By Zephyria 
How could I possibly describe the instinctive revulsion and disgust I felt the moment my wrist was seized? Allen’s grip—or rather, the grip of ‘what had been Allen’—who was usually Setting to be so delicate that a mere touch could send him flying, was so firm that no matter how violently I struggled, it wouldn’t budge even slightly. The temperature of the hand that bound my wrist like a shackle was as cold as ice. It was impossible to even compare it to the chill of the marble floor against my bare feet. It was as if it were a corpse…
“Let go… let go! Can’t you let go of this right now?”
The moment that thought struck me, the sensation that was already unbearable surged up like madness. I was retching even without trying. I didn’t even have the wherewithal to worry about how I would explain it if others came running at the sound of my voice. I would rather someone came. It was a horrifying, truly, horrifying fear.
How could the others possibly see this state and think he was just sleeping peacefully without any problems? How could they possibly see this, this terrible situation, as nothing more than a cute ghost prank…!
Noah.
My thoughts stopped. The lump of flesh, no different from a corpse, called my name again, as if whispering. The voice was still gentle. It called my name repeatedly, as if pleased, and extended only the thumb of the hand that firmly gripped my wrist, gently stroking the back of my hand, which was covered in goosebumps.
So, you came to see me after all, I’m glad.
“Let go, please, please let go, let go, I’m begging you…!”
I begged it desperately, retching and gagging from the physiological nausea.
You’re being too harsh. It’s been quite a while since we’ve met like this…
“Keuheuk, euk, euk…….”
Its voice seemed very similar to Allen’s, and yet also very different. As if layering harmonies, someone’s voice, deep and dark as an abyss, lurked beneath Allen’s thin voice.
Ah, I see. As expected, it seems the human mind can’t withstand facing its own corpse without any defenses.
It didn’t matter what facts I had come to find out, what I had come to confirm. All that mattered was that this cold temperature in front of me, gripping my wrist, was unbearably horrifying and disgusting.
I have no choice. Even if it puts some strain on the world, it would be better to hurry the restoration.
“I was wrong, I was wrong, so… please let go. Let go…….”
I warned you, Noah.
Until the restoration is complete, don’t even think about loitering near this.
Why are you always so troublesome, never listening to me?
Always…….
Somewhere, I thought I heard the terrible scream of the corner of the world collapsing without form. A storm of darkness swallowed a village of dozens of people and devoured a city of thousands in an instant. Some horrific destruction, happening right now, already confirmed, struck my brain directly, not my eyes. My head ached. My eyeballs throbbed as if they would fall out.
“It’s because of me…, it’s because of me…….”
I babbled like a madman, not even knowing what I was saying, and shed tears of unworthiness.
Yes, that’s right. It’s all because of you.
The voice was still gentle.
But I’m so glad, I’m so happy to be able to touch you again like this.
The grip of the lump of flesh holding my wrist instantly warmed. The shapes of the face, which had been split into pieces, found their places in the blink of an eye. Gradually, the terrible fear began to be erased…, and the vivid sense of reality was peacefully crushed beyond a hazy filter.
‘System’ is □anxious □□□ con□□□ about you.
The System’s broken text also returned to its normal state as if nothing had happened. After being completely surrounded by feigned peace and false warmth, I would eventually forget everything again. Even the sense of betrayal towards it that I had been feeling ever since I heard about the System’s identity from the Spirit was already fading like a dream. No. I can’t be fooled again, stupidly. What should I remember? What should I remember to safely deceive it?
The palm of the corpse, transforming warmly. Allen’s beautiful face, more than half restored. The System’s guidance message, regaining the form of language.
Just before my perception was completely subjugated to it. I racked my brain like crazy.
“Ah…….”
Remember. You must remember, Noah Hamilton.
‘System’ is saddened that it cannot wipe away your tears directly.
( ᵒ̴̶̷̥́ ᯅᵒ̴̶̷̣̥̀ )
If you want to die……. Graham’s black lake.
*
“Good morning, Young Master!”
“Mmm, did Nicole sleep well too?”
Swish. As Nicole opened the thick curtains that had been covering the window, warm sunlight poured into the room in a rush. It was dazzling, but it didn’t feel unpleasant. When I didn’t get up from my seat, lazily yawning, Nicole, as if she expected it, wrinkled her nose and carefully wiped my face with a towel soaked in the washbasin she had brought. The fragrant scent of rosewater seemed to slowly awaken the nerves that had been lying loosely.
Carlisle had been scratching at the door past midnight again yesterday, so I was too tired because I fell asleep late. I wanted to sleep a few more hours as I was……. I had to have breakfast with the Crown Prince, so I couldn’t, right?
As a compromise, I would get up for now, have a simple breakfast, and then come right back up and fall asleep again. I was burning with determination to do so when Nicole chattered in a delighted voice.
