Night had truly fallen, and the hour had grown deep. Normally, I would have been long asleep by now, but I lay on my bed, staring up at the dark ceiling.
I wasn’t exactly having trouble sleeping... I just didn't feel like it yet.
I kept ruminating on what Ryze-san had told me—that what I should prioritize most was how I felt about Isis-san and what kind of relationship I wanted us to have from now on.
When I first met Isis-san... I was terrified.
She was an unknown entity that defied my common sense, possessing a dread I couldn't name. Looking back, I realized it was her Magic Power of Death, but since that first meeting had been so sudden, I had simply trembled with an incomprehensible fear.
Fortunately, however, I possessed the power of Sympathy Magic. Thanks to that, I had been able to feel the loneliness—faint as it was—buried deep within her heart.
I’m certain that if I hadn't met Kuro and been saved by her first, I never would have reached out to Isis-san. I likely would have run away in pathetic, cowering terror.
But because I had already met Kuro and regained the courage to take a step forward, I managed to reach for Isis-san’s hand despite my fear.
...Thinking back, Isis-san might have been the very first person I truly tried to connect with of my own volition.
And when I took her hand and introduced myself... she confessed to me.
Since it was the first time anyone had ever confessed to me, I was more than a little bewildered. To be honest, I didn't take her seriously at the time.
Eventually, Isis-san and I became friends, and it was only after that that I learned she was the Death King and possessed the Magic Power of Death.
But by then, she was no longer a frightening existence to me. Seeing Lilia-san and the others paralyzed with fear didn't even resonate with me.
On the contrary, I felt a spark of irritation when Chronoa-san described Isis-san’s nature as wicked.
Because the real Isis-san was lonely, gentle, modest, kind—a truly lovely person.
Even now that we were close, I still couldn't fully comprehend the depth of the suffering she had endured.
However, I was certain of one thing: a smile suited her much better than a look of sorrow.
From the moment we met, Isis-san had always directed her straightforward affection toward me. It was embarrassing, yet it made me happy; I remember feeling strangely nervous whenever I talked to her.
She truly always, always cherished me... and when I was injured, she got genuinely angry on my behalf and worried for me from the bottom of her heart.
Even as dense as I was, I understood that the affection Isis-san held for me was incredibly strong.
Yet, she never forced that affection on me.
Whether it was when I asked to delay my answer to her confession, or when I visited her castle, Isis-san always considered my circumstances and respected them.
To be loved so single-mindedly... there was no way I could be anything but happy.
Yes, that was it. I felt happy being the object of her affection.
I had zero experience with being popular before coming here, so I had no idea how to respond. Because my feelings for Kuro were so strong, I had kept things between Isis-san and me ambiguous for a long time.
But just as Ryze-san said... the answer might have been inside me all along.
If this were a story from my old world... if I truly had to choose only one person, I think I would have chosen Kuro.
I might have been forced to make a painful choice, shedding tears as my heart ached at the thought of hurting Isis-san.
However, the world I was in now was different.
It was a world where I could choose the kinder path of loving both. Just as Orchid said, there was no need to rank my affections here.
If so, all that remained was my own feelings... and even there, the answer had already surfaced.
There was no way I disliked being the object of Isis-san's affection. I enjoyed every moment I spent with her. My heart fluttered at her every gesture.
How I felt about her had manifested in my heart long ago, well before I tried to rationalize it in my head.
"...I... love Isis-san."
As the words spilled out into the darkness, I felt an immediate sense of relief.
Yes, there was no need to hesitate. I loved Isis-san. I wanted her to be smiling forever. I wanted her to be happy... and I wanted to be the one to make her happy.
I slowly sat up and turned my gaze toward the faint starlight filtering into the room.
I felt a profound sense of relief and gratitude that I didn't have to give up on her.
Once the sun rose and it was early morning, I went to visit Sieg-san.
Sieg-san had been on night duty, so she was already awake. I found her in the dining hall, quietly drinking black tea.
"Good morning, Sieg-san."
"Good morning. You're up quite early, aren't you?"
"Yes. Um, Sieg-san, I have a special favor to ask..."
"A favor? For me?"
Sieg-san tilted her head, then looked straight at me with a soft smile.
"...It looks like your mind is made up. You have a good look in your eyes."
"...Yes."
"I understand. If it's within my power, I will help you in any way I can."
"Thank you so much!"
I thanked Sieg-san for her ready consent and explained the details of my request.
She listened quietly, nodding in understanding before speaking.
"...I see. I understand. Then let's go gather the necessary items today."
"Right... Wait, Sieg-san, is it okay if you don't sleep?"
"It’s no problem. The Elf Race can go without sleep for a few days without any issues at all."
Feeling heartfelt gratitude for her gentle smile, I began my preparations for my next outing with Isis-san.
I decided that the promise we made during the Treasure Tree Festival would be the perfect moment to give her my answer.
Dear Mother, Father—Thanks to the advice from so many people, I’ve been able to look at my feelings for Isis-san and realize the truth. All that's left is to find my courage, finish the preparations—and just convey these feelings.
"B-By the way, Kaito-san? I-I'd like to ask, just for future reference..."
"Yes? What is it?"
"D-Do you, for example... um, consider the Elf Race as r-r-romantic interests?"
"...Do you mean someone like you, Sieg-san?"
"Y-Y-Yes. A pure-blooded Elf like me."
I tilted my head at Sieg-san. She was acting flustered, her eyes darting around restlessly.
I had seen many Elves at the Treasure Tree Festival, but for me, Sieg-san was the definitive example of her race. I didn't know why she was asking, but I tried to answer honestly with her in mind.
"...To be honest, I've never really thought about race. Regardless of whether she's an Elf or not, Sieg-san is beautiful and kind, and she’s amazing at everything around the house. I think I'd be very happy if I could date someone like her."
"!? I-I see!"
"Is there a reason for the question?"
"N-N-No... Uh, um... Y-Yes! It’s for future reference! You see, since Lili is the way she is, I haven't seen many people in love around me. I just wanted to hear the opinion of a man like you, Kaito-san!"
For some reason, Sieg-san was even more flustered than before. Her long ears were twitching, which was actually quite cute.
"...Um, was that helpful?"
"Yes, thank you... I'm relieved to know that there's a possibility for me too."
"Eh? Sorry, your voice was too quiet at the end there. What did you say?"
"I-It's nothing!!"