I rode the [Bifrost] straight to Hilde's bedroom in the <Unified Student Council> building. It took quite a while to get inside, as the room was spacious.
“…!”
As I was walking in, I caught sight of something on the table—a large lance, or rather, the handle of [Gungnir]. It startled me for a moment, but I pushed the thought aside and approached Hilde.
“Hilde, Hilde, what's that sound—☆” “Lara…?”
Step, step—
In the distance, in front of the mirror, Hilde, who was in the middle of combing her hair, looked over at me with a curious expression. Her silver hair, usually floating slightly, now lay calmly against her head.
“…” I was still a bit unfamiliar with that smooth look.
‘…She’s been grooming her hair often these days.’
She never used to care, whether her hair flew around in battle or not.
After the battle with the Prophet, I started expressing my affection more openly. Since then, Hilde began to tame her usually unruly hair. Her once intense, fiery gaze had also softened into a warm glow. It was as if she had shed something, but I couldn’t quite figure out what.
‘Has she… changed somehow?’
Until now, Hilde's image had always been that of a wild lion's mane. But recently, her neat and tidy appearance made her seem almost princess-like.
She seemed to have matured in some way.
‘…Could it be the calm after the storm?’
Has her adolescent phase finally ended?
‘She used to be so insistent…’
She would chew on my hair, admire the lines of my hip and pelvic bones, try on various outfits, and slip her hand under my clothes.
‘I’ll never forget when she mumbled, “Lara drinks exactly 19ml in one gulp,” while looking at my teacup…’
Has she finally said goodbye to that tumultuous history and her carefree self?
‘Then why are you causing trouble again, Hilde!’
I crossed my arms and gave her a stern look, trying to convey my discontent. Hilde's expression also became serious.
“…” “…” Hilde stared at me, lost in thought, before she let out a small ‘Ah’ and stood up. She then reached under her skirt.
Hilde, with an awkward posture, lowered her panties and smiled proudly.
“Oh! So that’s it…! I never thought Lara would initiate first. But still, I’m happy. I’ll take a quick shower.”
Her tone had also softened considerably.
“No, put them back on—☆” “Wear them? Hmm… if that’s what you like, Lara…” “No, no, no☆ I’m not doing that—☆” “Why not…?” “No means no—☆” “…” Hilde gently held my hand, and I saw myself being swept away like a paper doll, the scene turning into a rainbow-hued blur in my mind.
Perhaps this was a possible future.
‘No! I don’t have time for this…!’
So I spoke more firmly.
Hilde's face darkened quickly.
“…You won’t?” “I won’t!” “…” Gloomily, she slowly pulled her underwear back up, her expression resembling that of a three-year-old Maltese abandoned at a rest stop during the holidays.
Whimper… Like a puppy whose fur around its mouth is wet from the rain. The expression that says, ‘I guess I’m not the favored one anymore.’ Her once smiling mouth now turned downward.
“…” Seeing that expression, I felt a sharp pang in my heart.
‘For her to suddenly show such vulnerability.’
The comparison with her usual confident self made me feel guilty and protective, softening my resolve.
“…” This girl, who had never received love in her childhood and struggled with closeness to others, had finally let go of her constant tension…
“…” Unable to bear the sadness, I muttered softly.
“…Next time.”
Hilde’s face brightened instantly, and she once again lowered her panties.
“Now?” “No!”
After the commotion had passed, we sat quietly side by side at the table where the lance handle lay, talking.
The gist of the conversation was this: Rather than trying to regain her weakened strength, it would be quicker to find a new leader to guide the academy city. Rather than restoring the authority of a weakened absolute power, it was better to prepare for the birth of a new hero.
Pointing to herself, Hilde said:
“Besides, I’m already a third-year, and my birthday has long passed… Soon, I’ll be leaving this place. The real crisis isn’t about someone like me, who’s about to leave, but about finding someone who can stay and lead everyone forward.” “Hilde…” “I don’t need to be remembered as an eternal legend, just as a senior who protected the academy city well for a time.” “I see.” “I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said, Lara. Why would someone want to leave something behind for others rather than for themselves…?” “…” “It wasn’t until I became completely weak that I began to understand. The [Thunder Spear of Clarity] isn’t eternal… It’s those who are left behind who must carry on.”
It was only after losing her strength to the Prophet that she started thinking about a future beyond the duty assigned to her.
In the game, Hilde was lonely until the end, smiling as she looked at the scenery of the academy city they had protected.
“Fufu…”
But now, she was smiling next to me, a relaxed smile spreading across her slightly parted lips.
‘She’s still one of the top five in the academy city… but she probably doesn’t need that kind of reassurance.’
