The reason Sera applied to join the hero party was partly due to her loyalty to Ariel, but more than anything, she had nowhere to go after graduation.
She had never properly considered her future. Of course, for soone with Sera's abilities, there were plenty of places she could go, but whether they were truly the paths she desired was questionable.
That’s why she wanted to follow Ariel. She believed that being by his side was where she belonged.
Clana's reason for joining the hero party was even simpler. She was a saintess. She would eventually have to stand on the battlefield.
While others feared the battlefield that the hero party represented, Clana had to go to an even harsher battlefield if she didn’t join.
In fact, it could be said that she had almost no choice.
And the reason Iria applied to the hero party was...
“...”
There was indeed a plausible backstory behind it.
She had heard the news that Ariel was forming a new hero party and would soon head to the battlefield.
To confront the remnants of the Demon Lord's army, declaring that this ti, they would uproot the war once and for all.
With the awakened power of the star, Ariel possessed the strength and talent to do just that.
Alongside him would be Sera and Clana, who also bore similar talents, so they had ample potential to beco humanity’s hope, just like the previous hero party.
And.
'A hero party opposing the Demon Lord's army.'
As all the students in the academy had heard the news, so had Iria.
She too intended to leave the Empire soon. The ones holding her secrets were the remnants of the Demon Lord's army. She planned to embark on a journey to confront them and seek the truth.
Iria's destination was the sa as theirs. The timing of their departure from the Empire was also similar.
'Could this be so kind of fate?'
Following them would likely be faster and more efficient than embarking on her journey alone.
Therefore, her joining them was not a personal desire. This was purely a matter of efficiency, and if the opportunity arose to contact the Demon Lord's army, she would betray them imdiately.
'That's how it is.'
Iria applied to the hero party.
It felt as though she could hear Albert's heart shattering from afar.
In conclusion, Iria was welcod into Ariel's hero party.
She already had a relationship with the three of them, and most importantly, she was strong. There was no one at the academy who didn't know of Iria's abilities.
She had an impressive record of undefeated victories in sparring and was recognized as one of the top two alongside Ariel.
“I'll feel reassured if Iria helps us. Welco aboard.”
“Honestly, I was going to bring you along even if you said no. With three of us gathered like this, how could you be absent?”
“Well, I'm not particularly happy about this! Soone like you is probably useless... Ugh!”
Sera smacked Clana on the head.
Given the protective barrier of her divine power, it likely didn’t hurt at all, yet for so reason, Clana scread.
In any case, she was able to join the hero party with a grand welco from the three. It wasn't particularly difficult for a spawn of the Demon Lord to infiltrate the hero party.
Perhaps it was because of their prior acquaintance. In truth, Iria didn't want to be a spawn of the Demon Lord. It would have been better if she could genuinely join the party as a human.
'Am I asking for too much?'
What was a given for others was not so for her, making it a dream she had given up long ago.
In the realm of her subconscious, she could hear the whispers of the Demon Lord.
You are destined to never blend in with them. You were a monster from the mont you were born.
You can never return to being human again, and you will forever feel a sense of deprivation.
Thinking coldly, the Demon Lord's words might hold so truth. Iria could never fully integrate among humans due to the limitations of her kind.
But still.
“...”
Iria wanted to follow them, no matter how long it lasted.
Ignoring the whispers within her, she mixed in with them.
The newly ford hero party was set to embark on their journey roughly two weeks later.
There was a bit of ti until then, for all four of them. And the way they spent that ti varied.
Ariel devoted himself to training as usual, and Sera likewise went off to spar. Now she was aiming to spar with professors rather than just the academy students.
Clana, true to her role as a saintess, was spreading miracles around her. Initially, she intended to sprinkle them on Iria, but after Iria asked her to go do it elsewhere, she complied.
Although Clana was easily influenced by others, her basic nature wasn't bad, so she didn’t do anything others would dislike.
And.
Iria was.
“...”
Wondering how to spend that ti.
Unlike others, Iria had no hobbies and didn’t need to train.
At first, she aimlessly wandered the streets of the academy. Her steps had no destination; she felt like she needed to do sothing, so she headed wherever.
