The archives in Isis-san's castle were truly cavernous. I had visited the Royal Library of the Kingdom of Sinfonia once before, but the number of volumes here likely surpassed even that by a significant margin.
Realizing that Isis-san had read every single book in this room made the sheer weight of the eons she had lived through hit home.
"Kaito... is something wrong?"
"Oh, no... I was just thinking that I never could have imagined it being this spacious inside just by looking at the exterior."
"I'm using... Space-Time Magic... to expand the interior."
"I've been hearing a lot about that lately. Kuro’s house is the same, and Alice mentioned she uses space expansion for her workshop, too."
"Yes... Space Isolation Barriers and... other space-related barrier magics are well-developed. There are Stable Formula Methods for them... making them easy to use."
"I see..."
Of course, this was "easy" only when speaking to someone of Isis-san's caliber. In reality, space-type magic was incredibly difficult. Large-scale Space Isolation Barriers were apparently among the most advanced techniques in existence, rivaling the top one or two for the title of the most sophisticated magic.
Come to think of it, Teleportation Magic—the very definition of a difficult spell—shared properties with Space-Time Magic, so that entire category was likely a challenge across the board.
"Isis-san, what's that book?"
"Ah... this one... is a recommendation. I want... Kaito to read it too."
"I see. Thank you. Every book you've recommended so far has been great, so I’m really looking forward to it."
"Hearing you say that... makes me... happy."
Isis-san smiled as she cradled several books in her arms. She looked so content that her joy felt contagious.
I had come to stay at her place today, and while spending a quiet evening chatting over books sounded lovely... part of me felt it was a bit of a waste to spend our time together just reading. It was a difficult dilemma.
As I wrestled with that thought, Isis-san murmured with a look of quiet nostalgia.
"When I was... reading here all alone... it was so lonely. Even when the stories were interesting... they felt cold, somehow. After I finished a book... I always felt so empty."
"Isis-san..."
"But... because I had those long years... I can... recommend my favorites to Kaito now. Knowing that time wasn't wasted... makes me... so glad."
"I agree. I'm sure none of it was in vain. It might have been a lonely, painful time for you then, but I bet there will be more and more chances for that knowledge to be useful from now on. Look, even at the Six Kings Festival, people were able to get within three meters of you. If that range keeps shrinking, you'll be able to talk to all sorts of people much more casually."
"Do you... really think so? Can I... really become like that?"
When we had walked together at the festival, the crowds watching from a distance had felt some intimidation, but they didn't seem to be gripped by the primal terror usually caused by her Magic Power of Death.
I had heard that the happier Isis-san became, the weaker the fear radiated by her magic grew. If I could make her even happier, then closing that three-meter gap shouldn't be impossible.
"I mean, just think about it. It’s only been about six months since we met, and people can already get somewhat close. That’s a huge step forward. I don't know much about magic, so I can't give you advice on how to control the Magic Power of Death... but I plan on making you even happier than you are now. I’m sure that'll naturally take care of the rest as a bonus, right?"
"Kaito!"
Exactly. My primary goal wasn't to mitigate her magic; it was to make her happy. If that resulted in her being able to interact with more people as a secondary effect, I’d be thrilled for her.
Maybe one day she would even have subordinates, and this castle would be filled with life.
As I voiced those thoughts, Isis-san’s eyes grew misty. She used magic to float the books she was holding and suddenly threw herself into my arms.
"Kaito... I love you... I love you so much."
"I love you too, Isis-san."
"I'm so happy... As long as I have you, I know I'll be okay. But... I don't just want you to make me happy. I want to make Kaito happy, too. So... um..."
"That's right. It shouldn't be a one-way street. Let's find happiness together."
"Ah... yes!"
The smile she gave me was dazzlingly beautiful. In that moment, I felt like I saw a new strength beginning to bloom within her, beyond her usual fragility.
The fact that she wanted to give as well as receive was surely proof that her heart was growing stronger. Reaffirming my resolve to support her as her lover, I leaned down, guided by the expectation in her eyes, and kissed her.
Serious-senpai: "Gwahh?! Sudden sugar, gwahhhh... Dammit, we actually had a serious streak going, but the moment Kaito shows up, it turns into this... S-So this is the Protagonist's Sugar Power..."