This was a crucial moment where I would have to decide whether or not to save Alexander, and what I needed right now was confidence in myself.
Would I truly want to become Blanc’s contractor even without any external help?
The question in my mind was answered before long.
If I don’t believe in myself, then who will?
I believe in myself.
Of course, I know that it might be frightening. It could be more difficult for myself to have enough courage to risk my own life if I’m not given Alexander’s support, especially since Blanc and I hadn’t even known each other for that long.
However, I felt it in the nightmare that Alexander showed me.
With the fear that I felt at that moment, I knew that I would have made the same choice no matter what.
I already knew it the longer I spent time with Blanc in the tower.
Once we return to the future, no matter what would happen, I would not have been able to just let Blanc go.
Therefore, even if I save Alexander here, I know that the contract between Blanc and I would still remain.
The ordeal would continue, and I would still be here.
Because I would have made the same choice.
I love Albert, but I couldn’t just let Blanc die.
Blanc is also part of my life.
I was helpless so far, but this time, it was different.
Gulping, I gently shook Alexander awake. The spell on the door remained intact.
“Alexander.”
Hearing me call his name, Alexander opened his eyes. Rubbing his eyes, he tilted his head to the side as he saw me in front of him.
“I’ve never seen this human before… Are you a servant?”
“No, I’m not a servant. I’m a soul who’s come to talk to you.”
“Soul?”
Alexander faltered back, dimly looking at me from up and down.
“Y-Your body…”
“I’ve only regained half of it now because I don’t have enough energy. But I can talk to you as I am now, Alexander.”
He was still clearly doubtful.
I couldn’t tell him that this was part of my ordeal, or that I came from the future. It’s more likely than not that my meeting with Alexander here was also part of the ordeal.
Still perplexed by my presence, Alexander grumbled.
“What do you want to say to me?”
“It’s about Marquis Evnen.”
“…That he’s not a good person, isn’t it? That’s what you want to say?”
Alexander narrowed his eyes as if he was already expecting it.
Of course, it was impossible for Alexander to be completely blind to Marquis Evnen’s true nature, especially when he might have heard the rumors about him.
At the very least, he might have already had an inkling of it since the marquis was treating him differently from others.
“No. I think it’s good to keep interacting with Marquis Evnen and use him.”
However, the marquis’s true nature was not what I was here to talk about.
In order to reduce the butterfly effect as much as possible, Alexander and Marquis Evnen should continue to interact.
Alexander had believed in Marquis Evnen, which means that trust had been built between them with the marquis’s effort.
If so, then there’s no need for me to push Alexander to suspect the marquis before that.
In the first place, the world was a harsh place for a dragon cub to live in, and this was true for Alexander.
Right now, being acquainted with Marquis Evnen was one safe way to ensure Alexander’s survival.
“That’s not it?”
Looking quite incredulous, Alexander asked. In response, I nodded.
But should I tell Alexander not to stay in this place anymore, or should I tell him to stay here until Albert would be exiled to the tower?
I needed to make sure that the flow of the future would be as similar as possible, but in a way that would keep Alexander alive.
“Please continue acting as you do now. But in the future, once Rosteratu…”
I trailed off and paused for a second. There was one thing that would happen in the future that must certainly happen without any change.
At the same time, it would be a fact that would be widely known, enough that it would reach Alexander’s ears as well.
“Once you hear that he ordered someone’s incarceration to the tower, that’s when you should get away from Marquis Evnen.”
This was Albert’s confinement.
“Why should I believe you?”
With just his gaze alone, I could feel his vigilance against me palpably.
“Because this is coming from someone who knows you.”
It would not be easy to persuade him if I couldn’t tell him the most important point.
But I already knew what to say so that I could persuade him. Amongst every human out there, I was the only one who knew this one fact.
“Because this is coming from a human being who wants to help your lifelong wish to come true.”
“…What do you think is my lifelong wish?”
Blanc and I heard Alexander’s final will. I could still remember his words vividly.
“To travel to different dimensions, and for your name to go down in history.”
How could I ever forget his final words?
Alexander’s pupils quivered.
“You can do it. I know you can.”
I wanted my sincerity to reach him.
Alexander remained silent as though he was at a loss for words, and I knew it’s because I hit the nail on the head.
Alexander seemed to be staring at my hair, and his gaze waxed over as if he was recalling something.
Maybe Alexander noticed it, too. Though he hadn’t yet lived as long as Emmett, he was also a dragon who had lived for a very long time.
“This will be the first and last time that I can talk to you about this.”
Alexander remained silent.
“Please know that there are humans like me in this world who wish for you to continue to live, for no special reason at all.”
Then, signaling that someone was about to open the door, there was a rattling sound. I put my bracelet back on in a hurry.
Realizing that I had disappeared, Alexander looked around and scanned his surroundings. I had already conveyed everything I could to him, and so I had no regrets.
Before long, servants entered the room. Amidst their entourage, Marquis Evnen appeared.
“Lord Alexander.”
None of the arrogance he had displayed while dealing with the young Albert could be seen in Marquis Evnen’s countenance right now.
With a bowl in his hands, he personally served Alexander his meal.
The fact that Marquis Evnen had come here told me that the banquet seemed to have ended already.
I checked the time. It was already undeniably late, nearing midnight.
Could it be that Albert was waiting for me? I hastily exited the room and returned alone.
