Chapter 24
Aria hurriedly left.
-I’m sorry, but I have to go ahead.
The rest of the group sold the slime extract materials at the Alchemy Guild, then went to celebrate at the most famous restaurant in the shopping district.
The kingdom-style restaurant, ‘Resting by the Lake,’ was bustling. It was the sort of place noble students could visit casually, while commoner students might save up to go for a special occasion.
Inside, students who had made a tidy profit from a small dungeon like Lydia’s group, or who had something to celebrate, sat at the tables. Some first-year students from the Department of Swordsmanship spotted Lydia’s group and greeted them.
-Your Highness, the Princess!
-Did Your Highness go to a dungeon, too?
-I heard you brought back Forest Slime extract.
-What?! You’ve already taken down an intermediate monster—?!
Lydia turned and gave them a suitable reply.
“Thank you. It was nothing special. Please continue enjoying your celebration.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“At the academy, call me Lydia.”
Then she turned to face forward again.
‘What a scene. Am I supposed to be the MC here?’
The effects of Aria’s absence from the celebration continued.
“….”
“….”
“….”
Arti and Mave were each lost in thought and silent. One was nervous about the Hero’s examination, while the other was quiet because she felt lonely without her friend.
Morgan had taken out a book and was reading. An aura that said ‘Don’t talk to me’ radiated from her tiny frame. Whenever her eyes met Lydia’s, she gave a slight nod, then went right back to her book.
Thanks to that, the mood at the table was icy.
“….”
“….”
“….”
Lydia was silent, too.
There didn’t seem to be any need to force the mood to brighten in a situation like this.
Instead, she reflected on what they’d accomplished lately.
“….”
‘Arien Academy really goes all out during class, but surprisingly, it gives us plenty of free time, too…. Being able to make use of those few empty hours in between is a huge help.’
In the game, whenever class ended, Arti automatically went back to the dormitory and went to sleep. But in reality, if classes ended early, they could go explore a dungeon.
And the pay was pretty good, too.
Even today, they’d earned the equivalent of two months’ wages at a major company in this world. After spending the last few weeks doing side jobs like this, the group’s equipment had become several times more luxurious.
Arti and Mave had started using shields and protective gear in addition to their main equipment. Morgan had bought magical catalysts for each element, while Aria had picked up a few prayer-focused blessing artifacts.
Their combat abilities were improving rapidly, too,
and their equipment had improved several times over.
‘In game terms, we’ve gone from around level 10 to level 30…. Beginner dungeons are a joke now. We can just barely handle intermediate ones, though.’
Dungeon exploration wasn’t a bad part-time job.
It was so convenient that it had put Lydia’s meta questions to rest. She no longer wondered why teenagers in the game would risk their lives to explore dungeons.
At this rate, it was worth the risk.
‘…Of course, that’s only possible because our party composition is incredibly stable, and because a reliable healer like Aria is our sturdy foundation.’
Lydia touched the heavy pouch.
Jingle.
It was Aria’s share of the money. She’d left to greet the examiners in charge of the Hero’s examination. They were there to test whether Arti was worthy of being recognized as the Hero.
“Phew….”
The Hero’s examination, huh.
It really had come around quickly.
In the original story, this was an event that happened the following year.
‘It’s also the first branching point where the events differ between Aria’s route and the common route.’
And what this event revealed was….
Her thoughts were interrupted by the server’s cheerful voice.
“Your food is here!”
“!”
The server brought over the food.
His hands were full of a tray loaded with all kinds of food and drinks. It was impressive how he kept it precariously balanced like a tower.
Lydia announced to the group,
“Well then, let’s eat.”
“!”
“!”
“!”
The group looked up and began their meal.
Munch, munch….
“….”
Arti chewed silently as they cut into a steak. Usually, Arti would be chatting throughout the meal, but the absence of Aria and nerves about the examination seemed to have dampened their appetite.
“Lady Lydia, this is good.”
“Lydia, this drink is delicious.”
“Mm, thank you. Please, enjoy your meal.”
“….”
“….”
Mave and Morgan each told only Lydia that their food was delicious and offered her a taste. But neither of them seemed inclined to chat with each other in this atmosphere.
Silence settled over the table again.
Lydia quietly sighed.
“…Phew.”
‘Everyone seems to have lost their energy without Aria. …Though Morgan was never interested in the other party members to begin with.’
Morgan was practically Lydia’s closest friend, but there was no fixing the dampened mood after Aria left.
That silver-haired girl, always smiling brightly and brimming with boundless optimism, had been a great source of strength without anyone realizing it. It was the power of having a ‘pitiful woman cheering you on,’ something even Lydia’s careful coordination couldn’t replace.
-Mave! You did great today, too!
-Lydia, you’re truly wonderful.
-And you did so well, Hero!
Normally, they got several times more motivated from that encouragement….
“Phew….”
“Haa….”
“….”
But when she was gone, as she was now,
they were several times more dispirited.
“….”
‘I hope Aria comes back tomorrow.’
That was what she thought.
In the end, the long-awaited celebration wound down just like that.
“Lydia, we’re heading back to the dorms now.”
“Get back safely.”
“How could there be any danger with two swordsmen walking together…?”
“Even if you suddenly get curious, don’t go near any suspicious businesses or drug dealers in the shopping district’s back alleys. And Arti, especially, keep yourself in check if you get the urge to dress someone in something sexy.”
“What kind of thing are you worried about…?”
Arti and Mave trudged toward the commoners’ dormitory. They didn’t say a word, even as they walked off into the distance.
Lydia walked alongside Morgan toward the royal dormitory.
