"I won't live that long anyway. If anything, I might be dead tomorrow, actually.

"There's no reason for you to want to live that long.










There is no other possibility.

　In front of Hura.
　In front of Hura, who told him so, Huta stood in a place where the bookshelves overwhelmed the room like a library.

　The refrain is a memory of the past.
　The words that he hadn't had time to digest what they meant.

　He had said that he had no reason to live.

　But that doesn't mean...

　I never imagined that you had no hesitation in using magic to cut down your own life.

　That's how unconcerned she was about this world, how unattached she was.
　That's why, even after she was put on the executioner's block, all she had to do was worry about others.

　She clenched her fists.
　She clenched her fists, ashamed of herself for not noticing.

　I can't forgive myself for saying to her, as she worked hard at her water work, "Don't you use the recording technique?

　I was so foolish that I almost fell to my knees.
　I wondered if there had ever been a time in my life when I would have protected my girlfriend while talking about how important she was.
　In the end, it was all just talk, wasn't it?

　Such anger and helplessness are eating away at my heart.


　But...


"No!


　I remembered her smiling like a flower.


"Ehehe. The maid, too, has more things she wants to do!


　I remember her blinking her eyes happily.


　Oh, yes.
　I promised her.

"See you.

　I promised her that I would see her again.

I promised her we'd go for coffee again. I promised her.

　I don't know if Huta had any intention to tell Hura about his feelings. Hura is not interested in that.

　He just saw the determination of the person in her eyes, and that was enough for him.

I don't have a lot of time either. I'll keep this brief.
"...... Oh. Thank you, Mr. Hura.

　The pathetic look on his face was gone when he spoke to her.
　He looked up and his eyes were looking straight at you.

I'm not sure what to do.
I've never thought of that. I've never thought about it, but I'm the first court mage. I'm sure you'll find something if you really put your mind to it.

　With his hands outstretched, all the books in the library flew off the shelves at once and began to dance in a spiral in front of him.

　He smiles at Futa, who takes a step back.

"Just... Let's just say that whatever you find might make you despair.
"...... something.

　Huta swallows raw.
　I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

Is there anything I can do to help?
"It's fine that you offer to help.

　He then held out a book in front of Huta.
　One of the books, which had been dancing in the air, came to Futa as if it had a will of its own, and he opened it up.

"Can you read that?
"......

　He bit his lip and shook his head.
　The words looked familiar, but Futa couldn't decipher them anyway.

　He felt like he was useless in this place.

Mr. Hura.
What is it?
I need you.
Sure. --I'll see what I can do.
Yeah. Anything I can do that won't get Mr. Lilac in trouble.
Well said.

　Hura nodded and continued.
　It's just as well the name Lilac was mentioned.

"You can tell His Highness. Tell his highness to see if there's anything he can do. She may have already done something about it, though.
"Well, maybe Master Lilac knows!

　Lilac knows that Corona's magic uses lifespan itself.
　It wasn't impossible.
　Huta nodded, turned his back on Hura, and ran off.

　Hura's eyes slowly narrowed as she watched him go.


"Well. I don't think His Highness has found it, and more importantly--













　--Inside the castle. Corona's room.

　This room has a few more things in it than when Futa went in to look for the missing girl.

　Futa gently held the girl's hand as her chest rose and fell with ragged breathing, and looked at her with concern.

　After that, Futa went to Lilac's office.

　After all, she knew about Korona's life expectancy and had been investigating it for half a year.
　However, it seems that there is a limit to how much information can be obtained without the power of magic, and she told me that she was actually behind the alliance with the court mage.

　He didn't seem to welcome the fact that Huta had learned about Corona's life expectancy, but there was nothing he could do about it.
　It's more painful for Futa to be stuck in Corona's predicament.

I'm not sure what to do.

　That was the last thing Lilac said.
　It seemed that there was little Futa could do now.
　That's why he thought he was the right person to keep checking on her.
　And more than that, he wanted to make sure that he would never regret what he had done.
　I hated myself for unconsciously thinking such things.

　I didn't want her to die in the first place.


