The train finally arrived. [The Nameless Hawk] clacked its beak and spoke.
"Cheep! This place has a very pleasant flow of ether! Order! I can feel the energy of Order! Cheep—!"
"Heheh, that's because this is sacred ground, where part of Yggdrasil's roots are."
"Is that so! This must be the land where the Holy Sword rests. Cheep! Having just awakened, there are many things I don't remember! Hero, let us go and meet the Spirit of the Sword. Cheep—!"
"Ah! But we have something to discuss for a moment—☆"
"Cheep?"
I gently pulled Piyaki and the students away, who were trying to escort us directly to the theology department, and called over Albite and Kara.
The juniors approached with puzzled expressions.
"What's going on?"
"Is there something important you need to tell us?"
"Yes♪ Now, as soon as we step out of that door and exit the train, we'll be in another school—☆ So, we'll need to follow that school's rules carefully, right?"
"...?"
"Isn't that obvious…?"
Albite and Kara's expressions turned into a look of 'Why did you call us just to say that?' But I knew that this reaction was exactly the seed that would lead to a mishap in the "original story."
‘I'd like to watch the original story’s event unfold if nothing major goes wrong, but... this time, the atmosphere might get really serious…’
The taboos of another school. Originally, this was something to be learned slowly, as the story progressed at a relaxed pace, encountering students from <Holy Alfenheim High School> and learning through experience…
‘But these kids have grown up too fast, and instead of going around begging other schools for help, they're already busy taking down dungeon chaos monsters...’
I proceeded to inform my still-confused juniors about the things they must not say in front of the students of <Holy Alfenheim High School>.
Do not refer to Yggdrasil as an object or call it "just a big tree." Do not act like you know everything about farming or cultivating plants. After hearing this, the juniors sighed, as if they were listening to a nagging mother.
“…We probably wouldn’t have said those things even if you didn’t warn us. It’s natural to get angry if someone belittles something you deeply believe in, even if they don’t understand it.”
"Well… isn’t that obvious? I also walk the path of a craftsman, so I understand how rude it is to speak carelessly about someone else's expertise."
I silently cheered and slapped my forehead in joy.
Ah…! Is this what it’s like to have a proper protagonist group? Do you have to have a 100% good alignment to become a hero?
‘Whose kids are these? They’ve grown up so well. Oh right, they’re mine.’
But there was something they were overlooking.
Knowing something and actually experiencing it are very different.
"Yes♪ I’m glad that Albite and Kara are such exemplary juniors…☆ But…"
"But…?"
"But…?"
"The students at <Holy Alfenheim High School> are a bit… special. They might not be what you imagine… Um… No matter what you see, just nod your head—☆ Got it? Don’t ever forget about rules 1 and 2, okay?"
"...?"
"...?"
Hmm… They still seemed unsure of what I was talking about.
“You’ll probably understand soon enough♪ But remember, never say, ‘Isn’t that just a tree?’ or ‘That’s not how you do it.’”
"Now you’re making me nervous…"
"What kind of scene are we about to see…?"
"Could it be an oracle from the goddess…? Is there a chance we might end up fighting <Holy Alfenheim High School>…?"
"Hahaha☆ No, nothing like that—☆"
Albite, due to Urd’s behavior that had accurately seen through her past, often asked such timid questions like this.
‘The goddess strategy worked too well.’
I couldn’t help but give a wry smile.
Right now, the juniors were in a state of speed-running through the main combat events. Given how quickly they were growing, they lacked the common knowledge about other schools.
Unexpected actions by newbies who skipped the story. That’s what I was worried about.
‘Originally, with "Clara’s actions," I should have given out a lot of quests related to other schools, but because of my image and <Ratatoskr>, I couldn’t act freely.’
And now, it was too late to suddenly become a troublemaker, given that <Central Prism Academy> had built a pretty good reputation in the academy city.
For example, if the name <Central Prism Academy> came up in a discussion among high school girls in a dessert café about the latest dating rumors or martial arts principles...
