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Yuli’s childhood friend, Elysia.

Yuli reunited with Elysia three years ago, during their first year at the Academy. The person who had helped Yuli endure the bullying she faced during that time was none other than Elysia. However, Yuli didn’t realize that the girl in front of her was her childhood friend until Elysia revealed her name.

This was understandable, considering that House Frentz had completely fallen from grace along with the territory they governed due to the invasion of the Demonic Race.

In fact, even after hearing the name Elysia, Yuli was initially skeptical. The sparkling silver hair and the red eyes that seemed to pull you in resembled the girl from her memories, but it was something that just couldn’t be.

Yet, miracles existed in this world. The childhood friend she thought was dead had come back to life. Although she no longer resembled the girl from their childhood memories, Yuli was simply grateful that she was alive.

There were times when the changed appearance of the reencountered Elysia felt a bit awkward. The Elysia from Yuli’s childhood memories was a soft and innocent girl. Of course, she could be remarkably brave for her younger brother, Zeno, but that courage was just about the level of a small girl, which now seemed endearing in retrospect.

That same Elysia had swiftly dealt with the kids who had been bullying Yuli. The way she wielded her sword looked like a fairytale knight, and saving Yuli made her resemble a fairytale prince.

Thus, the feelings Yuli held for Elysia began to shift, veering slightly off from their innocent childhood friendship, and it was certainly no accident.

Yuli realized that what she felt was an unusual emotion that those with typical values would not acknowledge, yet she couldn’t stop her heart. Instead, the feelings only grew stronger with each passing day.

Meanwhile, it seemed Elysia had endured quite a lot since her disappearance; she appeared quite clueless in many aspects. She also didn’t seem to have many—or any—friends, unable to gauge the boundaries of friendship that existed between people.

This led to various incidents filled with misunderstandings and desires, but there’s no need to delve into that.

What was truly important lay elsewhere.

Originally, the day of the Celestial Festival was supposed to be the most splendid and joyful of the year. Instead of cheers, screams echoed throughout the city.

The Demonic Race had targeted the city where the Academy was located for their invasion. Buildings crumbled, and Griffin Academy was no exception. There were countless casualties among civilians, students, and teachers alike, all powerless.

While it was said that the betrayal of a professor from the Academy allowed the Demonic Race to breach the city’s barrier, this detail hardly mattered to Yuli.

The one truly important fact for Yuli was that Elysia had disappeared once again.

Just like how Elysia had been missing after the Demonic Race’s invasion, presumed dead, she had vanished again without a trace. Yuli realized Elysia was alive when she found a ring on a desk in their shared dorm room, but that only led to more questions. Why had she disappeared? Why had she left the ring behind?

Those questions were answered by another close friend, Selian. Always the perfect one, just like Elysia, Selian wept with a sorrowful voice, tears streaming down her face. Only after she had exhausted herself to the point where no more tears could fall did the truth spill from her lips.

Selian was originally a Hero, and the truth that this world had regressed multiple times. Furthermore, Elysia had been kidnapped by the Assassin Guild at a young age and trained as an assassin, leaving due to the guilt of having killed them in the previous world.

Yuli was shocked by this completely unexpected revelation. She wasn’t disturbed by the fact that Elysia had stabbed herself in the heart. It was also not because it was something from a past life she couldn’t remember. Even if she had remembered, Yuli probably wouldn’t have paid much attention to it.

What truly wounded Yuli’s heart more than any sharp or pointed sword was that Elysia had silently hidden herself away of her own volition.

Did Elysia not trust them? Had they failed to instill any trust in Elysia?

What ultimately lifted Yuli from her miserable state day after day was, ironically, Elysia.

If only she had had the power to hold onto Elysia, to listen to her story, to persuade her—if persuasion was impossible, to at least ensure she didn’t leave….

Thoughts spiraled endlessly in her mind.

Thus, rather than wallowing in despair, Yuli decided to stand up. She resolved to walk on her own two legs. She would move forward.

If Elysia didn’t come, she would simply go find her.

What was paramount was gaining the strength to walk alongside her. Fortunately, Yuli had aptitude as a necromancer, and to use that power efficiently, she enlisted in the military. Of course, she also diligently inquired about Elysia.

Yuli’s family was a prominent one, wielding considerable power within the Empire, and she used that strength to gather all information regarding Elysia.

