Lying on my bed in my room, my thoughts circle around everything that has happened from the Siln Celestial Order’s Founding Festival up to today. I am not seeking any answers, nor trying to resolve my worries; the memories simply replay on their own. What interrupts that flow is the sound of the door opening. The one entering is Harl, my roommate who has lived with me in the Order since we were children.

  “Am, how did it go? What did the Bishop say?”

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t talk about this matter. I was told it must not be spoken of.”

  “And I want you to tell me what that ‘must not be spoken of’ is.”

  “I’m telling you, the content itself is what must not be spoken of.”

  This silly exchange brings a sense of peace to my crumbling daily life. Her presence truly is the greatest source of calm for me.

  “Are you sure you should be here? It’s training time right now. If you’re aiming to become a Warmaiden, you shouldn’t be slacking.”

  “You’re the last person who gets to say that while lying in bed slacking off.”

  “I’ve been working hard without rest until now. Today is a rest day.”

  “You, who have never rested even on rest days, are using a rest day as an excuse to rest? Was it really that much of a shock?”

  Even if I’ve reached the place I aimed for, is there anyone who would skip the process and rejoice only in the result? Thinking that, I look at Harl’s face and realize—half exasperated—that such a person was right beside me all along, and the shock I felt eases a little.

  “It’s not like I did anything wrong. I was asked to cooperate for the future of the Order. The weight of it is a bit overwhelming.”

  “The future of the Order, huh. Well, the pilgrimages have been suspended, requests have decreased, and trust must be plummeting, so they have to work on recovery.”

  “You think about things like that too, Harl.”

  “That’s what Lady Leila said.”

  “Ah, Lady Leila, of course.”

  Two days later, I headed to the Eastend Royal Palace together with the Bishops. The announcement had already been posted on the bulletin boards around the castle town, and people were gathering in the square before the palace.

  The fact that the King himself would deliver the proclamation showed how seriously the Order regarded this incident. When the bell announcing noon rang through the town, King Kiddam Gracelight Eastend stepped out onto the palace terrace and began speaking with the phrase, “My beloved citizens.”

  Regarding the incident at the Founding Festival, he told the people exactly what Bishop Lya had said: “Long years have made the people forget the threat of Eizerg, and the seal maintained by faith had weakened. The heretics exploited that weakness and broke the seal.”

  The people reacted just as expected, a wave of unrest spreading through the crowd. In response, King Kiddam silenced them with a sharp, “However!”

  “There is no need to fear. Someone worthy of the title of Sacred Bearer has appeared within the Order. Her name is Amsaria Clusilk. Trained in mind and body since childhood, she is an exceptional shrine maiden recognized by the Archbishop.”

  His dramatic speech is embarrassing, but what he said next blew away any such feelings.

  This was not what I had been told beforehand. As I strained my ears, an unbelievable declaration reached them.

  “She is none other than the reincarnation of the legendary hero, Sacred Bearer Lipti, sent by Archangel Siln!”

  The wave of joy among the people was overwritten by an even greater wave of joy.

  “I’m the reincarnation of Lipti?!”

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  Receiving the title of Sacred Bearer alone is already far more than I deserve, but being declared Lipti’s reincarnation is beyond anything I can process.

  “Amid the massacre that occurred in the Grand Cathedral, Amsaria Clusilk awakened to a holy power. Though the awakening was incomplete, she drove the Ruinbeast Eizerg out of the cathedral.”

  The cheers swallowed the anxiety surrounding Eizerg’s revival. Lady Lya smiled faintly, while Lady Leila lowered her gaze. This was clearly not her intention.

  As I stood frozen by the enormity of the lie, Lady Lya grabbed my hand and pulled me toward King Kiddam on the terrace.

  “Come now, Clusilk. Show your figure to the citizens.”

  Lady Lya spread her arms wide and shouted to the people below.

  “She is the light of the Order that illuminates the Kingdom of Eastend! The wicked beast will vanish once more before this light. But for that, we need your strength. If your faith in the Order reaches the Archangel, it will become the Sacred Bearer’s power. Together, let us defeat the Ruinbeast Eizerg!”

  The rising cheers shook me with guilt for deceiving the people and with the inferiority I felt toward the title I did not deserve. And the fear of the terrifying beast made my body tremble.

