The day of the Sealing Ceremony finally arrived.
From the break of dawn, the academy bustled with life. Laughter rang from dormitories, students ran excitedly through the courtyards, and banners fluttered in the wind bearing the sigils of the Five Great Heroes.
I leaned against the windowsill of my dormitory, watching the growing crowd at the gates.
'Merchants?'
Dozens of them were lined up, carts packed with everything from sizzling skewers to vibrant trinkets. They wore expressions not unlike soldiers heading to war—nervous, focused, and absolutely determined.
'Well, getting a permit to enter the school isn't easy.'
Today was one of the few times the academy allowed civilians inside, but even then, strict identity verification and item inspections were enforced. For the average vendor, getting a permit was like winning the lottery.
Still, the reason was obvious.
'They say you can make thousands of gold in just a day.'
Supply and demand exploded during the Sealing Festival. Prices rose like corrupt auction bids. Last time I was a cadet, someone tried selling a roasted corn cob for fifteen gold. A single chicken skewer? Ten.
Ten.
'That's practically ten thousand won in the old Republic's money.'
I sighed.
"No sane person would spend that much on grilled bird meat..."
But sanity wasn't something the cadets excelled at on festival day. Most were children of heroes or high-ranking nobility—loaded and oblivious. Only a few, like me, had to think twice before opening their wallets.
'Stigmas are inherited, after all.'
That meant most of the students here were scions of famed bloodlines. And even though being born with a Stigma didn't guarantee money, most Stigma-bearers lived a notch—or ten—above the average citizen.
"Rich brats..."
Of course, I didn't include myself in that group. I had attended this academy in my past life on a government scholarship from the old Republic, with barely enough to eat, let alone splurge on festival snacks.
But this time?
This life?
A wide grin crept onto my face as I turned from the window and glanced at the fat coin pouch tucked into my coat pocket.
'Thank you, Juliet.'
The purse was stuffed with gold I'd borrowed last night from our dear Council Treasurer. A small repayment for the mental trauma she tried to inflict last week.
'Food tastes better when it's free.'
I pocketed the pouch and made my way toward the meeting place. I had two ladies to feed and a festival to enjoy.
I arrived fifteen minutes early.
Which meant I was technically on time—until I spotted them.
"Iris? Camilla?"
The two girls were already waiting.
"You're here!" Iris said, smiling radiantly as she turned toward me. Her long silver hair shimmered in the sunlight, her sky-blue eyes filled with expectation.
"Sorry. Did I keep you waiting?"
"Oh no, I just got here," she replied, twirling a strand of hair and feigning casual indifference.
She was lying.
Even without enhanced perception, I could feel the effort she'd put into her appearance. Her attire today was different—lighter, softer—almost like she was trying to balance dignity with charm.
'Who'd believe the Saint of the Holy Nation came from a back-alley orphanage?'
The Iris I knew in my past life rarely allowed cracks in her divine mask. Yet here she was, vulnerable, trying hard not to appear like she was trying too hard.
It was strangely endearing.
Camilla, on the other hand, looked like she'd been through a morning battle.
"Just got here, huh?" she said flatly, arms crossed.
"Wh-why would you say that?!" Iris flinched.
Camilla raised an eyebrow. "Because I watched you wake up at dawn, spend an hour doing your makeup, and rehearse ten different ways to say 'hello.' Then you got here earlier than him and stood awkwardly for twenty minutes debating how to pose."
"M-M-Mmph!"
Iris lunged forward and slapped a hand over Camilla's mouth, her face now brighter than a bonfire.
"Kyaaa! S-shut up! Shut up already!"
I couldn't help but chuckle.
The Saint, revered by an entire nation, was currently on the verge of tears over public embarrassment.
"I don't mind the way you are now, Iris."
She froze.
"...Huh?"
"Nothing," I said with a shrug and looked away, playing it cool. But in truth, I meant it. This version of her—raw, genuine, human—was something I never got to see in my past life. And I preferred it.
Camilla clicked her tongue. "Alright, alright. Save the flirting. Let's go. We're burning festival daylight."
"Wait," Iris said. "We're not going to see the kids yet. We have to get gifts first."
"For the orphans?"
"Of course."
My stomach growled slightly.
"I suppose food's out of the question."
"Iris wants to give them keepsakes," Camilla explained. "Not leftover meat skewers."
"Hey. You're acting like I was going to bring them greasy festival chicken."
"You were, weren't you?"
"...Yes."
Iris giggled and linked arms with Camilla. "Let's just look around and see what catches our eyes."
I nodded. "Fine by me."
But even as we strolled toward the heart of the academy square, weaving past flower garlands and crowds, my mind kept drifting.
To the merchants.
To the identities verified at the gate.
To the shadow lingering just beyond the celebration.
Today is the best chance for the Demon Church to slip inside unnoticed.
A day of celebration. A day of distractions. A day when outsiders roamed freely within the school's walls.
I would enjoy the festival, yes.
But I'd also keep my eyes open.
Because the Sealing Ceremony wasn't just a time to remember a victory over the Demon God.
It was also the perfect cover for someone to try releasing him.
