Those Who Wear the Crown Must Bear Its Weight

Flare and Sophia, looking angry, enter Luna’s waiting room.

“Sister!”

“Luna, Sister!”

Luna, as she had done with Scarl, sits demurely and greets them.

“You’re both here?”

The two are speechless at Luna’s calm demeanor.

“Don’t worry. Rather, I’ll entrust the demons and the rest to you two.”

“Right, yes.”

“Sister, are you okay? Experiencing this for the first time…”

“I’m fine, Sophia. It’s not like this has only happened once or twice to Flare and me. It’s our destiny.”

The two become solemn at those words.

“I’ll try to stop it somehow for now!”

“I’m glad Sister Kasha quickly realized that Simmons was involved with the demons!”

“That’s right. I’m counting on you two. I’ll also draw 『Purity』 to respond if necessary.”

“Yeah… I need to receive 『Regret』 soon too.”

Sophia looks at Flare, surprised.

“You haven’t received it yet?”

“No… it’s late, senior.”

Luna soothes Flare.

“I’ll tell them. Don’t worry. That’s your sword.”

“Thank you, Sister. You should take care of that old hag too, Sister.”

“I understand, Flare.”

The work talk is over.

Flare gives a sly smile.

“But, Sister.”

“Why, Flare?”

“Did you have to wear that?”

Luna’s cheeks flush at her sister’s barb.

Sophia, who was next to her, chimes in.

“I know, right? I didn’t know Luna, Sister, had such a perverse taste… Well, she was originally a maid.”

“This is—”

“Even so! How are you going to show your face later! Won’t everyone in the capital think you’re a maid, not a Hero?!”

“They might really think that.”

Luna sweats profusely at the combined attack of the two peers.

Luna thought it was a mistake to show this side of herself to Flare and Sophia, even if Baron Scarl Bernatore didn’t mind.

From below, he glances at the stage.

Many people have come to see the event called the “Trial of Purity,” hosted by a hired professional emcee.

To be precise, there was great interest in the legendary item called the Holy Sword of Purity.

-This is the sword! This sword is called Holy Sword 『Purity』 and is said to be a sword that only a virgin can lift!-

The pommel of the sword, with a ring at the end, and the cross-guard are shaped like a cross, making it look sacred.

The grip is coated with special leather that doesn’t rust or fray, tightly wrapped in an X shape without any lint, and special magic letters shine on the chape, which covers the scabbard above the cross-guard.

‘The magic on the chape is the reason for the Holy Sword’s existence and a means to prove Purity.’

『Purity』, carried in on a large magic tray, was stuck in the stone floor with its scabbard, like Excalibur.

The reason it’s stuck in the stone is that the floor where the sword originally was has been lifted as is.

If Luna had drawn the sword and brought it, the visual impact would have been less, but since it’s stuck in the stone like that, it looks like there’s something to it.

Waaaaah—!!

Let me try to lift it once too!

I’m curious! Lift it quickly!

The sword is shining?!

Then it’s real! Would it be fake!

What’s with the size of that unbelievable roar?

The emcee introduces the huge female helper next to him.

-To verify the authenticity of the item, here! Today, we’ve brought a pretty milf!-

Unlike the emcee’s words, a muscular woman in her mid-40s.

Her arms and shoulders are full of scars, as if she had been a mercenary or adventurer in her younger days.

The woman raises her hand and shows off her wedding ring to everyone, and a tremendous booing erupts.

Woooo—!!

Where is she pretty!

Who’s her husband?! Take her away quickly!

We believe you even without doing this!

-Hahaha!-

-It was really difficult to get her here! Stop booing! This person is a housewife with three children after retiring from being an adventurer. If you look at her arms… she can definitely lift a sword, right? Then! We will have her lift the Holy Sword!-

“Kasha, activate the prepared magic.”

“Yes.”

Now, magic is used all over the plaza so that anyone can see the stage.

The plaza becomes quiet in an instant as the helper woman firmly grabs the handle of Purity with both hands.

Her arm veins begin to stand out as she starts to exert force, and she clenches her teeth.

No matter how much she uses her feet and pulls upward, 『Purity』 doesn’t budge.

-Ughhhhh!! It won’t come out!! It absolutely won’t come out!!

The helper’s voice, amplified by the amplifying magic, echoes through the plaza.

The palm of her hand, which she shakes and shows, has clear marks from the handle as a sign of exerting a lot of force, and her pale white palm clearly shows how much strength the helper used.

