—While Aldebaran's group was relentlessly pursued by formidable foes, there were two places in the Kingdom where equally fierce battles were being waged.

One was the battle of the 『Sword Saint』, trying to prevent the world's destruction from the 『Witch of Envy』, who had manifested a part of herself from the sealed shrine and was threatening to engulf the Augria Sand Dunes. 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, because they were each other's opponents, the battle remained evenly matched, with the conclusion continuously postponed. Literally, the battle could continue for seven days and seven nights—at the cost of the world's collapse.

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

—Petra knew very little about the man called Clind.

He was undoubtedly an ally. Annerose Miload, whom he served as a master, was a bright young girl who was not hindered by her youth or her relation to Roswaal and was a strong supporter of Emilia's camp. From Petra's perspective, there was no doubt that she was captivated by Emilia. Clind, who supported Annerose devotedly and was trusted as a versatile steward, had initially been someone Petra relied on to learn manners and etiquette when she started working as a maid.

Not only Petra, but almost all members related to the Mathers Family, including Frederica and Ram, had received Clind's guidance and learned the basics of being a servant. Therefore, Clind held a position akin to the progenitor of the servants connected to the Mathers Family, and Petra should have treated 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. Misunderstanding. I am merely passing on what I have heard from my predecessors. It is only because I have been in this position for a long time that I have had many opportunities. Refusal."

Clind's perspective could be seen as a reflection of humility and modesty. Yet Petra somehow sensed that this was Clind's genuine sentiment, almost devoid of emotional fluctuation.

"In the end, that man underestimates himself. Because his self-assessment is low, he thinks his work is not worthy of praise... 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 more wonderful than anyone else in the world.

Indeed, at first glance, Clind's attitude seemed like that of a person with low self-esteem. However, on the other hand, 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 more. Clind's demeanor lacked such ordinary doubts—just like Petra.

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

Most people might scoff at this as arrogance, but Petra didn't care because what mattered to her were not most people but those 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, along with the determination to continue believing in that talent. She is aware that she is a being endowed with not just two but three gifts from the heavens.

As someone blessed with such talents, she would say that Clind's way of being is not that of someone with low self-esteem but rather someone with high self-regard. Clind is aware that he possesses excellent abilities. However, he does not think it is something to boast about. Therefore, at first glance, he appears to be a humble and modest person.

"But that's really unpleasant."

――Petra doesn't know much about the man named Clind.

However, Petra honestly didn't like Clind, whom she didn't know much about. This was not unrelated to the fact that Frederica, who is gentle like a loving mother to everyone, showed special attitudes and expressions only towards Clind, and Petra had a hunch about what emotions those came from. It also had to do with the fact that Clind seemed to have a long-standing and close relationship with Roswaal.

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

――The way he seemed to have already reached the top was fundamentally opposed to Petra's principles.

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

Passing through the gate at the entrance of Milura, the nearest town to the sand dunes, in a dragon carriage, Petra raised her voice and called out to the familiar presence of a man. Thanks to Patrasche, who had fiercely traversed the sand sea for a day and night from the Pleiades Watchtower, Petra and her group's return had been on the shortest route and in the shortest time possible. Even so, they were far behind Al, who had 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 plea. However, believing that her voice was definitely reaching him, Petra looked around.

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

Imaginary Subaru voiced this while surveying the same scenery as Petra. As Imaginary Subaru said, despite it still being broad daylight, there wasn't 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.

Milura, with its strong impression as a desolate post town, should still have had a population of a hundred or two hundred people living there. The fact that not a single person was in sight was strange.

"…Could it be that the helmet guy made everyone disappear?"

'You're saying something really scary! You're not like Elsa!'

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

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

If Al and Volcanica had gone on a rampage, the town would have been more destroyed, and an irreparable disaster would have spread. The state of this town was more like――,

"It looks like they fled overnight."
'It seems like an overnight escape.'

Petra and Imaginary Subaru's impressions unexpectedly align. Since Imaginary Subaru resides in Petra's mind, it's only natural that their thoughts coincide, but as a girl in love, she's a bit pleased that her thoughts match with the person she admires. Moreover, there were other reasons for her newfound optimism.

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

Saying this, a man steps forward into the town square, now devoid of any inhabitants. Amidst the desolate and barren scenery of the town, 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 an unobtrusive strength. Even if this were not a deserted town but the bustling capital filled with people, or a packed fireworks festival with summer fireworks booming, one would not overlook this man's presence—such is his innate nature.

'Wait a moment. I'm quickly loading Petra's knowledge now.'

"――Clind, brother."

'Ah, you said it first!'

While the then-unfamiliar Imaginary Subaru feels frustrated at being intercepted by the person who appeared, Petra nimbly jumps down from the driver's seat and looks straight at the person—Clind, the versatile steward and the one holding the key to changing this situation.