But why are they helping other schools? There’s no benefit, and it’s not even their territory. It’s just the right thing to do… it’s justice. No way! They must be doing it to curry favor with <Aesir Girls’ High School>’s power! No, they always solve problems and then disappear…! Because that’s the way of ‘chivalry’! What…?! <Central Prism Academy> is full of ‘knights’…! …That’s roughly the kind of image we had developed, as a group of ‘knights who suddenly appear to help.’ There was no need to tarnish that image.
‘There were even a few students who wanted to enroll after hearing about us, but they ran away after seeing the state of the school…’
Compared to the start of the first semester, The current level was so different it would be insulting to even compare.
In any case…
Aside from the overall impression, Each of us was individually receiving attention.
Albite, who led the united meetings, had made quite an impression, and Rota, who was making significant contributions to new magic research, was becoming known as a remarkable talent.
‘I’ve become famous again for various reasons, though my scandal with Hilde complicates things a bit.’
In other words… we were in the spotlight, and any mistakes we made now would be amplified.
‘Whether people like it or not, they remember bad deeds more clearly than good ones.’
Especially when someone with a good reputation makes a mistake…
Given that we were already walking a straight and good path, I wanted to avoid causing trouble with other schools and get along peacefully.
‘Even though I’ve lived my life spinning around like a [spiral] from the start.’
I smiled at the juniors and said,
“Got it? Then let’s go—☆”
As we got off the train, the theology students kindly offered to lead us, and Piyaki waddled ahead, far ahead of us.
“Oh! By the way, to commemorate your visit to our school, we have a little gift for you!”
“A gift…?”
“Yes!”
A theology student answered Albite’s question with a bright smile. When she clapped her hands, a large picture frame was brought out.
“It’s a bromide featuring a photograph of the sacred Yggdrasil!”
It was a picture of a tree taken from a distance.
“This is just a…”
“Yes…?”
The light in the theology student’s eyes seemed to dim for a moment.
Gasp—!
Albite, who had nearly responded instinctively, remembered my advice and covered her mouth. After taking a deep breath, she took the frame and said, “Thank you.”
“…I-Is this a gift for me? Thank you.”
“Heheh, it’s nothing! We’re just glad we could share the sacred image of Yggdrasil with the Hero!”
“…"
I sighed in relief.
< Holy Alfenheim High School >'s attack begins quietly like this, without anyone noticing.
‘I almost made a slip of the tongue myself the first time I saw it…’
As we emerged from the shining ether station, numerous eyes watched us.
“Oh my…!”
Elven girls with twitching white ears whispered to each other as they looked around.
“Is that first-year student possibly the [Hero] that the Spirit of the Sword mentioned?! Oh my…!”
“And the pink-haired senpai is the [Saint]…?!”
“To think that [Hero] and [Saint] were in the same school… This must be Yggdrasil’s guidance!”
“<Central Prism Academy>… Even though it’s not central, it was named Central. This must be Yggdrasil’s guidance as well.”
“This year’s good harvest is also thanks to Yggdrasil’s grace!”
“Let’s all give thanks to Yggdrasil…!”
“Yes! Let’s pray…!”
“Ah, Yggdrasil’s grace…!”
“Let us pray.”
“Thank you, Yggdrasil…”
“Thank you…”
One by one… Two by two… Three by three… The wave of prayers spread.
Students from the agriculture department, dressed like farmers, and students from the theology department in elegant white uniforms all prayed together with one heart.
“…"
Hundreds of simple-looking elven girls passing by the station began clasping their hands in prayer.
Before we knew it, the entire street in front of us, stretching for hundreds of meters, had turned into an outdoor prayer area.
“…"
The elven students were so beautiful that, at a glance, it looked like a scene from a shoujo manga, with a lovely atmosphere.
‘But no matter how you look at it, this feels like the opening of a horror movie where you’re about to visit a suspicious rural village that’s fallen into a cult.’
The subtle fanaticism flowing through this pastoral scene…
It felt like if I said the wrong thing, I’d be dragged off to some dark warehouse.
“…" “…"
Albite and Kara seemed to understand what I had meant earlier. They kept silent, pretending not to see anything.
The quiet murmurs heard from all around.
This too is thanks to Yggdrasil. That too is thanks to Yggdrasil. Even <Central Prism Academy> was guided by Yggdrasil. The good harvest is thanks to the dances and songs offered to Yggdrasil.
