Misunderstandings Breed More Misunderstandings (1)
The letter arrived without warning.
Audrey. Right now, at this academy, Raphael is here. Can you make any sense of this? Her body was definitely being kept in the Holy Kingdom. Something is wrong with the Raphael we see now. She acts as if she's lost her memories. It's like she has no idea who she is or what she is. Please check on Raphael's remains and come to the academy as soon as you can.
Raphael is definitely dead. But she's moving and breathing right in front of us. It's beyond strange—it's downright grotesque. Audrey. It feels like something is happening behind our backs. I suspect a demon or a demon race might be using her corpse like a puppet. Everything feels suspicious. Please reply quickly.
— Your old comrade, Baden
Danger danger danger danger.
Why the hell is that lunatic Baden here? This is going to mess up all my plans.
I don't know anything. My plan is going to fall apart.
"I'm not part of the hero's party. I'm not part of the hero's party."
Do I really need to brainwash him? But that would leave traces... This is seriously confusing.
Let's just sleep on it for now. I've done way too much today.
I collapsed onto the bed with a heavy thump.
"Haaaaaaa... The feel of these sheets... absolute perfection..."
Please, let tomorrow be uneventful.
Meanwhile, Princess Belinda had parted ways with her friends and returned to the dormitory. She lay in bed, replaying everything that had happened that day.
"That aura was definitely similar to Ian's... I had my suspicions, but to think it was actually his master..."
"And that ultimate technique Ian used... Why does it remind me of Father?"
"It felt a little like Father's skill... or maybe not?"
Belinda stared at the ceiling, remembering what the masked woman had said to her.
"And she told me I have the qualities of an archmage??"
"Father never said anything like that... Do I really have the talent to become an archmage?"
"If... if I really do become an archmage... I kind of want to kidnap Ian..."
".....?"
"W-what... what the—?! Hey, Belinda! Get a grip! What kind of crazy thought was that?!"
Why would I want to kidnap that lunatic anyway? ...Although lately he has been looking pretty cool...
I want to kidnap him and do #$$ to him and $%#@ and—!!!
"Aaaaaaaaagh!! Get out of my head!!!"
Belinda's face burned crimson as she thrashed around, screaming. The fact that this deranged fantasy would later evolve into a detailed, concrete plan was a secret she would take to her grave.
Meanwhile, Baden stood in the plaza, lost in thought about what had just happened. The masked woman was undoubtedly Raphael. That unique aura, that tone of voice, that familiar timbre—everything screamed Raphael.
But something was off. The way she acted... it was like she was avoiding him. And when they spoke, she had clearly introduced herself as Nameless. She should have known her own name was Raphael.
...I need to go see the principal. Flora would know something.
Step. Step.
Knock knock.
"Who is it?"
"It's Baden, the newly appointed swordsmanship instructor."
"...Come in."
Creeeeak—
"It's been a long time, Principal Flora."
"Indeed... Hero Baden. It really has been a while. I was quite shocked when I heard you suddenly decided to become a professor."
"...I suppose so. I became a professor to raise a boy named Ian. Of course, I'll do my best to teach the other students as well."
"That's good to hear. So what brings you to me?"
"I have some questions about the masked woman who also became a professor this time."
...She's already made contact with him. That's faster than I expected. Should I tell Baden the truth? I'm worried it might break him... The hero's party has already lost Raphael once. How pitiful they are... I hope he doesn't take too much of a shock...
"So you've noticed as well."
"...! What do you mean by that?"
"Yes. That child is indeed Raphael."
"...I knew it! Raphael... you're really alive..."
"But there is something I must tell you about her."
"I hope you won't be too shocked."
"...What are you saying? Did something happen to Raphael?!"
"Calm yourself. And please remember that what I'm about to say is merely my own speculation."
"...Haa..."
Did something happen to Raphael? She definitely didn't seem normal. I hope it's nothing too serious. Raphael... I don't want you to get hurt anymore. You died in my place... Even now, your final moments replay before my eyes. Smiling and cracking jokes even as you were dying... After that day, it felt like my own time had stopped. Please... don't suffer any more, Raphael...
"I'm... calm now. What exactly is happening to Raphael?"
"...Have you spoken with her?"
"Yes, I have. But something felt very wrong..."
"It was like she'd lost herself..."
"Haa... In my opinion, the current Raphael seems to have lost her memories. And it looks like someone deliberately took them from her."
Crunch.
