Clarisse Episode

Hmm, hmm, hmmm, hmhmm...

Junior!!!

Mmm, today's menu was pretty solid too. I'm really glad the food here suits my palate.

We have a crisis, junior! Something suddenly went wrong with the World Tree!

Honestly, the fact that I even regained consciousness is strange enough...

...Wait, can you seriously not see me? Or hear my voice?!

Oh no... every second counts right now...!

Hehehe... Plus, I have a whole stack of comic books I borrowed from Karishara today.

Now that my mind and body are cleansed and all preparations are complete, this night is entirely mine...

Ugh... what do I do? I can't stay here for long, either...

Huh? What was that noise just now...?

Eh? Can I actually touch things...?!

.......

...In that case...!

......!!!?

W-Why did the curtains suddenly move...? I even closed the window......!?

......!!!

Over here, junior! I'm right here!

Please notice me! This is a really important matter!

.......

..........

Aaaaaah! G-G-Ghost!

Huh? Why are you running away?!

It's me! The Hero of the Holy Sword you met at the World Tree! Clarisse!

Dammit! Since it's come to this, I'll write a note or something...

...Ugh?! N-No... Am I already reaching my limit...?!

Ugh... don't think this is over!

I'll never give up until you notice me!

.......

...Curtain position, normal.

Table position, normal. Cup position, normal. Bedding status, normal. Candle position, normal.

...And finally, room temperature, normal.

Good, no signs of a ghost today either.

I never thought I'd get haunted by a real ghost. I'd rather fight a dragon...

......!!!

You're finally back, junior!!!

You see, as it turns out, I've basically become a real ghost!

As long as I'm by your side, I can maintain my consciousness outside the World Tree, even if it's just for a little bit!

Hehehe, is this what they call a bound spirit? I should play tons of pranks on my friends when I see them later.

.......

...Ugh, u-ugh...

Huh? What did you just say?

Ugh, u-ugh...!

Aaaaaah! G-G-Ghost!

Oh no...! Can you seriously still not see me?!

W-Wait, junior! I even left you a proper letter this time!

Look at this! I wrote it super big so you could see it easily!

He. ro. of. the. Ho. ly. Sword!

Se. nior!!! Cla. risse!!!

Huh...? My d-diary... is floating in midair?

And... it looks like there's something written on it...?

Whew, you're finally looking this way!

Yes! There's a lot more on the back, so take your time and read it.

I'd love to tell you right away about what happened to the World Tree, but...

...Since you probably don't even remember me right now, I should start by introducing myself like this.

......!!

Th-This handwriting...?!

Still, I'm glad we can communicate well.

Some of the previous Heroes of the Holy Sword used entirely different languages altogether.

Not just Dragon Tongue or Elven, but completely unknown ancient languages...

Honestly, I'm doing more studying after dying than I ever did in my entire life!

Ah, if only our Luna could see how admirable her big sister is...

...I can't read a single word.

Huh? You can't read it...?

Wh-What are these bizarre symbols? At first glance, it looks like Britannian, but...

...the details are slightly... No, something is fundamentally twisted.

It's like... something non-human trying to imitate human writing...!

.......

That's so mean! Treating me like an evil spirit just because of my handwriting?!

I-I mean, sure, it's true my handwriting is a bit messy, but...

Argh! Give me that diary back!

This time, I'll write nice and neat... Ah?!

Waaah-!?

A-Are you okay, junior?!

Sorry! I haven't used my power in so long... Ugh?!

W-What is this? This soft and warm sensation...?

This heavy weight, this shape... and even this elasticity...

.......

..........

...Kyaaaaaaaaaah!!!

Gahk!!

W-Wait...! Something stepped on my stomach... Gah! Cough!

N-No! Not there... anywhere but there...!

Gyaaaaaaaah!!!

.......

...Holy water, prepared.

Salt, prepared. Red beans, prepared. Garlic, prepared. Silver Holy Grail, prepared.

...And finally, the exorcism magic circle Morgana taught me, prepared.

Alright, today is the day I exorcise that ghost.

Seeing as it even beat me up last time, there's no telling how dangerous it'll get if I leave it alone.

I can't let my guard down... The very second I feel even a hint of its presence...

.......

Um... are you okay, junior? You aren't hurt anywhere, are you...?

Sorry...! I-I just panicked because of that sudden physical contact...

.......

...So you still can't hear my voice? Or see me.

