In the southern part of the academy city, there was a vast plain stretching beyond the horizon, filled with enormous fields. Various cultivation facilities and agricultural vehicles were bustling about in that area.
The agricultural students from <Holy Alfenheim High School> were also busily moving around under the scorching summer sun. While students from other races would have been exhausted after just an hour in such heat, the elven students remained unfazed even under the blazing sunlight.
Thanks to their natural ability to quickly adapt to the environment, they were able to harvest seasonal crops all year round.
The main crop being harvested at the moment was corn.
Under normal circumstances, it would be challenging to cultivate corn on such a large scale, as it depletes soil nutrients quickly. However, the blessing of Yggdrasil made this possible.
An ever-abundant harvest. The blessing of Yggdrasil, which has protected humanity for over a thousand years, generously provided daily sustenance to the believers living near its great light.
‘…Still, this seems a bit much.’
One senior elven student, wearing a straw hat to shade her face, spoke to a junior who was moving a sack of corn beside her.
“How much corn did you get from plot D-21?” “According to the records, about twice… no, almost three times more than last year.” “This year is strange… No matter what we plant, we’re getting way more than last year…”
At least twice the amount… some crops yielded more than ten times the average. The most notable example until recently was the overwhelming harvest of potatoes that had filled every school storage facility to capacity.
‘We had so many that we had to just pile them up on the plains because there was no room left in the storage. And now we’ll have to do the same with the corn?’
As the senior student recalled that memory, she began to feel a headache coming on.
Thanks to schools like <Scarlet Academy>, which were always eager for free supplies, they had barely managed to get the storage situation under control. But now she had a feeling that the corn was going to be just as troublesome.
“…”
A good harvest was certainly not a bad thing. There were plenty of schools that loved free stuff, so if they announced that there was a surplus, the other schools would surely come and take it away.
‘But something feels off.’
This continuous, unusually bountiful harvest didn’t feel like entirely good news. After all, all this energy originated from Yggdrasil.
“…”
The changes in Yggdrasil don’t always move in a positive direction. And those changes are closely tied to the situation in <Academy City Yggdrasil>, the city closest to Yggdrasil.
‘The academy city has been in turmoil throughout the first semester, and this year… it feels like something else is going to happen…’
Trouble was always abundant in <Academy City Yggdrasil>, and while the <United Student Council> was reportedly handling the issues that arose this year…
Something felt strange. She had an uneasy feeling.
‘And the fact that the Spirit of the Sword, who usually remains quiet, has suddenly given a revelation to the theology students…’
The senior elven student muttered to herself with a serious expression.
“…Something’s not right.” “Not right? It’s a bit much, but… with the blessing of Yggdrasil, the soil recovers quickly, so maybe that’s why?” “…”
It was the most common and reasonable conclusion. However, even after hearing that, the senior with the straw hat still had a serious expression on her face.
The second-year junior, who had just thrown a large sack of corn onto a vehicle, tilted her head in confusion.
“…?” “…”
After a moment of silence, the senior took off her straw hat, placed it on the junior’s head, and began to walk purposefully toward the edge of the cornfield that stretched across the horizon.
Rustle—
When the senior removed her straw hat, her long, tied-up blonde hair swayed as she moved, and a faint green ether shimmered around her.
[Anna, the Great Bow of Verdant Green] spoke as she walked.
“I need to see Nella.” “The head of the theology department?” “Yes, I need to hear how the Spirit of the Sword communicated with them. There must be more to why they suddenly brought Clara and the students of <Central Prism Academy> here.”
Leaving the junior behind, who was still moving sacks of corn, Anna walked forward. After a while, she paused and looked back.
“…”
She saw the expansive fields of her alma mater, <Holy Alfenheim High School>, one of the largest schools in <Academy City Yggdrasil>.
Fields stretching tens of kilometers beyond the horizon. Elven students from the agriculture department walking around in their comfortable attire. And the white buildings stretching in a straight line all the way to the Golden Street.
A life of nurturing plants, following the ways of Yggdrasil as a personal deity. A life lived according to the [Fate] determined by Yggdrasil.
A familiar landscape. A place she would soon graduate from.
‘What does graduation mean to us, really?’
After all…
‘What was the purpose of building a “school” rather than a “temple” in the place closest to the gods?’
Anna let these many thoughts flow through her mind as she continued walking. However, the sticky mud clinging to her boots made it difficult to move.
The first-class experience on the ether train I boarded for the first time was incredible.
By now, we were halfway to our destination, and thanks to the comfortable seats, I didn’t feel any discomfort at all. Traveling across various fields and plains, the journey to <Holy Alfenheim High School> didn’t feel long at all.
And the service we received there was beyond luxurious.
Members of the theology department from <Holy Alfenheim High School>. They treated us with greater care than flight attendants would.
‘At first, they charged at us like they were going to kidnap us, but then their attitude suddenly changed… I’ve seen this scene in the main story, but seeing it in real life was kind of crazy.’
In the original story, they only moved for the [Hero] chosen by [The Nameless Hawk], but this time, they also took care of the [Saint], which was a significant difference.
‘Well… I had a good guess as to why…’
Anyway…
They arranged for the highest-class ether train to transport three students and a bird to <Holy Alfenheim High School>.
Albite, Kara, Piyaki, and I received the most attentive service on the way.
By the way, Rota decided to go to <Bana Public Boarding School> alone to research the knowledge she had heard from Urd. She was taking Urd’s words very seriously.
‘Now that I think about it, out of everyone, Rota, who’s the smartest and who believed in Urd and me the quickest, was the most surprising.’
I wasn’t trying to deceive her… it was more like handing out the answer sheet. Still, I hadn’t expected her to believe it so easily.
