Chapter 1: Rio and Miharu
It was the evening of the same day Rio defeated the golem. Miharu had entered the world of dreams. She had come to confront Lina, who had possessed her body without her knowledge and kissed Rio.
It was a pure white space. Although Lina wasn't visible, she could communicate with her.
Miharu condemned Lina, but Lina turned the question back on her:
"Who do you really like? Amakawa Haruto or Rio? Which one?"
"…"
Miharu was left stunned, as if she had been slapped out of nowhere.
"What's wrong? Can't you answer?"
Lina's calm voice echoed through the space as Miharu stood there speechless.
"W-Why are you asking me that all of a sudden…?"
Miharu's voice wavered as she tried to speak.
She was clearly shaken.
Still, Miharu had once pondered the very same question herself.
Yes, around the time of the evening banquet in the Galarc Kingdom, just after Miharu learned that Rio's previous life was Amakawa Haruto.
At that moment, Miharu came to a decision.
That is to say―――,
"At the evening banquet in the Galarc Kingdom, you told Sendou Takahisa, didn't you? That you love both. Both Amakawa Haruto and the Rio who now lives in this world, you said you love them both."
("Yes, both. I think I like them both. I love Haru-kun from before his rebirth, and I also love the Haruto-san of now. I fell in love with the same person twice.")
Those were the words Miharu told Takahisa directly when she was nearly taken away from the Galarc Kingdom. It's only natural that Lina, who possesses the power to foresee the future, would know this.
"…You even know about that?"
Miharu's face clouded with bitterness.
"Of course. It's about the person you reincarnated with, after all."
Lina spoke nonchalantly and then posed a rather malicious question:
"So, why couldn't you answer immediately this time?"
"…Yes."
"Really?"
"That's because you suddenly asked me who I liked more…"
"So, does that mean your feelings haven't changed since then?"
After a slight pause, Miharu nodded.
"…It's true. That's really how I feel."
Miharu placed her hand on her chest, as if confirming her feelings. She loves both Rio and Amakawa Haruto. There should be no change in that feeling. However, why was Miharu so shaken by a problem she had already resolved once?
Lina, in a voice dripping with suspicion, immediately replied:
"It seems to me you still have doubts, though."
Lina pointed out with skepticism.
"…That's not true."
Miharu denied it with a firm voice, shaking her head.
"Then let me change the question. If Amakawa Haruto were to appear in this world right now, which would you choose, Amakawa Haruto or Rio?"
"That's hypothetical… Haru-kun died and became the Haruto-san of now..."
"Then here's another question. If you could return to Earth before Amakawa Haruto died, would you? Would you leave Rio behind and return to Earth?"
"T-That's… but that's also a hypothetical situation…"
In the end, Lina was merely rephrasing the question of choosing between Amakawa Haruto and Rio. Yet, being serious-minded, Miharu hesitated to answer each of these questions, even as she began to contemplate them.
"Realistically speaking, whether it's possible or not, it's not impossible."
"…Can we really return? To Japan, I mean..."
Miharu blinked in surprise.
"If you were summoned to this world, it wouldn't be strange to send you back to the original one, would it? Though it's more difficult than finding a single jewel in a vast desert."
"But to return to Earth, before Haru-kun died…"
"Did you forget? You wandered into this world four years before Amakawa Haruto died. If you could return to Earth right now, don't you think it would be to the time before Amakawa Haruto's death? It hasn't even been a year since you came to this world."
"That's true, but if you put it that way, why did Haru-kun, who should have died later on Earth, arrive in this world before me…"
Miharu's face showed confusion. Ayase Miharu wandered into this world four years before Amakawa Haruto died on Earth. Yet, nine years before Miharu arrived in this world, Rio had already awakened with the memories of Amakawa Haruto.
"If we get into the timeline, the conversation will stray off-topic. For now, answer my question. If you could return to Earth before Amakawa Haruto's death, which would you choose?"
In other words, would she stay in this world and live with Rio, or return to Earth and reunite with Amakawa Haruto?
Miharu opened her mouth as if to say something but then fell silent.
"So, you really can't give an immediate answer. You can't choose between—Amakawa Haruto or Rio."
"Th-that's because Haruto-san's previous life was Haru-kun… I can't think of them as different people…"
"But deep down, you already know, don't you?"
"...Know what?"
Lina's voice echoed clearly in the white space.
"That Rio can never be Amakawa Haruto. They are two different people."
"..."
Miharu couldn't deny Lina's words and looked down heavily.
"You fell in love with both Amakawa Haruto and Rio. There's no contradiction in that, and you're not lying about your feelings. But ever since that evening banquet, you've been stuck there. That's why you can't choose between the two."
Lina's words pierced Miharu's heart, as if digging deeper and deeper with a sharp sword. Then,
"That's also why your relationship with him hasn't progressed," Lina stated bluntly.
"...!"
Miharu's body trembled.
"Do you realize that saying you love both Rio and Amakawa Haruto is basically like openly admitting you're two-timing?" Lina's words struck a painful chord in Miharu's heart.
