episode_0033

—

“Why did you come?”

“And you—where are all those guys you usually drag around with you?”

“You’ve lost your memories, right? I convinced you to return to the academy, and because of me, you ended up bearing a disgrace you never deserved. Doesn’t that mean I have to take responsibility?”

It was easy for Christine and Cecilia to recall Eric—wandering lost or holed up silently in a classroom, speaking to no one.

“Well, that works out perfectly. From now on, I’ll guide you. Eric and I are classmates, aren’t we? We share a lot of the same courses. Meanwhile, you’re still a freshman. Here, you should act like an upperclassman and put in some effort.”

“Even if I’m a freshman, I’m still a student council officer, just like you. I’m confident I know more about the academy than most upperclassmen.”

Christine lightly tapped her own head with a finger, as if prompting Cecilia to remember.

“And, unnie. Did you forget? If we compare the actual time we’ve spent at the academy, there’s hardly any difference between us now, right?”

“Hmph.”

Cecilia let out a short scoff, but the fact that she didn’t argue back was as good as admitting defeat.

Christine and Cecilia. And even Elia and Luciella, who weren’t here now.

In their first timeline, all four of them had been graduates of the academy.

“Even so, it was an early graduation.”

Not long after Luciella of the first timeline drew the Holy Sword and was chosen as the Hero, the Demon King’s army launched a full-scale invasion.

With their backs against the wall, the academy offered early graduation as a “privilege” to exceptional students they could deploy as combat assets.

In the end, as Christine said, there wasn’t much difference between her and Cecilia’s academic standing.

“Tch… Y-you, worry about your own followers! You’re already popular enough! Why ignore them and cling to Eric instead?”

“My, my. Is that how you’re going to phrase it? If we’re talking purely about popularity, wouldn’t someone as lowly as me pale in comparison to Lady Cecilia?”

Christine, originally a commoner, had proven herself through sheer ability—but even she couldn’t measure up to Cecilia.

The heir to the Rastal Ducal House, an undisputed pillar of the empire, even if not as prestigious as the Grave family.

A diligence that never neglected self-improvement despite her high status.

A benevolent nature born of devout faith.

And all of it, combined with her stunning beauty, earned her overwhelming support from people of all ages and social standings.

To the point where no one dared speak ill of her.

“As a devout believer, Lady Cecilia will surely become the next Saint! No one serves the Goddess more faithfully than her! I heard she even made a secret donation recently. As expected of Lady Cecilia!”

“Enough.”

But she wasn’t shameless enough to accept all that praise at face value.

“God? Justice? Screw that. Only idiots believe in that crap.”

“Wow, that’s pretty extreme. Is that really okay for a Saint candidate? I’m technically a follower of the Goddess too, you know.”

“And? Are you going to lecture me?”

Christine grinned.

“No? If anything, we know better than anyone how meaningless and useless the Goddess really was.”

Though the members of the Hero’s party had all changed in different ways after leaping through time, they shared two common thoughts.

One was guilt toward Eric.

The other was an intense distrust of this world’s gods.

“I don’t get what was so great about that bitch to make us worship her so fervently. The one we should’ve believed in was right in front of us all along.”

“Say that to Eric, and I’ll kill you.”

“I know. It’s just… I was such an idiot.”

The god Cecilia had believed in so devoutly never answered her.

The church she had devoted herself to, thinking it as sacred as the Goddess herself, was rotten beyond saving from within.

But Cecilia couldn’t bring herself to cast aside the people who had chosen her as Saint and revered her.

As a result, the allied forces remained fractured by power struggles until the very moment the Demon King’s army was at their gates.

And yet, Cecilia could still wield divine power.

‘Why?’

That was the first thought she had upon waking in this world.

She didn’t believe in the gods. And yet, the divine power flowing through her was several times stronger than it had been in the previous world.

As if it didn’t care what she thought.

Meanwhile, she and the others faced no punishment, retaining all their authority.

But Eric, who had given his life for them, had lost even his memories.

