Chapter 26

"Looks like you're about to die, but in a different way. Are you okay?"

"…Do I look okay?"

"Not really."

Melvin said this with a laugh, clearly finding the situation amusing. It was obvious he was treating it as someone else's problem, which, in reality, it was.

"Don't make that face. I had a hard time finding this place too. Ralph used multiple high-level spells and even a magical artifact given by the king to hide you."

"Even so, you figured it out."

"Who do you think I am? I might not be able to beat Ralph in a fair fight, but I'm not going to lose in terms of magical skills."

Despite his usual tone, I felt a strange sense of reassurance. I hadn't spoken to anyone other than Ralph for a while, and most of our conversations hadn't made much sense.

"Is the Holy Maiden safe?"

"Yeah. After you disappeared, she went on a rampage. There were a few injuries, but Beverly healed them right away."

I thought about the blood on him when he came to pick me up that day. He said the forest was full of monsters, and most of the blood was from them.

"So, what do you want to do?"

"………"

What do I really want to do? What should I do?

Of course, it would be better if I didn't have to die. But I also knew that everything wouldn't go smoothly. I would have to give something up.

"He's probably planning to die."

"Huh?"

"Heroes have the power to purify monsters. It takes a toll on them, and recovery takes time, but if he's willing to risk his life, there's a chance he can save you."

"…No way…"

But he seemed confident that he could defeat that monster. And from the way he looked at me, I could believe he might be willing to risk his life.

"What are you to him, that he would go that far?"

…That was what I wanted to know the most. What was I to Ralph?

I couldn't believe he would do this much just because he gave me shoes and accessories in the past. But I couldn't think of any other reason. Eventually, Melvin handed me a red gemstone.

"It's infused with several years' worth of my magic. With this, you should be able to escape from here."

"……"

"By the way, if you sell it, it's worth enough for a noble to live for decades. Be grateful. And don't waste it."

"…Yeah, I understand. Thank you so much."

"By the way, it's only two weeks until your birthday. I've prepared the barrier, so it's up to you to decide."

After he taught me how to use it, I thanked him again, and he said, "Stop it, it's creepy."

"Where are we?"

"Under the Redford family's house. There's a connection from your creepy room full of your pictures to here."

I thought it was close to the mansion, but I never imagined it was right below. The entrance is hidden so that ordinary people can't find it.

Melvin hugged himself, saying that the wall full of my pictures gave him goosebumps. I could understand that.

"But I thought all the pictures were of you, and there was one of a different woman. It was covered with a cloth, but it was hidden."

"…Huh?"

Actually, I was a bit curious about the picture under the cloth. I thought a room like that couldn't exist, but now I wondered who that woman was, and my heart stirred.

"What was she like?"

"She had brown hair and green eyes, with two moles under her eyes. She looked pretty ordinary. Completely different from you."

"……Really?"

"Hmm? Yeah."

My heart thumped loudly. At the same time, a ridiculous hypothesis formed in my mind.

–There's no way that could be true.

"If Ralph finds out I came here, he'll probably kill me this time, so I'm going back. It takes time to erase the traces."

With that, Melvin disappeared from in front of me in an instant.

◇◇◇

It's been about a week since then. I've been counting the meals, so I'm sure it's only a week until my birthday.

I've been spending the same days with Ralph. Melvin seems to have erased the traces well, as there's no change in Ralph's behavior. I've also hidden the gemstone so he won't find it.

"Miss Lissette, I'm going to work now."

"…Yeah."

"I'll try to come back as soon as possible."

After Ralph left, looking reluctant, I took out the gemstone and stared at it, troubled. What Melvin said that day was really bothering me.

Just to see that picture. That's what I decided, and I stood up.

Using the gemstone's magic, I managed to escape to the room Melvin had mentioned. Even though I knew what to expect, seeing my pictures lined up was still unsettling.

Eventually, I stood in front of the picture covered with a cloth.

I felt like I shouldn't look at what was inside, but at the same time, I felt like I had to. My heart was pounding, and my hands were shaking, but I took a deep breath and reached for the cloth.

"……Why?"

When I saw the picture, I collapsed on the spot. Because this was impossible. It couldn't be.

The picture depicted me from my first life.