Chapter 63: Perhaps the Only Clever Solution End

The chaos was rapidly subsiding.

I began retracting the familiars I had spread across the imperial capital and, in their place, started constructing a gate to another world within the central hospital.

Once we pass through this gate, there’s no coming back—not unless someone summons me again.

"So you’re leaving, Miss Iris…?"

"Yes, Lord Felix."

I responded to his question with a dazzling, picture-perfect smile.

"What about your parents?"

"I restored my father and mother to their human forms. I also erased their memories of me. It would be troublesome if I were summoned again, after all."

"So you’ll be alone?"

"Being alone is normal for me. My very existence has too great an impact on others—coexisting with other races simply isn’t possible."

"I see…"

Felix lowered his gaze, but I chose to believe he understood.

"Well, the gate is nearly complete, so please step back, Lord Felix."

"...No."

"Huh?"

I was taken aback when Felix suddenly fixed his eyes on me.

"I can’t let you go alone. I’m coming with you."

"Wh—What?! B-But… I’m going somewhere that isn’t Earth! And once we go, we can never return! How could I possibly take you with—"

"No. I’ve already decided. I won’t let you be alone—no matter what. I’ll chase after you, wherever you go. So I’m coming with you. Even if it’s another world, even if we can never come back, no matter what you say!"

Hmm… I don’t fully understand the other world myself. Is it really okay to bring Felix along?

But… if I go alone, I’ll be completely by myself. That would be unbearably lonely.

"Are you… really, truly sure?"

"Absolutely. I don’t mind. And… I have something to give you, too."

With that, Felix pulled a beautiful box from his pocket. Wait, could this be—?

"Marry me, Miss Iris."

An engagement ring! I had a feeling, but still—!

"Um… Are you… really sure? You haven’t gone insane without me noticing, have you, Lord Felix? No witches tampered with your brain or anything?"

"No. I’m perfectly sane. I’ve told you before, haven’t I? No matter what you are, to me, you’ll always be you."

"Lord Felix…"

He seemed completely, utterly, undeniably serious.

Hearing that, my resolve wavered. I had planned to slip away quietly, without burdening anyone…

"…Alright. You can come with me."

"Thank you, Miss Iris."

…I really would be lonely all by myself.

"Then let’s go, Lord Felix. To our world!"

"Yeah."

I took Felix’s hand, and he slid the ring onto my finger.

As the gate fully formed, we stepped through—vanishing into the other world.

—Fifteen Years Later

"Hey—! Sophia! Noah! Stop right there!"

The one chasing after the two energetic children darting through the mansion was Frieda, now thirty years old. She and Albrecht had welcomed two lively kids into their lives.

"Papa! Read to us!"

"Sure. I’d love to."

Of course, these were Albrecht and Frieda’s children. The two had married shortly after graduating from the academy.

"Honestly… Your father has work to do, so don’t pester him too much, alright?"

"Okaaay!"

Frieda balanced being a homemaker with her creative work, while Albrecht continued his career as a writer.

"──Today marks fifteen years since the Imperial Capital Uprising. Crown Prince Leonhard and his consort, Emilia, attended a memorial ceremony to honor the victims, laying flowers at the monument──"

The radio broadcasted the news in the background.

"Fifteen years, huh…"

"Time flies…"

"It really does… Fifteen years since Iris and Lord Felix vanished…"

Fifteen years had passed since Iris and Felix disappeared from the Central Imperial Hospital.

"Congratulations on your appointment as Minister of the Interior, Lord Freudenthal."

"Thank you, Miss Elizabeth."

Klaus had risen to become a member of the Imperial Diet and was now the youngest cabinet member in the current administration.

Standing before him was Elizabeth, her appearance eerily unchanged from fifteen years ago—as if time had refused to touch her. She offered her formal congratulations.

"The Grandmaster also sends his regards on your new position."

"Right. Our cooperation with the Rosenkreuz Society continues. I won’t stop fighting until every last cult and witch is purged from this empire."

"That’s reassuring to hear."

Klaus studied her composed expression for a moment before speaking again.

"...So, any updates? About Iris and Felix."

"Our investigations are ongoing, but it’s likely they crossed into another world. Since then, the Rosenkreuz Society has found no trace of any lingering Is-Lis worship."

"I see…"

Klaus gave a slight shake of his head.

"Felix… That bastard stuck to his convictions till the end."

"Yes. And thanks to him, the capital—no, our entire world—was saved."

"Yeah. We owe him that much. I won’t forget it."

It was Klaus who had sent his friend charging into the heart of the capital. He could never forget Felix’s sacrifice—nor the weight of his own role in it.

"Now then, Lord Minister, I must take my leave."

With those words, Elizabeth exited his office.

"Hey. So what’s the big-shot Minister of the Interior got to say, Bess?"

The voice belonged to Matthias, now one-armed, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he addressed Elizabeth. The years had etched themselves visibly onto him—streaks of gray peppered his hair, his face lined with time.

"He intends to maintain cooperation with the Rosenkreuz Society. His goal remains the eradication of cults and witches. No changes to the status quo."

"That so? The Witch Association’s been slowly rebuilding, y’know. They’ve already replaced Claudia, and the new head’s expanding their reach. Rooting ’em out’s only gonna get harder."

"Then we must act swiftly."

As Elizabeth hurried off, Matthias exhaled a cloud of smoke, shrugged, and followed after her.

And so, my story comes to an end.

In the end, I did leave for another world—but this isn’t a bad ending.

After all... I’m still not alone!

...