Ahaha... I thought maybe things would be different this time...

......!! You've finally shown yourself, you evil spirit!

Take this! Holy salt blessed by the Fairy Queen!

Huh...?! W-Wait! What are you suddenly throwing at me?!

Ow-ow-ow! I-It stings! It really stings!

Aaaaah! I'm passing on! My consciousness is fading...!

Yes! It's working!

Next up is this holy garlic and red beans...!

Stop, stop, stop! I surrender! L-Let's talk this out, talk it out!

You can actually see me this time, right?! And hear what I'm saying, too!!

Yes! I even set up a holy magic circle just to banish you!

Once I lock down your coordinates, I'll just bombard you with everything holy until...!

.......

...By the way, why are you walking around dressed like that when you're a ghost?

Um... could you maybe ask a slightly more productive question instead?

Like my name, or my identity, or why I'm here.

Or at the very least, why I'm suddenly only visible to you.

Surprisingly sensible for a ghost. Though it'd be nice if your outfit was just as sensible.

Well, at least it doesn't seem like you have bad intentions.

When you pounced on me out of nowhere last time, I assumed you were after my body.

Y-You're after my body?! Don't judge a ghost just by her outfit!?

Besides, I've never... done anything like that before...!

I meant I thought you were trying to possess me.

.......

...A-Anyway! The point is you can see me and hear me now, right?!

I'd love to just hang out, but we're really short on time right now.

So, let's do a quick introduction, shall we?

My name is Clarisse. The Hero chosen by the Holy Sword Excalibur before you...

Whoa, wait! Don't sit there!

I hid an exorcism magic circle under the rug!

Huh? Under the rug...? Ow-?!

W-What is this light?! Argh...?! It stings...!

No... I finally got a chance to talk to you...!

Ugh... don't forget me, wait for me, junior! I have something important to tell y...

.......

...Come to think of it, she did write something in my diary.

It'll probably require some "deciphering", but... maybe I'll take a look?

Uh... junior? H-How are you here?

You didn't study at all when you were a kid, did you?

Huh...?! S-Suddenly out of nowhere?!

Uh... well... that's because I've only swung swords since I was little.

B-But my sister Luna was super smart! So that makes up for it, right?!

Well, whatever... everyone has different strengths.

S-So, how did you get all the way here?

Or wait, was me going outside the strange part? Ahaha...

Before I hear the whole story, let me organize what I know so far.

First, you aren't the actual Hero of the Holy Sword, Clarisse, but a past memory engraved in the World Tree, right?

Yeah... that's right. The real Clarisse's soul was completely obliterated back then.

Okay, and this is the space where those World Tree memories are stored...

...And I can come here whenever I want using this Key Sword given to me by the Goddess of the World Tree.

Ahaha... Normally, that's just meant for drawing out my... I mean, our power...

...I honestly never imagined you'd use it like this.

Well, I don't really care about the minor background lore. That's not what's important right now.

Mmh... y-yeah, you're right! We have much more important things to focus on!

First, let me explain how I... I mean, we suddenly regained our consciousness.

Ugh... where should I even start explaining this?

No, that's not what's important right now.

What's truly important is that you made me angry.

......? Ah......!!

A-Are you still mad because I stepped on you back then...?!

Do I look like someone who holds a grudge that deeply? Well, it certainly was a nightmarish level of pain, but...

...I came to find you today because I want to hear the rest of the story.

You know how it is. It's so annoying when a story you're really enjoying just gets cut off in the middle.

.......

...Sorry, I don't understand what you mean at all.

I'm talking about what you wrote in my diary.

I bought that notebook and never even touched it, but you filled it with your life story like some autobiography.

......? Ah......!!

Your handwriting is terrible and your spelling is a complete mess.

The timeline is all over the place, so I can't even tell if something happened while you were alive or after you died.

You keep changing the subject, so none of the stories have a proper ending.

Ahaha... I-I'm sorry... I've never been very good at writing...

That's why I came to hear it in person. Your story, the one you couldn't fully capture in writing.

Huh...? W-What does that mean...?

Mathematically speaking, it was terrible writing, but fortunately, it was exactly my cup of tea.

Didn't you say Heroes of the Holy Sword connect on a soulful level? If so, then it's not that weird.

.......

Hahahat... Hahahahahah!!!

You're surprisingly perceptive, you know? To appreciate all the humor I hid between the lines.

.......

...Just to be sure, you did read the part about something really weird happening to the World Tree, right?

