Chapter 21-25: I’m the Saintess’s Younger Sister

Chapter 21: Reunion (2)

We slipped away from the scene and into a deserted alley.

While I appeared unharmed, Lena leaned against the wall, her hand on her stomach.

“Are you alright?”

“Ugh… I still feel nauseous…”

Apparently, grabbing her and running at high speed wasn’t a pleasant experience.

“So… what now…?”

“I don’t know. We should probably wait until things quiet down.”

After causing such a commotion in the capital, the guards were likely searching for us.

And it seemed we had a pursuer as well.

“Are there any…?”

“I don’t know.”

A presence was rapidly approaching.

Faster than I expected. We would meet soon…

“It seems we have company.”

“What?”

Lena’s expression hardened as she looked in the direction I indicated.

“Sis…!”

“Die, kidnapper!”

Lena tried to shout something as the pursuer came into view, but an arrow was faster.

Multiple arrows, all aimed at my vital points.

Oddly enough, they were all targeting me, which was fortunate.

“Get down, Lena.”

“Wait…!”

Before she could finish, I grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and pulled her down, deflecting the arrows with my sword.

Clang, clang, clang!

The arrows split in half, scattering in all directions.

A slight tremor lingered in my sword hand.

“Hmm…”

The speed and power of the arrows were greater than I expected.

The technique of changing their trajectory mid-flight wasn't something just anyone could do.

I knew two people capable of such archery.

One was the Hero known as the Hunter, currently considered the strongest archer.

And the other was…

I didn’t expect the Divine Archer to be chasing me.

Elena, the Divine Archer, a member of the Hero’s party.

“No wounds…”

Elena’s voice was laced with surprise.

She quickly recovered, her eyes narrowing.

“Surrender, kidnapper.”

“Kidnapper?”

She notched another arrow.

I had no intention of surrendering.

“You attacked me out of nowhere, and now you’re calling me a kidnapper…”

“Are you going to fight?”

She aimed her bow, and I prepared to spring.

I couldn’t kill her at this point, so subduing her would have to…

“Both of you, stop!”

“?!”

Lena stepped between us, and we both lowered our weapons in surprise.

Wait, sister?

“Get out of the way, Lena! That person is a kidnapper…!”

“Kidnapper? What are you talking about?!”

“There were witnesses who saw her kidnap you!”

Ah.

I had grabbed Lena and run, so it was a misunderstanding.

It was an understandable mistake.

“She’s not a kidnapper! She saved me…!”

“Elena! Are you alright?”

A man entered the alley, interrupting Lena’s explanation.

It was my turn to be surprised.

The Hero.

Golden hair, handsome features, and the holy sword at his waist.

“What’s going on, Elena?”

“Leon! We need to subdue her first.”

“What?”

Leon turned to me, his eyes widening in surprise.

“You have my sister, who went missing a few weeks ago.”

“Is that true?”

He looked back and forth between us before drawing his holy sword.

“Be careful, Leon.”

“I know.”

They both turned towards me, their power building.

A fight was unavoidable.

Elena’s arrow was first.

A magic-infused arrow flew towards me, its trajectory shifting mid-flight.

I deflected it, and Leon swung his sword.

Clang!

Our swords clashed, a loud clang echoing in the alley.

After a brief struggle, Leon was pushed back.

More arrows flew towards me as he stumbled.

According to my memories, the Hero and Divine Archer hadn't known each other for long, but their teamwork was impressive.

In that case…

The archer had to be dealt with first.

I kicked off the wall, dodging the arrows, and dashed past Leon towards Elena.

They were both surprised.

I felt Leon chasing after me, but I ignored him, accelerating.

The distance between Elena and me closed to about two meters.

She fired more arrows and jumped back, trying to create distance.

“It’s no use.”

“Damn it!”

I deflected the last arrows with a wide swing of my sword and grabbed her leg.

I was about to slam her into the ground when…

“Let her go!”

“Tch… Interference…”

Someone jumped down from above, swinging their sword at my arm.

I released Elena and jumped back. Leon’s sword slashed at my back.

I infused my sword with magic, deflecting the attack, which exploded in midair.

The fight paused as Leon blocked the space between Elena and me, and the newcomer landed.

I finally recognized the woman.

Alicia, the Saint’s friend and bodyguard.

If she was here…

“Leon! Elena! Alicia…”

A woman entered the alley, calling out to her companions.

