There was something different about this year's Holy Ruins.

　I overheard such a story after Currier and Cecily exchanged greetings with each other as they entered the Lion's Classroom.

''Good morning, Currier,''
'Oh ... good morning, Cecily. ...You're early today.
Yes, it's a very strong morning.
'Right. I'm ... not very good in the morning.

　Currier-san takes a seat.

　At a quick glance, the distance between them is the same as before.
　There's no feeling that the two of you are getting on well with each other.
　But from the atmosphere, I realized that the awkward atmosphere that existed between the two of them had eased considerably.
　It wasn't just Zeke who made unexpected faces, but the other students as well.
　Well, seeing two people who had gone at each other like that the day before yesterday communicating normally like this, it's no wonder they were surprised.

''Surprised?''

　Mr. Currier asks me.
　I laugh and

Sure, it's a bit of a surprise... but most of all, I'm happy.

　I said.
　Then Mr. Currier said.

Well that's good.

　I just replied.
　His expression is the usual cool currier-san.
　But..........The tone of his voice is obviously soft.

　And someone's finger poked my shoulder.

''Good morning, Kurohiko.

　Cecily, with her usual smile, was standing beside her.

'Oh, good morning, Cecily-san. ........I'm sorry about yesterday.
No, don't worry about it. ........rather, I've been reflecting on it myself. As the principal said, before I knew it, my feelings took precedence over my own and I may have neglected you. And--

　Cecily-san takes a glance at Currier-san.

''As you may have already heard from her we have somewhat resolved the rift we had with each other.
I'm sure.
I suppose that's one way of putting it. And we have an agreement.
An agreement...?
Yeah, a lot of things. ...Do you mind?
Well, I do care about it, though.
It's a secret.

　It's a secret, apparently.
　I make a small smile.

'Then let me know when the time is right. I'll let you know when it's time, Cecily.

　Cecily looks as if she's been hit with a false sense of humor.
　But soon she regains her smile and

''Well I feel like you've become a little more reliable, what's going on?''

　He asked.

Well I'm training myself to be a strong man. ........well, to tell you the truth, I'm pushing myself pretty hard.

　While admitting the impossibility, I chuckle.
　Well ... a little at a time, I guess.

　Cecily-san observes me with interest for a while.

''........I see. That's right, I think it's good to try to be strong. ........Can I expect it?
'Well don't expect too much, just keep your hopes up.

　I bow my head in a bow.

'So, I'm going to expect it, aren't I?'

　After saying this with a smirk, Cecily's smile disappeared from her face.
　Then she cut in.

''By the way.......about the attack team....
Yeah.
''The Holy Ruins will be captured by the three of us, myself, Sieg and Hyrgis, as we had originally planned. We'll keep your affairs separate from the Holy Ruins attack for now.
You want to get past the people you need to get past first, don't you?

　Cecily nodded emphatically.

''Yes. I've reconsidered that if I can't even accomplish what I had originally decided to do I'm not qualified to form an attack team with you. So, at least for the past year, the three of us and them are going to conquer it together.
Well....

　I could see the firm resolve in her expression.
　I held out my hand.

''We will be rivals in the attack on the Holy Ruins, but.......let's do our best for each other.

　Once again, Cecily-san seemed dumbfounded, but she immediately gave me a breathless smile and squeezed my hand back.

''It seems that you've wiped out a lot of things, too. I understand, as good competitors, let's study each other. ........right, Currier?

　Cecily smiled at Currier.

''Yeah. .........well, just take it easy.

　Keeping her gaze fixed on the front, Currier-san responded by lightly raising her hand.

''And then there's Kurohiko, who confessed that he loves us beyond comparison... to a degree that's not too much to ask, right?

　The classroom went buzzing at Cecily-san's words.

　........Um, Cecily-san?

　Currier-san breathes a gasp of dismay.


