A howling wind from outside. A cozy warmth inside. Blankets on the floor to serve as bedding, while the fortified ice walls served as shelter...
I poured out a thermos of tea from my inventory that I had made before we left Starlight Academy. After that, I pulled out some cups and poured everyone a cup while glancing at Emma, who was dozing in Eve's lap. "She looks cozy at least."
Eve smiled, sipping on her tea. "Yes. Our daughter is quite comfortable."
"Our daughter..." I murmured. "Still going to take some getting used to, hearing that. I mean, I understand it, intellectually. But KNOWING that it's true, and that she's here..."
Roland rolled his eyes and said, "You say that. And yet here I am, contemplating the fact that I am aiding and abetting the elopement of the Imperial Princess with a legitimate unannounced heiress to the throne already secured..."
Marisa pulled out a tin of cookies from her bag and munched on one before saying, "Oh, don't talk, Rolo. You're already on the hook for stealing the lips of the Imperial Archmage's niece."
"That's...!" Roland started to protest. But then he deflated and said, "...Fair. That's fair." He sighed and said, "...My father is never going to let me hear the end of it. Neither is Angela..."
"Speaking of sisters." Marisa glanced at me and said, "Alex had an interesting theory... and a lot to share."
Eve looked at me. "Did you figure something out, my love?"
Roland looked at me too and sighed. "...Is it going to be something ridiculous again?"
"Not really. At least, not anymore ridiculous than what we've already been through." I set my tea cup down and leaned forward. "But basically... Since it looks like Elio and Headmistress Lux didn't come back with us because they went in that Gate leading to Tartarus... What if that principle applies to Betty as well, but inversely?"
Eve paused. "Inversely...?" Her eyes widened. "...You mean that she is still there. Or WAS there when we left. Because the Gates exist outside of causality and time. So when you spun time back..."
Roland frowned. "...You think Betty fell in here? Somewhere?"
I blinked. "Huh. I didn't think you'd get that, Roland."
Roland shook his head. "I'm beginning to think you assume all I know how to do is swing a sword and use magic... I AM the son of a Baron. I have decent wits about me."
"Fair. But yes." I nodded. "I think that Betty... the child Betty we met, anyway. She could have been stitched back into this world when I forcibly spun time back AND locked it in place."
"Wait." Marisa held up her hand. "...What do you mean 'locked it in place?'"
"Huh? Did I forget to tell you?" I tilted my head and said, "I thought I said it... but basically, the only direction time can flow now is forward."
Silence.
I realized that I had DEFINITELY forgotten to give some context.
So I sighed and started from the top.
===
After running it back again, explaining in full detail my original intentions in the past loop, mainly carefully balancing events so that Void Sovereign and the Void Arbiters (who I explained) didn't force a temporal reset, and the three disasters coming up, as well as the relevant information minus the fact that I was the author... that fact would come AFTER the Demon God was dead.
But anyway, after I spent a few hours explaining all of that and bringing us all up to the same page, we started making proper plans for the future.
Specifically...
Marisa tapped her chin and said, "So you want Roland and I to sort out the situation in the Eternal Empire while you and Eve elope to the Holy Land while looking for Betty. And because Eve is the key to Maximilian's plans, it should cause enough disruption to reveal any hidden powers."
Roland frowned. "...You think I'm strong enough to handle it, Alex?"
I nodded. "You have
I wasn't entirely sure if he knew how to use it properly yet, but I DID know that he had awakened it completely.
It seemed that the despair from seeing Marisa 'die' had pulled out his protagonist card to get a super power up that he carried over into the past.
But even if he didn't know how to use it properly...
I pointed at him and said, "
Roland stared at his sword and murmured, "That would explain how I split my dresser in half after I came back." He paused. "...And it's a good thing we left. Because I don't have the money to pay for the damages on that..."
Eve glanced at me and said, "My love... In that case..." She set her tea cup aside and held Emma close. "...Are we really doing just that? Running away alone to be a family?"
I nodded. "That's the plan. After all, Roland here is the one who needs to defeat the Demon God."
Roland gave me a blank look and slowly said, "Friend. I value the fact that you have such faith in me. But you CANNOT be seriously telling me that you want me to go face a transcendent being like that by myself."
"You won't be alone. Mari will be with you. And I'll make sure you guys are properly equipped, obviously. I just won't go along. After all, there are all sorts of death flags related there."
A father setting off to war against a Demon God... yeah, that's the prologue to EVERY JRPG hero/heroine.
I was NOT about to pull that trope up. Especially considering that it was a very much accurate trope too considering everything unfolding...
Roland sighed. "...At least there is time to prepare."
I waved my hand and said, "Don't worry about it. Right now, the plan's the same. We head to Edelweiss, confirm information about Betty, and after that we decide."
Marisa nodded. "That is fair. Although..." She hummed. "...Are you not concerned about the fact that we may very well be hunted by my uncle, grandfather, and various imperial forces?"
Eve tensed.
I chuckled. "Concerned? No. Excited for? Yes."
Marisa paused. "...Excited for?"
"Of course." I smiled. "After all... If I'm playing the part of a villain who stole the princess away, I might as well commit to the bit, right?"
Roland pursed his lips. "...I have a bad feeling about this."
I patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, Rolo, buddy. By the end of it, you'll be the strongest man alive."
"...I am suddenly EXTRAORDINARILY concerned."
I laughed.
===
After some more idle chatter, Marisa walked outside the snow hut to get some fresh air and refresh the enchantments.
As she did, Roland followed after her.
Marisa smiled and said, "Couldn't bear to be with the newlyweds?"
Roland shook his head and said, "Not that. I just... wanted to make sure you were safe."
Marisa's breath hitched and she let out a warm smile. Walking over to Roland, she pecked a kiss on his cheek and said, "Careful, Rolo. I've already fallen for you. This might make me fall into ruin if you keep acting like that."
Roland's face turned red. But he didn't back down and said, "I wouldn't allow that, Mari." He gently held her and said, "You aren't allowed to fall into ruin so long as I live."
Marisa let out a soft chuckle and said, "That sounds like a proposal."
Roland was quiet, clearly thinking about it.
Seeing that, Marisa smiled and poked his cheek. "No. Ask later. Not now."
Roland blushed. "I-I was not going to... I mean..." He sighed. "...I am that transparent, am I?"
"It's endearing, Rolo." Marisa smiled and then waved her wand, forming a small bench from the snow. "Shall we sit and talk?"
"...Yes."
Marisa sat down and patted the spot next to her. After that, Roland sat down as well.
Around them, the wind howled. But Marisa had set up a barrier, so the sound of it didn't reach them.
Roland noticed and said, "You've gotten quite skilled with magic."
Marisa chuckled. "I've always been skilled. I just don't usually apply myself. There never was a real reason to at the academy considering I was the strongest mage in our class."
"...Right." Roland nodded. "You still are."
Marisa hummed. "I don't know about that. I mean... Alex is quite incredible."
"...Do you think it's true then? What he said?"
Marisa was quiet. "Well..."