The Treasure of Arhen (Interlude)
Our bond with Uriel deepened at a remarkable pace.
Perhaps it was thanks to her stepping into our circle, but the lingering awkwardness that had once made it difficult to comfortably call one another friends completely dissolved. Ever since she joined us, her bright presence smoothed over every stiff moment, allowing us to spend our days together like genuine companions. It was a vivid reminder of just how profound a difference a single mood-maker could make within a group.
Naturally, her exalted status as the imperial princess—lauded far and wide as the “Little Sun of the Empire”—occasionally invited tiresome entanglements on academy grounds. Whenever trouble arose, however, Uriel handled nearly all of it on her own, making it impossible to resent her. That said, helping everyone bond was one thing, but the overwhelming affection she constantly directed toward me could feel a bit suffocating at times.
It was probably a blessing in disguise that my blindness deprived me of any conventional sense of visual aesthetics. Even perceived solely through Divine Power Detection, her features, the crystalline purity of her thought waves, the melodic cadence of her voice echoing through mental resonance, and her genuinely gentle heart were striking. With such charm, it was hardly surprising she had been so wildly popular in the original game. Once again, I found myself appreciating the captivating appeal of an imperial princess who consistently ranked in the top three of character popularity polls.
Sharing meals with Uriel and the others, sitting together during lectures, heading out in a pack whenever we left campus… How long had we been spending our days inside this tight-knit little clique of ours? Before I knew it, time slipped past, and the exam period arrived.
Leading up to the exams, life at the academy remained remarkably peaceful—so peaceful that I occasionally wondered if I had forgotten something important. Yet, as with any exam season, it possessed a singular talent for extinguishing every shred of a student's motivation. It was an affliction universal to all youth, making literally anything unrelated to studying seem endlessly fascinating by comparison.
“Not much time left before the exams…”
Evan let out a heavy, melancholy sigh. Seeing him mope over what was essentially a glorified field trip—despite all the diligent studying and sword training he had put in—piqued my curiosity.
“[Can we truly even call it an exam?]”
Given that this was our first semester of freshman year, and everyone's capabilities had already been assessed during the class placement tests, the faculty had waived the written tests that usually accompanied practical evaluations. In other words, this exam consisted of nothing more than an observational excursion to the Demonic Realm. Strictly speaking, labeling it an examination felt like a stretch. Calling it a trip to gain firsthand experience would be far more accurate. So why was he sighing like the world was coming to an end?
“Perhaps Evan is simply anxious about venturing into the Demonic Realm itself?” Uriel offered gently.
“[Ah… That certainly could be a source of concern.]”
The Demonic Realm was, after all, perilous beyond measure. Even if the majority of the academy's armed escort would accompany us for protection, feeling a twinge of dread was only natural.
“N-No, I mean… it’s not like I’m scared or anything,” Evan stammered.
“[Fufu… Is that so?]”
“We aren't actually hunting demonic beasts ourselves. They said it's strictly observation.”
The way Evan fumbled through his excuses was oddly hilarious. How should I put it? It felt like watching a child terrified to the bone who desperately puffs out his chest to pretend everything is fine. Moments like this made him surprisingly cute.
Wait, no… Why am I looking at a dude and thinking he’s cute…?
I shook my head involuntarily. It wasn’t as though I viewed him in a romantic light. I had originally been a guy myself; no matter how long I had lived as a woman over the past two years, how could I see another guy that way? It was purely the sort of fondness one felt toward a beloved favorite character.
Who am I even making excuses to…?
Get a grip. I gave my head another firm shake.
“The Demonic Realm…” Stella mused aloud. “I’ve always wanted to see what kinds of beasts actually dwell there.”
“[They are nothing but dreadful monsters.]”
Truthfully, I only found them manageable because of who I was. An ordinary person would probably wet their pants on sight. Aside from having grown thoroughly accustomed to their gruesome designs in the game, to my divine perception they didn't project an overwhelming physical presence; they merely appeared as unrendered 3D wireframe contours, which made them even less intimidating. From what I had heard from everyone else, though, they were horrifying beyond belief.
“…Wouldn't they still die if they took a direct hit from advanced magic?” Stella asked.
