Chapter 41
Estelle, I like you.
Chapter 41
In the classroom that had been bustling with noise just moments ago, a sudden silence fell the instant the saint's declaration rang out.
Anais, the one whose name had been called, wore an expression of "what are you talking about?" while I myself didn't understand the saint's words.
...No, what the hell is she doing?
I whispered quietly to the saint.
"Saintess, what exactly are you saying? We aren't a police force, and we don't have the right to arrest anyone."
"I do."
"I-I see... so that's it?"
Eh? You do?
"Puhuhu♡ Hero, do you not even know what you can do? Idiot♡ Fool♡ Lacking in self-rights, you dummy♡"
...Damn it, you didn't explain shit!
"If it involves monsters, the hero can exercise special privileges. Heroes are fundamentally beings meant to confront monsters, after all. No matter which country you visit, you can intervene in any matter related to monsters, and depending on the situation, you can immediately pass judgment, arrest, and interrogate."
"...So that's what it was?"
So there were such privileges?
It makes sense. Having wandered around multiple countries, beating back monsters and protecting people from anything monster-related, it would be troublesome to get entangled in every single rule and regulation.
"So legally, there's ~absolutely~ no problem at all. Make sure you remember this well, my golden koi hero♡"
"...Yes."
So according to the saintess, right now she has the right to arrest Anais and throw her in jail?
...Heh.
"Ah, Abel. What is all this? Did the saintess say something wrong?"
...How do I even respond to this? I'm certain she's my childhood friend from the original body, yet I have no memories of her. Even if I only knew her name, it would be fine, but now...
"...Anais? Why aren't you saying anything? Something's wrong. Suddenly arresting me... that's weird!?"
...I decided. Probably because she's my childhood friend or whatever, she's completely lost her mind.
If I'd been in her shoes, I'd have kept quiet out of guilt or at least kept my eyes on Cloe the victim.
But this woman shows zero signs of doing that.
"...Anais Cesar."
The voice that came from my mouth was colder than ever before. Anais seemed startled by my cold reaction toward the childhood friend she'd assumed I was.
"I know you purchased and bought the Mutation Stone that is banned for distribution and purchase, and that you forcibly fed it to you and a few others in the same class."
Anais was still trying to act like she didn't understand, but she couldn't hide the confusion seeping from her voice.
"...W-What are you talking about, Abel?"
"I already have evidence."
I pointed at Cloe.
"You want to deny it even after seeing Cloe right here? Because of the Mutation Stone you fed her, there's a person standing right there who was once a perfectly normal human but turned into a monster and barely survived?"
Anais only now seemed to notice Cloe. Her expression froze instantly.
"...Seeing that foolish face of yours, I guess you didn't think I'd come back."
"...H-How...?"
Cloe grinned and greeted her.
"Long time no see, Anais Cesar."
At that moment, several students between us reacted.
...Two men, three women.
"Cloe, is the group that was with Anais the ones over there?"
I pointed at each one accurately, and Cloe nodded.
"Yes, the group that used to bully me with Anais."
...I need to remember those faces. They're not the type I can arrest right now like Anais. Once I get a confession from her, though, I can take them in.
"Ah, Abel! I really didn't know anything!"
Still the same line? Seriously, there's no chance of redemption.
"You have records in the ledger of purchasing the Mutation Stone—why do you keep denying it? You weren't like that before."
I don't know what she was like back then, but she was probably just an ordinary girl. So she must have been close with the original owner of this body and Ozu.
"A ledger...? Ah, no! I-!"
"Even in front of the victim of this case, you can lie so boldly. Impressive."
"Ah, Abel...."
Just as I was pressing Anais, someone shouted loudly.
"W-Wait! What's all this!?"
...Who's this?
A maturely dressed, dignified man pushed through the students and stood before us. From a glance, he looked like the school principal.
The moment the man appeared, Anais's hardened expression softened a little. She must know him.
"Who are you?"
"I am Allen Gaffel, the principal of this school. Is there something wrong with our students?"
As expected, the principal.
The saint spoke to the principal in a sweet voice.
"Ah, so you're the principal. Perfect timing. I have many questions for Anais Cesar, so could you lend us a classroom?"
"...Eh?"
The principal asked what she meant, and the saint answered with a gentle smile.
"I want to interrogate her."
"No, what does that mean? Did our student do something wrong?"
"There is suspicion of the illegal purchase and use of a Mutation Stone~. If you need evidence, I'll show you the ledger."
"...A Mutation Stone?"
The saint handed the principal the ledger I had seized. The principal flipped through it, discovered something, and his face hardened.
"The evidence is solid?"
"...Y-Yes."
The principal wore a troubled expression. It seemed he was shocked that one of his own students had gotten involved in something like this, especially something illegal related to monsters.
...A little pitiful.
The saint said to the principal.
"Principal."
"Yes, saintess...."
"I'm sure what Anais Cesar did is something the hero must judge. Do you agree?"
"...Yes."
"But we don't want to damage the school's reputation either. If word spreads that a student was judged by the hero, it will definitely hurt our side."
"...Eh?"