"T-that's not…! I would never…!"
Miharu, her face drained of color, tried to deny it. But―――
"It's not wrong, is it? Even when the time comes to choose between them, you can't seem to pick."
Lina pressed on.
"But Haruto-san has Haru-kun's memories. Haruto-san is still the reincarnation of Haru-kun…"
Miharu's voice grew weaker as she tried to defend herself.
"Still, Rio was born and raised as Rio. Rio can't be anyone other than Rio, even though he carries Amakawa Haruto's memories and has been influenced by them. Rio himself has told you that, hasn't he?"
"..."
Miharu was at a loss for words.
"While you're thinking of Amakawa Haruto, you're also thinking of Rio. From Rio's perspective, it's quite bothersome. He's constantly being weighed against another man."
A deep shadow of guilt flickered in Miharu's eyes.
"If the order had been reversed… If Amakawa Haruto wasn't involved and you had fallen for Rio from the start, you could have confidently chosen him. And perhaps, the future would have been different from what it is now."
"A different future…?"
"...What?"
"There could've been a future where you didn't know about Rio's previous life, yet you fell in love with him. In that future, Rio would have fallen for you too. He would've confessed his feelings to you."
Miharu's eyes widened in disbelief as she tried to process Lina's words.
"Rio would have chosen you, and only you, and confessed his love. At that very same evening banquet."
"That's… a lie…"
Miharu gasped, astonished by the possibility of such a future.
"It's not a lie. Although, in that future, you would have been forcibly taken to the Centostella Kingdom by Takahisa. But even if you and Rio had been separated, would that future have been better for you than now?"
After all, in that future, you might have had Rio's heart all to yourself――― Lina said, showing a wicked smile.
Lina asked with a sly smile, hinting that Miharu might have had Rio's heart all to herself in that future.
"..."
Miharu couldn't say a word. Then—
"You can't even decide on that, can you?"
Lina's voice echoed through the space, dripping with contempt.
"Ugh..."
Miharu's body trembled slightly.
"Unfortunately, I can't rely on such an indecisive woman. Rio probably won't rely on you either, but are you planning to keep waffling like this? Waiting endlessly, hoping Rio might eventually turn his gaze toward you?"
"That's not..."
"Well, if I can't rely on you, I'll just turn to the more capable ones. Aishia, Sora, Celia, for example. All you need to do is lend me your body while you're asleep. You can stay on the sidelines as always. But don't expect any future where you end up with Rio will come your way."
Lina continued, coldly dismissing Miharu. And then—
"Is that all? I don't have anything more to say to you, and I'd like to end this conversation."
She was about to abruptly cut off the dream conversation.
"W-Wait!"
Miharu shouted hastily.
"What?"
"Don't end this on your own! I… I'm serious. I'm truly in love with Haruto-san."
Miharu declared strongly to Lina, whose whereabouts were unknown.
"So, what?"
Lina's response was indifferent, as if she was still pushing Miharu away, but—
"I'm not indecisive. I don't know what you're trying to do, but I also want to become someone Haruto-san can rely on. I want to help him. I'll do whatever it takes. I don't want to be left on the sidelines."
Miharu was unflinching.
It was rare for her, but she asserted herself clearly.
"Fine. Then I'll give you a chance. You have control over your own body. I can only possess you when you're asleep. I can't communicate with you when you're awake, so it would be helpful if I could rely on you."
"Are you going to make me do something?"
"No. I'll just watch. Unfortunately, I can't trust you just based on words alone, so show me through your actions. Show me that you can be relied on."
Lina's voice lifted with a hint of amusement.
"...Understood."
Miharu's response was quiet but filled with determination. However—
"Just don't flounder and end up being a burden to him, okay?"
"I-I understand."
Miharu replied, feeling a bit irritated by Lina's teasing warning.
◇ ◇ ◇
Meanwhile, as Miharu was conversing with Lina in the dream world…
In the bedroom of Rio's mansion at Galarc Kingdom, in the real world, Lina was using Miharu's body to converse with Rio. Using a magic item in the form of an earring, she had transformed into her past self.
Rio had no idea that while he was talking to Lina, she was also communicating with Miharu in the spirit world as she slept.
Regardless, Lina used Miharu's body to push Rio down onto the bed and straddled him, offering three pieces of advice.
—First, Rio's decision to search the Almada Holy Kingdom's labyrinth for clues from a thousand years ago was misguided. He should be searching elsewhere.
—Second, he needed to create more familiars besides Sora. If he didn't, he might regret it in the future.
And third—
"I believe the first person you should make into a familiar besides Sora is Christina Beltrum."
This advice was utterly unacceptable to Rio.
Which is why—
"…"
A long silence fell.
"So? Will you choose Christina Beltrum as your familiar?"
Lina, still straddling Rio, smiled seductively.
"...That's impossible."
Rio rejected her suggestion.
"Why?"
