Arc 9: Chapter 32 - "A Man Called Clind"

Chapter 9: 『Light of the Nameless Star』
Chapter 9-32: 『A Man Called Clind』

――While Aldebaran's group was relentlessly pursued by formidable enemies, there were two places in the kingdom where battles just as fierce were being waged.

One was the battle of the 『Sword Saint』, who sought to prevent the world's destruction by manifesting a part of the sealed shrine and attempting to engulf the Augria Sand Dunes from the 『Witch of Envy』. Both the 『Witch of Envy』 and the 『Sword Saint』 possessed the power to conclude the battle in an instant if not for each other. However, their confrontation resulted in a stalemate, continuously postponing the resolution. Literally, the battle could continue for seven days and nights in exchange for the world's collapse.

The other battle, unlike those of Aldebaran's group or the 『Sword Saint』, did not involve physical clashes but had the potential to significantly influence the outcomes of the other two battles. Namely, it was the struggle of those pursuing the 『Following Star』, with Petra Leyte as the key.

――Regarding the man called Clind, Petra knew very little.

He was undoubtedly an ally. There was no doubt about that. Annerose Miload, whom he served as a master, was an intelligent girl who was not hindered by her youth or her relation to Roswaal. She was a strong supporter of the Emilia camp and, from Petra's perspective, someone undeniably captivated by Emilia. Clind, who devotedly supported Annerose and was trusted as a versatile steward, had been a mentor to Petra when she first began working as a maid, teaching her manners and etiquette.

It wasn't just Petra; almost all members associated with the Mathers Family, including Frederica and Ram, had received Clind's guidance and learned the basics of servitude. Therefore, Clind held a position akin to the progenitor of the servants connected to the Mathers Family, and Petra should have regarded him as a teacher or mentor. However, it was Clind himself who corrected Petra's perception.

"I never intended to take on such an exaggerated role as teaching and guiding. It's a misunderstanding. I merely pass on what I've heard from my predecessors. It's only because I've been in this position for a long time that I have more opportunities. I decline."

Clind's perspective could be seen as a reflection of humility and modesty. However, Petra sensed that it was genuinely Clind's unvarnished truth, as he rarely displayed any emotional fluctuations.

"In the end, that man underestimates himself. He thinks his work isn't praiseworthy because of his low self-assessment... It's insulting!"

This was Frederica's unusually harsh critique of Clind, but Petra partially agreed and partially disagreed with Frederica's view, which she believed to be absolutely correct and considered Frederica to be the most wonderful person in the world.

Indeed, at first glance, Clind's demeanor seemed that of someone with low self-esteem. However, Clind rarely showed hesitation or doubt when conveying something to younger or junior individuals through his words and actions. If he truly had low self-esteem, he would hesitate and doubt more. Clind's way of being lacked such ordinary doubts. ――Just like Petra.

"I can do anything if I set my mind to it."

Most people might dismiss this as arrogance, but Petra didn't care about most people. What mattered to her were the people close to her, and she believed that those close to her believed in her confidence and potential.

Petra is aware that she is a bundle of potential and has the talent to make it blossom. She is not only cute in appearance but also possesses the talent to walk the path she desires and the grit to keep believing in that talent and continue her efforts. She is conscious of being a person blessed with two or even three gifts from heaven.

As someone endowed with such remarkable talent, she would say that Clind's way of being is not that of a person with low self-esteem, but rather the opposite. Clind is aware that he possesses excellent abilities. On top of that, he does not think it's something to boast about. That's why he appears to be a humble and modest person at first glance.

"But that's really unpleasant."

――Regarding the man called Clind, Petra knows very little.

However, Petra honestly doesn't like Clind, whom she doesn't know that much about. This is not unrelated to the fact that Frederica, who is gentle like a loving mother and polite to everyone, shows a special attitude and expression only towards Clind, and Petra has an inkling of what kind of emotion that stems from. It also has to do with the fact that Clind seems to have a long-standing relationship with Roswaal and appears to be quite close to him.