She stopped when she saw me.

I knew we would meet eventually, but…

…I didn’t expect it to be so soon.

Snow-white hair that reached her waist, sapphire-blue eyes, and…

“…Aria?”

…a face that looked remarkably like mine.

It was Lucia, now the Saint.

“…Is it really you?”

Lucia approached me, her eyes wide with disbelief, and grabbed my wrist.

She tried to hug me, but…

Slap

…I pushed her away.

“Let go of me.”

“Ar-Aria…?”

“Who are you, and why are you calling my name?”

Her eyes, which had been filled with hope, now held disbelief, despair, and fear.

“Stay away from me.”

The words came out colder than I intended.

There was no longing, no sadness, no joy.

Surprisingly, I felt nothing.

“A-Ah…”

Lucia’s legs gave way, and she collapsed.

Alicia rushed to her side, and Elena aimed her bow at me.

“You! What’s your relationship with the Saint?”

“Relationship…”

Once, she was my precious family.

The sister I longed for.

But now?

I couldn’t remember our time together.

I couldn’t recall any feelings for her.

There was only one answer I could give.

“We have no relationship.”

“Aria…”

Thud

Lucia fainted.

“Saint! Saint!”

Alicia shook her, but she remained unconscious.

“No relationship? Then why did she react like that?”

“I don’t know… I don’t know who she thinks I am, or why she reacted that way.”

I didn’t know how long she had been waiting for me.

I didn’t know what kind of love, emotions, or memories we shared.

Those things, the things that could break me, had been erased along with the her in my nightmares.

So, Lucia…

“As far as I’m concerned, she’s a stranger.”

…give up.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

“You’re leaving after causing this? And what about Lena…?”

“Sister, stop it!”

Lena shouted at Elena, unable to take it anymore.

Elena lowered her bow, startled by her sister's outburst.

“What are you talking about, Lena?! She kidnapped you…”

“The slave traders kidnapped me! Aria saved me!”

“What?”

Elena looked at me in disbelief. Her expression shifted from disbelief to suspicion, and then to shock.

“Please, just stop… I’ll explain everything…”

Lena pleaded, tears welling up in her eyes, grabbing her sister’s wrist.

The alley was a mess, and behind us, Alicia and Leon tended to the unconscious Lucia.

“…You better explain everything, Lena.”

Elena sheathed her bow.

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Chapter 22: Reunion (3)

“Kyaa!”

“Saint!”

A woman woke up screaming in bed.

She was drenched in sweat, as if from a nightmare.

“Alicia?”

“Saint, are you alright?”

“…I’m fine.”

She took a deep breath and looked around, her expression twisting in frustration.

“…Aria…”

“Yes?”

“Where’s Aria?”

“Aria…?”

Alicia paused, as if considering something, then replied with a small “Ah.”

“The woman you were fighting?”

“Fighting? What are you…?”

Lucia looked at Alicia, confused.

But as Alicia explained what had happened, Lucia’s expression hardened.

“Aria… said she didn’t know me…?”

“Elena asked her several times, but she insisted she didn’t know you.”

“…That’s… impossible…”

Lucia lowered her head.

No one truly believed that the woman called Aria didn’t know the Saint.

Despite their different demeanors, they were too similar in appearance, save for their hair and eye color.

At this point, claiming they weren’t related was less believable.

I’ll have to request an investigation into this Aria when we next meet with the Church, Alicia thought.

“Where are the others?”

“They’re waiting in the next room. They’re worried about you.”

“I’ve caused them trouble…”

Lucia tried to get out of bed, but she swayed, and Alicia quickly supported her.

“You shouldn’t get up yet…”

“I’m fine. Just a little dizzy.”

As they reached the door, it opened, and Leon entered.

“Lucia? Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, I think I’m fine.”

“Haa… That’s good.”

Leon sighed in relief.

“Is Elena alright?”

“I don’t know. She’s reunited with her sister, so I guess she should be…”

“Sister? Oh, right…”

A faint memory surfaced from before she lost consciousness.

There had been another person present, besides themselves and Aria.

“You know how worried Elena was.”

“Yes.”

“They’ve been talking ever since we got back.”

After returning to their lodgings, Elena had taken Lena to her room. Alicia had said Lucia needed rest, so she had accompanied them.