This was a crucial moment where I would have to decide whether or not to save Alexander, and what I needed right now was confidence in myself.
Would I truly want to become Blanc’s contractor even without any external help?
The question in my mind was answered before long.
If I don’t believe in myself, then who will?
I believe in myself.
Of course, I know that it might be frightening. It could be more difficult for myself to have enough courage to risk my own life if I’m not given Alexander’s support, especially since Blanc and I hadn’t even known each other for that long.
However, I felt it in the nightmare that Alexander showed me.
With the fear that I felt at that moment, I knew that I would have made the same choice no matter what.
I already knew it the longer I spent time with Blanc in the tower.
Once we return to the future, no matter what would happen, I would not have been able to just let Blanc go.
Therefore, even if I save Alexander here, I know that the contract between Blanc and I would still remain.
The ordeal would continue, and I would still be here.
Because I would have made the same choice.
I love Albert, but I couldn’t just let Blanc die.
Blanc is also part of my life.
I was helpless so far, but this time, it was different.
Gulping, I gently shook Alexander awake. The spell on the door remained intact.
“Alexander.”
Hearing me call his name, Alexander opened his eyes. Rubbing his eyes, he tilted his head to the side as he saw me in front of him.
“I’ve never seen this human before… Are you a servant?”
“No, I’m not a servant. I’m a soul who’s come to talk to you.”
“Soul?”
Alexander faltered back, dimly looking at me from up and down.
“Y-Your body…”
“I’ve only regained half of it now because I don’t have enough energy. But I can talk to you as I am now, Alexander.”
He was still clearly doubtful.
I couldn’t tell him that this was part of my ordeal, or that I came from the future. It’s more likely than not that my meeting with Alexander here was also part of the ordeal.
Still perplexed by my presence, Alexander grumbled.
“What do you want to say to me?”
“It’s about Marquis Evnen.”
“…That he’s not a good person, isn’t it? That’s what you want to say?”
Alexander narrowed his eyes as if he was already expecting it.
Of course, it was impossible for Alexander to be completely blind to Marquis Evnen’s true nature, especially when he might have heard the rumors about him.
At the very least, he might have already had an inkling of it since the marquis was treating him differently from others.
“No. I think it’s good to keep interacting with Marquis Evnen and use him.”
However, the marquis’s true nature was not what I was here to talk about.
In order to reduce the butterfly effect as much as possible, Alexander and Marquis Evnen should continue to interact.
Alexander had believed in Marquis Evnen, which means that trust had been built between them with the marquis’s effort.
If so, then there’s no need for me to push Alexander to suspect the marquis before that.
In the first place, the world was a harsh place for a dragon cub to live in, and this was true for Alexander.
Right now, being acquainted with Marquis Evnen was one safe way to ensure Alexander’s survival.
“That’s not it?”
Looking quite incredulous, Alexander asked. In response, I nodded.
But should I tell Alexander not to stay in this place anymore, or should I tell him to stay here until Albert would be exiled to the tower?
I needed to make sure that the flow of the future would be as similar as possible, but in a way that would keep Alexander alive.
“Please continue acting as you do now. But in the future, once Rosteratu…”
I trailed off and paused for a second. There was one thing that would happen in the future that must certainly happen without any change.
At the same time, it would be a fact that would be widely known, enough that it would reach Alexander’s ears as well.
“Once you hear that he ordered someone’s incarceration to the tower, that’s when you should get away from Marquis Evnen.”
This was Albert’s confinement.
“Why should I believe you?”
With just his gaze alone, I could feel his vigilance against me palpably.
“Because this is coming from someone who knows you.”
It would not be easy to persuade him if I couldn’t tell him the most important point.
But I already knew what to say so that I could persuade him. Amongst every human out there, I was the only one who knew this one fact.
“Because this is coming from a human being who wants to help your lifelong wish to come true.”
“…What do you think is my lifelong wish?”
Blanc and I heard Alexander’s final will. I could still remember his words vividly.
“To travel to different dimensions, and for your name to go down in history.”
How could I ever forget his final words?
Alexander’s pupils quivered.
“You can do it. I know you can.”
I wanted my sincerity to reach him.
Alexander remained silent as though he was at a loss for words, and I knew it’s because I hit the nail on the head.
Alexander seemed to be staring at my hair, and his gaze waxed over as if he was recalling something.
Maybe Alexander noticed it, too. Though he hadn’t yet lived as long as Emmett, he was also a dragon who had lived for a very long time.
“This will be the first and last time that I can talk to you about this.”
Alexander remained silent.
“Please know that there are humans like me in this world who wish for you to continue to live, for no special reason at all.”
Then, signaling that someone was about to open the door, there was a rattling sound. I put my bracelet back on in a hurry.
Realizing that I had disappeared, Alexander looked around and scanned his surroundings. I had already conveyed everything I could to him, and so I had no regrets.
Before long, servants entered the room. Amidst their entourage, Marquis Evnen appeared.
“Lord Alexander.”
None of the arrogance he had displayed while dealing with the young Albert could be seen in Marquis Evnen’s countenance right now.
With a bowl in his hands, he personally served Alexander his meal.
The fact that Marquis Evnen had come here told me that the banquet seemed to have ended already.
I checked the time. It was already undeniably late, nearing midnight.
Could it be that Albert was waiting for me? I hastily exited the room and returned alone.