But the main reason is derived from Clind's own way of being, which is different from his relationships with Frederica or Roswaal.

――The way he seems to have already reached the top is what most contradicts Petra's principles.

"――I've come back, so lend me your strength! I know you can hear me, Clind-nii-sama!"

Passing through the gate at the entrance of the nearest town, Milula, by dragon carriage, Petra raised her voice and called out to the familiar presence of the man. Thanks to Patrasche, who dashed through the sand sea from the Pleiades Watchtower in a day and night, Petra and her group's return was undoubtedly on the shortest route and in the shortest time. Even so, they were far behind Al, who borrowed the wings of the 『Divine Dragon』.

To catch up with that distant back, his power was indispensable.

"Clind-nii-sama!"

Pulling the reins to stop the dragon carriage, Petra raised her voice again in the middle of the town square. The voice of the man she sought did not return in response to Petra's earnest appeal. However, believing that her voice was definitely reaching him, Petra glanced around.

'What? Is there no one in the town?'

Imaginary Subaru said this while surveying the same scenery as Petra. As Imaginary Subaru said, despite it still being broad daylight, there was not a single person to be seen in the square. ――No, it wasn't just the square. There was no sign of people throughout the entire town.

Milula, which had the strong impression of being a desolate post town, should still have had a population of no less than a hundred or two hundred people. It was strange that not a single person could be seen.

"…Could it be that everyone was erased by the man in the helmet or something?"

'You're saying something really scary! You're not Elsa or anything!'

"Meili-chan, don't say scary things. ――Subaru, Meili-chan doesn't do that anymore. It's the result of education."

The first half was directed at Meili, and the latter half was words to convince Imaginary Subaru. It would be a lie to say that the worst-case scenario Meili mentioned didn't momentarily cross her mind, but the possibility is negated by the fact that the town, despite being devoid of people, hasn't been ravaged.

If Al had gone on a rampage with Volcanica, the town should have been more destroyed, with irreparable devastation spread out. The state of this town is more like――,

"Like they fled in the night."
'Like a night escape.'

Petra and Imaginary Subaru's impressions unexpectedly align. Since Imaginary Subaru resides in Petra's mind, it's only natural for their thoughts to coincide. However, as a girl in love, Petra finds it a little delightful that her thoughts match those of her beloved. Moreover, there are other reasons that have made her feel more positive.

"――There might be some misunderstanding, but your assessment is largely correct. Keen insight."

With those words, a man steps forward into the town square, now devoid of residents. Amidst the desolate and barren townscape, he maintains a sophisticated aura that stands out. His mysterious presence feels like a single drop of deep blue paint on a blank canvas, exuding a subtle yet undeniable strength. Even if this were not a deserted inn town, but the bustling capital filled with crowds, or a packed fireworks festival with summer fireworks booming in the sky, it seems impossible to overlook this man's presence—a natural trait that suggests so.

'Wait a minute. I'm currently downloading Petra's knowledge in a hurry.'

"――Clind brother."

'Ah, you beat me to it!'

While the then-unfamiliar Imaginary Subaru grumbles about being intercepted, Petra nimbly jumps down from the driver's seat and looks straight at the man—Clind, the all-purpose steward and the key figure to change this situation.

"――. Considering the state of Milula and the turmoil of the sand sea, it seems it was the right decision not to return. A stroke of luck."

Adjusting the position of the monocle on his left eye with his hand, Clind narrows his eyes at the empty town and the sky behind Petra and the others—a sky of murky color and its cause. And then――,

"Let's talk, Petra. It seems we need to do that. Urgently."

△▼△▼△▼△

"――I see. Thoughtful."

After listening to a rough explanation, Clind places a finger on his slender chin and closes one eye. His contemplation, with his sharply beautiful features, possesses a solemnity akin to a painting, but unfortunately, Petra doesn't have the luxury to be captivated by it, nor does her sensibility align with it. If it were merely about beauty, looking in a mirror or at Emilia would be the quickest solution.

