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A small fairy, as if exuding a fragrant grassy scent from her perch on my palm, frowned and grumbled.

"Do you really think all of that will happen? I can't believe it."

"It's true, Darcan."

"…To think such incidents could occur in my academy. I don't feel great about it."

Her unexpected words surprised me.

I thought she'd dismiss at least half of it, but surprisingly, she listened to everything I said.

"Do you believe all of it?"

"If I didn't, I wouldn't have listened in the first place."

"…Thank you."

"Well, you're someone endorsed by Athena, so there must be something to it. And…"

As she spoke, her face flushed slightly, and she mumbled while lightly tapping her foot.

"For some reason, I feel like I want to believe you…"

"Huh?"

"N-No, forget it!"

I looked at her as she waved her hands frantically.

'…She really does care about the students.'

She may seem uninterested, but this fairy loves the academy's students more than anyone else.

In the novel, Darcan couldn't escape the depths of guilt for a long time when students were injured.

But since I informed her of all the disasters that would happen at the academy, the damage should be much less than in the novel.

Feeling pleased that the conversation had gone smoothly, I smiled at her.

For some reason, Darcan's face turned bright red, and she hurriedly spoke up.

"B-But that doesn't mean I completely believe you yet."

"Oh, is that so…?"

"Of course! It's such an absurd story! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have even listened."

"Hmm… that's true."

She wasn't wrong.

But it's fine.

All I needed was to raise her awareness.

When the first disaster strikes, she'll realize I was right and prepare well for the rest.

That's enough.

While Darcan's strength may not rival Athena's, she is still one of the empire's strongest. She should be able to handle it.

With a sense of relief, as if peace had returned to the academy, I sighed deeply.

Now, I could go back with a lighter heart.

"So, you'll have to stay here."

"Excuse me?"

Caught off guard, my words tangled, and a strange sound escaped my mouth.

As I looked at Darcan with a puzzled expression, she crossed her arms and glared at me.

"Don't tell me you were planning to leave just like that? I need to see if what you said is true!"

"Uh… right?"

I pointed at myself in confusion.

Stay?

Here at the academy…?

It's not a problem, but I don't see why I have to stay.

"You mean… stay here?"

"Of course! If you turn out to be wrong, I'll have to adjust my plans!"

"…..Ah."

"Believing you is already a huge favor. You should take responsibility for what you said."

…She's not entirely wrong.

Everything I've said so far comes from the novel.

There was no guarantee that everything would happen exactly as it had before.

The story was already tangled beyond repair, so it wouldn't have been strange if one or two disasters went off track.

In that case, it was certain that no good things would come.

And surely, as she said, I would have to take responsibility for my words.

If I were to return like this…

'Since I've told you everything that will happen, make sure you prevent it all.'

Leaving irresponsibly like that would have been no different.

But to stay at the academy?

"…Would there even be anything for me to do here?"

At my words, Darcan covered her mouth with her hand and began to chuckle softly.

"Fufu… why wouldn't there be?"

Standing on her palm, she flew right up to my face and spoke in a cheerful voice.

"Become a student and see for yourself how amazing my academy is!"

"What?!"

"The best professors. Top-notch facilities. And all sorts of high-end equipment for practice! There'll be plenty for you to do."

"W-wait a moment."

"Normally, you'd have to take an entrance exam… but you're someone personally vouched for by Athena, so that won't be necessary."

Darcan's sparkling eyes and expectant expression bore into me, leaving me feeling overwhelmed.

"But I'm a little… old to enter an academy."

"It's fine! I'm the headmistress; what's the problem? Can't you just fake your age?"

"…."

That didn't sound like something a headmistress should say.

"You'll join, right? You'll become my student, won't you? Hm? Hm?"

Her overly enthusiastic demeanor left me speechless.

…The academy. It was something I had never seriously considered.

When I first found myself in this body, I had occasionally daydreamed about what it might be like to attend an academy.

But I had set aside that longing, not wanting to interfere with the protagonist.

And yet, here I was, considering the academy again.

Of course, there wasn't much of a problem.

If there was one thing, it was the chance of encountering Lily. But I had a solution for that.

Thanks to Sephir, I had learned the art of disguise.

Even if I were to run into Lily at the academy, she wouldn't recognize me.

That's how advanced Sephir's techniques were.

'If even Athena couldn't see through it, that says it all.'

In truth, there was one reason I wanted to attend the academy.

It was something I had kept hidden deep in my heart.

I wanted to see Lily.

My dear little sister.

How had she grown by now?

Being such a cute and beautiful child, she must have made lots of friends.

