Chapter 293

As the light of the setting sun drifted in through the window, Fate and Alice were confronting each other .

[……Haahhh…… Haahhh……]

[……Haahhh…… Kuhhh…… . ]

[Uwooohhhh!]

[Haahhhhhh!]

As both of them breathed heavily, they exchanged glances before the both of them ran as if a signal rang out .

The shadows stretching across the room overlapped and their outstretched fists crossed with each other…… striking right into each other’s faces .

[Kuh…… Good job…… Shall-tan . ]

[Fate…… -san…… too . ]

As both of them collapsed to the ground at exactly the same time, a brief moment of silence fell over the area .

The two clashed with each other with their fists, having radiant expressions on their faces……

[……Hmmm . This doesn’t feel right . ]

[……Eh?]

Quickly raising her body, Fate looked at the window where the light of the setting sun with a troubled expression on her face .

[The sun is setting over here, so…… as expected, the angle should be…… Shall-tan, wouldn’t it be better if you come from that side? Alright, Shall-tan, let’s retake this scene again!]

[Eeehhhh!? Wait, Fate-san! This is already the 8th time Fate-san said that “we should end this scene in a double knockout”, you know!? Seriously, isn’t it about time we stop?]

[……I want to be a woman who won’t compromise with things and will always seek for the supreme . ]

[Please get rid of that obsession immediately . ]

Hearing Fate’s words, which she said with a smug look on her face while staring at the window, Alice sits down at the counter after letting out a big sigh .

Seeing Alice like that, Fate slightly smiles .

[How is it? Have you felt better now?]

[…… . I wonder? I’m not really sure . Fate-san…… I……]

[Are you feeling guilty about putting Kai-chan in the role of your dead best friend, treating him like he’s a replacement?]

[ ! ? ]

Hearing the words Fate lazily announced, as if she were making small talk, Alice’s expression became stiffer .

That was the best proof that Fate’s words hit the bull’s eye .

[Or perhaps, are you afraid that people will know that you came to this world to “look for a place to die”?]

[…………………… . . ]

[Hey, Shall-tan? For Shall-tan, is Kai-chan…… still a replacement for that best friend of yours?]

[H- He’s not! Kaito-san is…… Kaito-san is……]

[Then, isn’t that good enough?]

[…… . Eh?]

Fate was the only one in this world who knew about Alice’s past that even Kuromueina didn’t know, and that’s why she understood the pain she was feeling .

On top of that, Fate said it . How stupid her worries are……

[If Shall-tan loves and cares for Kai-chan…… Then, why don’t you just tell him everything? Kai-chan will surely take it all in and still smile by your side . ]

[……………… . ]

[Shall-tan, you’re putting a little too much on your shoulders~~ If you wrinkle your brows that much, you’re just driving yourself to the corner…… You have to be like me~~ Relax in moderation too~~]

[……I think Fate-san is having too much relaxation though……]

[Ahaha, that might be so~~]

Hearing Fate’s words, which are loose even at a time like this, Alice slightly smiles .

Seeing Alice like that, Fate nodded once, turned on her heel and starts walking towards the door, as if to say that the conversation is over .

[……Don’t act too spoiled, okay? To Kai-chan, I mean…… That’s all I can say to you . ]

[……Fate-san…… Ummm…… Thank you . ]

[Fufufu, well, Shall-tan and I are soul friends after all…… “That’s why you can use my power with your Hekatonkeyres”…… right?]

[……Yes . ]

[See you next~~ time~~ then~~]

Leaving words that seemed to tell her that she had seen through everything in the end, Fate lightly waved her hand and left .

After returning from the God Realm, I dropped by Lilia-san’s mansion once before going to Alice’s miscellaneous goods store, but it was already a bit late . The night has completely fallen .

[……Well, with her clone acting as my guard, she should know that I’m coming……]

When I put my hand on the door, I felt that it wasn’t locked and it seemed like she knew I was coming .

As proof of this, I walked in and was able to quickly find Alice sitting at the counter but……

[Why do you look so battered?]

[……I was letting the power of youth explode . ]

[Unnn?]