"What about Garfiel and the person named Ezzo's condition? Confirmation."

"Both the fanged brother and the teacher seem to be out of life-threatening danger. It's worrying that the supposedly very sturdy fanged brother isn't waking up, though..."

"Yeah, I think Garf probably shielded Ezzo."

Picking up where Meili left off, Petra thinks about the two lying in the dragon carriage. Despite his toughness, Garfiel, who is akin to a dwarf and a mage, suffered significant damage, likely because he stood in front to shield Ezzo from the 'Divine Dragon's' attack. Without his intervention, Ezzo might not have survived.

'So, Garfiel took a direct hit from the dragon. I still can't fully grasp that this guy can go to such lengths, or that he's fourteen and in his second year of middle school.'

"Actually, Garf is already fifteen. By the way, I'll soon be fourteen."

'Time flies. No wonder Petra has transformed from a pretty girl into a beautiful woman.'

"――――"

To reiterate, it is important to keep in mind that this is merely the Imaginary Subaru in Petra Leyte's mind, and not something actually said by the real Natsuki Subaru. However, even the real Subaru would say something like this, and it sounded familiar.

Even though she understood it was genuine and not mere flattery, the fact that he could say such things so casually to someone other than Emilia was, well, somewhat troubling.

That being said――,

"I'm worried about Garfiel and Sensei too, but my biggest concern is about Al. Clind-nii-sama must have felt the same way, which is why he waited, right?"

"When you say 'felt the same way,' it's a bit different. The reason I stayed here was due to a slight sense of discomfort when I saw Petra and the others off. Doubt."

"A slight, discomfort?"

"Yes. I actually informed Subaru-sama and Beatrice-sama about it. Recollection."

Hearing about something Petra and Meili didn't know, Clind lowered his eyes with a melancholic expression. In reality, since the two people he informed ended up in Al's hands, Clind's self-reproach must be considerable.

Even the Imaginary Subaru, who didn't know Clind, felt a bit sympathetic,

'No, the more I hear about it, the more it sounds like Beatrice and I are at fault. I mean, Clind-san did properly report, right? And we didn't report back, right? So this is the result, and it's understandable...'

"It's not like Subaru and Beatrice-chan are at fault. Subaru, keep quiet."

'My reflection paper can't include my own intentions!'

Subaru lamented as if he had encountered something unreasonable, but Petra wouldn't allow anyone, even Subaru himself, to carelessly criticize Subaru. Moreover, the way it was said would drag Beatrice into it as well. Beatrice is cute and earnest, so she is blameless.

Petra Leyte's courtroom rules and Judge Petra's verdict do not hesitate to show favoritism that would make anyone tremble upon hearing it.

"So, what was it that concerned you, House Steward?"

"Even then, I couldn't point out anything specific. Lack of ability. However, now that the situation has changed like this... there is room for doubt in the setting of the situation. Concern."

Prompted by Meili, Clind, still with his eyes lowered, put his thoughts into words. The 'setting of the situation' that Clind was concerned about likely refers to the time when Petra and the others were seen off at Milula.

"It wasn't unnatural to the point of being suspicious. The personnel made sense when you heard the explanation. ――However, it felt like a combination that wouldn't work unless you went through two or three difficult rationalizations. Intention."

"Intention..."

Petra mouthed the word, savoring it in her mouth as Clind explained. Honestly, the fact that Clind was vague and avoided stating outright—the choice of companions for the Pleiades Watchtower—had always existed in Petra's mind as a self-punishing logic.

If it hadn't been Petra who went with Subaru and the others, but Emilia, Ram, or Otto, perhaps things wouldn't have turned out this way. If Frederica had gone in Petra's place as originally planned, they might have been able to prevent Al's rampage beforehand.

Meili was indispensable for breaking through the Augria Sand Dunes, and Garfiel was the most reliable combat force in the group, making these two essential members. It was only Petra. Only Petra was the interchangeable member.

