“Recently, a tense atmosphere has spread within the mansion, hasn’t it?”

Rem muttered softly, sensing the tautness in the air.

The dry air and cold winds that wafted in from outside felt tinged with human anxiety and irritation, mingled with what rises from a battlefield.

Though it was only for a brief time, Rem had experienced the front lines of war on several occasions.

According to that feeling, the tension I felt on my skin was increasing day by day, lying in wait for the moment to burst. The soldiers guarding the mansion were also gradually losing their composure.

This was likely due to the current situation.

“The Rebel Army has the upper hand… I hear that revolts are happening all over the Empire now. The Imperial Army is overwhelmed dealing with it and is unable to take any proactive measures.”

Ironically, the very incident that triggered the simultaneous uprising of those rebels was the siege and defense of Castle City Gwararu, the very reason Rem and the others were taken to the Imperial Capital — a full-scale offensive from the Empire’s army that even the “Nine Divine Generals” had been deployed for, and it was barely held off by a makeshift Rebel Army.

The Rebel Army — led by Abel, who is the real Emperor, a rather complicated title for Rem, who knows that fact, but I hear that their resistance is growing.

They say that the merciless attacks by the “Dragon Commander” were brilliantly repelled, and that the iron wall of the city they were sent back from is not something to be feared.

“I could say that it’s not a lie…”

From Rem’s perspective as one of the parties involved, it didn’t feel quite right to say that the retreat of Madelin, who led the flying dragons, was a strategic move, nor to call the city that had taken such a beating the victor.

Of course, from the rebels’ perspective, victory is victory; there’s no reason to miss out on a perfect opportunity to boast. In fact, because of that, rebels in various places were riding the wave of the rebellion.

There wasn’t anything particularly strange about it. — There was nothing all that strange about it.

The rebels were gaining momentum, fueled by other factors as well.

“——”

Beyond just the bittersweet victory of Castle City, there were other reasons behind the unprecedented rise of the rebel uprising. That was the arrival of Yorna Mishigure, the ruler of the Magic City Chaos Frame.

Her defection, known for her high capabilities yet capricious nature, ignited the rebels’ momentum.

And that was initially Abel’s plan, as well as the direction that Natsuki Subaru had taken with him.

“…I might have just been tagging along and not contributing much, though.”

How much Subaru really contributed in the events that unfolded?

Muttering about the possibility of not being of any use, Rem herself acknowledged that her words lacked convincing power. If he were utterly useless, it would mean shutting down all of Subaru’s actions and words.

And she couldn’t even picture Subaru being quiet or still, so he must have done something. — Maybe even turned her over to Yorna.

Although, she thought that was probably overthinking it.

“Is that really…?”

An undeniable feeling of foreboding had her questioning herself.

The rebels had risen all at once, shaking the Empire’s foundations like never before. Now the winds carrying the scent of blood and iron were blowing into the Imperial Capital, reaching even the imprisoned Rem and her companions.

Just how much had Abel foreseen this turn of events?

“Did he even factor in the hostility directed at me to his calculations?”

Perhaps he had anticipated that as the rebellion expanded and the rebels raised their voices one after another, the forces necessary to match the false Emperor in the Imperial Capital would gather.

Subaru was being used as a piece for realizing Abel’s scheme.

That said, it was likely that he wasn’t fully informed of the grand scheme. After all, Subaru was merely a pawn to be utilized for Abel’s purposes. — She wouldn’t say she didn’t understand that reasoning.

As well as it made it hard to divert her gaze, she couldn’t help but feel she wasn’t conceited either.

“——”

The modest rebellion that first sparked from the “People of Shudrak” settlements would, could it really be, engulf the entire Empire, transforming into a political upheaval that would be spoken of for generations to come?

If that were the case, how would Abel and Subaru be spoken of in the center of it all?

And amidst this whirlwind, what was she supposed to fulfill? —

“—Hey, wait a minute.”