Throughout it all, Yuli never once doubted Elysia’s identity. The investigated details and situations aligned convincingly, and looking into her red eyes evoked feelings of longing and familiarity.

Even after reuniting, Yuli continued to believe that Elysia was the ‘Elysia’ from her memories.

That belief shattered just a few days ago.

“Yuli Onee-san…”

On the day Elysia had taken ill due to a trivial matter, Yuli sat beside her, nursing her back to health, and in her distress, tightly gripped Elysia’s hand.

Suddenly, as if talking in her sleep, Elysia blurted out a single phrase.

The term “Onee-san” was not something Elysia, a friend, would casually use.

It wasn’t just the title that triggered Yuli’s doubts. Occasionally, easygoing women would use terms like “big brother” or “big sister” when addressing men, after all.

However, the way Elysia called her Yuli Onee-san, despite the completely different voice, was firmly established within Yuli’s memories. It was a voice that evoked feelings of nostalgia, much like when she first looked into Elysia’s eyes upon their reunion.

Yuli couldn’t believe it. Yet, at the same time, she already believed.

In this paradoxical situation, Yuli felt terribly confused.

Despite realizing the obvious, she continued to doubt and doubt again. Had she perhaps misinterpreted? Was Elysia recalling their shared memories from childhood and unwittingly saying her little brother’s words?

That was why, after defeating Vulcan and returning home, Yuli cautiously tried to gauge Elysia.

Coincidentally, Elysia was in their childhood playroom, reminiscing about old memories. The pitiful sight of her, radiating an eerie atmosphere reminiscent of the Old School where the ghost Linne resided, made Yuli sad.

Even though she no longer needed such small furniture as she grew older, she revisited the each element of the room that had been kept the same thanks to her father’s indulgence.

“Well, in the end, the ending was always the same. Nobody could change your stubbornness.”

“They both went soft with you…”

“Right…Remember when you tried to grab the candy basket on top of that cupboard, climbing from drawer to drawer, only to fall backward and cry?”

Yuli deliberately omitted the nickname “El” she usually used. Right now, the person she referred to wasn’t ‘Elysia’ but ‘Zeno.’

And Elysia’s reaction confirmed Yuli’s suspicions.

The one who had always been at the center of their trio was the youngest, ‘Zeno.’ Clutching one hand of each of his two older sisters, he had been that small, grinning ball of joy.

Had it been that ‘Elysia,’ she would never have had the courage to use the drawers as stairs to climb higher, except when it came to her brother.

Even as time passed and memories faded, it was a hard-to-mistake memory.

“Indeed… we had so many memories together…”

Nevertheless, Yuli had no ill will toward ‘Zeno’ or the current Elysia.

That was only natural. Just like ‘Elysia’ had been her childhood friend, so had ‘Zeno’ been her childhood friend as well. Even though the subjects linked to the past memories had changed, the fact that they were precious childhood friends remained unchanged.

Naturally, she was somewhat curious about what reason and how ‘Zeno’ had become a girl. Additionally, she understood why Elysia had been lacking in common sense all this time. Each time she acted nonchalantly, citing friendship as her reason, Yuli came to understand why Elysia had accepted it.

But it was not important.

While the fact that they shared similar memories as childhood friends was quite significant, it was not the most crucial.

What was truly the most important was that the Elysia before her was the person she genuinely loved.

*

“Are you leaving anything behind?”

The day after Lindy inquired about the next target, the Four Heavenly Kings, Yuli and her party set out from her mansion without any delay. In the meantime, Yuli busied herself sticking closely to Elysia, ensuring she had everything she needed more than usual.

“I’m not a child… I’m fine, so just talk a little more with Uncle Craig. He’s been staring at you for a while now…”

“It’s okay. We chatted plenty yesterday. More importantly, you brushed your teeth after eating, right?”

“…Are you joking? Or are you really treating me like a child?”

“Hehe… Who knows?”

Yuli refrained from mentioning the things she had noticed about Elysia. It was probably something difficult for Elysia to address.

She could only wait. Until the day she could speak honestly first.

“Lastly, don’t catch a cold again, so wrap that scarf properly.”

“I’m telling you, I can handle it… Ugh!”

Of course, a little teasing was fine since Elysia was being a tad thorny.

“Hehe…”

With a smile that mirrored those from her childhood days, Yuli securely tied Elysia’s scarf to prevent it from coming undone.

 

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