"She has her position as the First Princess of the Beltrum Kingdom. She's someone who must shoulder the future of the Restoration organization and the kingdom."
A familiar is the servant of a transcendental being. The moment someone becomes a familiar, they transcend the laws of the world and become a being forgotten by society. Thus, there was no way Rio could make Christina a familiar, and he firmly rejected the idea. However—
"You're right."
Lina agreed without hesitation.
(Then why did you even suggest making her a familiar?)
Rio was puzzled. He didn't expect an answer, but still—
"Would you tell me the reason…?"
He asked just in case.
"Unfortunately, no. I can't risk saying too much and causing unforeseen consequences for the future."
"I see…"
"You know this is just advice, right? The decision is yours. Take it with a grain of salt but consider it seriously."
"…"
"For now, just keep it in mind. Of course, the sooner you decide, the better."
Seeing Rio's grim expression, Lina smiled sweetly.
(She's giving me time to think. But even so…)
There was nothing to think about. Making Christina a familiar was out of the question. In fact, making anyone a familiar was impossible for him. Rio's strong aversion to the idea solidified even more.
"By the way, you should be able to have up to six familiars. Besides Sora and Christina, you can still create four more."
"...I thought a transcendental could only create up to three familiars?"
Rio widened his eyes in surprise, as this contradicted what he had heard from Sora.
"Your divine nature as the former Dragon King, combined with the divinity I entrusted to Aishia, means you currently possess the power of two transcendental beings. You should be able to create familiars for both."
"I see…"
Rio nodded in understanding, but—
(She's not seriously telling me to create a full set of familiars, is she…?)
His wariness intensified. Being told to create even one more familiar already filled him with dread. The idea of creating five familiars, aside from Sora, was entirely out of the question.
"As for the other four, we'll discuss them later. For now, just consider Christina."
It was as if Lina could see through Rio's thoughts.
"…"
Rio remained silent, unable to answer with a "yes" or "no."
"That aside, you retrieved the golem's core, didn't you? Hand it over."
Lina casually changed the topic, seemingly done with the familiar discussion.
"...《Discharge》."
With a soft sigh, Rio cleared his thoughts and used his spatial storage ability. The air distorted, and two transparent spheres, each about several dozen centimeters in diameter, appeared in his hands.
"Thank you. I'll hold onto them. 《Storage Magic》."
With Lina's chant, the air warped once more, and the two spheres disappeared from Rio's hands.
"...You don't have spatial storage, do you?"
Rio asked in astonishment.
"No, I'm just recreating the effect with magic."
Lina explained casually, but—
"I see…"
Rio's surprise was palpable. The magic sealed within spatial storage was of an extremely high level. As far as Rio knew, there was no established method to replicate it with regular magic. The fact that Lina could do so effortlessly confirmed that her past as a Wise God was no mere title.
"...But isn't Miharu-san a spirit caster?"
Rio swallowed his amazement and voiced the delayed question. A spirit caster, once they internalized a magic spell's formula, could no longer use spirit arts unless they removed the formula from their body.
Since Miharu had trained as a spirit caster, she shouldn't be able to use magic. Given that she shared the same body, this principle should also apply to Lina. However—
"That's why I had her become a mage," Lina said, overturning that assumption.
"Did she make a magic contract? When did this happen…?"
"In the past few days. While she was sleeping."
"...Does Miharu-san know about this?"
"She probably hasn't noticed yet. I could explain it, but it's a hassle, so you can do it for me."
Lina spoke nonchalantly.
"Can you communicate with Miharu-san?"
"Only while she's asleep, in the spiritual world. I'm just a shadow of Ayase Miharu, so I can only come out when she's asleep."
"I see…"
"Don't expect me to always come out. In fact, I intend to minimize my interactions with you all, so keep that in mind. I'll come to talk when necessary."
Just like now—Lina smiled softly.
"Why is that?"
"First of all, it's incredibly inefficient. Miharu has a lot of magical power, but if I remain active like this all the time, her magic will eventually run out. While I'm active, Miharu's body isn't resting, and even without that, this state puts a significant burden on her."
"I see…"
Rio didn't want Miharu to suffer the consequences after Lina stopped her activity, as it would place a heavy toll on her.
"Also, I don't want to be relied on too much and dragged into the spotlight. There are many things I can't answer, and I don't want to risk changing the future. Transcendentals aren't meant to actively engage with the human world anyway. So, please explain it to others smoothly."
"We're not meant to actively engage with the human world. Yes, I understand."
Rio took Lina's words seriously, nodding solemnly. Then—
"...You really are serious, aren't you? Even though you're supposed to be a different person, in that regard, you're just like the Dragon King from a thousand years ago."
Lina gazed down at Rio nostalgically with a soft smile.
"Am I…?"
Rio tilted his head slightly in confusion, looking perplexed.
"Yes. But you, at least, should fully enjoy the present moment. Here in this barrier, you're not the Dragon King; you're Rio. You have the right to live as Rio. Ayase Miharu, too, will behave as herself, not as someone connected to me."
