While the female Flame-Chasers were fighting intensely inside the Golden Theater, Elysian Realm itself was far from peaceful. Though the scale was different, another war of similar nature was unfolding.
"Hyaah! Take this—Elf Magic!"
"It's useless! That level won't work on me!"
"Hmph! Hey, you over there—stop running!"
"Guh! I won't hand Elias over to you!"
Fifteen petite figures were brawling with each other.
They possessed neither overwhelming abilities nor powerful physiques. At most, they fired tiny beams from the staffs in their hands, then flailed at one another with their short arms and legs in an entirely unskilled, purely emotional scuffle.
Compared to Elysia and the others' terrifying battle of Flame-Chasers, this war was almost... cute.
Like a group of little girls fighting.
They were the mass-produced support-type ELF units of Elysian Realm—fifteen ELF Elysias.
"Ah... how did things end up like this?"
Meanwhile, on the other side, the combat-type ELF fully equipped with miniature Divine Keys—Hero Elias—let out a long sigh.
Influenced by Elysia and the others, the ELF Elysias had followed suit.
In order to compete for the right to go on a date with Hero Elias, they had launched their own miniature war.
The adorable fairies fought adorably—
Yet showed absolutely no mercy, sending one identical love rival after another flying.
More than half of the ELF Elysias had already fallen.
Hero Elias very much wanted to step in and stop them.
But just like his original self, he was completely powerless.
In fact, he was even more powerless.
After all, both sides were ELFs modeled after the thought processes of Elias and Elysia.
They had even inherited their feelings.
Hero Elias could not favor any one of them.
He would unconditionally fulfill the request of any ELF Elysia.
So before the battle began, the ELF Elysias had already established the rules.
This was a fight that belonged solely to them.
Until they determined a victor—
The Hero was forbidden from interfering.
Thus...
"I can't do anything at all!"
The strongest combat ELF of the Previous Era—equipped with all miniature Divine Keys and possessing strength capable of defeating a three-Core Herrscher—lamented helplessly.
At that moment, a small green figure peeked out from behind a wall.
Though also an ELF, she bore heavy dark circles under her eyes.
ELF Klein: "Hero Elias looks so pitiful. I wonder if there's something I can do to comfort him?"
The brawling ELF Elysias had no idea—
That a terrifying new love rival was about to enter the stage.
...
Meanwhile, in the outside world.
Elias and Cecilia were on a date.
They had already left the town from yesterday and arrived at a large city dedicated to tourism.
Cecilia felt dazzled.
There were so many fascinating things that she didn't even know where to look.
"By the way, Elias, didn't you say one of your friends would be joining us today?" Cecilia asked.
"Oh, her... she needs to pass through a trial before she can come now. So let's enjoy ourselves first," Elias replied, his expression extremely complicated.
"A trial? Did she run into some kind of trouble? Should we go help her?" the kind-hearted Cecilia asked.
"It's better not to get involved. The more people who interfere, the more troublesome it becomes... Sigh. Even if one possesses immense power, there are many things in this world that strength alone can't solve."
Elias spoke with melancholy.
Even if he possessed the mind-reading authority of the Herrscher of Sentience, what of it?
Every girl had a heart like an onion.
Peel one layer, and there was another.
There was nothing in this world more complicated than a woman's heart.
"Um... I don't really understand, but..."
Cecilia raised her hand and gently placed it on top of Elias' head, patting it.
"Uh... what are you doing all of a sudden?"
"D-Does it not work? When you patted my head before, I felt very comfortable and relaxed."
"...Thank you, Cecilia. I'm better now."
Looking at the sincere white-haired girl before him, Elias reached out and gently patted her head as well.
He felt healed.
The white-haired beauty before him possessed an indescribable sense of tolerance.
Though her temperament differed from Sakura's, she could similarly make him forget his worries.
Cecilia smiled softly, pure and beautiful like a blooming Casablanca lily.
In truth, when Elias had messaged her last night saying he would bring a companion along today, Cecilia had discovered that she felt a faint resistance.
It was as if she did not want to share this precious time spent with Elias with anyone else.
But she had always been a girl who was good at restraining herself.
So in the end, she had replied with an OK emoji.
And kept telling herself over and over in her heart—
Cecilia: (It's fine. One more person isn't a big deal. It might even be more fun if it's livelier... and besides... I don't have the right to ask for anything.)
