Chapter 27: Angelica Honest ①
As I proclaimed our victory, cheers erupted around us. It was truly a triumph for all of us; without any one of us, it would have been impossible.
“Ah, Ichiro-kun, we did it!”
“Ichiro, you better keep your promise!”
“───Ichiro.”
Pul-san, Orphe, and Angelica all celebrated our win, each clinging to me and expressing their joy in their own way.
Usually so cool and composed, Pul-san tightened her grip on my right arm.
“It’s all thanks to you. This time, I can finally tell all those who fought alongside us that it’s over. All of this is because of everyone here, and above all, because of you. Ichiro-kun, thank you so much.”
“And you know,” she continued, “if it weren’t for you, I probably wouldn’t have survived.”
She looked up at me with those beautiful eyes. My heart raced uncontrollably at the sight of her, a stunning elf. Thump. Thump-thump.
“And Orphe, Angel. I’m so glad you two were here. Without either of you, we wouldn’t have achieved this victory.”
Even Pul-san, usually so composed, had tears welling in her eyes from the overwhelming emotions.
“Ah─── I shouldn’t have kept you all to myself. The two young ladies must have feelings they want to share with you as well. Besides, it would be easier for them to talk without me around.”
With a radiant smile, Pul-san declared, “I’m going to go congratulate everyone now!” and hurried off to join the others celebrating our victory.
As I turned my gaze back, I found Angelica and Orphe staring at each other. After a moment, Orphe released my left arm and shrugged, effectively passing the baton to Angelica.
What’s this? Is it my time to shine?
“Ichiro.”
Angelica called my name, a name that once held a wish I thought would never come true. Since that day, she had referred to me as “Yamada,” “Lord Yamada,” or “Holy Knight,” completely distancing herself from the “Ichiro” she once knew. Just hearing my name from her lips sent tremors through my heart.
“Angelica, Rika.”
I hesitated, unsure if I should address her as I once did.
“I’m sorry, Ichiro.”
She removed her hat and bowed her head. Confused by her intent, I waited for her to continue.
“I’m sorry for betraying you.”
When she lifted her head, I saw her eyes—those beautiful crimson almond eyes that once sparkled beside me.
“I’m sorry for leaving you alone.”
It was as if a dam had burst.
“I’m sorry for hurting you.”
Her apologies flowed forth like a flood.
“I’m sorry for neglecting you.”
She directed her gaze at me.
“I’m sorry for throwing away the precious things we had between us.”
Those days we shared,
“I’m sorry for breaking my promise.”
And,
“I’m sorry for putting you through such pain.”
As she recalled those days, she continued to apologize.
“I’m sorry for making you suffer like that.”
Her repeated apologies weighed heavily on me.
“Stop it.”
I had to intervene; it seemed like she would go on forever.
“I won’t stop. Everything, everything, everything was my fault.”
Tears streamed down her face, and she struggled to hold back sobs.
“It was my fault. Ichiro, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Honestly, I felt a deep resentment towards them. She used the word “betrayal,” but our relationship had never been formalized; we weren’t even lovers by a verbal agreement. I knew that. So, I forced myself to accept that this was simply a change of heart, that people could part ways like this, and I tried to stitch up the wounds within me.
“I don’t know how to apologize to you or make amends.”
Surely, Angelica’s change of heart and altered memories were also the work of Ryuguin, just like Pul-san and Eris.
“Money, status, honor─── as the Sage I am now, I could give you everything. But───”
I knew that it wasn’t just about intelligence or talent; I understood the depth of her kindness and compassion.
“You wouldn’t appreciate such things.”
She understood me so well.
“Hey, Ichiro, what should I do? How can I make it up to you?”
Though her words faltered, she pressed on. I desperately tried to find the right words.
“I don’t need your apologies or reparations.”
Angelica’s eyes widened, and she gasped in shock at my words.
“Ichiro, don’t say that───”
She clung to my arm tightly, almost painfully.
“I can’t bear the thought that our relationship ends here.”
I’ve always hated seeing people cry, and it hurt even more when that person was someone I once loved.
“If I said I didn’t resent you and the others, that would be a lie.”
When it came to them, I struggled to articulate my feelings. Faced with the truth that it was Ryuguin’s doing, the memories and emotions from that time continued to torment my heart.
But seeing Angelica before me—once my companion, now crying out in earnest—made me realize—
“But even so, I can’t bring myself to hate you all.”
Everything had changed since then. Tears streamed down my own face, blurring my vision.
“So, you don’t have to apologize anymore, and you don’t need to make amends. No matter how much you try to atone, too much time has passed since then. Our relationship can never return to what it was.”
At my words, Angelica fell to her knees, her face wet with tears and dust clinging to her skin. I desperately wanted to wipe it away, but that was the hardest thing to do. So, I struggled to find the words I needed to say.
“Angelica, but still───”
Things would never go back to how they were. Yet, even so—
“Our trust has vanished, and it would take time just to acknowledge your apologies. But if───”
If we could take even a single step toward understanding each other, no matter how hesitant,
“Then, I believe we could build a new relationship from scratch───”
My voice was hoarse.
“───That’s what I think.”
Clumsy as it may be, I could only express my feelings this way.
I extended my hand toward the girl who lay on the ground, crying—Angelica Honest.