Lina spoke lightly, bringing Miharu into the conversation to assure Rio he could act as himself without hesitation.
"Understood."
Rio nodded with a slight, amused smile.
"By the way, is there anything you want to ask while you have this chance? Considering it's you, I'll answer anything that won't affect the future too much."
"Did you recover the golem cores with the intention of reusing them?"
Though this question could influence the future, Rio wanted to gauge how much he could ask in their conversations moving forward. Sensing his intention—
"They're protected, so it will take time, but eventually, yes."
Lina answered with a satisfied smile.
"Who activated the golem?"
"Knowing that now would cause a significant divergence in the future. So, it's a secret."
Although the question was about a past event, Lina determined it could affect the future and chose not to answer, likely because it would lead to a future different from what she considered ideal.
"I understand."
Rio wanted to know but accepted Lina's reasoning, restraining himself. Then—
"…Is there a way to remove the Great Spirit from the Heroes?"
He posed another question.
"Unfortunately, no. A spirit covenant binds a human and spirit at a near soul-fusion level. Once it's made, there's no way to break it unless the contractor dies."
"I see. Then, one more question. Can the masks be mass-produced?"
This was a rare opportunity. Rio continued to voice every question that came to mind. Of course, by "masks," he was referring to those used to offset the rules of transcendental beings. Having used up some during the battle with the golem, there were now only two left in usable condition.
"Since processing the materials is difficult, mass production isn't possible right away. So, for now, make do with these. They're spares from a thousand years ago. 《Release Magic (Discharge)》."
As Lina recited the spell, five new masks appeared. They gently fell onto the soft bed.
"Thank you."
"No need for thanks. I'm getting help from you, after all."
"Well, that's good to hear… By the way, I heard from Celia that you have a workshop under the Galarc Kingdom castle. When did that happen?"
"I prepared it after the Divine-Demon War ended. I foresaw that the Galarc Kingdom would be established here. I also knew about this golem attack."
"I heard you suffered a fatal wound during the Divine-Demon War…"
"You survived?" Rio asked, curious about what happened back then.
"I was mortally wounded and couldn't avoid death, so I applied every possible life-extension treatment to prepare for the future. Even so, there wasn't enough time, so I couldn't accomplish much."
"What kind of facility is underground?"
"There's a space for controlling the barrier, some living quarters, a lab, and a storage area. I can take you there sometime if you'd like. I was planning to bring Celia anyway, and I'll eventually let you all come and go freely."
"…Thank you. Should I inform King Francois? He's probably curious about what's beneath his castle."
"Yes, tell him there's no need for concern. The facility is so deep underground that it won't affect the castle's foundations at all. And no one can enter without my permission."
"…Understood."
"So, do you have any other questions? I've been generous this time, but I might set limits going forward."
"But you already know what I'm going to ask, right?"
Given that Lina once had the power to foresee the future, it wouldn't be surprising if she already knew how this conversation would go.
"The answer is yes. I already knew what you would ask during this conversation."
Lina nodded with a confident smile.
"I see…"
"Do you think it's pointless or unsettling to have a conversation when I already know what's going to happen?"
Knowing what would happen and deliberately choosing not to interfere could indeed seem eerie. It wouldn't be strange if some of the other transcendental beings found Lina unnerving. But—
"...No."
After briefly widening his eyes, Rio shook his head with a soft smile.
"Why?"
"I think the weight and understanding of information are completely different when you come to it through your own questions versus when it's simply handed to you."
"That's an excellent point. The fact that you're thinking and engaging in this conversation has meaning."
Lina spoke with a pleased expression, almost as if she were praising a talented student. Then she added—
"Besides, the future changes even with the smallest things. Especially in a conversation, the details can easily shift. Sometimes, it leads to outcomes even I don't know."
"Even though you can foresee the future?"
Rio's eyes widened in surprise.
"The amount of information about the future is overwhelming. Since it branches infinitely, lower-probability futures are deprioritized, and some details get lost."
"I see…"
"When changes occur that shouldn't have existed in the first place, it's not uncommon to end up in a future with a probability of zero. That's when conversations take an unexpected turn. Conversations can be fun in that way, but events aren't as easy to enjoy."
Lina sighed wearily.
"So, you don't want to cause changes that could alter the future?"
"Exactly. I wouldn't know how things would change. That's why I prefer not to interfere. Even if I know a problem is coming, I'll often choose to watch and only take action after it happens, unless the situation is truly exceptional."
Though it wasn't clear what Lina considered a "special case," she smiled with a cruel air.
"...Understood. Even though you knew, I'll be careful not to think, 'Why didn't you stop it?'"
Even though he likely wanted to say, "If you knew, then tell me," Rio smiled as he spoke.
"…Humans can't always come to terms with things, even when they know. It's not as easy as it sounds. In that way, you're just like the Dragon King."
What kind of relationship did Lina, and the Dragon King have in the past? Lina looked down at Rio, as if lost in thought, perhaps recalling something from those memories. But she swallowed those feelings, sealing her lips, and then—
"I also know where Sendou Takahisa is. But I won't tell you. No, I won't *give* you that information."
