Bread Crumbs

Life marched on, even as the school and its students didn’t.

The buildings were hastily repaired with patchwork as a temporary measure. Soldiers and adventurers patrolling the grounds had become a common sight, and there were still police detectives investigating every nook and cranny.

“It just doesn’t feel like it’s only been five days since then.”

“I know what you mean, Charlotte,” Alice said. “Everywhere we walk, I remember that day and…” She clenched her fist. “I just wish we could’ve done more.”

“Don’t start thinking like that.” Charlotte held her friend’s hand gently. “We saved lots of people’s lives; don’t ever forget that, okay?”

Alice meekly nodded. “Right.”

…Master would’ve been able to do more.

Whenever Alice felt like she was strong enough to stand alongside Rose’s side, she was abruptly reminded that it still wasn’t enough.

“Do you have some time later today?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Well, I was-”

“What are you saying?!”

The two girls stopped walking and hid as they heard a rather loud voice on the phone.

They peeked around the corner of the wall and saw Grace Wilbert, sitting on a bench in the gardens alone, looking very distressed.

“I’ve heard you’ve brought shame upon the Wilbert name.”

“Shame? Ha!” Grace scoffed. “Is it wrong to seek council after something as major as-?”

“A Wilbert should have the strength of character to not need outside help, or have you grown soft since I last saw you?”

Those words cut Grace deep.

Grace Wilbert - I’ve never really spoken to her much, but I at least know her name. Whoever the man on the phone is, it’s clearly someone important to Grace but that tone, those words, they’re so cruel.

“…Why is it never enough for you? Why isn’t being strong and getting good grades enough? Why do you always ask me to push myself and then demand the impossible?! Why are you like this, father?! You never-!”

“Grace.” His tone was so cold Alice and Charlotte felt chilled by it. “You are the heir of the Wilbert family. Acting like a spoiled brat will get you nowhere in life. Then, if that’s all.”

“Father, wai-!”

He cut the call, and she burst into tears.

“…Hey.”

Charlotte called out to Grace first, a little awkwardly, causing Grace to panic and quickly try to clean herself up.

“Don’t worry.” Charlotte sat beside Grace and hugged her shoulders. “You can cry as much as you want. We’re here for you. Let it all out.”

Grace did just that and cried and wailed into Charlotte’s shoulder as Alice sat on the other side of Grace, gently patting her back.

It’s a little bit soon, no? We barely know her, but…Alice looked at the saint and smiled. I wonder if this is the kindness of the saint?

Once Grace had let out all her anguish, she started explaining without being asked.

“When I was young, my father and I were very close. He loved me, spoiled me and always wanted me to become a strong, intelligent woman at my own pace. Mother was always the strict parent, but father would let me skip some lessons, we played lots of games, and he’d always sneak me some extra snacks or sweets after dinner.

“I thought he would always be the same way for the rest of my life.” She laughed pitifully. “I always used to joke to my friends that if someone wanted to be my husband, they’d have to be as cool or strong as my dad…I haven’t said anything like that in years.”

“You guys were that close? What happened?” Alice asked.

“…I honestly have no idea. Just, one day, he was the father I loved and then the next, he was…well, like you just saw. Cold, distant and angry, always, always angry.”

Something’s not right.

“Was there anything strange that happened around about that time you can think of?”

“Alice?”

“N-no, not that I can think of,” Grace answered. “He did have some visitors I think, but that was it.”

Remember what Rose taught you - see what is beneath and what they don’t want you to see.

Duke Wilbert used to be kind and loving and the perfect father. Grace used to be very close with him. Suddenly, after seeing some ‘visitors’ he changes his entire attitude.

“…Honestly, I was very jealous of you, Alice.”

“Why?”

“Why?” Grace laughed bitterly. “The fact that you’re asking that so sincerely hurts me even more.” Grace sighed. “You had everything that I always wanted. You’re strong, confident, beautiful, intelligent, surrounded by loving family and friends, and…you’re even friends with the saint of all things.

“Why couldn’t my life have turned out like yours?” Grace started to cry again. “Thinking like that probably makes me a terrible person, right?”

“Of course it doesn’t!” Alice denied and hugged Grace tightly. “You’re not a bad person. You aren’t a disgrace to your family! Every time someone says anything like that to you, I’ll tell them they’re wrong no matter how many times I need to!”

What happened on that day?

***

“To put it lightly, the biggest changes to Class 1 are you, Arc, this Peter fellow, Alice Eagold and the new teacher, Emilia,” John Moriaty summarised Reiss and Arc’s detailed accounts of their new lives and the changes they witnessed. “Just to reconfirm, neither of you had any part to play in the destruction of Tartarus or the strange happenings involving the Silent Sect?”

“I haven’t done anything,” Arc confidently said.

“I don’t think I’ve done anything other than fix Reiss’s relationship with his sister.”

“…Then, Alice Eagold must be like us.”

“Except she didn’t react to when we tried approaching her in Japanese.”

“Maybe she was playing dumb, Arc?”

“Maybe, or maybe she just doesn’t know Japanese because she isn’t Japanese, Reiss.”

“Focus, lads.” John sighed. “Still, I think Alice Eagold might be the biggest change we’ve witnessed between us.”