“Ah…”

“What are you zoning out for? You were the one who said you wanted to do this, right? You need to take responsibility and see it through properly.”

Being pulled back to reality, Rem blinked her round eyes in surprise.

Looking down, she noticed Kachua, a woman with her chestnut brown hair being played with — she was sitting in front of the makeup table, glaring at Rem through the mirror with a strict gaze.

Kachua’s curled hair was naturally tangled in Rem’s fingertips, as she was in the middle of styling Kachua’s hair.

“I’m sorry. I was lost in thought.”

“Of course, everyone is always thinking about something, so you don’t have to keep making excuses for it.”

“——”

“—Ah, it’s not like I’m saying you shouldn’t speak up, but…”

Seeming to reconsider her harsh tone to Rem’s apology, Kachua stumbled over her words.

Looking down, her cute-demeanor made Rem accidentally smile back out of sympathy.

Kachua Aurelie — she was also a woman imprisoned in Chancellor Belstet’s residence, held under house arrest like Rem.

She had been brought in as the healer for the injured Flopp, and unlike Rem, whose house arrest continued due to Belstet’s interest, Kachua seemed to have her own circumstances for being there.

Though they hadn’t exchanged detailed circumstances, Kachua speaking to Rem like this showed how much they had grown closer compared to the early days. If Rem were to say it out loud, Kachua had a tendency to get quite furious, potentially doubling the distance they had just managed to shorten.

“What… is that look on your face? Your face is irritating.”

“I’m sorry. I still can’t help but feel it’s not my own face. It feels like someone else’s.”

“D-Don’t say scary things! Hearing you say that you don’t have memories freaks me out, and I can’t tell if you’re serious or not!”

With a sulky demeanor, Kachua glared at the mirror, biting her own finger.

When anything happens, Kachua has a habit of biting her nails like that. Even in their short time together, she often does that when her emotions are on edge, for better or worse.

Biting her nails, Kachua directed her resentful gaze at both the person reflected in the mirror and at Rem standing behind her. Sitting in a wheelchair, in the reflection, Rem gazed at her own image in the makeup table’s mirror as well.

Indeed, the things Rem had said to Kachua were exaggerated opinions.

Even without memories, Rem had long since accepted that this was not someone else’s face, but her own. She couldn’t resent everything around her, just because she couldn’t bite at everything she saw or touched.

What would remain for an empty self that even doubted the kindness from people like Lui, the People of Shudrak, Medium, Flopp, Priscilla, and Schult?

Knowing that, precisely because of that, she felt she should at least acknowledge the first person to extend a hand to her.

“…You really are good at doing hair.”

“Eh?”

“I said that you’re really good at braiding hair. You might have done this kind of job before you lost your memories… or maybe not. There’s no job that’s just braiding hair. I-I’m saying something dumb. Forget it. Forget it!”

Kachua blushed as she looked away from her reflection, embarrassed. Rem had just finished braiding her hair, apparently complimenting her skills.

With Kachua’s ponytails pinned on either side of her head, she quivered her lips slightly, fixing a discerning gaze on Rem.

“Stop zoning out… I-I know, I’m boring you, huh? If that’s the case! Why don’t you just go over to someone else, you know, someone else, instead?”

“No, everyone else in the mansion is in the middle of work.”

“So, I’m the only one twiddling my thumbs? So that means I’m the one who…”

“That’s not the case. Please don’t make this difficult for me.”

“W-Who’s making it difficult?!”

Turning the wheels of her wheelchair, Kachua fled deeper into the room. As she bit her nails and looked up at Rem from below, she resembled a furious cat whose territory had been invaded.

Rem’s vague attitude had made Kachua anxious.

“Kachua-san, I’m sorry for making you misunderstand. The reason I came to you is not because you’re the only one bored in the mansion.”

“Then, then what is it? Why did you come to me?”

