I stepped into the house Alice had built for me. The hallway that met my eyes was simple, yet elegant and refined. Alice had mentioned the interior differed significantly from Lilia-san’s mansion, but at first glance, the corridors seemed identical.
Well, it wasn't as if she’d rig a simple hallway with something bizarre, so there was no real problem even if they were the same...
"Now then, allow me to introduce the corridor first!"
"...Eh? I mean, it looks exactly like the one in Lilia-san’s place..."
"Yes, in 'appearance' it certainly does... but the internal mechanics are different! This hallway actually comes equipped with an 'Automatic Movement Function'."
"A-Automatic movement?"
"Indeed. By performing a specific action on this floor, you can travel forward automatically. To start, just tap the floor twice with your toes. To stop, tap twice with your heel."
"...Mind if I give it a try?"
"Be my guest."
It sounded like an entertaining feature, so I tested it immediately. Following Alice's instructions, I gave the floor two light taps with my toes. Suddenly, my body began to glide forward smoothly.
"O-Ohhh..."
I moved at a comfortable pace, roughly equivalent to a light jog. It was incredible—was this magic too? Magic really was capable of anything.
Alice caught up to me as I glided along to provide further details.
"How is it? Fairly comfortable, right? Better yet, it’s programmed to automatically avoid people or obstacles. If an obstacle can't be bypassed, it’ll come to a complete stop right before impact. Safety is guaranteed."
"This is genuinely impressive. I’m actually a bit moved."
"Just keep in mind that you can't steer. When you reach a corner, stop, pivot your body, and tap the floor again. You’ll move in whichever direction you’re facing at the moment you tap."
It was a fantastic addition, giving the place a bit of a futuristic feel. It was both practical and, honestly, just fun.
"I'm starting to get excited to see the rest of the house."
"Fufufu, I thought you might be. Now, Alice-chan isn't usually one to show her hand early... but since we’re here, I’ll skip ahead and show you the centerpiece before we reach your room!"
"Wait, a centerpiece? I hope it's not literal... I'm not great with eyeballs or anything grotesque."
"I meant the 'highlight,' not an actual eyeball! ...Geez, it feels weird being the one playing the straight man for once."
There was something I truly loved about Alice—she always provided exactly the reaction I was hoping for. Every conversation with her was a joy.
Chatting happily, we made our way toward the room she had dubbed the "centerpiece."
The room she led me to was... well, it looked like a perfectly ordinary room. The interior was tasteful, and the furniture had the luxurious feel of a high-end reception room, but there was nothing particularly unique about it.
"...Does this room have some kind of hidden mechanism?"
"Hmm, you could call it that. Just a moment, she should be arriving any second..."
"Arriving? Who?"
Just as I tilted my head at Alice’s words, a faint shimmer, like fragments of ice, danced through the air, and Isis-san appeared.
"Isis-san?"
"...Kaito... hello... Shaltier... you had... business?"
"Ah, just checking on something... It seems there are no issues."
"...Mm? ...What do you mean? I didn't do anyth—!?"
Isis-san tilted her head in confusion, but her eyes suddenly widened. Her expression shifted into one of sheer astonishment as she realized something.
"Isis-san? What’s wrong?"
"...The Magic Power of Death... I can... control it... How?"
"What!?"
I was equally stunned by her confused exclamation. In this context, "controlling it" didn't mean she was merely suppressing it as much as possible as she usually did. It meant she was naturally managing her aura so that it didn't seep out or affect the surroundings at all.
"It looks like you’ve noticed. This room is constructed from special materials... 'As long as she is within these walls, Isis-san can perfectly control her Magic Power of Death'."
"No way..."
"Well, it is essentially a temporary measure. To tell the truth, while she’s in this room, Isis-san is kept in a state similar to being under the effects of Fate-san’s Critical Point of Fate. It makes it possible for her to temporarily achieve what she’ll eventually be able to do on her own one day. However, since it focuses strictly on her magic power, it’s quite draining. Even for Isis-san, I’d suggest a limit of about one hour at a time."
She spoke of it casually, but this was a revolutionary room. It meant that, even if only for a short time, Isis-san could speak normally with people who possessed no resistance to her death aura.
