The night of the day Luna joined the literature club——in the Albas Empire’s executive office, Emperor Adrinus Odo Albas is attending to his ‘shadow affairs.’
“……”
Leaning back deep in his luxurious chair, he narrows his eyes sharply and reads through a ‘thick report.’
It is an interim progress report submitted by the Empire’s illegal organization, the ‘Magic Beast Research Institute,’ concerning a certain experiment.
(Hmm……as expected, magic beasts that have consumed human flesh show markedly greater development compared to those that have not.)
The magic beast that ate the regional tax collector Zabok Dodo had recorded superior numbers across every evaluation category——size, base stats, aggression——compared to the other specimens.
(As theorized, human flesh appears to be key to the healthy growth of magic beasts. However, the cost of raising humans is high, incomparably more so than livestock……. Is there no other method to prepare substitute meat……?)
Since ascending the throne ten years ago, Adrinus has thought of nothing but how to make the Empire strong——and as covert national policy, has established ‘three pillars.’
One of them is ‘the industrialization of magic beasts.’
① Utilization of magic beasts as a food source ② Deployment of magic beasts as labor ③ Enlistment of magic beasts as military force
When ①-③ are achieved, the Empire’s national power will improve dramatically——the Emperor is convinced of this.
To that end he has poured enormous funds into constructing a magic beast research institute deep beneath the Empire, pushing the industrialization of magic beasts forward around the clock.
(For the time being……I’ll use suitable criminals as feed while simultaneously accelerating the development of substitute meat.)
Just as Adrinus is settling on his future course, his closest aide Rado Tzezgenia, waiting behind him, speaks up.
“——Your Majesty, there is something I wish to bring to your attention.”
“What is it.”
“A moment ago, a scheduled report arrived via <Transmission> magic from ‘Diamond,’ and I would like to relay it to you.”
Diamond is the codename of secret agent Wendy Triard.
“Oh, and what does she say?”
“The Year One students of the Kingdom’s Saint Academy, including Saint Ro Steinclaw, will travel to the Grandize Holy Nation in one week to conduct a joint summer retreat with the Holy Nation’s Saint Academy’s Year One students. Furthermore, from the Great Reincarnation Festival to the present, no particularly notable movements have been observed from Ro or Silver. She states she will continue surveillance as before.”
“Ha, nothing but run-of-the-mill information.”
The Emperor says this and gives a light snort.
“Shall I contact Diamond and request a more detailed report? If we provide specific instructions from our end, we should be able to obtain higher-precision information.”
“No need. This report is no doubt being made under Silver’s instructions anyway.”
“Under Silver’s instructions……? What do you mean?”
“Have you still not realized? Diamond has already fallen into Silver’s hands. The information she provides can no longer be trusted.”
“Th-that’s impossible……! She is a secret agent raised by our nation’s special agency, a will-less piece sworn to absolute loyalty! Why do you believe she has been turned by Silver!?”
Rado’s eyes waver in shock as he demands an explanation from Adrinus.
“Around the time of the Great Reincarnation Festival, the ‘collar’ I had fitted on Diamond——the curse placed on Taylor Triard——was broken.”
“What, that highest-tier curse was……!?”
“Yes. Given the timing, it’s beyond doubt that Silver did it. Though what kind of reckless dispelling they used……the curse-caster I keep on hand took a severe curse-rebound and was broken. They managed to hold on to their life, but have completely lost their confidence as a curse-caster. From the look of things, they won’t be able to curse anyone to death again.”
The Emperor shakes his head as if to say ‘what a bother,’ and Rado organizes the situation with a grave expression.
“The curse being broken means the curse effigy sculpture was discovered. And Diamond is the sharpest-minded woman among our agents. In other words——she has realized that the magic beast attack that occurred ten years ago was entirely Your Majesty’s doing!”
“Nine times out of ten, yes.”
Against the casually nodding Adrinus, Rado——the Empire’s most loyal retainer——comes at him with fierce indignation.
“How can you be so calm about this!? Diamond has almost certainly developed a strong killing intent toward Your Majesty! There is no telling what she might do! I strongly urge that we dispatch an assassin immediately and eliminate that woman!”
“Don’t be foolish. Moving carelessly against Diamond right now risks incurring Silver’s displeasure. Killing her is absolutely out of the question.”
