As the clock in the Ministry of Defense ticks on, so too does the clock of <Academy City Yord>. Before long, the hottest and brightest days of August had arrived.
Just as the days grew longer, so did the strength of ether. In the local parlance, this was the period when the energy of the heavens was most abundant.
During the past month, as we traveled back and forth to <Holy Alfenheim High School>, the academy city remained as lively as ever.
Recalling the events that stood out...
There was the conflict between the suspicious group wandering the city in nothing but swimsuits from <Mimir Industrial High School> and the security organization <Gjallarhorn>.
Then, the ‘Berserk Festival’ from <Scarlet Academy>, where the main event was a "Modified Bike Flame Berserk Death Road" with 999 participants.
There was also the simplified festival at <Public Bana Boarding School>, where the inquisitive students hosted a "5-Minute Spontaneous Erotic Fairy Tale Writing Competition."
Not to mention the 100:1 battle royale of girls drenched in blood, all for a taste of the new limited-edition chocolate from ‘Golden Cat,’ the most popular dessert shop on Golden Street.
…Those were some of the major incidents. If we included all the smaller events involving fewer than 100 participants, the list would be even longer. But this is about all I gathered from the <United Student Council>’s news broadcast.
If this were a game, we would have seen a slew of limited-edition characters flooding out in response to this constant string of incidents.
"These kids are always full of energy, but when vacation starts, they really lose their minds…"
It seems that the allure of the word ‘vacation’ is just as strong for the students of the academy city. But now, only a few days remain before this leisurely summer break comes to an end.
The second semester, where we’ll be pushing ourselves to achieve results alongside our juniors and seniors, is just around the corner.
The time of festivals is passing, And the scent of daily life is almost upon us... But some welcomed this period instead.
<Holy Alfenheim High School> The elf girls of this quasi-religious rural school consider the World Tree and ether as blessings from the heavens—a form of primitive faith.
For these elven students, the summer of August, when the sun is longest in the sky, is a sacred time when they can connect with the heavenly energy for the longest period.
Their peaceful summer festival, the ‘Summer Harvest Festival,’ is a time to give thanks to the World Tree and ether.
During the ‘Summer Harvest Festival,’ students from the agriculture and theology departments all wear white robes reminiscent of priestly garments.
The streets are decorated with vibrant flowers and greenery, Students wear flower crowns made from summer blooms, And they share delicious food and flowers with visitors.
It’s a festival that emphasizes peace over violence. Aside from the much-anticipated 'Combat Festival,' it’s the grandest and most extravagant event in the academy city.
In short, it feels like the highlight of the summer vacation.
"It’s really different from the makeshift festivals or technical exhibitions you see at the other schools’ industrial high school festivals… I heard that the outside schools try desperately to get invitations."
Of course, <Central Prism Academy> has a free pass. If you’re upset, go pull out the Holy Sword and become a hero, or try being a pink-haired saint.
"Though Albite still hasn’t pulled out the Holy Sword…"
…
Anyway…
The school with the largest campus in the academy city and the largest festival in the academy city—<Holy Alfenheim High School>’s ‘Summer Harvest Festival’—started yesterday.
Naturally, during this period, students from other schools flock in, eager to end their summer break on a high note.
There are students who get lost in the vast grounds of <Holy Alfenheim High School> or unintentionally break the rules.
As a result, this is also the busiest time for the pseudo-religious elf girls of <Holy Alfenheim High School>.
Together with our pink-haired senior, I was preparing for a small, mischievous escapade, carefully avoiding the eyes of these wicked folk horror girls.
Tatat—!
Carrying the translucent baby form of my senior on my back, I lightly climbed up the three-story building. My physical condition had nearly returned to its peak, and it felt effortless.
Our target was near. A storeroom from which a sweet aroma was wafting.
Confirming with my sharp senses that there was no one around, I quickly slipped ether through the window to unlock it.
"Iyaa—☆" "Tata—☆"
I looked into the eyes of the [Spirit of the Sword], who was clinging to my back, and felt the inner dialogue echoing from her.
Are you ready, ‘sword’?
-Ah, of course, 'Soo.' Let’s devour all the treats those elves have hidden away.
"Hehe…!"
I had begun to sense the will of the [Spirit of the Sword]—my pink-haired senior—more clearly.
…Of course, "elves" is my interpretation.
"But what matters is the intent… Right, Senior Frida?"
Artists are always bold.
If Senior Frida were here, she would smile warmly at the sight of me mischievously mocking the elves and beasts.
-Proud of you, Kim Clara. Sweep away these foreign races.
Of course, this is my imagination. Senior Frida never made any racist remarks.
"Uhu…☆"
Imagining Senior Frida’s radiant smile, I carefully tucked one of the syrup jars stored in the warehouse into my backpack.
"Hehe♪ This will taste great drizzled over fruit—☆" "Tata—☆"
-Of course, definitely—☆
…Of course, that’s also my interpretation.
Over the past month, the [Spirit of the Sword] and I have shared many memories together.
Raiding the potato storage and oil storage to make potato chips. Raiding the grape farm to make special grape juice. Sneaking into the kitchen to sprinkle raisins on the bread.
And so on…
The [Spirit of the Sword] looked at me fondly and signaled that she was pleased with how well I was carrying on the pink-haired legacy.
The essence of a pink-haired girl is to cause chaos. If you have pink hair, you must stir up trouble.
I was fulfilling that destiny excellently.