‘This should prevent anyone from saying it’s rigged.’

-Miss Aida Simmons, Luna, please come up to the stage!-

“Kasha, I’ll prepare to go up too. What about Flare and Sophia?”

“They both said they’re waiting in Luna’s waiting room.”

“I understand.”

I’ll just see them for a moment and then go up.

“Professor!”

“Brother!”

Flare was holding a supply-type sword provided by the academy, and Sophia was holding her favorite staff.

“I heard. You said a demon will appear?”

“Yes. I’d appreciate it if you could help prevent casualties, just in case.”

“Of course.”

“What kind of guy is it?”

It would be strange if I knew what kind of guy it was right away.

I don’t know how many monsters he brought with him.

“…I don’t know either. But I’d like Flare to take the east, and Sophia to take the west.”

“Okay!”

“Yes!”

“Nice to meet you! Everyone! My name is Aida Simmons! I’m the third daughter of the Simmons family!”

Waaaaah—!!

She’s pretty! So pretty!

Crazy! You’re suspecting someone like that?!

She’s a strange person just like in the newspaper!! How can you suspect Miss Aida!

Aida’s appearance shone even more because of the magnification magic and the amplifying magic.

Her fancy clothes and jewels suited her well, she was a noblewoman that anyone could see, she was beautiful, and she was voluptuous enough to make many men have foolish thoughts.

A unique point is that Aida has a large and ornate crown on her head.

At that moment, the demon’s hidden magic is activated.

No one noticed that magic was used because the mana in the air was vibrating due to the tremendous amount of cheers, shouts, and screams.

-Now! It’s Luna’s turn!-

The crowd of over 100,000 people becomes as quiet as if they had eaten a mouse.

The eyes of the silent spectators, who seem to be intentionally ignoring Luna even when she appears, all have a hint of purple.

Similarly, the emcee’s eyes also have the influence of the magic.

-Huh? Is there no reaction?!-

Woooo!!

Adulteress, get out!

What gives you the right to show your face here!

Look at those disgusting breasts! She must have seduced men with those!

Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo!

A maid seducing Miss Aida’s fiancé!

I heard she’s a commoner! Know your place!

Wooooooooo!!

Insults, slanders, abuse, and jeers of a size that cannot be compared to Aida’s are poured out on Luna.

Luna, who had been prepared, was flustered by the situation she was experiencing for the first time.

-Now, please introduce yourself, Luna!-

“L-Luna.”

Woo! Woo!

She stutters!

Her voice is unpleasant!

I don’t want to hear that voice!

It’s the worst! It’s terrible!

Woooo!

-Shall we start the talent show? Let’s start with Luna!-

He fiddles with the crown prepared in his arms.

“Wait a minute? Baron! It’s not your turn!”

“Get lost.”

As he pushes aside the event staff and goes on stage, the dense crowd glares at me.

Aida was leisurely manicuring her nails as the situation turned in her favor, and the emcee was frozen as if he had suffered a broadcasting accident.

He felt like he was suffocating from the gazes of the audience, who were sending him looks that said, “Why is that bastard already up there?” and the gazes full of hatred and anger, but when he saw Luna, who had turned pale, he somehow managed to take a step.

-Well, not the talent show! Today’s protagonist and the enviable man loved by two people, Baron Scarl Bernatore has arrived! Please introduce yourself, Baron!-

‘Luna. You endured well.’

He approaches Luna, who is trembling.

‘This kind of thing is not about being swayed by what the other person wants.’

“Luna. Draw the sword. Quickly.”

He extends his palm to stop the emcee from approaching.

“W-wait a minute! Baron! It’s not my turn yet!”

“Ignore him! Draw it!”

Trembling hands.

Tears that seem like they will burst at any moment.

“Y-yes?”

“Aida, you try drawing it.”

Aida, with a confident look, tries to lift Purity, but it doesn’t come out.

“Ha. Such a fake! Okay. Uh, uh?”

There’s no way it would be drawn.

Instead of Luna, he grabs her wrist and brings it to the handle of 『Purity』.

“Wait a minute! If you do this, the stage! The event!”

He grabs the emcee, who approached with his outstretched hand, by the collar and lifts him up.

“Get lost, you mongrel. Who said you could talk to me? Do you want to die?”

And he throws the emcee off the stage.

“S-save me! He’s going to kill me! This man is trying to kill me!”

Even Aida, who was bewildered by the unbelievable situation, is out of her mind.

“W-what? It was supposed to be drawn…”