Chapter 22

The morning after the entrance exam.

Ruisa woke up on the bed in a certain inn.

“Mmm~”

She sat up and stretched.

Although she was tired from yesterday’s events, she felt energetic after a good night’s sleep on the fluffy bed.

The inn Yurii introduced her to wasn’t a high-end establishment, but it was a good inn with thoughtful attention to detail.

After waking up, Ruisa had a light breakfast and then went out into the town.

The results of the entrance exam would be announced the next day.

She decided to spend the day exploring the town.

“...Huh?”

As soon as she left the inn, Ruisa spotted someone and exclaimed.

The person, upon seeing Ruisa, called out to her in a gruff manner.

“...Good morning.”

“O-oh, good morning, Sharo.”

The person standing there was Charlotte Yudelia, the descendant of the hero.

Ruisa was taken aback by the sudden encounter.

Huh? Did we have plans to meet yesterday?

“What’s wrong? Is it a bother for me to come suddenly?”

“No, not at all. I’m glad you came.”

“Then it’s fine.”

With that, Sharo flashed a healthy smile, which made Ruisa’s heart skip a beat.

“Are you planning to see the town? I’ll show you around.”

Saying this, Sharo took Ruisa’s hand and they set off into the town.

They looked at clothes, ate delicious food, and took breaks at cafes...

They enjoyed themselves like any young teenagers would until the sun set.

It was a very stimulating and enjoyable time for Ruisa.

However, the more enjoyable the time was, the more she felt a sense of guilt towards Sharo.

Because Ruisa’s main goal was to defeat the hero.

The most common method to break a seal is to defeat the one who cast it.

If that is done, most seals will be broken.

Yet, the seal cast by the legendary hero, Ouga, has not been broken. Regarding this, the demon king Testarossa, who is well-versed in sealing techniques, had told Ruisa:

---

“The hero who sealed me and Rio... might still be alive.”

“Huh? But it’s been 300 years since Ouga was alive?”

“Yes, a normal human couldn’t live that long. But... the hero is not ordinary. There’s a possibility that he extended his lifespan with some kind of magic or created a space like an infinite prison to protect himself from aging.”

“So there’s a possibility... Then I just need to find the hero and take him down, right?”

“Haha, I’m looking forward to it.”

---

The hero Ouga was like a mortal enemy to Ruisa.

But to Sharo, he was a respected ancestor. This made Ruisa feel guilty.

“What’s wrong, Rui? You look so gloomy.”

“Huh? No, it’s nothing.”

Ruisa hastily tried to cover up her feelings as Sharo looked at her with concern.

“S-Say, how much do you know about Ouga?”

“Oh, are you a hero fan too?”

“Y-Yeah, actually. Hehe.”

“Well, I can tell you what I know, but I’m not that well-informed. After all, he lived 300 years ago. I grew up hearing various legends, but they weren’t much different from what everyone else hears.”

“I see...”

Ruisa’s shoulders slumped in disappointment.

Sharo wasn’t the type to lie, so she probably really didn’t know much.

“Oh, but there might be some items left by my ancestor at home.”

Hearing this, Ruisa eagerly pressed forward.

“Really!?”

“Y-Yes. This sword I’m carrying, ‘Fleur de Cerise,’ is one of them. It’s said to be the sword my ancestor used.”

Saying this, Sharo drew the sword from her waist and handed it to Ruisa.

The sword shimmered in a pinkish glow, and just looking at it gave a sense of peace.

“Amazing...”

Ruisa couldn’t help but murmur, captivated by the power of the sword.

As she gazed at it, something strange happened.

“Huh?”

A mysterious force from the sword flowed into Ruisa’s body.

It wasn’t magic or ki, but a warm, mysterious power that seeped into the core of her body and eventually faded away.

“What was that...?”

She checked her body, but there was no noticeable change.

Her magic power or physical abilities hadn’t increased. Ruisa was puzzled, but no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t figure it out.

“Hey, what’s going on? Can I have it back now?”

“Ah, yeah. Thanks.”

Ruisa returned the sword, still feeling uneasy.

What exactly happened just now?

“Rui? Is there anywhere else you want to go?”

“Huh? Oh, it’s getting late. I think I’ll head back. I have to go to the academy tomorrow.”

As Ruisa was about to return to the inn, Sharo grabbed her sleeve and stopped her, looking up at Ruisa with a serious expression.

“Hey, Rui... Can we go to my room together?”