She said this with a slightly teasing, almost pouting tone.
"I was just about to ask that…"
"I know."
"Of course…"
Rio gave a wry smile.
"Worrying about a man like that… You're too kind. Even though you've been the target of jealousy and harassment because of him."
Lina let out an exaggerated sigh as if to say, "Do you really owe him that?"
"Aki-chan and Masato care about him deeply. And he's a friend of Miharu-san and Satsuki-san."
"...I see. Then I'll tell you what I can, as long as it doesn't affect the future. He's fine. He eloped with a prostitute's daughter, and they're doing well."
"...I see."
"They'll probably reunite at some point in the future, so let everyone know that so they can be at ease."
"...Understood."
At the very least, knowing he was safe was something. Rio nodded deeply.
"Now, it's time to set a limit on the number of questions. This will be the last time I answer without conditions. Your next question will likely lead to other topics, so we'll include those as well."
"...Understood. If I had to pursue something, it would be about how those summoned from Earth could return there."
"Summoning people and sending them back require completely different calculations—coordinates, time axes, and all sorts of other variables. There are uncertainties, so I can't give you a definite answer, but if I started the calculations right now and you were lucky, you might return to Earth while still alive."
"...Then, can you begin those calculations?"
"I thought you'd ask, so I already have."
Lina said it matter-of-factly.
"…Thank you."
Rio expressed his gratitude, looking a bit surprised and pleased, but—
"It's too early to thank me. If you're unlucky, you won't make it back before you die. Don't get your hopes up until it's certain you can return."
"Yes, you're right… I understand."
Rio tightened his lips in acknowledgment, but—
"However, I also have some future-related information regarding this. It's about events on Earth."
"Of course. You have the memories of Amakawa Haruto, who lived on Earth until four years after Miharu and the others were summoned to this world."
"Before Amakawa Haruto died, he met his biological mother. When he asked her about Aki-chan, she told him that she was doing well…"
"Oh, is that so? And?"
Lina reacted as if this were new information and prompted Rio to continue.
"Of course, there's a possibility that Amakawa Haruto's mother was lying, but it made me think that perhaps, in the near future, the calculations might luckily be completed."
As he said this, Rio watched Lina's reaction.
"I can't tell you when the calculations will be completed."
Lina smiled while making it clear she wouldn't give away that detail.
"I understand. I'm not trying to pry or challenge you."
He knew he wouldn't win even if he tried. After talking with her, that realization had become even stronger.
"Is that so? I'm always open to a challenge, though."
"What I'm curious about is how the timeline seems out of order. How do the memories of Amakawa Haruto, who died on Earth, exist in my body, which was born here before Miharu-san and the others were transferred? It's puzzling…"
This was something Rio had wondered about ever since meeting Miharu and the others.
"If I explained it properly, it'd end up as a long and complicated thesis, you know?"
"That's… true, I suppose…"
What Rio really wanted to know was if there was some reason or intention beyond the logical explanation. He couldn't quite put that into words, though—
"It was not a coincidence."
Lina said this with a smile, as if she saw through everything.
"Huh?"
"Amakawa Haruto being chosen as the reincarnation of the Dragon King, me being reincarnated as Ayase Miharu, and you being born into this world before Ayase Miharu got lost here—all of it was a necessity I orchestrated after foreseeing the future."
"I see. As I thought..."
Rio had suspected this after talking with Aishia following his acquisition of the Dragon King's power but hearing it directly from Lina made him involuntarily groan.
"Everything happened because it needed to. But don't misunderstand—Amakawa Haruto and Ayase Miharu would have been born even if the Dragon King and I had not reincarnated. And in any possible future, Ayase Miharu was destined to get caught up in the Hero Summoning and end up lost in this world. It was also fated that Amakawa Haruto would die in a traffic accident at the age of twenty. That was the original future, the destiny that should have been."
Lina spoke of the fates of Amakawa Haruto and Ayase Miharu as they would have unfolded if the Dragon King and Lina had not reincarnated. Then—
"Now you understand, don't you? By reincarnating, the Dragon King and I changed the futures of Amakawa Haruto, Rio, and Ayase Miharu. If the Dragon King hadn't reincarnated, Amakawa Haruto's life would have ended in that traffic accident. Without Aishia as a guide, Rio would have been killed by bandits in the slums. The martial arts experience of Amakawa Haruto was also beneficial to Rio. As for Ayase Miharu, after being lost in this world, she would have spent her life as a slave."
"…"
Lina spoke in more detail about the fates of Amakawa Haruto, Rio, and Ayase Miharu as they were originally meant to be, leaving Rio stunned by the shock of it all.
"I'm sure you already know, but the children from Earth have far more magic than the people of this world. That's why Ayase Miharu was an ideal reincarnation host for me. However, on her own, she was very weak. Left as she was, she would have been captured and enslaved. She needed someone to protect her. That someone was you, Rio, who had Amakawa Haruto's memories. Without those memories, the future would have changed drastically."