''Because my desire for Kurohiko hasn't changed even now. It's just........I like Currier just as much now, you know?
Hmm... so you like people, that's not so easy...

　Currier-san holds her forehead and shakes her head, "Oh dear.
　The cheeks under her hand are slightly, cherry-red.

　..........

　It was after that.

　When the air in the classroom finally began to calm down - some students began to talk about the rumors of the Holy Ruins.

　It seems that Cecily-san also knew about the rumors.
　Me and Currier-san, who didn't know about the rumors, received an explanation from Cecily-san.

　This year's Holy Ruins was stranger than the previous years.

　It seems that this rumor was originally started by the senior students who were diving the Holy Ruins last year and the year before.
　There are two things that are often said so far.

　The high rate of appearance of different species.
　And the strange variation in the number of demons appearing.

　These are the major hurdles in attacking the Holy Ruins.
　If the rate of encounters with highly threatening different species increases, and the number of monsters itself increases, the difficulty of capturing the Holy Ruins will increase dramatically.

　This was why the third year students who were preparing to take the selection exam for the Holy Jury next year had their heads in their hands.
　This was because the ranking of the Little Saint rankings would also affect the selection exams.
　Furthermore, the rumors have spread to the underclassmen as well, and the number of first-year students who are hesitant to go to the Holy Ruins has started to increase in spurts.

　This is just a rumor, and right now, it seems that it's still on the level of the upperclassmen's experience.......

''Well, I have no intention of giving up on capturing the Holy Ruins to that extent, but.......you might want to keep that in mind for now.
I understand. Thank you.

　I thanked her and Cecily went back to her seat.

　I look at my watch.
　It's about time for the morning report to begin.
　And.

'Ah!　He's here!　I'm in a stagnant, stale classroom with stagnant air, and I'm here again today!

　I'm here.
　Maro.

'Oh?　What's this?

　Asaro picked up a square of cloth that was on top of the podium.
　It was probably a handkerchief.
　It was a pretty handkerchief, a pale lemon color with lace on it.
　Did a kind student pick up the lost item and leave it behind?

Oh, God, it's disgusting!　It's not a year old thing!　Get rid of the d*mn thing, for goodness sake!　I mean, whose is it?　Come forward, Oye!
Uh, yeah, that's my thing.
Oh!

　With a bang, Asaro turns around.

''Gee!　Instructor Josef!

　Joseph cleared his throat heavily.

'My wife gave me this precious thing for our anniversary, but it seems to have dropped it somewhere. .........Thank you to the student who picked it up.
Well, wait a minute, Instructor Joseph!　So, yeah ... actually, I was in the hallway and I was like, 'Oh?　What is this?　Oh, man!　It's not a year old thing!　Get rid of the d*mn thing, for goodness sake!　I mean, whose is it?　Come forward, my boy! I took it back from the student who was insulting me by saying things like　Earlier, I was explaining the situation when I picked it up to the students of the Lion Clan...!
Okay, okay, can I have it back?
'Yes, of course!　Well, the instructor's wife has really good taste!
Okay, give it back.
Yes.

　............................
　Maro.
　Where are you headed, you..............

　　　　　　　　　　*.


　In the report on the ascent, it was reported that Ira was taking a break from the Holy Ruins to attack the Holy Ruins.
　She has been hiding in the Holy Ruins since yesterday.

　Also, the culprit of the murders in the capital was still unaccounted for.

　After the debriefing, the next step is the battle lesson.

　　　　　　　　　　*

　The sound of swords being sliced and diced resounded in the first training ground today as well.

　Under the clear blue sky, I was exchanging sword fights with Currier-san.

　The speed with which I wielded my sword was much higher than yesterday.
　How can I say........I feel like I'm beginning to have a kind of 'intuition in battle' inside me.
　Moreover, the body is surprisingly light.
　It's just--

　Boom.

　..........
　That's it.
　This.

　While clashing swords with Currier-san with the momentum of sparks about to fly, I'm aware of what is 'crawling out' from within me.