She was the one receiving kindness.
If she were to make demands on top of that, it would be far too willful.
Cecilia did not know—
If she only regarded Elias as a friend, she would not have minded him bringing someone else.
But for a girl who had fallen into the river of love, of course she would not wish for a third party to intrude upon her date.
And she did not know just how fortunate she was.
At this very moment, a group of girls strong enough to shatter heaven and earth were tearing apart fifty thousand years of sisterhood in order to seize the very date slot she was now enjoying.
Even the entire route of today's date had been painstakingly planned by a certain Miss Pink Elf the day before.
It could only be said—Elysia had taken a heavy loss this time.
The carefully crafted date plan she had designed was now being fully enjoyed by Cecilia.
...
The two of them continued exploring until the sun was about to set.
The glow of dusk painted the world in its final brilliance of the day.
The crimson-gold light of the setting sun was breathtakingly magnificent.
Standing atop a small hill, Cecilia gripped the railing and etched the scene deeply into her eyes.
In the past, living on Schicksal's floating island, she had seen sunsets every day.
But she had never felt one to be as beautiful as this.
And faintly, she understood why.
Perhaps it was because this time, a white-haired boy stood by her side.
Perhaps that was why the sunset felt especially beautiful.
Today, the two of them had gone to the cinema, the aquarium—and together with yesterday's amusement park—had now visited the three sacred grounds of couples' dates.
Elias couldn't help but sigh.
As expected of a master of romance—Miss Pink Elf's grand dating strategy had left even him feeling utterly satisfied.
He had almost fallen in love with Cecilia, who had accompanied him through such wonderful moments.
Only...
Elias: (Elysia still couldn't make it in the end. I wonder how the battle's going. Hopefully no one's dead.)
"By the way, Cecilia, you were really invested today. It felt like you were even more immersed than I was," Elias remarked.
"Mm. Because today is very precious," Cecilia replied, nodding firmly.
She treated today as though it were the final day of freedom in her life.
As if there would never again be such a happy day.
So she devoted herself fully to every minute—even every second.
She didn't want to leave behind a single regret.
And yet...
Cecilia had believed that if she did this, she would feel satisfied.
That once today's date ended, she would be able to calmly return to Schicksal headquarters.
But...
Why is it like this? I want more days like this. I want to stay with Elias longer. I don't want this to end. I don't want to go back to Schicksal...
Not only had the longing in her heart not been satisfied—it was growing stronger.
Pressing a hand against her chest, Cecilia didn't know what to do.
Just then—
"So, where should we go tomorrow? Cecilia, is there anywhere else you'd like to visit?" Elias stretched lazily while checking the nearby map.
"Eh? There's... a tomorrow?"
Cecilia stared at him blankly.
His actions told her that this date had not yet reached its end.
That they still had more time.
That they could create more memories.
"W-Wait, Elias! Didn't you say it would only last until the hourglass ran out?" Cecilia asked, flustered yet hopeful.
"That's right. Our agreement was that until the hourglass empties, your time belongs to me. Is there a problem?"
"But that hourglass only lasts a day!"
Cecilia hurriedly pulled the hourglass from her bag.
Then she froze.
The upper chamber was still more than half full.
With her quasi S-rank Valkyrie dynamic vision, she clearly saw that the sand was falling much slower than it had last night.
At this rate, it would likely take at least two more days to finish.
"What's going on?"
"Yes... what indeed is going on~"
A delighted smile curved across Elias' face.
Cecilia, inexperienced in the ways of the world, had no idea how deep outside tricks could run.
When crafting this hourglass, Elias had intentionally tampered with it.
Some of the sand grains were extremely fine, allowing them to fall quickly.
Others were larger and heavier, causing them to fall much more slowly.
That difference had led Cecilia to misjudge the time.
(It couldn't be helped. If it were just one day, she would agree. If I had asked for three days, she definitely would've refused. So I had to trick this silly girl a little.)
"No backing out now, Cecilia," Elias said softly.
"But I—"
"You've already gone back on your word once. If you break your promise to me again, I'll be angry. And if that happens... I might start disliking you."
Elias narrowed his eyes slightly, placing both hands against the railing behind her, leaving her nowhere to retreat.
"!!!"
