"What...

did you say?"

For a moment, I thought I must have heard wrong.

"Didn't catch that?

I was the one who cast Raphne's Curse." But his words that followed soon confirmed that my ears weren't deceiving me.

"To be precise, I ordered the curse to be cast."

"Why...

why would you do something like that?!"

The Curse of Fear, which made any interaction with others utterly impossible.

A curse so horrific that it condemned one to a lifetime of solitude.

Why.

Why would you....

"Answer me!!

Why did you do such a thing!!" I stood up and grabbed him by the collar.

Depending on his answer, I might beat him up.

Maybe even break something.

I would mercilessly trample him until he begged for forgiveness.

I was boiling with rage.

I had seen Raphne's suffering up close the entire time.

How much Raphne struggled because of that curse.

"...There’s a lot to explain about why.

If I had to put it simply," Adrian began, unflustered despite my glaring eyes.

His expression remained calm and composed.

Not a hint of guilt crossed his face as he spoke quietly, abandoning his sly smile.

"It's because Raphne is the Child of Prophecy."

"...What?" His answer left my mind in chaos, as though I'd been struck on the back of the head.

The Child of Prophecy?

Raphne?

Naturally, my grip on his collar loosened, and Adrian, freed from my hold, brushed off his wrinkled clothes gently.

Sitting back down, he crossed his arms and gestured.

"Sit.

There’s more to discuss." I sat back down, still in shock.

The Child of Prophecy.

It's a term frequently used at Epiris Academy, primarily around Emily.

The Child of Prophecy is a figure from an old prophecy given by the High Priest of Lillias Kingdom.

The prediction foretold that in this era, a Child of Prophecy would be born, and the child born of this Child of Prophecy would become the saviour who would save the world.

In the game's lore, there was only one Child of Prophecy: Emily Epiris.

"...How could Raphne be the Child of Prophecy?"

"You should have asked that earlier."

“Do you know what the Child of Prophecy is?”

“The only Child of Prophecy I know of is...

Emily.”

“I’m glad we’re on the same page.” He hid the faint smile from earlier and continued with a serious expression.

“You’re right, Emily is the Child of Prophecy you’re thinking of.”

“But why, then, is Raphne...?”

“Because there are two prophecies.” Two prophecies...?

I had played through the game multiple times but had never come across such a hidden setting.

“That can’t be!

The prophecy handed down in the Lillias Kingdom clearly states…!” As I voiced my confusion, Adrian interrupted and answered firmly.

“Raphne is not a figure from the prophecy of the Lillias Kingdom.”

“Then...” The words that followed were beyond anything I could have imagined.

“Raphne is the Child of Prophecy from the Demon Tribe.” The Demon Tribe.

That meant the Demon King's Army.

A prophecy originating from the Demon King’s side...?

I had never heard of such a thing, neither in the game nor elsewhere.

“What...

What is this prophecy?”

“It’s similar to the one from the Lillias Kingdom.

But it’s entirely for the Demon Tribe.” The prophecy of the Lillias Kingdom.

It foretells that the child born from Emily would become the saviour of the kingdom.

Then...

“The child born from Raphne, and the Demon King will rule the world.” Adrian revealed the secret calmly.

It felt like being struck on the back of the head.

“What are you thinking about, Ken?” Raphne wrapped her arms around my shoulders from behind as I sat at the workbench.

After hearing the shocking news from Adrian, I returned to the tower and couldn't stop thinking about it.

‘This was the best way to protect her from the Demon King's Army.’

Then came Adrian's explanation: The Demon King's Army had infiltrated the Academy, targeting Raphne.

‘Not long ago, that woman who threatened Emily was also part of the Demon King's Army.

The Demon King has always...

always had his eyes on Raphne.’ I had known from various events in the game about the invasions by the Demon King's Army.

But the reason was never clear until now.

Now, the mystery was solved.

They had infiltrated this place to take Raphne away.

‘If no living creature can come near here, the Demon King's Army would have no way to get close either.’ That was the reason she was cursed with the Curse of Fear.

If her curse caused fear and pain to living beings, the same would apply to the spies of the Demon King's Army.

They wouldn't dare to approach Raphne's Tower.

Considering that, the curse seemed fitting.

But.

But did it mean Raphne had to be isolated because of it?

‘Is it for the protection of the kingdom that you hope to rule someday?’

‘...Do you know who I am?’

‘Is it acceptable to condemn a single girl to hell for the sake of the kingdom's future?’

‘...Yes.’

"That is my responsibility and the reason I came to the Academy." Adrian Faraday.