Lena, you left the Great Forest without a word, and then you cut off contact? Do you know how worried our parents were? We tried to find you, but you didn’t say where you were going, so we didn’t even know where to start. And you didn’t even bring a communication device. It’s been weeks, and Mom and Dad haven’t been able to sleep. Mom’s even fasting. And I had to convince Grandpa not to send out a search party…

S-Sister…?!

Leon shuddered slightly, remembering the scene before he left.

“Elena’s just worried, that’s all.”

“Right…?”

“I should go see them. I’ve caused them enough worry.”

“Don’t blame yourself too much.”

Leon led Lucia to Elena’s room.

They reached the door, and Leon took a deep breath before opening it.

“…What should I do?”

“Sister, don’t be so hard on yourself…”

Elena sat on the bed, her head in her hands, while Lena tried to comfort her. It was a stark contrast to her earlier demeanor.

“Elena? Are you okay?”

“Elena?”

“Ah, Leon… Lucia, you’re awake?”

Elena seemed to only notice them after they spoke.

It meant she had been deeply distressed, to the point where even her sharp elven senses failed her.

“Did something happen?”

“Something happened… Yes… something I caused…”

“Hmm?”

Elena mumbled something incomprehensible.

It took thirty minutes before they finally got the full story from her.

“So, this Aria saved your sister from slave traders?”

“Yes.”

“And you mistakenly attacked her?”

“…Yes.”

“Are you alright, Elena?”

“…No.”

Her voice grew quieter, her mood darkening.

Lena patted her back, but Elena remained dejected.

“But… it was a misunderstanding. It’s okay…”

“It’s not okay! You know how important debts of gratitude are to elves! Not only did I misunderstand the person who saved my sister, but I also attacked her… This is a matter of elven honor…”

She didn’t seem to care much about the attack, though…

Leon remembered Aria’s composure while facing their combined assault, but it didn't seem to matter to Elena right now.

“Sister… Aria didn’t seem to mind…”

“Elena.”

Lucia approached Elena.

Despite the tense atmosphere, she had a question she needed to ask.

“What was your impression of Aria?”

“My impression?”

Elena thought for a moment before replying.

“She’s incredibly strong.”

“She certainly blocked our attacks without any difficulty.”

“Anything else?”

“Hmm… She seemed emotionally detached.”

“Detached?”

Lucia asked, surprised.

“She didn’t react much when we attacked her, or when Leon and Alicia arrived. There wasn’t any visible emotional response.”

As if she didn’t have any emotions at all.

“Aria…”

How much had her sister changed?

Two years ago, she had been mature for her age, but not cold.

She had always reacted vividly to everything Lucia did.

“Perhaps you should sit down, Saint.”

“…Thank you.”

Lucia swayed, and Alicia quickly brought a chair.

Lucia sank into the chair, her thoughts racing.

“Anything else?”

“Well… according to Lena, she came to the capital for the Academy entrance exam.”

“The entrance exam? She’s applying to the Academy?”

“There’s only one Academy in the Empire.”

“Haa…”

That was a relief.

If she was applying to the Academy, Lucia would at least see her again at the entrance exam.

“How long until the exam?”

“About three days. Acceptance letters are sent out two weeks after the exam.”

“Three days…”

“That’s still a while away.”

Wait for me, Aria…

I returned home after the unexpected encounter with the Hero’s party.

I wasn't hungry, despite having bought groceries, so I put them away and lay down on the bed.

Is it really you?

Aria…

“Annoying.”

The scene kept replaying in my head.

I hadn't felt anything at the time, but an unpleasant feeling was now bubbling up inside me.

“I shouldn’t have met them.”

It was unexpected, but it still happened.

I had to get close to them because of the Demon King’s orders…

We would probably meet again at the entrance exam.

How long until the exam?

I checked the calendar.

Three days.

“Three days…”

“Time flies.”

Time passed quickly.

The morning of the entrance exam arrived.

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Chapter 23: Entrance Exam (1)

The morning of the entrance exam arrived.

The exam site, which I reached by carriage, was bustling with applicants.

Every year, roughly two thousand prospective students vied for a place in the Academy.

Children of the five great families, the pillars of the nation, nobles, commoners, and even students from abroad.

Each came with their own hopes and ambitions: recognition from their families, future success, a chance to hone their talents, and some with hidden agendas.

This year, the enrollment of the Hero’s party members had drawn even more applicants.

The crowd began to stir.

Speak of the devil.