Perhaps she had already forgotten someone like me.

But I had never once forgotten Lily and Dania.

I had just tucked those memories away in the corner of my mind, trying not to think about them.

If I were to attend the academy, I could at least watch over her from afar.

The academy.

It wasn't a bad idea.

But…

For some reason, I couldn't readily accept it.

My illness hadn't completely healed yet.

The mere touch of another person still made my body tremble, and being in a crowded place made me feel as if everyone was staring at me, leaving me breathless.

Though I had improved significantly compared to before, the scars of the past still lingered and tormented me.

"…I'll think about it."

In the end, unable to make a decision, I had no choice but to postpone my answer.

Darcan, looking disappointed, climbed onto my shoulder and gazed at me.

"Alright. For now, I'll give you a room in the nearby dormitory. You can stay there while you make your decision."

She hesitated, her face turning slightly red, before finally speaking in a small voice.

"I… I hope you'll stay with me and protect the Academy."

For some reason, it felt like I had just heard an embarrassing confession.

Darcan really loves the Academy, doesn't she?

"…Oh, right. Speaking of which."

I nearly forgot.

This was something I should have asked right away.

"By any chance… is there a hero at the Academy?"

This was one of the biggest reasons I came here.

At my question, Darcan's eyes widened in surprise.

"Huh? You didn't know? The news that a hero enrolled this year spread like wildfire across the Empire."

'…I knew it.'

Her response reassured me.

If the hero enrolled this year, it must be Robin.

The rumors I heard couldn't have been false.

'A hero chosen directly by the goddess herself wouldn't just change because the story veered off a bit.'

While I let out a sigh of relief, Darcan placed a finger on her chin, her expression turning puzzled.

"I think… the hero's name was… Lily?"

"Yes, Robin, right—"

…What?

Did I hear that wrong?

"What… what did you say?"

"Huh? The hero's name. It's Lily. What? You didn't even know the hero's name?"

"…"

…What?

What did you say?

"WHAT?!"

***

Step- Step-

"It's a lie… It has to be a lie…"

I could only stare blankly at the ground as I walked, utterly dejected.

I couldn't believe it.

Lily is the hero?

What in the world does that even mean?

But the title written next to Lily's name that Darcan showed me was unmistakable: Hero of the Sacred Sword.

How? Just how.

'How on earth does Lily end up being the hero?!'

I silently screamed at the sky, overwhelmed by disbelief.

It was hard enough to accept that Robin wasn't the hero of the Sacred Sword.

But the fact that the hero was none other than Lily felt like a massive blow to the back of my head.

A sense of ominous dread welled up in my heart.

If Robin had been the hero, there wouldn't have been anything to worry about.

Robin's unique trait: Indomitable Will.

As long as he didn't give up, he possessed the extraordinary ability to maintain his stamina and strength until the very end.

And accompanying this trait was the strongest holy sword, one that would never break.

With Robin's abilities and his holy sword combined, he could eventually overcome any trial.

'Of course, it'd involve an excruciating amount of suffering…'

But for a protagonist, going through such hardships was just part of the job.

After all, in the end, he'd be rewarded with the hearts of countless heroines. Surely, that level of suffering could be endured.

But if Lily were the hero, things would be different.

I had sent her to the academy because I wanted her to gain various experiences.

It was never meant to force her into the grueling path of a hero.

I hated the idea.

I didn't want my little sister Lily to go through such harsh trials.

Moreover, unlike Robin, Lily had no special abilities.

If her spirit were to break midway, she could collapse completely.

I had to help Lily.

But I couldn't muster the courage to face her.

"What in the world should I do…"

What should I do to free Lily from the hero's burden—

'…Huh?'

As I was consumed with worry over Lily, a familiar figure caught my eye.

"Iris?"

It seemed like her classes had ended, and she was heading toward the dorms.

But after glancing around for a while, she ensured no one was nearby and then moved toward a secluded area of the academy.

'…Where is she going?'

Her suspicious behavior made me instinctively conceal my presence and follow her quietly.

Not long after tailing Iris, I found myself in a dimly lit alley where no trace of human footsteps could be seen.

'This isn't a place Iris would normally come to, is it?'

As I suspiciously watched her, Iris stopped, looked around for a long moment, and then pulled something out from within her coat.

And then—

"…Huh?"

Thud—

A chilling sound of flesh being torn filled the air.

Iris let out a deep, guttural groan.

My trembling eyes focused on her as blood began pouring down her legs in a bright crimson stream.

The source of the blood was unmistakable.

A small yet clearly recognizable weapon—a dagger—was embedded in her body.