After parting with Senjumaru, Leas Lot returned to the dorm.
She locked the door, slowly walked to her bed, and sat down with a sigh.
What floated into her mind was everything that had just happened. While she was having a meal with a male classmate whose condition seemed to have improved — the moment the footage of that Monster Villain played.
The emotion that overflowed from her chest then.
Not even a fragment of hostility toward evil rose up. Instead, she had unconsciously rejoiced simply at being able to see the figure of her benefactor.
Unable to accept that, she gritted her teeth.
Had she managed to keep up appearances? Had she properly told him that it was nothing more than a monster, an enemy that must be defeated?
"...What a fool I am."
She understood it herself. The fact that she had suddenly thought I want to thank him was something shameful for a Sacred — a champion of justice who protected everyone.
That was a Monster Villain. A monster transformed by the Seed of Desire, driven mad by selfish greed.
She should not be able to trust it. She should not be able to trust it. She should not be able to trust it.
If willpower alone were enough to resist desire, the number of Monster Villains Leas had defeated would have been far smaller. She would have been able to save far more.
That was exactly why she had told Senjumaru. That he must not trust it. That he should think of it as evil that must be defeated.
If he carelessly trusted it and approached that Monster Villain only to be killed, she would never be able to forgive herself. That was why she had spoken those words then.
She had not said anything wrong.
She had not said anything wrong.
She had not said anything wrong — and yet.
"Wanting to believe... truly, how foolish."
Those words had been more for herself than for Senjumaru.
She tightly hugged the parka he had given her that day.
The Monster Villain man who had rushed to a place where she had no allies. The one who had gently placed the parka over her shoulders.
He was by no means the image of a hero who saved a girl. No matter how favorably one looked at him, the evaluation of an ugly monster would not waver.
But even so, the eyes that could be seen through the gaps in the tentacles.
It had seemed as if they were truly worried about Sacred Saber — about Leas Lot.
That was why, even while understanding it was a foolish wish, she found herself thinking.
"——Ah, please."
Please let his words be the truth.
This feeling would surely be betrayed, but even so — while thinking that, she made the wish and slowly drifted into a light sleep.
◇
"I bestow upon you the Spirit of the Fountain and this Arontina. Do your best, Leas Lot — no, ’Sacred Saber.’"
"Y-yes, Princess! I’ll do my best! I-I’ll work hard!"
——She dreamed.
——She always continued to see the same dream.
A girl one year younger than herself. A member of the royal bloodline that protected Calmate, the world where Leas lived.
Her name was Altina Sacred Calmate.
Also known as — Sacred Princess.
Though small in stature, she had a feminine figure, and her long, flowing golden hair looked wonderful against her white dress.
By receiving a portion of her magical power, Leas had become a knight who protected this world — a being called a Sacred.
She was happy. She was proud. A childlike smile appeared on Leas’s face. Seeing that, Princess Altina also smiled gently.
——Yes, she had been happy. That her power had been recognized. That she could fight for someone.
That was why, at that time.
When the invaders from the evil other world of Lemora — beings who called themselves Diabolic — and the humans of that world who possessed ugly desires crossed space-time to invade Calmate, she had been happy.
She had trained so that when the time came she could do the right thing with the right power — yet the lack of opportunity to shine had left her dissatisfied.
That was why.
Shamelessly, she had rejoiced at the appearance of an enemy that must be defeated.
She would be able to fully wield her power and protect everyone.
——There had been a chance of victory.
In the royal capital, Princess Altina had erected a barrier that kept evil at bay.
In fact, while Leas was focused on defense, the enemy had not even been able to cross the walls of the capital, let alone reach the castle.
And above all, by the princess’s side was Leas’s friend, another Sacred. Even if something unexpected happened, she would protect her.
Therefore, Leas felt relieved — and at the same time, desire was born.
The princess and the people she must protect were safe.
Then, rather than staying here, she would go raise heads with her own sword.
’Princess! It seems they cannot break through the barrier! But if the capital is surrounded by those kinds of people, the citizens will feel anxious — so I’ll go cut them down!’
For the capital, for the people, and for the princess who ruled them.
Using that as an excuse, she charged out.
She cut down the otherworlders who rejoiced at the appearance of a lone woman, cut down the Diabolic, cut them down, and advanced forward.
She had not overestimated her own ability.
In fact — she had not suffered a single wound in that battle.
Cut, cut, destroy evil, purify.
(——What, real combat is nothing more than this.)
She even smiled and turned around.
As if to tell the princess maintaining the barrier inside the castle that there was nothing to worry about.
But————
"————Eh?"
————What entered her vision was the castle roaring with flames.
The place where the people she must protect lived. Where her comrades were. The place the princess was supposed to be protecting.
She finally realized that it had been conquered while she was outside.
————According to what she later heard.
The Diabolic who took the castle — a mage named Alter — had met Princess Altina’s younger sister... Princess Moldiana beforehand and trained her.
Moldiana, who lacked the aptitude to host the Sacred power and fight with the light of justice, had been looked down upon.
The fact that Kate Calmate, who lacked Sacred aptitude yet was highly capable as a civil official, existed was probably one of the reasons Moldiana was regarded as inferior.
She could not fight for others like Altina, nor could she support those who fought like Kate. A princess who could do nothing.
Although the relationship between the sisters was not bad, there were many occasions when she felt inferior to her two older sisters.
——One day, Alter had descended alone upon Calmate.
No one had anticipated an invader from another world. There were no guards by the side of the useless princess, and that day she had no friends with her either. She had been playing alone and lonely in the flower field outside the castle when she was ravaged by Alter. While being whispered to that her power was needed to take this castle, that she should swear loyalty.
It was high-handed words — yet Moldiana, the girl who had never been needed by anyone, fell in love with the only existence who had ever said he needed her power: the Diabolic from another world, Alter.
Clad in a black military uniform and radiating dark magical power, she brought Seeds of Desire and transformed the men handling internal affairs into Monster Villains, launching a surprise attack on Altina from within. The other Sacred had never imagined being stabbed in the back by a comrade — and as a result, Altina was abducted.