“Kyaaa! Leon!”

“Look this way!”

“Saint! You’re so beautiful!”

Leon and Lucia stepped out of their carriage, immediately surrounded by a throng of admirers.

The presence of noble sons and daughters made the situation even more chaotic.

“Excuse me, could I get through…?”

Leon suddenly turned towards me.

I thought I was being discreet…

Did he sense my gaze?

Fortunately, he looked away before our eyes met, but I was impressed.

“Leon, are you alright?”

“Yeah, I felt something, but… it’s probably nothing.”

Leon continued to glance in my direction before turning back to the crowd.

I quickly headed towards the exam hall, just in case.

Perhaps due to the commotion surrounding the Hero and Saint, the hall was relatively quiet.

The applicants here were either uninterested in them or had given up on competing with the crowds.

In other words, most of the skilled applicants were gathered here.

It was also the waiting room for the potential heroines.

Except for me, of course.

I approached the reception desk, where a woman in Academy uniform greeted me.

“I’d like to register for the entrance exam.”

“Certainly, please wait a moment.”

She operated a magical device beside her and then handed me a slip of paper with the number 501 written on it.

“Your exam number is 501. Please enter when your number is called.”

“Thank you.”

Number 501…

If I remembered correctly, the first exam was a one-on-one duel.

Ten applicants would be called at a time, and they would be paired up to fight. I shouldn't encounter the Hero’s party, who would likely be delayed by the crowd.

I found a seat and waited.

After a while, two people approached and stopped in front of me.

“Aria, you came too.”

“Lena?”

It was Lena, the elf I had met three days ago.

Beside her stood a woman who resembled Lena, but with a more mature air.

“The Divine Archer is here as well.”

“Ah, I…”

Elena didn't respond to my greeting.

She seemed uncomfortable, fidgeting nervously.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes? Ah, yes!”

She seemed startled by my question.

Lena explained.

“It’s because of what happened the other day.”

“The other day?”

“When my sister attacked you.”

“L-Lena!”

Elena tried to stop her, but Lena continued.

Her explanation made me realize why Elena was acting so strangely.

“So you’re saying she’s like this because she attacked Lena’s benefactor?”

“Well, yeah.”

“I-I’m so sorry… I didn’t know…”

Elena was on the verge of tears.

She hung her head, and I spoke.

“It’s okay.”

“Huh?”

“I didn’t take it to heart.”

But I couldn’t resist teasing her a little.

“If the ‘Divine Archer’ attacked me, I’m sure she had a good reason.”

“No, it’s not like that…”

“I should be the one apologizing for causing such a misunderstanding.”

“U-Uh…”

“A-Aria?!”

Tears welled up in her eyes.

She was about to cry.

“I’m kidding.”

“R-Really…?”

“Of course…”

“Applicants 501 to 510, please enter!”

My number was called.

“I’m really fine, so don’t worry about it.”

“Ah…”

“Then I’ll be going.”

“W-Wait!”

Lena called out, but I had already entered the exam hall.

As mentioned before, the first exam was a one-on-one duel.

The instructors would observe the students' fights, assessing their strength, talent, and potential.

In short, only the strong and talented would advance, regardless of their social status.

It was also a good way to identify the heroines.

The protagonist’s potential party members were naturally stronger than average.

Many of the heroines were considered promising talents.

I walked down the corridor and entered the waiting room.

My opponent was already waiting.

My first impression was…

Delinquent?

He was.

Rough, dark-blond hair, and a fierce expression.

He looked like a stereotypical delinquent from my previous life.

He reminded me of Mammon, the Fourth Legion Commander.

“Hey, how about you forfeit?”

His personality seemed completely different, though.

If it were Mammon, he would be thrilled to fight.

“I’m Aria. I’ll have to decline your offer.”

“Trevor Gold. Too bad. I didn’t expect a commoner.”

What?

“I believe the Academy doesn’t discriminate based on social status.”

“That’s only for certain statuses. It would be beneath me, a son of one of the five great families, to fight a commoner like you.”

“If you fail, come to me. I’ll hire you as a maid.”

The examiner spoke.

He turned and held the door to the dueling arena open for me, like the gentleman he pretended to be.

Slap

“I don’t need your help.”

“You’re feistier than you look.”

He walked to the other side of the arena.

“Duel between applicants 501 and 502.”

“…Refrain from fatal or crippling blows. Give it your all.”

