A Girl Who Won't Give Up

[Side: Arisugawa Miku]

It's already been half a year since we, the first-year class 1, were summoned to this world as heroes.

We were transported here in the fall, so if things had gone as they should, we would have already advanced to our second year in school.

However, time for us has been frozen, unable to return to our original world, and we are forced to live here in Alistella. We can't even move openly...

"Thank you, Saintess!"

"You're welcome, take care now."

Smiling, I waved at the bright-looking boy who bowed his head and dashed out of the room, his face flushed.

"Phew..."

Using magic isn't an issue in terms of MP, but the mental fatigue inevitably builds up.

And while my light magic can heal wounds and illnesses, it cannot relieve accumulated mental exhaustion. Despite this being a world of magic, things don't always go smoothly.

I straightened my back and stretched my arms upwards. Slapping my cheeks gently, I re-motivated myself.

"Next, please!"

My gift is 'Saintess.' Simply put, this gift enhances the effects of light magic and makes it easier to master.

It also allows me to acquire several magic-related skills. Currently, besides the magic recovery I had when I was transferred, I've also acquired skills like Reduced Magic Consumption (Light) and Expanded Effect Range (Light).

My role is not to save the world as a hero but to heal and bring smiles to everyone as a saintess.

While everyone else is out fighting thieves and monsters to level up, I can't help but feel it's unfair when I see my classmates.

The saintess, I've been told, holds as much value in the kingdom as the hero.

In the kingdom's sacred teachings, the saintess is conveyed as a divine representative, which has led to my days being filled with people worshipping and fawning over me.

Though practicing light magic is good, not being able to choose whom to heal is quite frustrating.

"Alright, you're all set."

This patient's injury was quite severe, so I used All Heal, which was unlocked when my light magic reached level 6, to heal the affected area.

"To think even the court's light magic users had given up... Thank you, Saintess!"

"No problem. It will take about a week for the bone healed with light magic to integrate with the original bone, so please make sure to rest completely."

Calmly observing the affected area and completing the treatment, I forced my perpetually lowered mouth corners into a smile.

I realize that I smile much less than I did when I was in Japan. I can no longer even remember how I used to smile back then.

"Next, please..."

I called for the next patient selected by the church and continued to apply light magic.

Living this way, my light magic has already reached level 8.

Now, I can instantly heal even complex or depressed fractures. I'm told that at level 9, I will be able to heal limb loss, so my current goal is to raise my light magic level as soon as possible.

They say my growth rate is unprecedented, but... I'm still not satisfied.

After all, I need to... bring Katsumi back to life.

The entire first-year class 1, including myself, lives together in a mansion built specifically for the heroes.

Two mansions were built for the boys and girls, respectively, located close to the palace. To outsiders, they must look like royal villas.

Constructed on the private land of King Izel II, the mansions are lavishly decorated, far beyond what we imagined.

Apparently, they used designs and materials from a previously failed villa project, and the construction was completed in less than a month.

Considering the severe monster damage causing people to struggle for food, I can only be appalled that they intended to build such an extravagant thing (By the way, my trust in the king and the first princess, Misha, continues to plummet daily).

Returning to my room, I threw off the stiff nun's habit. As a saintess, I must wear this specially tailored habit by the church, which makes my shoulders ache.

After a quick massage, I changed into a tunic and pants I had someone buy for me. It was now 5:30 PM.

From now until dinner, the one hour I have is my only truly free time.

Thinking this, the tension I had felt earlier instantly dissipated.

I saw my reflection in the mirror twist into a grimace.

"...Katsumi-kun."

Even after half a year, there has been no trace of Katsumi-kun.

The church has been searching at my earnest request, but as a mere healer saintess, I can only mobilize a handful of people at best.

We receive regular updates from all over, but there has been no progress so far.

If the kingdom made a serious effort to search, things might be different.

But that didn't happen.

...The king never took searching for Katsumi-kun seriously.

He dismissed it as a waste of money and wouldn't even consider it.

Even though he himself indulges in debauchery with his beautiful mistresses and concubines.

"Katsumi-kun..."

Misha's assertion that Katsumi-kun had died only made things worse.

Based on circumstantial evidence, they concluded that Katsumi-kun died in the summoning accident.

To hide the fact that hero summoning was so dangerous, they erased Katsumi-kun's existence from the beginning.

The collective transfer of the first-year class 1, originally 31 students, resulted in 30 heroes arriving from another world.

That was the official stance of the Kingdom of Grust.

And everyone followed suit.

Saintkawa-kun, who firmly believes he's right, tried to persuade me not to tarnish the king's reputation. Mitsugawa-kun remained indifferent, sticking to his disinterest in others.

Among the class, I alone protested vehemently.

Yet nothing changed.

From the moment everyone erased Katsumi-kun's existence, I have been alone.

Alone, I continue to fight.

"Katsumi-kun..."

Touching the dull mirror, a far cry from those I used in Japan, I clenched my fist, feeling emotions well up from deep within.

The day I cried, clutching Katsumi-kun's bloodied pajamas, my tears dried up.

So, no matter what happens, I won't cry anymore.

What I need now isn't to cry and lean on someone.

I don't intend to become such a weak person.

What I need is—strength.

The strength to never give up and to stay true to myself until the very end.

"It's okay, Katsumi-kun. I... I will never forget you."

Taking a deep breath to calm my emotions, I stood up.

How long had I been lost in thought?

Looking at the clock, it was already past 6 PM.

Dinner starts at 6:30 PM.

In front of everyone, I need to be the usual Arisugawa Miku.

I must prepare a place for Katsumi-kun in case he comes here tomorrow.

After cooling my slightly red eyes with water, I left the room.

As I looked at my reflection in the mirror while leaving, I saw that I had indeed returned to the usual Arisugawa Miku.