Chapter 105: Hero Festival – Middle (2)

For a moment, time seemed to freeze.

It was such an overwhelming and perfect silence that it felt as though even breathing was forbidden.

No one—neither Dorian, the other guests, nor the clerks—dared to utter a word.

All they could do was stand frozen in place, staring at the silver-haired girl before them.

Meanwhile, the girl at the center of attention tilted her head slightly, feigning innocence, and spoke.

“Hmm? What’s wrong? Are you not open for business?”

“Ah, uh, th-that’s…”

Dorian broke into a nervous sweat so intense it almost looked pitiful.

Sure, he could forgive up to a certain point—even this girl, perhaps, since she wasn’t technically one of the main characters from the book.

If she had come alone, an apology and some clever deflection might have sufficed to send her away.

The problem, however, lay elsewhere.

The sword strapped to the back of the girl—Hero Sion—loomed like a silent judge.

If his eyes, honed by over a decade of drawing doujinshi, weren’t betraying him, then that sword was unmistakably…

-“Such strange people, Exia,” Sion remarked with a sweet smile, glancing toward the sword.

“They’ve suddenly gone all quiet. Considering they even make fan comics, I thought they’d be super fans. Were we mistaken?”

-“Who knows~? But gosh, I’m so curious~!”

‘Ack!’

Hearing the sword’s characteristic chirping voice, Dorian nearly fainted on the spot.

This wasn’t a dream.

It was a nightmare—but one grounded firmly in reality.

On the 50th anniversary of the [Hife] festival, the possibility every participant had feared had finally come true: The Holy Sword Exia, resting peacefully in the central shrine of Ashtaria, had discovered the festival’s existence and come walking right into the venue of her own accord.

“Hmph. You’re taking far too long,” Sion said, lifting her hand to her lips in mock thoughtfulness.

 “Our patience isn’t infinite, you know. If you keep us waiting, we might have to… escalate.

Or are you trying to suggest that a more ‘direct’ discussion is in order? If so, I’d be happy to oblige.”

“N-No! Absolutely not!!!”

Dorian reflexively snapped to attention, answering with a sharp yell.

The killing intent emanating from the Hero was palpable, far exceeding what he could endure.

He could feel it in his bones: these two had come here knowing everything.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have acted with such confidence.

Turning to the circle members behind him, Dorian whispered frantically, “We’re screwed… What the hell do we do now?!”

“Don’t we have any all-ages versions of the books just in case this happened, President?!”

“Of course not! Who could’ve guessed Exia herself would randomly show up like this?!”

The group huddled together in a panic, wracking their brains for a solution.

“What if we just swap someone else’s clean doujinshi and pretend it’s ours?”

“Might as well, since we’ve got nothing to lose at this point.”

“Does anyone have one on hand?!”

“I do! I got a copy from another circle earlier while exchanging greetings!”

“Perfect! Grab it, now!”

“Wait, let me find it…”

Their hurried brainstorming session might have seemed clever to them, but it was laughable to Sion, who overheard everything thanks to her sharp hearing.

‘Oh, how adorable.’

She let out a quiet chuckle.

Did they seriously think such a low-level improvisation would work? And against her of all people?

“Excuse me.”

“””!!!”””

Sion leaped over the booth in a single motion, stepping into the back area.

Without hesitation, she grabbed one of the books stacked behind the counter and flipped it open.

“Well then, let’s take a look, shall we…?”

The circle members froze in terror as Sion’s voice read aloud the incriminating lines from the page:

[“Hah… Ahhh♡ Ngh…!”
As Exia’s mind dissolved in a sea of pleasure, Sien’s voice echoed in her ears.

“Does it feel good?”

“Ahh?! Y-Yes… Ahaahh…!”

Lost in sensations she’d never felt before, Exia writhed uncontrollably as Sien’s fingers gently, teasingly stroked her belly.

Shivers of ecstasy coursed through her, leaving her legs tangled and trembling. From deep within, a ticklish sensation spread like wildfire—]

“That’s enough.”

Sion closed the book with a snap, turning to Exia.

-“Exia, what do you think we should do about this?”

-“Judgment: Burn it all.”

-“Understood.”

With a grin, Sion began casting spells, her hands glowing with a mix of illusion and fire magic.

“Heavenly Fire!”

In an instant, holy flames engulfed the stack of books, shooting high into the air. The intense heat reduced the paper to ash in mere moments.

“AHHH!!! FIRE!!!”

“ARE YOU CRAZY?! SHE ACTUALLY SET IT ON FIRE?!”

Guests and vendors alike screamed in terror as the flames roared.

“Water! Someone get water! Or a water mage! Now!”

“Oh, no, you don’t!”

Sion’s sweet smile contrasted starkly with her actions as she twisted a vendor’s arm with a sickening crack, leaving him screaming in agony.

-“Ugh… Sion, wasn’t that a bit much…?” Exia asked telepathically, horrified.

-“Don’t worry; he deserved it,” Sion replied nonchalantly.

“Insulting my dear partner like that deserves no less. If anything, I’m being lenient.”