If that was truly the case, then humans—herself included—had no reason to believe in the gods.

“The Goddess doesn’t care about us. Why should I keep believing in a god like that?”

“What, are you declaring that God is dead? Like Eric did back then?”

“Yes.”

She hadn’t realized it then, but now she understood.

Eric had grasped the truth of this world before she had.

“The Goddess doesn’t need us. She just needs puppets to slay the Demon King in her stead since she can’t act directly.”

“So?”

Christine crossed her arms and glared sideways at Cecilia.

“What are you planning to do? You’re not seriously going to waste time here debating theology with me, are you? Eric’s waiting. Hurry up and get to the point.”

“It all comes down to attitude, doesn’t it? Student Council President Cecilia? Lady Rastal? The Seventh Saint? Screw that!”

Cecilia’s voice was rough.

“I’m done pretending to be the ‘good girl.’”

“Then what? Are you going to play crazy like Eric?”

“No. I’ll just live as I please. I’ll save the world like everyone wants, so they can keep their noses out of my business.”

“Oh…”

Christine’s eyes widened as she stared at Cecilia.

“Sorry, unnie. That was such a predictable answer I had to think for a second.”

“What?”

“You went on about the Goddess and ‘your true self,’ but it all boils down to this, doesn’t it? You want to cling to Eric, repent for your mistakes on your own terms, and ease your guilt.”

“Wrong. I’m not just talking about Eric—”

“But he’s the biggest part of it, isn’t he? The tragic Saint, tending to an amnesiac Eric while bearing the pain alone… Don’t make me laugh! You think Eric sent us back in time for that?”

“Then what am I supposed to do?!”

Cecilia screamed.

“You think Eric wouldn’t want that? I know! I know that better than anyone! That idiot—!”

No matter how much Cecilia pushed him away, Eric had silently followed her.

Of course someone so devoted and kind wouldn’t want others to sacrifice themselves for him.

“How selfish. But what choice do I have?”

“No, it’s not selfish—it’s stupid. What we should do is become the ‘good Hero’s party’ Eric wanted. You feel like you’re being played by the Goddess? That’s exactly what he wanted!”

“And you’re satisfied with that? Him having no memories of us, drifting further away…”

“Oh? Then why don’t you go see for yourself? See if Eric really remembering us would make you happy.”

Christine stepped aside, clearing the way for Cecilia.

“Go on. I’ll smooth things over with Eric. Our classes overlap anyway—do a good job escorting him, okay?”

“…You’re serious?”

“Of course~ If you weren’t my unnie, I wouldn’t even be having this conversation. Oh! Obviously, you can’t tell Eric about us—”

“I know. Don’t.”

No matter how much Cecilia wanted to say everything to Eric, she at least had that much sense.

“Then I’ve got nothing else to say. I doubt you want to hear this from someone who compromised, but… be careful.”

Though Christine had been teasing her just moments ago, the weight in her voice now made Cecilia nod without thinking.

—

“Sorry for the wait.”

“No, there’s no need to apologize for something this small. That was Cecilia, right? What was it about?”

“Nothing important. Just some student council business.”

“Student council? Ah.”

Eric nodded in understanding, then turned to Cecilia.

“Hmm… Long time no see? I hope you’ve been well? Sorry, I’m not sure how to greet you properly.”

They might have crossed paths a few times by now.

But while she knew Eric Grave, he did not know Cecilia Rastal.

“This feels awkward to say, but this is actually more natural for me. Pleased to meet you, Lady Rastal. I’m Eric Grave.”

“…P-pleased to meet you, Young Master Grave. I’m Cecilia Rastal, Discipline Committee Chair of Fiend Academy. I expect you to conduct yourself in a manner befitting this institution.”

Her words were stiff and formal. But Eric, as if used to such treatment, smiled lightly.

“Haha, I know. I’ll do better from now on—please watch over me, Lady Rastal.”

Eric spoke as if meeting her for the first time.

But his smile was so bright.

And that only made her chest ache all the more.