What’s important is that she realized something after abandoning perfection and that I respect her choice to share with others.
I held her hand.
“I see.”
As warmth spread across my palm like paint, she interlocked her fingers with mine, responding in kind. The warmth that can’t be felt alone was now shared between us.
“…” “…” Thud—
I leaned to the right.
Since Hilde was taller than me, it was natural to rest my head on her nape.
Thud—
Hilde tilted her head to the left.
Silver hair fell over my head like a curtain, and her smooth cheek touched the crown of my head.
“…” “…” In this mirror-like pose of leaning on each other, a passage from an old picture book came to mind.
Mirrors and photos are distorted by light, so the only way to truly see yourself is by exchanging gazes with others.
Humans are ultimately animals that live by leaning on one another.
‘If there’s no one to lean on… do you start to die?’
Somehow, the face of the Prophet, who had been consumed by evil, flashed through my mind.
I will save this world. Is he truly living, or is he dying?
Can he truly save this world?
“…” I asked Verdandi, who knew him, about what the Prophet was planning to do next.
But Verdandi, whose memory was incomplete, could only smile sadly.
Someday, the dragon will come to this land. Defeat it. For the world we love… stop him. Inevitability.
No matter how much we thwart <Ratatoskr>'s schemes, no matter how much we twist the story of the <Yggdrasil Gate>, eventually, the [Dragon Lurking in the Abyss] will come.
And the Prophet intends to do something, relying on that inevitability.
“…” Even Urd, who is in Biyaki's belly, smiled apologetically and said she would find what she could do.
I don’t really know either…☆ But… of all the [Fates] that exist in this world, the strongest is the appearance of the ‘dragon’—☆ That’s something I’m sure of. Urd held my hand tightly as she said this.
You, who have protected the fate of the [Three Heroes] until now, are not wrong. They’ve grown enough to bloom in their own colors. Through my thoughts, Hilde suddenly spoke.
“…Lara.” “…Yes?” “Will you stay for lunch…?” “…Yes.” “And your juniors?” “They’re doing well without me now.” “I see.” “…” “…” Still holding my hand, Hilde reached out with her other hand and grabbed the handle of [Gungnir] on the table. As she slowly caressed it, she said:
“…This was given to me by my family when I first entered elementary school. No one told me where it came from or how it was made… I just carried it around.” “…” In the game, I got it through a gacha.
“They told me to always keep it with me, so I did.” “…” “Now it’s gone.” “…” I placed my hand on top of Hilde’s other hand. Again, warmth that could not be felt alone was shared.
Hilde clasped that hand as well, and said:
“…But it’s still here.” “Yes.” “Thank goodness.” “Yes.”
We sat there, holding each other’s hands in that strange way.
“…” “…” “Do you want to stay for dinner too?” “…Yes.”
The next morning.
I rode the [Bifrost] and ran like a dog to <Central Prism Academy>.
Crash—☆
A rare sight of a pink rainbow spiral appearing in midair. It was definitely a sight to behold anywhere, but…
“I’m back—☆”
Kara, who was tinkering with something along with the [Revolutionary Comrade] robots, Biyaki, who was grooming her feathers with her large wings, Lota, who was soaking her feet in a water bucket while studying a magic book, and Albit, who was practicing with her holy sword in a tracksuit…
They all responded nonchalantly.
“…Welcome back?” “Welcome back.” “You’re back.” “Did you come back?” “…” To see them remain so calm in the face of such a rare sight was truly remarkable. Honestly, even though I had gained these powers, my heart still raced.
‘Did I show them too often?’
I started to wonder if I should make this a limited feature, only letting those who drew a 100-pull gacha ride the [Bifrost]. I was deep in thought.
“Oh, by the way, did you hear, Senior? President Brynhild suddenly announced on the news broadcast that ‘From now on, kill each other,’ and started a brawl. You’re close to her, so…”
Albit walked over toward me.
“…” I measured the ‘distance’ to Albit. A faint pink ether vibrated as it surrounded Albit.
In that moment.
Whoosh—!
Albit suddenly grinned and released small flame wings from her back, quickly sliding several meters to the side.
She had dodged my ‘distance.’
“Oops—! Senior, I won’t fall for it anymore!” “…” Seeing this, I felt a swell of emotion as I compared her to the girl who had once cried while watching me with a bucket over my head at the start of the semester.
‘I wasn’t wrong.’
So, with confidence, I handed Albit a piece of paper.
Albit took it, tilting her head in confusion.
“What’s this?” “…” I grabbed Albit’s shoulder and gave her a big thumbs up.
“From now on, kill each other☆” “…?”
<Central Prism Academy> Combat Festival participant.
[Crimson Flash] Albit joins the battle.