“Well, that is…”

Prompted for a proper reason, Rem pondered for a moment.

As she told Kachua, she didn’t take her position lightly enough to seek someone to alleviate boredom in this situation. However, having spent a little time with Kachua, Rem knew she wasn’t particularly an important figure and didn’t hold any state secrets.

For someone in Rem’s mindset, feeling pressured to do something, it was clear that engaging with Kachua would yield very little in terms of benefits.

But still, the reason Rem was actively trying to engage with Kachua was —

“W-Why is that? Say it! If you can’t say it, then…”

“That’s because I believe Kachua and I are friends.”

“——”

“Kachua-san?”

As she dug deep into her own heart to search for an appropriate phrase, what she found was that rather loose notion.

Rem didn’t have any selfish calculations regarding Kachua. Thus, she couldn’t provide the solid reason that Kachua was hoping for.

She knew that would not satisfy Kachua, and it troubled Rem.

“Eugene… Who the heck is Eugene?!”

“Eh? Ah, it’s not a person’s name. It means friend, buddy.”

“Eugene… friend…?”

Kachua’s eyes widened in disbelief, looking as if she couldn’t believe the words she had just heard. Seeing Kachua’s reaction, Rem thought maybe she had been too familiar too soon by calling them friends.

After all, their relationship was something that Rem had forced herself upon.

Both were unwillingly confined to Chancellor Belstet’s mansion, and calling the relationship born from that friendship might have been a bit careless.

“I’m sorry. That was presumptuous of me. It might be better to say we’re comrades-in-arms since we’re both in confinement.”

“Y-You just said ‘friend’!”

“Yes?”

“You said ‘friend.’ You actually said it. …It’s fine, I guess.”

Kachua placed her palms on her face and averted her gaze as she said that.

When Rem blinked in surprise at those words, Kachua exhaled, “Ah.”

“But if you ever think I’m annoying, you can just stop talking to me anytime, okay?”

“Understood. So…”

“Are you actually going to stop?”

“I won’t stop. Rather, Kachua and I are friends, and that’s final.”

Unexpectedly receiving Kachua’s acceptance, Rem nodded. Then Kachua widened her eyes and tugged her own braid while biting her nails, muttering “I see.”

Analyzing that biting her nails meant she was feeling anxious about something, Rem wondered if she might have upset Kachua or made her anxious.

However, Kachua’s face did not seem to show any bad feelings, so the reason for her nail-biting was something to reconsider.

Including those ambiguous feelings, Rem felt a sense of obligation toward Kachua. Rem wasn’t well-versed in this, but it was certain that this was enough to fulfill the conditions for being friends.

“…Anyway, you do know a lot about the outside situation.”

“That’s true, is it?”

“Yeah, I mean, you know way too much about the rebellion going on outside.”

As Kachua, who had been biting her nails, suddenly changed the topic, Rem was momentarily bewildered about what was being said but quickly realized she was referring to her earlier musings about Kachua’s hair.

“I don’t know if I can say I’m really knowledgeable, but I was taken from a place where I was fighting before, so I have an interest. What about you, Kachua?”

“I… well, I don’t really want to think about it. My stupid brother… died and things like war are just unpleasant.”

“—Ah.”

Kachua mumbled, lowering her gaze and intertwining her fingers on her knees.

Kachua’s brother’s death wasn’t new to Rem. He was likely someone very important to Kachua, as she frequently mentioned her deceased brother like that.

It was the recent rebellion stirred up by Abel that led to Kachua’s brother’s death. Perhaps that loss might not be unrelated to the conflict in which Rem found herself entwined.

If someone close to Rem lost their life, she might also start to harbor the same disdain for war. Even now, she wished that conflicts wouldn’t exist.

“Even so, blocking my ears won’t make it go away. I heard Kachua’s fiancé is on the battlefield too. It must be worrisome.”

“That guy…! He doesn’t look like he’d die no matter what, but…”

“Your brother was like that too, wasn’t he?”