Cecilia's heart skipped a beat.
She didn't want to be disliked.
Especially not by Elias.
Just imagining it made her feel an unprecedented emptiness—as if a piece of her heart had been hollowed out.
It even made her want to cry.
"Were you happy spending time with me?" Elias asked.
"Yes! These two days with you have been the happiest days of my life so far! But I..."
"There's no 'but,' Cecilia. The world won't collapse just because it lacks you for a few days. And when it truly matters, I'll step in. And besides—"
Elias gently pulled the girl before him into an embrace.
"You've already worked very hard. So just rest a little. Think of the time with me as a reward from heaven for all your efforts so far. Tomorrow—and the day after—I will make your days even happier than today."
"You can't say things like that, Elias... It makes me want to hope. I was supposed to go back... but now I want to ask for even more."
Cecilia did not resist the embrace.
Instead, she wrapped her arms around him in return.
It felt like the boldest thing she had ever done in her life.
"I never expected that I was actually such a greedy person," Cecilia said with a helpless laugh.
"What's wrong with being greedy? Be greedier. This is time that should have been yours to begin with."
Elias gently stroked her white hair.
Cecilia was only eighteen.
While on their date, they had seen countless girls her age enjoying their youth without restraint.
She should have been one of them.
But unlike a certain Kaslana who chose freedom over the duty to protect the world, Cecilia had chosen to shoulder that heavy mission herself.
Perhaps Elias wasn't the most convincing person to say it.
But saving the world—
Was not something someone her age should have to bear.
"Choosing to become a Valkyrie and fight to protect beauty—that was unquestionably right. No one can deny you that. But... you also have the right to enjoy your own life, Cecilia."
"But... I'm different... my blood..."
"A certain Miss Pink Elf once said that everyone in this world is uniquely special. My companions often tell me not to carry everything on my own."
If Mei and Elysia were here, they would probably feel relieved.
Whether he could truly do it or not was another matter—but at least Elias had remembered what they told him.
"..."
Cecilia fell silent.
At this point in time, she was still too young.
There was no way she could out-argue Elias.
"By the way, in the future, you should establish a Valkyrie academy, Cecilia. Create one different from Schicksal—an academy where all Valkyries can truly enjoy their lives. I've even thought of the name. How about St. Freya Academy?"
"That's a beautiful name... but something like that... could I really do it?" Cecilia asked uncertainly.
"Of course you can. The day after tomorrow, when you go back, talk about it with a certain little dwarf. I know the two of you will definitely make it happen." Elias absentmindedly brushed the uniform he was wearing—the only male uniform of St. Freya Academy.
"..."
Cecilia gazed at him blankly.
What an incredible person, she thought.
They had only known each other for such a short time, yet Elias seemed to understand her so well—and trust her so completely.
Founding a Valkyrie academy sounded like nothing more than a fantasy.
But...
Because Elias said she could do it, Cecilia found herself believing that perhaps she truly could.
And once again, a thought surfaced in her heart.
I really... really want to see his face.
She even found herself thinking that if she could glimpse the scenery hidden beneath that platinum mask, she would be willing to pay any price.
They were standing so close now.
If she simply reached out her hand, she could remove his mask.
...
In the end, Cecilia still failed to muster the courage.
After today's date ended, the two of them arrived at a luxurious hotel under World Serpent.
Elias glanced toward the bathroom.
Cecilia had said she needed to calm down and was currently taking a shower inside.
If he wanted to peek, it would take no effort at all.
If it were Elysia or the others, he might have even invited them to bathe together.
But he wasn't in the mood for that now.
"...Tch. So he found us, huh."
Elias clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Otto may have been green with envy, but he was no fool.
By now, he had already narrowed down their approximate location.
The reason was simple.
During their date today, Elias and Cecilia had still been photographed.
Once the pictures were uploaded online, Schicksal—who had been frantically searching for Cecilia—quickly traced the lead.
"Whatever. It's not a serious issue. If Otto wants to come, let him. No matter what... my date will not be interrupted."
If Otto wished to court death, Elias would not mind crippling Schicksal of this era once again.
In truth, the matter occupied his mind for less than a minute.
There was something else he cared about more.
"I wonder how things are going inside Elysian Realm. The sun's already set. They should be done fighting by now... I'm really curious. Who ended up winning?"