430 426. Maria in another world.txt (1/2)

After dinner, Snow took out the drinks and suggested that we all drink together.

I immediately objected, but I was the only one who was shaking my pale face from side to side.

When I asked them about it, their response was that they had all been drinking before and didn't understand why I was so scared.

In the end, by force of majority vote, the drinks were served.

The expensive liquor, brought in via Snow's parents' house, slid down everyone's throats. Time, which was moving even faster than it should have, accelerated even faster, and Dea was the first to sober up.

I had only licked my mouth with my previous drunkenness experience, but Dia swallowed and swallowed.

When she fell asleep like a threadbare doll, it was time to break for a meal.

The quintessential snowflake would not continue to drink in the presence of a defrocked person.

He hurries the sleeping Diah to the guest room, puts her to bed, and the air is filled with dismissal (ohira).

Then, each of us returned to our rooms (Maria had vacated the room I had previously used as my room in this new house as well) to get an early night's sleep in preparation for tomorrow's hot springs - and

Fuki: ”......

Alone in my room.

Very relaxed, I sat up in bed.

'Holiday!' After a day of being able to shout with my heart, I sighed heavily.

At the previous drinking spree, my memory was blown away because I was carried away by 'The One Who Steals the Reason of the Wind' titty and binge drank, but this time I didn't make a mistake in adding or subtracting.

I'm not sure if I've ever been drunk enough to get my cheeks faintly hot.

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get it right this time.

Of course, if you want to sober up with magic, you can do it in an instant.

But since my body doesn't recognize drunkenness as a bad status, I'm going to enjoy this feeling.

Both Dia and Maria were on board with the idea of going to the hot springs tomorrow, so we'll definitely be traveling.

I thought that if I was leaving the country, I might as well report back to Ryner or Mr. Feydert, but I quickly reconsidered.

Looking at the window, I saw that it was already late in the evening.

Even if I had to report it, I would have to say, ”Tomorrow, we're all going to the hot springs together. Moreover, I found out that I can drink alcohol surprisingly well, so I think we're going to have a full-blown drinking spree this time. If we stop now, we'll probably all be in a bad mood.” would only make the two of us unable to sleep with anxiety.

Let's make it an after-the-fact report.

That's going to make us both shocked and sleepless, but .......

...... quiet.

I let my back fall against the bed and feel its softness as I think about what I'm going to do tomorrow.

Without thinking, I stare at the ceiling and count the grain and stains.

I watch my chest rise and fall and concentrate on my breathing.

Just as I think about using my pulse as a lullaby, my over-cleared ears pick up a sound other than my own.

It wasn't the wind coming in through the window, or the breath of the city at night in the far distance.

It was the sound of a brush running over paper.

I pick myself up and look beyond the sound - and then, after getting lost for a bit, prepare myself for a long night (・・・・・・・・・), (・・・・) and walk out of my room in my thin clothes.

The corridors are cleaner than the house they once were.

However, I walk down the same path as I once did and reach the front of Maria's room.

A light was leaking through the door.

When I knock lightly, the sound of brushes reaching my ears is cut off.

After a few moments, I'm given permission to come in, and I enter the room, wrapped in the light.

Inside is Maria, dressed as lightly as I am, sitting at her desk, holding a brush.

The light is made of magic stone, not oil, and the room is bright for the time of day.

Relying on the light, she seemed to be reading from a book piled up on the desk, spreading it out and scribbling words on the parchment.

In other words, Maria had been studying late into the night.

It wasn't ”sagacity” from the ”Demon Poison” or the transcription of a ”magic formula” by swallowing a magic stone. He read books steadily, inherited knowledge, and used it as sustenance.

The content of his studies was known from the titles of the books that piled up, not to mention the use of the 《Dimension》.

Maria was learning about 'magical recovery'. So I came.

'Kanami-san?　You haven't slept yet?

Maria asks, surprised to see me enter the room.

To which I answer, 'I didn't drink much, so I'm not sleepy yet,' for the most obvious reason, and move closer to her.

I see. Then I guess your sister-in-law must be sleeping very well.

'I suppose. ...... but surprisingly, Snow was used to drinking, wasn't he? Maybe it's because the aristocrats have been drinking with each other for a long time?