“But then……!”
Against Rado biting down on his teeth, the Emperor responds with composure.
“Don’t rush. Whatever methods Diamond resorts to, she cannot kill me——she cannot break through the ironclad protection of the ‘Ten Sacred Relics.’ As for information leakage, countermeasures are already in place. Everything that could possibly lead to classified information within the range accessible at her rank has been pulled. It’s not perfect, but it’s sufficient protection.”
“……As expected of you. (Unchanged as always, what speed of hand……!)”
Rado kneels on the spot and deepens his loyalty to his master further.
“Whatever form it takes, the sole fact that she is ‘connected to Silver’ gives that woman value……. For the time being, I intend to keep her in the cage. And if it comes to it, I’m prepared to dispose of her in an entirely natural-looking ‘unfortunate accident.'”
“Understood completely.”
With Diamond’s treatment settled——the Emperor grins with a wicked smile.
“More importantly, Rado, I’ve just had a rather amusing idea.”
“An amusing idea……?”
“Yes. If this goes well——I can assassinate the troublesome Saint, bring the obnoxious Holy Nation to ruin, and dispose of a traitor all at once. A truly elegant plan, killing three birds with one stone.”
“Wh-what……!?”
“Strike while the iron is hot. Contact our ally in the Holy Nation. The hour is late, but……tell them ‘we’ve identified the Saint’s true identity,’ and they’ll leap out of bed in a panic.”
“At once, I’ll arrange it immediately!”
Rado, receiving the Emperor’s imperial command, bows deeply and takes his leave from the executive office.
“Hmhm, now then Silver……how will you handle this one?”
One week passes from the start of shinkan, and the day of the joint summer retreat arrives.
The time is eight in the morning.
In the courtyard of the Kingdom’s Saint Academy, the Year One students including Luna, Headmaster Badam, supervising teacher Jurale, and five additional teaching staff are gathered.
“Hmm, nearly time now.”
Badam checks his pocket watch and gives a large “ahem.”
“——Students, good morning. As you can see, today is a beautifully clear day——perfect weather for a summer retreat. No doubt this too is the grace of the Saint.”
He strokes his fine white beard and wears the calm smile of a gentle old man.
“For the next five days, you will be undertaking rigorous Saint’s training at the Holy Nation’s Saint Academy. The Holy Nation is a country with its own unique culture and customs, and above all, it is the sacred land where the Saint was born. Learning here should serve as a good catalyst for awakening the power and memories of your previous lives sleeping within you.”
Badam’s aim was to hold the retreat in the Holy Nation, deeply bound by fate with the Saint, and give the students a special kind of stimulus.
“However, there is one point of caution. Since the Holy Nation has maintained an isolationist policy, this is not widely known——but unfortunately, there are those who harbor ill feelings toward the Saint: the ‘Shinzenha.'”
At that instant, a large wave of unease spread through the students.
“To harbor ill feelings toward the Saint, how disrespectful……!”
“……My father told me about this once. Apparently the Saint once destroyed a god, and the Shinzenha——the dominant faction in the Holy Nation——has held a grudge over it ever since.”
“Th-the Saint destroyed a god……!?”
“Yes. Apparently the Saint took issue with ‘divine providence’……challenged it fair and square, and beat it down with her own fists, apparently.”
“My, goodness……. I’ve heard stories a few times about the Demon King destroying a god, but……the Saint, who is the very symbol of compassion and peace……?”
As some students carry on this rather interesting conversation——
(……That did happen, didn’t it……)
——the Saint, listening from right nearby, is recalling the time she pummeled a ‘certain god’ into the ground.
“The eastern district where the Holy Nation’s Saint Academy is located has many ‘Seijoha’——those who revere the Saint——but……the central and western districts are almost entirely Shinzenha. Under no circumstances are you to approach those areas. Skilled teachers will accompany you as guards——but naturally, covering all students at once is impossible. Stay well away from any suspicious individuals who appear to be Shinzenha, and always stay alert so that you can defend yourselves and flee if the worst comes to pass.”
Badam’s serious speech sent a tension running through the Year One students.
“——Well, enough of this old man’s boring talk. Shall we move on to preparing for departure.”
