"That's amazing, Alice."

After a brief period of silence, Marisa finally spat out such a simple admiration.

Obviously, there are many things that can be praised, but in the end, the only thing that blurted out was this crude praise. Marisa couldn't help but feel annoyed in her heart for her clumsy tongue.

However, she couldn't translate all the praise in her heart into words. She's usually good at it, is it because of jealousy?

Indeed, if others have things that they can't have, and if others can achieve things they can't, then there are only two kinds of feelings that people will have.

Longing or jealousy.

But the emotions rolling in Marisa's chest at this moment are by no means the latter, and the jealousy is nothing more than inferiority...... Although it is true that she cannot do Alice's miraculous magic, the girl always believes that the path she is on is a glorious path that will not be lost to anyone.

She may have no heart or lungs, or she may be young, but Marisa has a valuable quality that no one can match—that is, a balanced and upright personality that she has cultivated by walking on the thorny path called the Demon Path.

It's also a rare character among magicians, but it's undeniable...... Marisa doesn't get jealous of people who can accomplish things they can't.

Smile and give admiration, and then redouble your efforts to launch a charge in your own field, this is what a girl will do.

So, she's just ...... Doubt.

"But, speaking of which, I have a question, Alice."

"What's the matter?"

"Why are you so keen on dolls?"

This isn't a particular problem for Marisa...... But she did care about it a long time ago.

To be precise, from the moment she first met Alice, this question existed in her heart.

There's almost no contact with the outside world.,Just a girl who makes a human shape in her own field over and over again.,There doesn't seem to be any problem with describing it as gloomy.。 At least, Marisa had thought she was a gloomy guy.

But she soon found out that she was wrong.

That's not a person who can be described as gloomy...... A girl who always maintains a quiet heart.,With a noble heart that no one can match.。

Kind and elegant, noble and reserved...... She is like a fairy in a fairy tale who lives in the depths of the forest and helps the protagonist.

But even so, Marisa was puzzled.

Repeating an act day after day, either because of love, hate, or because of responsibility.

Unfortunately, Marisa didn't feel any emotion from Alice.

She'd had the privilege of witnessing Alice making a human form -- but how to describe it?

The magician who devotes his whole body and soul to making a human form has a smile on his face, but he doesn't feel strong feelings.

She really likes dolls. But that's about it.

Marisa doesn't know what makes Alice so obsessed with making humanoids, but she's sure it's not a reason that can be explained by "liking".

Faced with Marisa's probing gaze, Alice blinked her graceful eyes in confusion.

Marisa...... I didn't think about it. But liking is liking, and you don't need a reason."

The answer is textbook-sounding, and as Alice says, you don't need to like it for any reason. Marisa nodded helplessly in agreement.

Although there was still obvious confusion in her raised eyebrows, she reluctantly accepted the statement.

「…… Don't you need a reason?"

Hearing the conversation between the two girls, Fei Li muttered to himself in a voice that they couldn't detect.

You don't need a reason to like it...... What a moving word.

However, in Feili's opinion, this is just the innocent words of a girl who has been poisoned too much by romance novels.

Since cause and effect are inevitable, there must be some reason for liking. Otherwise, it would be a blasphemy to explain everything without a single sentence without a reason.

He is very fond of Marisa, because the girl's hearty and strong personality is very much to his liking, and he also likes Alice, because he admires the kind and reserved figure of the other party.

Why do you fall in love with someone? Why do you love something? Love from the bottom of your heart can never come out for no reason. People who use this reason as an excuse are either unwilling to admit their love in their hearts, or they have not realized why they like it.

And Alice ...... It should be the latter.

Whether they admit it or not, children actually admire their parents very much. So in his opinion, the girl just wants to be like her mother...... Although she herself doesn't seem to realize it yet.

It wasn't an easy path, but it was at least a commendable one.

Hey--so chuckled. Feili picked up the teacup and took a sip of the tea that was still warm.

Does it taste good or bad? It's hard to judge, but it's a faintly sweet fragrance...... Let's just call it not bad.

Swallowing the tea he had brewed with an indifferent mood, Feili began to listen to the conversation of the girls.

Of course, he wasn't a solitary audience. The little figure that was sitting on his shoulder also listened quietly with him. Looking at the appearance of Shanghai's full of interest, needless to say, everything in front of her was a novel experience that she had never experienced before.

「――――」

And just like that, time passed slowly.

The oblique light cast a shadow on the living room, and the fire in the fireplace faded into shadow as time passed.

When you look at it, it looks like a faded picture forgotten in a fairy tale. It has nothing to do with the dilapidation, but you can experience the quiet atmosphere of being alone.

However, there is no such thing as loneliness here at this moment.

Why this change? This should be self-explanatory.

「…… Well, it's time for me to go."

The man glanced out the window, and the dim colors could already be seen in the snow-covered sky, which meant that night would soon fall completely.

His words bring the girls back to reality from their endless conversations.

"You're leaving?"

Marisa's inquiry undoubtedly represents everyone's voice, as Alice and Shanghai's wordless gaze is full of similar meanings.

In this regard, he could only helplessly coax his shoulders.

"After all, it's dark now, and it's time to go home—I think I should go back too."

Of course, he wanted to stay with the young girl, but his mother was still waiting for him, so he had to leave.

Besides, the snow at night is not bad, and he has nothing to complain about.

"Speaking of which, Alice ......"

Fei Li moved his gaze to the girl.

"You shouldn't always stay in the house, you should go out and walk more."

"Is that what you suggest?"

Alice asked, tilting her head.

Seeing such a girl, Fei Li laughed slightly.

A girl who is always away from the crowd.,That's not out of pride.。

"Of course that's advice...... If you stay at home all the time, you won't have any good memories in the end. Don't be like my guy -- although happiness varies from person to person, I don't think it's better to be like Kaguya."

「…… I'll think about it."

"That's the best news I've heard today."

After leaving a satisfying line, Feili left.

The story of everyday life comes to an end in this chapter -- and then the prologue to the real story begins.