"――――"

Shouldn't I have asserted myself more? Either by postponing the trip to the tower or by ensuring we all acted together.

Of course, reporting back from Vollachia and the events that occurred there was urgent, and providing emotional support to Schult, who had lost his place, was undeniably necessary. It was because of such sound judgment that the current team was formed without a doubt.

Yet, Petra isn't confident that her subjective, arbitrary wishes weren't inserted into the decision. The selfish ambition of wanting to be useful to Subaru, whom she had been separated from for a long time and didn't want to part with for even a moment. In a place without Emilia or Rem, didn't Petra wish for her strength and presence to support Subaru? That's why she couldn't even notice the discomfort that Clind had sensed.

"—Petra, you're overthinking it, no matter how you look at it."

Petra's hand, tightly gripping the hem of her skirt, felt the intangible hand of Imaginary Subaru overlap it, and a gentle voice whispered in her ear. Yet, Petra couldn't simply be saved by Subaru's words.

"Well, as much as it pains me to admit, there might have been a tiny bit of ulterior motive in wanting to be with me. But that's not a bad thing. Even if there was a little of that feeling, it's just one percent. I know well that the remaining ninety-nine percent is Petra's kindness."

"Oh no... I'm the one making the Subaru in my head say that..."

"If you say that, I can't say anything back! That's a forbidden card!"

Imaginary Subaru, whose face was slightly flushed from the embarrassment of admitting he wanted to be with her, protested, and Petra let out a long sigh. She truly disliked how easily she was swayed by such consideration. It's probably not that Petra is a cheap girl, but that Subaru's words have too much power.

"Besides, the fact that you're suffering might not even be your fault, Petra."

"Does that have something to do with Al being too strong?"

"Well, I haven't actually seen Al fight with a sword, so I might be off the mark... but I know about Reinhard."

Even if Al's true strength is unknown, the pinnacle of this world—Reinhard's strength is known. Garfiel and Ezzo are formidable fighters beyond Petra's reach. Having defeated those two, it's normal to think Al is even stronger. However, no matter how strong Al is, he can't match Reinhard.

"When I first saw him at the stolen goods warehouse, I didn't quite grasp the common sense of this world, but... even by this world's standards, he's a monster."

"Yeah. But Al managed to deal with Reinhard somehow. It's certain that Flamm summoned Reinhard with her blessing..."

"At the very least, he wasn't instantly defeated by Reinhard. That's not something easily done, even with a helper like the Divine Dragon, right?"

"Does that have anything to do with our combination?"

"Maybe. It feels like there are many things that can't be explained by just being strong."

Petra Leyte carefully considers the concern voiced by Imaginary Subaru. Indeed, when faced with Reinhard, all strength becomes meaningless. In terms of power, it is impossible to evade Reinhard and achieve one's goals. Therefore, there must be a reason for Aldebaran's fear beyond mere strength.

"Honestly, up to this point, Aldebaran has been incredibly lucky with favorable situations continuing."

"But for people who are always lucky, there's usually a reason beyond luck, right?"

"Exactly."

Petra thinks it's worth noting this aspect, even if she can't grasp the core of it. By exploring other possibilities, the overwhelming sense of self-blame is somewhat alleviated. Perhaps this was Subaru's true intention all along.

"Petra-chan? Are you okay, spacing out like that?"

"—. Sorry, Meili-chan, I'm fine. And Clind-nii-sama."

"What is it? Confirmation."

"I don't think Clind-nii-sama's feeling of unease is wrong. I don't know the reason yet, but without knowing that unease, no one can stop Aldebaran."

"——"

"It's just us. Only we can stop Aldebaran. —We have to stop him and then get Subaru and Beatrice-chan back."

Placing her hand on her chest, Petra strongly appeals to Clind. It took considerable courage for Petra to muster up the final breath to say this.

"——"

Imaginary Subaru, arms crossed, watches Petra's profile with a complex expression. Without directing her gaze there, Petra firmly believes in her conclusion. She holds onto her belief unwaveringly.