Kara heard this and muttered under her breath.
“What do dance and song have to do with farming… Gah!”
“…"
The elf farmer wearing a straw hat, who had been praying nearby, opened her eyes slightly and stared at Kara.
Kara quickly added,
“What do… I mean, it must be Yggdrasil’s grace!”
“Heheh… Yes. Everything is according to Yggdrasil’s guidance…”
The agriculture student relaxed her eyes and returned to her prayers.
“…"
Even hearing that, I couldn’t relate. I’ve never been guided by ‘Just a Big Tree.’ The ones who guided me were Frida, Nina, and Selma-senpai.
But… There was no need to say that out loud.
‘When it was just a game, I thought it was a simple Christian knockoff religion, but it has a primitive and fanatical side that’s a bit unsettling…’
Honestly, I felt like shouting, “What nonsense is this?” but I swallowed my words and gave them a pleasant smile.
“…Yes♪"
I calmly pretended not to hear anything.
‘There’s no need to fight with students who’ve treated us kindly, and there’s no need to ruin our good image by making a mistake. After all, once Albite gets the Holy Sword, we won’t need to come back…’
But why did they ask the [Saint] to come? It wasn’t even mentioned in the game, so I couldn’t guess.
“…"
What is that little brat… the Spirit of the Sword, thinking?
‘Come to think of it, it also had pink hair.’
It was an NPC with whom proper conversation was impossible.
But now that I think about it, Whether it’s the goddess, the saint, or the spirit… They’re all pink-haired girls getting along.
‘In the game, Urd and the [Saint] didn’t appear, so I didn’t realize it, but this is kind of strange too.’
"Uwya—☆" "Yes~?" "Uwya kyaa—♪" "Oh~ really? They’re coming? Heheh… that’s wonderful~" "Kya kyaa☆"
A girl with long brown hair dragging on the ground, wearing a leaf-shaped headband, was talking while holding a pink-haired child in her arms.
"Babble—♪" "Heheh…"
As the pink-haired child in white clothes playfully bit at the girl’s long brown hair, the girl looked at her fondly.
“…"
Watching this, [Anna, the Great Bow of Verdant Green], tilted her head and spoke.
“…It’s amazing how you understand what the Spirit of the Sword is saying."
"Heheh, it’s easier than you think."
"Is it? I think it’s just because you’re the head of the theology department, Nella…”
“Heheh…”
“Anyway… what’s the reason for suddenly summoning Clara and the students from <Central Prism Academy>? It can’t just be to confirm their [Fate]… Are you planning to give the Holy Sword right away? Why are you in such a hurry?"
“…Heheh."
Nella, holding the now-sleepy Spirit of the Sword tightly in her arms, replied.
“…Soon, a great darkness will come. As the light has grown quickly, so too will the darkness.”
A man rose from the darkness. And there was a silver-haired woman watching him.
“…" “…The time of the promise.”
The silver-haired woman handed over a large glass crystal orb she had been holding.
The man in the darkness… the Prophet, took it as if it were natural and closed his eyes. Then, everything the silver-haired woman had seen and heard turned into ‘dreams’ that entered the man’s mind.
The Prophet checked all the dreams and opened his eyes.
"…So both Grafvolut and Ophnir are dead, and the only power used was the ‘Serpent’?”
“Affirmative.”
“What about the twins?”
“They wait, outside, according to the promise.”
“I see. So even after informing them of the ‘Prophecy,’ nothing was properly dealt with.”
“…"
“I’m not blaming you. After all, this world is like a play that moves according to [Fate].”
“...Affirmative.”
“I was just testing to see if there would be no changes, even if I provided the maximum variables.”
“…Affirmative.”
The Prophet sensed the will of the [Dragon Crouching in the Abyss]. But since none of the seals had been broken, it was still extremely weak.
“The only success is that I’ve gained the ability to use the power of the ‘Dragon.’”
“…Affirmative.”
The Prophet closed his eyes and thought about the variables found in the woman’s memories.
“…"
Things had changed. More than intended… Everything had changed.
“…"
Certainly… there was another transmigrator in this academy city, besides himself.