Admit It
The highest conference room of Arjen Academy. It was a lavish chamber adorned with the symbols of the three kingdoms of the southern continent. And for once, the heads of the three faculties—who were usually too busy to gather—had assembled in an unprecedented meeting. The swordsmanship instructor, Jacques, the "Hero" of the Gallia Kingdom. The dean of the magic department, Edmond, the "Archmage" of the Arcana Republic. The representative of the divinity department, Albert, the "Cardinal" of the Holy Theocracy. They all sat with cautious expressions in the spacious room. Even these professors, who had weathered countless incidents over more than a decade, now faced a matter that demanded the utmost care: the awakening of the Hero.
“…”
“…”
“…”
Instructor Jacques sat with his thick arms crossed, his expression unwavering. Cardinal Albert wore a gentle smile. Dean Edmond remained silent, his face blank.
“…”
“…”
“…”
Normally, this meeting would have been about holding Jacques accountable for negligence in dungeon management. Yet the situation had spiraled far beyond expectations, leaving them all speechless. It was Cardinal Albert who finally spoke.
“…First, let us offer our deepest gratitude to the Sun God that all the students from the swordsmanship and divinity departments survived the dungeon training exercise. A great tragedy nearly occurred.”
Instructor Jacques regarded the cardinal with deep-set eyes.
“…”
The cardinal offered a prayer with a serene smile, sending an unspoken message: a gentle rebuke.
—Regardless of today’s topic, do not forget that this happened because of your negligence. And remember that I have forgiven you.
“…”
Instructor Jacques paid no heed to the cardinal’s attitude.
…Still playing the noble, I see.
He had already steeled himself. From the moment students entered the Academy, they were supposed to live as ordinary students, transcending status. But if his own judgment had led to their sacrifice, he was prepared to take full responsibility. He had been ready since arriving here ten years ago… and as a member of the secret order, the Ember Knights.
…Everything is for the greater cause.
Stopping the demon worshippers, the Black Temple, who coveted this land. As a member of the Ember Knights, Instructor Jacques concealed his true purpose at the Academy. He fulfilled his duties while waiting for the Hero to appear. And the order’s proud final member—the princess Lydia—had ultimately found that Hero. Instructor Jacques had supported her from the shadows.
“…”
Could this have been what Lady Lydia was preparing for all these ten years?
The plan proposed by the abandoned royal, an eight-year-old girl, had astonished every member of the Ember Knights—even the strongest recluse, their leader, the Sword Saint. They had sensed it: this final flame… the tenth member would become their new hope. The strongest Sword Master and leader of the Ember Knights, the Sword Saint, had sworn to the young girl.
—…Then we shall believe in your path.
…Hmph.
Instructor Jacques smiled inwardly. But the cardinal’s pressure, disguised as prayer, did not end.
“O merciful Sun God, please forgive our mistakes and grant us the strength to move forward.”
“…”
Even if Cardinal Albert did not know Jacques’s true purpose, he surely understood the man’s straightforward nature. There was no need to emphasize responsibility so heavily. What the cardinal truly sought was control of this meeting. As expected, once his prayer ended, the cardinal spoke again.
“…We must now test the Hero who has appeared alongside the new Holy Sword.”
“…!”
Instructor Jacques frowned and glared at the cardinal. Dean Edmond, who had remained silent until now, spoke in a puzzled tone.
“The Hero? A test? Isn’t the Holy Theocracy placing far too much meaning on a student who simply awakened an artifact during an Academy class?”
“Hoho, Brother Edmond’s interpretation is amusing. But to us, the Holy Sword is no mere artifact. It is a revelation from the Sun God. If He has shone His light, then we must verify it.”
“The Sun God, is it… The Holy Theocracy’s method of interpreting the will of the spirit is difficult to understand. In any case, since the spirit’s will has already manifested through the phenomenon of the artifact’s awakening, the rest is a matter for humans, is it not?”
“Hoho…”
Not a god, but a spirit.
—Not the Sun God, merely the spirit of the sun. Humanity has no reason to be bound to one of countless mana phenomena.
Dean Edmond’s words nearly amounted to a denial of Sun God worship. Yet the cardinal merely smiled at the remark, so typical of a Republic mage. Cardinal Albert spoke quietly.
