Sera applied to the Hero Party not just because of her loyalty to Ariel, but mainly because she had nowhere to go after graduation.
She had never really thought about her future. Of course, someone with Sera’s abilities had plenty of options, but whether those were truly what she wanted was questionable.
Thus, she wanted to follow Ariel. She believed that being by his side was where she belonged.
As for Klana, her reason for joining the Hero Party was much simpler. She was a Saint. One day, she would have to stand on the battlefield.
While others feared that the Hero Party was a battlefield, Klana felt that not joining the Hero Party would lead her to an even harsher battlefield.
In truth, she had almost no choice.
And as for Iria’s reason for applying to the Hero Party…
“······.”
There was indeed a plausible backstory here.
She heard that Ariel was forming a new Hero Party and would soon head to the battlefield.
They would be opposing the remnants of the Demon King’s army, aiming to uproot the war once and for all.
Ariel, who had awakened the power of the stars, had the strength and talent for it.
With Sera and Klana, who possessed similar talents, they had every chance to become humanity’s hope like the previous Hero Parties.
And.
‘A Hero Party opposing the Demon King’s army.’
All the students in the academy heard the news, and so did Iria.
Iria was also planning to leave the Empire soon. The Demon King’s army held her secrets. She was going on a journey to uncover the truth from them.
Iria’s destination aligned with theirs. They were set to leave the Empire around the same time as well.
‘Is this some kind of fate?’
It would be faster and more efficient to follow them than to go on a journey alone.
So, her joining them wasn’t a personal desire. This was purely for efficiency, and if the opportunity arose to contact the Demon King’s army, she would betray them instantly.
‘That’s the way it is.’
Iria applied to the Hero Party.
She could almost hear Albert’s heart shattering from here.
*
To cut to the chase, Iria was welcomed into Ariel’s Hero Party.
She already had connections with the three of them, and most importantly, she was strong. No one at the academy was unaware of Iria’s prowess.
With an undefeated record in duels, she was considered a top contender alongside Ariel.
“I’ll feel more secure with Iria helping us. Welcome aboard!”
“Honestly, I was bringing you along whether you wanted it or not. With three of us here, how can we let you slip away?”
“I-I’m not that thrilled about it! You’re probably just a nuisance······ Gaaah!”
Sera smacked Klana on the head.
Thanks to the protective barrier of the saintly power, it definitely didn’t hurt, but for some reason, Klana screamed.
Regardless, Iria could join the Hero Party with a grand welcome from the three of them. Sneaking in as a spawn of the Demon King was not that difficult after all.
Perhaps they had that history together. In truth, she didn’t want to be one of the Demon King’s spawns either. It would have been nice if she could join the party as a fellow human.
‘Am I asking for too much?’
What was obvious to others wasn’t for her, and it was a dream she had long given up.
In the depths of her subconscious, she thought she could hear the Demon King whispering.
You’re destined to never mix with them. You’ve been a monster since you were born.
You’ll never be able to return to being human again and will forever feel that deprival.
Thinking coldly, the Demon King might have been right. Iria could never fully blend in with humanity due to her species’ limits.
But still…
“······.”
Iria wanted to follow them, no matter how long it would last.
Ignoring the whispers from within, she immersed herself in their group.
The newly formed Hero Party was set to embark on their journey about two weeks later.
Until then, they all had some time. And how each person chose to spend that time varied greatly.
Ariel devoted himself to training as usual, while Sera went to practice dueling as well. Now, they had outgrown the academy students and begun training with professors.
Klana, as a Saint, was spreading miracles around her. Originally, she intended to shower them on Iria, but after Iria asked her to save her energy for somewhere else, she agreed.
While Klana was easily influenced by others, she wasn’t inherently a bad person and wouldn’t do something others disliked.
And then there was Iria.
“······.”
She was pondering how to spend that time.
Unlike the others, Iria had nothing she enjoyed or needed training for.
At first, she merely wandered the streets of the academy without a destination. There was no set course; she merely felt the need to do something and went wherever.
While roaming around, she encountered some people.
First was Rena, who appeared as if she had been waiting for her.