I guess that depends on the person, right?　I'm sure we were going through the same kind of relationship, but Dia was red and goofy right away.

'Really, Dear was not a good drinker. She was the most enthusiastic, but she fell asleep first.

'I think Kanami-san was with me, so she got excited. Really, it's been a long time since I've seen you today: ......

'Yes, ....... We're not always together anymore than we were one day.

The only thing that hasn't changed is Reiner, and he's always the same. I've been told by many people that I'm being biased in favor of favoritism. If it's done poorly, it could lead to a knife fight.

...... fine, fine. Reiner can get over it, maybe.

'Huh, I have no intention of changing my secretary at all. ...... I've been thinking about this for a while now, but Kanami, you like the liner.

And we're friends. I think it's also because we're the same s*x. It's a lot easier to talk to other guys.

If there is any partiality, it is only in the area of gender.

Maria accepted that with a smile, and after a few moments of contemplation, she asked

'...... Now that we've got that out of the way, let's get this straight, Kanami-san was a bit of a pain in the ass with women, wasn't she?　Obviously, I'm more natural when I'm with my guy friends.

I'd like to say, ”No way, ......,” but maybe it was a deep psychological thing. Maybe it's my sister's fault. Having that yang-taki as a sister would do that to anyone, so it can't be that I'm particularly weird.

'Ah ....... It makes a bit of sense that that little sister, Hitaki, is the cause. It also explains why I'm finally starting to get over it now.

We had so many family meetings that we finally had a real fight. I don't have an inferiority complex for my sister anymore. I can tell you that I don't have one.

'It seems so. It's only today that I've found that I'm coming out with even more toothless dialogue than before. Definitely, my dislike of women is gone.

'Yeah, yeah, toothless dialogue is ....... I don't think that part is that much different than before.

I've changed. Truly, Kanami-san has changed.

There was a bit of sarcasm mixed in, but it was an appropriate banter for a quiet evening.

It was something we could talk about because it was just the two of us.

At the same time, I realized that since that last battle, I hadn't had a calm conversation with Maria like this, alone.

''Maria, were you studying magic now?''

Yes. I've got a lot of research to do in my own way.

Studying magic. It's been a while.

This reminds me of a thousand years ago.

Like Maria today, I used to read and write in my room.

The purpose of that research was always to develop new ”magic”.

But while I was working on the Aikawa Yotaki's Cure, Maria's was...

'But don't ask me what I'm working on. Please.

I got nailed ahead of him.

But I can't just nod my head at that.

Even though I know I'm going to sober up, I'm going to get the name out.

'Maria, you'll never see Lastiara (・・・・・・) again,'

It's obvious, but the target of the ”magical recovery” that Maria is learning about is none other than the dead Rustyala.

Including that, I think back on the day.

'Everyone's been so nice to me, it seems they've been thinking about me and not mentioning Rastiara's name: ....... I don't need to worry about that. In fact, I'd rather call him often, which makes me and Rastiara happy. I can see this routine as a continuation of The Story of Rastiara.

As I had guessed along the way, today, I was clearly being taken care of.

My words were limited, if only slightly, so as not to ruin the peacefulness of the moment.

But now that my own name came out of my own mouth, the conversation was no longer limited.

Maria laughs bitterly, then goes on to tell me her name and her memories.

'I'm sure you're right. That's the kind of person you are, Rustyala. Somewhere there was an air of enjoyment, even death, that was acceptable ...... and very unbalanced and dangerous, but that's what made her so fascinating.

''Yeah. So it's okay to joke around and name names like Yotaki just now. I'd rather be treated like a boilermaker, which is what makes Rustyala the most angry.

I talk about Rastiara, too.

I was confident in my ability to speak for it, and I didn't think I was saying the wrong thing for the future.

But--

I can't.

I thought Maria would agree with me, and I retract my planned continuation of the words into the back of my throat. Instead, I'm told the rest of the words.

'I can't do it like Kanami-san.'

I mean, like me: ......?

'Kanami-san is a little mistaken. We don't talk about Rastiala because of Kanami. It's simply that we haven't yet come to terms with Lastiara's death.

The reason for the unexpected immediate response was a blissfully obvious - that it was impossible to accept the death of someone so close to you in just two months or so - a normal weakness.