　Mainly, this feeling that comes up when I engage in combat.
　But if I surrender to this sensation - my consciousness is taken away from me.

　It was the same during the mock fight, and during the battle lesson yesterday.
　When I fought the goblins in the holy ruins, this sensation almost filled my whole body.

　.............

　Maybe I was beginning to notice it, but I hadn't.
　When Clarice-san told me the story of the Forbidden King--.

　I heard the second part of the story about the Forbidden King becoming a 'beast', since then.

　Yesterday.........before I went to bed, I was thinking in bed for a long time.
　About the reason why the forbidden curse is a 'forbidden curse'.

　I'm still not convinced.
　It's not enough to completely shake off the fog of speculation inside me.

　But ...

　A voice in my head.
　The consciousness that is taken away.
　And.........an omen-like feeling inside me.

　If we get to that point, we can see what we need to see.

　An aberration - I should say, an aberration.

　The changes in my body that Currier-san pointed out.
　The reason why I, who has no knowledge of swordsmanship, was praised by the best players.

　...........
　I may have been looking away.
　When my thoughts arrived at the 'hypothesis', I might have been scared and unintentionally looked away.

　But ... I decided to be strong, I decided.

　So, I can't look away now.

　Yesterday, when Clarice-san and I talked about the disadvantages of the forbidden curse, I said, 'Maybe you don't feel that it's a disadvantage.
　If that's the case--'

　That's exactly what I'm going to do.

　I'm going to use this power to my advantage.
　I meant what I said to Currier-san this morning.
　And if in the future, if I actually have to fight someone from the Sixth House - this power will definitely be a weapon.

　This power is probably a kind of so-called boost that temporarily or continuously increases your physical abilities and senses.
　Instead, during the boost, my consciousness would be connected to something 'dangerous'.......

　..............

　But I'm going to use this power.
　I'll master it, and I'll show you how to use it.
　I will use it, no matter what.

　I will master it, no matter what.

　I'm going to further increase the speed of the slash.
　I'm not going to be able to get a good look at it.

　--I'm not going to be able to get it right.

　Eat.
　Eater--

　It's right here.

　This is it.

　If I can disengage my consciousness from this place, I'll be able to keep it from taking over...

　Eat--

　--Can you do it?

　No, it's not 'Can you do it?' it's 'Can you--'

　Do it.

　If you can't you're just going to have to do it!

　Then.

　The two swords flashed together violently.

"---

　I stopped moving.

　I was sweating profusely all over.
　I was breathing hard.
　But.

..........

　Are you sure you're ready?

　Yeah, he's okay.
　He's not in a coma anymore.
　And that voice I can't hear it anymore.

　In other words - I made it.

　Before the invasion of my consciousness is gone.........

...........

　The problem is how much of this "sensation" can I maintain while maintaining the consciousness of "me"........
　And also, how much shorter is the time for rigidity immediately after separating the consciousness from the erosion?

Are you okay?

　Currier-san asked me as I looked at her.
　

''Yes, I'm fine ... continue, please!
Okay, okay. Let's go.
Yes!

　Resume the meeting with Currier-san.

　...................

　I can do it.

　Instead of running away from this power I'll use this power, I'll master it.

　It's not to be eaten by the senses.

　I will use the power that this sense creates to feed on it.

　　　　　　　　　　*

Day after tomorrow.

　Currier said after the combat class was over and Instructor Isabella was gone.

'I'm going to the Holy Ruins the day after tomorrow,'
..........

　So this is it.

Am I free?
As far as I'm concerned. However, on that day, it's up to four levels.
So you're saying you're going to avoid the Guardian Species?
Yeah, this time.

　The guardian species is always found in the level just before the level of a multiple of five... well, in game terms, it's a mid-boss-like demon.
　Basically, if you don't defeat this guardian species, you won't be able to go to the next level.