It seemed that having Amakawa Haruto's memories was advantageous when it came to protecting Ayase Miharu, who had become lost in this world.
"…"
Everything had unfolded exactly as Lina had envisioned a thousand years ago, bringing them to this moment. Rio found himself at a loss for words.
"As for the reason the timelines are reversed, the simple explanation lies in the difference between transferring and reincarnation. It's easier to adjust the timeline when it comes to reincarnating just a soul. But what you really want to know is why I purposely reversed the timeline, right?"
"…Yes."
Rio answered in a dry voice.
"It's simple. When it comes to protecting Ayase Miharu after her transfer, reincarnating someone at the time of her arrival wouldn't allow them to help her. Naturally, I had to choose someone who would be born before she transferred to this world. That person, perfectly fulfilling the conditions, was you, Rio."
"…"
"Well? Did that answer your question?"
"…Yes. But one last thing…"
"What is it?"
"It's about Latifa and Liselotte-san. Not only Amakawa Haruto, but those two also reincarnated with him. Does that hold any particular meaning?"
Suzune Endo and Rikka Minamoto. Could the reincarnation of the two who died in the same accident as Amakawa Haruto, now Latifa and Liselotte, also have significance?
"Well, who knows?"
Lina smiled meaningfully.
(…Is she evading the question about the two because it concerns an uncertain future she doesn't want to reveal yet?)
Rio guessed. The time might come when he would understand—
"...Understood. I won't ask any more."
Rio obediently stopped pursuing the matter.
"Good boy."
Lina praised Rio with a satisfied smile.
"I've resolved a lot of my other questions, after all. I had always wondered... why I had Amakawa Haruto's memories inside me."
The presence of another person's memories within himself—this was a long-standing question that had deeply impacted his sense of identity. Now that it was answered, he felt it was enough. However—
"Still, it seems like you're not completely at peace with it yet."
Lina caught a slight flicker in Rio's eyes.
"It's not that... well, maybe a little. But it's a problem I need to resolve on my own—figuring out who I really am. And I've already reached my answer."
In other words, is Rio, who possesses Amakawa Haruto's memories, still Rio, or is he Amakawa Haruto? Back at the evening party held in the Galarc Kingdom, Rio had decided he was Rio. He had told Miharu that he couldn't interact with her as Amakawa Haruto.
Recalling those memories, Rio's expression grew complicated.
"Are you still wavering because you think the answer you came to was wrong?"
"...No, I don't think it was wrong."
After a brief pause, Rio shook his head firmly. And then—
"I am Rio. I am not Amakawa Haruto."
He declared this clearly.
After all, Rio had lived his life as Rio. Both before and after recovering Amakawa Haruto's memories, Rio had consistently pursued his desire for revenge as Rio, and he had achieved it.
There were also many decisions and choices he had made that Amakawa Haruto would never have chosen. There were times when he had stained his hands, too. During the evening party, he had even tried to distance Miharu from him. It was none other than Rio himself who had refused to become Amakawa Haruto.
So, it wasn't a mistake. Even now, after his revenge had been fulfilled and peace had been restored, while there were moments when the influence of Amakawa Haruto's memories surfaced more frequently—
(It's too convenient to suddenly accept that now. I am who I am. I cannot become Amakawa Haruto.)
Rio inwardly told himself this, as if to chastise his wavering heart. Then—
"...Yes. You are Rio. You are not Amakawa Haruto."
Lina spoke gently to Rio.
"Yeah..."
With her reassurance, Rio smiled as if relieved, gaining a bit more confidence.
"But..."
"Hm?"
"...No, never mind."
Lina started to say something but then withdrew her words.
"Now I'm curious."
Rio, chuckling lightly, urged her to continue—
"I told you, didn't I? Goddess Lina dislikes giving out answers. Besides, I can be a little mischievous."
Lina deflected with a playful grin.
"True enough."
Rio accepted her response, and Lina continued to gaze at him intently.
(...It's true, you may never be able to become Amakawa Haruto. But the memories of Amakawa Haruto have certainly influenced Rio. Therefore, if you, yourself, can accept that part of Amakawa Haruto as part of who you are, it might be possible. That is, if you can forgive yourself and allow it.)
It all depended on how much Rio could be kind to himself. Lina's eyes softened kindly.
(Though, if it were that easy, he wouldn't have grown into someone so stubborn...)
He was a man with a self-discipline as hard as steel. It wouldn't be easy for him to change. However—
(People can change. They hold that potential. And people can change others. That potential is within them, too. But telling him all of that would be too much. Besides, it would be irritating to help that unreliable girl any more than I already have, and Rio will likely come to his own conclusion soon enough.)
Lina, who hated giving out answers and prided herself on her mischievousness, chuckled with amusement.
"...What is it?"
After a few moments of silence, Rio asked with a troubled expression.
"Nothing. Let's leave it here for today."