Beneath the evening glow,
the academy grounds were slowly sinking into darkness. The walk, with the shopping district’s lights behind them, felt somehow lonely, despite having a friend right beside her.
‘Had I also been feeling something from Aria’s encouragement?’
Lydia spoke abruptly.
“…Morgan.”
“What?”
“Did you enjoy exploring dungeons? You’ve been testing your magic as we’ve explored them these past few weeks. I was curious what you thought.”
“Hmm…. I don’t know. It didn’t feel satisfying, since everything was already taken care of and served up to me. But it was useful to apply the dungeon-surveying calculations. I’d learned them from books, but never knew when I’d get to use them.”
“I see.”
“….”
Morgan hesitated for a moment.
“….”
She’d gone to the trouble of hinting at it,
but that stiff woman seemed satisfied with her answer.
‘Damn it, I still don’t completely trust you…. If you keep acting like this, I’ll look like an idiot. You’re a royal, so at least pick up on what I’m hinting at…!’
In the end, she sighed and let a little of her true feelings slip out.
“…It wasn’t bad, exploring with you.”
“Is that so? I’m glad you enjoyed exploring dungeons.”
“It wasn’t the dungeons themselves that were fun.”
“Is that so? Then would you like me to carry you again?”
“Ugh…! You understood what I meant all along…!”
“Hehe.”
I hate you when you’re like this.
“….”
But at other times….
“….”
Ignoring that thought,
Morgan quickly turned her head away.
“…Hmph. Not yet.”
“What isn’t?”
“Not yet—!”
“?”
*
A place filled with white statues of the Sun God and sacred murals.
The chapel where the Department of Divinity held classes was bustling.
Murmur, murmur….
It was always crowded with students from the Department of Divinity, but today, every student from Arien Academy’s Department of Divinity had gathered here. Even Saintess Aria, whose freedom was usually respected, was present.
They were all wearing white robes over their academy uniforms. They were a kind of formal attire used for the most important ceremonies of the One God Faith.
The white chapel bathed in the evening glow.
The many believers gathered in white.
The sight alone gave the place a sacred air.
Aria clasped her hands tightly and made up her mind.
“….”
‘From now on, what I can do for our group is fulfill my duty as the Holy Theocracy’s Saintess. When the examiners arrive, I have to actively make the case for the Hero’s legitimacy and persuade them.’
For an orphan girl abandoned in a rural forest of the Theocracy… all that remained was the ‘Saintess’ position she’d been given far beyond what she deserved.
-The Saintess of this generation shall be found in a dim forest untouched by the light of the Sun!
-There! A silver-haired girl is here!
-This child…. She will be the Saintess of this generation.
As she thought of it again,
Aria gave a bitter smile.
“….”
‘How could a shabby girl like me possibly serve as the divine representative…?’
The great responsibility of waiting for the Sun God’s guidance ought to fall to someone capable, noble, and strong like Lydia. It wasn’t something a frail country girl who’d done little but dig in the dirt could handle.
At least, that was what Aria thought.
“….”
Even so.
She had to do it.
It was difficult,
but only by doing it could she stay by their side.
“…I’m nervous.”
At that moment,
Cardinal Albert hurried into the chapel.
“The ‘Inquisitor’ and ‘Prayer Priest’ have arrived at the chapel. Let us welcome our noble brothers with reverent hearts!”
“!”
“!”
“!”
The academy students and Aria turned their eyes toward the chapel’s main entrance. The heavy, massive doors were slowly opening.
Grrrnnn—
Two people walked beneath the red light of the setting sun: a mild-looking middle-aged man clad in splendid white armor, and an old man in a gray robe with the Sun God’s symbol hanging around his neck.
They strode into the chapel.
Cardinal Albert said brightly,
“Welcome, brothers of the Theocracy! Every believer from Arien Academy’s Department of Divinity has gathered to bless your visit.”
Raul, the middle-aged man and Inquisitor, beamed with a gentle smile. Then, with impeccable manners, he greeted Cardinal Albert and the academy students. His white armor gleamed as he moved.
“Oh, my. To think you prepared such a grand welcome…. I pray that the Sun God’s radiant blessings and my gratitude reach the children gathered here.”
“!”
“!”
“!”
The greatest holy knight in the Theocracy.
The vanguard of the Holy Knights.
An Inquisitor who punished evil.
When the renowned holy knight greeted them so courteously, the students gathered there gazed at him with sparkling eyes. They whispered their praise of Raul’s character.
-He’s such a kind man.
-He’s firmer than anyone when it comes to evil…
-And yet he’s so gentle with ordinary believers!
Aria had often experienced his kind nature while growing up in the Theocracy, too. So hope slowly began to blossom in her heart.
‘If it’s the kind and upright Sir Raul, he’ll surely acknowledge the Hero!’
But.
That hope didn’t last long.
“…What is the Saintess doing over there?”
“?!”
At the old man’s voice, Aria turned her head in surprise.
The ‘Prayer Priest,’ Adrian, scowled, his face creased with wrinkles, and glared at Aria. Then he shouted at Cardinal Albert.
“Albert! Why are you holding this pointless event?”
“Well, of course, it’s to welcome our brothers…”
“Pointless! No one deserves such a grand welcome except the radiant Sun God. For travelers who are merely servants of the Sun, anything beyond the eaves of a stable is an extravagance!”
“Th-that’s….”
“And another thing!”
Adrian pointed at Aria as he spoke.
“The Saintess, who must spend her entire life honing herself and reciting prayers as the Sun God’s incarnation…! Why is she wasting her time here?”
“….”
“Have you truly forgotten the Saintess’s real duty?”
Aria’s eyes wavered.