“Alright, I’m back.”
The sensation of Millie hugging me disappeared, and the next moment, I was in my room at Waslein. Looks like I looped again. So, I somehow managed to survive another year.
I involuntarily lost my strength and slumped onto the sofa.
“Man, that was rough. It was rough, but… this should be the end of it this time.”
The clash between Millie and Shino that I had feared didn’t happen, and I wasn’t stabbed either. Aside from the occasional tense atmosphere that made my stomach churn, I can say that I got through it without any major problems. In the end, they’re both good girls.
My level-grinding went smoothly… well, I can’t say I worked that hard, but they should both be around level 60. They’ll probably grow even stronger from there, and at worst, they might even be able to defeat the Final Boss on their own.
Even if it doesn’t work out this time, it’ll probably be due to a lack of information rather than combat ability. There’s really nothing I can do about that, so I can only hope that the story unfolds according to the original scenario.
The next morning, I finished the usual interview with Father, and the day after that, I declared that I would be borrowing Shino for three years and set off for the Royal Capital.
How many times have I gone to the Royal Capital with Shino now? Six or seven times, I think.
“I wonder if this will be the last time we go to the Royal Capital together like this.”
“…I suppose so.”
This time, Shino and I are sitting side by side on the driver’s seat. The carriage behind us has become a very luxurious luggage carrier.
“I remember the first time, the carriage was shaking so much because Shino was making the horse run so fast.”
“Eh, that didn’t… Ah. That was because I thought Lord Geld might have reverted to the original Lord Geld.”
“That’s right. I was sad and confused because Shino, who had been so kind, suddenly became cold.”
“Please… just forget about that already.”
“No way, I can’t. I don’t remember or forget things that don’t matter, but I can’t forget anything about Shino.”
“…Y-yes.”
I’m staring blankly ahead, so Shino’s face isn’t in my field of vision. What kind of face is Shino making right now? Is she happy?
“Repeating the same time over and over was tough, but I always ended up going to the Royal Capital with Shino, so I was able to recover each time. I’m really glad Shino is my exclusive.”
“L-Lord Geld… I, me too!”
“Eh? Ah, no. I didn’t mean it like that, you know. The reins, shouldn’t you not let go of the reins? Shino? Shino!?”
Shino will be forced to go on a terribly troublesome journey for up to three years from now.
Shino doesn’t have much motivation to stop the Loop, and she’s only trying to stop it because I want to stop it.
As atonement or encouragement from me, who is in a comfortable position with nothing to do during that time, I tried to say something that would make Shino happy, but it seems like it struck Shino in a strange way.
Thanks to that, we arrived in the Royal Capital one day later than the day I promised Millie.
“…You’re late. I was worried.”
“Yeah, sorry. That wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“I’m sorry, Millie. I, um… a little.”
“Ah, I understand.”
As soon as we arrived, Shino and I were being scolded by Millie in a room at the inn. I have no choice but to accept this.
Until now, I had only reunited with Millie after entering the academy, but at Millie’s strong request, we were scheduled to meet up before the entrance exam.
Millie was originally supposed to come to the Royal Capital with her childhood friends the day before the exam, but this time she forcibly avoided that and came alone early. After all that, the person she was waiting for was late, so it’s no wonder she’s angry.
“Alright, the verdict is guilty. As punishment, Shino-oneechan is confined to her room. Geld-kun will serve me.”
I thought the trial had just begun, but the verdict was already out. Judge Millie is as forceful as ever.
“Millie, I cannot overlook that as a Maid of the Waslein Family. Lord Geld is the Heir Apparent of the great noble Waslein Family. How dare you try to make such a person serve you.”
Oh, Shino the lawyer isn’t giving up either. Even though she’s both the perpetrator and the one who received the guilty verdict, she’s rattling on without a care. Judge Millie is flustered by the sudden appearance of the lawyer.
“Eh? Y-yes, that may be true, but that’s just a formality…”
“A formality? Then what do you actually intend to do?”
“Actually, that’s. Well, um… I want to fool around with you…”
“I see. Personally, I have some complaints, but that’s not something I should interfere with.”
After saying all that, Shino left the room as sentenced. Millie is trembling with tears in her eyes and her face bright red.
“Uuu…”
“Well, Shino and I both have our positions, you know.”
“G-Geld-kun…”
We’ve been fooling around all this time, but it seems like she was embarrassed to say that she wanted to do it herself. I don’t really understand, but I guess that’s how it is.
Usually, Millie would get all touchy-feely when we were alone, but now she’s keeping her distance from me, blushing, looking down, and glancing at me while fidgeting. She’s really embarrassed.
Although it was rejected by the lawyer’s objection, I was ordered to serve her. And I also feel guilty for forcing her on a troublesome journey.
I should take some action here. I stand up and walk over to Millie.
“Ah, um, that.”
“Well, you know. It’s been a while, even though we were a day late. Millie.”
“Eh? R-really? It hasn’t been that long since time reset, though.”
“We were together all day, every day for three years. If we’re apart for two weeks after that, that’s a long time.”
“…Yeah, I guess so. Then, it’s been a while, Geld-kun.”
“Yeah.”
Millie seems to have calmed down a bit after talking. But I’ll save this topic to tease her with later.
“But, we’re going to be apart for three years soon, not just two weeks.”
“That’s… true.”
“Uu…”
Millie is cutely groaning and rubbing her head against my chest. This is like a habit Millie has when she wants to be spoiled, but she keeps groaning without saying anything specific. But, as expected, I can understand what Millie wants to say without her saying anything.
“You still don’t want to go, huh?”
“…Yeah.”
Millie’s motivation seems to be quite low, but I wonder if it’s okay to send her off like this. I’ll still have a chance to talk to Millie at the academy before we leave, but…
“I wish I could go with you.”
“But, you can’t, right?”
“Yeah. I feel bad that I, the one who wants to end the time Loop, can’t go.”
In reality, it’s not confirmed that I can’t go, it’s just a guess that it should be better to follow the original story.
However, if I say this, I’ll probably be forcibly taken along, so I won’t reveal it until I’m really at a dead end. I’d be happy to go with just Millie and Shino, but there are too many unnecessary people.
“No. I’ll do my best. It’s for Geld-kun.”
Millie is the same. She’s not doing it voluntarily, she’s only motivated by me. I’m already tired of the Loop, but it doesn’t seem like they are.
It doesn’t matter if they can do it properly even if they’re like that, but I also don’t want them to have a hard time.
I think they won’t care about some hardships if they become motivated to do it voluntarily, so I want to say something that will make them more motivated, but…
“Millie, when time moves forward, there’s a future, you know, a future.”
“A future, huh? But, I’d rather be with Geld-kun forever.”
“O-oh. But, you know, you graduate from school, well, you don’t, but, you know. There are various things when you become an adult.”
“Various things?”
“Yeah. When you start working, you can use money… well, we can earn money already. And usually you get married, have children… and other things.”
“Marriage. Children.”
“Huh? Ah, no. And then, you know. What else? Um…”
I feel like I’ve made a terrible blunder. I noticed that the head-rubbing had stopped.
“Geld-kun. I’ll do my best.”
“D-don’t overdo it.”
Millie’s face was filled with more motivation than I had ever seen before.