As she road, she encountered soone first.
It was Reina. She appeared as if she had been waiting for Iria to pass by.
“Oh, Iria. I was just looking for you. I heard you’ll be leaving for a faraway place soon.”
“Yes.”
“So you’re really going. To a distant place.”
Reina, whom she hadn’t seen in a while, had a sowhat complicated expression.
Iria could see both joy at the reunion and sadness at the impending departure on her face. It was bittersweet for her that Iria would leave for sowhere far away.
But Reina quickly smiled. She knew there was no point in being sad.
“Iria, you’re an amazing person. I’m sure you’ll do well there too. You’ll save many lives as a mber of the hero party, just like you saved back then.”
“...”
“I’m proud to call you my friend. Iria, you can beco a good person.”
Iria wasn’t soone who could save many people.
Reina told her she could beco a good person, but Iria wasn’t a good being or even a ‘person’ anymore.
She didn’t know.
Perhaps this would be their last eting, so Iria wanted to convey sothing to Reina.
“I’m sorry.”
It was a condensed statent with various anings.
It was the ssage Iria most wanted to convey to Reina.
Perhaps Reina’s tragedy had begun because of her. It was possible that Iria had instilled trauma in Reina as the root cause.
Iria had.
“...”
Killed her friend.
Iria didn’t have enough humanity left to feel guilt about that, but still, it was sothing she wanted to express.
“I’m sorry? If you’re worried about leaving alone, don’t. I hope we can see each other again later.”
“...Yes.”
She had said what she needed to say.
Iria walked past Reina and continued on her way. The next person she encountered was Lucia.
Unlike Reina, who sought her out, this eting was coincidental.
Lucia glanced at Iria with a sidelong look before speaking.
“You’re going, huh? You made it?”
“...”
“I apologize for ignoring you last ti. You’re stronger than I am. You’re the strongest among all the students in the academy. And well… I owe you my life during the external training.”
“Did you eat sothing wrong?”
“Hey!! I went through the trouble of thinking that up for you!”
Lucia shouted but sighed afterward, facing Iria again.
After clearing her throat a couple of tis, she t Iria's gaze once more.
“Ahem. Well, it’s not that I ate sothing wrong, think about it. If you go, who will be the top student in the first year?”
“Who?”
“Are you intentionally teasing ?”
“...”
“Of course, it will be , the second-best student. Regardless of how much I dislike you, I’m saying I’m feeling good about it now. There’s no reason I can’t be friendly today.”
The reason Lucia had disliked Iria was that she had been the top student. There was no reason to hate soone who would soon be leaving.
In any case, it was true that Lucia had received help during the last training session.
Iria had sacrificed herself at the mont when the monsters attacked, sending Reina and Lucia away first, ultimately allowing Lucia to shine.
So Lucia faced Iria once more before she left.
“It’s good that you’re leaving, but just don’t die. I just wanted to say that one last thing.”
Iria nodded and walked a bit further.
After she had surveyed all areas of the academy, she t Wendy this ti.
When they t, there was no particular joy. At least with Lucia, there had been so affection, but that wasn’t the case with Wendy.
And it seed Wendy felt the sa way.
“What are you staring at? Do you have sothing to say to ?”
“...”
Wendy responded to Iria with a cold expression, still looking rude. Hadn’t she said she was from the sa high school as Reina? It would have been nice if she had inherited even a fraction of Reina’s traits.
“If you’re going, just hurry up and go. Do you think I’d send you off kindly or sothing?”
“No, I’m not expecting that at all.”
“Then hurry up and go. Don’t annoy by looking like your friend.”
There are always those who warmly greet those who leave and those who do not.
Wendy was one of the latter.
Iria had clearly been divided between those she liked and disliked at the academy.
There was no way around that. In fact, she was treated better than she deserved.
Was that why?
“...”
Once Iria left the academy’s scenery, she appeared to be deep in thought.
It had been a short period, but it was still a place full of many mories.
This was the ridge behind the academy.
Standing at the top of the mountain, Iria stared blankly at the sky.
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