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“Um… It doesn’t seem like there’s anything wrong? No injuries or anything.”

In the health room of the Academy, I was exposing my bare skin in front of Karim, the health teacher, as I unbuttoned my shirt.

Karim slightly lifted my bra beneath the unbuttoned shirt and checked the center of my chest, just as I had done in front of the mirror.

However, just like when I looked, she couldn’t find any traces of injury on my body either.

“Well, it doesn’t seem like it’s physical pain… Have you ever had an injury in the past at the spot where you felt the pain? Sometimes people experience phantom pains from old injuries.”

But during my time as an assassin, I had only been stabbed in places like my thigh or arm for training under the guise of torture, and I had never been stabbed in the location where my heart is.

“No, not at all. There’s no way I wouldn’t remember being stabbed in my heart.”

“Hmm… So is it a curse or something? But there’s no trace of curse magic at all…”

Lost in thought, Karim muttered various opinions to herself, only to then deny them.

I guess even Karim couldn’t determine the cause of my pain.

Karim, who worked as the Academy’s health teacher, was a remarkable talent like the other teachers; she had fled her tedious nun life from the Temple and possessed significant medical knowledge aside from holy magic.

If she didn’t know, then there was likely no one on the continent who could understand my condition.

This pain must be unusual indeed and related to the phenomenon concerning Heroes, just as Selian had said.

In the end, I left the health room with only a lingering sense of unease.

*

“Speaking of which, our class hasn’t talked about what to do during the Celestial Festival, right?”

While I had been in the health room, the other friends were setting up cakes they had bought from the café, and I couldn’t help but ask the question that had been nagging at me.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

While Selian and Yuli prepared forks and tea, Anne, who had been teasing Linne, tilted her head and asked back.

“I heard that every class or club does something during the festival? But I haven’t heard anything.”

“Looks like El didn’t know.”

Just then, instead of Anne, Yuli, who was setting down the teacups one by one, responded.

“Our class already decided what we’re going to do.”

“Huh? But I haven’t heard a thing!”

“Since you’re busy with a lot of things as the Hero, we didn’t want to bother you with class event preparations. It’s already a settled matter among the class.”

I had no idea at all.

I guessed they must have been preparing while I was constantly called around during class, breaks, or after school for event preparations.

But still, not having any clue at all?

At this point, it seemed they had intentionally planned to keep it hidden from me.

Of course, I didn’t think they meant to exclude me, but feeling a bit left out with my classmates, Selian suddenly spoke as if reading my thoughts.

“We figured El might worry if she knew, so we decided to keep it secret among ourselves. However, you have to come help us during the festival.”

“What do I need to do? You should at least tell me so I can prepare!”

“Ehehe… What we’re doing is a secret. El just needs to show up!”

“Right. You only need to show up. We’ll take care of everything else.”

It was certainly meant to relieve my burden, but why did I feel more anxious rather than less burdened while listening to Selian and Yuli?

“Anne! Hurry up or we’ll eat everything!”

“Ah! No! I’ll be there soon!”

As if she understood my feelings, Yuli called out to Anne after everything was set up.

Anne, who was jumping to catch Linne, who was playfully floating in the corner of the room, heard Yuli’s words and ran over quickly.

Nobody could match Yuli’s ability to handle Anne.

“Anne, have the preparations for the festival gone well?”

While sitting around the table enjoying cake and tea, I casually asked Anne as if it were no big deal.

“Of course! Already… Hah!”

But while happily talking with her mouth full of cake, Anne realized at the last moment and quickly covered her mouth with her two small hands.

Tsk. I thought I could nudge her for information, but she was more tight-lipped than I expected.

“Okay, okay. I won’t pressure you, so just eat the cake quickly.”

Afraid that a secret might slip out, Anne sat there with her mouth covered, unable to enjoy the cake.

At this rate, she looked like she wouldn’t take her hands off her mouth until the cake was completely gone, and in the end, I conceded first.

If all my classmates were being so thorough in keeping secrets from me, then out of courtesy, I should just let it go.

Setting aside my unease for a moment, I instead wondered what they were preparing that they were so excited about.

“By the way, what are you planning to do during the Celestial Festival?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Yuli suddenly threw out a totally random comment.

“Actually, I might have other appointments during the Celestial Festival, so I might not be able to go together some days.”

“So will I.”

“Me too, me too!”

The two people responded as if they had been waiting for Yuli’s words.

“Really? Hmmm… It’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped. I have events scheduled for the last day too, but I can’t predict what’ll happen before then.”