She turned back to the remaining members, her expression ice-cold.

“Now, bring out the rest of the hidden stash. Don’t bother lying; we already know everything. Save us all some time.”

Dorian collapsed to his knees, despair written all over his face. A year’s worth of effort, gone in flames.

At that moment, a sharp whistle pierced the chaos, and several figures in crimson robes came running toward the booth.

“Is everyone all right?! We received a report of a fire—what in the world happened here?!”

The inquisitors arriving at the stall caught sight of Sion’s face and gasped.

“You, you are…!”

“My, you’re quick to arrive,” Sion said with a smirk, standing against the backdrop of flames.

“It seemed to me that you weren’t doing the duties you were supposed to, so I had no choice but to step in and deliver justice myself.
How about it? Aren’t you grateful?”

“This, this is outrageous…!”

One of the inquisitors, his voice trembling, shouted as he saw the burning books.

“You can’t commit such tyranny! Even if you’re a Hero…”

“Tyranny?”

Sion’s face contorted into a scowl.

The aura of intimidation she exuded for a split second caused the inquisitors to gasp and take a step back.

Walking forward slowly, she continued,

“The true tyranny here is what you’re doing—turning a historical hero who saved the continent into nothing more than a toy for your base desires.

Do you truly believe such a thing is forgivable? Honestly?”

“This festival was sanctioned by Lady Mana herself…”

“Is that so? And what of Lady Exia?”

“…….”

The inquisitors fell silent, suddenly rendered mute.

Seizing the moment, Exia raised her voice from behind Sion.

-“Shamelessly pulling this nonsense just because you think no one in the temple is paying attention! Shame on you!
What’s this? That I fell in love with Sien and lost myself in carnal pleasure? Every filthy creation here deserves the flames, flames to purge this sin!”

“Did you all hear that?”

Sion smirked and struck a dramatic pose, her unique, dignified stance she often used to assert her authority as a Hero.

“In the name of Exia, Lady Lafrey’s chosen, and the greatest holy sword in existence, I declare: this festival ends now.
Gather every blasphemous creation that dared tarnish the honor of the Hero’s party and burn them all.
As for your punishment, that will come later.”

The inquisitors groaned in frustration. The justification was flawless, irrefutable.

Unlike them, mere vigilantes playing at being clergy, Sion was the real deal—a Hero chosen by the goddess and acknowledged by the holy sword.

Her words were as good as the goddess’s decree. Her actions, the goddess’s will.

In this light, the heretics here weren’t Sion and her party—they were the inquisitors themselves.

Yet…

“Why are you hesitating? Move!”

“….”

Despite Sion’s command, the inquisitors could only glance at one another, unable to act.

Their reluctance to dismantle the festival they had upheld was painfully evident.

Would a kick to their backs finally spur them into action? Sion wondered, just as a familiar voice rang out.

“What is the meaning of this?!”

Marianne, whom Sion had discreetly separated earlier, arrived, her voice filled with both shock and anger.

“I heard the Hero had reappeared, and yet… such chaos! You told me you left Exia behind! Were you lying to me?!”

“Of course,” Sion replied, a sly grin spreading across her face.

“Did you really think I was your ally, Marianne?

That would be absurd. I merely deceived you to infiltrate this place.Perhaps next time, you’ll be more careful in choosing your companions, hmm?”

“You can’t be serious…”

Marianne collapsed to her knees, devastated. Watching her, Exia shuddered, a strange sense of familiarity washing over her.

Unconcerned, Sion, reveling in the chaos, proclaimed loudly:
“The party’s over! Everyone, go home!
If anyone refuses, I’ll personally make sure you leave, though I wouldn’t count on leaving with all your limbs intact!”

The crowd recoiled in terror.

Even if it were just an empty threat, the unconscious man at their feet, his eyes rolled back in pain, served as evidence.

Sion had shown she wasn’t afraid to use violence, and in a festival devoid of arms, none could hope to oppose her.

Was this truly the end of the festival? Was there no one who could stop her?

“No, there is!”

While despair weighed down the crowd, one person stood defiantly—Marianne, the girl more passionate about [Hife] than anyone else.

Pointing a trembling finger at Sion and Exia, she shouted,
“Even if you’re the Hero, even if you’re Lady Exia herself, I won’t allow you to destroy [Hife]!
I’ll stop you, even if I stand alone!”

“Oh?”

Sion raised an eyebrow, surprised. She hadn’t expected the timid Marianne to challenge her.

But the surprise quickly faded into a mocking smirk.

“And how exactly do you plan to stop me? Are you going to fight me?
You, of all people, should know how futile that would be.”

“Of course not. Defying Lady Exia’s will would be improper in itself,” Marianne replied firmly.

“Then what?”

With unwavering confidence, Marianne locked eyes with Sion and declared,

“The problem will be solved if Lady Exia confronts her true feelings. Isn’t that right?
If her affection for you is genuine, then these books are no longer slander, are they?”

-“What are you talking about—”

“Then prove it!”

Eyes blazing, Marianne challenged them both.

“Prove here and now that Lady Exia truly loves Sien!”

….How?