“I intend to.” “Sure.”

We both assumed our stances.

As I slowly raised my sword, Trevor channeled his magic power, sparks crackling around him.

“Begin!”

The examiner announced the start of the duel.

“Come on…!”

Before he could finish, I vanished.

“What?”

“You’re slow.”

Trevor looked around frantically, trying to sense my presence. I reappeared in front of him.

He instinctively tried to defend himself, but my sheathed sword was already swinging towards his chest.

But…

Boom!

“Ugh…!”

“Oh…”

He blocked the attack with his arm.

He actually blocked it?

I was genuinely surprised.

His face contorted in pain, his arm trembling. He hadn't been able to fully absorb the impact due to the speed of my attack, but he had still managed to block it.

“Die!”

He launched a lightning-fast attack.

The force behind his punch was impressive, worthy of a member of a great family, but it didn't faze me. I had seen far more powerful attacks on the battlefield.

“Slow.”

I tilted my head slightly, dodging his fist by a hair's breadth.

Before he could recover, I closed the distance.

A short, precise, and basic movement.

But…

“When?!”

…its speed made it a technique in itself.

I swung my sheathed sword again.

Whoosh

He tried to block, but this time, I stopped the sword just short of his chest.

He looked at me, puzzled. I leaned in and whispered.

“You boasted about your status, and this is all you’ve got?”

“…!”

His face twisted in shame and rage.

A member of a great family had probably never been humiliated like this, especially by a “commoner.”

“You…!”

“Let me know if you fail the exam.”

I’ll buy you a piece of bread.

As if on cue, we both moved simultaneously.

“I’ll kill you!”

“If you can.”

The arena was filled with the crackle of lightning and the thud of impacts.

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Chapter 24: Entrance Exam (2)

“…Is that… even possible…?”

Alicia, the Saint’s bodyguard and childhood friend, was experiencing a mental overload.

Crash, boom!

It wasn't just her.

Everyone in the arena was captivated by the fight unfolding before them.

Blinding flashes of light and crackling lightning filled the arena. Every time Trevor’s attacks struck the protective barrier surrounding the arena, it trembled violently.

That much was understandable.

The man was Trevor Gold, a son of one of the five great families, and a person of interest Alicia had been warned about. His power wasn't surprising.

But light couldn't shine without a contrasting darkness.

The reason people were drawn to this fight wasn't just Trevor's power, but the woman’s performance.

A flash, and a spear of lightning shot forward at blinding speed.

But she effortlessly dodged it with a single step. Another step, and she vanished, reappearing in front of Trevor.

She swung her sheathed sword, and Trevor blocked with his arm.

Using a sheathed sword could be seen as disrespectful, but in this case, it was the opposite. It was a sign of consideration, a display of the vast difference in their strength.

Boom!

A shockwave erupted as the sheathed sword struck Trevor’s magically reinforced arm, sending ripples through the protective barrier.

Even a layman could tell this was an extraordinary fight.

But Alicia, and a few others, saw something more.

She’s toying with him…

This wasn’t a fight.

It was a predator playing with its prey.

Most of the applicants present were considered promising talents, but none of them could react to her speed.

Despite her overwhelming speed, her attacks were simple, direct, and focused solely on the front.

A predictable pattern that could be easily blocked if one could keep up.

But it was also a way to showcase the vast difference in their abilities.

How long could Alicia last against her?

No, the question was meaningless.

This fight was continuing only because the woman was dragging it out. If Alicia were in Trevor's place, it would have ended the moment the woman decided it should.

“Aria…”

“Saint, are you alright?”

“Yes… I’m fine.”

Lucia murmured the woman's name beside Alicia.

Aria. The woman who was supposedly her sister.

“She’s strong.”

“Indeed.”

Leon and Elena watched the fight, their expressions grim.

They had experienced her strength firsthand.

Someone this strong… and yet, she’s unknown…

Before coming to the Academy, Leon had received a list of promising talents.

He had reviewed it several times after the incident three days ago, just in case he had missed something.

But the name “Aria” wasn't on the list.

A powerful individual unknown even to the Church's vast intelligence network.

If she was simply unknown, it would be fine, but what if she was a threat to Lucia?

I apologize, Saint.

As Lucia’s bodyguard, he couldn't ignore a potential threat.

He vowed to request an investigation and turned his attention back to the fight, which was nearing its end.

As expected, I won.