'We were told by Kanami-san what kind of end Lastiara-san met. Using magic, we were even able to hear her will. We received all of that death, including the meaning of the 'curse' ......, but--

During that fierce battle, I was able to completely clear my mind.

But not Maria and the others.

'-- Somewhere in the back of my mind, we still don't believe in 'The Death of Rustyala Hoozeyers'. Because that's the kind of person Rustyala was. I feel like that person would come back to us in a flash. If we hadn't even told her about her death ......, she might come back to this house again, laughing like she always does and saying 'it was tough!' -

Potentially, Maria mutters.

If you ask me which one is right, it's surely Maria.

It's funny that she's living her life as usual with an all-knowing look on her face, as I am now (・・・・).

But I still have to ask. To accept her death and a new future - the continuation (...) of The Story of Rustiala, and to walk on from now on.

'Maria, Rastiara is not coming back. As long as I think I love Rustyala, she'll never come back. Lastiara Hoosiers paid for my [most beloved dying] of their own volition. ...... So I hope you'll laugh and see me off: ......

And the continuation (...) is never a dark and 'unhappy' one, always regretting the past.

It's about being prepared to survive even if it's hard, and to walk into a bright, 'happy' future.

More than anyone else, Rustyala is the one who wants Maria's 'happiness'.

'I know that. I know that ......, I'm there. Still, if it's possible, I'd like to give it a try. I want to keep leaving the possibility of Ms. Rastiala's return .......

'There's no chance. As long as I'm here, there's absolutely no way Rastiara will come back to life. --From the [logic] of the world, [I won't come back to life no matter what happens]

It's hard, but I have to keep saying that.

Even if there was a loophole in [Reason], if I break it down, the one who would be saddest is Rustyala.

It would deny the proof that I was 'real'.

'...... Kanami has come back to life. Don't you think it's unconvincing if the success story denies it?

'That's because Nosfi was special. Rather, my death was 'supposed to come back to life'. Tiara and Yotaki, who were setting that up, are gone ......, and even Nosfi is gone .......

'Then, for example, what happens if I use real ”magic” like Mr. Nosfi does?　If I could be a 'replacement', even Mr. Rustyala--

The same 'magic' cannot be used on Maria. ...... At the end of the day, someone can't replace someone else. Rastiara and Nosfi certainly lived their lives as a single person, not as a replacement for someone else. The shape of a person's soul is unique.

I told myself that, not only to Maria, but to myself as well.

Only the soul can't be replaced.

That's why the magic stone is more important than the body.

The presence or absence of a soul, and the purity of the ”undead”.

The purity of your unconsciousness, the purity of your unconsciousness, and the connection between your soul, your contract, and your reason.

If you don't have all of those things perfectly, you will never be able to move your soul.

............. ...... After all, there are still rules that only Kanami-san knows about, right?

Maria was looking into my stern face.

As usual, that 'penetrating eye' sees through me even more than I do.

”Kanami-san knows more [reason] than I do, and is even better at magic than I am. ...... No, on the contrary, no one in the world is now a match for Kanami-san. If that Kanami-san has given up on reviving Rastiara-san, then it's probably impossible for anyone to do so anymore. Yes, from [reason], it must be obvious.

Breaking her previous strong stance, Maria muttered sadly.

It was already just a request.

''Still, I want to see you again. I want to talk to Rustyala-san again, and I want to be angry and pissed off ....... Just one more time, or else I'll just go ahead and let Russ (・・・・・・) Tiara-san (・・・・・・・)--

Yeah, that's ......

I just keep being asked, genuinely, to do it again.

That request blew my mind the most today.

Above all, when the name is repeated, it inevitably shifts (...).

It's the 'price' of 'the one who steals the reason for the dimension'. So, I moved my gaze just a little bit, and before I knew it - and she was there.

She continued to shake and shake, and finally Rustyala Hoozeyers had arrived at the same desk as Maria and was listening to the story together.

I can see it.

I can hear it, I can feel it.

Like a ”curse”, clearly, there--.

”--Rastiara, who had been listening quietly all the time, finally gets out of his seat, unable to bear it.

She walks noiselessly, her golden sand hair dominating, and moves behind Maria.