I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit

Bonus chapters are like surprise blossoms—unexpected, yet full of joy! 🌱

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Sara and Chika hadn't ventured far from the village.

Though Kiichi Hougen had assured them that the monsters near the village were mostly taken care of, it was better to stay cautious.

Not that Kiichi Hougen needed to worry about these two—Sara was mature for her age, and Chika was intimately familiar with the area and knew where it was safest.

Sara's journey back had been uneventful, right up until she reached Chika's house.

Standing at the doorstep, Sara hesitated.

Carrying Chika on her back meant she couldn't free her hands to open the door.

As she debated waking Chika, she noticed the door was slightly ajar.

"...Did we forget to close the door when we left?"

Sara doubted she'd make such a careless mistake.

Awkwardly, while still holding Chika steady on her back, Sara used her foot to nudge the door open.

"Master?"

If the door hadn't been left open by them, it must have been someone else.

Sara's first thought was her master.

But as she stepped inside, there was no sign of Kiichi Hougen.

"...Did she leave again?"

Kicking the door closed out of habit, Sara inadvertently caused Chika to slip slightly on her back. Reflexively, she tightened her grip, lifting Chika back into place.

The motion seemed to disturb Chika, who murmured groggily as if waking from a dream.

"Mmnh… Is it morning already?"

"No, it's almost night," Sara replied.

The sun had begun its descent, though it hadn't quite set.

"...Sister Sara…" Chika rubbed her eyes, trying to piece together her fragmented memories. "Did I fall asleep?"

"Seems like it. And your expression… how should I put it…" Sara hesitated, searching for the right words. "It was so content it made me jealous. Were you dreaming?"

"A dream…?"

Chika rested her chin on Sara's shoulder, her face hidden from view.

"Probably. But… it's all a bit hazy now. Like ripples on a lake breaking apart a reflection. Did I say anything in my sleep?"

"Not that I heard."

Sara walked further into the house, only to notice something odd.

The two paper familiars, Tarou and Jirou, were nowhere to be seen.

Strange. They were usually tidying up or doing chores around the house.

"Chika, since you're awake now, get off my back."

Sara's request was met with silence, followed by an exaggerated, clearly fake snore.

"...Get off."

"But Sister Sara, I'm already asleep… Snore~~"

"You have three seconds to get down, or I'll throw you off. Three…"

The ultimatum worked wonders.

"Your back was just so comfy, Sister Sara! It felt like when my dad used to carry me. I couldn't help falling asleep. Hehe."

Chika's sheepish grin left Sara momentarily at a loss for words.

"Well… um…" Sara cleared her throat, trying to sound composed. "If it's that comfortable, I suppose I could carry you again next time."

"Really?"

"Really."

Carrying Chika wasn't a big deal—she wasn't heavy.

Though, with how busy her master had seemed lately, Sara had a nagging feeling this sealed space would soon be undone.

When that time came, Sara knew she would leave this strange world with her master.

And Chika would come along too—along with the rest of the villagers, including Chika's parents.

Assuming, of course, they were still alive.

Sara didn't know where Chika's parents or the other villagers were. The worst-case scenario was that they were already gone.

But if, just if, some of them had survived and were somewhere hidden in this space, then when all three auxiliary cores were broken, everyone would be forcibly transported to the otherworld.

If that happened, she'd finally meet them.

With her master's strength, she could eliminate the monsters in the otherworld and bring everyone back to the real world.

While the thought of relying entirely on her master left Sara feeling uneasy, there was no other choice.

Attempting something reckless without understanding the difference in strength would only burden Master further—and that was unacceptable.

Sara remembered her master's teachings:

"Acknowledging your limitations is how you grow. Knowing when to give up, when to ask for help, and when to rely on others requires both courage and wisdom."

"Oh, right!"

"Why are you shouting all of a sudden?"

Sara shot Chika a look of exasperation.

"Because, Sister Sara, didn't you say you wanted to play hanetsuki? And I promised to show you the paddle my dad gave me!"

Sara blinked. That did sound vaguely familiar.

She wasn't particularly eager to play hanetsuki. If anything, she was only curious about it, which was why she'd forgotten about it entirely until now.

"Well… it's not like I'm dying to play it."

"Still, don't you at least want to see it? The paddle and the shuttlecock?"

Sara pressed her lips together before nodding slightly.

"Hehe."

Chika giggled mischievously, and Sara felt an unexpected warmth creep into her cheeks.

"Wait here, Sister Sara! I'll go find them. I think they're in a box in my parents' room."

As Chika's voice trailed off, she disappeared into the room where Sara had slept the previous night.

Left alone, Sara found herself at a loss for what to do and sat down to wait.

When she emptied her mind to pass the time, her senses grew sharper.

Something drew her attention to the dining table.

There, a glass of water sat.

Sara noticed faint ripples spreading across its surface.

"What's this…?"

Her brows furrowed as a sense of unease settled over her.

From behind, hurried footsteps approached.

"Sara? Are you here?"

"Master?"

Sara turned to see Kiichi Hougen entering, her expression unusually grim.

But the sight of her master didn't bring Sara any comfort.

The feeling of an impending storm only grew stronger.

"All three cores have been destroyed," Kiichi Hougen said, her voice tense. "The otherworld is about to manifest. Where is Chika?!"

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