Having worked up a sweat, Chesa and I were catching our breath in the guest room of the barracks Yuri had led us to.
It was simple, but clean. Putting up with all those annoyances and playing nice had definitely paid off. Securing a place to sleep was huge.
"Chesa."
I called out to her as she diligently brewed black tea in the corner of the room.
Because of the suspicion that I was abusing her, separate quarters had been prepared for each of us. Even so, Chesa had casually strolled into my room to look after me as if nothing were out of the ordinary.
"What is it, Master?"
"Why are you so keen on meeting this Saint?"
I voiced the question that had been nagging at me for a while.
She probably had nothing to hide, because she answered in a calm, matter-of-fact tone.
"I have heard that the Saint is an expert in healing magic. If possible, I would like to apprentice under her."
Her voice was quiet, yet burning with quiet fervor.
Huh... Her ambition has really known no bounds lately. Water Attribute Magic is well-suited for healing, so it makes sense that she'd take an interest in the Saint.
"Also... I heard that the Light Attribute Magic she wields can purify various curses. There is something I must try, no matter what."
Chesa's tone abruptly dropped an octave.
Her gaze turned thick, chilling me to the bone. If it wasn't my imagination, her eyes seemed fixed directly on my right shoulder.
"W-W-W-Wait! I-I-I'm n-n-not a c-curse!!"
Zest's panicked shriek echoed in my mind.
What's his problem all of a sudden?...Maybe he's just tired. I'll have to lay him out in the sun again.
The Saint, huh...
Position-wise, is she roughly on par with a princess like Eileen? In this country, the imperial family supposedly blends in with the common folk, so her standing might be even higher in practice.
And Reiji seems to be on good terms with her.
In that case—
—I'll go mess with the Saint and make Reiji furious!!
It's a brilliant plan. If I insult the Saint, who serves as the nation's symbol, Holy Knights like Yuri and Lumia won't take it sitting down, and their friend Reiji will undoubtedly draw his sword.
I may have missed the prime stepping stone opportunity of entering the Advent Festival, but this idea is every bit as good.
Hehehe... I can see it. I can see it now...
The future where Reiji completely overwhelms me...
The vision of the Holy Knights cheering him on with cries of "Get him!" and "Take down that villain!" as they shower him with praise!!
Then, coughing up blood, I'll spit out my parting line—"I-Impossible... How could I lose to the likes of you...?!"—and collapse.
Ah... it's magnificent.
I'll fall asleep tonight basking in this daydream. But the moment that thought crossed my mind—a splitting headache tore through my skull.
"—Guh, gh...?!"
My vision flickered.
I knew this feeling all too well. This was—
—The Master Eye.
As I doubled over in sudden agony, Chesa cried out in alarm, "Master!" But I had no room to worry about the reality in front of me.
The first thing that flooded my senses was a deafening roar of cheers.
Where... is this?
In a bowl-shaped arena, Reiji and I stood facing each other. We both held our swords at the ready as cheers cascaded down from the surrounding stands.
Could this be... the Advent Festival?!
A massive banner hung in the center of the arena, emblazoned with the words "Final Match" in bold lettering.
Unbelievable...
In the World as It Should Be, I entered the Advent Festival and clashed with Reiji in the finals!!
Isn't this the exact stepping stone scenario I've been dreaming of?!
—How's that, Claude?
Gasping for breath, I looked up to see Reiji glaring down at me with razor-sharp eyes.
—Know your place. You can't beat me.
So...
So coooooooooooooooool!!!!
Dual-wielding the Golden Twin Swords, Reiji had the fierce, resolute face of a true hero. I will win. I'll never lose. That unyielding determination radiated from his valiant gaze. Claude was utterly pierced by that look, sharper than any blade.
The Claude of the World as It Should Be groaned, falling to his knees. The instant he did, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause. The match was decided. I couldn't see the details, but it must have been a magnificent fight.
What... What a glorious sight!!
However, my exhilaration ended right there.
—GYAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!
A bloodcurdling scream rang out.
From somewhere... No, from everywhere...?!
What just happened?!
Reiji was just as bewildered, looking around in utter panic.
The cheering spectators suddenly began writhing in agony all at once. Grotesque white wings sprouted from their backs as their bodies twisted into hideous monsters.
This... I've seen this before.
It's the exact same transformation Eileen underwent back in the Kingdom of Militail!!
What is the meaning of this?
The monsters ran amok, slaughtering people left and right. The spectators... the Holy Knights... Yuri and Lumia too... Everyone was being butchered...!!
—UWAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!
