Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
Warehouse District · Moonlit Night
Of course, Nygglatho didn't end up preying on Kaito. After the group got to know each other a little better, everyone returned to their own rooms.
Only Nygglatho stayed behind in Chtholly's room, bringing a bottle of red wine with her.
"It's rare to see you drinking something other than black tea."
Willem looked at Nygglatho in surprise. She sat by the window, a glass of red wine in hand, quietly gazing at the moon.
Without turning around, Nygglatho spoke softly. "It's good that you're here. I don't want to cry alone anymore."
Willem followed her gaze toward the moon outside. "In the past, whenever I saw someone else's tragedy or misfortune, no matter how hopeless the situation was, I always wanted to do something. Yet my power was too insignificant, and in the end, I couldn't save anyone. Even though I'd already gone through that before..."
At that, Willem raised his glass and took a sip.
"Oh my, drinking red wine beneath the moonlight? How elegant. Mind if I join you?"
Just as Willem was about to continue, Kaito's cheerful voice interrupted them.
"Kaito-sama!"
"Administrator Kaito, didn't you just leave Chtholly's side?"
Nygglatho looked at him with exasperation written all over her face.
"Hehe, I just got here and couldn't sleep. Don't mind me, you two keep talking."
Kaito chuckled as he spoke, then completely made himself at home by dragging over a chair and squeezing himself between Willem and Chtholly's bedside.
Forced aside, Willem could only shake his head helplessly. After glancing at Chtholly sleeping on the bed, he continued, "Even so, I still want Chtholly to be happy. She really... what does she even see in a man like me?"
Hearing that, Kaito subtly glanced at Chtholly before answering, "Young man, love isn't reasonable. As for the reason, I think the person involved should tell you herself." A smile appeared on his face as he looked toward the bed. "Isn't that right, my dear little girl?"
The moment those words left his mouth, Willem and Nygglatho both turned toward the bed. There, Chtholly was looking at them with a gentle smile.
"Don't you understand? Because you gave me so many firsts. You were the first person to offer me a hand on a crowded street, the first person to take me sightseeing, and the first person who showed me what the world was really like. You were the first person I could rely on, and the first person who ever made me admit defeat. There are already too many to count. So isn't it only natural that I fell in love with you first? You should've realized that yourself, you idiot..."
Seeing Chtholly awake, Nygglatho covered her mouth as tears filled her eyes. Willem slowly stood up, staring at her in silence.
As Chtholly sat upright, she looked at Kaito and the others in confusion. "What happened to me? After I came back to the warehouse, I had a strange dream. You all took so long to come back." Then she noticed Willem's expression. "W-What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Willem remained speechless.
Seeing that, Kaito sighed, walked over, and kicked Willem squarely in the rear.
"Go already."
"Whoa?!"
Willem was launched directly onto the bed. Startled, Chtholly hurriedly caught him before he could crash into her.
Watching the scene unfold, Nygglatho smiled through her tears. "Oh my. Administrator Kaito is surprisingly good at reading the atmosphere."
"Of course I am!" Kaito proudly raised an eyebrow.
Meanwhile, the two on the bed found themselves embracing thanks to Kaito's intervention. Willem held Chtholly tightly and whispered, "Welcome back, Chtholly."
The moment she heard those words, tears gathered in her eyes as well. She wrapped her arms around him and whispered back, "I'm back, Willem..." The next instant, she burst into tears. "Waaahhhhhh!!!"
Watching the reunion, Kaito quietly pulled out a camera.
Click.
The shutter flashed.
Looking at the photo of the two crying in each other's arms, Kaito nodded in satisfaction.
Not long afterward, the door suddenly opened. Nephren and Ithea stood there, staring at the embracing pair in shock.
Nephren blinked. "A miracle of love?"
Ithea looked at the crying Chtholly and continued, "Whether it's because of love or not, the miracle itself is undeniable. Knowing her, she would've ignored everything else. No matter the price, she would've given everything she had."
Hearing that, Kaito turned toward them. "A price, huh..." A faint smile appeared on his face. "Hehe... I hate tragedies the most."
The others simply assumed he was talking to himself and paid little attention.
"Alright, everyone out. Let's stop disturbing them."
Nygglatho looked around the crowded room as she spoke.
"Fine. I already got what I wanted anyway."
With that, Kaito took the lead and left the room. The others followed after him.
Time quietly passed as the two remained in each other's embrace...
The Next Day
Clang!
Clang!
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
Kaito lounged nearby with a juice in hand as he watched Willem teach swordsmanship to a pink-haired girl who couldn't have been older than ten.
"Willem, why does your swordsmanship look like you're entertaining a child?"
Willem glanced at him helplessly. "Hey, hey, hey. Isn't she actually a child?"
The grin spreading across Kaito's face instantly made Willem realize he'd stepped into a trap.
Looking forward again, he found the pink-haired girl glaring at him.
"Hmph! I'm not a child anymore, you annoying person! Take this!"
"You little...!"
Willem shot Kaito an angry look.
On the second floor, Chtholly stood by the window, quietly watching everyone below. A cold breeze drifted through the room. Wearing only her pajamas, she instinctively hugged herself.
"So cold."
After closing the window, she walked over to the mirror to get ready for the day. Then she froze.
At the end of her blue hair was a single strand of red.
"Huh?"
Confused, Chtholly reached out and touched it.
Just as she was about to inspect it more closely, Nygglatho's voice came from outside.
"Chtholly, are you awake?"
"I'm awake! I'll be down in a minute!"
After answering, Chtholly quickly changed clothes. Before leaving, she glanced once more at the red strand of hair. Then she picked up a witch's hat nearby and placed it on her head.
As all of this happened, no one noticed the meaningful smile on Kaito's lips outside...