The Main Heroine Falls for the Extra

A four-day holiday period that included a weekend between two holidays: National Law Establishment Day and the Millennium War Victory Commemoration Day. In the original story, this was also a period when protagonist Allen had events spending the holiday with several heroines.
…Among those heroines, Liliana and Aria are under probation, so their events will probably disappear, but that’s not my concern.
Using this period when many academy students return home, I decided to go back to my hometown, Count Wentos’ territory in the north.
The purpose was to meet Princess Yuril, who recently met with Duke Ignis, through Princess Aine.
Of course, Riel decided to accompany me.
To reach Count Wentos’ territory, one needs to take a train for about 5 hours, then travel by carriage for approximately 2 hours.
After arriving in Littlelake, a city north of Viscount Bruin’s territory, by train and finishing a simple meal, Riel and I planned to travel to the Count’s territory by carriage.
Riel walked with light steps toward the carriage.
Since we had come to the cold northern region, she had tied up her hair that she usually wore loose, and was wearing a warm fur coat instead of her uniform.

“What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
I had been staring at her without realizing it, and feeling a bit embarrassed when caught, I shook my head.
Phyllis, who was standing behind, made a small chuckling sound.
Riel and I boarded the carriage to head to Count Wentos’ territory.
But here we encountered someone quite unexpected.
“Um… aren’t you two from the same class…?”
A silver-haired demi-human girl (who was hiding her identity) wearing warm fur clothes and a fur hat.
Emilia Silbright was there.
“Emilia Silbright…? Why are you here?”
Why is she here?
In the original story, during the holiday event, Allen was supposed to discover that she was a demi-human?
“Ah, I’m on my way home.”
…That’s right.
The village of her race, the Silver Wolf tribe, is indeed located in the forest within Count Wentos’ northern territory.
But in the original story, she had remained at the academy during the holiday period rather than returning home, yet for some reason, she was going home now.
Since I had never directly interacted with her, I hadn’t been paying attention to her, but I had a feeling that something was changing.
Since not many people travel north, only the three of us—myself, Riel, and Emilia—were in the carriage.
Riel and Emilia seemed to have become friends already as they were engaged in conversation.
Come to think of it, in the original story, Riel was described as being relatively open with Emilia.
Even so, I don’t think they were close enough to chat so amicably like this.
…Well, it didn’t seem right for me to join two girls in conversation, so I sat down, closed my eyes, and fell into thought.
My father and mother, my younger brother Asta, and my younger sister Kino who would be at home.
It hadn’t even been half a year since I left home to attend the academy, but it felt like it was a very long time ago.
My father, who took responsibility for the Count’s family while never neglecting his family.
He was someone who valued nurturing people’s talents more than anything.
I remembered how he was extremely happy when I said I wanted to learn swordsmanship, and taught me with great dedication.
He was so pleased, saying I had considerable talent.
My mother, the lady of the Count’s house.
She was also very happy when I said I wanted to learn magic.
…Of course, she was somewhat disappointed that she couldn’t teach me her specialty, plant magic, when I only showed aptitude for wind magic.
Well, I frequently exchanged letters with my mother, so she’s the only one I don’t feel like I haven’t seen in a long time.
Asta, who was devoted to sword practice, saying he would someday surpass his older brother.
Come to think of it, when I left, he asked me for another sparring match when I returned.
I’m looking forward to seeing how much he’s grown.
And my younger sister Kino.
Most of my memories involve me taking care of her very diligently because I was so happy to have a younger sister.
However, regarding my younger sister Kino…
…I can only say that my original sin toward her is too great.
I’m a bit anxious about how Kino will look at me if she ever matures.
And the other people in the Count’s family… the residents of the Count’s territory…
While recalling old memories, my body, slightly tired from the train journey, easily accepted drowsiness.
‘Why won’t you accept my feelings?’
‘Why do you always say that and never look at me?’
‘Is that child so precious to you?’
‘Even after losing everything, you worry about that child first?’
‘Then watch helplessly in that state’
‘Watch your precious child wither away unable to do anything!’
“Kyo! We’re here! Wake up!”
…Thanks to Riel shaking me awake, my sleepiness completely vanished and I became alert.
The carriage had stopped, and Emilia across from me was gathering her belongings.
…It was a dream with words I couldn’t understand.
I only seemed to remember that it was a sticky female voice filled with hatred and jealousy.
What a strange dream.
“Thanks, Riel.”
“You’re welcome.”
I smiled back at Riel, who was grinning, and got off the carriage.
As soon as I stepped out, cold but clear air welcomed me.
The magnificent Arianrod Fortress, the only city and fortress in Count Wentos’ territory, stood before my eyes.
“Then I’ll go through the entry procedures.”
