"..."
"Yoo-hoo, Ray-chan!"
"..."
"What’s wrong? You don't seem very energetic today~☆"
"..."
"But still, you’ve really grown handsome. Caro-caro's eyes weren't mistaken!☆"
"..."
"If you don't talk to me, I’m going to play a prank on you~☆"
"...I haven't forgotten what you did to me in the past."
"Oh, come on! Don't say things like that! Let’s let bygones be bygones, okay?☆"
The Central District of the Kingdom.
I stood waiting in front of a fountain, feeling a level of depression I had never experienced before.
Even if it was to secure a stall at the Magics Chevalier, I had made a deal with a devil. However, breaking a promise was against my principles. And so, with a heart full of genuine reluctance, I had shown up.
As usual, Carol was dressed in flashy attire—a ruffled one-piece red dress that left her shoulders completely exposed, accented with floral embroidery.
She seemed more fired up than usual about her hair, which was beautifully curled and had a faint, healthy sheen, likely from a light application of hair oil.
Because of the bright sunlight, she wore sunglasses, which... well, suited her quite well.
A faint citrus scent drifted from her, tickling my nose.
I could tell exactly how much effort Carol had put into her appearance before meeting me. That was precisely why, despite my lack of enthusiasm, I decided to say what needed to be said.
"Um..."
"Eh? Is something the matter, Ray-chan?"
"No... I think it... suits you well."
"Ray-chan..."
Carol’s eyes welled up with tears, and she suddenly lunged forward, throwing her arms around me!
"Whoa!!?"
"Oh, I love you so much~☆ Ray-chan, I’m so happy~☆ Thank you! I’m so glad I worked so hard to look cute...!!"
"G-Get off me!"
"Geez! Both master and disciple are such tsunderes!"
I managed to peel the clinging Carol off me, but she just continued to beam with a radiant, joyful smile.
Well... in truth, it had been a long time since I had talked to Carol one-on-one like this. We had spoken often when I was young, but we had hardly met since the Far East Campaign ended. I could understand her reaction to some extent, but what exactly did this woman see in me...?
"Then, let’s go! Ray-chan! Here!"
"What do you mean 'here'? And what’s with the outstretched hand?"
"You're going to listen to whatever I say today, right? That was our promise~☆ Ray-chan is a man of his word, isn't he~?"
"Guh... ugh..."
I took Carol's left hand.
It felt like a typical woman's hand—slender and delicate. To make matters worse, this Idiot Pink proceeded to interlock her fingers with mine. I had no way to resist; I had made the promise myself.
"Hehehe! We look just like a couple!"
"Hey! This is going too far!"
"You said 'an-y-thing,' right?~☆"
"Gu, guuuuuu..."
This was the price of making a deal with a devil. I had known this was coming, of course. Carol also knew that I knew. That was why she was doing this. She knew that even as I complained, I would ultimately accept it.
Carol’s words and actions were erratic, but she was actually incredibly sharp—possessing one of the finest minds among all sorcerers. Even my Master acknowledged Carol's prowess as a researcher.
Knowing all that, she was deliberately acting this way toward me.
"Well then, shall we go?"
"Yeah..."
"It kind of reminds me of the old days~☆"
"Yeah..."
And so, we disappeared into the hustle and bustle of the city.
Ah... if only I could hope for this day to end peacefully...
◇
"We’re a couple, so the couple's menu, please!☆"
"Oh my! What a handsome pair! You two suit each other perfectly!"
"Ehehe~☆ See, Ray-chan? They said we suit each other!"
"...Just do whatever you want."
The cafe we entered had, of course, implemented a "couple's menu." On top of ordering it, the waitress went out of her way to tell us how well we matched.
Ah... honestly, I had given up. I told myself that if I could just endure this one day, I would be fine, desperately trying to keep my sanity intact.
Carol, who was still clinging to my arm, sat next to me instead of across from me, her arm and hand still tightly intertwined with mine.
I stared into the void, half-resigned to my fate.
"Here is your Couple Parfait."
"Wow~☆ It looks delicious!~☆"
"Yeah..."
Then, Carol scooped up some parfait with a spoon and pointed it at me. Though she was smiling, her eyes left no room for refusal. A silent command that I must eat it dwelt within her gaze.
"Say ahhh~☆"
"..."
"Ray-chan, ahhh~☆"
"...Ahhh."
I took the bite Carol offered and swallowed it.
As of right now, I had... no right of refusal.
"It's delicious, isn't it?~☆"
"Yeah..."
I couldn't taste a thing. It was completely flavorless. Due to the extreme mental toll, I had already lost my sense of taste.
After a while of eating and chatting, Carol suddenly let go of my arm and moved to the seat opposite me.
Her demeanor shifted, and a tense, heavy atmosphere began to emanate from her.
"Hey, Ray-chan."
"What is it, all of a sudden?"
"Um, well. After that... were you okay?"
"...After the Far East Campaign?"
"Yeah. Actually, I wanted to see you much sooner, Ray-chan. But, well... I was the one who planned that final operation... so. Well... you know."
"Carol. No, that’s..."
The final operation of the Far East Campaign. It had been nothing short of hell. Carol was an excellent operation commander, but the enemy had outmaneuvered us, and we were completely surrounded. It wasn't Carol's fault. That tactical situation would have been impossible for anyone to predict, regardless of how brilliant a commander they were.
Master, the other sorcerers, and I had fought through that hellish battlefield. Many died. Numbers were an overwhelming force in war. Then, the moment Master's lower body was shot through, I triggered a Magic Area Overheat... which led to where I am today.
Carol was confessing that her guilt had prevented her from being able to face me.