When I asked Alice, who looked so ragged as if she had been in a fistfight for some reason, she responded with words that were incomprehensible as usual .

Well, it doesn’t seem like the atmosphere around her was as tense as before, so I guess that’s okay……

[Alice, I’m sorry to bother you on such short notice, but can I go inside?]

[Yes, Kaito-san you’re always welcome . Come in~~]

Hearing my words, Alice replies to me with a bright smile on her face but…… As expected, it was still somewhere in there huh . It looks like she’s forcing a smile .

I’d like to pursue it, but now isn’t the time for that, so I firmly held back and moved behind the counter…… where her workshops and living spaces can be found .

The workshop and living space that looked unimaginably large compared to the exterior of the store…… is according to Alice, an application of Space-Time Magic .

Well, since magic boxes exist, maybe it isn’t that surprising that they could use the magic they used on that thing to expand a room .

I moved to the living room, which is located one room away from the workshop, and sat down after Alice’s suggestion . She then made me a cup of tea even though I hadn’t asked her for one .

After thanking her for the tea, I took a sip of the delicious tea and slowly spoke .

[Hey, Alice……]

[Yes? What is it?]

[……I want to know about you . ]

[……A- Ahaha…… Are you giving me a pick-up line because you have been taken away by Alice-chan’s cuteness? That’s a classic one you said, but that certainly leaves quite the impression~~ Ahaha……]

[…………………]

[……Ugghhh……]

When I stopped being so roundabout and just directly told her what I felt, as I thought, Alice tried to fool around and divert away from the topic…… I can see the tension in her eyes . It looked really unusual, but she seemed to be really shaken .

[……K- Kaito-san…… but that is……]

[Unnn . I know it’s hard to say . Therefore, I’m not going to force you to ask…… And that isn’t the only thing I wanted to know . ]

[……Eh?]

[As for Alice’s past, I don’t know much about you in the first place . It’s one thing to hear about Alice from Alice herself, but I think it’s also important to try to know about Alice for myself……]

Yes, it’s not just about her past . I don’t know Alice well…… because I didn’t try to get to know her properly until now .

Thanks to Chronois-san’s advice, I realized that it isn’t like me to go around asking people . And so, I decided to not just wait for Alice to tell me about it, I will also make an effort to try to learn about Alice myself .

[……By the way, Alice . This living space is quite wide, isn’t it?]

[Eh? Yes, well, Alice-chan is the type of person who cares about where she lives after all…… Ummm…… Kaito-san?]

[I see…… Then, I’ll be “staying” here for a while . ]

[Eeeeehhhhh!?]

Declaring so, I take a change of clothes and a toothbrush out of my magic box .

[P- Please wait a minute! Kaito-san, y- you’ll make Duchess Lilia worry……]

[Ahh, I already talked to Lilia-san about this, and asked her permission . ]

[……Ugghhh…… B- But, you see . Staying in the same room with a youthful maiden like me is…… A- Also, I only have one futon……]

[It’s fine, I brought my futon with me . I’m fine sleeping on the floor of the living room . ]

[Auuuu……]

I’ve already made preparations for that area . When I explained the situation to Lilia-san, she said “That’s really typical of you, Kaito-san” and gave me permission, and it seems like Lilia-san knows very well that I don’t think about the future .

Hearing my response, Alice is clearly troubled and was panicking, which looked kind of cute .

[……Well, of course, if Alice refuses, it can’t be helped . At that time, I’ll just go to a nearby inn and “come everyday early in the morning”……]

[S- Seriously…… Uuuuuu…… I understand . I’ll get you a proper room . ]

[Really? Thanks . ]

[……Ugghhh . ]

For the time being, it seems like the first step is a success huh? Alice seems to be the type of person who would slyly mislead me if I keep on getting reserved after all……

[……Somehow, it feels like Kaito-san is becoming more of a carnivore…… No, well, I guess that’s also……]

Dear Mom, Dad———- I’ve decided to stay at Alice’s miscellaneous goods store as a first step to learn more about Alice . Knowing more about Alice on a regular basis makes me feel like it would give me another good idea . Anyway, this time——— I’m going to push her as hard as I can .