“[No… While it would inflict some damage, it likely wouldn't be enough to finish them off.]”
“…”
I got the distinct impression that Stella’s face had drained of color. The realization that those beasts could survive the strongest spells at her disposal struck her with genuine dread. To a mage, having their ultimate magic shrugged off was the most terrifying prospect imaginable.
“Come to think of it,” Evan chimed in, “what kinds of beasts actually live in the Demonic Realm?”
Hmm…
Ah.
Now that I thought about it, when I spoke about the Demonic Realm previously, I had only described the harsh climate and landscape. Had I never mentioned the specific beasts roaming it? If so, their curiosity was perfectly understandable.
“[Since we are visiting for an observational excursion, it might be wise for me to teach you what kinds of beasts dwell there.]”
Whatever I taught them might prove helpful if an unexpected crisis arose. Even if our visit was merely an observational tour, we were still journeying to one of the most hazardous regions in the Empire. Anything could happen.
“[In that case, it seems there is quite a bit I should explain…]”
This was tricky. Explaining every single detail verbally would take ages, and words alone wouldn't make things easy to grasp. Rather than relying solely on abstract descriptions, I needed some visual aid so anyone could understand at a glance.
What would work best…?
Then again, how was a blind person supposed to produce a visual aid? After pondering for a moment, I focused on the contours captured by my Divine Power Detection.
Right, there was only one way.
What else could I possibly do? My only option was to draw them a picture. The problem was that I hadn't drawn a single thing since waking up in this body. Back in my original world, I wasn't terrible at sketching, but ever since arriving here, I hadn't touched a quill or pencil… My skills had surely rusted away.
Still, it’s been a while…
Picking up drawing again after so long wasn't an unpleasant thought at all.
“[Though I have never attempted it before…]”
“Huh?”
Grinning with amusement, I sat down and began sketching on a sheet of paper. Stunned that a blind girl was casually attempting to draw, everyone turned toward me with baffled expressions. It wasn't as if I aimed to produce a masterpiece; I only intended to capture the beast's general silhouette so they could recognize it.
Before long, I finished the sketch to show them.
“[I have finished!]”
Calling everyone over, I held up my completed work. It was hardly fine art, so showing it off was slightly embarrassing, but a proper educator had to brave a touch of embarrassment for the sake of learning. As the three leaned in with curious faces, I thrust the paper forward so they could get a clearer view.
“Oh…”
“Hmm…”
Facing the trio as they scrutinized my artwork in dead silence, I launched into an explanation of the beast, having prepared my thoughts in advance. This particular beast had a distinctive yet simple silhouette, making it relatively easy to sketch.
“[As for what this beast is—]”
“Wait a second.”
“[Pardon?]”
How unexpected. Of all people, I hadn't expected Stella to cut me off. When I wondered why she had stopped me, Stella said nothing, continuing to stare intently at the paper before slowly shifting her gaze toward me.
Uh… wait. No way?
“I’m sorry… I honestly can’t tell what this is supposed to be.”
“It’s certainly… a very unique art style, Lady Aria… Ahaha…”
“Aria…”
No.
Wait, no!
They were all looking at me with profound pity in their eyes, and it felt thoroughly unfair! What did they expect when I literally couldn't see?! Since I didn't know what colors it possessed, I had drawn it as plainly and recognizably as possible, but apparently, simplifying it too much had made it completely indecipherable.
“[N-No, really! There truly is a beast that looks like—]”
Wait a second. Why on earth was I subjecting myself to such slander just to draw a picture for them?
The more I thought about it, the more outrageous it felt.
This wouldn't do. I had sworn to avoid acting petty after becoming a saintess, but out of all the things to criticize, they were going to unfairly bully a blind person for poor drawing skills?
I'm pissed.
“[I don't care anymore.]”
“Ah… wait…”
“S-Sorry, Aria!”
“L-Lady Aria?!”
Whether they die in the Demonic Realm or not is none of my business!
I went out of my way to teach them because I thought it might save their hides later, but if this was how they were going to react, I washed my hands of it. I was doing them a favor out of pure goodwill!
I’m really mad now.
I'm never, ever telling them.
So there. Blehh.