The Academy had formally requested my participation for the opening ceremony, closing ceremony, and the award ceremony for the tournament champion on the last day, along with prayers to the Goddess.

But since it was such a big festival, there might still be small requests that could come up.

That’s why I mentioned that I might not have much time.

“No!”

But right as I started to speak, Selian denied me.

Glancing at her in confusion from the sudden shout, I saw her blushing and stammering, a rare sight.

“W-well… As far as I know, there aren’t usually many special requests for the Hero. I believe there won’t be annoying tasks aside from the events the Academy mentioned.”

Come to think of it, being a Hero candidate, Selian probably would have heard a decent amount about this when starting school or something.

It made sense that I, who had suddenly become the Hero, would be the one who was oblivious.

“Really? That’s a relief… But anyway, all three of you have appointments, right? So what do you plan to do?”

“It’s like this. The three appointments overlap awkwardly.”

Listening to the ongoing conversation, it turned out Yuli and Selian had plans for the first day, Anne and Selian on the second, and finally, Anne and Yuli on the third day due to their own schedules.

“So then, that means on the first day I’ll be with Anne, on the second Yuli, and on the third Selian, huh?”

“Ahaha… I guess that’s how it will be, right?”

“Well, it’s a bit unfortunate that we can’t go together, but it can’t be helped. So can we go together after that?”

“…Unexpectedly, none of us will be available on the fourth day. It looks like we can only go together starting after that.”

The Celestial Festival lasts for a week. That meant we could only go together for about three days.

“Hm… Then I’ll have to explore by myself on the fourth day. Wonder if I’ll be bored since there are plenty of sights to see.”

Even if I said I’d be alone, one person came to mind.

A girl with whom I shared a connection as close as my friends at the Academy.

I imagined Frecia would probably just be sleeping inside during the festival, oblivious to it all.

Alright. I’ll go with Frecia on the fourth day.

*

A few hours earlier.

While Elysia had gone to the health room, the three friends and one ghost were sitting around a café table, deep in serious conversation.

“Honestly, I’m going to say it. Don’t you all want to hang out with Elysia during this festival?”

Up until then, they had only assumed it without saying it outright, but this was the first time someone had brought it up so openly.

Yet, rather than being caught off guard, Yuli immediately responded to Selian’s abrupt comment.

“It’s nice to hang out together, but I also want to walk side by side with El during the festival.”

“I-I don’t really….”

In stark contrast to her usual confidence, Anne chimed in with a timid little voice.

“Then let’s talk without Anne…”

“No, don’t!”

Jumping up from her seat, Anne shouted loudly.

However, when the gazes of Selian, Yuli, and Linne turned towards her, Anne quietly returned to her seat with a face as red as her hair.

“Okay, so what about the dates? We should probably avoid scheduling them on the days of Anne’s event, right?”

“I think the first day would be best. The tournament starts on the second day. Is that okay, Anne?”

In response to Selian’s question, Anne just nodded her blushing face up and down without offering an answer.

“I’ll go with El on the second day. My father’s coming on the third day, so I really do have an appointment.”

“Then naturally, on the third day, I’ll go with El. We should plan to hang out together from after that. Everyone okay with that?”

“I have an objection…”

But as Selian asked, a strange voice intervened, unlike Yuli, Anne, or even Linne.

It seemed Selian hadn’t expected it either, as she jerked and slowly turned her head to where the voice had come from.

“On the fourth day, I’ll….”

I had no idea how she found out, but it was a girl named Frecia, with whom I had crossed paths several times, thanks to my connection with Elysia.

“You are….”

“Frecia.”

“No, I’m not asking for your name… Anyway, what right do you have to suddenly…”

“I’m close with Elysia! If you don’t let me join, I’ll tell her everything that’s been planned.”

Those words didn’t sit well with Frecia, and she seemed a bit uncomfortable, but if it meant spending time alone with Elysia, she could bear it.

“Isn’t it fine? After all, the Celestial Festival lasts for a week, so there’s plenty of time…”

Yuli, who had a bit of fondness for Frecia after helping her with a contract, stood up for her.

I glanced over hoping Anne might support me, but Anne was still sitting there, red-faced, fiddling with her fingers.

“…Alright. Then let’s include Frecia.”

In the end, Selian had no choice but to accept another competitor.

Even after setting the dates, the meeting involving four people and one ghost continued for quite a while.

Touching is okay, excessive skinship is not, cutting in line is forbidden, and secrets must be kept.

The scheduled plans and rules, of which only Elysia was unaware, were agreed upon among the four of them.