"――. Considering the state of Milura and the turmoil of the sand sea, it seems it was the right decision not to return. Fortunate indeed."

Adjusting the position of the monocle on his left eye with his hand, Clind narrows his eyes at the empty town and the murky sky behind Petra and the others, as well as the cause of it. 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. The contemplation of this sharp-featured beauty holds 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's simply about beauty, looking in a mirror or at Emilia would be the quickest.

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

"Both the fang brother and the teacher don't seem to be in any life-threatening danger. It's a bit worrying that the tough fang brother isn't waking up, though..."

"Yeah, I think Garf probably shielded Ezzo."

Picking up from the latter part of Meili's response, Petra thinks of the two lying in the dragon carriage. Despite his toughness, Garfiel, who is in the same position as the dwarf and magician Ezzo, 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 is capable of going that far, or that he's fourteen and in his second year of middle school.'

"For the record, Garf is already fifteen. By the way, I'm almost fourteen."

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

"――――"

It is important to remember that this is merely an Imaginary Subaru in Petra's mind, and not something actually said by the real Subaru. However, even the real Subaru would say something like this without hesitation, and it was something she had heard before.

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

Anyway――,

"I'm worried about Garf and Sensei, but my biggest concern is Al. Clind, you feel the same way, which is why you waited, right?"

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

"A slight, discomfort?"

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

Hearing about something Petra and Meili didn't know, Clind lowered his eyes with a melancholic expression. In reality, since both of them had fallen into Al's hands after being informed, Clind must feel quite responsible.

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

'No, the more I hear, the more it seems like Beatrice and I are at fault. I mean, Clind did report properly, didn't he? And we didn't report back, did we? That's why this happened, so it's inevitable...'

"It's not Subaru and Beatrice's fault. Subaru, be quiet."

'My own reflection can't include my own will!'

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

Petra wouldn't hesitate to show favoritism that would make anyone tremble upon hearing it. That is the rule of Petra Leyte's court, and the judgment of Judge Petra.

"So, what was it that concerned you, Clind?"

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

Prompted by Meili, Clind, still with downcast eyes, put his thoughts into words. The 'setting of the situation' that Clind found concerning likely referred to when they saw Petra and the others off at Milura.

"It wasn't so unnatural. The personnel made sense when you heard the explanation. ――However, it felt like a combination that couldn't be established without forcing two or three reasons through. Intent."

"Intent..."

Petra mouthed the word, mulling over Clind's explanation. To be honest, the fact that Clind avoided explicitly stating it—the choice of companions for the Pleiades Watchtower—always lingered in Petra's mind as a self-critical reasoning.

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 initially planned, they might have prevented Al's violent act.

Meili was indispensable for crossing the Augria Sand Dunes, and Garfiel was the most reliable force for protection, making these two essential members of the team. It was only Petra. Only Petra was the interchangeable member.

"――――"

Could it be that I should have asserted myself more? Perhaps postponed the journey to the tower or insisted on acting together.

Of course, returning from Vollachia and reporting the events that took place there was urgent, and it was indeed necessary to care for Schult's heart, who had lost his place of belonging. It was undoubtedly the right decision to have the current members, considering these reasonable judgments.

However, Petra lacks confidence that her subjective, arbitrary wishes didn't influence the decision. The selfish desire to not be apart from Subaru, whom she had been separated from for so long, and the selfish ambition to be of use to him. In a place without Emilia or Rem, didn't Petra hope that her strength and presence could support Subaru? That's why she couldn't even notice the discomfort that Clind 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 imaginary touch of Imaginary Subaru's hand overlapping hers, and a gentle voice whispered in her ear. Yet, Petra couldn't simply be saved by Subaru's words.

"Well, even though I'm the one saying this, the idea that maybe there wasn't zero ulterior motive in wanting to be with me is entirely possible. But that's not a bad thing. Even if there was a tiny bit of that feeling, it's just one percent. I understand 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 else! That's a forbidden card!"

Imaginary Subaru, who must have been embarrassed to admit he wanted to be with her, blushed slightly as he protested, and Petra let out a long breath. She really disliked how easily she was swayed by that kindness. Probably, it's not that Petra is a cheap girl, but that Subaru's words have too much power.

"Besides, the fact that Petra is suffering might genuinely not be Petra's fault, I think."

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

"Well, I've never actually seen Al fight with a sword, so I might be saying something 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 both highly skilled individuals beyond Petra's reach. Since Al defeated those two, it's normal to think he's even stronger. However, no matter how strong Al is, he can't match Reinhard.

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

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

"At the very least, he wasn't instantly defeated by Reinhard. That's something that can't be easily done, even with a helper character 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."

