When I returned to the ground, the sun had already set.
　It was completely dark.
　The number of people in the square is also sparse.
　The influence of the rumors that have spread in the academy must be significant.

　After returning to the square on the ground with the transporter, we first went out of the cage that surrounded the floor of the destination.
　Thanks to Currier-san, not a single demon followed us.
　The guards, who took note of the absence of demons, returned to the waiting area.
　As they did so, their gazes glanced towards us.

''Hey, did you see that?　Two of the most beautiful women in the world.
One of them is, you know, the Arkwrights.
Oh, yeah. Shucks, that's an enviable party.
'The daughter of the Gamur next door isn't bad either.
That silver-haired girl has a nice body.

　I can hear the guards whispering.

'Men are stupid, aren't they? Well, I don't know how I feel about it.

　It was Zeke carrying me, he said to himself - it was Zeke.
　After getting out of the cage, we were now heading to the Holy Ruins Hall.

''Attractive people make me curious about them even if I don't want to. It's like a man's saga, isn't it?
"Kurohiko.
Yes?
I don't even have to be a polite person.
"Uh, uh ... okay, all right, Zeke.
'Okay, now you're more like a friend!

　Zeke laughing caracara.　
　Siegbert Gil'es.
　He had a more carefree side to him than I had expected.

'Sounds like a lot of fun, and that's fine.

　Mr. Currier lined up next to me.
　Is he kind of mousy?

All right, all right. By the way, Blackbird.
Excuse me?
What's going on here?

　What Currier-san, who was holding my sword for me, showed me was not a crystal-blade sword, but a dagger that came out of that green goblin's body.
　Speaking of which.
　I was so caught up in returning to the ground that I had forgotten all about it.

''Ah, this is...''

　I explained how I got it.

　As I finished explaining, we arrived at the Holy Ruins Hall.
　When we entered the hall, I was seated on a bench in the lobby.
　Then, this time, we all inspected the dagger.

''Is this........the 'Holy Demon Sword'?'''
Looks like it.

　Cecily's was followed by Zeke.

''Holy Demon Sword?''

　I know about the Holy Sword and the Demon Sword, but what is the Holy Demon Sword?

'A holy magic sword is a sword that has a crystal embedded in it and an art form carved into it.

　The one who spoke the answer was Currier-san, who was leaning against a pillar next to the bench.
　As she said, the dagger's sword barrel had a blue crystal embedded in jagged edges, plus a facetious art form carved into it.
　Also, its blade was also jagged on one side.
　Well, I remember catching the Blue Goblin's axe many times with this concave part.
　But this shape, it looks like a key.

''The ability of the Holy Magic Sword, which has the characteristics of both the Holy Sword and the Demon Sword, is not comparable to the Holy Sword and the Demon Sword. It requires an enormous amount of holy elements to master.

　Something about Currier-san, you talk as if you've used it before.
　.................
　I suddenly recall the sword I saw when I first met her.
　A sword that was wrapped in a cloth.
　The long sword that she now carries at her waist is a little different in length and width.
　Could it be that--?

''Hmm, the holy magic sword?''

　Then Zeke said with a snarl.

''One theory is that it's the original sword that was the source of the holy sword and the demon sword... but it was on the fifth level, as I recall, that Kurohiko found it, wasn't it?　I've never heard of a holy magic sword being found in such a hierarchy before.
What's so rare about the Holy Demon Sword?

　'Is it a rare thing?' I almost said.
　'I'm still getting used to it....

''That's right. I'm sure there were only a few holy magic swords in this royal capital. Two in the Holy Tree Order and one in the castle's treasury, I think.''
''We don't have a lot of material or information on the Holy Demon Sword because there aren't many of them and there aren't many users.

　Cecily added.

　''I see.
　I have a general idea about the Holy Magic Sword.
　But in any case, I can't handle the holy element.
　So even if I had it, I wouldn't be able to draw power from it.
　So.

