Sera doubted her ears. She thought she must have misheard.
So she asked again. What was it that was just said?
“What did you just say?”
“They say the two of you are going to have relations today.”
However, the answer was the same. Despite the rather shocking response, Iria’s expression was calm.
Could it be that she misunderstood in another way? Sera tried to maintain her composure as she questioned Iria once more.
“Th-that… what kind of relationship are you talking about?”
“It’s exactly the meaning that Sera-senpai thinks it is. Is there another meaning?”
“No, it’s just that, um… a man and a woman doing th-that?”
“Well, it doesn’t have to be a man and a woman, but yes, that’s right. Did I make it too complicated?”
Sera’s face turned slightly red as she seemed fidgety.
Iria tilted her head, not understanding Sera’s reaction.
What was she thinking? Sera’s mental defense was quite high after all. She couldn’t use magical energy at the academy either.
But still, it seemed about right. Having relations meant creating bonds between people.
“Isn’t it something everyone does?”
“Not at all! You’re the weird one for thinking that!”
“……”
It seemed Sera didn’t want to connect with other people.
Given her bright personality, one would expect her to have plenty of friends, but it seemed that wasn’t entirely the case.
Iria thought that she should become Sera’s friend herself.
“Would you like to have a relationship with me?”
“W-what are you talking about!! I don’t have that kind of preference!!”
In response, Sera screamed and ran away.
What was the problem there?
*
Klana’s behavior patterns were very simple.
She does as told and does what she’s told. And if nothing is asked of her, she does nothing.
That’s because she grew up isolated in a church since childhood.
Life at the church was equally simple. Wake up early to pray and mix holy water.
Unless something special happens, that’s the end of it. They do treat the injured, but usually, just sprinkling the mixed holy water is enough.
Applying already made holy water to wounds is something that doesn’t really require a saint to do. Usually, other monasteries handle it.
Because of that, Klana doesn’t complain about the tasks assigned to her. After all, she didn’t have anything else she should be doing.
Doing nothing feels depressing. She wanted to be a being that helps this world in some way.
Klana was the kind of person who felt fulfillment in life by doing what someone else instructed her to do.
She had lived by listening only to commands and had never disobeyed them.
“The director said to get close to this generation’s hero.”
The obedient Klana followed Ariel closely.
It was rare for her to step outside the church, so she didn’t forget to look around at the scenery.
Even just that made her feel good. Unlike when she was cooped up in the church, at least she was doing something.
Huum.
She followed behind Ariel, humming a pleasant tune.
And then…
“Did those two already get that close? Didn’t they only meet yesterday? Just one day after meeting and they’re doing that…?”
Sera trailed behind Klana.
Fueled by some misunderstanding of Iria’s words, Sera was burning with anger inside.
Sera was very close to Ariel. They had grown up together as childhood friends.
Moreover, Sera subtly desired a relationship with Ariel that was more than just friendship. She didn’t show it, but deep inside, she idealized him.
To lose someone like that in just one day was a feeling of devastation for Sera.
“I should see what kind of person he is.”
Impatient, Sera followed Klana.
“……”
Iria was watching Sera’s actions.
“Why is Sera acting like that?”
Iria had lost most of her memories from her human life, and thus didn’t know this world well, but something seemed off.
She understood that Klana attending the academy was due to Sertia’s death. That seemed to follow the original narrative.
It felt all too familiar throughout that scene.
However, Sera following Klana likely wasn’t part of the original plot. What had felt familiar became unfamiliar now that Sera was moving.
“Could it be that my involvement changed the narrative?”
So, Iria believed that her presence had caused something to go awry.
She was concerned about the moment when Sera blushed and ran off after the words spoken in the bush.
She wasn’t sure what was wrong with what was said, but instinctively understood that it was the cause of the situation.
Since it seemed like Sera’s actions had caused the disruption, Iria thought it necessary to monitor Sera to prevent further changes.
And so, Iria followed in Sera’s footsteps.
Thus began the train of follows: Klana behind Ariel, Sera behind Klana, and Iria behind Sera.
Ariel, the cause of it all, scratched his cheek with a vacant expression.
“Feels like I’m being followed a lot.”