"...Alright."
"Then I'll leave this girl with you. Get some rest."
Lina briefly said her farewell to the somewhat bewildered Rio. Her parting words seemed to carry some unusual meaning—
"Huh?"
Rio's face showed confusion. While he was still bewildered, Lina touched the earring-shaped magic item she was wearing near her ear. Suddenly, Lina's face wavered as if the image was distorted, and it switched to Miharu's face. Miharu, unconscious, then collapsed forward, about to fall onto Rio.
"Whoa...!?"
Startled, Rio hurriedly caught Miharu's body.
(...So, you're not going to carry her back to her room...)
What a tempting situation. A young girl left unconscious in a bedroom made Rio uneasy. The pleasant scent of shampoo drifting from Miharu's hair only heightened his anxiety.
He couldn't just leave her like this. It would be better to return her to her room before she woke up. At the very least, this current position of holding her on the bed wasn't ideal, so he should move her off him. However—
"Mm..."
Miharu began to regain consciousness.
—This is bad!
Noticing a change in her breathing, Rio's body tensed. He thought about quickly moving Miharu onto the bed, but doing so in this situation would surely lead to a serious misunderstanding.
"..."
Resigning himself, Rio relaxed and continued to hold Miharu in a reclining position.
"...Haruto... san?"
Miharu opened her eyes and gazed at Rio's face from close range with a dazed expression.
"...Good morning."
Rio averted his gaze from Miharu, his voice awkward and strained.
"Huh, um... what..."
Miharu, still groggy and not fully understanding the situation, looked around the room drowsily. However, when she glanced at herself and realized the position she was in on the bed—
"...!?"
Her face turned bright red, as if painted with embarrassment, and she nearly jumped off Rio, almost falling off him in the process.
"Careful."
Rio quickly supported her.
"Huh? Uh... why...? Why...? Is this... a dream?"
"This isn't a dream."
"I'm... I'm heavy, right? I'm so sorry!"
"No, you're light... Just calm down. I'll explain everything. For now, let me move you to the side."
"O-okay..."
"Alright, excuse me."
While gently supporting Miharu, Rio shifted her sideways. Miharu's body moved from Rio's chest to the soft bed. The wooden bed creaked dully, the sound echoing in the otherwise silent room.
"..."
Miharu squeezed her eyes shut, curling up like a small animal, trembling slightly.
"Um... Miharu-san?"
Rio called out to her, sounding troubled, asking her to open her eyes.
"Y-yes..."
Miharu slowly opened her eyes, but she couldn't look directly at Rio, her face still flushed with embarrassment.
"I was talking with Lina. She suddenly visited my room..."
Rio, seemingly wanting to ease Miharu's nerves, stood up and moved away from the bed.
"Oh... I see."
Miharu almost reached out to stop him, but instead withdrew her hand hesitantly, looking lonely.
"You're not surprised?"
Rio said this with his back still turned to her.
"Actually, I was talking to her in a dream too..."
"Really?"
"Yes, there were some things I wanted to say."
"Things you wanted to say?"
"I... uh, no, not that! I mean, a lot of things!"
Miharu almost said "kiss," but quickly stopped herself. It had only been half a day since she had kissed Rio while her body was controlled by Lina. The memory came back vividly, bringing back her embarrassment, and her face reddened even more.
"Well, I imagine there are a lot of things. After all, you were just being controlled earlier."
Rio seemed to have some understanding of the situation. Though still turned away from Miharu, he laughed awkwardly.
"Y-yes... And what about you, Haruto-san? Did... she do something strange again!? Or rather, I didn’t do something strange, did I!? Why were we in such a position on the bed!?"
"You didn't do anything weird, probably."
"Probably!?"
"We were sharing information. Though honestly, I was the one receiving more than I gave."
It was true they had shared information in their discussion. Lina had pushed him down and tried to tempt him, but Rio decided to lock away those memories.
"I-I see. But then, why were we on the bed...?"
"Due to the effects of the battle, I'm still not fully recovered. Lina told me to rest. After we finished talking, she returned your consciousness to you, and you collapsed toward me... so I caught you, and that's how we ended up like that..."
Rio explained in a halting tone.
"Also, Lina left me a message. It seems that you are no longer a spirit caster but have become a mage instead."
"Huh...?"
"Apparently, she made some kind of spell contract on her own, and you've been using various kinds of magic."
"I-I see... Geez..."
For Miharu, it was rare for her to puff out her cheeks in frustration. However, Rio, with his back still turned, didn't see it. Miharu realized this and grew a bit irritated that he wasn't looking at her.
"...Um, Haruto-san?"
She summoned the courage to call out to him.
"Yes?"
"Could you look this way?"
"Sure."
"...I really didn't do anything strange to you, right?"
As their eyes met, Miharu looked momentarily hesitant, but she still fixed her gaze on Rio as she asked.
"Yes. You didn't do anything strange like... this morning."
What he referred to, of course, was the kiss Lina had forced between Miharu and Rio earlier that morning.