Can I leave it to Currier-san to decide what to do with that holy magic sword?
For me?
Yes. As you know, I can't handle it. And if it's rare, you could sell it somewhere else for a decent amount of money, right?　There's also the possibility of using that money to repair my sword. However, I think Currier-san can use it, so if it looks like you can use it, I thought it would be better to use it as a weapon.
"Hmm.
More than anything else, Currier-san knows more about things around weapons than I do.

　After a moment's thought, Currier nodded one, saying, yes.

All right. Well, okay, I'll see what I can do. Well--

　Currier-san turns her face towards the counter.

''I'd like to get my equipment back and stuff, but... what do you think?　Can you move?
Yeah, I think so.

　He gets up from the bench.
　He seems to have somehow recovered enough to walk.

'After this, I'm going to take Kurohiko to the medical bay in the hall, what about you guys?'

　When asked that, Cecily and the others replied that they were going home for the day.
　They wanted to let me rest quietly for now, they said.
　I was grateful for that consideration.

'Well then, Kurohiko, I'll come back tomorrow to check on you. Today, take a good rest, okay?
'Yes. Thank you for your time today, Miss Cecily. I'll pay you back for this debt one day.
"Hmm, so will you call me 'Cecily' some day, too, instead of 'Miss Cecily'?

　He'd been listening to the conversation with Zeke.

'Oh, all right, Cecily,'

　I don't have any........but well, I'll try.......

　After seeing Cecily and the others off, I finished changing clothes and returning the equipment.
　Incidentally, when I returned the equipment.
　The person in charge of the counter looked at the tattered equipment and exclaimed with a wry smile.

'Looks like it was quite a fierce battle.

　I know this man.
　He was a great help to me the first time I visited the hall.

'I'm sorry I damaged it,'
What, don't worry about it. And I don't have to pay for it, as I keep saying, okay?　It's what the graduates left behind anyway. The best thing is to have them come back in one piece. Hmmm.........but you know, you're looking better than ever, aren't you?　It sounds like you have a beautiful partner.
Well, I'll do my best.
Oh, good luck on both counts.
Neither?
It's obvious. The Holy Ruins attack and that girl's attack. Of course we're going to capture the Holy Ruins and that girl at the same time, right?
..........

　What an exchange.

　After the procedure, we headed to the medical bay.　
　But on the way.

"Uh-oh.

　I stumble back to my feet.
　But Currier-san holds me back in his arms.

'I'm sorry.'
Don't worry about it.

　Currier-san naturally lends a shoulder to me.
　Then we walked in silence for a while.
　The corridor was filled with silence.
　Suddenly, Currier-san stopped in her tracks.
　And then.

I'm proud of you.

　I said.　

'With the way that armor broke, the state of your sword, and your fatigue level, I can only imagine how many demons you had to deal with. Inside the ruins, though, you made it through with ease.
..........
Hm?　What are you smiling about?
I just knew you'd be back.
What?
When I was on my feet earlier, I finally started to feel it. That made me feel at ease, and then I just relaxed.
Okay.

　Again, silence.
　We are the only people in the dark hallway.
　That's when a hand is placed on my head.

"There's nothing wrong with trying to be strong. Just don't push it too hard. Trying to be strong isn't the same as being strong, but it doesn't erase real emotions. You don't have to be strong in that place. So--

　Squeezing, his hair is played with.

'If you want to cry, you can cry.'
..........

　I clenched my teeth.
　The realization that I was safe and the fear I'd been desperately suppressing during the battle with the Blue Goblins were now flooding in, all mixed up.
　The emotions I've been trying so hard to suppress.
　It felt somehow 'weak' to express them.
　Above all, I was happy with the fact that Currier-san, Cecily-san, Zeke-san, and Hyrgis-san had helped me.
　There was something hot in my chest that lit up and made me feel a rush.

'Please. Do me a favor, just be vulnerable in front of me once in a while.
Yes.

　I didn't know if the voice that I uttered while biting down on a sob that was about to leak, reached her properly.


　　　　　　　　　　*.

Take some time to rest first, Blackie.
Yes, sir.
'So, I could be at your house with the headmaster, Mia Posta?　I'll just tell the guy that you'll be staying here?
Excuse me, please.
Okay. Then I'll be on my way.