Imaginary Subaru's comment made Petra ponder carefully. Indeed, when facing Reinhard, all strength becomes meaningless. In terms of power, it is impossible to evade Reinhard and achieve one's goals. In other words, Al's fear stems from reasons beyond mere strength.

"Honestly, up until now, things have been conveniently favorable for Al."

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

"Exactly."

Although she couldn't grasp the core, Petra thought it was worth noting that aspect. By exploring other possibilities, some of the directionless self-reproach was alleviated. Perhaps this was what Subaru truly intended.

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

"—. Sorry, Meili-chan, I'm fine. Also, Clind-niisama."

"What is it? Confirmation."

"I think the unease Clind-niisama felt isn't wrong. I don't know the reason yet, but without knowing that unease, no one can stop Al-san."

"――――"

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

Placing her hand on her chest, Petra strongly appealed to Clind. It took considerable courage for Petra to finally express her last breath.

"――――"

Imaginary Subaru, with arms crossed, looked at Petra's profile with a complex expression. Without turning her gaze towards him, Petra unwaveringly believed in her conclusion. She believed with all her heart.

—Petra had read the 『Book of the Dead』. In the worst-case scenario, Al 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 is not ordinary."

She inadvertently said "my," but it was true. The extraordinary part was a fact. Natsuki Subaru possessed the incredibly painful, arduous, and gentle power of 『Return by Death』, which only a kind-hearted person could handle correctly. Petra speculated that the book she saw might have been one of Subaru's past death experiences.

Because—

"After the book I saw, has Subaru really managed to not die even once?"

"It feels like negative trust. But considering Petra's knowledge of... the simultaneous appearance of the Sin Archbishops, the adventures at the Pleiades Watchtower, the hellish Vollachia Empire... it's hard to believe I got through all that without mistakes."

"…Yeah."

When Petra realized that Subaru's brilliant achievements, which were already considered the result of enduring hardships, were actually a collection of hellish experiences beyond her imagination, she wasn't disappointed in Subaru but rather shattered by his dedication. And simultaneously, she realized the depth of Subaru's heartache from letting Priscilla die.

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

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

"I'm alive. Absolutely."

"...Yes, indeed. Both of them, 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 genuinely worried about Natsuki Subaru and Beatrice. This perception by those around her was a result of the footprints Subaru had left behind.

"Beatrice and Meili, I wonder what the me I don't know has done."

Imaginary Subaru muttered in an exasperated tone, as if his own actions were unknown to him. Petra, noticing Imaginary Subaru's demeanor, smiled 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 let out a breath from his thin lips.

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

"――――"

"To be honest, when the 'Witch' began to move at the edge of the world, and it led to a situation that only the 'Sword Saint' could stop, I had half-resigned myself to the irreparable. Regretful. But if you are determined to fuel that spirit—"

"Wait, Clind brother."

Petra interrupted Clind as he began to speak. It wasn't because the conversation seemed long or out of fear of digression. As Clind might say, it was an indistinct sense of unease. However, Petra couldn't overlook that unease, especially since Clind regretted having overlooked it himself.

What caught Petra's attention was Clind's choice of words.

"I said 'we.' That 'we' includes you too, Clind brother. Don't talk 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, acting like you're on the outside looking in. I didn't like that."

If he was engaging with Petra and the Emilia camp from a step back, as an adult, fulfilling a necessary role, that 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 relationship akin to bad friends, or Frederica, who couldn't exclude Clind from her life, it was the same.

"Such a way of living isn't allowed in Emilia's ideal Kingdom."

"――――"

"There's no such thing as someone else's business. If you're alive, meeting people, talking, seeing faces, then the good and bad things that arise from that are inevitable. You can't just pick and choose the good parts or take only a little. That's unfair, and you shouldn't do it."

"Petra..."

"If you keep doing that, eventually everything important will turn its back on you!"

Feeling Meili's presence touching her sleeve, Petra declared strongly, almost out of breath. Partway through, she wasn't sure if she was conveying what she wanted to say or if it was understood. Surely, it was the influence of the 'Book of the Dead' Subaru.

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

Imaginary Subaru, with lowered eyebrows, pointed out, but Petra consciously ignored it for now. More important was Clind's reaction—

"Everything important turning its back on you... 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 his emotions on his face. Petra couldn't recall seeing him smile, get angry, or express sadness; in any case, Clind expressed all of these with a blank expression. But now, there was a change in Clind's expression. ――It was one of sorrow.

A poignant voice and a sorrowful expression. When these two overlap, people describe it as ephemeral. At that moment, Clind looked ephemeral and wistful, as if reminiscing about the past.

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

"Clind, brother."