He activates <Dimensional Storage> and takes a large full-length mirror out of subspace.
“This is the Sacred Relic left behind by Great Mage Shasha——’The Mirror of the Otherworld.’ An excellent device that connects two different sets of coordinates and enables instantaneous travel.”
At that instant the students became suddenly animated.
“Th-this is that Mirror of the Otherworld……! It truly is far more divine-looking in person than in the textbook illustrations!”
“Great Mage Shasha-sama’s Sacred Relic……oh, what a sight to behold……!”
“It functions as a pseudo-<Otherworld Gate>, the legendary magical instrument!”
Between the Kingdom of Elgia and the Grandize Holy Nation lies a considerable distance, and on top of that, reports of an extremely dangerous demon appearing in the area——Thunder Emperor Meridora——have just surfaced.
So this time, special permission was granted to bring out the Mirror of the Otherworld and take the safe and reliable route of ‘instantaneous travel.’
“One step through this door leads directly to the front gate of the Holy Nation’s Saint Academy. I want you all to carry yourselves with the proud awareness that you yourselves are Saints, and conduct yourselves in a manner befitting students of the Kingdom’s Saint Academy. ——With that, Jurale-sensei, I leave the rest to you.”
“Leave it to me.”
Jurale takes over from Badam and stands before the students.
“We will now transfer to the Holy Nation’s Saint Academy. Follow behind me, beginning with Year One, Class A, in order.”
Jurale says this and steps into the mirror——and after him, the Class A students lined up in attendance order step through one by one, cautiously.
Class A, Class B, Class C transfer through in turn, and at last Luna’s moment arrives.
(……It brings back memories, Shasha’s magical energy……)
Feeling a nostalgic warmth from an old friend’s magical energy, she steps through the mirror——and there, spread before her, is the homeland she has not seen in three hundred years.
She looks around and wears an indescribable expression.
(Oh, wow……it’s barely changed at all from what I expected……)
The Kingdom of Elgia and the Albas Empire had changed considerably from three hundred years ago——but the streets of the Grandize Holy Nation looked almost identical to what she remembered.
The first thing that catches the eye is a cluster of large stone buildings standing like towers.
Structures in the Holy Nation are often built from durable stone.
Stone houses are generally said to have long lifespans.
Where wind, rain, or flowing water has worn them down, <Restore> magic can fix them, and with proper maintenance they will last several hundred years easily.
In fact, nearly every building visible to Luna has stood for over three hundred years, so it is only natural she feels it has not changed.
“Oh, it’s quite a nice place.”
Ro takes to the Holy Nation’s calm atmosphere——
“Rather a tasteful street scene.”
Sarko takes a liking to the distinctive stone city——
“It has a quiet, settled feeling to it.”
——Wendy offers a simple observation.
A little while after that, all Year One students have completed their transfer, and Jurale cross-references with the roster.
“……Hmm……”
Satisfied once everyone is confirmed, he activates <Transmission> magic and connects to Badam waiting at the Kingdom’s Saint Academy.
“——Badam-sensei, all students have transferred safely. Yes, you may close it now.”
In the next instant, the mirror floating in empty air vanishes like mist.
Incidentally——when the time comes to return from the Holy Nation to the Kingdom, the plan is to do the same thing in reverse and reconnect the Mirror of the Otherworld.
“Right, we will now enter the Holy Nation’s Saint Academy. Students, follow behind me.”
Jurale takes the lead and passes through the Holy Nation Saint Academy’s main gate.
Standing at the entrance of the large school building looming straight ahead is a stout man.
Noticing the Kingdom’s Saint Academy group, he wears a soft smile and comes trotting over.
“How do you do, this is our first meeting. I am Cardinal Kerkis Odmuir, serving as headmaster of the Holy Nation’s Saint Academy. I cannot find words enough to thank you for travelling such a long distance.”
“I am Jurale Serpent, from the Kingdom’s Saint Academy. Thank you sincerely for having us.”
The two introduce themselves and shake hands in friendship.
Kerkis Odmuir, thirty-eight years old.
160 centimeters, a well-built figure carrying some extra weight.
Gold hair cut short and slicked back, silver-rimmed glasses.
A large mouth with bright white teeth, strong eyes visible even through the glasses, a striking face one cannot forget——wearing a fine ceremonial robe in jet black with gold decoration.
