About 15 minutes had passed since then.

Given that the situation had escalated to this point, there was no longer a need to hide anything. I sighed deeply and began to explain in detail how the current situation had come to be.

To be honest, I felt a sense of relief on one hand.

Until now, I had been spinning lies and deceiving everyone around me in every possible way, yet somehow, in front of Serika, I didn’t feel the need to lie. It was a refreshing feeling, perhaps.

Looking at this, one could surmise that being a shepherd boy is indeed an utterly thankless job…

“Well, that’s how it roughly turned out.”

Erekaya, who had returned with me from the last cycle.

The damn status screen that suddenly appeared before my eyes, reminiscent of a candy vendor.

And ultimately, I explained clearly and without any embellishment the fact that making Erekaya happy was the only hint available to break the cycle of the End.

“Hmm… I have a general understanding of the situation now.”

On the other hand, the clever Serika, who held the position of vice president in the student council, looked at me and slowly began to speak.

“In other words, you are trying to win over Erekaya Del Pendragon because you ultimately wish to make her happy by making her fall in love with you, is that correct?”

“In summary, yes.”

As I acknowledged Serika’s concise summary, she tilted her head slightly, seemingly struggling to understand something.

“However, there is part of your story that doesn’t quite make sense.”

“…Something that doesn’t make sense?”

What could that possibly mean? Was she suggesting that I was trying to date multiple women while having a plan to woo Erekaya?

Or maybe she wanted to point out that, rather than getting Erekaya to fall in love with me, we hadn’t even held hands yet?

However, what Serika said surpassed my expectations entirely.

“Why don’t you just kill Erekaya Del Pendragon right now?”

“…What?”

“According to your explanation, Erekaya Del Pendragon will soon be the key figure of the coming End and has also been chosen as the vessel for the Third End. While I do not comprehend how she became the key figure, there must be some compelling reason behind the ‘Old Serpent’ choosing her as its vessel.”

“In other words, rather than focusing on the irrational and inefficient task of making her fall in love and making her happy, wouldn’t it be quicker and easier to just eliminate her? Why do you show such merciful leniency toward her?”

In that moment, I found myself inwardly agreeing deeply with Serika’s words.

Indeed. There was no necessity for me to deal with things in such a roundabout manner.

As Serika pointed out, Erekaya was a woman who would one day be the primary cause of the world’s destruction. The possibility of her awakening as the vessel of the End was something I could not control; it was an unpredictable element.

Moreover, didn’t the ‘Old Serpent’ imply to me at that time something quite similar?

That if its offspring had been alive, the possibility of it being killed certainly existed.

In other words, it meant that the ‘Old Serpent’ could exert such immense power because it intended to use Erekaya’s body as the vessel for its manifestation.

Thus, killing her would suffice. It was necessary for the future of humanity, and for this world.

By removing a threat that would soon lead to the world’s demise, I could then consider other actions without it being too late. No, it seemed to be the wisest course of action.

But, despite knowing this very well, what was the reason I participated in this ridiculous plan of trying to woo Erekaya instead of simply killing her?

Just as I was about to say something in response, a resolute voice interrupted, seemingly stopping my thoughts.

– No, that would be too hasty, Serika von Valentine.

It was Erekaya’s voice in my head.

“…Huh? Is this… could this voice be the ‘Erekaya Del Pendragon from the future’ that you mentioned, Master?”
EP.81

Currently, Serika was able to perceive Erekaya’s voice without any issues, likely due to our physical and mental connection through ‘communication.’

– Yes. I am another Erekaya Del Pendragon who returned with Jin from ten years into the future.

“And you’re the foolish woman who brought about the destruction of the world with your own hands. Furthermore, you are like a parasite clinging to my Master’s mind, unable to let go of your regrets.”

– Your tone is rather sharp, Serika von Valentine. As far as I know, the Valentine family has a very strict upbringing for their heirs. Seeing your attitude makes it clear how exaggerated and false those rumors were.

“Well, there’s no need to show etiquette toward a wandering spirit harboring grudges about a past life. Especially if that spirit is trying to manipulate my Master’s mind for its own purposes.”

“…Can’t you two just keep it down for a moment?”

Seeing the two of them growl at each other like combatants in an arena as soon as they became aware of one another made me sigh softly.

I hadn’t expected them to get along at all, but couldn’t they at least act a little more civil for the sake of being on the same side?

“…If that’s the Master’s will, then there’s nothing I can do. I suppose I just need to exercise a bit more patience.”

– That’s something I should be saying, Serika von Valentine. If I had my physical form, I would have personally reprimanded you, so consider yourself fortunate.

As they exchanged words, Erekaya and Serika both clicked their tongues, seemingly disgusted with one another.

“Anyway, do you think it’s a bit hasty to kill your current self, Erekaya?”

– Yes. Even if it seems like it, I am a woman who has annihilated her own family and, in doing so, has become akin to a sinner who has brought about the world’s destruction. If I could expiate my sins with just my one life, it would be the ideal scenario, but no matter how I think about it, that would bring more harm than good. Though that woman with a headpiece sure seems too clueless to realize that.

