Chapter 364

At the same time, in the streets of Fuyuki as night fell.

Chloe, whose hand was being held, looked up and met Ivia. Her eyes widened noticeably, and she seemed to want to let go of the hand that was being held.

"Today's almost over, how about we go back to the tent together if it's convenient?"

No... I don't plan to go back.

"Shall we walk and talk over there?"

"I... I understand."

Overwhelmed by Ivia's assertive attitude, Chloe was forced to nod.

After walking together on the quiet street for a while, Ivia spoke again.

Aren't you going to ask me anything?

There's no need for that.

Chloe said honestly, "And I don't want to hear it either."

"Yeah, I knew you wouldn't listen, so I wasn't planning on saying anything."

"..."

"Oh, right."

He began, "I have already met your mother."

What emotions did Chloe harbor towards Irisviel, who abandoned and sealed her away? She felt a longing for her mother, as well as Wrath at how the two of them had treated her this way. When she first appeared, Chloe even thought that if she could get along with 'herself', she would take on the role of the Einzbern Family herself, while letting that other self take on the role of a normal person.

However, plans can't keep up with changes. Chloe gradually became Jealousy of Ilya and therefore decided to eliminate her and replace the name 'Ilya'.

"Also, the Einzbern Family no longer exists."

"... Yeah."

Upon hearing this, Chloe murmured softly.

Incredibly, she didn't panic; she felt only calm, as if it wasn't worth worrying about.

Einzbern is gone, so is there any need for me to exist? In the end, the world doesn't end because of my existence or the presence or absence of anyone else.

She is 'Ilya', but who else thinks of her as Ilya? She has nowhere to go.

Even though she realized this, Chloe still couldn't even cry.

The deserted vending machines and the flowerpots lined up by the window of the old apartment blended into the everyday life of the night, seemingly contradicting the chaos of the Magecraft world.

So Chloe asked:

Why do you call me Chloe instead of Ilya?

"Hmm? That goes without saying."

Ivia tilted her head, as if it were an unbelievable question from a young girl.

"Because even though we have a deep relationship, you are not Ilya in my eyes. Even if Ilya gave you this name, you wouldn't feel like you are Ilya, would you? So, wouldn't you be lonely if no one called your name then?"

He spoke with utmost seriousness, causing Chloe to blink involuntarily.

"But my name is indeed Ilya, not Chloe."

Don't you like the name I gave you?

"Under the spring night sky, "Ivia said warmly.

"No, no, it's just a bit sudden, I wasn't quite there to react..."

"Isn't that enough?"

Ivia released her hand and gave her a high five. "To me, Ilya is Ilya, Chloe is Chloe. They are two completely different people. There's no such thing as one replacing the other. This isn't a world where Ilya exists but Chloe doesn't."

"... Is this what your mother wants you to be like?"

"I don't deny that Mrs. Irisviel made that request of me, but even if she hadn't said it aloud, I would have done it."

Whether it's a dream or not, that's what Chloe is thinking right now.

Whether it's a dream or not, it's remarkable that young girls today can hold such views.

It doesn't matter if I'm not 'Ilya', or if I can't receive the warmth that 'Ilya' enjoys, as long as someone can accept me and give me a reason to live, that's enough. After all, people don't just live for the sake of living.

However, she was somewhat unwilling to accept this, and she still had something to say.

Even though I have this name, to me, I am still Ilya.

Chloe replied defiantly.

Was that a slight counterattack against this guy?

Then a cheerful voice suddenly came from the air, Ivia laughed.

"So cute."

"Wh-what?"

"That's what Mrs. Irisviel called her child last night, Chloe."

These words left Chloe stammering, her ears turning slightly red.

"In short, whether I'm Chloe or not, I'm still Ilya. It's just a title!"

Chloe raised her hand and gently patted his palm, then slipped her fingers from the overlapping edge of his palm, gripped his hand tightly, and said in a stern tone:

"And since that's the case, you'll become part of my family."

"... Is this your wish?"

"I've only decided on one thing."

Chloe didn't look up, but murmured to the hand Ivia was holding.

This feeling originated from another version of myself, so it has little to do with my own feelings. However, if I hadn't met you here, my emotions wouldn't have changed like this.

Please be my older brother.

Moreover, Chloe believes she will never regret saying that.

Then--

"Ah?"

When Caren saw Ivia bring a strange, dark-skinned little boy into her house in the middle of the night, she felt as if the sky had fallen.

Interesting? No, not interesting at all, Ivia, you better explain yourself...

Despite these inner turmoil, Caren still pinched her nose and prepared Chloe's identification documents for school.

Then, Caren, hiding in the bathroom, started biting her nails.

"That brat from the Einzbern Family, I warned him already, and he still dared to approach me, even sticking to me and calling me 'brother,' he deserves to die..."

Chapter 398. Important Figures in the Holy Church.

The next day.