The saint suddenly brought up worrying about the school's reputation. It was a rather out-of-the-blue statement.
...Is there some hidden scheme? For now, I'll watch the saint's actions.
"So this matter... how about you handle it cleanly on your own?"
While saying that, the saint smiled brightly. The principal looked stunned, and I couldn't hold back my admiration.
...You're a genius?
Honestly, even if I had immediate judgment rights, it would have been unclear how to handle it. But the saint's proposal benefited both sides: the school and us.
The school wouldn't suffer public disgrace, and we could punish the group that bullied Cloe without any hassle.
"Of course... the punishment must be appropriate. But if you give a light slap on the wrist, we'll have no choice but to intervene...."
"I've heard the saintess's words. I'll do exactly that. The related students will be handled by our side."
The principal seemed to quickly realize that the saint's proposal was good for them too. And seeing the principal accept the saint's suggestion, Anais couldn't hide her shock.
"Ah, Abel! Please don't do this, okay? I-I made a mistake. I'll apologize and live reflecting on it for the rest of my life. So please talk some sense into the principal and the saintess. You can do it now, right?"
"...Why me?"
"W-We're childhood friends! How much effort did I put in just to come this far... I can't end it like this. Okay? Please. Forgive me just this once!!"
"Anais."
"Huh? Forgive me?"
"When Cloe told you to stop, you stopped, right?"
Anais's eyes widened in surprise. What are you looking at me like that for. Honestly, if she weren't the childhood friend of this body, I wouldn't have wanted to answer at all.
What a terrible woman.
"I believe you understood well, Anais Cesar."
#
On the school side, Anais Cesar and five other students connected to this incident were additionally arrested.
We, who had been staying at the temple, headed to the principal's office after hearing the news. According to the principal, Anais had confessed and allowed them all to be caught.
"I thought so."
Cloe reacted as if she had expected it.
"You were originally a bit selfish?"
"It was severe. She was busy finding a way out for herself. Since the hero asked like that, she probably didn't act like that when she was in the Mars Empire."
"...Yes."
Honestly, I didn't know either. But thinking about how she was close with Ozu and the original owner of this body, she probably didn't.
"What happened to the arrested students?"
When asked how they had been handled, the principal said they had all been expelled and barred from re-enrollment. The saint nodded after hearing the result.
And Cloe, who had been expelled for disappearing, was allowed to transfer back to the school.
The group that had bullied Cloe was gone, and she could go back to school. The principal expressed gratitude to the saint and me.
"Thank you for protecting the honor of our school and helping to resolve this unfortunate incident."
"I didn't do it expecting thanks. I just hope the school side will pay more attention so this kind of thing doesn't happen in the future."
"I will remember."
After leaving the principal's office, I faced the saint.
"It seems everything's settled."
"Yes, that's right. You worked hard, hero♥"
"You too, saintess."
Cloe had worked hard too. She gave me a cheer without forgetting.
"Cloe, you worked hard."
"...Hero, saintess."
"Yes?"
Cloe bent her waist with a snap.
"Thank you so much for helping!!! Thanks to both of you, I could come back like this!"
...Hehe.
"Your waist must hurt, Cloe. Sit up. And this incident is my childhood friend's fault, so I feel responsible for not managing my friends."
She's not my friend, she's a friend of this body's... but I do feel responsible. It's because a close acquaintance of this body caused huge damage to an innocent person.
"...You're really kind, hero."
"Me? Really...?"
I don't know about that....
Cloe smiled softly.
Now, it was time to part ways with him. I had only been around for a little over a month, yet thinking about him not being by my side anymore made every day feel awkward.
In that sense, I envied the saintess too much. I'm weak now, so even being with the hero doesn't help, but she's not.
Still, it's okay. I decided to go back. When we meet again, I need to become strong enough to help the hero.
I'll live thanking them both always. Whether they do something anywhere, I want to cheer for them and become their supporter.
...And when I graduate, I'll directly become their strength by the hero's side.
"Cloe, then we'll be going."
The hero said his farewell.
Ah, he's leaving....
...I have something left to say, hero.
I can't be next to him right now, but I still want to convey this one thing.
"Hero, I have something to say. Please lower your head just a little."
"Yes."
The hero looked doubtful but obediently lowered his head. He's so kind.
The saintess probably already knew what I was about to do. It's too late, saintess.
I leaned my head close to his ear and whispered.
"Hero, I like you."
I confessed my honest heart. And seeing the cheek that came into view, I acted on impulse. I quickly kissed his cheek.
The hero remained dazed until I pulled back. He looked puzzled, not understanding the situation, then suddenly startled and looked at me.
Ahaha, you're really adorable♥
The hero stared at me with wide eyes, dazed.
His face is probably bright red right now? Ah, I'm embarrassed... it feels like even my ears are burning.
...But it's fun and happy.
It's finally time to say goodbye. Regret remains, but I have to send him away.
With a bright smile, I did so.
I smiled brightly and conveyed my vow to the hero.
"When I graduate, I'll really come back to the hero's side. At that time, I'll become a wonderful woman who suits the hero, hero!"
