Chapter 271

Getting lost in the snowy mountains.

On the way home, the person I happened to run into was one of the students attending the academy... Shura Heizen.

He suddenly transformed into a black lion and attacked.

Yes... the mysterious monster that raided the party venue was none other than the gloomy boy named Shura Heizen!

(Well, I already knew that though...)

Carrying Shura—who had returned to his original form from the black lion—on his back to the hotel, Clael let out a quiet sigh.

Shura is one of the main characters who appears in the game. Depending on the route, he can even end up in a romantic relationship with Reina.

With one eye hidden by an eyepatch and wrapped in a long scarf and coat, he looks like nothing more than a typical case of 'chuunibyou', a syndrome peculiar to adolescence... but there's actually a reason for it.

Shura is under a curse, and parts of his body, including his eye, have turned into that of a beast. The eyepatch and such are to conceal that. The transformation into the black lion earlier was also due to the curse.

(In the end, he and Reina break the curse together and become a couple... or so the story goes, but that ending was more like a bittersweet bad ending. Honestly, I just can't root for it.)

Meriba... a merry-bad end.

Though the heroine and the main character end up together, the player is left feeling unsettled and unsatisfied with the ending.

From Clael's perspective, he didn't like the Shura route's ending, so while he didn't interfere, he couldn't bring himself to support it either.

"I left Heizen-kun in the infirmary. It seems it was just hunger and anemia, so for now, there's no issue."

After leaving Shura with the hotel staff, Clael returned to the lobby.

There, he gave a brief explanation to Reina, Yurii, and Reina's friends who were waiting.

"This is just what I heard from the bellboy... but it seems Heizen-kun is also staying at this hotel? He's apparently holed up in his room and having meals delivered, so we never got a chance to see him."

"Ah, I see... Still, why did he end up like that...?"

Yurii, her shoulders trembling slightly, voiced her question.

That 'like that' probably referred to the black lion form. A human turning into a beast—no one's ever heard of such a thing.

"I don't know... Could it be some kind of magic?"

"Well... I'm sure he has his own circumstances. It's better not to press him on it."

Clael shrugged.

He knew about the circumstances Shura carried, but there was nothing Clael could do about it.

It was unfortunate... but for now, there was nothing to do but leave it be.

"We'll have to leave it to the doctor... and to Prince Eric."

Shura transformed into a Monster and attacked the party.

Even if unintentionally, he had assaulted a place where royalty was present, so it had to be reported.

By coming into contact with Eric, some progress might be made regarding the issues surrounding him.

(But... it won't be a happy ending. Not even Reina could save him...)

There is a way to break the curse.

But... that doesn't necessarily lead to a happy ending.

Even Reina, in the game's scenario, couldn't save Shura.

All they could do was fall together and reach a bittersweet end.

This world is already completely different from the game, so all I can do is hope it moves in a better direction.

"Um... Lord Clael?"

Reina tugged at Clael's sleeve.

Her upturned gaze pleaded with him. Having known her so long, he immediately understood what she wanted to say.

"Ah, it's already dinner time. Shall we go to the restaurant?"

Thanks to Shura, they had wasted some extra time, but it was already time to eat.

Despite her appearance, Reina had quite the appetite and seemed to be starving.

(Sorry, Heizen-kun... but Reina's meal takes priority over your problems. We're on a trip right now, after all. Please don't trouble her any further.)

"Well then, everyone. Shall we go?"

Apologizing to Shura in his heart, Clael took Reina along and headed to the hotel restaurant.