“…Just because the sun shines does not mean we can pretend not to see human shadows.”
“…”
“…”
Instructor Jacques opened his mouth.
“Shadows? The Holy Sword Danan has already chosen the Hero. Then we should prepare to send him to the front lines at once.”
“You seem rather hasty.”
Instructor Jacques recalled the greater cause in his heart and replied.
“The Holy Sword Danan appears as a declaration of war the moment the forces of the dark realm attempt to swallow this land. We must prepare for the coming war and nurture the Hero.”
“Hoho, Brother Jacques’s interpretation is most intriguing. But the Holy Sword once wielded by Hero Arjen was taken back by the Sun God. Whether the sword that has appeared here is truly Danan is something no one knows. That is why we must verify it.”
“…An unnecessary test. Student Arty defeated the skeleton rider with the help of two fellow students and awakened the light of the Holy Sword. He has already proven his worth.”
“Worth? What worth are you referring to? The worth that Instructor Jacques personally believes in? Or is it merely gratitude toward the student who covered for your mistake?”
“…”
Instructor Jacques and Cardinal Albert locked eyes, tension crackling between them.
“…”
“…”
Anger surged within Jacques, and he clenched his fists. He instinctively sensed that they were trying to sabotage Lydia’s plan.
Even the undeniable truth of the Holy Sword and the Hero must exist only under their control.
His instincts screamed. The Holy Theocracy was the enemy that would ruin the Ember Knights’ cause. A flame slowly began to burn in his heart.
…For the greater cause, must I eliminate them?
Should he cast aside his identity as an instructor and return to being a knight of the order?
“…”
At that moment, a message from Mirian, who served Lydia, surfaced in his mind—the directive passed down from the Sword Saint.
—Sir Jacques, if you waver before a small flame, the shadows will also hide their true form and waver. Only before a great blaze will they reveal themselves.
“…”
It was not yet time. Even if Instructor Jacques openly opposed them, Cardinal Albert would simply retort that he was shielding a student out of personal sentiment.
“…”
Instructor Jacques quietly unclenched his fists. Dean Edmond narrowed his eyes at the sight before casually turning his head. Cardinal Albert smiled faintly as he observed.
“Then it is decided. I shall contact His Holiness the Pope and arrange for the Hero to be tested soon.”
“…”
“…”
Thus, the Hero’s trial was decided.
*
“…”
Early morning. Aria sat perched on a rock. It was a rock in a secluded clearing at the edge of the Academy. No longer hiding to watch in secret, she openly observed Arty’s morning training. Her silver hair swayed and sparkled in the morning breeze.
In the distance, at the center of the clearing, Arty and Lydia—both in casual attire—were lightly sparring with wooden swords. The two blades crossed repeatedly, producing crisp sounds.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
The rhythm resembled a light percussion performance. In truth, Arty was fighting desperately, but against Lydia he was constantly struck and his flow broken, making it look effortless. Aria watched blankly.
“…”
Why… why won’t Cardinal Albert simply acknowledge the Hero…? Ever since I was young, I was taught that the Saintess is meant to walk alongside the Hero…
The incarnation of the Sun God, the divine agent descended upon this land. Saintess Aria believed she had a destiny to follow as the Saintess. That was why she had celebrated and rejoiced in Arty’s awakening more than anyone—yet a question lingered.
Why… why didn’t the Hero run away that day…?
—Run away!
—No. This is a fight I chose.
“…”
If he simply stayed alive, she had thought he would one day face his destiny. But he had not waited for a revelation. He had chosen for himself.
—Destiny… is will…!
And he had been engulfed in a great light. A radiance truly like the sun. That figure had been…
“…Magnificent.”
Aria clamped a hand over her mouth.
I meant to think “heroic,” but something else came out.
She clutched her pounding chest and tilted her head.
Why am I like this…? The most important thing is that the Hero is recognized as the Hero. Is this… the feeling a Saintess should have…?
Clearly, the Saintess was fated to stand with the Hero. She had been educated that way her entire life.
“…”
But now, she seemed to harbor slightly different emotions. She wanted to draw closer, yet also wanted to pull away. Because it was embarrassing.
What is this feeling…?
Thump. Thump.
“…”
…I don’t know.