“The sunlight is strong here. Right this way——I’ll escort you to the great cathedral.”
The Kingdom’s Saint Academy group follows Kerkis and moves on.
“Come, please come in. No need to remove your shoes.”
“Excuse us.”
Jurale bows politely and steps into the cathedral.
The interior is very spacious, kept at a comfortable temperature by a magical cooling device——a ‘cooler’——using ice magestone and wind magestone, and at the far end, around a hundred students who appear to be Year One are lined up in a neat three-column formation.
Kerkis quietly closes the cathedral doors, trots up to the stage with heavy footsteps, and clears his throat.
“Students of the Kingdom’s Saint Academy, how do you do. I am Kerkis Odmuir——one of the Cardinals serving the great Grand Priest-sama, and headmaster of the Holy Nation’s Saint Academy. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
The Holy Nation’s power structure places the Grand Priest at the apex, with seven Cardinals beneath.
They call themselves the ‘Apostles of the Divine’ and govern the Holy Nation’s politics in place of a main deity too occupied with other matters.
The Holy Nation’s creed has never changed, then or now. ‘The divine is providence——eternal and immutable.’ To uphold this principle, new values are relentlessly rejected and ‘isolation’ has been maintained for hundreds of years——but.
In recent years, signs of change have emerged.
Caught between the ‘external pressure’ of the Empire’s abnormal rapid growth and the ‘internal pressure’ of the people’s desire for the Saint’s salvation——both pressing at once——they have begun exchanges with foreign nations.
This joint summer retreat is among the most prominent examples of that.
“Now, first I would like to have the Holy Nation’s Saint Academy Year One representative, Sofia Snowhaive, offer words of welcome. ——Sofia, if you would.”
Prompted by Kerkis, a student dressed in the Holy Nation’s Saint Academy uniform ascends the stage with graceful composure.
“——Students of the Kingdom’s Saint Academy, how do you do. I am Sofia Snowhaive, eldest daughter of Duke Snowhaive, and this year’s Year One representative. Thank you sincerely for travelling such a long way. On behalf of the whole of the Holy Nation’s Saint Academy, we welcome you from the heart.”
Sofia Snowhaive, fifteen years old.
163 centimeters, a trim figure with long slender limbs.
Translucent, pale-blue medium-length hair.
Large, sharp rose-colored eyes, snow-white skin, a beautifully balanced face——a peerlessly beautiful girl one would inevitably turn to look at twice, dressed in the white-based uniform of the Holy Nation’s Saint Academy.
(……Wait, this person……)
When Luna first sees Sofia——for some reason, a ripple runs through her heart.
An indescribable ‘bad feeling.’
Then, in the next instant——
“……Hahhh, how absurd……”
Sofia lets out a short breath and wears eyes as cold as ice.
“Why on earth does the Holy Nation’s Saint Academy have to train alongside such hopelessly mediocre Saint candidates from the Kingdom’s Saint Academy? Really, how absurd. To be perfectly frank, this summer retreat has no meaning. A literal waste of time, nothing but pointless effort. There is not a single thing I have to learn from any of you. Given that you’ve come all this way I feel dreadful saying so, but……could you please go home at your earliest convenience?”
Suddenly transformed, she insulted the Kingdom’s Saint Academy as thoroughly as possible.
“S-Sofia!? What an unforgivably rude thing to say! Apologize at once!”
Kerkis immediately orders her to apologize——but
“Hmph.”
——she turns on her heel and walks out of the cathedral.
A bad feeling.
“What is that girl’s problem……how unpleasant.”
“We came all this way, and she’s telling us to go home……!”
“What is this, are they making fun of us!?”
Protests rise naturally from the Kingdom’s Saint Academy Year One students——and Kerkis rushes to smooth things over.
“I-I am so terribly sorry! In her normal state, Sofia is a kind-hearted girl, and absolutely not that prickly……! She seems to be feeling unwell today……! I-in any case, I will give her a stern talking-to later! Again, I sincerely, deeply apologize……!”
A bad feeling.
(That person……just as I thought……)
Luna, gripped by a certain suspicion, is raising her guard——when Ro and the others come over looking concerned.
“Luna, you have a scary face……are you okay?”
