I Possessed The Villain’s Childhood Friend

70 – Arcadia – 2

“Ha ha. I’m a little tired from walking around though.”

I said that and sat down on an empty bench.

The sky got dark before I knew it, and the moon and stars were shining.

When you asked the time at the shooting range earlier, you said it was 8:30.

To put this differently, it means that we started at 9:00 after breakfast and walked around for almost 12 hours.

No matter how much fun you have, it must be strange if you are not tired.

“That’s why I told you to take a break in the middle.”

Ike sat next to me and looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Still, it’s the first time I’ve been able to comfortably attend a festival like this. I wanted to enjoy it as much as possible.”

It wasn’t that Heros didn’t have a festival like Arcadia.

But I couldn’t move around freely, and I couldn’t do everything I wanted.

In the first place, there wasn’t much time to enjoy the festival.

Even on the day of the festival, I usually had to take care of public affairs.

“Seeing you say that, you seem to be quite satisfied.”

“Yes. So, let’s take a break and go back soon.”

“… Are you going back?”

“Can’t you go back then?”

Ike frowned.

As if I were saying something strange.

“… Don’t you know?”

“What?”

The story doesn’t mesh.

I’m sure we’re enjoying Arcadia together, but what’s the difference?

I was curious about that fact and tried to ask a question.

“Well, that’s all right. Then, please follow me for a while before returning to the mansion. There is something I want to show you.”

Ike said that and stood up from the bench.

Honestly, I just wanted to go back to the mansion and rest.

“… Okay.”

But the fact that I could be alone with Ike one more time didn’t mean to say no.

★

The place where Raina and I walked was a weak but clear hill.

I felt guilty for making me walk uphill like this, even though I would have been tired from walking around all day.

“How much longer do I have to walk?”

“About 5 minutes?”

She seemed to be trying not to show off, but there was a hint of tiredness in Reina’s voice.

But if it’s not today, I’ll have to wait another year.

There is no certainty that Raina will come back at this time next year.

… But now that I think about it, she doesn’t even guarantee that Raina will like her, so is there a need for this?

But I heard that if she didn’t see this in Arcadia, she wouldn’t have enjoyed it halfway.

As she walked away, shaking off her many anguish, Reina asked again, holding onto her sleeve.

“Hey, Ike. More and more people are disappearing.”

“Because I am going to a place where there are no people.”

“What?”

In the first place, the place I was going to was the estate of the Axus family.

I heard that it was discontinued after being developed as a training ground in the past, but I don’t know why.

Thanks to it, it has been used in a different way, so wouldn’t it be a good ending?

“Well, the reason why I am going to a place where there are no people right now….”

“Ah, everything has arrived.”

After she climbed the hill that looked like stairs for the last time, she held out her hand to Reina slightly behind her.

“No, Ike. First of all, why….”

Reina spoke in a tone that sounded like she was dissatisfied with something, but she took my hand and climbed the hill.

And the moment she looked at the scene in front of her, catching her breath.

“… And.”

He naturally exclaimed.

“Isn’t it cool?”

Raina just nodded her head without answering my words.

I’m so glad she seems to like it.

I sighed quietly at that thought, and I looked forward again.

I think the night view from a high view is definitely worth seeing even though it is difficult to get there.

Especially on a festival like today, the lights don’t turn off much even at night.

Thanks to this, the dreamy atmosphere is strengthened, creating a naturally mesmerizing landscape.

“It’s really pretty.”

The bustling streets of the town and the vermilion-tinted night view create a sense of mystery in contrast with the quiet, dark night sky.

Maybe Reina fell for that charm, too, and occasionally spat out exclamations in her mesmerized state.

I must have looked like this when I came here with her mother last year.

“Whoa.”

Eventually, after appreciating her night view, Reina looked at me again and opened her mouth.

“Okay. Let’s go back now.”

“Wait a minute, wait.”

Again, it was clear that Raina didn’t know what it was.

I came all the way here because I had a desire to show you the night view, but there was another decisive reason.

“It will start soon.”

I took a locket out of my left breast pocket and opened it.

A clear sky blue light flowed out, and it turned into a clock while drawing a circle.

The time is 8:58:46.

“Uh, that….”

“Right.”

Before participating in Heros’ Dancing Contest.

It was a locket that Raina gave me as a thank you.

“I don’t remember seeing it written in Arcana.”

“I left it at home in case I lost it.”

“That’s right.”

Reina covered her mouth and giggled, as if she was so happy that she was still using her old gift.

Of course, that look was attractive, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the point right now.

The time is 8:59:45.

“Begin.”

“Huh?”

Guuu.

As soon as I finished my words, a huge yet low bell started ringing.

“This?”

Once. Twice. Third time.

The sound of the bell did not end once.

Like measuring time.

5. 4. 3.

“Look carefully.”

2. 1. 0.

Click.

The clock on the rocket pointed to nine o’clock.

And with the sound of dig, a beautiful light began to illuminate the dark night sky.

“Wow, wow.”

Reina had her eyes wide open than before when she first saw this night view.

Innumerable fireworks flying up into the night sky embroider the night sky.

The paintings created by the harmony of the moon and stars were so beautiful that they washed away all the fatigue accumulated over 12 hours.

