Chapter 6: She is
A few days before his departure, there was a training session. He faced all the elite members of the Order of Knights and flawlessly handled them with acrobatic movements.
His supple yet fierce motions evoked the image of a ferocious beast—but it was more than that. He was not just any beast; he was a super ultra hybrid creature, possessing both mastered techniques and a keen intellect paired with sound judgment.
At times, he would not merely deflect the swords of the towering knights before him but would sweep half of them away in a single strike. Other times, with delicate manipulation of his sword, he would entangle the blades of three knights at once.
As he became accustomed to training against multiple opponents, the frequency of his injuries naturally decreased, and the Sisters’ roles were becoming almost unnecessary. Though she felt it was inappropriate, Siesta found herself a bit lonely about this change.
The day he was to set off arrived.
“Please, □□-sama, don’t overexert yourself. If you sustain any injuries, rely on the Saintess, Mika, immediately.”
Siesta thought that this might be her last chance to express her feelings.
“Under normal circumstances, I would have wanted to tend to your recovery myself, but… I simply lack the strength to do so. So please, take my heart with you—just my heart.”
She prayed to God for his safety.
“I’ll say it again, don’t overexert yourself—despite being just a boy like us, I’ve come to depend on you… I’m sorry.”
And then Siesta, breaking free from her own rationality that told her it was cowardly and merely self-satisfaction, revealed the guilt she had harbored since he first arrived in this world.
“Siesta, thank you for everything. I respect you—your kindness.”
At his words, filled with compassion, Siesta could no longer hold back her tears and buried her face in her sleeve.
So, she thought it must be some kind of mistake.
Information regarding the boy began to reach Siesta one after another.
Please let it be a mistake.
Please let it be some kind of misunderstanding.
Every day, she prayed earnestly to God.
A week after their reunion.
His once-clear eyes were now clouded with sadness.
His decayed lifestyle was nothing short of tragic.
Siesta shed tears countless times during sleepless nights.
The summoning of Balen and the Tycoon, Leopard, was proposed by Siesta, but she had already confirmed it with the Hero beforehand and received his approval.
The fact that he commanded the two to leave without remembering anything was either because he hadn’t taken the conversation seriously or because his mind was dulled by alcohol. In any case, the outcome was dismal.
The summoning of the two was Siesta’s last resort, her final hope to save him.
Since being sent to Lemone, Siesta had never once seen the Hero actively engaged in conquering the Labyrinth. Instead, all she witnessed was his indulgent lifestyle, carelessly spending money and pursuing pleasures that were almost shameful to mention. This was all she had seen of him.
Not a single piece of the information she received was incorrect.
Yet, yet—if even a fragment of that dull yet undeniably radiant heart crystal Siesta had felt back then remained within him…
And if, just before she refrained from contacting the Cardinal, he had turned his heart around, or even returned to the person he once was, showing a glimmer of that spirit alongside the summoned ones, even for a moment…
However, her hopes shattered all too easily.
Only a few minutes remained until she would hear from the Cardinal.
Naturally, memories of her time with him flooded her mind.
Time was running out.
The memories of their encounters led her back to their last exchange.
His eyes never returned. The murky, sludge-like gaze remained unchanged, and his behavior was nothing short of reckless and inconsiderate.
The memories tormented her fiercely.
She cried until she thought she could shed no more tears, yet they fell again.
And then, she wiped her tears—
“Hey there! Long time no see, Siesta-kun!”
The voice echoed from the magical device before her, followed by a delayed image appearing.
It was the Cardinal who had sent Siesta to Lemone.
At last, she had made up her mind.