“Understandably so. That unbelievably rude speech, anyone would be upset. I myself am a bit, shall we say, ticked.”
“I brought all kinds of medicines, so if you feel unwell, please tell me any time?”
“No, I’m fine. Sorry, and thank you.”
Luna says this and waves her hands quickly back and forth.
After that, while a strained atmosphere fills the cathedral——
“W-well then……allow me to go over the schedule going forward! First——”
Kerkis, large beads of sweat on his brow, forces out an artificially bright voice and goes through the plan from here on.
The Kingdom’s Saint Academy Year One students exit the cathedral and split into their pre-assigned groups, moving to the Holy Nation’s Saint Academy’s special building.
As a note——Luna’s group is the ‘usual four’: Ro, Sarko, and Wendy.
(Heh, ‘recreation.’ What on earth will we be doing, I’m actually looking forward to it.)
As today is the first day of the joint summer retreat, a fun recreation event has been organized to encourage active exchange between both academies.
In plain terms, today is ‘everyone goes to the beach day.’
(Let me see……put my things in the room, change into my swimsuit, move valuables to a handbag, make sure to carry it without losing anything, and gather at the exclusive beach in front of the Holy Nation’s Saint Academy……right?)
She goes over the ‘schedule going forward’ that Kerkis had just outlined.
In the middle of all this, they arrive in front of their assigned room.
Using the key received from Kerkis, she turns the wooden door open with a click.
“Oh, what a nice room! (So different from that ‘haunted manor’ we stayed at in the oasis city!)”
What jumps into view is an airy living space of some twenty tatami mats.
Chairs, a desk, a wardrobe and so on——all the necessary furnishings are present, and it gives a neat, uncluttered impression.
“Oh, it’s quite spacious. The beds are big too, this might be nice.”
“A space with no waste, matching the calm atmosphere of the Holy Nation.”
“Oh, look, the bathroom is clean too!”
After a brief look around the room, everyone puts their things somewhere suitable and takes a moment to breathe.
“The Kingdom’s Saint Academy is pretty big, but the Holy Nation’s Saint Academy is on a whole other level.”
When Luna brings this up, Ro, Sarko, and Wendy agree.
“Right? The main building was impressive, but this special building is huge too.”
“Come to think of it, ‘the western Holy Nation has always had a small population and a lot of open land’——my father mentioned that once……”
“That explains why each individual building is this large.”
They have about thirty minutes until gathering at the exclusive beach.
There is still a little time left, so a relaxed atmosphere settles in.
“——I’m going to pop to the bathroom.”
When Luna says this, Ro immediately reacts.
“Are you okay on your own? Do you know where it is? Want me to come along?”
“Honestly, Ro, you always treat me like a child……. I can handle this on my own!”
“It’s not ‘treating you like a child,’ it’s simply ‘getting-lost prevention’……well, you should be fine.”
And so Luna leaves the room, proceeds straight down the hallway, and looks left and right.
(……Not there……)
She goes up the staircase ahead, proceeds straight down the hallway, and looks left and right.
(……Not there……)
She goes up another staircase, proceeds straight down the hallway, and looks left and right.
(Oh, there it is……!)
She does find the bathroom——but only via a spectacularly roundabout route.
A ‘creative routing choice’ that ordinary people simply cannot comprehend: proof that she is a fully certified lost person.
(Hmhm, you see, I told you! I’m not lost and I’m not bad with directions or——hm?)
Just as Luna is about to head to the bathroom——the sound of a woman’s muffled sobbing drifts down from the staircase leading to the rooftop.
(Wait……that voice, I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere……?)
Peeking carefully so as not to be seen, she finds Sofia Snowhaive sitting on the floor of the landing just below the roof.
“……I’m sorry. But to save everyone, there’s no other way……”
She speaks words of atonement with tears streaming down her face.
At this moment, Luna’s ‘suspicion’ becomes ‘certainty.’
(……Just as I thought. There’s no question now, this is ‘confirmed’……)
Bad feelings have a way of coming true.
From the moment she met Wendy, the ‘main heroine,’ she had half-wondered——but.
(I didn’t expect to run into one this soon. Even by my standards, this was not anticipated……)
Sofia Snowhaive, she is without a doubt——
“……a ‘villainess’……!”