When I returned to the merchant guild that had given me the envelope and provided the answer exactly as Alice had instructed, it caused quite a stir.
As Alice had predicted, the answer—including the logic used to solve it—was perfectly correct. It seemed that providing the solution without a single hint was completely beyond the guild’s expectations; the receptionist who took the answer stood frozen in shock for a good while.
Their original plan had been to create a "supreme challenge" so difficult it couldn’t be solved immediately. They intended to release hints over time, prompting challengers to visit various guild-affiliated shops where the clues were posted. In short, it was a marketing ploy designed to drive foot traffic.
Naturally, they’d anticipated that someone might crack it early, but they never expected anyone to solve it this fast.
Nevertheless, they had apparently prepared plenty of high-end prizes in anticipation of multiple winners. After promising not to leak the solution to anyone else, we successfully claimed our reward.
Feeling a bit guilty for derailing their event, I bought a few of their more expensive items before heading out.
Once we were outside, Fia-sensei and I checked the prize together.
"It’s another envelope... I wonder what’s inside?"
"Hmm, maybe tickets?"
The envelope had a premium feel to it. When I opened it, I found a pair of tickets labeled "Sky Castle Special Pair Admission Ticket."
"If I recall correctly... isn't this where we held your birthday party, Miyama-kun?"
"Yeah, it’s the castle Lilia-san owns now."
I see. This was definitely a high-end prize. The Sky Castle was an incredibly popular tourist destination managed by the royal family. Because daily attendance was strictly limited, I recalled hearing it was booked solid months in advance. It had even been featured prominently in several magazines.
This pass allowed entry on any date of our choosing, making it a premium item far more valuable than a standard, date-restricted ticket.
To be honest, I could probably get a pass just by asking Lilia-san. My mother and father had actually been given some during the White God Festival and went to tour the castle together.
But receiving them at this specific moment felt like a sign—a prompt to use them for a date. The scenery there was breathtaking; it really was the perfect spot.
"It's so popular, right? I haven't been back since your birthday either," Fia-sensei said.
"Same here. But from what I heard from my parents, it sounds like the castle has been turned into a museum overseen by the royal family. They have all sorts of historical artifacts from the Kingdom of Sinfonia on display."
"That sounds wonderful. And if we head there now, the sun should be setting soon. We might catch the sunset."
"Good point. The sunset from up there must be gorgeous. I heard they have benches specifically for taking in the view."
Since visitors were limited, it wouldn't be crowded. We’d be able to take our time and enjoy the scenery. It really was an ideal setup.
This was probably why Alice had given me the answer. It was the perfect place to wrap up a date.
"Lilia-san mentioned that the interior has changed quite a bit since the party," I added.
"Oh? It sounds like there's more to see than just the exhibits. It's a big place, though. I wonder if we’ll have enough time to see everything if we go now."
"That’s a fair point. Well, if we don't finish it all today, we can always come back and see the rest next time."
"Oh, an invitation for another date? Now I’m torn! Part of me wants to see it all today, but taking our time and saving some for later sounds nice, too."
Fia-sensei smiled and squeezed my arm affectionately. I felt truly lucky to have seen so many of her charming sides today.
"Haha, if we do finish it all, we’ll just go somewhere else. We could visit another country, or even head to the Demon Realm."
"You’re right! I could give you a proper tour of the Demon Realm. Thinking about it like that, there are so many places I want to go with you, Miyama-kun. Scenic spots, fun spots... I can't decide!"
"Well, there's no rush. We have all the time in the world to visit as many places as we want."
"Yeah... It's been so long since I've looked forward to the future like this. It makes me so happy. It’s all thanks to you, Miyama-kun."
As Fia-sensei spoke with a laugh, the shadows that once haunted her were gone. She looked radiant, her eyes sparkling with hope for the days to come.
Serious-senpai: "They're flirting... It's so painful." ???: "Serious-senpai? I mean, you’re making a grave face, but isn't this just business as usual?" Serious-senpai: "It's painful because it's business as usual! Is there no drama? No tension? Is there nothing serious at all?!" ???: "Not a bit-nessu." Serious-senpai: "...Then there is no hope for my future."