I walked down the hallway after a lecture that had left me feeling... uneasy. Creepy? Scary? I wasn't quite sure, but it had certainly left an impression.
Elysia and Lene had headed off somewhere else.
"You know..." I muttered under my breath.
"Yes?" Selena tilted her head.
"I always thought a Hero would be someone more... free."
"Free?"
"I mean, according to that lecture, they 'exist solely to protect.' That doesn't sound like a person." I searched for the right words. "It sounds more like a machine, or some kind of programmed role."
"A machine?" Selena repeated.
Right, the concept of a machine probably didn't translate well here.
She spoke quietly. "I have my own thoughts on the matter, but this is simply the way of this country. The Hero exists to protect the Saint. That is how the stories have always gone."
"I guess so..."
I could accept that logic on the surface. Everything here was fundamentally different from my old world. The idea that a Saint must be protected and that specific people were born for that purpose wasn't something I had the right to meddle with.
"...Though I wonder how the person themselves feels about it," I added, Nana’s face flickering through my mind.
Selena narrowed her eyes slightly. Beside her, Yuka answered instantly.
"There is no problem for you, Lord Luka. You are not a citizen of the Holy Theocracy, after all."
"I guess you're right."
"Indeed."
Fair enough. For the time being, it seemed the Holy Theocracy was not at all suited for a slow life.
We passed through the corridor and stepped outside. The courtyard, framed by stark white buildings, was as silent as ever.
"So, what's the plan?" I asked, giving my arms a light stretch. "We're done with Academy business for the day, right?"
"Yes," Yuka nodded. "Everything is finished for today."
"In that case—" I flashed a mischievous grin. "Let's head into the city!"
"...Again?"
"Again."
I gave her an answer that left no room for debate. "We came all this way. It would be a waste not to enjoy ourselves."
Yuka considered this for a moment. "...I have no objections."
Then again, I don't think she's ever actually objected to one of my ideas.
"I'll go too," Selena added with a quiet nod. "I can act as your guide for a bit."
Selena puffed out her chest with pride. She was so cute I felt like I might actually sink into the pavement. (I'm at my limit here.)
The streets of the Holy Theocracy were truly unique.
The buildings were uniformly white, and the roads were perfectly maintained. The people were all smiles, giving the impression of a prosperous, happy nation.
"The atmosphere really is different," I whispered to myself. "Everything feels... efficient? Like there's no waste."
"Order is strictly maintained here," Selena explained.
"Doesn't it feel a bit suffocating?"
"Perhaps most people here don't even think to question it."
"I see."
As we walked and chatted, something caught the corner of my eye.
There, in the shadow of a building, tucked away in a corner... was a lone girl. She was sitting on the ground, leaning back against the wall.
She looked to be around my age, maybe a little older. Her hair was a silky blonde, not unlike my own. Her features were incredibly refined—I was constantly surrounded by beauties, yet even so, she was strikingly pretty.
But something was wrong.
"...Lord Luka."
It seemed Yuka had noticed too.
"Yeah."
I gave a short nod and approached her. It was time for my Kindness (EX) to shine.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
The girl slowly raised her head. Her eyes were calm, almost distant.
"...Do you want something?" Her voice was thin, but it had a certain firmness to it.
"No, you just looked like you were in a bad way," I said with a light smile. "Are you feeling sick?"
"...No." She shook her head slightly. "It's just..." She hesitated for a fraction of a second. "...I'm hungry."
Hungry?
"Ah... what about your money?"
"I left it behind."
I see. I glanced at our surroundings, thought for a moment, and then made a decision.
"Wait here a second."
I ducked into a nearby shop, ordered some bread and soup—getting some for myself as well—and hurried back.
"Here, take this," I said, holding the food out to her. "You're hungry, right?"
The girl's eyes widened ever so slightly. "...Is this okay?"
"Sure, why not?" I shrugged. "I was hungry myself until a minute ago, so I just grabbed extra."
She stared at the food in silence for a long moment. "...Thank you," she whispered, accepting the meal.
She began to eat the bread slowly and quietly. I watched her, struck by a strange thought. She was just eating bread, yet she looked remarkably elegant doing it.
"...I'll pay you back," she murmured. "I promise I'll return the favor."
"No, don't worry about it. It’s just bread and soup. Consider it on the house."
"But—"
"Really, it’s fine." I gave her my best 'Noblesse Oblige' look. "We should help each other out when we're in a bind, right?"
The girl went silent again. Then, she whispered, "You're a strange person."
"I get that a lot."
"Do you?" A tiny smile played on the corners of her mouth.
When she finished eating, she stood up and looked me in the eye. "...Your name. May I ask what it is?"
"I'm Luka." I'd found it too much of a hassle to use my family name lately. "And you?"
She paused for a heartbeat. "...Sera," she answered curtly.
"That's a nice name."
"Thanks."
With that, she turned on her heel. "...See you later," she said softly.
Then, she vanished into the crowd.
I watched her retreating back for a while. "She was... a mysterious one," I muttered.
"Yes," Selena agreed quietly. "But there was something about her..."
"Indeed," Yuka chimed in.
What? What was "something"?
"However," Yuka's voice dropped an octave, "I didn't sense any ill intent toward you, Lord Luka. So I believe it’s fine."
"Wait, what? If she’d had ill intent after I bought her lunch, I’d lose all faith in humanity."
Still, I couldn't shake a nagging sensation. It was the same feeling I’d had when I met Nana.
"...Again, huh," I whispered.
This country... There was definitely something off about it. And I couldn't shake the feeling that, somehow, I knew this place.