　With that said, Currier left the medical bay.
　I'm currently lying on a bed in the medical room of the hall in my uniform.
　My wounds are sealed and my condition is only wobbly at best, but today I'm going to stay here to take care of myself.
　Well, the doctor in the medical bay recommended that I stay the night, but....

"Hmmm, you're pretty good at it too, Sagara Kurohiko-dono.

　It was Lisa-san who said that while grinning after seeing Currier-san off.

''I'd like to say no, but we're not as close as you think, Lisa-san, are we?

　Someone who had been looking at me and Miss Currier with a seemingly disinterested gaze ever since we entered Sickbay.
　Liza Logosta.
　She is the second person I met when I came to this world, and she is a doctor at this school.
　She was also one of the first to witness the scene where I first used the forbidden curse.
　She is said to be in the medical room of the main school building for a while after classes, but after a certain time, she is said to move from the school to the Holy Ruins Hall here.

''Really?　They look really friendly to me, don't they?
That would be nice.

　After placing the container of the blue liquid I drank in the sink, Lisa sat down on the chair next to the bed.
　By the way, the blue liquid was something like an energy drink.

''Hahaha, that's good good, young man. .........keke.
'Keke'.......Lisa, you're still young.
Sweet, Kurohiko. There's a fatal divide between teens and twenty-somethings, you know!
Well, I can understand that.

　Lately, I'm not really feeling it anymore, but I'm also a "former 27-year-old".
　That feeling is, well, not hard to understand.
　Lisa-san, who is wearing the same white robe as when we first met, spins her chair around.

It's a good idea to have a good time with them. Well, I heard from the headmaster and Isabella that you were admitted to the school and how you lived, right?

　Apparently, I know Isabella, the instructor.
　I guess they're about the same age.

I've been praying every day that you'd come to sickbay with an injury.
I think I'm going to go to bed.
I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding!　Oh, no, I guess I should really let you rest... well, you should take a break now, yes.
No, no, I can talk to him.

　I pulled the comforter over my head and sat up.
　Then Lisa coughed, ooh-oh-oh-oh.

'It's not like that!　I mean, go to bed!　Go to sleep!　Take care of yourself!　Come on, get to bed, get to sleep, get to sleep!
What happened to you all of a sudden?
She's beautiful, but she's scary, you know?
?

　Lisa is dripping with cold sweat.
　She looks in the direction that her fingertips indicate.

Kyu, Currier-san!　What are you doing?!

　Lisa-san's finger indicated the destination of Currier-san's figure, who was peering grimly into the room through the slightly open doorway.

''That woman seems to be an acquaintance of yours, but...''

　Blurred, Currier said.
　Is it my imagination?
　A somber, stagnant aura seems to be drifting from her body.

''It's fine to talk about it, but I'd rather you rest, if you can.
Okay, okay, I'm going to bed!　I'm going to bed now!

　I pulled the covers over me.

'Wow, I'm going to bed!　No, I'm leaving!　What the hell is that student?　Scary, scary!　That was a killer!　Hahahahaha!　Well then, Kurohiko, I'm going home!　I mean, it's already time for my shift!　See ya~!

　As soon as she finished preparing to leave, Lisa hurriedly left the room.

''Oh, Lisa, what's wrong?''
'I'm going home because I'm afraid of that girl!　After you!
A schoolgirl?　Well, it doesn't look like anyone is there...
What?
　I'm sure you'll be fine.
D-d-didn't you see where he is, boy?　Huh!　Don't tell me you're a genie!　You're a genie!　The female spirit guarding Kurohiko!

　I could hear this conversation from outside the room.

I'm worried about her future as she has no chance with men. So, there's a student.

　The old man in white robes walked into the room as he said it and ran his eyes over the paper on the desk.

'Hmm, you're staying the night. Hmm, you're staying the night. I'll be in bed soon.

　After a while, the old doctor plopped down on his desk and fell asleep in a huff.

''...........''

　So I spent the night in the medical room of the hall with the old doctor who came to replace Lisa.