Even with the restrictions, he was no match for me.

Trevor fought bravely, pushing himself to his limits, but…

…he eventually collapsed unconscious.

Ignoring the cheers of the crowd, I returned to the waiting area.

I opened the door, and…

…all eyes turned to me.

People stepped aside as I walked past.

“Why don’t you stay and watch a bit longer?”

“Lena?”

Lena stopped me.

“Have you finished your exam?”

“I finished before you arrived. My sister said she would wait for you.”

“Oh.”

I hadn't realized she was waiting for me.

“So, what about you?”

Hmm… Watching the Divine Archer’s duel…

I had time.

It wouldn't hurt to see if her skills matched my memories.

“Sure, let’s go.”

Lena led me to the spectator seats. The waiting room door opened just as we arrived.

Elena and a red-haired woman emerged to the cheers of the crowd.

“It’s an honor to fight you, Divine Archer.”

“The honor is mine, Miss Scarlet.”

They exchanged greetings and assumed their stances.

I focused on the red-haired woman's name.

Are they pitting the heroines against each other?

If I heard correctly, Elena's opponent was Diona Scarlet.

Like Trevor, she was a daughter of one of the five great families, and a future member of the protagonist's harem.

The examiner signaled the start of the duel, and they both moved.

Elena created distance and fired an arrow.

Whoosh

Diona incinerated the arrow before it reached her and launched a fireball.

Flames filled the arena, but Elena was unfazed, dodging and deflecting the fireballs with her arrows.

Elena’s attacks were blocked by a wall of flames.

It seemed like Diona had the upper hand, but…

“She’s getting impatient.”

“Huh?”

Diona’s powerful techniques consumed a lot of magic power.

Sensing the drain, her attacks became more frantic, less precise, and easier to dodge.

“She’ll probably use her trump card soon.”

As if on cue, the flames surrounding Diona vanished.

It wasn't because she was running out of magic power. She was conserving it for a single, powerful attack.

“Here I come!”

“…!”

A giant egg-shaped mass of fire appeared in front of Diona.

Cracks appeared on its surface, and flames erupted, taking the form of a bird.

The phoenix, the symbol of the Scarlet family and Diona’s trademark.

It wasn't a true divine beast, just a manifestation of magic power, and its power was far less than it would be later in the story, but it was still a formidable attack.

Screech!

The phoenix opened its beak, letting out an earsplitting cry, its magic power sending shivers down my spine. But this was just a warning.

The real attack…

“Sister!”

…was a torrent of flames aimed at Elena.

Lena jumped up, but Elena remained calm, drawing her bowstring and channeling her magic power.

Twang!

Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of arrows rained down on the phoenix.

Like a downpour extinguishing a fire, the arrows collided with the flames, creating a cascade of explosions.

The arrows burned, but more arrows replaced them.

Finally, the phoenix faltered, and an arrow pierced its body.

Thud, thud, thud…

The remaining arrows struck, and the flames dissipated. Diona, depleted of magic power, collapsed.

“The winner is Elena Arjen!”

The crowd roared.

Lena cheered for her sister’s victory.

“Well, I’m glad your sister won.”

“See? My sister is amazing, right?”

I had complimented Elena, but Lena seemed even more pleased.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“Huh? Already? The Saint’s duel is about to begin.”

Lucia’s duel…

“…I’m not interested.”

“H-Huh?”

I left Lena looking confused and headed for the exit, but I stopped when I saw a familiar woman approaching from the other end of the corridor.

“Miss Aria.”

“Elena. I enjoyed your duel.”

“I’m glad!”

Elena smiled, pleased that I had watched.

She seemed to have something to say.

“Is there something you wanted to ask?”

“Ah, well…”

Elena blushed, embarrassed.

Her gaze darted around.

“I was wondering… if you’d like to have dinner with me… as an apology for the other day…”

“…Just the two of us?”

“N-No! Lena will be there too… and Leon and Lucia…”

She stammered.

It would be a chance to get closer to them, but…

“I’m afraid I’ll have to decline.”

“I… see…”

I wasn’t interested.

“I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have asked!”

“It’s alright. Thank you for the offer.”

That was a lie.

But there was no need to cause trouble.

I left Elena looking disappointed.

I was sure I had left, but…

“Miss Aria!”

“See you later, Aria.”

Lena and Elena greeted me cheerfully. Lucia and Alicia stood behind them.

