In Search of Zeto
With Edward providing the uniforms, their "disguise" became significantly easier.
When Edward brought them over, he mentioned they could keep them and didn't need to return them. After all, there was no way the Saintess would ever hand official uniforms over to demons.
"Ugh... A skirt... A skirt, of all things..."
Ecklin, now dressed in the uniform, blushed deeply as she fidgeted with her tie.
Since she rarely had any occasion to wear skirts or dresses, she seemed entirely unable to adapt to her new appearance.
"Isn't it a bit too short...? Can one even fight properly while wearing something like this...?"
Biting her lip, Ecklin kept tugging down the dangerously short hem of her skirt as she looked at me.
"I think it suits you perfectly, Ecklin."
I smiled, gently stroking her cheek.
"Really...? Is-Is it not uncomfortable for you, Saintess?"
Ecklin glanced at me out of the corner of her eye, her voice stuttering slightly.
"It is a bit tight around the chest... but I suppose it cannot be helped."
I looked down at my own reflection, noting the buttons that looked ready to burst. Even so, I couldn't expect a perfect fit under the circumstances.
As for the skirt length...
It was similar to what I usually wore, so it didn't bother me much.
After spinning around once to check my outfit, I looked at Ecklin in the mirror and let out a soft laugh.
"Hehe... Being like this with you, Ecklin, makes me feel like a real academy cadet."
Before I was chosen as the Saintess, I used to spend entire nights talking about the academy with the other children at the orphanage where I stayed.
Though I had never officially enrolled, I never imagined a day would come when I would get to experience it, even if only as a simulation.
I wonder how those children are doing.
Ever since I became Bernice, the Saintess of Purity, rather than just big sister Bernice, I hadn't been able to see their faces very often.
Just because I had become the Saintess didn't mean I could grant them special privileges. Instead, I had asked for them to be well cared for and continued to send funds to every orphanage in the Holy Kingdom... but perhaps I should make time to visit them soon.
According to the occasional updates I received from the director, that troublemaker Rocky was actually trying to become a Holy Knight.
I was looking forward to seeing how he turned out in more ways than one.
As I lost myself in those old memories, Ecklin stepped up beside me, looking into the mirror as she spoke.
"If you had attended the academy, Saintess, you would be a third-year by now, right?"
"...I suppose so? I would be preparing for graduation this year. In that case, would you be a second-year, Ecklin?"
"Yes, Senior."
At my question, Ecklin giggled playfully, her eyes full of mischief.
"Pfft, 'Senior'... Come to think of it, it might be better to call me that for now."
"Really...? Saintess—no, Senior?"
Ecklin's eyes sparkled at my suggestion.
"...Hmm, let's consider it part of the disguise."
Leaving Ecklin behind, I stepped out of the restroom. Behind me, I could hear her repeatedly calling out, "Senior!"
Hearing that word made me feel as though I really had become a third-year cadet diligently attending the academy.
If, just if... assuming I had been attending the academy, and had "coincidentally" become close with Zeto, who would have entered this year...
Would he have called me "Senior" too?
Senior.
Naturally, I found myself imagining him uttering a word I had never heard from his lips before.
Could I ever form a bond deep enough with him to hear him say such a thing, even as a joke?
Would he even have the leisure or time for that?
It was a trivial thought, but my mind was drifting deep.
With those thoughts in mind, I walked down the street with Ecklin.
I had been anxious, but just as Edward had said, unlike when we wore the mascot heads, people paid us no mind, rendering our worries pointless.
At most, some male cadets passing by would stop and look our way.
Eventually, Ecklin spoke up.
"Sain—"
When I stared at her, she quickly shook her head.
"Se-Senior. Do you think we can find Zeto in this city? It is quite large. And it is far too late for him to be at the academy..."
Ecklin looked up at the night sky, where the moon was beginning to show its face.
"Hmm... Why don't we visit a place he might frequent?"
"A place Zeto might frequent...?"
"There is a place I learned about when he showed me around the academy."
I answered Ecklin, whose eyebrows had shot up in curiosity. She nodded in agreement.
First, we stopped by the training grounds nearby.
He had mentioned he hadn't been going there lately, but we went just in case.
Unfortunately, Zeto was nowhere to be found. And so, we continued to wander around, searching for him.