In response to my question, Rota had said:
It’s disqualifying for a magician to deny what’s right in front of their eyes! What you thought was the truth might turn out to be just a small fragment of it! …That’s what [The Golden Witch] told me before she left… Hehe. Huh? So, do you believe me when I say I’m a ‘friend of the goddess’~☆ Yes! Of course! Because the senior I’ve seen until now isn’t the kind of person who would deceive others for something bad! So, analyzing the shattered pieces of truth and discovering a new path was her responsibility… and if she was wrong, it would be her responsibility to bear.
Rota had answered that way and boarded the train.
“…”
I had always considered myself pretty smart, But hearing Rota, whom I had viewed as just a kid, speak like that made me feel a sense of humility.
‘What I thought was the truth might not be the truth…’
As I was thinking about that, a gentle voice came from beside me.
“Saint! Say ‘Ah~’!” “Ah~☆” “Good job!”
A piece of fluffy, high-quality corn muffin was placed in my mouth. The rich aroma of corn filled my nostrils, and as it mixed with the sweet taste of saliva, it melted away.
The taste reminded me of the smiling faces of the elven students harvesting corn, their ears twitching as they worked. The slightly crunchy sugar was a bonus.
Nom nom—☆
Even though I had tasted sweetness countless times before, the primitive onslaught of carbohydrates made my lips quiver with pleasure.
This is it. This is life.
This unhealthy flavor…! Loaded with sugar, packed with carbs…!
At this moment, I had temporarily dismissed the soul of a warrior and had fully embraced the identity of a young girl greedily craving sweetness.
‘Life isn’t about sweet and salty; it’s about sweet and sweeter…!’
Back on Earth, ‘sweetness’ itself had been a precious resource, something not easily accessible until technology advanced. But in this academy city, made just for girls, it was ‘somehow’ very easy to obtain various sweeteners. Each school had its own way of making and enjoying desserts.
‘Among all of them, the desserts made by the elf… I mean, the kind fairy students of <Holy Alfenheim High School>, are undoubtedly the best.’
After entering the workforce in my mid-20s, dealing with various diseases and belly fat was a constant threat. Being freed from those worries, I could now fully enjoy the taste of desserts.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of becoming Clara was being able to eat as much as I wanted.
‘The basal metabolism of an active teenager is a blessing…!’
Gulp—!
After swallowing all the bread in my mouth, I opened my mouth like a baby bird begging for more. I shrugged my shoulders and signaled the elf student next to me.
“Ah~☆ More! More!” “Yes! I’ll give you more. I’m glad it suits your taste!” “Yeah! It’s delicious—☆” “Oh my…! The first-year students in the theology department will be so happy to hear that!”
The second-year elf student who had been taking care of me laughed and used a fork to feed me more bread.
“Here you go, Saint!” “Yum—☆”
I accepted it, and once again, a wave of sweet happiness exploded in my mouth. It felt like a sugar explosion had gone off in my mouth.
Nom nom—☆
How many calories have I consumed by now?
‘At this rate, I might need to chase this ether train on horseback…’
Right now, I was like a power plant in the form of a young girl.
Clara’s flame was still burning bright.
Roar—☆
As I continued to fuel the fire with calories, someone spoke to me. It was Kara, who had been hiding beside me, feeling burdened by the overwhelming hospitality.
“…So, Comrade Senpai, are you used to such luxurious treatment? Is it because you received a lot of it during your time as the [Pink Spiral]?”
What was she talking about? My time as [Pink Spiral] was when my career as a pauper reached its peak…
“Munch munch—☆ This is the first time I’ve ever been treated like this~?” “…?”
Even Hilde, my closest friend, was someone who camped in dusty pits with canned sauce smeared on her face. I couldn’t recall ever being treated like a VIP at any school.
In fact, the most recent luxury I received was when I got the wedding dress makeover and the hospitality at Belle’s outpost, which were the highlights of my career as a rich person.
Kara sighed in disbelief.
“Then how are you so quick to adapt to this?” “What? Isn’t this normal—♪” “…If this is normal, then the world will be consumed by the sins of vanity and greed and will burn.”
Kara shook her head and put her hand on her forehead.
“…?”
All I did was let them massage my feet because they offered… I accepted the food they gave me… and they offered to take care of my nails, so I let them…
Hmm?
“…” I glanced back at Piyaki and Albite sitting behind me.
Albite was sitting stiffly, politely refusing the students’ offers, while Piyaki was calmly pecking at the dessert in front of her with her beak.
Hmm… I guess I did indulge in a bit of nouveau riche behavior.
…
So what?
I turned back to Kara and spoke.
“You’re supposed to accept what’s offered☆ Refusing would be rude—☆” “Hmph… If I didn’t know that Comrade Senpai had a humble and modest side, I might have raised the flag of my revolution right here.” “Oh, come on—☆ How about you join me for a massage?” “I’ll politely decline.” “So shy—☆” “…By the way, I can’t believe both you and Comrade Albite received such important [Fates]… and Rota, who is walking the path of the [Golden Witch]… I can’t figure out what’s going on at this school.”
Kara shrugged her shoulders and continued.
“[Witch], [Hero], [Saint]… Ha, if a [Horseman] suddenly appeared, I wouldn’t even be surprised.” “…”
‘That’s you.’
But I didn’t spoil it directly.
‘Honestly, the fact that she seriously believes she’ll remain normal in this situation is more extraordinary…’
I looked at Kara’s profile for a moment, then gazed out the train window.
“…”
Endless fields. Plains full of green plants and trees. The land where the holy sword and the ‘Spirit of the Sword’ resided.
‘Rota found it first, but originally, this is where the [Fate of the Three Heroes] was first discovered…’
We had arrived at <Holy Alfenheim High School>.