The operation that took place at dawn was my decision. Though my promise with Jennifer technically no longer existed after the time reset, I still remembered it. For any other promise, it might not have mattered, but I didn’t want to break a promise to characters I cared about.

   Because of this, by the time I returned yesterday, the morning had already passed.

   “...If you want compensation, I’ll give you whatever you desire. Winterfield doesn’t forget a debt.”

   Jennifer said that to me on our way back in the car.

   “I was only repaying an existing debt.”

   That was my response.

   Saying that filled me with a small sense of pride.

   Sure, I had experienced the stench of blood and gunpowder that morning. The memories of that battlefield would likely stay with me for some time. I’d heard stories about things like PTSD, so I knew those memories could have a significant impact on me.

   Still, thinking that it was something I had to do made me feel better.

   After all, that’s what war is. If we don’t fight, our people are the ones who’ll die. Besides, those mercenaries had committed countless atrocities that bordered on war crimes. Perhaps some among them were of sound mind, but… in a place where lives are on the line, there’s no room for sympathy.

   They pointed their guns at me, too. If I had been shot and left disabled without the ability to reset time, I would have suffered at the hands of that undisciplined mercenary band.

   And this wasn’t my first time killing someone.

   I had optimized my approach to that battle through multiple resets. Although there was a difference of a day, the outcome remained more or less the same.

   “A debt?”

   Naturally, Jennifer questioned me, but I chose not to elaborate.

   “...”

   Seeing my lack of response, Jennifer didn’t press further. Instead, she seemed deep in thought and drove in silence the entire way back to Winterfield Castle. This allowed me to quietly gaze out the window.

   The distant mountains were beautiful.

   Somewhere out there, the Sword Saint still resided.

   *

   Upon arriving at Winterfield Castle, Alice rushed out to meet me in the lobby, hugging me tightly with a look of worry.

   It seemed she had caught a whiff of gunpowder on me, for she immediately glared at Jennifer.

   "..."

   Jennifer didn’t seem to have a response.

   Currently, Jennifer didn’t know that I could reset time. Thus, she must have been shocked in her own way, seeing me fight like that on the battlefield, without any time to mentally prepare.

   “Did… Father…”

   Alice quickly asked me,

   “Did Father order you to do this?”

   Hm.

   I thought about it seriously.

   Technically… it wasn’t something the Emperor directly ordered. It was more like something he intended to order.

   So, would it be alright to let her think so?

   It was, after all, something I had chosen to do.

   “…”

   I decided to let her assume as much. Explaining would be a hassle, and hiding my abilities while explaining often left gaps that raised unnecessary suspicion.

   On the other hand, lying could lead to questions later if my abilities were discovered.

   So, I opted for a “believable silence.”

   Alice seemed to take my silence as confirmation, her lips tightening as she looked at me.

   “I told you, you don’t have to follow everything Father says.”

   "..."

   Alice took a step back, gently holding my hand.

   “...Well, considering it’s you, refusing wouldn’t be easy.”

   Although I hadn’t received any orders.

   ...I just hope she doesn’t go running to the Emperor.

   Feeling a bit uneasy, I decided to change the subject.

   “Did you complete the task?”

   “The task? Ah.”

   Alice glanced at the other children who had been waiting behind her, then looked back at me.

   “Yes. Thanks to you.”

   I turned my gaze to find Mia Crowfield. It seemed they had only recently returned as their clothes’ hems were slightly damp, and their coats were stained here and there. Likely from snow melting into mud.

   The blue Marmaros staff in Mia Crowfield’s hand glistened.

   I had left it on my desk before I left, with a note instructing that it be given to Mia.

   The kids seemed to have followed through with it.

   “The Marmaros made the hunt go much smoother,” Charlotte said, stepping forward. Her expression was as complex as Alice’s. It seemed she was uncertain whether to feel grateful for my help or wary of me after witnessing me return from the battlefield.

   “Th-thank you,” Mia Crowfield stammered nervously.

   “Sis… are you alright?”

   Claire, who had been watching me from a short distance, approached and asked.

   “I’m fine.”

   In truth, I was doing much better than I had expected. Having seen similar situations repeatedly, I’d grown accustomed to it and could prepare myself mentally. Plus, I had my reasons.

   Looking around, I noticed Leo and Jake standing a bit farther away. Leo… oddly enough, didn’t look pale or frightened. For a moment, I wondered if he had reached a state of calm through sheer terror, but on closer inspection, he looked as though he were lost in thought.

   Had his opinion of me changed?

   Jake’s reaction was similar. The usual roguish demeanor was gone, and he was observing me with an unusually serious expression. When our eyes met, he flashed a crooked smile and walked over.

   “Alright, alright. Let’s stop standing around and get some food. I’m starving here.”

   “You…”

   Alice shot Jake a glare, but then, as if reading something in my expression, she let out a faint chuckle.

   “Yes, well, that sounds about right. We’ve all been working hard all morning. We’re bound to get hungry.”

   ...Seriously, how does she read my expressions so easily?

   *

   “Are you sure you’re alright? You could rest for the afternoon.”

   In the afternoon, as I prepared to arm myself for another task, Alice asked, her tone filled with concern.

   “I’m alright.”

   I was glad I’d learned meditation. Just as Claire had mentioned, even without much sleep, meditation helped me feel centered and able to keep going.

   Of course, it didn’t erase all my fatigue, but after lunch, I’d returned to my room, cleaned up, and sat cross-legged on the bed to meditate, feeling as though I’d taken an energy drink to push back the weariness.

   “Are you sure?”

   Claire asked the same question, and I nodded again.

   “I still need to complete my tasks. They count toward my evaluation—”

   “No.”

   Before I could finish, Jennifer, who had approached, cut me off.

   “I will grant you full marks for your performance. While it wasn’t an official task, you accomplished what no soldier could.”

   "..."

   Jennifer’s face looked troubled as she said this.

   She had worn a similar uneasy expression when I’d declared my intent to take down the enemy commander. It was different from the clear, confident look she had when she’d assigned me tasks back at the Sword Saint’s cabin. Had she truly not expected me to carry it out?

   Likely so. She was an instructor who taught not to seek honor on the battlefield.

   “So, you may rest this afternoon… or even tomorrow. I’ll explain everything to the Academy.”

   I figured Abraham would understand.

   “In that case, I’m doing this because I want to.”

   My words brought a sudden silence to the already quiet space around me.

   “Sylvia?”

   Alice looked at me with wide eyes.

   “...Sis?”

   The word finally slipped from Claire’s mouth.

   “...I see.”

   Jennifer closed her eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and then exhaled softly.

   “If that’s what you wish, I can’t stand in your way. Just… thank you. This is gratitude not only from me but from the soldiers as well.”

   Jennifer bowed her head.

   “...I see.”

   Unsure how to respond, I settled on a simple acknowledgment.