“Oh, Iria. I was just looking for you. I heard you’re leaving for distant places soon.”
“Yeah.”
“So, you’re really leaving, huh?”
Rena looked somewhat complicated as she greeted Iria after a long time.
Iria felt a mix of happiness and regret on Rena’s face. It was sad to think she would leave her behind for a distant place, but she seemed to understand it was for Iria’s sake, thus couldn’t complain.
But she quickly smiled. She knew there was no use in being sad.
“You’re an amazing person, Iria. I’m sure you’ll do well wherever you go. You’ll save many lives as a member of the Hero Party, just like when you saved me.”
“······.”
“I’m proud to call you my friend. Iria, you will become a good person.”
Iria thought that maybe she wasn’t someone who would save many lives.
Although Rena said she would become a good person, she wasn’t a good being nor even ‘human’.
Who knows?
Perhaps this would be their last encounter, so Iria wished to say something to Rena.
“I’m sorry.”
It was a word mixed with various meanings, a condensed sentiment.
It was the message Iria wanted to convey to Rena the most.
Perhaps Rena’s tragedy began because of Iria. Maybe Iria had unknowingly given her trauma as the main culprit.
Iria…
“······.”
Because she had killed Rena’s friend.
Enough to not feel guilt over it, Iria still wanted to express those words.
“What are you sorry for? If it’s because you’re leaving me alone, don’t worry about it. I hope we can see each other again later.”
“······Yeah.”
Having delivered her message, Iria walked past Rena and continued her path. Next up was Lucia.
Unlike Rena, who sought out Iria, this time was a chance encounter.
Lucia glanced at Iria and opened her mouth.
“You’re leaving, huh? Did you succeed?”
“······.”
“I’ll apologize for ignoring you before. You’re stronger than me. You’re the strongest in the academy, after all. And, well······ thanks to you, I managed to survive during the external practicum.”
“Did you get something wrong?”
“Hey!! I put a lot of thought into that!”
Lucia shouted but then sighed, facing Iria again.
After coughing a couple of times, she resumed their gaze.
“Ahem, look. It’s not that I ate something wrong, think about it. If you leave, who will become the top student in the first year?”
“Who?”
“Are you intentionally trying to mess with me?”
“······.”
“Of course, it’ll be me, the second best student. That has nothing to do with the fact that I still dislike you, but I’m feeling good today. If there’s a day I can be nice, today wouldn’t be too hard.”
Lucia disliked Iria because she was the top student, but with someone leaving soon, there was no reason to despise her.
Still, it was true that Iria helped her during the last practicum.
Iria sacrificed herself when monsters descended, allowing Rena and Lucia to escape first and eventually helped Lucia secure her scores.
Therefore, Lucia wanted to face Iria once more before she departed.
“It’s fine to leave, but just don’t die, okay? That’s all I wanted to say one last time.”
Iria nodded and walked on a bit further.
After briefly skimming through all corners of the academy, she met Wendy this time.
Though they met, it wasn’t exactly a warm reunion. Wendy didn’t show any inclination to be friendly, and unlike Lucia, who had a begrudging fondness, Wendy didn’t carry such sentiments.
It seemed that Wendy felt the same way.
“What are you looking at? Did you want to say something to me?”
“······.”
Wendy greeted her with an icy expression, still looking rude. She claimed to be from the same high school as Rena. If only she had taken after Rena even a little.
“If you’re going, just go quickly. Do you think I’ll be nice enough to send you off?”
“No, I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Then hurry up and leave. Don’t annoy me like your friend.”
When some people warmly welcomed a departing one, there were also those who didn’t.
Wendy was one of those.
Iria clearly divided her feelings between people she liked and didn’t like at the academy.
She couldn’t help it in that regard. Instead, she received an overabundance of treatment from them.
Maybe that’s why.
“······.”
As she stepped beyond the academy limits, it appeared Iria was deep in thought.
Though brief, it had been a place full of memories in various ways.
Here, on a mountain ridge behind the academy.
Upon reaching the mountaintop, Iria stared blankly at the sky.