“At Arcadia, the fireworks start at 9:00. I heard she shouldn’t say she enjoyed Arcadia if you haven’t seen this.”

“… I think you know what that means.”

Reina leaned forward, putting her hand on her railing.

I could fully understand the desire to see it even a little closer.

I was not interested in Arcadia, but it was this fireworks display that made me look forward to it.

How thrilled I was to be able to see in person what I had only been able to see through pictures and videos.

Seeing that, her mother introduced me to this place last year.

“Wow.”

Raina continued exclaiming in a low voice.

She’s just too cute to see her stunned with her mouth slightly open.

“I hope to see you again next time.”

“Sure.”

It wasn’t fireworks before I knew it, but I was looking at you.

★

It was ten o’clock when we returned to the mansion.

Considering that I usually go to bed at 9:30, it was quite late, but since it was Arcadia, there was no problem.

Let’s wash up like that and go back to the room.

“Ah.”

It was on her desk that Noel had sorted out and taken her clothes to wash.

“I forgot.”

It should have been done earlier.

I was distracted like an idiot and forgot.

“I wonder if he is still awake.”

It’s already past 11 o’clock.

Still, he’ll still be awake when he thinks of the time he’s returned or washing up.

Of course, even considering that, visiting at this time is sure to be a nuisance.

But I figured it wouldn’t be a good idea to let go, so I picked it up and left the room.

“Ike?”

In front of Reina’s room, as it should be said, Anna was standing.

“Is Raina sleeping now?”

“I think you are probably awake, but at this time, even Ike-sama….”

“I’m really sorry. It’s really okay even for a short while.”

Anna let out a sigh and looked down for a moment, then she seemed to see what was in my left hand.

“… The lady seemed to be down for some reason.”

“What?”

“No. If that’s the reason, I can’t help it.”

“Thank you.”

Anna quietly withdrew from the door.

I stood in front of the door, caught my breath, and then slowly knocked on the door.

“Reina.”

“Ike?”

Luckily, as Anna said, Raina was awake.

“There is something I want to talk about for a while.”

“Uh, um. Now, wait a minute. Anna, are you there?”

“Yes, lady.”

“Come in for a second.”

“Okay. Sir Ike, could you step back for a moment?”

“Yes.”

As I stepped aside and leaned my back against the wall, Anna lowered her head slightly and opened her door and entered.

Is there a problem?

Well, since you said wait a minute, you’ll just have to wait a bit.

While rolling it around with her left hand, Anna slowly came out of the room.

“Ike. I think you may go in.”

“Huh? I don’t have to go in myself.”

“The lady said it was okay too, so you don’t have to worry.”

For some reason, I could feel her unspoken pressure on Anna.

“… Okay.”

In the end, I couldn’t overcome the pressure and had no choice but to enter Raina’s guest room.

“Ike. What’s the matter?”

Reina was wearing a white gown and she was sitting on the bed, looking at me as she entered the room.

Her platinum-colored hair was neat, even though it must have been just before she went to bed.

Her appearance gave off a different atmosphere than usual, and her face seemed to heat up.

“Because of this and nothing else.”

I quietly swallowed my breath and handed it to Reina, which I had been holding in her left hand until now.

It was a small gift box.

“Happy birthday. I feel like I didn’t say this today.”

“Thank you. Is it okay if I open it?”

I nodded her head, and Rayna slowly opened the lid.

Inside it was a silver snowflake-shaped hairpin.

“Pretty.”

Reina said so, and she slowly put her hairpin over her right ear.

“… It suits you well.”

There was nothing awkward about her platinum-colored hair and silver hairpins.

Also, since it was Reina who rarely wore any decorations on her hair, it felt like a new charm.

“Thank you. I will treasure it.”

“I’m glad if you like it. Happy birthday.”

“Yes.”

Now let’s really go back.

From tomorrow on, I will be busier because I have to take time off from training and work, so I need to rest even a little bit more.

Above all, if I stay here any longer, my head will become so hot that it will explode.

At that thought, I slowly turned my back.

“Ike.”

Then Reina grabbed my wrist.

Let’s calm down our trembling hearts and look again.

“From now on, please take good care of me.”

While saying that, Reina smiled brightly.

★

Why did this happen?

The second semester begins after vacation.

From the second semester, it was the time when Avatar started their activities.

To be honest, I wasn’t particularly nervous.

As long as there is a prince named Avatar and Sophia anyway, she will win in the end.

Above all, the fact that Reina and Sophia are close friends was the biggest cause of this sense of security.

For my purpose, the most important thing is Reina’s happiness.

If Reina doesn’t confront Sofia, her position will not be shaken in the first place.

Most of the reasons why she broke off her marriage with the crown prince also disappear.

Aren’t all the problems you were worried about solved?

I had no intention of denying the fact that I had such a complacent thought.

But.

“Ike. It’s a duel.”

I never thought it would turn out like this.

“If you are Miss Reina’s knight, raise her sword.”

I couldn’t figure out where it went wrong.

“If you want to stop me breaking up with Miss Reina, knock me down.”

The Crown Prince. Leon Aegis Astraia was aiming her sword at me.