The vibrant scent of sizzling skewers, sweet roasted nuts, and fried dough hung in the air, melding with the sound of laughter and festival music that echoed throughout Reynald Academy.
Iris, Camilla, and I weaved through the crowd, our eyes scanning the stalls for gifts to bring to the orphanage kids.
"It's really crowded," I said, carefully sidestepping a dancing group of cadets dressed in painted masks and feathered cloaks.
Even though it was still early, the street was already packed—cadets, vendors, even visiting dignitaries brushing shoulders in the narrow walkways.
"Please be careful not to get separated, Saint."
Camilla subtly reached for Iris's hand and held it tightly.
Iris glanced down at their joined hands and let out a soft chuckle.
"Do I look like a child to you?"
"They say there's no such thing as being too careful about safety," Camilla said, throwing me a sideways glare that said, Back me up or else.
I shrugged. "Well, with so many outsiders here today, it's better to be cautious."
Especially when the person in question was the Saint of the Holy Nation.
"Ugh… You too, Dale?"
"What choice do I have?" I grinned.
Iris sighed and puffed her cheeks. "Fine, let's just hurry up and find the gifts."
"Gifts the kids would like... Food's always a safe bet, right?" I said, remembering how the kids at the orphanage had gone crazy for ramen last time.
"Hmm. Food is good, but wouldn't it be better to get snacks together once they're here?" Iris suggested.
"Ah, you're right. Half the fun of a festival is walking around and impulsively buying stuff."
"Exactly. So... what else?" she mused, then her eyes lit up. "Ooh, how about this?"
She pointed to a rack of headbands—ones with oversized animal ears: cats, foxes, even a floppy-eared dog.
It was the kind of thing you'd see at every festival.
"Hehe. Wouldn't the kids look adorable in these?"
I imagined the little ones running around with furry ears on their heads, faces beaming—and smiled.
"Not bad."
Then, without warning, Iris grabbed a pair of cat ears and turned to Camilla.
"Oh, this would so suit Camilla too. Want to try it on?"
"M-me?! Why would I wear that?!"
Camilla stepped back, her eyes wide.
"If we're giving them to the kids, someone has to test the quality. Right?"
"I... That's not..."
"What's this? Are you planning to defy the Saint's divine judgment?"
Camilla looked at me with quiet desperation, but I only smirked.
"I think it'd suit you."
"You traitor! Easy for you to say—you're not the one being humiliated!"
Chuckling, Iris moved in and deftly plopped the cat ears onto Camilla's head. Her midnight-blue ponytail bobbed behind her like a tail.
"...Why do I have to go through this…" she muttered, ears twitching slightly as she glared at the ground.
"Wow! Doesn't she look perfect, Dale?!"
"Yeah," I laughed, "It actually looks good."
Camilla growled. "Lady Saint. Why don't you try one on?"
"H-huh? Me?"
"Surely you didn't think I'd be the only one suffering here."
Camilla's eyes gleamed with vengeance as she grabbed a pair of pink bunny ears.
"B-bunnies are a bit..."
"Oh, now you're embarrassed?"
"Eek! Wait! Camilla!"
"You brought this upon yourself!"
With a triumphant grin, Camilla shoved the bunny ears onto Iris's head.
"Ugh… Why am I doing this…"
"Hmph. Fair's fair," Camilla said, crossing her arms.
Iris peeked over at me, red-faced. "S-so? How do I look?"
Without hesitation, I activated my Hero Watch and took a picture.
"W-WHAT?! Why are you taking photos?!"
"How could I not capture this moment?"
"Dale, delete it! Delete it right now!"
"Tampering with someone's Hero Watch is a privacy violation."
"DELETE IT, YOU JERK!"
After the short-lived chaos (and much bickering), we decided on the animal ear headbands as our gift to the kids.
"I haven't even done much and I'm already exhausted," Camilla muttered, straightening her collar.
"By the way, isn't it about time for the kids to arrive?" I asked.
"Let me check with Priest Antonio," Iris said, tapping her Hero Watch.
A few seconds passed.
"Camilla, the priest and the kids are on their way now. Could you go meet them at the front gate?"
"But… what about you, Lady Saint?"
"I'll be fine. I have Dale with me."
"...Alright. Understood."
Camilla hesitated a beat before turning to head for the gate.
Once she was out of sight, Iris turned back to me with a mischievous smile.
"The priest said they'll arrive in about an hour."
"Huh? Then why send Camilla now?"
"They're our honored guests, aren't they? It's only polite someone be there waiting."
I narrowed my eyes at her.
"So you sent her ahead on purpose."
"Maybe," she said, lips curling in a grin. "Anyway, since we've already bought the gifts…"
She took a step closer.
"…How about we enjoy the festival together for the next hour?"
So that's what this was really about.
I chuckled. "Sounds good."
A rare outing. Just me and her. No reason to refuse.
"Alright then," she said, extending her hand toward me. "Hand."
"Hand? Why?"
"Didn't Camilla say it earlier?"
Her fingers wrapped gently around mine. Her expression softened.
"You can never be too safe."
I looked down at her—this saint who had once been a stranger in my past life, now so warm, so alive in this one.
My fingers tightened around hers.
"Yeah. You're right."