Even as we walked the streets, I kept my eyes peeled, trying my best to spot him. Zeto's signature white blindfold should have stood out immediately, yet we couldn't find him anywhere.
I can't even ask anyone where he might be...
I had no way of knowing who his acquaintances were.
In truth, I had only known Zeto for a very short time.
It had been a brief encounter, a fleeting acquaintance.
And yet, the man named Zeto occupied my thoughts in many ways.
At first, I thought I was simply drawn to his mystery, but considering the revelation from the Chief God, it seemed to be more than just simple attraction.
I carefully recalled the words of the Chief God.
If you miss it, it will be too late.
A destiny he chose for himself.
Interfering recklessly will bring great misfortune. This is not good for you, nor for Me.
Even looking back now, it was full of things hard to comprehend. The Chief God must have explained as much as He could... yet the intention remained elusive.
Particularly, the part about it "not being good for me" was difficult to understand.
For what purpose did the Chief God deliver these words to me?
Was it simply because Zeto would be useful in rooting out the demons on this land?
Or would events unfold in the future where his "sacrifice" became inevitable?
I clenched my teeth tightly.
No matter what future awaited... I was powerless. I had to fulfill my duty as the Apostle of the Chief God.
And I could not defy it.
"...Senior... Se... Saintess...?"
Ecklin's voice snapped me out of my deep thoughts. I turned to see her staring at me intently.
"...I was lost in thought for a moment. My apologies. What is it?"
"I think it should be around here."
Ecklin looked around as she spoke.
Dense trees, lush grass, and a pond came into view. In the distance, I could see the fence marking the boundary of the academy.
Since Zeto was nowhere to be seen in the city, there were only two likely answers left.
Either Zeto had already left the academy, or he was sleeping in his dormitory.
Based on Ecklin's information, we had come to the forest suspected to be Zeto's route out of the academy.
The dark forest was quiet, with only the sound of insects chirping in the night.
"Since this meeting was unscheduled, I suppose it really is difficult to meet him today. If only I had at least handed him the communication crystal..."
I dusted off a nearby rock and crouched down on it.
"Still... I brought it along to make sure I hand it to him this time...!"
Ecklin tried to smile, raising a finger encouragingly.
If I hadn't ruined the initiation ceremony, I would have handed the crystal to Zeto as planned... At that time, I could barely even breathe properly.
"...It is all my fault, so I must bear it. I feel terrible for making you and Ines suffer needlessly."
I closed my eyes tightly.
I wanted to convey my apologies before it was too late...
Surely Zeto hadn't gone to the knights' headquarters tonight of all nights.
I hoped we hadn't crossed paths.
Deidros handed me two elixirs before we parted.
Such precious elixirs for free...
And two of them, no less.
Because I had coughed up some blood while talking due to the strain of using Shady's power, he told me not to overexert my spirit power, saying that if I died, his masterpiece, "Sierra," would lose all meaning.
Given the centuries he had lived, Deidros had immediately realized that I was using the Spirit Sealing Art rather than standard spirit magic.
Since this was a test of sorts, I had pushed myself as much as possible... but I wouldn't intentionally create such a risky situation again.
I kept the elixirs safely in my subdimensional pocket.
They were hard to come by, so it was best to save them. But I intended to drink them whenever an emergency arose.
Whether it was internal or external injuries, nothing beat an elixir when one's stamina plummeted.
Well, though they still fall short of Divine Power...
I was on my way back to the academy after meeting Deidros.
Since I had set out early, the sun had not yet risen; it was the dead of dawn.
I figured it was best not to use Shady's power anymore today, so I didn't bother traveling through the shadows.
It was just as I slipped through a gap in the fence.
"Oh..."
The pulse of my Qi Sensing, which I had cast out of habit, brushed against completely unexpected individuals.
"Is something the matter, disciple?"
At my puzzled utterance, Sierra, who was walking ahead, turned back and asked.
"Master, I am sorry, but... I believe you must return to the Demon Blade..."
"What nonsense do you speak so suddenly? It is not as if the Saintess has come seeking you."
"Actually... she has. The Saintess is here..."
Perhaps because the sincerity in my voice was unmistakable, Sierra realized I wasn't joking and her eyes instantly widened.
"What? How could the Saintess be in such a place...?"
At her question, I shook my head.
I didn't know either.
Why did the Saintess come?
Was she looking for me?
No, more importantly, how did she even find her way here?