Having successfully reconciled with Fiona, I wanted nothing more than to continue chatting over tea and snacks in the incredibly comfortable suite with Lily and Fiona. However, it was still too early to relax. If I had awakened, then I needed to go meet the other members as well.
“Nel has also been waiting for Chrono to wake up. You should go see her,” Lily said, sending me off with a smile.
“Siriel will guide you to Nel’s room,” she added.
And right away, Siriel, who was being made to work as a maid, joined me.
What is that? A new maid outfit? The skirt is quite short and a bit questionable, but it’s better than the succubus armor, so it’s fine — I thought this silly thing while looking at Siriel, who was dressed in a different kind of maid outfit as we left the room.
Once we exited the suite, a quiet hallway stretched out before us.
How many times had I found myself alone with Siriel, experiencing this awkward silence? Without any coherent thoughts gathering, I opened my mouth.
“Um, well…”
Now that we had reunited like this, I was perplexed in a way different from Fiona. What stance should I take when interacting with her?
I wished for a little more time to think… Damn it, Lily. You always overthink things. Or maybe she did it on purpose.
“I’m sorry. I’ve caused you unnecessary trouble,” I said.
“No, I simply fulfilled my mission,” Siriel replied, her expression even more emotionless than usual. I felt like she could easily rationalize a life-and-death struggle as just “work.”
“You were trying to protect me, right?”
“Yes, the safety of the Master is my top priority… Even if it means going against that intention, I will protect your life.”
I couldn’t possibly say, “How dare you act on your own.” Hitsugi also made the same judgment. At that time, I was the only one blinded by reality.
“Thank you for fighting for me.”
“I lost to her. My fight was meaningless.”
I had no way of knowing how Siriel lost to Lily, as Vivian had not witnessed it. However, even though Siriel had lost the power of an Apostle, I was sure that it wouldn’t have been easy for Lily to defeat someone as exceptionally skilled in combat as Siriel. It must have been a desperate battle for both.
“There’s nothing to be concerned about. The battle is over. Both you and I are safe, and that should be enough,” I reassured her.
“…Yes, Master.”
Though she affirmed my words, something about Siriel’s expression seemed unsatisfied—was that just my imagination?
Perhaps, in her own way, she felt regret for losing to Lily. Even though things would have been easy with the powers of an Apostle, she wouldn’t think that.
I was somewhat concerned, but I decided not to pry, as I feared it could lead to trouble. After all, I also had a looming sense of responsibility and guilt.
“By the way, you may have heard, but… um, well, I brought Lily back. Once I return, we will be living together—”
“That’s not a problem.”
If you say you already understood, well, sure, when I returned home with Siriel, I had every intention of living normally as a member of the ‘Element Master.’
“Lily has already expressed her intention to accept me as a maid.”
“No, I was asking how you feel about this.”
“I understand that those who have fought may harbor feelings of resentment toward each other. However, I have no such feelings. There are no psychological issues that would concern you, Master.”
“It seems I shouldn’t really be feeling glad that you’re so emotionless in situations like this…”
I’m sorry, but I genuinely thought it was good that Siriel was like this. After all, she openly claims to love both Lily and Fiona! And she’s prepared to not let either of them go… But Siriel, yes, she is in a rather delicate position, which makes things complicated.
To me, Siriel is a special existence. However, it is not a pure romantic feeling like wanting to date or marry her.
It’s not a mere romantic relationship, but I’ve made her a slave under my will and kept her close as a maid. Moreover, the fact that we’ve already crossed a line complicates the relationship even more.
Thus, it’s not as simple as saying I want to love and keep Siriel as a third alongside Lily and Fiona. But as a maid, it’s as if she is always with us… Ah, what is even Siriel’s position?!
“You have nothing to worry about, Master. I am just here to be by your side.”
Could it be that I made her worry? Just how troubled did I look?
If that’s the case, it’s quite embarrassing. But to be bold and ask now…
“Hey, Siriel… was my choice wrong after all?”
This is quite a vulnerable admission coming to this point.
It’s something I wouldn’t share with Lily, Fiona, or even male friends like Simon. But for some reason, I had to ask Siriel, who shares similar values of modern Japan.
“I affirm all of Master’s judgments.”
“Ah, I didn’t mean in a positional sense; I wanted a third-party opinion. You can insult me with Yuriko Shirasaki’s perspective like when you harshly critiqued my novel.”
“…”
It seemed she was on the verge of saying something truly scathing, as Siriel fell silent, deep in thought. She was frozen like a malfunctioning robot yet occasionally blinking.
“…I do not know. I apologize, Master.”
“No, it’s okay. I’m sorry for asking something strange.”
“I possess all of Yuriko Shirasaki’s memories, but I do not understand her heart as a human.”
“I see, that’s true… Forget what I just said. I love both Lily and Fiona, and I have no intention of letting you go either. I have no doubt or regret regarding that choice.”
I ended the conversation, trying to convince myself.
In any case, this wasn’t about to change my relationship with Siriel right away. The nature of our unusual master-servant relationship could change only if she herself decided to do so. She could continue her quiet maid existence or awaken her self-awareness and seek freedom.
I would support Siriel in whatever choice she made of her own volition.
“Well then, lead me to Nel.”
“Yes, this way, Master.”