"Th-that thing from this morning... I'm so sorry! I mean, I'd really appreciate it if you could just forget it ever happened...!"
"Yes, I've erased it from my memory, so I don't know what you're talking about..."
Rio put on an awkward smile, playing dumb.
"I-I see... If that's the case, then that's good..."
But contrary to her words, Miharu's expression became complicated.
(Erased from his memory... Is it really going to be like it never happened?)
While the kiss had occurred under unfortunate circumstances, the fact remained that she had kissed the boy she liked. Thinking that it meant nothing to him and that the memory didn't exist for him sent a dull ache through her chest.
(Does it not bother Haruto-san? Am I the only one worrying about it?)
Did it not matter to him that they kissed? Or did he dislike it? Is that why he could so easily erase it from his memory? Even though she had told him to forget, Miharu couldn't help but wonder what Rio thought about the kiss.
(...I don't want him to forget.)
Even if it had happened under unfortunate circumstances, she didn't want him to think it didn't matter. Miharu's heart was conflicted with these complicated feelings.
(Because, to me, that kiss was...)
It had been her first kiss.
However,...
—What are you saying? That wasn't your first kiss, was it?
Lina's words from the dream echoed in Miharu's mind.
—Your first kiss was with Amakawa Haruto. At least, the first one after you developed self-awareness was when you were seven, right before he moved away.
That's right. The first person Miharu kissed was Amakawa Haruto when they were children. Not Rio, who now lived in this world. Lina had pointed out that Miharu's belief that Rio and Haruto were the same person was misguided.
"..."
Miharu's chest tightened with an unpleasant feeling. She couldn't just dismiss the kiss from childhood as insignificant. Her face twisted with a sense of guilt.
"...Miharu-san?"
Noticing her pale complexion, Rio quietly moved closer and peered into her face.
"Ah, um..."
Miharu snapped back to her senses and looked at Rio, her expression suggesting she wanted to say something. But...
—I don't want you to forget.
That one sentence was on the tip of her tongue, but she just couldn't bring herself to say it.
"Um, I just feel kind of tired..."
Miharu forced a smile, trying to cover up her feelings.
"It seems that way. You don't look well. Apparently, while Lina was possessing you, you weren't able to rest properly either, so please take it easy today."
Rio, concerned about her condition, spoke kindly.
"...I'm sorry. Haruto-san... you must be tired too..."
Miharu bitterly apologized. The way she addressed him as "Haruto-san" seemed to carry a hesitation and resistance that was not usually present.
"It's still only a little past evening. I'll take my time to rest now."
Rio tilted his head slightly, a puzzled expression on his face, but he wore a gentle smile.
"...Well then, sorry for the commotion."
Miharu looked like she still had something to say, but she expressed her intention to leave. She started walking toward the door. Just then—
"Um..."
Miharu stopped before placing her hand on the door.
"Yes?"
"Well, should I call you Rio-san instead of Haruto-san?"
The sudden and seemingly unrelated question left Rio a bit confused.
"...Why?"
Rio blinked in surprise.
"No, it's just that I was wondering if that would be better..."
"...Did Lina say something to you?"
"I'm sorry for suddenly bringing up something strange. It's nothing. Um, good night."
"Miharu-san?"
This time Rio tried to call her back, but Miharu hurriedly left the room. Rio was left alone inside.
(...Rio, huh?)
It seemed unlikely that she would suddenly change how she addressed him without some reason behind it. If that reason involved Lina, it could be a result of the conversation Rio had with her earlier. Rio pondered these thoughts.
—Is it because I'm wavering over a question I've already answered, thinking the conclusion I reached is wrong?
The question Lina had posed earlier lingered in Rio's mind.
(...I am Rio. I am not Amakawa Haruto.)
That was the conclusion Rio had drawn.
(I don't think it's wrong. But...)
Was it because he had kissed Miharu? The memories of Amakawa Haruto flashed through his mind. He couldn't help but question whether the conclusion he reached was indeed correct.
Rio understood. There was no doubt that the memories of Amakawa Haruto had profoundly influenced him. In fact, there had been many times since regaining Haruto's memories at age seven that Rio had wavered between being himself and being Amakawa Haruto, especially right after Miharu and the others had been summoned.
But still, he had concluded that he could not become Amakawa Haruto. The major catalyst for that decision had been meeting Lucius at Amande. He did not want to impose the burdens and sins that he had to carry onto Amakawa Haruto as well.
Furthermore, the various facts that Rio had judged over time rejected the idea of him becoming Amakawa Haruto. Or perhaps it was the aspects of Amakawa Haruto within Rio that rejected the notion of becoming Haruto. The conflicting values embedded in Haruto's memories were distorting Rio's identity.
Of course, memories were just memories.
They were highly subjective and ambiguous.
Yet, with the memories of two people existing within a single individual, why did it cause so much turmoil?
(It's troublesome. Having memories that aren't my own...)
Rio touched his lips with his fingertips and twisted his expression in frustration.
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