—Petra had read the 『Book of the Dead』. In the worst-case scenario, Aldebaran might have killed both Subaru and Beatrice, erasing them from this world. The existence of Natsuki Subaru's 『Book of the Dead』 suggests such a possibility.

"But my Subaru isn't ordinary."

She inadvertently referred to him as "my Subaru," but it's the truth. The extraordinary part is a fact. Natsuki Subaru possessed the power of 『Return by Death』, an incredibly painful and difficult ability that only a kind-hearted person could handle properly. Petra speculates that the experiences of Subaru's past deaths might be the book she saw. Because—

"After the book I saw, has Subaru really not died even once?"

"It feels like a negative trust, doesn't it? But considering the things Petra knows about... like the Sin Archbishop's joint appearance, the adventure at the Pleiades Watchtower, or the hellish Vollachia Empire... it's hard to believe I got through all that without a single mistake."

"...Yeah."

When Petra realized that Subaru's brilliant achievements, which were already considered difficult, were actually a collection of hellish ordeals beyond her imagination, she wasn't disappointed in Subaru. Instead, she was deeply moved by his dedication. And at the same time, she realized the depth of Subaru's emotional scars from Priscilla's death.

Subaru was deeply, unimaginably wounded. That's why he took it upon himself, believing it was his fault, and resolved to do anything for Aldebaran. Aldebaran betrayed all of Subaru's feelings, including his unique resolve to "save everyone even if it means dying." If Aldebaran had killed Subaru and Beatrice, Petra would not be able to achieve revenge even if she tore Aldebaran's body, heart, and soul to pieces.

"Petra-chan, your brother and Beatrice-chan are ah..."

"I'm alive. Absolutely."

"…Yes, indeed. Both of you, especially your brother, are quite tenacious."

Meili murmured in a soft voice, gently resting her head on Petra Leyte's shoulder. Despite her outward demeanor, Meili was genuinely concerned for Natsuki Subaru and Beatrice. This perception was a result of the path Subaru had walked so far.

"What on earth did the me I don't know do to Beatrice and Meili?"

Imaginary Subaru muttered in exasperation, bewildered by his own unknown actions. Petra, noticing Imaginary Subaru's demeanor, smiled slightly and turned back to Clind. She had already conveyed her intentions and purpose. Now, all that remained was to wait for his response.

Receiving Petra's gaze directly, Clind quietly exhaled from his thin lips and said,

"Is it something only you can do? Bold words. However, your determination is something to behold. Impressive."

"――――"

"To be honest, when the 'Witch' started moving at the world's end, creating a situation that only the 'Sword Saint' could stop, I had half-resigned myself to the irreparable. Regretful. But if you are determined to ignite that spirit—"

"Wait, Clind brother."

Petra interrupted Clind as he began to speak. It wasn't because the conversation seemed long or she feared it would go off track. In Clind's terms, it was an indistinct sense of unease. However, Petra couldn't overlook the unease that Clind himself regretted ignoring.

What caught Petra's attention was Clind's phrasing.

"I said 'us.' And in that 'us,' Clind brother is included. Don't speak as if it's someone else's business."

"That is… hesitation."

"Even at a time like this, I'll say it. Clind brother, you've always been with us as if you're outside the circle. I didn't like that."

If he were interacting with Petra and the Emilia camp from a step back, as an adult, as someone needed in that position, it would be understandable. But Clind was different. He was the same with everyone.

Whether it was Annerose Miload, whom Clind admired as his master, Roswaal, with whom Clind had a friendship like bad companions, or Frederica, who couldn't exclude Clind from her life, it was the same.

"Such a way of living won't be allowed in Sister Emilia's ideal kingdom."

"――――"

"There's no such thing as someone else's business. If you're alive, meeting someone, talking, seeing their face, then both the good and bad things that arise are unavoidable. You can't pick and choose just a little or only the good parts; you can't and shouldn't do that."

"Petra…"

"If you keep doing that, you'll eventually be turned away by everything important."

