Chapter 41 Himezaki Rieslett ⑧
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
How much time had actually passed? When I finally came to, the night had bled away, replaced by the cold light of morning.
I scanned the room. Jessica was nowhere to be found. I let out a long, ragged sigh of relief. Even now, I knew I’d been harsh-telling her I never wanted to see her face again-but I honestly had no intention of forgiving her. If she had been standing there, I probably would have hurled even viler words at her.
God, I’ve become such a bitter person.
I stepped into the shower to scrub away the filth. Jessica had licked me everywhere; my skin felt tacky with her saliva and my own sweat. I lathered up, desperate to feel clean, but I couldn’t shake the sensation of her tongue crawling over my skin. The phantom touch left me feeling sick to my stomach.
The air in the room was still thick with the stale, cloying scent of what had happened. I threw the window open to let the morning air purge the space. My bed was a mess-drenched and reeking of acrid ammonia. My skin crawled at the sight of it. I used Life Magic¹ to deep-clean the fabric, washing and drying everything in an instant.
Come to think of it, I’d noticed that strange smell before, but I hadn’t let myself realize what it was. The thought of what she’d been trying to do to me-or what she had done-made me want to retch.
No. Don’t go there. Just stop thinking.
I threw on my uniform and hurried out of the room.
Normally, I would have headed to the dining hall in Dormitory Greedia² for breakfast, but I didn’t have the appetite. Instead, I went straight to the classrooms at Academy Greedia³. I was too early; the halls were tomb-silent and empty. It hit me then that Jessica was in my class. She’d show up eventually. I decided that if she walked through that door, I was cutting class. I didn’t want to go back to that room, either. Just in case, I’d already used magic to clean my sleepwear-a T-shirt and hot pants-and tucked them into my Item Box⁴.
As it turned out, my anxiety was a moot point. From that day on, Jessica stopped coming to school. She never returned to the room, either.
* * *
A few days later.
It was the Day of Darkness⁵, a school holiday. Honestly, I didn’t want to spend another minute in a room that served as a monument to my worst memories. Lately, I’d been seeing that night in my dreams. I was just about to head to Monster Hunter Guild⁶ to find a contract-anything to stay busy-when someone knocked.
”Himezaki-san, are you in?”
I recognized the voice immediately. It was Philneed-sensei. I didn’t see any point in pretending to be out, so I answered.
”I’m here,” I said. “I was just about to head to the Guild.”
”I see,” Philneed-sensei replied. “The Chairwoman is calling for you. Please come to her office immediately.”
”…I understand,” I said.
I wondered what she wanted. I could think of two possibilities, and neither was good. I followed Philneed-sensei through the quiet halls toward the administration wing.
When I entered the office, Chairwoman Minette was already seated, waiting for me. A stack of documents sat on her desk; it wasn’t a very large pile, so she was either caught up or the school’s paperwork was light today. The warm smile she usually wore was gone. She looked serious, her eyes fixed on me as if she were trying to solve a puzzle.
”Good morning, Himezaki-san. Forgive me for calling you so early,” Minette said.
”It’s fine,” I replied.
It was early-the time I’d usually be forcing down breakfast. Not that I’d been eating much lately.
”So, what is this about?” I asked.
”Well… this isn’t a conversation for a casual breakfast,” Minette said. “There are two matters. The first concerns the Hero.”
I let out a heavy sigh. I’d expected that, which meant I could guess the second matter too.
”You’ve heard the rumors that a Hero was summoned in Plaudix, haven’t you?” Minette asked.
I nodded. There was no point in lying to her.
”The public announcement was about two weeks ago, but the actual summoning took place a month back,” Minette explained. “Right around the time you ‘teleported’ here. It makes me suspicious. I can’t help but wonder if there’s a connection between this new Hero and your sudden arrival.”
I remained silent.
”You fell ill and left early the day the news broke,” Minette continued. “And I’ve heard from your classmates that you were asking about the Hero even before that. So, what’s the truth?”
”Suppose there is a connection,” I said, my voice flat. “What do you plan to do with me?”
”I have no intention of taking action against you personally,” Minette replied. “But if there is a link, I simply want to know about this Hero. I need to know what kind of people they are.”
”……It would be a lie to say there’s no relation,” I admitted. It wasn’t like keeping it a secret would change anything now. “They were my classmates. I don’t remember everyone, though. A lot happened… and I stopped going to school long before we ended up here.”
I hesitated for a moment, but then I told her everything I could remember. I made sure to emphasize exactly how rotten Sugita-kun and his two cronies were. The Chairwoman nodded as I spoke, finally letting out a long, weary sigh.
”So this generation’s Hero is another one of those,” Minette said. “How troublesome.”
”Another one? ‘Those’?” I asked.
”Yes. You know that Heroes are summoned roughly once every century, don’t you?” Minette asked.
I nodded again. I’d learned that much in history class.
”While some of them are truly noble, there are others whose souls are rotten to the core,” Minette said. “Even setting aside the ‘incident’ from two hundred years ago, there have been plenty of deviants. The Hero Church⁷ does its best to bury those inconvenient truths, but…”
The Chairwoman leaned her cheek on her hand, looking utterly exhausted.
