On the Lumeris continent, buildings with black as the base color are extremely rare.
The new city of the Lumeris continent was developed with the aim of more effectively cultivating the dreams and hopes of students.
The grand sage of Lumeris, who long ago transformed a barren wasteland devoid of a single tree into a new city, ceaselessly emphasized that dreams and hopes flourish in bright atmospheres. As a result, the Lumeris continent ended up with an overwhelming number of pristine white buildings, fitting the intended spirit.
When constructing buildings, the unwritten rule on the Lumeris continent for hundreds of years has been to use as light a color as possible. However, this was shattered by a vibrant red-haired girl with a sultry demeanor who tied her fiery hair.
A towering five-story building with a black base color.
The fifth floor, the topmost level, houses the office of Muse Fairfield, the owner of the Frey Company.
It’s soundproof and incredibly spacious. Compared to my office at the Daylight Church, it feels about three times larger.
This is the most confidential space in the building, where even Frey Company employees cannot enter without permission.
In this secluded place, I listen to a shocking story from Muse Fairfield, seated at the head of the room.
“Please help me seize the imperial authority.”
Such blatant and indefensible words, stated casually, are indeed typical of the Empress of the Revolution, Muse Fairfield.
Her sly fox-like smiles never cease to unsettle me, evoking an unpleasant feeling as if she can read my inner thoughts.
It was remarkable audacity in many ways, but my answer was already set.
“Are you crazy?”
Start a revolution to seize imperial authority? Who will deal with the aftermath? Even if we concede every point—even if someone handles the aftermath—would the citizens accept Muse Fairfield as their emperor?
Muse Fairfield’s trauma regarding revolution exists for a reason. Attempting such an act in the first place is an utterly unrealistic feat with less than a one percent chance of success.
Thus, my response was naturally that I could not help her.
“You’re already in a high position. Why do you want to grab imperial authority?”
“There’s a saying: ‘The greed of man knows no end.’ Let that be my answer to your question.”
“I’m genuinely advising you for your own good. Stop this. It’s not going to work.”
“It’s possible. With someone who knows the future, like me.”
“Realistically, how will any noble family acknowledge an imperial authority seized by a peasant leading a rebellion? Even if you have the support of the common people, it will eventually be halted by the powerful nobles.”
Take Judith, sitting on the sofa to the left, for example.
The Mundust family, renowned as the right hand to the Solaris Imperial Family, has a long history. They have greatly aided the Solaris family and have also received their share of benefits. The Mundust Duke would never idly stand by and let Muse’s revolution occur.
“In fact, I never intended to convince Mate. My primary focus is on the two of you.”
“That makes sense. You see, I was the one who interfered with your revolution the most.”
“Of course, if I were to name the top saboteur of my revolution, Mate would be my choice without a moment’s hesitation. However, considering the kindness you’ve shown me over time, I actually view you as a person favorably.”
Muse took another sip of her tea and gently stroked the rim of the teacup with her thumb.
A sudden chill ran down my spine.
“I believe that my revolution will surely succeed if only Mate is out of the picture. You know what I mean, don’t you?”
“Are you saying you’ll erase my existence from this world?”
“I want to, but it’s fifty-fifty. Honestly, even if I lean toward wanting it, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Muse grinned with a fox-like smile and raised it into a V. I could feel a dry lump forming in my throat.
“I have two significant reasons. Pretty simple, right?”
Clouds parted, revealing the bright sunlight streaming through the window onto Muse.
Much like the charm of sunlight and moonlight together, if the sun and the moon were to collide in the sky, it would feel something like this—an enigmatic beauty.
“One is my personal fondness for Mate.”
Muse glanced at Xyah and began to count down her fingers one by one. It was an indication of counting something internally.
“The other is the formidable beings protecting Mate.”
Muse looked at Xyah and folded her fingers, categorizing Xyah Stella as a potent warrior.
“Between Xyah Stella and Shirai, dealing with one would be manageable, but not both.”
Taking her cue from me, Xyah slipped her hands into her robe and immediately adopted a defensive stance. Muse seemed to find Xyah’s vigilant demeanor cute, as she covered her mouth and let out a soft laugh.
“Xyah, what I’m saying is, if you join me, everything will be resolved.”
This is a crisis. My instincts tell me so.
“You like Mate, don’t you?”
“…!”