Feeling Meili's presence as she touched her sleeve, Petra spoke with such intensity that she was almost out of breath. Partway through, she wasn't sure if she was expressing what she wanted to say or if she conveyed what she truly wanted. Surely, it was the influence of Subaru from the 『Book of the Dead』.

"Hey, isn't that part of the cheating you just mentioned?"

Imaginary Subaru, with a lowered brow, pointed out, but Petra consciously ignored it for now. What was more important was Clind's reaction—

"Turned away by everything important, you say… I feel it deeply."

Petra Leyte gasped softly at Clind's murmur. It was partly because the deeply poignant emotion in Clind's whispering voice resonated painfully in her chest. But more than that, it was Clind's expression that caused it.

"――――"

Clind rarely showed such emotions on his face. Whether smiling or angry, Petra couldn't recall seeing him sad, but in any case, Clind expressed all of these with a blank expression. There was a change in Clind's expression. ――It was sorrowful.

A poignant voice and a sorrowful expression. When these two overlap, people describe it as ephemeral. At this moment, Clind had an ephemeral and nostalgic expression, reminiscent of the past.

"It's already, you know. Nostalgia."

"Clind, brother."

"Once already, I've been turned away from all of that, Petra. Self-mockery."

Hearing those words, Petra recalled her previous statement and felt ashamed. She had arrogantly spoken about emotions she had only just begun to understand. Clind already knew that feeling and behaved as if he was living in the present despite it. Yet, even with that shame, Petra wanted to say,

"Even so...!"

"――Yes, even so. Admiration."

"Huh?"

"Once, I let go of everything. Even if it's true that I became empty afterward, on the path I've walked since then, there are things I've gained and built up. Reflection. ――Petra, my relationship with you all is one of those things. Revelation."

After saying this, Clind closed his eyes and looked up at the sky. The sky, with clouds sparsely torn apart, seemed to barely hold back the end of the world on the other side. What did he see there?

"Why did I stay here, not commanded to, but because of a faint sense of discomfort? Perhaps I, too, found it unbearable to let things pass by like this. Realization."

"Uh, Clind brother, does that mean..."

"In other words, it's like saying Petra-chan was right, sorryyy?"

"Meili-chan!"
'Whoa, Meili-senpai, you said it!'

Beside the bewildered Petra, Meili's clear statement surprised her. Next to the wide-eyed Petra, Subaru, impressed, called Meili "senpai," and even without remembering that, it seemed like a typical Subaru reaction. Meanwhile, Clind, ignoring Petra's confusion, gave a small chuckle and said,

"I apologize for lacking a sense of involvement and causing unease. Apology. On top of that, Petra, I thank you. Great gratitude. ――I also want to cooperate positively."

"Clind brother...!"

Hearing this, Petra's eyes sparkled as Clind made a formal bow. However, to dampen Petra's excitement, Meili continued with, "But actually,"

"It's not like the steward was planning to interfere with us or say he wouldn't cooperate, right? Isn't Petra-chan worrying too much?"

"Th-that might be true, but...!"

"No, that's not the case, Meili. Correction. Having a sense of involvement means I will also take the initiative to come up with solutions. It's very different from being a bystander. Different person."

'Calling him a different person is going too far!'

"But it means we can expect that much, right? Then! With Clind brother's mysterious power, take us to everyone..."

Petra leaned forward eagerly, determined to make use of Clind's power. In fact, in this situation, Petra was relying most on Clind's power of 'teleportation.' His ability to instantly eliminate the distance to the destination would be indispensable in pursuing Aldebaran, who had headed somewhere with the 'Divine Dragon.'

Although Aldebaran's destination was unknown, he was conspicuous with the 'Divine Dragon' in tow. With the cooperation of Emilia, Ram, and, though she was reluctant to admit it, Roswaal, it should be entirely possible to pinpoint his destination and catch up. Petra was brimming with enthusiasm, but—

"Unfortunately, my teleportation technique is not something that can be used without limits. Rather, in terms of restrictions, it's quite an inflexible power. Regrettably."