  Even so, there was a flame deep within my heart. No—calling it a flame might be too generous. It was still only a small spark. But I would use even this crushing pressure as fuel and make it burn. I would turn it into the power to guide this country to peace.

  ＊＊＊

  “What is the meaning of this!”

  Back in the room prepared as a waiting chamber, I demanded an explanation from the two Bishops.

  “Simply granting the title of Sacred Bearer to the Miracle Maiden felt too light in the face of an ancient beast’s revival. So we added the destiny of being Lipti’s reincarnation. Naturally, even the King does not know. Clusilk, you must keep this confidential as well.”

  “You would go so far as to lie just to restore the Order’s trust…?”

  “I cannot deny it,” Lady Leila answered in place of Lady Lya.

  “But more importantly, the people need salvation of the heart. Thousands were killed by a single beast. In this terrifying situation that is still not over, people must continue living. Surely you understand the need for something to cling to?”

  “We cannot erase the nightmare that occurred in the Grand Cathedral, but the return of a legendary figure will divert their eyes. Still, for me to be Lipti’s reincarnation…”

  “Clusilk. You aim to become a hero and have been striving to earn the title of Sacred Bearer, have you not?”

  “That’s—!”

  No. This is not the hero I wished to become.

  “Your dream has come true. You should simply rejoice—”

  “Bishop Lya, please stop. She has only just turned sixteen. She cannot yet bear the weight of seeing people killed before her eyes or the burden of the Sacred Bearer’s title. Amsaria, you must be tired today. Return to your room and rest.”

  Receiving Lady Leila’s words and the plea in her eyes, I rose without replying and left the room.

  The next day, many people came to see me off as my carriage returned to the Order. Even if things had gone exactly as the Order intended, the hope shining in their eyes was something to be glad for. And because of that, two things became clear: the exhilaration I felt from their expectations, and the frustration of lacking the strength to meet them. These opposite emotions made the town’s scenery feel different from before.

  I returned to my dormitory room just as the sun began to turn crimson. Harl was probably in training at this hour.

  Considering the exhaustion of standing before thousands since early morning, I had been instructed to rest today and tomorrow. I hadn’t wanted to rest, but I did want to calm my turbulent heart, so I decided to lie down until Harl returned.

  “Amuuuu!”

  I awoke to the sound of my nickname and a weight pressing on my stomach, Harl’s hands squeezing my cheeks.

  “You’re Lipti’s reincarnation? Really? Why? Since when? How? Why you?”

  Her reaction was exactly what I expected.

  “That’s what the Bishop told me. That’s why I became a Sacred Bearer.”

  Harl said nothing, staring at me with a complicated expression. Feeling exposed, I averted my eyes, and she suddenly hugged me.

  “Even if you’re Lipti’s reincarnation, we’re still best friends, right?”

  “Of course. Is that what you were worried about?”

  What’s not “of course” is the idea that I’m Lipti’s reincarnation.

  “It’s just… if you’re some legendary figure, I thought someone talentless like me wouldn’t matter to you anymore.”

  It’s no wonder she’s shaken—if my closest friend turned out to have been a legendary figure in a past life, I’d lose my sense of distance too. To reassure her, I needed to step toward her myself.

  “Don’t say you have no talents. Sure, you have plenty of flaws and your dedication as a shrine maiden is lacking, but you’re bright, cheerful, and able to be close to people’s hearts. That’s a wonderful quality. My life is the best because you’re by my side. If you care about me, then we’ll always be best friends.”

  “Amuuuu… I don’t feel complimented, but I do feel acknowledged…”

  She held me for a while. After a few sniffles, she looked up with tears still in her eyes, but her expression was her usual smile.

  “I heard about the Sacred Bearer title three days ago, but the reincarnation thing only today.”

  “You too, Am? You didn’t notice it yourself? Why didn’t the Bishop tell you beforehand?”

  “Who knows. I don’t understand the reason either.”

  I couldn’t tell her, but Lady Leila had explained it to me in the carriage home.

  For the Order, “the reincarnation of Lipti” was the ultimate trump card, surpassing even “Miracle Maiden” or “Sacred Bearer.” They feared I would refuse under the pressure, so they kept silent until I was in a situation where I couldn’t back out. As a result, after receiving the cheers of joy and expectation from the people, I had no way to run, and was raised as a hero through layers of lies.