The parts of Alberke that Green was curious about could be summarized in two categories: identity and purpose.
“I’m curious, Alberke. What is your identity, and what is your purpose for approaching me?”
“Looking back, the Royal Library isn’t even inside the palace. It should have been impossible for you to appear there. Yet, our first meeting happened when you just so happened to bump into me, and you just so happened to tell me about the Dragon-Summoning Flute and the Sword in the Stone.”
“Then, during our second meeting, you just so happened to help me flick that leaf away, as if you had foreseen it.”
“Your identity doesn’t explain your knowledge, and your behavior is difficult to dismiss as mere coincidence or a whim. You have been intentionally approaching me. Why?”
Green did not mention the “Miracle under Mercury Street” that Alberke had spoken of when she was in her young girl form, planning to keep that as a trump card for later.
These current points of suspicion alone were enough to question Alberke. To this, her reply was not ambiguous.
“I told you my identity at the very beginning. I’m just an ordinary Art Academy student. If you were to investigate my information starting with that child just now…”
“You would find that I attend classes at the university just like everyone else. I study hard, harboring longings and expectations for the High Academy. See? There’s nothing special about that at all, is there?”
“As for where my knowledge comes from… if I said I signed a contract with a demon, would you believe me?”
Upon hearing the word “demon,” Green’s entire body jolted. He instantly thought of the system he carried.
Signing a contract with a demon was an intolerable act. Throughout history, there have been countless tragedies caused by demons.
A demon’s power was regarded as “evil and intolerable.”
Alberke didn’t know why Green had such a visible reaction — compared to his usual rigid expression, this slight movement was a significant response.
“I’m just kidding. Although I am knowledgeable in certain areas — it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call me an expert — that comes with a price. Moreover, I can’t skip everything I’m supposed to learn at my age.”
“I can discuss dragons and the Sword in the Stone with you, but I still worry about the upcoming exams. These things aren’t mutually exclusive.”
Alberke tugged at the brim of her hat. Her words weren’t lies, but the “exams” she referred to were the Art Academy’s graduation exams, the High Academy entrance exams, and various debates.
If Green had arrived just one month later, Alberke would likely have already enrolled in the Mages Academy within the High Academy.
“As for my purpose… do you want a vague answer or a direct one?”
“A direct one,” Green replied without hesitation.
He had already dealt with too many riddles, especially the kind given to him by beautiful girls like Alberke.
“I want you to be happy, or at least live better than you did in the past. I want you to be happy rather than sad. That is my purpose and my expectation.”
Green froze. This kind of answer felt strange no matter how he looked at it. For a moment, he suspected he had misheard her…
It was so simple that it felt impossible, like a mother worrying about her child.
“That is my purpose. I won’t interfere in your life. You are perfectly free to like others, such as a cute child like Dolores.”
“I don’t need you to like me, love me, or give me anything more. On the premise that you can be happy, by approaching you, I can obtain the security I want, as well as opportunities.”
“My strength is weak. I can’t help you from behind the scenes. I can only stand before you like this, in the spotlight. Only then can I help you and ensure the words I want to say reach your ears.”
“To repeat myself slightly: making you happy is my purpose.”
“So? After hearing a young girl’s sincere answer, shouldn’t you give her some kind of response?”
Green had been prepared to hear Alberke call him things like benefactor, savior, person of destiny, or Sir Knight as her reason for approaching him.
He was used to being relied upon by others, putting himself in dangerous situations for them, and even becoming accustomed to being betrayed and abandoned, only to repeat the cycle under Dolores’s encouragement.
But Alberke was different. Her answer and her response left Green unable to find any trace of falsehood.
The motive she spoke of was almost eerily considerate.
Alberke didn’t need Green to love her, even though she held complex feelings toward him — namely, the desire for him to be happy.
This emotion of unknown origin, along with her help, felt inexplicably heavy.
“This… is truly an unexpected response,” Green hesitated for a long time before finally squeezing out a reply.
“Good. Then everything is out in the open. You can come to me when you need help, and when I think of any information that might be useful to you, I’ll take the initiative to tell you. How about that?”
Alberke spoke to Green with a smile, prompting a question from him.
“And what do you get out of it?”
Alberke looked up, her gaze seemingly saying, ‘Didn’t I already tell you?’
An incomprehensible emotion was held by Alberke toward him.
“Do you want to hear me say that I like you? I can say right now that I like you very much, Mr. Green. But please distinguish what kind of ‘like’ I’m talking about. It isn’t ordinary romance.”
“There might even be one other person besides me who loves you like this…”
Hearing this, Green’s confusion only grew. From the moment they met, Alberke had carried a glaring [Favorability: 79]. Now she was saying these things…
Words that only a friend who had known him for a long time and shared a deep bond would say.
“Who is she?”
“To be precise, it should be a ‘he.’ However, he is likely no longer in this world.”
Alberke answered, naturally referring to her good friend, Wang Ye, who had created the game with her.
“I’m sorry,” Green apologized, assuming that the person Alberke spoke of had passed away.
On this point, Alberke did not argue or say more.
After all, Wang Ye truly was dead. Alberke had only followed shortly after attending his funeral. At least he had a decent cenotaph for his burial.
As for herself, she could only pray that someone would collect her body.
At this point, the conversation between the two fell into a silent atmosphere. There seemed to be nothing left to discuss.
He had received his answers, along with even more questions.
As for Alberke, she had obtained the security she wanted. At least she wouldn’t have to pretend to be a “riddle-maker” to approach Green most of the time anymore.
She could appear directly before him and tell him her answers and expectations plainly.
The silent atmosphere was soon broken as Dolores and Weselian returned. The former’s face clearly carried a look of disappointment.
“The Principal isn’t at the academy. However, we found the Dean of the Magic Academy. I plan to have him take us to the various military camps throughout the city to restore communications and obtain supplies.”
Dolores spoke first, then explained, “Many military camps have supplies that only the royal family can unlock, including armor, medicine, and food.”
“The situation at the palace is terrible, but the situation on the outskirts is even worse. My father should be able to handle things at the palace. Out here, I can use my status to reassure the people, open the royal supplies, and distribute them.”
As she spoke, Dolores noticed that the way Green was looking at Alberke was somewhat complex.
Did they talk about something during the short time she was away?
Dolores scratched her long white hair, feeling perplexed.
‘My head feels itchy for some reason. How strange.’