The Hero Church. It was a religion centered on the Goddess Aurelia. Their doctrine was a nightmare: since the Hero was a chosen apostle of the Goddess, anything the Hero did was considered “justice.” You weren’t allowed to criticize them, let alone stop them. It was a meddlesome, arrogant faith. When there wasn’t a Hero around, they were decent enough, but as soon as one appeared, the whole organization turned into a shield for whatever depravity the Hero desired. They were apparently ruthless toward anyone “faking” being a Hero, though.
The Hero Church was actually a branch of the Aurelia Church⁸, which I already had a low opinion of.
What kind of religion tells its Shrine Maidens that they’re basically “holy harlots”? They were expected to offer their bodies to any man-as long as he wasn’t married or taken-to “heal his body and soul.”
It was disgusting. A few months ago, I might have tried to see the cultural nuance in it, but now? I couldn’t stand the thought of it.
Apparently, the Hero Church had the same “duty,” but their maidens were reserved strictly for the Hero’s use. There were Aurelia Church chapels all over this town-and every town, really-but they functioned as glorified brothels. They even had their own guild.
”Because of those ‘trash’ Heroes-pardon me, those ethically challenged Heroes-Greedia doesn’t exactly welcome them with open arms,” Minette said. “Thanks to the Church, the ugly truth usually stays hidden, but Greedia doesn’t recognize the Hero Church’s authority.”
It made sense now. Whenever the subject of summoning magic came up in class, everyone acted like it was just a bit of gossip. No one actually cared.
”However, if that’s the case,” Minette said, her eyes sharpening, “it might be time to bring this to the Council. Thank you for being honest with me, Himezaki-san.”
”The ‘Hero’ in question is sitting right here…” Those words die in my throat. There is no way I could ever say them aloud.
”Now then, there is one more thing. This is a purely personal matter, but…” the Board Chairperson ⁹ said, shifting gears.
Propping both elbows on the desk with a glint in their eyes – a perfect imitation of a certain infamous anime commander – the Chairperson stared me down. It seemed this was the real agenda all along.
”What exactly did you do to Jessica?” the Chairperson asked.
Ah, here it comes. A wave of bitter revulsion washed over me instantly.
”And where is Jessica now?” I asked.
”She’s at my residence. At this moment… she is in the room next door,” the Chairperson replied, glancing toward the office’s private lounge.
So, she was in there. I had no idea what state she was in, nor did I care to imagine the circumstances.
”…I see. And has Jessica told you anything?” I asked.
”Nothing. She’s done nothing but sob, claiming she ‘can’t bear to show her face’ to anyone,” the Chairperson said.
I let out a heavy sigh. She seemed remorseful enough, but it appeared she’d kept her mouth shut about the details.
”So, your assumption is that I did something to her?” I asked.
”Precisely. I’m waiting for an explanation,” the Chairperson said.
”…”
A suffocating silence hung in the air. These were memories I’d rather leave buried. But I refused to be cast as the villain. When those three “Heroes” ¹⁰ violated me, I stood through the interrogation and spat out every disgusting detail. I refused to be a silent victim then, and I wouldn’t start now. I took a shallow breath, forcing the chaos in my heart to go still.
”…Fine. It’s a wretched story, but listen well. First, Chairperson, let’s clear up one misconception. I didn’t do anything to Jessica. Jessica did something to me,” I said.
”What do you mean?” the Chairperson asked.
I recounted the event with agonizing precision. How she stole my lips, how her tongue crawled over every inch of my skin, and how she forced herself onto me until I was broken. Hearing this, the Chairperson looked utterly defeated, pressing a hand against their forehead.
”Good heavens… what has that girl done? Jessica, come in here. Now,” the Chairperson called out.
”Yes…” a voice whispered.
Jessica slinked out from the side room. Her head was bowed, her usual spark replaced by a pathetic, hollowed-out shell. If anything, she looked terrified of me. Looking at us, an outsider would struggle to tell who was the predator and who was the prey.
”Jessica, I’ve heard Himesaki-san’s account. Do you have anything to say to her?” the Chairperson asked.
Jessica’s shoulders jolted. She stole a fearful glance at me, but I refused to meet her eyes. I couldn’t even stand the sight of her.
”Um, Big Sister… I… I’m so sor—”
”Save your apology,” I interrupted. “If I accept it, the script says I’m supposed to forgive you. I have no intention of ever doing that, so I have no use for your words.”
”What!? I… uh…” Jessica stammered.
”Himesaki-san, surely that’s a bit too—”
”Chairperson,” I said, cutting them off. “I told you earlier that ‘things happened’ that kept me from school. Let’s be blunt: I was r**aped by those three ‘Heroes.’ Since that day, the very concept of intimacy has been anathema to me. Do you honestly believe a person like me has any ‘forgiveness’ left to give her?”
”…”
Jessica started to sob, the sounds raw and wet. Even the Chairperson was struck dumb. I was the one who actually had a reason to cry. Realizing that no amount of mediating would bridge this chasm, the Chairperson’s shoulders slumped. They gave up.