Baden clenched his fist so tightly that blood began to seep between his fingers.
"What... what do you mean...? Someone took her memories...?"
"Raphael came to this academy to become an instructor specializing in demon hunting."
"But do you know what she was doing before that?"
"...I don't. What was she doing?"
"Hunting demons and members of the demon race."
".....!!"
"They say she completed sixty-five demon-hunting quests in a single day, as if that was her sole purpose in life."
"I asked the guild that updated her identification papers directly. They said she showed up out of nowhere, only took demon-hunting quests, and then vanished."
"Baden. Don't you find that strange?"
"Demons and demon race members suddenly running wild, and then Raphael suddenly appearing."
Thud—
Baden felt as if his heart had dropped to the floor at the principal's words.
...No. It can't be. It mustn't be. My suspicions have to be wrong. If... if I'm right... Raphael will have to die once more. And this time, it will be in the form of a sacrifice. Please... Goddess... let it not be true... Please...
"...What exactly are you trying to say...!"
"...It seems you've already sensed it vaguely."
"The current Raphael appears to have no memories from her time in the hero's party."
"And there's only one being who could resurrect her and erase her memories."
"...."
"The Goddess."
"...This is merely my speculation. But only the Goddess could do such a thing."
"You understand what it means that demons and the demon race are running wild, don't you? Especially you, of all people."
"Are you saying... the Demon King's birth?"
"...I can't say that it's not."
"Raphael named herself Nameless. She probably senses it on some level."
"That she was born only to die. That's why she's preparing to leave this world without any lingering attachments..."
"Stop—"
"Stop. Please stop talking..."
"Raphael would never do that."
"Raphael would never..."
"Hic... Hiccup..."
"...Baden..."
Principal Flora watched the weeping man and spoke gently, trying to comfort him.
Haa—
"Still, there is a sliver of hope."
"Hic... What do you mean...?"
"Goodness... A grown man shouldn't be crying like this!"
Flora handed him a handkerchief as she continued.
"It seems the more Raphael comes into contact with people from her past, the more her memories return. At first she didn't recognize me, but by the end of our conversation she called me by name."
"It must be memories buried in her subconscious."
"That's why I'm conflicted..."
"Whether it's right to help her regain her memories... or whether it would be better for her to lose everything and create new ones... I just don't know."
"...! Then we must restore her memories immediately!"
"Raphael will stay with us. We have to help her remember as soon as—"
Bang!
The principal slammed her fist on the desk and roared.
"Do you still not understand?!"
"The more memories she regains, the more the pain of the past will return as well!"
"And if she remembers everything? She'll even recall the agony of death. Can you really ask her to bear that?"
Baden froze for a moment, then fresh tears spilled down his face.
"...But Raphael is right in front of us... Are you telling me to ignore her...?"
"Hic... I can't do that... I... I..."
"...Haa... Calm down first. I'm sorry for raising my voice."
"Do you remember what I said earlier about a sliver of hope?"
"Can't you simply get close to her as Professor Baden the swordsmanship instructor, rather than as Hero Baden?"
"But you said I shouldn't contact people from her past..."
"...Try not to let on that you know her. It would only cause her more pain."
"Do your best to leave her with only good memories. That is how Raphael can be happy..."
"And I will investigate further into Raphael. How she appeared in this world, when she first showed up—I'll look into everything."
"So please try to collect yourself... I'm sorry for only being able to tell you such things..."
"...I'll be going now. And thank you for telling me."
As soon as Hero Baden returned to the dormitory, he fell to his knees and began to pray. It was an incredibly devout prayer.
Goddess. How could you allow this? Is it true that Raphael must be sacrificed once more? I cannot believe it. I refuse to accept this as reality. The woman I once loved has been resurrected only to race toward death again... If anyone must be sacrificed, let it be me instead. So please... let Raphael go. The world that was saved by her sacrifice is nothing but hell to me. Please... have mercy...
The hero poured the most desperate wish of his entire life into that prayer.
Perhaps the prayer reached the heavens.
A very faint voice whispered into the hero's ear.
"Hero... Raise the next hero. If that hero kills the Demon King and #$%... then Raphael will be safe..."
"Please... help ensure that Raphael is not sacrificed..."
...Is this a message from the Goddess?
Then... if Ian kills the Demon King and some other being... Raphael will be okay?
Hah... Thank you... Thank you so much... Goddess.
I will raise Ian well so that Raphael won't have to be sacrificed. Please watch over us.