Of course. As the next Hero of the Holy Sword, it's not something I can just ignore.

And you must also know that I shouldn't be chattering away like this when my consciousness should have vanished long ago.

Hmph, so dragging me to an isekai out of nowhere is fine, but this isn't?

Hahahat, I guess so. Well, the title "Hero of the Holy Sword" was a flat-out lie from the beginning anyway.

Come to think of it now, even when the real Clarisse was alive, the world was full of absurdities.

I just pretended to understand... and pretended everything was fine, barely enduring all the unfairness thrown my way.

Yeah, but I'm glad you're here this time.

Because a story that's already finished doesn't need a protagonist anymore, it just needs an audience.

.......

.......

...S-So, shall we begin right away? The life and times of Clarisse, Hero of the Holy Sword!

You can really look forward to it this time! I'm much better at storytelling than writing!

Tada! The lucky bunny is here!

I have a good feeling about today! It's the perfect day to go all in!

...What are you doing all of a sudden?

To cheer on my junior, of course!

I even brought this bunny outfit to get into the spirit!

What do you think? Does it suit me?

I mean, it suits you, but...

Junior, you have to tell me exactly how it suits me in detail!

If you don't practice now, you might struggle when you meet someone precious to you, you know?

Well, sorry about that!

Anyway... what exactly did you come here to cheer me on for?

The Slime race, of course!

A Slime race...? Surely not the one I'm thinking of?

The crisis that has befallen the World Tree isn't something that can be resolved overnight.

If you aren't fully prepared, you might end up in serious danger, junior.

So what does any of that have to do with a Slime race...?

Heh, the heavier your pockets, the better your equipment, right?

Just trust me and follow my lead!

Because I'm going to make you the wealthiest person in Britannia!

...Isn't it just that you want to gamble?

W-What are you talking about?!

This is all... to save the world, you know!

If you really wanted to help me, you wouldn't have to go through all this trouble.

Like some gold and silver treasures you buried in the past...

Or some treasure buried on the Forgotten Isle... Do you have anything like that?

You're so naive, junior!

Those are all just made-up stories!

Burying Gold earned with blood, sweat, and tears in the ground just to pass it on to some stranger...!

There's no way such a stupid human could exist!

...I didn't say anything.

In the end, you have to seize your own luck.

But don't worry.

Because you have me by your side, junior!

I'll pass down all the know-how from the masterpiece of the century, the <Slime Racing Guidebook>!

Where on earth did the lucky bunny go?

Because the bunny in front of me... seems more like a harbinger of misfortune.

Oh...? Hehe... Th-This shouldn't be happening...

Did the rules change... without me knowing?

As if they would!!!

Even a clueless kid wouldn't get it wrong thirty times in a row!!!

Are you trying to kick me out onto the streets?!

I-I'm sorry, junior... I guess I'm just having an off day today.

Just give me one more chance... I'll definitely make up for it!

......

This is your last chance.

If you lose this time... I'll have to skip lunch for a week.

Heh, alright. I'm the type whose skills shine brighter when the stakes are higher.

If your meals are on the line... there's no way I can lose.

I'll stake my honor, and my pride as a warrior...! I'm betting it all on this match!!!

Clarisse... you chose that seriously, right?

Or do you just want to see me suffer?

Junior. I understand why you don't trust me.

But... I need you to have absolute faith in me just this once.

A final showdown for true warriors with nowhere left to run.

Because I've never lost in a situation like this.

......

Trust me, junior!

Because the person standing in front of you isn't a harbinger of misfortune, but a lucky bunny who has survived countless battlefields!

Urgh...!

Junior...! You actually believed me!

Since we're in the same boat now anyway... I have no choice.

Alright, let's go see how this ends, for better or worse!

The winner of this race is...

Blue Slime!!!

J-Junior! We won!

Thank goodness, at least I won't starve...

Heh, it was hiding its true strength for this very moment!

What a good boy!

Oh, my apologies, everyone!

It seems the winner of this race, Blue Slime... took an illegal shortcut!

In accordance with the rules, Blue Slime has been disqualified,

...and the winner of this race is... Dark Slime!

......

Clarisse... don't tell me...

......

N-No, junior...

I definitely didn't do something like use my invisibility to give the Slime a little nudge...!

In a sacred and fair competition, there's no way that could ever...

What do you mean, "lucky bunny"!!!

Give me my money back right now!!!