Back at school, Ilya how to deal with Ivia, who sat behind her, about the Mirror World from the previous night and what he had taken away.

How should I start? Should I be subtle or direct?

Ilya turned her head to look out the window and found that the campus was full of white petals. Almost all the Cherry Blossom Tree had fallen and were sprouting green buds. A cool breeze was blowing in from outside.

Oh right, I put the milk in the shoe cabinet last night anyway, I'll deal with it when he returns it to me.

However, Ilya didn't receive this usual 'action' even before class started. Just as she was utterly puzzled, the next moment—

"A new student transferred to our class today."

Taiga, who had just entered the classroom, was the first to announce the news. For some reason, Ilya felt that Taiga glanced at her.

Then, a slightly dark-skinned girl with a backpack adorned with a string of cute soft rubber charms and shopping keychains walked in, clearly in a good mood.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Chloe von Einzbern, or you can call me Kuro."

Now Ilya understood why Taiga had glanced at her. After all, Chloe looked so much like her that she probably thought they were twins. Moreover, the classmates around them were whispering things like, "She looks like Ilya," "Twins," "Sisters."

But wasn't Kuro taken away by Ivia yesterday? How come he's back at school today? Isn't that a bit too fast...?

Ilya had a feeling that something significant had happened to the two of them that she was unaware of.

"Chloe is... a relative of Teacher. Caren."

Taiga paused for a moment, then added, "And she's Ilya's cousin, so let's all get along well."

Hearing Taiga's explanation and seeing Chloe's expression, Ilya couldn't help but grit her teeth.

Immediately afterwards, Chloe walked to the last row, glanced at Ivia Miyu's seats, and raised her hand while saying to Taiga, "Teacher, may I switch seats with this student?"

"Hmm? We should still ask Miyu's opinion..."

"So, Miyu, would you like to switch seats with me?"

"Why?"

After a long silence, Miyu suddenly spoke, her eyes fixed on Chloe was smiling happily.

After everything was over yesterday, she naturally learned from Ilya that Kuro had been taken away by Ivia. Her reaction was quite calm, but for Rin Tohsaka and Luvia, it was like, "What is this?" This is normal, since their mission was to retrieve the Class Card and successfully become apprentices of the Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg before coming to Fuyuki.

In short, the two were troubled by 'how to retrieve the Class Card that had turned them into humans'. Ilya was wondering 'what happened after they were taken away, and why they were acting so friendly', while Miyu... didn't want to think too much about it. That's about it.

"Because I want to sit with my brother."

In an instant, Miyu had the thought, 'What is she saying?' At the same time, a sudden commotion arose around her.

Who is Chloe's brother?

"... Could it be referring to Yi-tong?"

"No, no, no, but isn't she Ilya's cousin? And she looks so much like her..."

Noticing the confusion around her, Chloe turned around and said matter-of-factly:

"What's so surprising? Is it strange that Ivia is my brother?"

Ilya Miyu's eyes widened instantly, and the classroom fell silent. After several seconds, they began to exclaim, "They really are siblings!" and "So the two Ilyas are cousins?" But in the end, they lowered their heads in dejection and buried their faces in their desks.

No, Ilya's fighting strength is too weak and her endurance is too short. If this continues, Kuro will steal all the advantages. And unlike Kuro, she can't ignore other people's opinions and express them directly. What should we do...?

Looking at the 'defeated' Ilya, Ruby began to think of a strategy for her.

Outside of class, Miyu would sometimes go to the restroom and remain silent until class started.

Having witnessed the entire Sapphire event, she really wanted to help Miyu.

But no matter how many times Miyu replied, she would only say something like, "I'm fine, Sapphire."

Judging from Miyu's current appearance, she has been feeling very upset ever since Chloe said those words.

Therefore, Sapphire, recalling Miyu's words last night, roughly understood that Miyu must have a very important older brother, who, unsurprisingly, is Ivia... But why, if he's so important, has it always been like this?

Sapphire glanced at Miyu and nearly stopped beating, for the Black-Haired Girl's indifferent eyes were filled with tears falling like broken pearls; she was weeping silently.

Time flew by, and it was time for afternoon PE class.

"Let's have a one-on-one dodgeball showdown!"

On the sunlit playground, Ilya held a ball and shouted at Chloe.

Looking at the aggressive Ilya, Chloe blinked indifferently and waved her hand:

"I don't care, you can't possibly beat me anyway."

"If I lose, it's up to you, but if you lose..."

Ilya paused, recalling Chloe's blatant provocation that morning, clenched her hands tightly, and then spoke again, unusually louder.

"Just switch me to another class!"

"Then let's give it a try!"

What followed was a fierce dodgeball battle between the two, leaving behind afterimages and visible heat waves. However, since both of them were using Od, this was to be expected.

"You were like that yesterday, how come you're like this today! I really don't understand you!"

Ilya took a step back, raised her right hand, gripped the ball tightly, and then flung it away forcefully.