I...

Love Ais Wallenstein.

Now, you might wonder why I feel the need to reiterate this point. Isn't it obvious to everyone? Well, on the surface, it may appear so, but does the woman I hold such deep affection for truly comprehend the extent of such sentiment?

I highly doubt it.

Ais carries the weight of a difficult past, one that inflicted immense suffering upon her for years. This girl, who only recently began to experience genuine moments of happiness, owes it to the people gathered here, and annoyingly enough, a few others.

While many would suggest: "If you love her, why not share her burdens and lighten her load?" Ah, if only it were that simple.

I assure you, had Ais Wallenstein been an ordinary woman, I would already be devoting myself wholeheartedly to professing my love.

But reality, as always, presents a different story. Ais is not just a woman.

She is a warrior. And warriors, I must admit, possess certain characteristics that I find rather infuriating...

If they were anyone but Ais Wallenstein.

This woman yearns for vengeance, a burning desire to settle her score on her own terms, without interference.

Otherwise, do you think that insignificant One-Eyed Black Dragon would still be breathing? No, I would take pleasure in plucking each of its scales out, one by one, using illusion magic to amplify its agony by hundreds, thousands, millions of times, all while ensuring it remains painfully conscious.

However, such a scenario is regrettably impossible. I must allow my Angel to seek her own retribution, no matter the cost. She craves the strength necessary to achieve her goal, and thus she carries the weight of her burden alone.

I, on the other hand, am but a supporting character, silently accompanying her on her journey, dedicated to making her wish a reality.

Perhaps, in some way, Ais senses my true intentions without a single word spoken between us. She is perceptive, far more than others give her credit for.

Just because she speaks less does not equate to a lack of intelligence. Beware, for underestimating her could prove fatal.

To these people: Are you all aiming for a death wish? Should I shatter the fourth wall and beat you all up? Don't let me suddenly unleash the Monika¹² hidden within myself...

Ah, never mind. I suppose I'm already doing just that. Forget it.

Anyway, bowing my head is no big deal. Helping a Familia, if they need it, is no problem either.

Just because I'm strong doesn't mean I have to be arrogant, right? Nah, I couldn't care less about that.

I can sense that everyone is filled with disbelief. Well, I did just swear a World Law. It was pretty cool, though. The chains immediately wrapped around our souls, but I couldn't feel them at all.

Is my level too low, or is it simply that I haven't mastered control over my soul yet, so I can't feel it?

...Well, whatever. Now, there shouldn't be any more issues on my end-

But then, I felt a slight tug on the sleeve of my shirt. Even though I was still bowing, I managed to steal a glance at Ais, who seemed to be angry for some reason.

Why are you angry, though? With this, there won't be any more problems. Isn't it the perfect solution? We just had to stake our lives, but so what? It's not like I'll suddenly feel the urge to break this law or anything.

"...You...idiot."

Now, I was getting anxious. Did the fact that I "forced" Loki to comply with the terms of the contract make Ais angry for some reason?

Well, if I were a normal person, I might assume that I understand everything about her, so my assumptions equal reality. But I won't do that.

"...Why?"

I whispered, my tone revealing a hint of anxiety. You know, this world could explode for all I care, but please, don't hate me. I don't know what I'd do in that case...

But before she could reply, Loki had to go and ruin the moment by speaking up.

"Why did you go to such lengths for someone you were barely acquainted with a few hours ago...? I... can't understand it."

Why?

She's asking why?

Well, it's simple.

I...

"I love Ais Wallenstein, and that's the only reason."

I stood up, assuming that she had accepted my proposal, and stared at her with unwavering determination.

I wished I could take my time, to slowly convey my feelings to Ais, and have her talk with others to deeply understand the complexities of these emotions. I didn't want to overwhelm her.

But if I didn't clarify this now, I feared that I would have lost something significant today.

It was the first time I openly declared my feelings, It was as if my heart had been set ablaze, its flames reaching out and dancing with fervor.

In that pivotal moment, my eyes transformed into windows to a cosmic realm. The onlookers were entranced by the ethereal radiance of my gaze, it seemed as if stars themselves danced in a captivating symphony of shimmering cyan hues¹³.

Yet, I remained oblivious to the spectacle unfolding within the depths of my own eyes...

Anyways. I knew that Ais probably didn't understand what love meant.

Still, I will tell her hundreds, thousands of times...

Until she can understand.

And when she does...

I will make sure that she will love me back, no matter what it takes, because my sole existence is for this purpose.

END OF VOLUME 2.

---

12: Monika from Doki Doki Literature Club...well. Let's say I just made a reference some will understand easily, but you, the person who didn't play Doki Doki, saw nothing.

13: It has no special meaning. It's just a reference to Oshi No Ko's style of the eyes having stars within them as characters express themselves to the fullest at that moment

(it's not confirmed or anything as I'm an anime-only watcher, so take it with a grain of salt)

You can look up the specifics on your own. I will also add a picture here to clarify further what I meant.

Author's note:

Of course, I will still explicitly tell you what POV we're reading at the moment, I just thought it was unnecessary and a bother in this chapter only.