“——”

Born into the Empire and to a noble family, it seemed unavoidable for them.

The brother had been killed in battle, and Kachua’s fiancé was also off to fight. For Rem, the experience of Imperial soldiers fighting was a mixed feeling. — Abel would show no mercy.

Even if it was supposed to be soldiers who were once her subordinates, that would not change.

“That’s strange…”

Initially, Rem wasn’t influenced nor aligned with Abel’s ideology.

After all, she had originally been captured in the territories of the Imperial Army, and Subaru had relied on Abel and the People of Shudrak to rescue her. To repay that favor, Subaru had helped them, and Rem had, by extension, acted together with them, but she shouldn’t have felt beholden either.

No, she shouldn’t have. That was already a thing of the past.

“Lui-chan, Priscilla-san, Mizelda-san, and Flopp-san…”

Those were people with whom she had established relationships, letting others facilitate mutual care within their bonds.

Now those people were aligned with Abel’s path. Before she knew it, it was hard for Rem to detach her feelings from that. However, that was something irrelevant to the Imperial soldiers who were opposing them and, of course, Kachua as well.

If Kachua knew the reality of Rem’s situation, would she then forgive Rem?

“——”

Rem couldn’t muster the courage to disclose her thoughts to someone who was grieving the loss of a precious brother.

“…What about you?”

“Ah, no, it’s nothing. If it seems like I know too much about the outside, it’s probably because of the people who were just gathered in the annex.”

“Annex… Ah, those guys.”

Upon hearing Rem’s words, Kachua’s voice dropped an octave, and her gaze turned more serious.

Kachua’s unsettled reaction was understandable. After all, she had some issues with being socially anxious and mistrustful of others, and it had been quite a struggle for Rem to get closer to her.

From Kachua’s perspective, the increasing number of people in the mansion wasn’t welcome. Especially if they were rebels gathered from various places.

“Even with so many people around, do you really think one of them is the Emperor’s…”

“—Illegitimate child.”

“…They must know by now, so they’re not really hiding.”

Kachua chimed in before Rem could finish, appearing uncomfortable.

It seemed she thought she had said something unnecessary, but Rem paid it no mind. More than that, the meaning behind those words occupied her thoughts sharply.

In the residence of Belstet Fondalfon, where Rem and the others were also confined, a large number of boys gathered from battlefields across the Empire were there.

—All of them shared a common trait: they were teenage boys, “the Black-Haired Crown Princes.”

“It’s strange that the Chancellor has no heirs; that topic has floated around…”

Kachua mumbled with a scratchy voice, reminding Rem of when she first laid eyes on Belstet in a one-on-one meeting after being brought to the mansion.

Belstet was allied with the false Emperor who had expelled Abel from the throne. He claimed that the reason for his rebellion lay in the abandonment of Abel’s role as Emperor.

That abandonment had resulted in the absence of an heir.

“The Chancellor didn’t take an Empress… I believe all the previous Emperors had many consorts and children… and through that process, they choose the next Emperor.”

“That’s how it normally should be. But Abel… or rather, Emperor Vincent has not followed that convention, which led to the rumors of the ‘Black-Haired Crown Princes.’”

“They say that the Chancellor cannot be trusted with the Empire… how foolish.”

“That foolishness, you say?”

Kachua muttered with genuine contempt, her head bowed.

Rem raised an eyebrow at Kachua’s rebellious statement, which seemed more directed at the cause of the war than the anger directed at those who started it.

“Kachua-san, do you evaluate Emperor Vincent?”

“D-Do I seem like I’m evaluating the Emperor? I’m nothing special! …It’s just that in an Empire where the strong dominate, there’s no place for someone like me. …When there’s no fighting, that gap doesn’t exist. So, it was easier.”

“Easier, huh…”

Kachua gingerly laid bare her heart’s thoughts in a halting manner, and Rem couldn’t help but lower her gaze.