The last thing to reach my ears was Reiji's agonized, grief-stricken cry.
The vision snapped shut, and I collapsed onto all fours against the floor.
"Haa, haa...!!"
"Are you all right?!"
Zest's voice was tight with panic.
Yeah... I'm fine.
Damn it, I'm disgusted with myself for getting carried away, even for a second. I should have known by now that the futures shown by the Master Eye are almost always nightmares.
Calm down... Just like always. First, sort out the facts.
In the World as It Should Be, Reiji and I clashed in the finals of the Advent Festival. And right after my defeat, the spectators turned into monsters.
We know what those creatures are. Eileen fell victim to the same thing.
"The Seed of Artificial Mythos... wasn't it?"
That's what Logen called it.
The Order can implant Seeds of Artificial Mythos into humans. Once those seeds sprout, the hosts turn into Apostles.
This is bad....Extremely bad.
I don't have the luxury to sit around plotting ways to mess with the Saint anymore.
I don't have enough information. What are the Apostles after? Who carries a Seed of Artificial Mythos? There's no way to find those answers right this second.
Even so, I have to move.
I need to get out of these barracks immediately and track down the Order's movements.
"Chesa."
"Y-Yes?!"
I called out to Chesa, who was standing right in front of me, almost on pure instinct.
What should I do? I'm sure she'd obey without an explanation, but...
No... That's out of the question.
The hellish vision of that mass Apostle outbreak flashed through my mind. If things go south like that, I don't have the confidence to keep her safe.
She's far better off staying in these barracks where Yuri and the other Holy Knights can protect her.
"...Something's come up. Stay here and keep quiet."
"Huh? Master, where are you—?!"
Without waiting for her to finish, I sprang to my feet.
First, I had to break out of this place.
"Where's the exit?"
Hell if I know!!
They're going to be on high alert the moment I make a run for it anyway. In that case, there's no point in sneaking around.
Sprinting to the end of the hallway, I cloaked myself in Jet-black Magic Power and smashed straight through the wall ahead.
With a deafening roar, the stone shattered, leaving a massive hole in its wake.
If I just keep plowing forward in a straight line, I'll hit the outside eventually.
Bashing through another wall, I burst into the room beyond—only to freeze dead in my tracks at the scene before me.
Thick, billowing white steam.
A massive stone bath.
And—two stark-naked women staring back at me from the water, their faces frozen in pure shock.
Yuri and Lumia.
The twin Holy Knights were right in the middle of a bath.
"......"
"......"
A suffocating, awkward silence filled the room.
Right now... Right now really isn't...!!
Really isn't the time for this kind of nonsense~~~~!!
"Wha...!! What are you doing here?!"
Flushing bright red, Yuri shrieked and immediately stood up, moving to shield her younger sister behind her back.
"Damn you!! Did you meekly follow us here just so you could burn the sight of Lumia's naked body into your mind?!"
"She's looking at you too, Big Sis..."
Lumia offered an exasperated, deadpan correction.
Her sister complex is out of control.
"You sex offender!! I'll cut you down where you stand!!"
Excuses clearly weren't going to work, and I didn't have time for them anyway. Completely ignoring Yuri as she lunged forward without the slightest regard for her lack of clothing, I kicked right through the bathhouse window and bolted outside.
"Stop, you pervert!! You sex offender!!"
Who are you calling a pervert?!
Damn it... Maybe I should've landed one good punch on her before making a break for it.
"As if that would have helped."
Zest let out a weary sigh.
Leaving Yuri's furious screams echoing behind me, I successfully broke out of the barracks.
Leaping from rooftop to rooftop into the distance, my mind involuntarily drifted back to what I had seen in the bathhouse.
Yuri and Lumia. It wasn't the allure of their naked bodies, but...
"...It seems their title as the strongest Holy Knights is no exaggeration."
Zest murmured in a low, somber tone.
The bodies I had glimpsed for only an instant... were etched with countless gruesome scars, wholly unfitting for young women their age.
Slash wounds, stab marks, and burn scars... An endless tapestry of trauma covered them from back to belly.
It was abnormal. At their age, just how many hellish bloodbaths did they have to crawl through to end up like that...?
"...Though when it comes to the number of hells survived, I doubt they have you beat."
Don't worry about me.
I was handed the grand role of stepping stone for the hero, and from the day I was born, I was blessed with the talent and lineage to pull it off. I was even given a Holy Sword named Zest.
I doubt those two were ever half as fortunate as I was.
Reiji... If you can, save them.
I'll make sure every single obstacle in your path is wiped away—