Thinking it through... I realized exactly why Alice had gone to such lengths to build this.
"...You did this for me."
"It’s a bit of a brute-force method, I’ll admit... but with this, Isis-san can finally meet your parents, right?"
"...Alice... I really don’t know how to thank you. I'm so—" "Whoops, stop right there." "—Huh?"
That was it. Alice had built this room because she’d noticed how much I’d been agonizing over how to introduce my lover, Isis-san, to my family.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, I tried to thank her properly, but Alice cut me off. She scratched her head, looking a little embarrassed.
"...To be perfectly honest, I couldn't have sourced materials that can literally 'pull the future into the present' on my own. This room only exists because of that person's cooperation..."
"...Even so, you were the one who thought of it. Thank you."
"...You’re welcome."
I watched Alice as she turned away with a shy smile. Then, in my heart, I sent a silent message of gratitude to the one who had surely provided the materials.
...Shiro-san, thank you so much.
(I told you, didn’t I? As long as I am here, you will never have to give up on anything. Besides, if it makes you happy, Kaito-san, then I am happy as well.)
I truly didn't know how to express my thanks. It might sound cliché, but I had to say it.
Shiro-san, I am so glad you’re in my life... I love you.
As I finished conveying my feelings to Shiro-san, I looked back to see Isis-san, her eyes brimming with tears and her body trembling, suddenly look up and lunge at Alice.
"~~!? Shaltier!"
"Gah!? W-What’s with the sudden tackle!?"
"...Thank you... I’m so happy... so... incredibly happy."
"Ah, geez! Don't cling to me, it's annoying! I'm straight, you know! Nothing's gonna rise just because you're hugging me!!"
"...What are you even talking about?"
Alice often tried to act detached and cynical, but she was incredibly kind to those she’d accepted into her circle. Just like during the Six Kings Festival, she’d clearly been thinking of a way to help Isis-san manage her magic power, even if she refused to admit it out loud.
That was why she had prepared this room. Watching the two of them—one sobbing and the other complaining—I felt a profound sense of peace. I was truly happy.
Around that same time, in the Sanctuary of the God Realm—the domain of Shallow Vernal—the three Supreme Gods had arrived for a visit.
"Pardon the intrusion, Shallow Vernal-sama. Having heard that Miyama has completed his new residence, we believed the God Realm should offer a gift in celebration. We have come to seek your guidance on the matter."
Chronoa, Fate, and Life had come together because of the news of Kaito's house. As Kaito was an existence of paramount importance to the God Realm, they sought the judgment of their absolute superior, Shallow Vernal.
As Chronoa spoke on behalf of the group, Shallow Vernal slowly turned to face them.
"Yes, quite so. I understand. Let us discuss it."
("""!? """)
The moment they saw her face, the three Supreme Gods were frozen in shock. Their thoughts raced at ultra-high speeds as they communicated telepathically.
(Wait, Space-Time God! God of Life! Shallow Vernal-sama is... she’s actually smiling!)
(Y-Yes... I see it. In all of recorded history, I have never seen Shallow Vernal-sama in such a magnificent mood.)
(...I am stunned as well. How... how beautiful. I can barely look at her directly.)
Indeed, the Shallow Vernal who turned toward them wore a smile so radiant it made her usual expressionless mask feel like a distant memory. It was obvious to anyone that she was in high spirits.
Furthermore, with a casual wave of her finger, she manifested a table and four chairs.
"We are all here, so I shall permit you to join me. Let us converse over some black tea."
It was a staggering turn of events. Until now, only Kuromueina and Kaito had been permitted to sit at the same table as Shallow Vernal. For the three Gods, this was an earth-shattering development.
Naturally, they could not refuse. Bowing deeply, they moved to their respective chairs with stiff, nervous expressions.
(...To sit at the same table as Shallow Vernal-sama... The honor is so great my legs are shaking. God of Fate, God of Space-Time, is my face making a weird expression?)
(D-Don't worry... I'm just as tense as you are. I mean, this is unbelievable, but... we all know why this is happening, right?)
(...Indeed. Without a doubt, Miyama is the cause. Nothing else could possibly explain Shallow Vernal-sama being this happy.)
(Kai-chan really is on a whole different level...)