His full name is Adrian Arnold Lillias.

I had always wondered about this while playing the game.

Why was the first heir to the kingdom attending the Academy?

I thought perhaps it was just to add a princely character for the sake of the game’s romance plot.

I simply brushed it off as such...

"Listen carefully, Ken.

If Raphne falls into the hands of the Demon King, it will no longer be just a Lillias Kingdom problem." His eyes, full of conviction, lingered in my mind.

"If we lose Raphne, a global war will break out." If we can prevent that with just one girl's life, it's a small price to pay.

Adrian added.

"...Ken, is something wrong?

Are you okay?" As I didn't respond to her call, Raphne pressed her face against my shoulder and asked worriedly.

I placed my hand over hers.

"Hey, Raphne."

"Yes?"

"Don't you feel confined in the tower?"

"It's alright, because you're here now, Ken.

Hehe, you've been worrying about me all this time.

Thank you..." Recently, Raphne’s expression brightens when she is with me.

She is very different from the gloomy and despair-filled girl I first met.

She leaned into me, burying her face in my shoulder and hugging me from behind.

Raphne feels at ease when she is with me.

But.

Conversely, if I disappear, she'll return to that despairing state.

I remember the sight of Raphne coming to me during the Survival Event a few days ago, her hands trembling, tears streaming down her face as she begged me not to abandon her.

The fact that she's okay because she's with me is only a temporary solution.

What if I disappear?

What if an unexpected accident or unforeseen event prevents me from coming to the tower?

Then Raphne would have to live here alone for the rest of her life.

No one would come to see her.

Even if she somehow leaves the tower, she would still live in lonely isolation.

A lifetime of solitude that she would have to bear.

‘Raphne did not choose to be the Child of Destiny.’ It's too cruel.

‘…I've decided.’

Prophecies, the kingdom, war – to hell with them all.

I just want the precious person next to me to be happy.

Sacrifice my precious person for the sake of the majority in the future?

Why should this girl be sacrificed for the sake of countless people I don’t even know or who haven't done anything special?

Let them take care of their own lives.

In the future of this game, war between the Demon Tribe and the kingdom is inevitable.

No matter which route Emily takes, the war always happens.

Perhaps the Demon King's Army couldn't find Raphne no matter how hard they searched in secret, which ultimately led them to start the war.

Hence, immediately after the war began, the Demon King's Army attacked the Academy.

Right, the war was bound to happen anyway.

Whether Raphne was trapped here or not.

So, I'll remove her curse.

And I will protect her.

From the hands of the Demon King.

I can do it.

“You seem to be in a good mood today.” During our usual morning training, Siegfried remarked.

“Uh, do I?”

“Yes, even after getting hit on the head, you're smiling.”

“Oh, haha.” Of course, I couldn't help but smile.

“I can finally give her the gift I’ve wanted to give today.” I had finally completed it.

Using the Moonlight Necklace, I obtained in a previous trade with Anette and the Pure Mana Crystal I won during the Survival Event as the main components, along with some other materials, I had ultimately succeeded.

I named it the [Imitation Goddess Pendant].

Of course, since I used the Moonlight Necklace instead of the original Goddess Token, I couldn't make an exact replica.

However, I could make something similar under the title of an imitation.

This will surely be able to block Raphne’s Curse.

‘She’ll definitely be happy, right?’ Since I didn’t need Raphne’s magic to make this pendant, I secretly crafted it in the dormitory for the surprise.

Today, I'm going to visit the tower and show her the pendant to surprise her.

Raphne, you are free now!

I started to get excited, imagining her reaction to those words.

“I see, ...then let’s end today’s training here.”

“Huh?

Is that okay?”

“Yes, you seem too eager to give the gift to focus on training anyway.

If it’s something that brings you joy, it’s best to do it soon.”

“T-thank you!” Siegfried gave a faint smile.

Did I look that happy?

Even the strictly disciplined Siegfried allowed me to skip training.

“Then!

Please tell Emily I left early!” With Siegfried’s kind consideration, I quickly moved my steps.

I couldn't wait to give Raphne this pendant.

I had worked so hard for this day.

With a heart full of anticipation, I energetically opened the tower’s door.

“Raphne!”

“Oh, K-Ken!

Wow, you’re here so early today?” I ascended the tower so quickly that I wasn’t even out of breath.

When I opened the door, I saw Raphne preparing breakfast.

It seemed my early visit had caught her before she finished preparing the meal.

Raphne untied her apron and approached me.

Then, she lightly hugged me.

“What’s this?

Why are you here so early today?