”…Sigh. I understand. Then, Himesaki-san, what is it you want for Jessica?” the Chairperson asked.
”Nothing in particular. If I had to name a desire, it’s simply to never see her face again. That’s all,” I replied.
”I see. In that case, we shall move you to separate dorms immediately. Jessica will be transferred to a different class. Will that suffice?”
”We’d still cross paths eventually. Besides, I can’t stay in those dorms. Every corner of that place triggers a flashback to what happened,” I said.
”Then, what—”
”I truly appreciate everything you’ve done for me, Chairperson. I really do. But I can’t stay at this Academy anymore. I’m withdrawing. I know it’s sudden, but my mind is made up,” I said firmly.
I had been thinking about this since the moment Jessica forced herself onto me. I had tried to endure it, but I’d reached my limit.
”No! If anyone has to go, it should be me! Big Sister, you don’t have to leave because of—”
”Being here means remembering you,” I said to her. “And I… I just want to forget.”
”You hate me… that much…?” Jessica gasped.
Stunned by the raw depth of my loathing, Jessica collapsed to her knees. Finally, she understood: there was no path back from this.
”That’s how it is. Chairperson, please process my withdrawal papers,” I said.
”…I see your resolve is unshakable. Very well. Himesaki Rieslett, your withdrawal is effective as of today. I am… truly, deeply sorry for everything,” the Chairperson said, bowing low. And then, “Jessica Cornaut. You are also withdrawn from the Academy, effective immediately. From this moment on, you are not to leave my house without my express permission. Am I clear?”
”…………Yes… Grandmother…” Jessica whispered.
A severe sentence for her own flesh and blood. Had she let Jessica off with a slap on the wrist, I would have loathed her. But she did what was necessary. At least she wasn’t a fool blinded by grandmotherly devotion.
”Then, I’ll take my leave. Thank you for everything,” I said.
I gave a final, formal bow and walked out of the office.
”Ugh… ah… aaaaah! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, Big Sister! Please! Oh god… Waaaaaaaah!”
Her hysterical wailing echoed from behind the closed door, but the sound found no purchase in me. It was just noise in an empty room.
Jessica has exited the stage. Future appearances: Unconfirmed.
—
Summary:
Rieslett struggles with the aftermath of Jessica’s harassment, eventually finding a reprieve when Jessica disappears from the academy. She is summoned by Chairwoman Minette, who suspects Rieslett’s connection to the newly summoned Heroes. Rieslett confirms her identity and exposes the true nature of her former classmates, leading to a discussion about the corrupt Hero Church.
Himesaki Rieslett confronts the Board Chairperson regarding Jessica’s assault. Himesaki reveals the truth of the incident and her past trauma involving a ‘Hero’ group. Consequently, both Himesaki and Jessica withdraw from the academy under heavy emotional strain.
—
Trivia:
- Jessica’s absence is sudden and unexplained after her harassment of Rieslett.
- Rieslett uses Life Magic for mundane cleaning, a detail about her cheat abilities.
- The ‘Day of Darkness’ is the setting’s version of a school holiday.
- The Aurelia Church and Hero Church have a legalized system of prostitution and brothels.
- Greedia is politically opposed to the Hero Church’s authority
- Himesaki’s past trauma involves three specific ‘Heroes’.
- Jessica is the Chairperson’s biological granddaughter.
- Himesaki’s decision to leave is driven by ‘flashbacks’ and a desire to erase Jessica from her memory.
- The Chairperson also punishes Jessica by forcing her to withdraw and placing her under house arrest
—
Character Insight:
Rieslett is showing profound psychological damage; her internal monologue shifts from fear to a cold, cynical acceptance of the world’s corruption. Her willingness to share information with Minette shows a growing pragmatic trust in the academy’s leadership over the summoned ‘Heroes’.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The author uses the ‘Hero Church’ trope to subvert traditional isekai ‘holy’ institutions, portraying them as parasitic and predatory.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Jessica – A girl with a refined speech style and an intense, obsessive devotion to her sister. She has pink-blonde hair styled into vertical ringlets, green eyes, and short stature. AA chest.
• Philneed – Female Homeroom teacher at Greedia Academy of Sorcery. Appears to be the same age as Rieslett despite being over forty.
• Minette – Director of Sorcery Academy Greedia. Early sixties with chestnut hair mixed with white. Gentle aura and impeccable posture.
• Sugita – The leader of the Sugita gang and the primary bully of Natsumi Sasaki. His grandfather is the Superintendent General and his father is a Police Superintendent, so the two of them covered up all his crimes. Because of this, he does whatever he wants wherever he goes.
• Aurelia – A goddess who contacts the class via the school intercom to announce their reincarnation. Characterized by the protagonist and the Administrator as ‘useless’ and selfish.
• Rieslett – A half-Japanese, half-Swedish girl with a youthful appearance. Often mistaken for her mother’s sister. A blonde or brunette girl. Currently wearing a black cloak over a white shirt, accented with a red ribbon tie. A navy-blue, knee-length pleated skirt, black knee-highs, and brown leather shoes.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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