“……”
“……”
“……”
Was it just his imagination?
Ariel started to doubt if he was overly self-conscious.
After that, the flirtation between Ariel and Klana continued.
It was mostly Klana’s one-sided obsession, but indecisive Ariel couldn’t push her away strongly.
So from the perspective of observing Sera, it was the same flirtation. She was struggling to suppress her rising anger from within.
All she could do was watch with a somewhat annoyed expression.
“If you care that much, why not just approach him directly? It’s not like you at all, senpai.”
Iria comforted Sera.
Though it was closer to surveillance, even the careless Iria could tell that Sera was acting strangely.
For some reason, she looked a bit gloomy.
“Um… it’s not like that. It’s just, recently, Ariel feels a bit distant.”
Iria stood quietly in place, saying nothing.
What kind of monster would comfort anyone? Iria couldn’t understand or sympathize with Sera’s feelings at all.
But at least she could lend an ear. Sometimes, just sharing with someone can help.
Sera slowly continued her words.
“Actually, during the recent monster attack, Ariel awakened the power of the hero. He reached a higher level. People say it was me and Ariel who took down that great monster, but it was Ariel who did the fighting. Not me.”
“……”
“At first, I was just happy that my friend had grown stronger, but over time, I started to feel like I was left behind. That’s why I feel this way.”
She felt unworthy to stand beside Ariel now.
Sera spoke with a dark expression, her words lingering.
Hearing this, Iria recalled the monster attack incident. Sera might not know, but Iria had witnessed it from start to finish.
Indeed, Ariel was strong now. He was hard to classify as just another student.
Sera had unusual strength compared to other students too, but not enough to compare to Ariel.
Funny, isn’t it? Just not long ago, they were nearly equal in strength, rivals who often clashed.
Now, the gap had widened to the point of mismatched expectations.
Moreover, the appearance of the saint had come at a perfectly timed moment.
And then…
“Unlike me, the saint has the qualities to stand by Ariel.”
The blessed saint was different from her.
Literally feeling the starting line was different. Unlike Sera, who climbed to this position through hard work, the saint simply had to exist to be in an utterly high position.
That’s why the world felt unfair.
There were always those who made gestures to leap ahead of those who ran to win.
“I was just feeling disillusioned by that fact. Reflecting on what I’ve done so far.”
“So that’s why you couldn’t approach him and just watched from afar?”
“In short, yes.”
Sera managed a wry smile as she spoke.
Then she patted the silver-haired girl who was shorter than her.
How could she complain to her junior when she should be the one supporting her as a senpai?
She thought she needed some self-reflection on this.
“I’m sorry for worrying you. Just forget what you heard. I’m fine.”
“……”
“I’ll be going now.”
With those words, Sera turned her back.
As she was walking away, Iria grabbed her.
Normally, she wouldn’t think to intervene in that complicated relationship, but surely Sera looked different from her usual self.
And Iria recognized that she had a hand in bringing about this change.
Though it seemed she still didn’t realize what she had done wrong, it was clear that her careless remark contributed to the situation.
So she reached out.
“How about having a duel instead?”
“……Huh?”
“They say love is something you must conquer. Isn’t that why you challenged me to a duel before?”
Earlier, Sera had requested a duel with Iria.
Sera misunderstood that Iria had feelings for Ariel.
At that time, Sera had mentioned that if you want something, you just have to prove it through your skills.
Iria was bringing up that past conversation now.
Klana might be the main character of this story, but so was Sera.
From Iria’s perspective, she didn’t see much difference in talent or ability between the two.
In fact, she held Sera in even higher regard.
Just recently, she had been beaten unilaterally by a mage who had awakened similar mana-blood to Sera. She believed Sera could reach higher levels.
“You have skills; don’t you?”
So Iria reached out to Sera with those encouraging words.
Though the plot of the original narrative would shift slightly, it seemed better than watching Sera become withdrawn.
After all, as long as she existed, change was inevitable.
Sera looked at Iria with a somewhat dazed expression.
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then Sera smiled.
“Maybe you’re right?”
Breaking the silence, she had a better expression than before.
That was the same look Sera had always shown to Iria.
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