"Clind, you're a liar! A traitor!"
『You got our hopes up for nothing! Clind, you let us down!』

"I-it's too much, Petra. I'm sure the steward didn't mean any harm."

The glimmer of hope suddenly vanished, and Petra, along with Imaginary Subaru, expressed their anger. Only half of that anger reached Clind and Meili, but it was true that they had been led to false hope. In the first place, it was a power whose mechanism was unknown, but if the expected 'teleportation' couldn't be used, it was just a handsome man accompanying them optimistically.

"Technically, it's not 'teleportation' but a 'compression' of space and time. Explanation. It compresses the distance that should be traveled and the time required. However, because it could significantly affect the world's nature, it requires the leniency of Od Lagna. Convenience."

『Od Lagna? What's that?』

"It's like the source of mana, from Subaru's knowledge, it's something like a god without consciousness... probably."

As Clind mentioned the unexpected term, Imaginary Subaru tilted his head in confusion, and Petra, while explaining, wasn't entirely confident in her understanding either. Having studied under Roswaal and been taught magic, Petra had received a cursory lecture on Od Lagna, but whether she truly understood it was questionable. Roswaal himself had said it was difficult to claim a perfect understanding of Od Lagna.

However, Od Lagna is an immensely powerful entity, and in a sense, it stands in a class of its own, even compared to powerful beings like the 'Sword Saint,' the 'Divine Dragon,' and the 'Witch of Envy.'

"So, what happens if you can't deceive Od Lagna?"

"Unknown. The fact that it is unknown is terrifying. Trembling."

Clind responded to Meili's question, slowly shaking his head. His answer didn't seem to have any intention of deception or evasion. In other words, Clind, who seemed to know everything, shared the same view as Roswaal. But if that's the case—

"Clind, you've done it a few times before, right? That means, according to what you just said, you managed to deceive Od Lagna... how do you do it?"

"Petra..."

"Because there's a method, Clind was able to use his power. What do you need? For example... you need mana to use magic. You need a contract to command spirits. Then, to get Od Lagna to do something, do you need to offer something in return?"

"――. You truly are a surprising child. Hats off."

Clind's reaction confirmed that Petra's guess was correct. In other words, by offering something to Od Lagna, Clind could gain permission to use his extraordinary power. According to Clind, it was like receiving leniency.

『So it's like a bribe or a backhanded deal. ...Quite the worldly god, isn't it?』

Imaginary Subaru grumbled with a grim expression, and Petra Leyte shared the exact same sentiment. However, on the other hand, she felt that a god who demands compensation is more trustworthy than one who gives blessings for nothing.

More than anything, Petra knew 'to death' that the world is not set to an easy difficulty level where you can obtain what you want without sacrifice.

Therefore――,

"Please tell me what you need, Clind. No matter what it is, I will make sure to prepare it. It's for Subaru, Beatrice, and everyone."

"Oh my, Petra, you're so funny. You said it yourself earlier, it's not just me, it's us."

"――. Sorry, sorry. But, thank you."

Petra, having made up her mind, smiled at Meili, who said this while hugging her arm.

Thinking back, Petra never imagined she could have this kind of relationship with Meili. When Meili was imprisoned in the mansion's cell, Petra often visited her with the calculated intention that if Meili became emotionally attached, she would cease to be a dangerous presence.

She never imagined that Meili would be there to support Petra, who had resolved herself in this way.

And Petra received all of this from him.

"――Possibility. That's the answer."

In front of Petra and Meili, Clind paused for a moment before saying this. What was present was not hesitation or indecision, nor was it reluctance or distress about telling this to the young girls. It was nothing negative.

Clind accepted the situation as his own and acknowledged Petra and the others, who faced the same problem, as true comrades. With that, he continued.

"The impact and possibilities that might be brought to the world, to Od Lagna, will be the compensation. That is the condition for using the authority of the Witch Factor of 『Melancholy』 that I possess. ――Confession."