"Once already, I was turned away from all of it, Petra. Self-mockery."

Hearing those words, Petra recalled her earlier statement and felt embarrassed. She had arrogantly spoken about emotions she had only just begun to understand. Clind already knew that feeling and acted as he did now, having experienced it. Yet, despite her embarrassment, Petra still 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, there are things I've gained and built up on the path I've walked since then. Introspection. ――Petra, my relationship with you all was one of those things. Revelation."

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

"Why did I stay here, without being ordered, just because of a slight sense of discomfort? Perhaps I too found it unbearable to let things pass by like this. Realization."

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

"Does that mean, 'I'm sorry, Petra-chan, you were right all along'?"

"Meili-chan!"
'Whoa, Meili-senpai, that's bold!'

Beside the bewildered Petra, Meili's clear statement surprised her. Even though Petra was taken aback by Natsuki Subaru calling Meili "senpai" with admiration, it seemed like a typical Subaru reaction, even if she didn't remember it. Meanwhile, Clind, ignoring Petra's confusion, gave a small laugh,

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

"Clind brother...!"

Petra's eyes sparkled at Clind's formal bow and declaration. However, Meili interjected, as if to dampen Petra's excitement,

"Anyway, the steward wasn't planning to interfere with us or refuse to cooperate, right? Isn't Petra-chan just overthinking it?"

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

"No, that's not correct, Meili. Correction. Having a sense of involvement means I will also actively propose solutions for resolution. It's vastly different from being a bystander. A 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 use Clind's power to overcome the situation. In fact, Petra was relying heavily on Clind's power of 'teleportation' in this scenario. His ability to instantly eliminate the distance to their destination was an indispensable power for chasing after Al, who had headed somewhere with the 『Divine Dragon』.

Al's destination was unknown, but with such a conspicuous companion as the 『Divine Dragon』, it should be quite possible to pinpoint his destination and catch up with him with the cooperation of Emilia, Ram, and, though she was reluctant to admit it, Roswaal and the others. Petra was brimming with enthusiasm at the thought, but—

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

"Clind, you're a liar! A traitor!"
'You got our hopes up for nothing! Clind, you're such a letdown!'

"Th-that's too much, Petra-chan. I don't think the steward meant 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 given false hope. In the first place, it's true that the power is not well understood, but if the 'teleportation' they were counting on couldn't be used, it was just a matter of a handsome guy tagging along 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 impact the nature of the world, it requires the indulgence of Od Lagna. Convenience."

'Od Lagna? What's that?'

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

As Clind mentioned the unexpected term, Imaginary Subaru tilted his head in confusion, and Petra, while explaining, was not entirely confident in her understanding. Petra, who was studying magic under Roswaal, had received a cursory lecture on Od Lagna, but whether she truly understood it was questionable. Even Roswaal had said it was hard to claim a perfect understanding of Od Lagna.

However, Od Lagna is an incredibly massive force, and in a sense, it's something that stands apart, even at the pinnacle of 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. Shocking."

Meili's question was met with Clind slowly shaking his head. There was no intention to deceive or evade in his answer. In other words, even 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? Does that mean, according to what you just said, you managed to deceive Od Lagna... how do you do it?"

"Petra..."

"Because there's a way, Clind was able to use his power. What do you need? For example... mana is needed to use magic. A contract is needed to command spirits. Then, to get Od Lagna to do something, is a price required?"

"—. You really surprise me, child. Hats off."

Clind's reaction confirmed that Petra's guess was correct. In other words, by offering a price to Od Lagna, Clind could obtain permission to use his extraordinary power. According to Clind, it was like getting a blind eye turned.

'So it's like a bribe or a payoff. ...How worldly, for a god.'

Imaginary Subaru grumbled with a grim expression, and Petra Leyte felt exactly the same. However, she also thought that a god who demands compensation might be more trustworthy than one who gives blessings for nothing.

More than anything, Petra knew 'to death' that the world wasn't set to an easy difficulty where you could get what you wanted without sacrificing anything. So――,

"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, that's funny. You said it yourself earlier, it's not just me, it's us."

"――. Sorry, sorry. But, thank you."

Petra smiled at Meili, who hugged her arm with determination. In hindsight, Petra never thought she could have such a relationship with Meili. When Meili was imprisoned in the mansion's cell, Petra frequently visited her with the ulterior motive that Meili might become less dangerous if she was swayed by emotions.

She never imagined that Meili would be there to support her when she made a decision like this.

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 speaking. There was no hesitation, indecision, or reluctance to tell this to the young girls—none of those backward feelings.

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

"The impact it will have on the world, on Od Laguna, the possibility—that will be the compensation. That is the condition for using the authority of the 『Melancholy』 Witch Factor that I possess. ――Confession."