How did this happen…?

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Chapter 25: Admission Preparation

Let's recap the situation.

As always, during breakfast, a letter suddenly arrived.

Well, it's only natural, but it was none other than the Academy's acceptance letter.

Honestly, it would be stranger if I didn't get accepted. If they rejected me, they'd have to reject the children of the Five Great Families as well.

From the moment my opponent was a child of the Gold family, one of the Five Great Families, my acceptance was practically guaranteed.

After easily finishing my preparations to go out, I left the house to find the nearest clothing store.

After walking for a while, I found a clothing store that looked decent and went inside…

“We meet again, Aria!”

“See you again, Aria?”

“…”

Why are they here?

My reaction immediately followed, despite my complicated thoughts.

“It's been a while.”

A calm reply, as always, came from my carefully crafted expressionless face, hiding even my own emotions.

“Are you here to get your uniform, Aria?”

“Well, yes.”

“So you were accepted?”

“Yes, I just received the letter this morning.”

While casually chatting with Lena, two people approached me.

They were none other than Lucia and Alicia.

“Are you Aria?”

“Yes. May I ask who you are?”

“Oh, come to think of it, I didn't introduce myself last time because I was in a hurry.”

Alicia spoke as if she just remembered, in response to my question.

“I’m Alicia, the Saint’s escort.”

“Is that so?”

“…You aren't surprised?”

“Should I be?”

Since I was a little taller, Alicia raised her head to meet my gaze.

For some reason, her expression held a faint suspicion directed at me.

“Usually, when the Saint is mentioned, most people are surprised. I seem to have been momentarily taken aback by your unexpected reaction.”

“I don't usually express my emotions much. It’s understandable that you might misunderstand.”

“Are you here to get your uniform fitted?”

“As I said, I was accepted into the Academy…”

As expected of her, the one who was most loyal to the Saint’s well-being in the original story.

Even in light questions that others might perceive as mere curiosity, she consistently delves into the core.

She’s probably trying to see if I'm approaching Lucia with ulterior motives.

Although her face is smiling as she faces me, I can sense her constantly assessing me from her eyes.

Of course, I'm not careless enough to fall for these tactics.

“Excuse me, but I'd like to go home and rest. May I pass?”

“Oh. O-of course… I apologize if I was intruding. Especially if you were in a hurry.”

Alicia seemed flustered, perhaps because I continued to show no interest in Lucia.

She quickly regained her composure before anyone else noticed, but well…

I have no intention of approaching the Saint now, though I might later. Even then, I’ll only go as far as establishing a certain level of trust, as the Demon King ordered. I have no intention of getting any closer than that.

“Hello, are you here for your uniform fitting?”

“Yes, I’d like two sets, please.”

“We need to take your measurements first, so please come this way.”

Wait, measurements?

Before I could fully understand, I was pulled by a staff member and led inside.

“Just what kind of person is she…?”

“Hmm? Alicia? Did you call me?”

“It’s nothing.”

“You don’t need to be so formal in this setting.”

“…Okay.”

Lucia called out to Alicia, who was muttering to herself.

Knowing that it was difficult to refuse Lucia's request to drop the formalities, Alicia decided there was no need to expend energy on maintaining polite speech.

‘What exactly is her purpose?’

Instead, she was currently focusing on figuring out the intentions of that woman.

‘So you couldn’t find anything?’

‘I’ve searched through the information the Church has, but we couldn't find anything.’

‘Is that even possible? There’s no information at all in the Church about such a strong individual who looks exactly like the Saint?’

‘We also care deeply for the Saint's safety, but…’

Not long ago, she requested an investigation into the woman named Aria, but this was the response she received.

Even though this concerned the safety of Lucia, the Saint, such a response meant one of two things.

Either the information was beyond her authority to access.

Or.

‘There really is no information about her.’

Either way, she couldn't deny that it continued to bother her.

Even today, she deliberately came to a store far from their lodging to avoid unnecessary attention, but somehow, she ran into her again.

At first, she thought Aria might be targeting Lucia, but it seemed Lucia was outside her area of interest.

Except for the initial moment they entered, Aria hadn’t even glanced at Lucia, instead focusing her conversation on the Elena sisters, making her purpose even harder to discern.

‘Just who are you…?’

A powerful individual whose identity, let alone purpose, remained unknown.

At the same time, she bore an uncanny resemblance to Lucia.