Perhaps Abel’s tactics weren’t all that off, as Belstet said he wouldn’t have considered rebellion if it hadn’t been for the matter of succession. The Empire had been at peace long enough that people like Kachua likely weren’t few in number.

When there’s no fighting, fewer people risk their lives.

But the moment fighting began, Kachua’s brother had died, and her fiancé was dragged off to the battlefield. It would be difficult for Kachua to retain a positive view of war even if she was asked to.

And yet —

“Speaking of which, there won’t be a real ‘Crown Prince’ in that annex, right?”

Rem had reached that conclusion even though she doubted whether Abel truly had children.

When Kachua heard Rem’s answer, she asked in a low voice “Why?” while looking up. As Kachua pulled on her jaw, Rem gazed toward the annex.

“The people confined to that annex are ‘Crown Princes’ who claim to have participated in various local rebellions… or at least, that’s what they say.”

“I’ve heard that too, but… what does that mean?”

“Claiming to belong to the Emperor and inciting rebellion only to soon be taken captive — it seems a bit careless, don’t you think?”

It was hard to express that with confidence to Kachua. There were too many unspoken circumstances and information.

The ‘Crown Princes’ were captured from battlefields across the empire, brought in for the sake of verification, and collected in the annex, waiting for their fates.

Rem knew the true image of Abel, the real Emperor, thus she became stricter in observing any child claiming to be his son. At the very least, she couldn’t fathom that they were foolish.

If they were siding with the rebels, they should be cooperating with Abel, who was leading them.

If a father and son were attempting to topple the false Emperor together, then it’s hard to believe any of those “Crown Princes” in the annex were the real deal.

“Of course, I don’t have any concrete proof…”

Rem also didn’t declare her thoughts and impressions as absolute.

Abel isn’t omnipotent either. It was possible he could end up as a prisoner of war due to some mistake. However, losing a battle and ending up as a captive was a different story.

If he’s counted on to the extent he can also predict the potential of being taken captive, then she’d consider revising that belief, but expecting any hidden motives from the “Crown Princes” within the annex was something Rem found hard to take positively.

“You seem rather self-assured… What’s your relationship to the Emperor?”

“—I’ve never met him. I’d presume he would claim the same. That said, I’m certain there are others in the annex who share my opinion.”

“Just pawns being propped up and pretending to be something they’re not? What would be the point of something so presumptuous?”

“That must be a handy excuse for gathering manpower.”

To claim to be the Emperor’s genuine child becomes an unbeatable promotional slogan for those vying for the throne.

From what I’ve heard, instances of usurpation changing the throne in the Volakia Empire don’t seem to have occurred often. However, the reasoning of the Empire doesn’t prohibit the taking of the throne through usurpation.

It could simply be a case of occupying the Imperial Capital, seizing the throne, and decapitating the Emperor to become the next one.

To pull off such a scheme, gathering the necessary manpower would create a prime excuse to elevate the next candidate for Emperor.

Moreover, the “Crown Princes” have never previously been made public. Aside from having black hair and black eyes, no one seems to know anything about them, so it’s essentially first come, first served.

“…What about those who started this rumor?”

“Since they’re supposed to be comrades in rebellion, I guess…”

Contemplating Kachua’s question, Rem thought about those around the captive “Crown Princes.” If they could call themselves comrades, then it wouldn’t end without sacrifices.

There was only one path laid out for those who opposed the Emperor.

“To use and be used, ending in death or capture… foolish ones.”

“Kachua-san…”

“What? Did I say something wrong? Or do you mean that I shouldn’t speak so forcefully despite being a hostage myself? Is it too much to think I’m on the same level as those over there?!”

Her voice trembled in frustration as Kachua’s eyes grew misty with tears.

By denying her relationship with the “Crown Princes,” Kachua might have subconsciously found a common ground with them.