“…”
Aria looked up. The training continued. He was passionately crossing swords with the princess. She should have been praising the sight, yet her mood was gradually sinking. Aria pressed a hand to her chest.
Press—
“…”
Why?
When I see the Hero with the princess, my chest somehow hurts. She is clearly the one making the Hero stronger and keeping him from straying down the wrong path. And the Hero still sees me as a comrade.
That should have been enough.
“…”
It’s not… enough…
Aria still did not understand the reason. So she simply watched Arty. Arty gripped his wooden sword and charged.
“Hah—!”
“…”
Lydia casually tapped his head with her wooden sword.
Thwack!
“Ugh?!”
Arty flinched for a moment at the blow, then shook off the sweat and swung his sword left and right. The wooden blade sliced through the air in dazzling arcs. Lydia blocked every attack without moving from her spot.
Thwack!
“Keep your center, Arty. Your breathing is falling apart.”
“Hup! Hah!”
Thwack!
“Agh—?!”
“Center. Keep your center.”
“Huu…”
Only then did Arty create distance and steady his breathing. He raised his wooden sword toward Lydia and settled into his stance. Once Arty’s posture was set, Lydia continued her explanation.
“Arty, you made an excellent choice in the battle against the monsters. You attacked and defended, constantly protecting yourself and others. But unlike fighting an endless tide of monsters, a duel against a human requires you to maintain your center.”
“My center… you mean?”
“Indeed. Maintain your center, observe your opponent’s stance, and strike in a single moment. Unlike monsters, humans will actively lure out and target your openings.”
“…”
Lydia kicked at the dirt and gravel with her foot.
Thud—!
Soil and pebbles flew up and rained down on Arty’s head. He reflexively shrank back. Lydia calmly placed her wooden sword against his neck.
“They could also throw filth from the ground to draw your attention.”
“…!”
“They might provoke your anger with vulgar words, or press a blade to the neck of someone precious watching from the side.”
“Huh…?!”
Arty’s eyes flicked toward where Aria was sitting.
“…!”
He immediately shook his head. Ever since that day, he had been strangely conscious of Aria openly following him. Aria, sitting in the distance, watched the scene blankly. She did not seem to notice that he had glanced at her.
“…”
Lydia smiled faintly as she observed Arty and Aria.
The suspension bridge effect, perhaps. Given that they already had feelings for each other, the trigger for awareness is remarkably simple. Reaching this point was difficult in the original story, though.
The original story. Aria had been the first heroine to approach the protagonist. Unlike the knight Mave or the witch Morgan, who ignored Arty, she had supported and cheered for him from the very beginning. Up to this point, early-story Aria seemed utterly ideal. That was why most players chose her as their first heroine. But…
—This week I have worship with the cardinal…
—Tomorrow I have prayers with my seniors…
—Today there is a theology interpretation debate…
“…”
Aria was far too busy fulfilling her duties as the Saintess.
The only reason she showed favor toward Arty was because she was fulfilling her obligations as the Saintess. The trap was that she could not compare those duties with her other “Saintess obligations.”
In the end, if Aria’s favor was not raised at the right time, she would simply support him as the Saintess before quietly fading into the background. That was why Lydia had sensed success the moment Aria began voluntarily stalking Arty.
I still don’t know the exact reason, but anyway, it’s resolved. Good. All that remains is to make this guy stronger and have him interact with the remaining heroines…
The moment Lydia casually swung her wooden sword—
A familiar voice rang out from afar. Unlike Aria’s, it was a fierce and stubborn woman’s voice.
“Arty—! I have business with you—!”
“?”
“?”
“?”
Arty, Aria, and Lydia turned toward the voice. There stood Mave, the squire knight, arms crossed and posture proud, her face slightly flushed. With an embarrassed expression, she spoke to Arty.
“I—I refuse to accept it!”
“Accept what…?”
“The rumor that a common country bumpkin like you saved me and defeated that skeleton rider—! I need to confirm whether that rumor is true!”
“?”
Arty shot Lydia a look that said, Wasn’t it you who saved her? Lydia merely shrugged.
I didn’t want the attention, so I had Sir Jacques credit everything to Arty.
Mave pointed at Arty and declared.
“I challenge you to a duel—! If you’re a man, accept this challenge!”
“…”
Arty made a miserable face.
Why me, of all people…?