“How?”

“Let’s go back a few seconds to what you just said, Arc - what if Alice Eagold isn’t Japanese? In that case, how did she survive the encounter with the beasts in the woods?”

“…Oh my God.”

John chuckled. “Took you a second.”

“Wait, what? I’m lost. What do you-?”

“Years ago, I remember hearing a story that I initially dismissed at the time because I thought there was no way it was true. It was about a high-profile nobleman’s daughter who had a master of a tutor, someone who raised that daughter into one of the most intelligent and highly skilled combatants of her age. I thought it had to be bogus at first, until I remember hearing that it was Alice Eagold who had this tutor, and that said tutor saved her life when she was very young.

“If Alice Eagold wasn’t Japanese-”

“She could just be someone from another country.”

“…Regardless, it would stand to reason that the person who saved and raised her is. After all, if you didn’t know the original story of the games, how would you know to be there in those woods, on that day, to save her life?”

“…True, but…God, this sounds so cruel, but why save her?” Reiss asked. “In the game, she played no role outside of that side quest, right? So, why go through the effort?”

“…I have a few theories but perhaps the strongest one right now is exactly what we’re experiencing at this moment,” John answered. “We, three reincarnated individuals, have gathered to discuss the changes to the story, and we’ve all come to the same conclusion. Not only are there others like us, but someone is actively changing and destroying the original scenario.”

“If that happens, any and all knowledge of the future is rendered useless,” Arc muttered.

“And that might be exactly what our opponent desires.” John chuckled nervously. “The scariest thing in life is an opponent whose strategies you can’t read.”

“…What about Grace and her father then?” Reiss offered.

“…That’s also an important change,” Arc concurred. “Let’s say you’re right, John, and that they saved Alice’s life to get us all discussing who the other reincarnated is and what they’re after - why target Grace Wilbert?”

“I’m not sure, but it’s definitely worth following up on. I don’t suppose you two are friends with her at all?”

***

“…That’s why Lucien means so much to you.”

Peter nodded at Emilia.

“Hmm.”

She had been silent as Peter told her all about his life, when Lucien came and saved him, and about how he encouraged him to form the Justice Brigade.

…I wonder what she makes of all of it.

Emilia shut her eyes and went into deep thought for a few minutes, not saying anything or moving an inch. It unsettled Peter a little, the anticipation and suspense making him more and more nervous, until she finally reopened her eyes and spoke.

“So? Given that you now know he works with Samantha, why do you think he did everything he did?”

“…I’m not sure,” Peter confessed. “He said he did it because his Boss ordered him at first, but then he wanted to meet with us…I just-”

“Don’t know if you believe it anymore?” Peter nodded. “Well, it’s not a surprise. Lucien was a monster so vile that he ended up in the depths of Tartarus. He might not have killed anyone since the escape, but that doesn’t erase his past sins, neither does helping you and your friends.”

“But what if that’s his way of trying to find redemption? Or what if-?”

“Peter.” Emilia stared into his soul. “Lucien works with Samantha. He knew about the attack on the school and did nothing. He probably has his hands in whatever they’re planning to do next and he’s not going to wake up tomorrow morning and change sides. If he did suddenly have such a revelation, I’d suspect it’s on orders from his Boss.”

“We can’t know that for certain!”

“No, but why would I trust someone who hangs around with that sadistic vampire? Peter.” Emilia gripped his shoulder firmly. “I imagine he’s just as bad as she is. He led me to this school, so I’d run into Samantha and-”

“What if he did that to help you?!”

“You’re being way too naïve!” Emilia’s voice was far louder than either of them expected it to be. “Sorry. I know he saved your girlfriend-”

“She’s not-!”

“But he didn’t do that out of the kindness of his heart,” Emilia firmly said. “He’s definitely got some other goal or purpose. Well, maybe not him directly, but his Boss does. Don’t forget that.”

***

“…Rose.”

“Risa? How rare for you to seek me out. What is it?”

“…The next attack.”

Rose smirked. “Oh~? What about it?”

“I have some doubts about its chances of success.”

“Elaborate.”

“…Duke Wilbert appears to have become more motivated after the attack on the ball, and he has been providing much more detailed orders to his compatriots. Likewise, he seems to be personally getting involved in every stage of the plan…He has also been contacting his daughter more, which raises the risks of sensitive information leaking or worse. I believe he’s a potential liability.”

“I know.”

…You just don’t care. Risa swallowed as an increasing foreboding sense of dread crept up her back. You knew and yet…what are you really planning, Rose?

Rose giggled and walked over to Risa. “Don’t worry too much about it. I have faith in Duke Wilbert’s abilities and his meticulous planning.”

“…Very well.”

“Thank you for your concern, Risa.”

Risa nodded and went to leave.

“Are you and Stephan particularly close?”

“…We’ve worked together on lots of assignments, so I guess we’re acquaintances…or friends? Why?”

Rose shook her head with a gentle smile. “It’s nothing.”

Risa quickly took her leave after that but, right before she left-

“As I expected, Stephan betrayed us.”

Rose muttered something in a language Risa knew but couldn’t understand.

It was the same one that Reiss and Arc used.

She’s like them!

A reincarnator!