　Futa gently wraps his hand around her heated one.
　I don't think this is going to cool her down. If anything, her body temperature is so high that he has changed the cloth soaked in water several times. It's pointless. I know.

　But... But still...
　I just want to reassure her that I'm here.
　I couldn't shake that feeling, even if it was a pointless act.

"......
I'm sorry.

　The eyelids open.
　I'm not sure what to do. You'll be able to find a lot more information on the web.
　Fuzzy thoughts. A fuzzy consciousness.
　But she seemed to understand who was in her vision, what the situation was, and what his expression was like.

　She smiled and said, "Good morning.

Good morning.
"...... Oh.
Don't look at me like that. I'm not happy, maid.
...... I'm sorry.
I feel like I'm being apologized to in a different way.

　The words are as clear as ever.
　But he was inexplicably out of breath, and his voice was taut, thin and fragile again.

　It's a good idea to take a look at the website and see if you can find anything that might help you.

"...... Murika?
You can't. The only way I'm going to feel better is if Corona feels better.
"I see. ......

　I'm going to have to work hard then. It was as if he had given up on everything, not just on making Futa smile.
　His breathing is ragged, his face is hot, and he writhes around as if it's hard for him to move even a single body.

...... Why?

　You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of them.
　I'm not sure if you've heard of it or not.

I'm not sure why you didn't tell me.
"......, is that by any chance?
It's about life expectancy.
You've been found out. ...... You've finally been found out. ......

　I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but it's a good idea.

　In the event that you have any kind of questions regarding where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site.

"...... Actually. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it.
"...... That's what this is about.
Hmmm. I sneeze every year, so I wasn't worried about it at all. But since the end of the cherry blossom season, ...... I've been thinking it's been longer than usual. I thought about it. I thought it might be my life span.

　But then she looked up at the ceiling.
　Her face is smiling. She was smiling, but sad, and about to cry. With a painful smile, she mutters.

I wish I could stay longer, ...... I thought.
"Corona ......
I didn't want to worry you. I didn't want to worry you.

　I squeeze her hand tightly.
　Her voice is getting weaker and weaker.
　Futa's voice was getting weaker and weaker, and he was afraid that she would disappear.

I'll be fine!
"......?
You'll be fine again!　I'll be fine again! I don't need a cold to last me a lifetime!


"............ ehehe.

　Softly, she smiled.
　Then she looked straight at Futa and said.

　I'm...

"I'm happy, Futa-sama.

　When she relaxed her expression with a grin, her eyes were already fully closed.
　Futa lost his expression for a moment and hurried to check her breathing.

　--Apparently, she had just fallen asleep again.

　Her breathing was as ragged as ever, and her fever was as high as ever. But he is still alive.

　He said they gave him some medicine. Now he just needs to eat and keep his strength, Futa thought.

　Something he couldn't do for his sister one day.
　This time, Futa's head was spinning as he tried not to let his loved one die.

　As I recall, when you have a cold with no appetite, risotto is good.
　He had just eaten it at the taverna the other day and thought about making it himself.

　So until then, somehow...

　He put his hand on his forehead and relaxed the corners of his mouth.
　His eyes are still filled with worry and anxiety.

　I promise you, be safe.


　--That's when he heard the knock.


Yes?
"Mr. Futa, are you here?
Yeah, come in if you need anything.

　And then a chamberlain appeared.
　She occasionally asks Futa for permission when she has visitors, and she opens the door with a very confused look on her face.

"Um, someone named Izuna and Motisuke is asking to see you.
How could he not want to see us?
Master. It's possible he's already dead.
I don't think so.

　In the event that you've got a lot of time, you'll be able to take a look at the best way to do it.

　As soon as they saw Futa, they gave him a hand sign saying "Yea", and Mochisuke, perhaps mistakenly thinking it was a formal greeting, imitated him and said "Yea" as well.

　Futa's eyes sharpened slightly as he realized that the noisy people had arrived.

　But it seems that Izuna has noticed a strange situation.
　She was sitting on the side chair of the bed, her body turned away from him.
　She doesn't look like she's relaxing by herself.