Alicia couldn't shake the feeling that this woman might be more dangerous than the individuals on her watch list.

“Are you finished?”

“Whew… I’m exhausted…”

While her thoughts were tangled, Aria emerged from the fitting room.

Elena greeted her, but Aria didn’t reply, seemingly quite tired.

“Thanks to the customer, I was satisfied for the first time in a while.”

The staff member emerged from behind her, wearing a completely opposite expression.

‘Don't tell me she has that kind of…’

“Sigh… Please step away.”

The staff member whispered something to Aria, but since most people present possessed hearing far beyond ordinary levels, it was clearly audible.

At the same time, three gazes converged on one spot.

‘Are they that big?’

Indeed, at a glance, their size was extraordinary.

Alicia considered herself to have a figure that wasn’t lacking compared to others, but this was on a different level.

Perhaps Lucia was comparable? Even then, Aria’s seemed slightly larger.

“Is something the matter? Is there something on my face?”

“N-no, nothing.”

Perhaps sensing their gazes, Aria turned to look at them.

Embarrassed, they all blushed and turned away, but the strange atmosphere lingered.

“Where should we send them when they’re ready?”

“Please send them to this address.”

Aria wrote down the address on the paper the staff member handed her and turned around.

“Are you leaving already?”

“I’m finished here. I have other things to prepare.”

“We need to prepare too. Do you want to go together?”

“Thank you for the offer, but… I prefer being alone.”

“I see…”

With those words, Aria walked out.

The door closed behind her.

She walked for a while, then stopped.

“You can come out now.”

Her voice, now devoid of emotion, had turned coldly indifferent, as if she had become a different person.

“You can come out now.”

“I’d heard the rumors, but as expected of Lucifer-nim.”

A man materialized out of thin air.

An ordinary person would have been startled by this sudden appearance, but I wasn’t.

“It’s Aria, right now. If anyone overhears, you’ll pay with your life.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The man bowed his head at my words.

“So, what’s the reason for seeking me out?”

“You get straight to the point.”

“We’re not in a situation where we can afford a long conversation.”

Judging by Alicia’s look earlier, I’m already under suspicion by the Church.

He seemed to have put up a barrier around us as soon as he appeared, but it wouldn’t last long.

“The purpose of my visit is to inform you of the future meeting place.”

Come to think of it, he did say he’d let me know when the time was right.

“If you come to the location written here, our side will make the necessary preparations.”

He said, handing me a piece of paper.

I took the paper and turned around without hesitation.

“Oh, by the way, it seems you've already built some rapport with the Hero’s party members. As expected, you’re impressive.”

“It was nothing special.”

“There’s no need to be so modest. It’s quite an achievement, no matter who looks at it.”

“I suppose.”

As I was about to leave the barrier, he spoke to me.

However, what he said next wasn't something I could easily ignore.

“I hear you're related to the current Saint.”

I paused.

“Did you investigate me?”

“It was unavoidable.”

“Hmph, what a load of bull.”

“Although I doubt it will happen, I hope you won’t let personal feelings interfere with your mission.”

“…Is that all you have to say?”

A silent affirmation.

However, the smile on his face, as if his task was complete, irritated me even more.

Squeeze

“What the…!”

My hand shot out, seizing his throat as if to crush it, and slammed him against the alley wall.

A bizarre scene unfolded: a woman between 170 and 180cm tall lifted a man, at least 10cm taller than her, with one hand.

“Are you doubting me, someone trusted by the Demon King? You, who aren't even a Legion Commander?”

“Gah, ugh… I apologize if… I offended you…”

“You’re good with words, aren’t you? Makes me want to kill you even more.”

My hand continued to tighten around his throat, his face turning whiter as he lost oxygen.

I wanted to kill him right here and now, just to get rid of this unpleasant feeling.

But I knew it wouldn’t do me any good, so I refrained.

Thud

“Gasp… Gasp…”

“This is a one-time warning.”

“I’ll… keep it in mind…”

The man collapsed to one knee as my grip loosened.

I watched him clutch his throat and gasp for air, then spoke.

“You. What’s your name?”

“It’s Fluver.”

“Fluver…”

I didn't like it, but...

“I'll remember it.”

“…It’s an honor.”

“I didn't mean it in a good way.”

With that, we both stepped out of the barrier.

A moment later, the barrier vanished, and the place became quiet, as if nothing had happened.

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