Chapter 125: Fresh Start (1)

"I bestow upon you the Earth Spirit and this Philia Notes. Strive, Doris Stan. No, ’Sacred Arrow.’"

"Y-yes, I understa, nd...?"

Princess Altina smiles, swaying glossy blonde hair like gold thread.

One person kneels here before her who looks slender and soft on white skin yet is trained as a warrior.

A young girl who gathered earth-like dark brown hair into twintails. The girl of an age that may or may not reach ten only puts on a confused expression before the bestowed holy bow.

Why me.

From that day the girl, Doris Stan, always held that kind of question.

It is not that she has dissatisfaction with the current state, and not that she has complaints about being chosen by a Spirit.

If there is dissatisfaction or complaint, it is surely herself.

After all Doris’s magical power is only somewhat above average.

It is certain she was excellent in a small village, and she had no intention of abasing herself more than needed, but she also understood that she herself is a frog in a well.

Therefore when she was suddenly chosen as a Sacred, confusion was stronger than joy.

Apparently the Earth Spirit personally told Princess Altina that girl is good. When knights suddenly flooded the village she thought someone had committed a terrible evil deed.

After that it became clear the purpose is Doris, and everyone in the village blessed her, but Doris herself understands best that she does not have that much talent.

A bit more magical power than average and somewhat dexterous. Why was a little girl of that degree chosen? There should be any number of people more fitting than me, why.

In that instant she thought well whatever.

After all it is a Sacred.

A warrior of light who trains for when the time comes and fights on the front line. Even if you say that, as far as Doris knows there are no large conflicts at all. She has also asked the village old man, and when he was young peace continued the same as now.

Therefore Doris suspected. Hahaan, when the time comes and such is outward wording.

They are living luxuriously under that kind of pretext, surely. With that kind of slanted thinking she was invited into the castle and she met them.

The glittering princess, Altina Sacred Calmate.

A kind person who treated even country-raised Doris without distinction.

But when fighting beasts of darkness she fights with a glittering holy sword. A princess who glittered like a story girl swordswoman.

A beautiful person incomparable to herself who was a hunter in the village.

The young lady who shone like the sun, Grace Wayne.

A person who taught knowledge needed as a Sacred and supported her with a confidence-filled attitude even when she failed.

That sword dance is sharp contrary to dull movements, and the flame she releases is fierce toward enemies yet gently warms allies. A young lady fierce like the sun, and warm.

A noble person who has talent, also works hard, yet more than anyone devotedly complied with a Sacred’s duty.

The friendly cute onee-san, Leas Lott.

At first-meeting greetings she frolicked I got a junior too! and got scolded by Grace, yet without learning she volunteered to guide around town and such, a person who loves being together with someone.

But once she grips a sword the atmosphere completely changes, the strongest Sacred who slashes into enemies faster than anyone and purifies evil. An older friend free like water.

She thought many times which on earth is the older one, but she was a person whose brightness is dazzling.

Everyone glittered more than herself, and was far far stronger than herself.

Even the bestowed holy bow she can hardly say she handles satisfactorily. The former user could apparently rain magical power arrows like a hailstorm, yet she can at most put power into each shot and shoot.

That she is inferior to everyone she herself understood well.

She could not fight freely like the princess, could not take on many enemies like Grace, and could not cut a path with a single sword like Leas. I am weak.

Even so being a Sacred was not pain because everyone was there.

They never looked down on her, and relied on her as a comrade, as a friend. Precisely because of that the vulgar thinking she first ended up thinking, her own mediocrity, becomes hateful.

But precisely because of that the girl who obtained the title Sacred Arrow wanted to become a Sacred fitting for everyone.

She knows a hundred times what is lacking, then after that is only catching up.

Luckily Doris is somewhat dexterous and could handle many small techniques other Sacred cannot.

Even using those she rarely won against the other three in combat training, but even so becoming able to do things other Sacred cannot was fun.

’Bad. Bad...!’

Therefore that day a year ago.

Even the instant Remora forces flooded peaceful Calmate, Doris Stan, eleven-year-old Sacred Arrow, was running around inside the castle from a different viewpoint than the other three.

Wearing a white-silver breastplate over an easy-to-move light-brown mini one-piece, carrying in her right hand the holy bow Philia Notes bestowed by Princess Altina. Swaying twintails that transformed into fresh-green-like green, she carefully searches not the "outside" but the "inside."

As long as there is a barrier of light the inside is safe.

Hey, is that really true?

Normally if no attack works at all do you not think of another means?

There might be guys who attack recklessly, but is everyone like that?

Is it not more natural to think the outside is a decoy?

If I were the bunch called Remora Magician Diabolic I would absolutely do that.

Arrow cannot brute-force with the power of light compared to other Sacred.

She who makes do with little magical power was long in the art of fine control and seeing through trivial traces compared to other Sacred. Precisely enough to surpass Sacred Knight famed as Sacred finest on that one point.

Precisely because of that, transforming and desperately searching traces, she could notice residual magical power of darkness remaining inside the barrier.

’As I thought something has slipped in...!’

Surely they have already set something. Something fatal.

While tracing traces she ran around the castle garden. In the middle of that she found her.

’Moldy-chan!’

Calmate’s third princess.

A heretic princess with no aptitude for light, and a friend she often plays with. She had been worrying I have not been able to meet for some reason this past week, but to meet at this kind of timing.

Both have great existences above them, fellow people holding inferiority in their chests, and because they were similar types talk also sparked. On days off they drink tea together or walk the town. Status differs but Doris selfishly thinks she is a best friend.

Seeing such her walking holding a bouquet at this kind of dangerous time, Arrow hurriedly landed on the ground.

’Ah, Doris-chan. What is it?’

’What is it is not it! What are you doing in this kind of place! It is dangerous now!? Quickly return to the castle!’

’Un, I intend to do that.’

I am properly heading that way, right.

At her gesture of giggling she harbored a sense of discomfort, but it is not that kind of time now, she cut that away.

She cut it away.

’Then good! It is fine. I will protect you so hurry.’

’Wait Doris-chan. Before that I have a request.’

’N? What?’

Still gripping the bouquet, Meldiana smiles.

A bright smile that does not suit this place.

Toward that Arrow’s senses informed the highest-class crisis, but she could not believe that no matter what.

Arrow thought of Meldiana as a friend, and more than anything thought the girl named Meldiana Calmate is weak.

She could not believe her as a crisis.

’Sorry. For Alter-sama. Die.’

She could not evade that.

Heat.

In her abdomen, two, blades, standing.

Blood overflows. Hot, painful. But more than that confusion shook Doris’s heart.

’A, eh? Wh. y?’

Even if Arrow is frail for a Sacred she is not so brittle that the likes of Meldiana can wound her. It is not that kind of talk.

The fact that the girl in front of her eyes thrust a blade into herself and is smiling looking truly happy. She did not understand the meaning at all, at all.

She did not understand the meaning, but even so the body she had trained for when the time comes moved.

The girl in front of her eyes is an enemy.

An opponent she must stop here.

Therefore take distance and finish with the bow. No good, I have to neutralize and ask why she did this kind of thing.

’Hun, as expected cannot finish in one blow. Well fine. "Iron lump, smash."’

That hesitation was the best opportunity for "him."

A suddenly appearing huge iron lump. From being struck from the side by that flying at high speed, from Arrow’s body the sound of flesh crushing and bones snapping rang.

’I, gu. A...!?’

She raised a muffled scream and was slammed into the flower field.