「Good morning, Noie.」
「Good morning. Arg-sama」
It has completely become our usual morning scene.
But how does she manage to straddle and sit on me every morning without me noticing?
As always, we get help from the maids to change, then finish breakfast.
We walk together happily to the castle gate, and from there I see Noie off as she heads to work on foot.
She turns the corner without looking back… and she is gone.
「Time for work. Work.」
「You are surprisingly diligent, huh.」
「Whoa!」
Where did this muscle prince pop out from!
Ignoring my startled jump at the voice from behind, the idiot prince suddenly grabs my face firmly.
It is a perfect iron claw hold.
「What are you doing!」
「Urgent business. Come with me for a bit.」
「This is not an invitation, it is kidnapping! Ow, ow. Let go of my face first!」
Still gripping my face… he drags me away.
-0-
「What are you planning?」
I cannot help looking around nervously because this is not the usual office.
It is a private room in a section of the castle I have never entered before.
Maybe someday I should explore the whole castle. A dungeon… probably does not exist in the normal sense.
「I told you before, right? We are checking if you have any magic power.」
「Oh, there was talk about that.」
「You forgot?」
「I’ve been busy getting ready for the wedding.」
I am fine with it. If things get tough, I can just let the paperwork pile up.
Noie has been running around to all sorts of dressmakers for measurements and everything, and then she still has work after that.
Maybe I should not have suggested alterations to the dress.
「So why all of a sudden?」
「The other day we checked some noble’s idiot son… and since the preparations are ready, we can do yours at the same time.」
「That reason is way too obvious.」
So that is why it is so sudden today. Well, whatever.
I am made to sit on a chair. In front of me is a small desk.
On top of it rests a thin, plate-like silver disc.
I have absolutely no idea what this is about.
「Put both hands into that silver disc and place your palms down.」
「And then?」
「After that, we just add water and we are done.」
Water is poured from a pitcher.
It stops just before overflowing, and we wait for the ripples to settle.
「You can see your face reflected on the water’s surface, right? Keep staring at it. If you see any color, tell me.」
「Okaaay.」
My face is clearly reflected on the silver disc, like a mirror. It looks nothing like Takanashi Takumi anymore.
As I keep gazing, hazy colors slowly start to appear.
「Did you see something?」
「Yes, I did.」
「What color?」
「Black and white.」
「…….」
Around my reflection, black haze and white haze seem to swirl and sway.
But they never mix together. What could it mean?
「I see. You saw two colors.」
「Yes.」
「Then there is no helping it.」
「Huh?」
The hand placed on my shoulder slowly slides toward my neck… Whoa! Why strangle me in this position? This is bad, this is bad. His grip is completely locked in!
I frantically tap his thick, muscular arm, hoping the tap-out works even in another world.
Wait… my vision is gradually going dark… huh?
-0-
Guh! The moment I wake up, an overwhelming surge of anger rushes through me!
What happened? What is going on? Where am I?
I am in complete darkness. I cannot even tell if I am standing or sitting.
My whole body feels floaty… Could I have died again?
『Ahaha. That reaction is quite rare.』
…Who are you?
『A riddle.』
That is sudden!
『I am me. I am you. I am always by your side and never leave. But sometimes I cannot be seen. Now, what am I?』
Eh? That is such a simple riddle. Are you okay? Is it actually a trick? The first thing that comes to mind is “shadow”.
『Correct. That is the answer to the question.』
……So that means a shadow?
『You can think of it that way. In truth, I have no form or shape. Even this voice is something I created just to speak with you.』
Somehow… this feels like the first truly otherworldly thing I have encountered since coming to this world.
『Ufufu. What is it you seek in this different world?』
…Heart-pounding, thrilling grand adventures?
『Was the world you lived in so brutal that you could walk a life sharing death with others?』
It was far from brutal, actually.
『Then it is impossible. At best, you would freeze in fear before an enemy and get killed.』
That makes sense in a normal way.
『Peace is best in all things.』
I think so too.
『But from now on, you will gain a power that has nothing to do with peace.』
I politely decline.
『Could you give up on that? I have already given it to you.』
I would like to exercise my full cooling-off rights.
『That is impossible. But you do not have to use it if you do not want to.』
Is that so?
『Yes. This power is… especially, maybe?』
Why the questioning tone?
『I think it is a usable power… but I have a feeling you will really hate it. Maybe I chose the wrong person. But it truly is an incredibly useful power.』
It sounds like nothing but the temptation of a devil.
『Ufufu. Devils and angels are two sides of the same coin. So your point is not wrong. Whether it becomes a “blessing” or a “trial” branches depending on how the one who receives the power uses it. For your precious person, it seems to have become a “trial.”』
Blessing? Trial?
『That is right. I gave you a power called a “blessing”. But it can also become a “trial” that torments you. I do not know how you will perceive that power. But you will surely suffer because of it.』
I am starting to get a little irritated.
『Oh my? I am sorry. Then let me explain the power I gave you. That power is…』
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