Clatter—
"Let’s go now—☆" "Wootaa—♪"
With the senior’s delight, Frida’s daughter, Clara, was overjoyed. Pink-haired Gospel 1:11
After successfully executing the small, cute operation of moving one syrup jar, I was about to climb back out the window.
At that moment.
"...!"
A rainbow-colored image flashed through my mind. It was like an old movie, a simplified form of a video.
As I opened the window, I envisioned a girl from an outside school, spotting me as I climbed out and screaming. The theology students nearby would then rush over.
…
Playback ends.
"…"
I froze in place for 10 seconds as I was about to open the window. Slowly, the rainbow hues faded from my vision.
That future had now disappeared.
I was becoming more accustomed to handling this special ability that had occasionally emerged since meeting the [Spirit of the Sword].
"…Alright☆" "Wootaa—☆"
The senior happily tapped my cheek.
-Great! So lively—! I’ll make sure Nella keeps quiet about this.
…Of course, that was my interpretation. But the general intent was conveyed.
With that blessing, I climbed down from the warehouse building to prepare a snack for Albite, who was still struggling.
"...Senior, you’re here." "Yup♪"
A haggard-looking Albite glanced at me and managed a faint smile.
Albite was wearing a rough-textured white shirt and pants, the kind commonly worn by students at <Holy Alfenheim High School>. The uniform she had been wearing up until now had become stained, and she had finally changed out of it.
However, perhaps out of a sense of pride as a swordswoman or attachment to her weapon, she still had the crimson longsword I had given her strapped to her waist.
It had already been two weeks since she changed her attire.
The failures that had lasted two weeks were now stretching into a month.
"…"
The scene remained unchanged.
The Holy Sword stood, lofty and forlorn, embedded in the ground. Albite just stood there, staring at it.
The weapon and its master, who were supposed to be united soon, had been on parallel paths for a month. It was hard to understand what was going on.
"In the original, she pulled it out easily. Why hasn’t she done it yet…"
Trying not to show these thoughts, I pulled out the special pancakes I had made. They were laced with the ultra-sweet and savory syrup I had ‘accidentally’ obtained.
"Yup♪ I ‘happened’ to get this syrup from the Agriculture Department kids—☆" "…Thank you." "…" "…"
Albite began to silently eat the pancakes with the thick syrup.
"…"
Even though my pink-haired remark practically screamed that I had just been up to mischief, she didn’t react. She seemed too drained to even notice.
"…"
But I didn’t ask why she was struggling to pull out the sword or why she hadn’t managed it yet.
Because I understood Albite’s situation.
"She knows all too well that she has to do something for this world… She’s just trying her best to follow through."
She came to the academy city following her mother’s prophecy. She took on the unexpected duty of protecting the world from destruction. She is a diligent and sincere person, yet she carries the weight of a [Fate] that requires her to take the lead.
I understood it all.
And not because of the original story, But because I believed in the diligent junior I had come to know.
So, I didn’t ask, ‘Why?’
"If she decides to give up, we can just find another way together."
In this already altered world, Even if she’s not a [Hero], perhaps with the [Saint]’s power, she could face the [Dragon Lurking in the Abyss].
"…"
Honestly, I was surprised by how calm I felt.
I thought I’d be more worried, thinking about how to compromise or negotiate.
But the fact is now clear. Perhaps the ‘Prophet’ is another version of me. And that person seems to be aiding <Ratatoskr> in trying to destroy the academy city.
It’s unsettling, and I can’t even imagine how it came to be… but the resolve came surprisingly easily.
"I… will kill ‘him.’"
I am Clara, the pink-haired girl of the academy city.
The office worker Kang Jinsu, who loved Romance of the Three Kingdoms and played mobile games during subway commutes, is dead.
Here stands Clara, a student who loves the girl named Hilde and respects Senior Frida.
"He once called himself ‘Kang Jinsu’ in front of the [Saint of Sacrifice] in the distant past. And he recited Romance of the Three Kingdoms knowledge that even the executives of <Ratatoskr> knew."
Even if it sounds absurd, with this many clues… it’s right to assume the worst.
[‘He’ and I were once the same person.]
Different time, different circumstances, different connections… We were split apart in different timelines.
[‘He’ and I are now strangers.]
Realizing this, the resolve came easily.
"…"
If the ‘Prophet’ reveals himself, I will be the one to step forward and kill him.
It was my responsibility toward someone who might have once shared the same past—another self.
Why he changed so drastically, Why one person’s soul was split into two, I probably won’t have the time or the luxury to find out.
Honestly, the need to know has disappeared.
"It’s already gone too far…"
If I hesitate, my juniors and friends will be in danger.
If I can’t save this world, I may never see Senior Frida again.
"…"
That alone, That alone was enough to eliminate any hesitation.
Clatter—
Albite finished her pancake and politely handed me the plate.
"…Thank you for the meal."
I took it, and slowly stood up.
"Yup☆ Then I’ll be off!" "I’m worried about the school… It’s been too long since I’ve been there…" "Don’t worry☆ Kara and I have been taking turns checking up on it—☆ And Rota’s coming here tomorrow too—☆ So, no worries~♪ We’ll always be here waiting for you to come back—☆" "…Thank you. I’m sorry for making you wait so long… The reason I… um…"
I ruffled Albite’s hair as she tried to stammer out an excuse. She looked up at me with surprised eyes.
"Believe. We believe in you, so you can rest easy and rely on us."
"…"
Albite bowed her head deeply.
"Thank… you."
"Then I’ll be off—☆" "…"
I left to give Albite some space.
"…"
…So, what mischief shall I cause next?