Erekaya, having briefly mocked Serika, continued in a serious tone.

– We do not know why the ‘Old Serpent’ chose my future self as its vessel. As the woman said just now, there must be a valid reason for the ‘Old Serpent’ to select me. And behind that reason, there may lie crucial information or vulnerabilities regarding the ‘Old Serpent.’

– In all occurrences in this world, there exists a corresponding cause. Even if killing my present self could eliminate one of the future threats, if the ‘Old Serpent’ were to manifest in this realm with a different vessel from my past self, then all our efforts would be in vain.

“Hmm…”

– If we cannot control all the variables here, it may be more effective to seek an alternative breakthrough. And I believe that breakthrough lies within that status screen.

– I’m not asking you to trust me. And I’m not saying to unconditionally trust the status screen either. I simply propose that you reflect on what the ‘correct answer’ might be by considering the paths we have not taken until now.

Erekaya’s words were entirely correct and valid. Even Serika, listening to her, reluctantly nodded her head in agreement.

“…It seems that Master also somewhat agrees, so there’s nothing else we can do. In that case, we should brainstorm ideas on how to win over the current president in accordance with your wishes.”

With Serika’s understanding, the tension between the two seemed to subside for the moment. Just as I was about to open my mouth to move on to the main topic,

– Wait a moment, Serika von Valentine. First, I want to clarify the titles before we proceed to the meeting.

Suddenly, Erekaya started spouting some strange nonsense.

“Titles? What do you mean by that?”

– Why do you address my current self as ‘President’ while being incredibly rude to me? Speaking of which, did you not refer to Altina von Rudel Seryas as ‘Lady’? Do you perhaps have personal feelings for Altina von Rudel Seryas?

“Feelings? That’s absurd. I don’t have any strong feelings for Altina. However, since she was once the closest woman to my Master, I simply used a title befitting that.”

– Then this makes things simpler. Serika von Valentine, you intend to actively partake in leading my current self astray at Jin’s behest, don’t you?
“…That’s true.”

As Serika nodded her head with a hint of reluctance, Erekaya responded in a voice that brimmed with confidence.

– Then you should start calling me ‘Lady’ from now on, shouldn’t you? Because Jin intends to court my current self, and if everything proceeds according to our plan, it would mean that my present self ends up dating Jin, resulting in him becoming the Pendragon’s son-in-law.

“…..”

Am I really going to marry Erekaya? Wasn’t our plan only about making her at this point fall in love with me?

Just how far into the future is she looking? The current Erekaya is likely to see me as nothing more than a friend; isn’t this too presumptuous?

“That’s quite amusing. The reason I use a respectful title for the current president is that he is my superior and someone worthy of my respect. Moreover, while we are the same person, the current president is someone who hasn’t committed any faults—an utterly impeccable individual.”

– …What?

“Furthermore, I believe my manners are sufficient in using polite language toward you. Ah, but it could be said that this is a form of respect for an elder woman, since you are a woman who has returned from ten years in the future.”

If you thought you heard a crackling or splitting sound when Serika said that with a playful smile, was it merely my imagination?

– …If I recall correctly, Serika von Valentine, you are actually a year older than I am, aren’t you?

“Ah, that’s true. However, you are a woman who is a full nine years older than I. Considering that, it could truly be said that losing your physical form is a stroke of luck for you. In your late twenties… At that age, a woman’s prime would have long since passed, leaving only a weary body behind.”

– For someone older than me, your words are rather unfiltered. Even if I were to reach that state, you would have an odor of an old bachelor wafting through the room by that time.

“…Can’t we just call each other by our names instead of growling at each other like this?”

Why does everyone seem to want to devour one another? What significance does a title hold anyway?

As I grimaced in thought, both of them took a step back, seemingly calming down somewhat.

The meeting hadn’t even started yet, and I was already exhausted. My head was starting to throb. Damn it.

“…Then, Master, may I dare to offer one piece of advice on romance for you?”

Taking advantage of this brief lull, Serika leaned in with a gentle gesture and quietly spoke to me.

I could hear Erekaya clicking her tongue at Serika’s demeanor in my head, but I did my best to ignore it and spoke to Serika.

“Advice? What is that?”

“I’ve heard that romance between a man and a woman is intriguing because it involves discovering each other’s secrets.”

“Secrets?”

“Yes. Secrets serve as a spice that enhances the charm of both men and women. The essence of romance is essentially a power struggle to uncover each other’s secrets—a kind of tug-of-war, wouldn’t you say?”

As she spoke, Serika reached into her pocket and handed me something.

Curious about what it might be, I took it from her hands, and it turned out to be two tickets.

“…What is this?”

“Those are pair tickets to an amusement park located not too far from Nineveh. I happened to come across a few that the student council received, and I’m really glad to be able to use them at a time like this.”

With that, Serika was smiling brightly, genuinely pleased that she could be of help to me.

“After all, the most orthodox way for a couple to dig into each other’s secrets and advance their relationship is to have a private date, just the two of them, isn’t it?”