Siriel watched as Chrono entered the room where Nel was waiting. For the time being, her job of guiding was over, and she was left alone in the quiet hallway.
“Why did you lie?”
A voice echoed.
It wasn’t Chrono and Nel’s voices coming from the room ahead. The interior was soundproofed so well that no noise traveled to the hallway.
So it must be Lily or Fiona. No, there were no human presences in this corridor. Not even a passing Homunculus servant; it was deserted.
It was only Siriel here. So, the voice was surely her own.
“Liars.”
Before her stood Yuriko Shirasaki.
This was not reality.
She existed only in the memories remaining with Siriel. Neither her physical body nor even a fragment of her soul remained in this world.
So this was merely an illusion. If anything, it was a swirling amalgamation of regret and guilt in Siriel’s mind. Or perhaps it might be avoidance and loathing.
“You already understand how I feel.”
Siriel does not understand human feelings. She is a puppet called a Homunculus. Even with experiences similar to humans, she lacks the emotional capacity to feel, a heartless killing machine.
But the feelings of Yuriko Shirasaki, a girl in love, are the only ones she can accurately comprehend. Because she was once that very existence. With all the memories that came with it, Siriel could trace Yuriko Shirasaki’s heart with precision.
She would think this, she would say that, she would act this way. All emotions and actions, Siriel could confidently envision it, as Lily had taught her, as Lily made her realize.
When Chrono asked, “Was I wrong?” Siriel answered with a lie. She instinctively understood Yuriko Shirasaki’s feelings towards Chrono’s choice without needing to think.
“I wanted you to properly convey it to Kuro No-kun, especially since you took the time to listen.”
The girl with the chestnut-colored hair, appearing so vividly, pleaded with Siriel, her expression sad and lonely, yet with a distinct dissatisfaction.
Her figure, her expression, her atmosphere. The phantom of Yuriko Shirasaki that existed only in her mind felt like a ghost who still haunted Siriel, watching everything.
In truth, it was merely a premise. If Yuriko Shirasaki had witnessed her actions, how would she have reacted? The imagination became so strikingly real that it felt as if she were truly dialoguing with the real Yuriko Shirasaki.
“There’s no need to convey it.”
Siriel responded coldly to her pleas.
There was no need to utter words into reality. She would speak within her heart. It is, in a sense, a self-question.
“Why?”
“Master’s will has already been decided.”
Siriel already knew. She had heard from Lily, and more importantly, she witnessed the outcome of the fight between them with her own eyes, so she understood.
Chrono never gave up, nor discarded anyone, extending his hand to all he loved, and firmly grasped it. He would never let go again.
“I, too, believe that Master has made the best choice and achieved the best outcome.”
Siriel wished for Chrono’s happiness. Therefore, achieving a harem is the only optimal solution.
Yes, for the heart of one man named Chrono. It is an undeniable fact that the women who love him harbor equal desires of possessiveness towards him.
“Even so, Master is struggling with ethical dilemmas. That is a matter of his own heart, and unless he comes to terms with it, it cannot be resolved.”
“Yeah, Kuro No-kun is still troubled. Loving two people is impure.”
“Therefore, the factors that would make him regret that choice should be eliminated.”
Siriel affirms Chrono in all his intentions.
What’s wrong with him building a harem? If it fulfills his heart, he should do so, and as a slave, she would only work to make that happen.
While she understands the culture and values of sincerity, chastity, integrity, and that one should love only a single person, if it causes anguish to her Master’s heart, those rules do not need to be upheld. Instead, they should become a bad habit actively ruined.
It is precisely because she thinks this way that Siriel unhesitatingly joined the plan of Lily, whom she had fought a moment ago. For Chrono’s sake, she mirrored the thoroughness of her will, looking to disregard everything else.
“Then, was that why you didn’t convey my feelings?”
“Yes, the jealousy of Yuriko Shirasaki is nothing but a harm that distracts Master.”
“Hahaha, it’s you who is jealous, isn’t it?”
Siriel’s thoughts froze.
“Kuro No-kun asked for my feelings, not yours, so you were jealous. You felt so frustrated and envious that you had to lie to your Master… I want him to look at me, no, I want him to forget about me. Don’t think about me, don’t remember me, disappear, vanish from this world… you sure have harbored some resentment.”
Her heart froze.
“But without me, you, a puppet, cannot do anything. You cannot make Kuro No-kun happy or entertain him. You can only be at his side because you have my memories, and he turns to look at you.”
The freezing sensation turned Siriel’s vision a fierce red. A raging flame of jealousy.
“See, could you return my body to me? If I come back, Kuro No-kun will—”
“Go away.”
In a swift motion. A sharp hand met the abhorrent illusion of a curse, cleaving it.
In reality, there was nothing there; it was merely a gesture, but for Siriel, it was necessary to shake off the overwhelming thoughts.
“Hehe, as long as you’ve set your mind to it, I can always come back. Don’t forget that.”
The phantom of Yuriko Shirasaki said this before dissipating.
“Yuriko Shirasaki no longer exists. I will not become you.”
Siriel firmly declared, as if convincing herself, and then she ceased to think.
The figment of Yuriko Shirasaki, existing solely in her imagination, stirred no concern in Siriel, even as it glowed in jealousy like the Queen of Jealousy, Lily.