　The highest level that last year's graduates reached was the nineteenth level.
　The highest level before Cecily's older brothers had broken it was the twenty-fourth level.
　And the previous record set by Cecily's brothers was the 29th tier.

　That's right.
　They were all up to one previous multiple of five.

　In other words, this indicates that they were unable to defeat the guardian species in the hierarchy just before the fifth multiple layer and were stranded there.

''Oh, and.......remember, after class today, we'll prepare to attack the Holy Ruins as planned.
Yes!

　　　　　　　　　　*

　That day, I ate lunch with Currier at the cafeteria.

　Surprisingly, this was my first lunch with Currier-san.
　When I looked at her, I saw Cecily at a distance, sitting with the usual two people.
　After following my gaze, Currier-san said, "I'm going to have lunch with Cecily tomorrow.

'Tomorrow, you and Cecily can eat together.
What?
That's the arrangement. You and I will have lunch with you, one after the other, Cecily and I.
Uh,
What?
Can't we just agree on three?
He asked for time to talk.
You're not happy about that.

　Then Currier-san makes a face that reminds me of something.

Probably, if it was a man, he would have to deal with it in one shot.
..........

　How did he ask for it?
　I feel like Currier-san is giving in, but........

　　　　　　　　　　*.

　After class, me and Currier-san headed to the Holy Ruins Hall.
　There, we bought the minimum amount of tools we needed and prepared to attack the ruins.

　When we had finished our preparations to some extent, Curie-san with a troublesome look on her face held out her hand to me.

''Give me three silver coins from among them.　
Yes, sir.

　Three silver coins are placed on Currier-san's palm.

''..........''
What's going on?
You're giving it to me very easily.
Because I trust you, Marie Currier.
Huh, you're such a goody-two-shoes.

　I think Currier-san's attitude has become quite soft when she says that, but I can see she is embarrassed.

I'm going to use this money to go to the city tomorrow to check out some equipment that seems suitable for you.
'Oh no...I'd appreciate it if you could just look after me.

　As you can imagine, I'm still not sure how good or bad the weapons are.
　So to be honest, it's very helpful.

''With those three silver coins, do you think you'll be able to handle it?''
It's going to be okay. I'll take care of it.

　The cost of living in this country is different from the world before.
　And I still don't know much about the market price of weapons and armor, either.
　When living a normal life in the academy, you rarely buy anything with money, so you don't have much of an opportunity to come into contact with the prices of things.
　This is probably one of the reasons why I haven't been able to grasp the price of things.

'Um, should I go with you?'
No, you need to stay in school and do some basic training.
All right. If you say so, Currier. Well, good luck with that.
I'll take care of it.

　　　　　　　　　　*

　And the next day, she went to school and finished her classes as usual.

　After class, Currier-san went straight to town.
　On the other hand, I asked the instructor to rent a training ground.
　Then, as Currier-san told me to do, I did basic training on my own.

　That day, Cecily and I even had lunch together, but for the most part, life was the same as yesterday (by the way, most of what I exchanged with Cecily during lunch was just small talk.

　But the only thing that was peaceful...........it was just my school life.
　A disquieting atmosphere was beginning to spread towards the city that stretched down the slope of the school.

　In the morning, during the report at the time of arrival, Instructor Josef informed us of the continuation of the murder case.

　Two of the guards had been killed last night by someone they thought was responsible for the incident.
　The guards were quite skilled swordsmen, but both were killed with a single blow.
　It seems that this led the Holy Tree Knights to start a search for the culprit.

　However, it's not like this incident was going to have any effect on my life.
　At the most, the students were warned by the school that the criminals seemed to be active at night, so they were not to go into town at night.

　And then, the next day.

'Look, from today onwards, you can start swinging with it. You might not get used to it right away in a day or two, but its length and size aren't so different from the ones we've been using in this class, so, well, it should be reasonably easy to handle.

　When the combat class began, I was handed a sword by Currier-san.