...Did you miss me?” I gently patted her head as she cutely teased me and said with a smile,

“I have good news, Raphne.”

“Huh?

What is it?” I stepped back slightly from Raphne and searched the Subspace Pocket to take out the pendant.

The noble-looking pendant swayed before Raphne.

“This is…”

“I finally made it!

This should be able to block Raphne’s Curse!”

“Oh, really?” Raphne accepted the pendant with a somewhat doubtful expression.

“Try it on quickly.”

“O-okay.” Raphne carefully put the pendant around her neck.

“…Hehe, does it look good on me?” Raphne gave a shy smile.

I immediately checked Raphne’s status window.

[Name: Raphne Bell Martinez.

Innate Skill: Innate Speed

Innate Trait: Curse of Fear – Causes minor fear to moving life forms within a 50M radius.

Possessed Trait: Despair – Current level 16%, Dependence LV.6]

‘It worked!’

The Imitation Goddess Pendant certainly showed its effect.

I couldn’t clearly distinguish how much had changed since I wasn’t affected by the curse, but...The description in the status window had indeed changed.

From causing extreme stress and fear.

To causing minor fear.

“It's a success, Raphne!

Your curse has definitely diminished!”

“R-really?

That's amazing.”

“What?

Aren't you happy?”

“Of course, I’m happy!

But more than blocking the curse...” Raphne shyly smiled as she lifted the pendant around her neck with both hands.

“Hehe, I’m happier that Ken gave me a necklace as a gift.”

“T-that so?” She didn’t seem as overjoyed about being freed from the curse as I had expected.

I thought she might cry tears of joy for a while.

Just like when Emily was freed from Loop’s curse.

“Oh, Ken, are you hungry?

I’ll prepare a meal right away!

Just wait a moment!”

“Yeah, ...thank you.” Raphne quickly tied her apron again and went to prepare the meal.

I sat at the dining table feeling a bit dazed.

‘Well, immediate joy isn’t the most important thing anyway.’

The important thing is that now Raphne doesn’t have to live a lonely life even without me.

She can go outside and interact with people anytime.

She has escaped the perilous situation of relying solely on me.

“Let’s eat.” After that, we enjoyed a cosy meal together, just like any other day, with the food Raphne had lovingly prepared.

“Is it delicious?”

“Yeah, Raphne's food is always delicious.”

“…Hehehe.” Feeling happy from the usual compliments while filling my stomach after training.

Raphne blushed and smiled warmly.

It was a precious and enjoyable time.

“…There won't be many more times we eat like this.” I said softly, feeling sentimental.

Then.

Clang!

“Oh, Raphne...

did you drop your spoon?” Raphne looked at me blankly.

“Ken, ...what do you mean by that?”

Ah, I made a mistake….

“Oh, no, it's not like that!

I didn't mean right now!” I hurriedly explained to Raphne.

I told her about the plans to reintegrate her into society after she had been isolated.

“Well, now that the curse has been resolved.

From now on, you need to start meeting your friends again, right?”

“...”

“Of course, I'll still be by your side!

But still, someday you have to return to a normal life.” Depending on me indefinitely wouldn't be good for her at all.

She needs to meet people and be happy, even without me.

For her mental health, we need to work on it gradually.

To do that, we should start slowly.

I planned to gradually reduce the time we spent in the Tower.

“So, is that okay with you?” After explaining the detailed plan, Raphne quietly listened and then.

“Yes, it’s fine.”

"You're always thinking of me.

Thank you, Ken," Raphne said with a beautiful smile.

'Thank goodness.' Contrary to my fears that she might fall into panic again, Raphne seemed calm.

"Oh, but Ken, aren't you thirsty?

Would you like some juice?"

"Huh?

Oh, sure, that'd be great." Raphne didn't seem any different from usual.

She got up from her seat to prepare the juice.

'Is it because the curse has been lifted?' I thought my mistake would make Raphne cry again and I’d have to comfort her, but she looked stable.

Perhaps she already feels it too?

That she can now freely go outside whenever she wants.

'I see hope.' I smiled slightly.

Honestly, I felt a bit overwhelmed when planning how to improve Raphne's condition alone, but seeing her response now, I believed she could get much better.

"Here’s the juice."

"Thanks, I'll drink it well." Raphne smiled kindly, just as usual.

Yes, little by little, step by step, it's okay to move forward.

Eventually, Raphne will be able to return to a normal life.

Everything will be normal...

'...Huh?' Why are there two Raphnes?

Thunk.

Somehow, it became hard to keep my balance, and I couldn't hold myself up.

I collapsed into Raphne's arms.

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