Reaching the Sage Empire of Ritz in a single day was impossible, even on horseback. Because of that, we had to stop at a village along the way to rest.
"Hey, Ageha. You have some money on you, right...?"
The moment we entered the village, I approached the front desk of an inn to secure a room. I whispered the question to Black Ageha while the attendant was busy.
"I have some, yes," she replied.
"Then, uh... it would be a huge help if you could cover the costs."
Black Ageha gave me a look of pure exasperation. Still, since I was completely penniless, I had no choice but to rely on her.
"I suppose it cannot be helped. I shall be the one to pay. Fortunately, I have a fair amount of leeway when it comes to funds."
With Black Ageha footing the bill, we secured our lodgings. Afterward, we headed to the dining hall together for dinner.
"Hey, Ageha. Do you have any idea who might have killed us?" I asked, figuring I should at least provide some topic of conversation while we ate.
"Even if you ask me that... I have no memories of the previous timeline. It is difficult for me to say."
"Right. That makes sense." I nodded, focusing on my meal. It seemed asking her for leads was a dead end.
"When searching for a culprit, the most important factor is motive," she continued. "Do you know anyone who might harbor enough of a grudge to murder us?"
"Not particularly..."
I didn't have any recollection of earning the kind of hatred that would lead to an assassination.
"I see. Then we must approach this from a different perspective. Who do you know that is actually capable of killing me?"
That was a fair point. Ageha was extraordinarily strong; the list of people capable of taking her down was short. I thought back to everyone who had been in the Royal Capital.
"Maybe someone like Great Swordsmaster Nidorg."
As the highest-ranked Master, he was the strongest of them all. It wouldn't be surprising if he were capable of killing even Ageha.
"And does this Great Swordsmaster Nidorg have a motive?"
"A motive, huh... If I recall, he once challenged Ageha to a duel. He claimed he just wanted to fight someone strong."
In the end, I had been the one to duel him back then. Perhaps that hadn't satisfied his craving, and he had sought Ageha out afterward...?
"I see. So there is a potential motive."
"But I can't imagine Great Swordsmaster Nidorg is the kind of man who would just murder us."
Though my time with him had been brief, he hadn't seemed like a bad person. Would a man like that really stoop to cold-blooded murder?
"You cannot judge a person's true nature so easily," Black Ageha countered. "It is common for those who appear kind to be hiding something sinister behind the scenes."
She might have been right, but personally, I didn't want to believe it.
"Very well. Anyone else?" she asked, likely sensing my reluctance.
"...Well, I doubt it, but what about Highness Eligion?"
"Indeed. As a Former Hero, Highness Eligion possesses a fair amount of skill. It wouldn't be impossible for him to kill me."
"But he doesn't have much of a motive either."
"You never know. He might have secretly resented the fact that I stole his glory as the Hero and decided to eliminate me."
Ageha gave a sharp grin as she suggested it.
"I really don't think Highness Eligion would do something like that."
I had spoken with him many times, and he always came across as a gentle, kind soul. I simply couldn't see him murdering anyone out of resentment.
"Then who is left?"
I fell silent at her question, racking my brain. Was there anyone else with enough power to kill her?
Wait, there was one more.
"There was Sage Nyau."
"Certainly. Her skills are undeniable."
Depending on the timeline, Sage Nyau was powerful enough to be chosen as a Master. With her level of strength, she was definitely a viable candidate.
"And does she have a motive?"
Just like the others, she lacked a clear reason to attack us. I felt like I understood her well, especially since we had been so close in other timelines. I didn't want to believe she was capable of it... but then, one motive did come to mind.
For some reason, Sage Nyau seemed to be in love with me. Could she have killed Ageha out of a fit of romantic jealousy? No, that was ridiculous. I couldn't imagine Nyau doing something so extreme.
But I did know of someone else who had killed out of jealousy. If that was the case, was it really so impossible for Nyau to do the same...?
"It seems you have someone in mind," Black Ageha said, a fearless smile playing on her lips. She had clearly read my expression.
"...Yeah."
"So, what is the motive?"
I couldn't exactly tell her that Sage Nyau might have done it because she loved me; that seemed like an invitation for unnecessary drama.
"It's... nothing major, really," I said, dodging the question.
Black Ageha didn't seem to find it suspicious and simply nodded. "I see."
"Any other suspects?"
"No, that's probably everyone."
"Fine. Then the list is narrowed down to three."
Even so, I couldn't bring myself to believe that any of them were the actual culprit.
◆
The next morning, I woke to the sunlight streaming through the window. After dinner the night before, we had come straight back to the room to sleep.
I looked beside me to see Ageha still fast asleep. I had intended to book a twin room with separate beds, but I had accidentally ended up with a room where we had to share a single large one.
Watching her sleep, I couldn't help but think she looked adorable. Suddenly, an overwhelming urge to hold her washed over me.
"Just a little bit should be fine..."
I moved closer and wrapped my arms around her. Immediately, the sweet scent she radiated tickled my nose. I could feel her warmth and the softness of her skin through her clothes. A profound sense of peace filled my chest.
"Hey. What do you think you're doing? Are you a pervert?"
Suddenly, Ageha’s eyes snapped open, and she was glaring at me. It seemed I had woken her up.
Ah, right. The current Ageha was the "Black" personality. In my half-asleep state, I had hugged her without thinking.
"My bad," I apologized reflexively. But then, a thought occurred to me.
I was in a relationship with Ageha, but where did that leave me with Black Ageha? I remembered her saying she liked me quite a bit in the past. If that was the case, then this shouldn't be a problem.
"Hey, you like me, don't you?"
"Wh—what are you blathering about all of a sudden? Stop messing around."
"I'm being serious, though."
I was genuinely curious, but I wasn't getting through to her. I decided to change my approach.
"I love you. How do you feel?"
Now that I thought about it, while I had told Ageha how I felt, I didn't think I had ever properly said it to Black Ageha.
"H-hey! What—what do you think you're saying so suddenly...!"
In an instant, Black Ageha’s face turned bright red as she fell into a state of visible panic.
"I just thought I should make sure. Well?"
"Well, what...?"
Embarrassment made her eyes dart around the room, unable to meet mine.
"Ageha, give me a real answer."
"I... I also... well..."
I waited patiently for her to finish.
"I-I... l-l-lo—looooov—"
She was basically there, but I wanted to hear her say it properly.
"H-hey... do I really have to say it?" she asked, looking genuinely distressed.
"Well, I’d really like to hear it."
"Fine! I will say it. Just... let me prepare myself."
"Sure, take your time."
Ageha closed her eyes and began taking deep, exaggerated breaths. She was making a massive deal out of a simple confession.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"So?"
"I... I also... l-l-lo..."
If you can get the first syllable out, the rest shouldn't be that hard, I thought as I kept waiting.
"Gah! What kind of embarrassing thing are you trying to make me say!"
Suddenly, she shoved me away with all her strength. Startled, I tumbled backward and landed hard on my tailbone.
"Ow—"
By the time I looked up, Ageha had already bolted out of the room.
Left alone, I sat on the floor and sighed. Her reaction had been so incredibly innocent. Perhaps because almost every other girl I had met until now had been so aggressive, her bashfulness felt like a breath of fresh air.
How should I put it...?
"She's actually kind of cute."
That was the thought that lingered in my mind.