“Please do.”
After seeing off Phyllis who headed toward the main gate, I looked over at Riel and Emilia who were talking.
Since Emilia’s home village wasn’t inside Arianrod Fortress but required going towards the forest, it seemed we would part ways here.
Having become friends somehow, Riel was seeing off Emilia with eyes full of regret.
After saying goodbye to Riel, Emilia gave me a slight bow and entered the forest.
Riel, who had seen Emilia off, came over to me and said:
“I wonder where Emi’s hometown is, that she’s going into the forest?”
“Well, there are several villages in the north where natives live, so it might be one of those.”
More than that, you’re already using a nickname for her.
It seems they became even closer while I was sleeping.
“Isn’t it dangerous to live in the forest because of magical beasts?”
“There are many strong warriors among the natives, and Count’s soldiers are also stationed there, so it should be fine.”
The role of the Count’s soldiers stationed in the village ranges from simple village defense to protecting and evacuating residents to the fortress if a large army of magical beasts appears.
The treaty promising to protect their safety and traditions, made when our ancestors negotiated with the natives, has been honored up to my father’s generation.
“Then Emi should be fine too, right?”
“Yes. And if she’s already announced her return, someone from the village would have come to greet her.”
Especially if it’s the Silver Wolf tribe village.
…I swallowed those words and waited for Phyllis to return.
After a few minutes of waiting in front of the fortress gate, a group emerged from the fortress gate.
A group consisting of about ten men and women.
All wearing the same design of clothing, with stern yet arrogant expressions.
“Those people came again, I see.”
“Kyo? What’s wrong?”
“Those people.”
I pointed out the group coming from the fortress to Riel, who was looking up.
“They’re from the Order.”
“The Order… you mean the World Tree Church?”
“Yes.”
The World Tree Church.
A religion that worships the World Tree Yggdrasil and the fairies that are the seeds of Yggdrasil.
Without regard to national borders, there were many people in this world who believed in the World Tree Church.
If you were to consider religions, those who don’t believe in the World Tree Church might be in the minority.
“They come to evangelize every time.”
“Don’t people in the north believe in the World Tree Church?”
“Well, since most of the northern residents are of native descent, it seems difficult for them to accept outside religions.”
Except for the people who came during the pioneering period and their descendants, most northern residents continue the bloodline of the natives.
Therefore, they believe in something like an indigenous faith.
Even our Wentos Count family, which governs this region, is not a follower of the World Tree Church, which says it all.
“Then what religion do they believe in?”
“Rather than a religion, it’s an indigenous faith. Something like the spirits that appear in old stories.”
“Ah, I’ve read about that in books!”
The northern natives worship indigenous faith more than the church, and that has continued to the present day.
“Does Riel believe in the World Tree Church?”
“I… well, since our Duke’s family has been at odds with the church…”
“I see.”
The Ignis Duke family has been on bad terms with the World Tree Church since the previous generation.
This story also appears in the original, and indeed, in the original, Riel did not accompany the group when they went to meet the World Tree Yggdrasil.
“Then does Kyo believe in spirits?”
“No, I don’t believe in any god at all.”
“What’s that supposed to mean.”
Well, I can’t help it.
Having come to this world already knowing that the World Tree has power comparable to a god but is not a god itself.
Phyllis returned, and we all entered the fortress together.
As we entered the interior of the fortress, the surrounding soldiers offered respectful greetings and expressed their welcome.
As expected of my father, the soldiers are very disciplined.
Besides, it’s also because the season when magical beasts are active has arrived.
Since my mother said she would arrange a carriage to the Count’s mansion inside the fortress, we just needed to go to the agreed location.
That’s when it happened.
A sudden gust of wind enveloped the three of us.
“Kyaaah!”
Startled by the sudden wind, Riel screamed.
Well, it’s natural to be surprised when the wind suddenly blows from the front.
However, neither Phyllis nor I were surprised at all.
Because this wind, despite blowing in this cold northern region, isn’t cold at all.
It actually feels warm, just right.
Facing this very familiar wind head-on, I immediately realized who had come to greet me.
Oh my god. Of all people to come greet me, it had to be this one.
“Kukuku… a reunion after thousands of years, my blood relative.”
No, it hasn’t even been half a year yet.
Mint-colored silver hair resembling my mother’s, an eye patch over one eye despite having two perfectly good eyes, a small girl wearing a navy blue cloak that had been torn apart to give it a vintage feel despite being originally intact.
“I, ‘Alukhinon of the Blood Wind,’ have come to welcome you! Now, shall we return to Eden!”
“Um… long time no see, Kino.”
…The byproduct and victim of my dark history period. My original sin.
Kino Wentos had come to greet me.