Seeping In Little by Little
“....”
In a dim room, Lydia awoke from sleep. Her clothes were the same camisole pajamas she had worn when she fell asleep. She had not woken in the study from her memories, but in the actual dormitory annex. A glance at the window showed it was still dawn, before sunrise. The maid Mirian had likely gone out on another mission. ‘It would be nice if she could spot any anomalies among the surveillance targets.’
Mirian was probably reminiscing about the “old days” while playing at infiltration and espionage. She was forty this year, yet Lydia could easily picture her moving with fluid grace—like a snake clad in skin-tight leather. Squish, squish.... Then Mirian gave a seductive wink. —Heh, it brings back memories♡
“?!”
Lydia jolted, cutting the fantasy short. Goosebumps prickled along her arms. A guilty feeling washed over her, as though she had carelessly opened her parents’ bedroom door.
“....”
‘Well, Mirian herself claims she’s still in her prime. But imagining someone like a mother moving like a sexy movie spy is a bit....’
Before the awkwardness could settle, Lydia quickly focused her mind and checked for Morgan’s presence. Beyond the thick wall, faint sounds drifted from the magic laboratory.
—Kuu... snore.
It was Morgan, snoring contentedly. The unfamiliar surroundings had kept her restless until late, and only after midnight had she finally drifted off.
—Mmm, Lydia.... That cheeky kid is cute. Always so prickly during the day....
“....”
Lydia smiled faintly and settled on her plan for the day. ‘Morgan was exhausted from yesterday’s move, so I should let her sleep. If I head out first and warm up, Arty and the others will probably show up soon. I’ll eat breakfast with them when I get back.’
Lydia rose from the bed and straightened the blanket she had slept under. She pulled both sides taut until not a single wrinkle remained; the neat result always eased her mind. It was a habit Lee Daehyun had kept since his military discharge.
Whap!
“...Hmm.”
After making the bed, Lydia looked around. The dormitory annex was lavish. As expected of the luxurious facilities built one per department exclusively for royalty, the spacious room overflowed with ornate decorations and paintings. Most depicted the myths of the sun god Lua and the exploits of the hero Arjen—all prepared by Arjen Academy.
‘...Thanks to that, even if the luggage I brought looks shabby, the empty space isn’t obvious. It feels a bit like amusement-park scenery, but it’s better than nothing.’
Lydia owned few personal belongings; everything fit inside a single carriage compartment. A row of longswords and weapons stood against one wall, clothes hung in the wardrobe, and a handful of books used as academy textbooks completed the set. She had heard it was quite simple luggage for a noblewoman.
‘Usually they rent up to three carriages. High-ranking nobles take five, including servants and maids to converse with.’
“....”
Well.... Minimalist living had its charms. Once unnecessary items piled up, discarding them became difficult.
‘Rather, I can’t understand bringing heaps of heavy cosmetics or dresses that will never be worn. Everyone already looks pretty on average thanks to the beautiful-girl correction anyway.’
Students were supposed to study, tsk tsk....
Harboring such old-fashioned thoughts, Lydia slipped off her pajamas. Even in the dark, the flowing white curves of her body were unmistakable. Swish— She donned the women’s underwear and clinging top she had folded on the floor, then layered a loose training uniform over them. Three thick layers were necessary to neatly contain the haphazardly protruding silhouette.
“....”
Still, the clothes did not drape well.
‘Women’s underwear and textile technology have advanced, yet this world has no sports bras or sportswear.’
The academy training uniform looked baggy and dull whenever the wearer’s chest or hips were large—as though a tent had been draped over them. At this rate, going naked might have been preferable. At least the princess’s naked form would have looked elegant.
‘...If I walked out naked, the surroundings would erupt even if I didn’t care. So I have to wear it like this.’
Like an awkward military uniform on a new recruit. She hated this disheveled appearance most of all. Lydia clicked her tongue softly.
“Tsk.”
Being stared at for her provocative figure did not bother her. It would have been stranger not to draw attention with this (?) attached. Even fully dressed, the swaying continued. Walking confidently was simply easier. She refused, however, to deliberately dress like a half-wit.
‘If you’re going to be neat, be completely neat. No matter the garment, it must suit the wearer’s style.’
It was Lydia’s personal fashion philosophy. Right now she wanted to look like a swordsman. She tucked the training top into her pants, fastened a leather belt, and tied the fabric wrinkles with cords. Only after binding her hair did she finally resemble a proper swordswoman.
“Hmm.”
Better than the foolish look from earlier. Even if the curves remained pronounced, she could overlook them. Lydia felt satisfied.
“Phew, good.”
Just like with suits... she only felt content when the training uniform also draped properly.
‘Complaining like this while carelessly occupying the incompetent princess’s body feels a bit wrong. If her breasts were moderately sized, covering them would have been easy. Her waist is so slender that only certain dresses fit.’
Aside from appearance, however, the princess’s body was not greatly uncomfortable. That was largely thanks to Lydia’s own efforts. The swaying chest and slender center of gravity were already managed by the movements of “female swordsmen” she had learned from Mirian. On top of that, she possessed the body-control ability unique to Sword Masters.
‘After reaching Sword Master, even physiological phenomena and hormone secretion stabilize. Senses and muscle strength have grown tremendously....’
Thanks to that, the only thing she still cared about was the neatness of her outward appearance. Lydia adjusted her clothes and stood before the mirror.
“....”
She looked neat. Like a true swordswoman.
“...Heh.”
‘Yes. This is it.’
After gazing at her tidy reflection with satisfaction, Lydia headed for the clearing where she always trained. Before leaving, she remembered to leave a note reading “I’ll be back” in front of Morgan’s room.