The reason Kachua often curses herself for being such a failure lies in the understanding that being a prisoner impacts her connections — notably the burden on those she holds dear, like her fiancé.

“——”

Understanding that sentiment left Rem at a loss for words.

Disputing would surely invoke accusations of deception, while agreeing may be met with accusations of arrogance. Rem didn’t feel she had made enough progress in shortening the distance between them to unconsciously unravel Kachua’s heart.

Clutching her cane in frustration about what to say to Kachua,

Suddenly —

“—Enough of this chatter, girl.”

“——”

A chilling voice resonated through the room, causing both Rem and Kachua to hold their breath. — No, for Rem, it ended at that, but for Kachua, it wouldn’t end so easily.

Eyes wide with shock, Kachua’s gaze darted toward Rem’s back, directed at the window opening into the courtyard. The voice had entered from that window, implying the person was standing right there.

Kachua was frozen, unable to meet their gaze directly.

“Ah, um…”

“Keep your mouth shut. Don’t pull any tricks before the Dragon. It’s disrespectful.”

A harsh voice snapped at Kachua, who had let out a gasp. Kachua struggled to respond, her throat seized by the grip of fear.

Seeing Kachua’s trembling in silence, Rem bit her lip and turned around.

There stood —

“Madelin.”

“Daughter of the healer, what are you doing here? You are supposed to have a duty. Did you get carried away with the dragon’s absence?”

“I have no intention of doing so.”

Madelin turned a critical gaze toward Rem, and now Rem felt the weight of that pressure. However, she faced Madelin directly to shield Kachua with her gaze.

Outside in the courtyard stood a girl with a petite figure in a cute outfit, notable for the two black horns growing from her head — Madelin Eshault.

One of the “Nine Divine Generals,” she was the one who had brought Rem to this residence. Having left the mansion numerous times at the behest of Belstet and Vincent, Rem was surprised to see her return.

But it wasn’t her arrival that surprised her — it was her shocking appearance.

Standing boldly in the courtyard, Madelin was drenched in dark blood.

“That blood… are you hurt?”

“Don’t divert the topic. The dragon told you to heal that man.”

“I’m not trying to change the subject. Flopp’s injuries are being treated properly, but the real question is why you’re covered in blood…”

“—It’s not the dragon’s blood. This is blood from my enemies.”

Madelin made a face, irritated by Rem’s questions, and tugged at her clothes. The sound of crackling came from the dried blood clinging to her skin.

Seeing that sheer volume of blood, and hearing it referred to as ‘blood from my enemies’ left Rem breathless. Just how many people had she hurt or how had she done it to soak in that amount of blood?

“Have you been fighting?”

“Fighting is only for those whom I acknowledge as equals. Do you think there are beings that stand beside a dragon? What the dragon has done is hunting. A tedious hunt under certain restraints.”

“Restraints…?”

“Those with black hair are to be spared. All others are to be killed.”

Rem found herself speechless at Madelin’s straightforward manner of speaking.

However, she understood that she bore the responsibility for collecting the “Crown Princes” bound in the annex.

The order to secure the “Crown Princes” must come from Belstet.

From the very purposes of the rebellion he started, if Abel did indeed have hidden children, the fundamental reason would be completely negated.

Whether Belstet feared or welcomed that outcome, Rem could not ascertain.

But she could envision —

“If he’s not calling to kill them but instead to capture them,”

Then if a true “Crown Prince” were ever found, it would seem that old man would die satisfied.

That thought sent chills down Rem’s spine.

Regardless, —

“Is that why you returned, to place another ‘Crown Prince’ in the annex? Or did you come to check if I was slacking off as Flopp’s healer?”

“Does the dragon have any reason to chat with you? Don’t get cocky. Even without you, there are plenty of healers in the Imperial Capital…”

“That healer, do they keep quiet? If the Chancellor hasn’t left one behind, finding one would be quite difficult.”