“If you team up with me and help me keep an eye on Mate who’s left with only Shirai, everything will proceed smoothly afterward according to my plan.”
To speak so openly in front of the concerned party—Muse’s audacity and brimming confidence are truly jaw-dropping.
Licking her thumb that caressed the teacup’s rim, Muse then turned her gaze to Judith.
“Judith, you want Yuren, don’t you? To the extent that you betrayed Mate, your partner in the previous timeline, for a secret rendezvous with Yuren.”
“…”
“If you join me, I’ll ensure Yuren and Shirai will never end up together. Joining our forces with the Mundust Duke would be immensely rewarding, wouldn’t it?”
The feeling of impending doom was overwhelming, surpassing the point of mere discomfort—it was downright unpleasant. The more the two hesitated, the more I felt myself burning inside.
Muse’s eloquence surpasses mine. If we remain passive, both of them will surely be swayed by her crafty tongue.
“Do you know what? Personally, I find your actions the most perplexing, Xyah.”
“It’s understandable that you wouldn’t understand. You see Xyah as nothing more than a tool for your revolution.”
“How can someone with an incredible, death-defying ability not use it meaningfully? Frankly, if you just decided to, you could achieve anything you desire.”
While hesitating in silence, Muse capitalized on the moment, driving her point home.
“I’ll help you. I’ll remove Shirai from Mate’s side…”
“I decline.”
Xyah’s response was concise and clear.
A firm rejection.
Xyah’s emerald eyes were still fixed upon the floor.
“Whatever you think of me, I find you to be incredibly reckless. Starting a revolution to seize imperial authority doesn’t make sense.”
“Hmm.”
“As you say, I could accomplish anything if I decided to use my powers that way. But I don’t want to use my abilities like that.”
Xyah, glancing at me for a fleeting moment, then looked directly at Muse and spoke.
“I want to live a normal life. I also want to achieve my romantic aspirations on my own, not someone else’s strength.”
Her words struck such a touching chord that I wanted to pat her on the head, but the atmosphere wasn’t right for it.
“If you’re finished, I’ll be going.”
Xyah got up from her chair, brushed off some dust from her robe, and hesitated, looking at me for a moment, her stance uncertain.
She was the girl who openly confessed her honest feelings for me before we rewound time. Yet she remembered my request to keep my distance from everyone here and, yesterday, unintentionally even shot a hole through my wrist with an arrow.
I imagine Xyah feels more conflicted than Shirai. There’s so much she wants to say to me, and I have so much to say to her.
“Xyah, did you know?”
Muse grinned with her fox-like smile and gave a sharp, clear smirk.
“All of the counterarguments you’ve been throwing at me are the same ones Mate used to persuade you in the previous timeline.”
“So what? Is there anything strange about that?”
“In the previous timeline, you worked full force to hinder me with Mate. Mate convinced you because… you liked Mate.”
Ignoring Muse completely, Xyah continued walking, as if bodily affirming that her beliefs would never falter.
“And so, by just following Mate’s advice, what have you truly gained in the end?”
The moment Xyah’s seemingly unstoppable steps came to a halt, it felt as though time and space itself had frozen—just like the world collapsing when I used the Recurrence Scroll.
“Mate never gave you a second glance or any opportunities. The woman Mate had a crush on was always Judith, and he ended up marrying her. Then, coming back in time, what did Mate do for you? Nothing. Instead, he shamelessly hung around with Shirai. He didn’t even care about you.”
“Shut up.”
“You weren’t used by me. You were used by Mate. I promised you that if you join me, I will help you achieve everything you desire. Mate, on the other hand, gave you nothing.”
Muse approached Xyah, gently placing a hand on her shoulder and whispering into her ear, much like how Professor Tiren leaned in to whisper into mine.
The voice was soft enough that I couldn’t hear it, but judging it wouldn’t do any good staying seated, I promptly rose from my chair.
Click.
The door, which had been tightly shut since the employees left, started to open slowly from the outside.
Not like Judith’s neatly styled tresses, this woman’s cherry blossom-colored wavy hair was abundant and styled in curls. Dressed neatly and maintaining a poised posture, her eyes closed as she was supported by a female employee.
“Let me introduce you. This is our hidden guest who’s been listening to our conversation from the very beginning.”
Shirai was frozen in shock, her face rigid like a statue.
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