*
Two months after the entrance ceremony. Dawn in the clearing was no longer cold. A warm breeze blew, gently stirring the fresh green leaves. Aria stood beside the rock as usual.
“....”
The unfamiliar girl named Morgan—who had made Aria awkwardly self-conscious these past few days—had not appeared today. Aria could therefore stand in a more relaxed posture.
‘Whenever I spoke she ignored me and only talked to Lydia. It was a little frightening. She’s always reading, so she must be incredibly wise and knowledgeable....’
That thought was interrupted by the voices of a boy and a girl.
—Arty, try it.
—Huuuup!
“!”
Aria lifted her head. In the clearing ahead, the princess and the hero faced each other for the first time in a while, honing their techniques. Mave stood a short distance away, eyes closed, slowly swinging her sword. Aria focused on the hero.
The princess stood with arms crossed before him. The hero drew the blue Holy Sword Danan and steadied his breathing.
“Not yet?”
“I-I really don’t know? Lydia, is this right?”
“It is. And not the mana heart—focus on your wrist. Imagine a blue wave shooting from the pattern on the Holy Sword in your right hand into your palm.”
“Uuuuup!”
The hero concentrated. Lydia spoke again.
“Still no sense of connection?”
“No....”
“Hmm....”
“But is that really possible? Me being able to transmit healing energy to others....”
“It is possible.”
At Lydia’s firm assertion, Arty scratched his head.
“No, even if it’s the Holy Sword, transmitting healing energy to others....”
“In the past, the hero Arjen did the same.”
“How do you know that again?”
“It was recorded in the royal palace library. All knowledge and legends that would be troublesome if spread among commoners are stored there.”
“Why would it be troublesome if word spread that the hero Arjen used healing power...?”
“...Well. What matters is that you learn to wield that power now.”
“...Yes.”
Lydia offered no further answer. Aria, however, knew the reason and wore a faintly sorrowful expression.
‘...Healing power belongs ultimately to the priests. If every legendary anecdote of the hero spread, the authority of the One God Church must not weaken.’
Just as the present-day church denied Arty, the church of the past had also controlled rumors of the “hero Arjen” so they would not harm its authority. They extracted only the parts related to “martial force” from his abilities and compiled them into The Biography of Hero Arjen. Lydia was appropriately concealing that fact.
“....”
It was for Aria’s sake. She did not want to plant a bad impression of the church in Arty’s mind. Furthermore, she wished to show him only the saintess’s good side.... So she said nothing. Aria could feel that consideration.
“....”
She was grateful. Yet now shame outweighed gratitude. Aria felt ashamed of herself.
‘How long will I keep relying on Lydia? I couldn’t even convince Cardinal Albert, nor the seniors in the theology department.’
In the matter of the hero awakening the Holy Sword, how long must she continue receiving help from others? When would she finally make the people of the Holy Theocracy and the One God Church recognize Arty as the true hero?
“....”
Aria did not truly know. So she kept silent.
‘At least for now... simply growing a little closer to the hero and being needed by him is enough.’
Unlike Lydia, who seemed to know everything, Aria knew nothing. Merely standing at his side already overwhelmed her. In front of the princess shining in gold, the saintess was nothing more than a backdrop. Realizing that fact anew, a small ache stirred in her chest.
“....”
It was not a dark swamp.... It was a slightly painful, thorn-like emotion.
“....”
Aria placed a hand over her heart.
‘What is this feeling? A mixture of warmth toward the hero, gratitude toward my friend Lydia, and the sight of her shining figure....’
Twinge—
“Huu....”
At that moment, a boy’s cheer rang out from the side.
“O-Ooh?! It worked! It worked—!”
“Heh, you figured it out in your own way.”
Arty raised his blue-glowing hand and swung it toward Mave. A stream of blue energy shot forth, radiating a refreshing light.
Shuuuung—!
The light struck Mave directly. A sound like splashing clear water followed.
Splash!
Mave, who had been refining her sword path with eyes closed, suddenly screamed as the refreshing energy rushed into her. It felt as though clear well water had been poured straight into her heart.
“Kyaaaaah—?!”
“Hahaha! Success.”
“What rudeness, you country bumpkin! What did you do to me?!”
Arty shouted confidently.
“Now I can use healing too!”
“Wh-What?! Healing spells are the exclusive domain of priests!”
“Haha! This is all thanks to the power of the Holy Sword Danan.”
“My god.... Is there such a cheat?”
Mave turned to Lydia with a tearful face. Lydia shrugged.
“It’s fine. In the end, compared to the true power of priests, it’s nothing more than a temporary measure. It simply means Arty’s labor intensity within the party has increased.”
“I-Is that so?”
Arty gave a bitter smile at those words, then looked at Aria and called out.
“Well, that’s true, but this is all thanks to the saintess!”
Aria tilted her head.
“?”
What exactly? She had not done anything....
Arty spoke as though such an Aria made him prouder than anyone else. He raised his right hand, shining blue.
“Whenever I pictured the saintess always chanting healing spells beside me, I quickly grasped the feeling. Without that sight, I would have wandered for a long time.”
“....”
“I’m glad the saintess is by my side.”
Lydia and Mave chuckled at the remark.
“Honestly, country bumpkin. Too openly revealing.”
“Heheh....”
But Aria could not answer. She merely smiled quietly at him, as she always did, and nodded.
“...You did well, Hero.”
“Hahaha! Thank you!”
“....”
Aria was happy. That much was true.
“....”
Yet....
Really....
Truly....
‘I didn’t do anything....’