"Of course, I apologized to Lydia-chan right away... but I didn't have the courage to see you, Ray-chan... I'm so sorry. Even though it's my fault you ended up like that... I've wanted to apologize for a long, long time. That’s why I asked you to come today. I'm sorry it took so long. I’m really, truly sorry..."
"Carol..."
Tears began to stream down Carol’s face.
We lost so much in that war. But there were things we managed to keep.
Besides, I had no intention of blaming anyone for the Magic Area Overheat.
It was entirely the result of my own immaturity.
It was my responsibility for letting my emotions explode and being consumed by a murderous intent to slaughter everything.
Come to think of it, Carol never came to see me while I was recuperating. I spent that time with my current family and Master. I saw Abby-san occasionally, but never Carol.
I finally understood why.
Carol’s behavior might be eccentric, but that didn't mean she was devoid of emotion.
She, too, still carried the scars of that war.
"Carol. That was my responsibility. I was immature, and that’s why the Magic Area Overheat happened. So please, don't cry. I don't blame you at all."
"Ugh... Ray-chan, you’re so kind. You were always like that..."
"Carol. Both you and I lost many things. But we are alive now. That is enough for me."
"Yeah... yeah... you're right. Thank you, Ray-chan."
Carol wiped away her tears and offered a small smile. In that moment, she looked a little more charming than usual.
◇
"Nnh... nnh... hm? Where am I?"
I woke up to find myself on a bed.
Why—?
Why was I here? Let me think... we left the cafe, did some shopping together, and then had dinner. After that, we were supposed to go our separate ways, but...
Wait, I remember now. Carol suggested we go to a hotel.
She said it was getting late and we should rest for a bit before heading out.
I knew that was a dangerous proposition and tried to flee, but... right. I remember.
At that exact moment, she activated her Origin Magic, Carol in Wonderland.
Between her and Amelia, I really wanted to tell them to stop using their Origin Magic so casually, but... Carol was nowhere to be seen.
My head was still throbbing, and I couldn't move my body the way I wanted to.
"...What is that sound?"
The sound of running water. Someone was taking a shower. Then, a squeak as the water was turned off. The door opened, and someone approached.
Exuding the scent of roses, an overwhelming presence drew close to my side.
"Ray-chan..."
"Ah... wait!? Are you serious!? Are you actually serious!?"
"Last time I had to force you, but today... it's okay, right? You'll accept me, won't you, Ray-chan? You said 'anything,' didn't you?"
"Hey, hey, hey, hey!? I did say 'anything,' but this is definitely crossing a line!? We're teacher and student!!"
"Oh, you're such a tsunderes~☆ Besides, a forbidden relationship is also... enticing, isn't it?"
With those words, Carol placed her knee on the bed and leaned her weight against my chest. Wearing nothing but a single bath towel, her voluptuous figure looked as though it were about to spill out at any moment.
The distinct scent of a woman filled my nostrils, and her damp skin pressed against mine. We were in total contact, yet I couldn't muster any strength. The effects of Carol in Wonderland were clearly still lingering.
If my Chronos Lock were released, it might be a different story, but currently, I had no way to resist Carol's Origin Magic. While she didn't seem to be manipulating my thoughts, my body refused to obey me.
This was bad. This was record-breakingly bad!!
Shedding her usual playful mask, Carol was now exuding a heavy, adult sensuality. I had always known Carol was a beautiful woman, but this was the first time I felt so intensely conscious of her.
Actually, given the situation, it would be weird not to be conscious of it.
Smiling seductively, she brought her red lips close to my ear.
"Ray-chan, hey? Why don't we just graduate? I'll be gentle with you..."
"Gu... move... MOVE!!"
"Ray-chan..."
"U-Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
I couldn't move!
I couldn't pull away from Carol's approaching lips! Then, Carol cast aside her bath towel and pinned me down, completely naked. Her body pressed firmly against mine as her beautifully sculpted face drew closer and closer.
—It's over... This is it. I’m going to lose everything here today...
Just as I resigned myself to my fate, the door was blown inward with incredible force. It shattered against the window, sending shards of glass spraying across the room.
"It seems I made it in time! Ray, are you alright!?"
"M-Master!!"
The one who had burst in was my Master. It seemed Carla wasn't with her today; she had pushed her wheelchair here alone. I burst into tears of pure joy.
Usually, my Master looks like a gorilla to me, but today, she looked like a hero.
"...Lydia-chan. Honestly, you had to ruin it right when it was getting good. Ray-chan was accepting it today, you know? It's perfectly legal!"
"Liar! He clearly looks miserable! Ray, wait there. I’m going to kill this Idiot Pink!"
"Hmph! I'm definitely taking Ray-chan's virginity!"
"Fuhaha! I'll be the one to strike you down!"
Then, Carol and Master began a full-scale magical duel.
It wasn't just the room that was at risk; it felt as if the entire hotel might be leveled.
I lay paralyzed on the bed, watching the brutal death match unfold with a terrified tremble.
Eventually, perhaps due to a report being filed, the Magic Association's security forces and Abby-san arrived.
Once I was taken under protection, Abby-san suppressed the scene. No matter how powerful Carol and Master were, they stood no chance against Abby-san's magic and were quickly neutralized.
"A-Abby-saaaaan..."
"There, there. You must have been terrified, Ray."
I hugged Abby-san, and she gently stroked my head.
On the other hand, Carol was stuck head-first in the bed, still naked, while Master was sprawled face-down on the floor. Both were unconscious, having been completely knocked out.
"Now then, Ray. You should head home. I'm going to wake these two idiots up and give them the lecture of their lives."
"Yes. Thank you so much for saving me."
"Don't worry about it. Now, what should I do with these two..."
I don't know what happened to Carol and Master after that—
Lesson of the day: Never make easy promises.