of yesterday to arrive so soon. Even so, I had to ask now.

“Has everyone made their decision?”

…

“That ship belongs to the Anbert family. It came to retrieve Roselia and her alone. That’s why we absolutely need her help to get off this island. Whether through persuasion or coercion. We need to meet her first and find a way.”

…

“So we’re heading to the Academy as fast as possible. Of course, they’ll be prepared, so it won’t be easy. But Ms. Rebecca said she has a plan, so I intend to trust her and go. Now, answer me.”

“Ah…”

“Is there anyone who will help us leave the island?”

Even before I could finish asking, a low sigh escaped someone’s lips. But it didn’t lead to an answer. These pitiful audience members couldn’t even muster a murmur, only glancing nervously at one another.

Then, one person spoke up. The girl, whose name I still didn’t know, hesitated immensely before barely managing to force her voice out.

“I want to leave. But… it’s dangerous, isn’t it…?”

“It is.”

“We could get caught by those guys again… and worst case, we could die. Right?”

“I won’t deny it.”

“If that happens, it’s all over. Everything… everything becomes meaningless. Right?”

…

Before I knew it, her question had morphed into an anxious monologue. As if voicing the sentiments of everyone present, she continued to pour out her trembling words.

“Of course I want to leave. I want to see my mom and dad too. But… if we die before that, it’s all over, isn’t it…?”

“It is. That’s the risk we’re accepting.”

“I know you’re risking your life too. But you know how to wield a sword, and you’ve survived these situations time and again. I haven’t. I’m… just a student.”

“I understand what you mean.”

“Isn’t that true for everyone? Isn’t that right, Student Council President? You’re scared too, aren’t you? Right?”

“Th…that’s…”

It may have been a question seeking only empathy, but in this situation, it was tantamount to incitement. Even Erika couldn’t easily answer, only glancing nervously at me. Fear and anxiety were spreading slowly, like low-lying smoke.

And it was the same for me. Truth be told, even I didn’t have absolute certainty about this plan. I was merely acting on the belief that it was the best course of action. Before I knew it, a gap had formed in my own heart as well.

Just then, I suddenly wondered what Lena was thinking. When I abruptly cast my gaze at her, she flinched and averted her eyes. But soon, she lifted her head and met my eyes again. In the end, the hope she clung to at the final moment was me.

But what if that hope were to shatter?

What if I were the one to break your heart?

Where would your hope turn to next?

Duke?

Or…

…Roselia, after all?

Amidst the jumble of names, a single thought pierced my heart. Right. Everyone has at least one person they entrust their heart to in moments of crisis. While I was pondering that, Haru’s voice jolted my consciousness.

“Senior. Let’s just go by ourselves. We don’t need these cowards anyway. If we’re together, we can figure something out, can’t we?”

“I get it, Haru. I get it, so just stay still for a moment.”

“No, did I say something wrong? We can just leave them all behind and…”

Just before the next words could follow, I grabbed Haru’s raised hand and brought it down. I even interlaced my fingers with hers, holding on tightly so as not to let go. Then, I embraced her small frame and gently patted her back.

“I said stay still.”

“Ah… ugh… what… what’s this. Suddenly so warm…”

“Yeah. It’s a warm attitude for once. I trust you too, Haru. So just stay still for a bit.”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Stay still. Just for this moment.”

Unable to meet her eyes, I patted Haru’s back for a long while instead. Only then did I entrust the now-silent girl to Saya’s arms and slowly walked forward.

Their gazes were still fixed on me. Every ounce of their attention seemed focused on what this man would say next. But I ignored those stares and looked at Lena. Sensing the pressure to say something, her lips were twitching. 

I opened my mouth before she could. My gaze remained fixed on Lena.

“I have something to say to everyone.”

…

“It’s a very important matter.”

Despite the ominous declaration, there was no visible reaction yet. After all, everything that came out of my mouth was bound to be important. But the words I was about to say were of a different nature from all that.

“Yesterday, Erika mentioned hearing a strange rumor from the guys who came from the Academy. Since everyone was probably in the same room, you all likely know about it. The rumor that I possess an Elven artifact.”

“…!”

“Yes. That rumor. Some of you might have thought it was complete nonsense, while others might have harbored a vague sense of anticipation. And some might have held pure curiosity. Regardless of what you thought, there is only one thing I can tell you.”

“Lope, you…”

“That rumor is true.”

“Lope…!”

As soon as I finished speaking, Lena’s startled voice burst out. The people gathered there. And Saya. Even Ms. Rebecca stared at me with widened eyes. In the face of all those reactions, I calmly stated the reality.

“That is precisely why I am so desperate to leave this place. I have a duty to bring it to the mainland. And Roselia wants to take it from me. That is also the reason she wants to keep me alive until the very end.”

“Lope. Stop…”

“But this burden is far too heavy for me. I cannot possibly bear it alone. That is why I need someone to help me carry it. For the past few weeks, I’ve been constantly agonizing over it. Who would be that person to stand by me? Who would be that person to earn my trust?”

…

“I’ve finally made up my mind.”

To those unaware of the truth, it was a rather vague statement. But I hadn’t spoken for them in the first place. It was for those who had stood by me until now. Those who had trusted me. And those who had somehow come to learn the truth. It was a declaration meant especially for that last group.

My wandering heart led to unwavering footsteps. Leaving Haru’s embrace, passing by Ms. Rebecca, and heading toward the nameless girls, my journey finally reached its end. I had put it off time and again, but now it was time to applaud my destiny, which had been dancing with its eyes blindfolded.

Truthfully, it was already too late. I should have decided long ago. It wasn’t that I didn’t still harbor doubts about my decision, but despite that, actually making the choice brought a sense of relief to my chest.

So now it was time to trust that choice and move forward.

A bond that had remained unbroken from our Academy days all the way to the brink of ruin.

A past where bloodstained violence had been diluted into trust.

And, my final variable on this island.

My settled heart directed itself toward a single girl.

“Erika.”

“Uh… yeah?”

Startled by the sudden call, Erika parted her lips in surprise, and Lena wore a look of sheer horror. But turning my back completely on her, I grasped Erika’s hand firmly.

“Come with me.”