“Oh, did you hear? Young Master Allen woke up last night! We can finally go back to the capital!”
“What. Just yesterday, everyone was saying he was possessed by a ghost or something. Too bad they couldn’t call a priest?”
“Huh? A ghost, what are you talking about?”
“Huh?”
What were we just talking about? Nicole and I stared at each other for a moment, blinking.
‘System’ toasts to your journey to finally return to the capital!
“Ah. We can finally go back.”
“That’s right. It was nice when we first came, but I’m tired of His Highness the Crown Prince and Little Duke Graham constantly fighting. Ugh, I want to go home quickly.”
I don’t remember it well, but anyway, it probably wasn’t a very important story.
“By the way, it’s good that Young Master Allen woke up, but it seems like a lot of ominous things happened here and there last night. His Highness the Crown Prince received a report and has been waiting since earlier, saying he has to leave for the capital right away.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know. Demon beasts appeared here and there in the border regions, suddenly contact was lost, and so on…….”
My head throbbed for a moment. Something important, I felt like I was about to remember…….
‘System’ is happily cheering for your peaceful settlement in the world!
٩(๑ᵒ̴̶̷͈̀ ᗜ ᵒ̴̶̷͈́)و ̑̑ ✧
Ah. That was it. I wondered why I felt strange.
“That’s strange…….”
“What is it, Young Master?”
Originally, the story of the Empire’s border regions being swept up in various inexplicable chaos was supposed to come out only in the later part of the game. Allen’s appearance was brought forward much earlier, but as far as absolute time was concerned, it was still the early part……. Already? Well. It didn’t make sense for the world to be perfectly aligned according to the original story now. If that were the case, the problem started with Allen suddenly appearing at the mansion early. Let’s not worry too much about the trivial things.
“It’s nothing. His Highness the Crown Prince is waiting, so let’s get dressed quickly.”
“Yes!”
The light sky-blue shirt and navy-blue pants that Nicole brought were perfect for the humid Bartolo weather. Even though I hurriedly changed clothes and left without any special adornment, the Crown Prince, who was waiting for me in front of the door, kept saying frivolous things like he would hesitate to leave me alone if I was this pretty from the morning, or wouldn’t it be okay to go to the Imperial Palace together as I was, before quickly disappearing with his subordinates, as if it was a time he could no longer postpone. It seemed that since Lennox took office as Magic Tower Lord, the quantity and quality of magical tools produced by the tower had been increasing so rapidly that it was incomparable to before.
My plan to send the Crown Prince off and go back in to sleep was completely ruined by Andrew and Carlisle, who chased after me in a hurry. The two, who were so well-matched only at times like this, took me on either side as if they had promised to do so, saying that I should have breakfast before sleeping, and went downstairs.
“Brother Noah!”
“Allen.”
As soon as I went down the stairs, I ran into an unlucky face.
“I’m really, really sorry……. I didn’t mean to do it on purpose. I just, I wanted to be loved like Brother…, even if it was just once…, even if it was a lie, like Brother……. That’s why I did it. I’m sorry for daring to covet Brother’s things and deceiving the Little Duke.”
Allen’s appearance, with his pale complexion, parched body, and tears falling in drops as he sobbed, was pitiful even to me. What should I do with this? If I used a skill, it wouldn’t even be a problem to cry even more pitifully than that…….
Before acting, I first surveyed the faces of the audience watching this stage. The servants guarding the surroundings and glanced at the confrontation between me and Allen with expressions mixed with half interest and half worry. Countess, who seemed to be heartbroken by Allen’s appearance, only dabbed at her tears with a handkerchief, and Father, who was guarding Countess’s side, subtly gestured for me to stop and accept the apology.
Hmm……, good. Then.
“What are you talking about, Allen!”
I quickly stepped down the remaining two or so stairs and pulled Allen, still in his nightclothes, into my arms. I called Allen’s name in an exaggerated voice.
“You are already loved enough by everyone!”
It would be difficult to make a more artificial and theatrical voice than this.
“Starting with me, I love my wonderful brother so deeply in my heart, you know?”
“…Brother.”
“You don’t have to apologize. Carlisle has also decided to understand. Right?”
Carlisle nodded obediently without opposing my will. For some reason, Father seemed to gasp as he watched Carlisle nod obediently, but I didn’t care much.
“Don’t be sorry. It’s really okay.”
It wasn’t a lie. I didn’t intend to accept the apology anyway.
“…I’m just grateful that you’re so understanding.”
Allen’s voice was somehow strangely subdued. I smiled brightly, still holding his body tightly in my arms.
Carlisle had returned, and I had safely prevented Allen from gaining the Spirit’s power. Hmm, at this point, I had achieved all the goals of bringing all these people to Bartolo! For the first time in a long time, my heart was light without a single worry!