The former Baroness Heronia was stunned by the slowly spoken words. As Baron Inderon finished speaking, he bowed his head and averted his gaze from her.
“This’s all wrong. It just isn’t right! Everything was going well until I joined Halm Academy. How did it turn out like this? I thought my happy harem life was finally starting at the academy. Why?! This ending isn’t in the game at all! I’m supposed to be the heroine!” Her voice grew harsh, and as she attempted to step forward, the knights held her back. Her anger was laid bare.
… Did Baron Inderon’s final semblance of parental affection touch her in any way? No, she definitely did not comprehend.
“What about Little Pi? Where did Little Pi go? Everyone would understand I’m special if that creature were here. After all, it’s a holy…”
“If you’re referring to your pet bird, it’s no longer in this world,” I interjected calmly.
“… What?” Her eyes searched desperately, hoping for her avian companion—a tiny bird that had always stayed by her side, shielding her. Now frozen, she looked around frantically, but the bird was nowhere to be found; it couldn’t be.
Those unaware of the bird’s significance furrowed their brows in confusion.
I couldn’t say whether she recognized that bird as a light spirit. However, keeping that possibility in mind, we stayed vigilant about her statements.
“That creature tried to protect you, its master, and sacrificed its life in the process,” I explained gently.
“No, that can’t be…” Her voice faltered.
“This is the consequence of your actions, and this is the future you chose,” I continued.
“No, that’s… no… It’s a lie. Little Pi?!” she shouted.
Until now, the former Baroness Heronia had been driven by anger, quick to blame others. For the first time, her face showed signs of regret and sorrow.
Even if it took a twisted form, there appeared to be a genuine bond between her and the spirit. I felt a slight sense of relief knowing this.
“Little Pi! Little Pi! Little Pi!” Heronia’s voice resonated in the hushed audience chamber.
She kept calling out for her lost friend, shedding tears without pause. However, the eyes of those around her remained indifferent. It wasn’t that the hearts of the people present were unfeeling; rather, it was her actions that had distanced them.
… Now that the punishment has largely been decided, let’s fulfill one last promise.
“Changing the subject, I was asked to pass on a message to you,” I said in a clear tone to her, who kept brokenly calling ‘Little Pi.’
In response to what I said, she shot me a glare, and I replied with my typical smile.
“Even if you can’t see me, I’m always with you’—that’s what ‘he’ wanted me to tell you.”
Heronia’s tearful eyes widened significantly. Even without specifying who, she seemed to understand.
“Uh… ah… ahh…” she uttered indistinct sounds, crying without wiping her tears. The reality of her friend’s death was likely a harsher trial than facing the consequences of her own actions.
If only she had made different choices for the future before things had reached this point. She could have chosen a peaceful life to share with her friend. But now, it was too late to change the past.
He helped me realize something important.
I shared his final words to express my gratitude—but perhaps there’s one more thing I can do to thank him.
I decided to give Heronia one more choice.
As she crouched like a puppet with its strings cut, crying continuously, I walked toward her slowly. Ignoring the concerned looks from those around me who tried to stop me, I knelt beside her and leaned in close to whisper in her ear.
If this had happened earlier, she might have cried out loudly, but now she seemed too exhausted even for that.
“This is a fragment of his consciousness… a piece of his soul,” I whispered to her, ensuring no one else could hear. From my pocket, I pulled out a small white stone strung on a leather cord.
I placed it around her neck and stepped back gently. “This is a keepsake from him,” I explained. The simple white stone was a shard of the core of the light spirit. Just before his power was exhausted and his core shattered, Zeno helped me preserve this piece. It contains a bit of his will.
In a land that worships the “light,” if she continued praying and channeling energy, it might revive and become a spirit again. Of course, there’s also a chance it might not work. And since what remained was only a “fragment,” it wouldn’t completely transform back into “Little Pi.”
“Now, I’ll give you a choice,” I said, as a flicker of hope ignited in Heronia’s vacant eyes. After glancing at the white stone dangling from her neck, she slowly lifted her gaze to meet mine.
“You may choose between a strict convent at the northernmost tip of the country or a relatively mild one that’s a three-day carriage ride from the capital. Which do you prefer?”
“Ah… I…” Ordinarily, she would definitely choose the convent closer to the capital. Living in a milder climate would make life significantly easier. However, that place had a weak connection to the “light,” so no matter how much she prayed, the shard wouldn’t gather much power.
Is she prioritizing her own comfort, or is it her friend she chooses? The light spirit gave up its life for her. How far will she go for him?
“I… I…” I presented her with just these two options.
“I’m not as kind-hearted as Bertia,” I said with a broad smile, watching her swallow nervously.
“I… I will…”
After a moment, Heronia pressed her lips together firmly. Once more, she gazed at the white stone, her eyes burning with a fierce light as she glared back at me.
“I will head north,” she declared with a voice full of resolve.