　So he covered Mochisuke's mouth, thinking that someone was sick. I was completely caught in the middle.

"Are you taking in ......?
Sort of.
Yeah. Oh, boy.

　Izuna scratches the back of his head.
　He has some business to attend to, but unfortunately, that's not really his concern right now.
　He was about to say no, when he suddenly felt a presence next to him and turned around.

　It's a great way to make sure you're getting the most out of your vacation.

"...... Ah, mochisuke ......?

　I gulped.
　I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

　You can find a lot of people who are interested in this kind of thing.
　You can find a lot of things that you can do to make your life easier.
　But that in itself did not surprise him now.

"Can you read?

　Hura had said, the string of words on the grimoire.
　It was the look in her eyes that made me think it was familiar.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. .......

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing.

I'm not sure what to do. Do you want to eliminate it?
What?

　In the event that you have any questions regarding where and the best way to get in touch with us, you can call us at our own web site.

"I sense a hint of magic. Do you want to eliminate it?

　A hint of magic. It means that there is some kind of magic that is eating away at her.
　Eliminate it?

Can you do that?
"............ detects a sign of magic. Do you want me to eliminate it?
You're frustrated!　What do you mean, you're not going to tell me what I can't do?
............
All right, all right, all right!　Hold on a second.

　It's true that I was grasping at straws.

Isn't that magic Corona's?
I think it's causing her a lot of pain.
Are you sure you don't want to get rid of it?
About 90% better than now.
Do it!


You're a man of quick judgment, aren't you?
"Oh, am I being judged?

　You can't help but feel a sense of resignation, as if you're being watched with half an eye.

　But I don't mind.
　If it reduces the possibility of Corona's suffering even a little, Futa thinks we should do everything we can.

　Mochisuke stepped forward and crept his hand into the blanket.

"Cho ......

　Fumbling, flicking.
　You'll be able to find a lot more information on this subject in the future.

"--Law analysis. Disarming execution. Identify yourself as Motisuke. I'm not sure what to do.

　I'm not sure what to do. The light disappears from Motisuke's eyes.
　I don't know what the string of letters gushing out of the stained-glass-like red light is indicating, but...

I'm not stupid, you know. I get it.
"...... what?
If Mochisuke wants to do something about it, it can't be that bad. He's an idiot, but he's a good guy.
I'm sure he's really not happy about you calling him an idiot. ......
"...... Why?

　This is because he is a man who does not understand the meaning of the word.

　However, even though his mouth is idly engaged in conversation, his eyes are still on Corona.
　This is the first time I've ever seen such a thing.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　Her breathing, which had been ragged, gradually became more even.
　The temperature of his hand, which he was gently holding, seems to have dropped slightly.
　He still has a fever, and his breathing is not quite normal.
　But still, it was obvious to everyone that he was much closer to normal than before.

...... process completed. Returning to normal mode.

　And with that, the light was gone from her palm.
　At the same time, her eyes returned to life and the equation she had drawn disappeared.

"I've eliminated ......?
Thank you, thank you!　It's not that I doubted you, but...!

　She tilted her head and gave off a slight air of triumph while pretending to take it for granted.

　He took her hand and bowed to her, thanking her again and again, and Mochisuke looked up at Izuna.

"Your first victory, Master.
I'm not sure if this is the kind of thing you want to do.
No, it's not. ......

　Apparently, he was trying to beat Futa.
　I don't know why, but it doesn't matter to Futa anymore.
　It's okay to lose.

　Because...

"......

　You'll be able to find a lot more information on the web.
　The pain she was feeling earlier is nowhere to be seen.

　That was enough for me to be grateful.

"Thank you .......

　"This is the first time I've ever seen such a thing.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　--And then, Izuna asked Futa when the time was right.

I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.
Oh, yeah. You can tell me anything you want.

　Corona's condition has calmed down.
　Izuna looked up at him as if it was only natural that he should return the favor.



Mirabelle seems to have disappeared, do you know where she is?


　The trouble never ends.












"Well. I don't think His Highness has found her, and more importantly, I don't think she's going to last a lifetime.