“—Don’t get cocky.”

Rem didn’t mean to come off as forceful, yet her reply brimmed with energy. Madelin, seemingly offended by Rem’s retort, stepped closer to the window, narrowing her golden pupils.

An icy and menacing presence made Rem shrink ever so slightly as Madelin stated with a voice devoid of emotion,

“Don’t look at the dragon with such vulgar eyes, girl. —Whatever you scheme will be pointless.”

“I don’t think it’s pointless to make any plans, no matter what the situation.”

“That’s not what I’m saying. When it comes to planning, there won’t be any time to follow through.”

“No time?”

Tilting her head, Rem narrowed her eyes, trying to grasp Madelin’s true intentions.

However, the meaning didn’t need any digging to unveil. Although Madelin must hate Rem, perhaps it was part of her pride and way of life as a dragon that she detested dishonesty or misrepresentation.

Therefore, she was straightforward enough to clarify the intent behind her words.

She declared plainly,

“There will soon be a chance to settle things with those who defy the Emperor. That’s why the dragon was summoned back. — Your role ends there.”

△▼△▼△▼△

With those words that felt utterly despairing, Madelin left the garden.

She did not head straight to Flopp’s room but instead would perhaps take a bath and change clothes before visiting him.

That itself would surely please Flopp, and as long as he was unharmed, Rem had no reason to stop her.

However —

“——The decisive battle with the Rebel Army.”

“W-Well, she didn’t mention where… but…”

“——”

Biting her nails, Kachua shared Rem’s unease while looking out the window for Madelin’s departure.

The anxiety Kachua harbored related to the decisive battle between the Imperial Army and Rebel Army — the time and place of it all.

It felt imminent, as Madelin’s words hinted at signs. Yet where was it to occur? Was a suitable place arranged for a full showdown?

With traitors rising up across the Empire, battles speckling the landscape, if preparations were to eradicate them all at once, then —

“…Seriously, what idiots. You’re all idiots, big idiots!”

“Kachua-san…”

“The enemies are the ‘Nine Divine Generals,’ cold-hearted dragon people! And they’re acting so reckless. If they want to mess with danger, then they can go die by themselves!”

Turning her anticipatory worries into insistent irritation, Kachua reprimanded Rem in a tearful voice.

Unlike Rem, who had already reached some degree of resolution, Kachua was being stretched thin. In truth, had she not intervened at that moment, her life may not have been extinguished, but Madelin’s wrath could easily have harmed Rem.

“I’m really sorry and thank you. However, I couldn’t just sit still while they insult you, Kachua-san…”

“I couldn’t care less! I’ve heard it all before! Yet they’re still acting like idiots…”

“To be accustomed to hearing insults is nonsensical. So, even if I hear it again, I’ll find myself arguing back at the same moment.”

Listening to Kachua denigrate herself didn’t feel good to Rem. Still, there was certainly a good, profound reason behind Kachua’s self-doubt. Nevertheless, the blades others direct at others’ feelings are unbearable to observe.

—How selfish she thought to turn back to herself.

“That’s exactly why I…”

Even aware of her selfishness, Rem wanted to avoid falling silent.

At such a precise moment, Kachua blinked repeatedly, gasping her mouth open and closed as she glared at Rem with teary eyes.

Then she snapped back, her voice shaking,

“I-I don’t care about you! I-I’m done. I’ll stop! I’ll say we’re not friends…!”

“No, whether you want to stop or not, it should still be up to me to decide. You can’t just say no.”

“There’s no way it’s that one-sided!”

Kachua retaliated, her throat twitching as she spoke. Rem, unable to suppress a faint smile, sensed her model of hardening in her chest gently soften.

At the same time, Rem thought,

—If the decisive battle that Madelin spoke of is drawing near.

“What can I do?”

What could such an empty self possibly resonate with?

That was the only thought that continued to cause turmoil within Rem’s heart.