The Sponsored Heroines Are Coming for Me

Lichten Academy.

Recently, a series of shocking news stories had been sweeping through the academy.

The first was the rumor that Ian Blackangers had been accused of being a witch and subsequently arrested.

Though it was not an official report but merely gossip, the sensational nature of a “witch hunt” caused the rumor to spread rapidly.

— “I knew it. He’s been acting strange since the start of the semester.”

— “Come on, he’s been fine lately.”

— “Yeah, and I even heard a rumor that he caught a Bloodstone Cult officer recently.”

— “Honestly, Ian’s been one of the most impressive students lately. Too bad I didn’t get the chance to approach him before this happened.”

But just as the gossip started to settle, another astonishing piece of news shook the academy.

— 「Lichten Academy Student Aria Lumines Selected as a Saint」—

Aria Lumines Bell, a first-year student in the Priest Department of Lichten Academy, had passed the Second Saint Trial and officially earned the title of Saint.

This marked only the second time in the academy’s history that a student had been chosen as a Saint while still enrolled…

— — — —

Unlike the rumors, this news had been officially published in an article.

It was undoubtedly a remarkable and groundbreaking event.

A fellow student, not just anyone, but someone attending the same school, had been chosen as a Saint, a spiritual leader of the church.

The reaction was fiery.

However, the excitement didn’t last long.

There was hardly anyone who was personally close to Aria, making it feel like a distant event to most students…

And then—

— “Did you hear? Ian is missing!”

A new rumor spread like wildfire.

It was the climax of the recent chain of shocking news.

— “What do you mean? Wasn’t he acquitted in that witch trial? I heard it was the first time in history that happened.”

— “Yeah, he was cleared. But they say he was kidnapped on his way back afterward.”

The rumor burned through the Academy at an uncontrollable pace.

To make matters worse, the academy’s newspaper department had just released a breaking news report.

[MISSING PERSON ALERT]

An entire page of the newspaper was dedicated to Ian’s face.

The academy was in complete turmoil.

◆

Laurent Trading Company – Lichten Branch Conference Room

Inside the brightly lit conference room, stacks of documents and letters were scattered across the long table.

It was a busy place, with people constantly coming and going.

A man carefully approached the highest seat in the room, where a figure sat—eyes shadowed by deep dark circles.

Silvia Laurent, the branch manager.

She was so focused on the documents in front of her that she didn’t even notice the man approaching.

“Branch Manager, I have an urgent report.”

“What is it?”

“We’ve received a cooperation proposal from the Raymond Trading Company.”

“…The Raymond Trading Company?”

Silvia immediately lifted her gaze from the documents, her sharp eyes flashing despite her exhaustion.

She took the letter from the man’s hands and examined it carefully.

“Don’t tell me this was sent by Emilia Raymond?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

It had been three days since Ian went missing.

Every possible method was being used to track him down.

And now, Emilia Raymond?

Why now?

Silvia frowned.

She was well aware of the strained relationship between Ian and certain female students.

There were four girls in particular with whom he didn’t get along.

Lina Rosewell.

Sharon Pierce.

Emilia Raymond.

And Aria Lumines Bell.

‘Lina’s relationship with him improved quickly.’

Ever since the dormitory incident, Lina’s gaze toward Ian had been overflowing with affection.

Lina was clearly a rival to Silvia.

‘As for Sharon Pierce… I’m not sure.’

There were occasional reports of her lingering around Ian, but nothing indicated hostility. In fact, her actions didn’t seem negative at all.

But the real problem lay with the remaining two—

Aria and Emilia.

Silvia prided herself on being perceptive.

And it was obvious that Ian had some kind of relationship with those two.

Not a good one.

A bad one.

She had even tested the waters a few times, carefully observing their interactions.

‘They might even be enemies.’

That was the conclusion Silvia had reached.

Of course, she hadn’t had many opportunities to interact with Aria directly.

Most of what she knew came from rumors surrounding the Ether Advancement Event and the demeanor of Aria’s personal knight.

But Emilia Raymond was a completely different story.

‘…She’s definitely plotting something.’

Emilia Raymond.

Not just a nuisance to Silvia personally, but a woman from a family that had been a long-time adversary of her own.

There was no way Silvia could ever like her.

That was why she had kept a close eye on Emilia, studying her tendencies to a certain extent.

Yet, this situation was a first.

Just as Silvia disliked Emilia, Emilia also disliked Silvia.

And now, out of nowhere, Emilia had sent something?

“…You’re saying she sent a letter offering cooperation?”

“Yes. Here it is.”

Silvia quickly scanned the contents of the letter.

It was clear.

Emilia Raymond was offering assistance in the search for Ian.

And not just from the Raymond Trading Company.

She was extending the support of the entire trading coalition led by her family.

On top of that, she was handing over full authority to Silvia.

“…What the hell is she thinking?”

Silvia muttered without realizing it.

Emilia was someone who carried herself with pride.

She didn’t bow her head easily.

Not even when it benefited her.

Yet now, she was clearly lowering herself.

What kind of situation was this?

It was hard to believe, but there was only one reasonable interpretation.

‘For Emilia, Ian is important enough to make her swallow her pride…?’

It was difficult to accept.

But at the moment, it was the only explanation that made sense.

“…”

Silvia pressed her fingers against her temple.

This situation was turning into quite the puzzle.

Could Emilia Raymond be trying to apologize for her past treatment of Ian?

If that was the case, it would fit her personality—

She wouldn’t say the words outright, but she would express it through her actions.

“…Whatever the case.”

There was no reason to refuse.

They desperately needed help right now.

Since Silvia would still be in control, there was no real risk in accepting.

Even if Emilia had ulterior motives, Silvia could control the flow of information she received.

“Tell them we accept the offer.”

“Understood.”

Her subordinate swiftly rushed out of the room.

Within the hour, the Raymond Trading Coalition would also be joining the search effort.

Silvia crossed her arms and sank into thought.

“I need to escalate this further.”

Her sharp eyes gleamed.

Even at this moment, the number of factions involved in this crisis was immense.

The Academy Student Council and faculty.

Lichten.

The Laurent Trading Company.

And now, the Raymond Trading Coalition.

She had also received intelligence that Aria, now officially recognized as a Saint, had immediately assembled a search party of her own.

‘…If I reach out to Princess Asteria as well…’

The Third Imperial Princess had a strong bond with Ian.

There was no doubt she would offer her support as well.

In other words—

This incident had practically mobilized the entire continent.

‘Well, only a fraction of it… but still.’

The scale had grown immense.

This had to be done.

Because it was certain—the Bloodstone Cult had taken Ian.

They had to assume the worst.

That their enemy was the worst possible one.

That the highest-ranking members of the Bloodstone Cult were involved.

— Squeeze

Silvia pinched the bridge of her nose before putting pen to paper.

The once-blank letter swiftly filled with elegant script.

◆

“Sniff, sniff!”

Deep in the mountains, where darkness was beginning to settle.

Faint beams of light flickered between the trees, briefly illuminating cherry-blossom pink hair that flitted in and out of sight.

The girl moving hurriedly through the forest suddenly stopped in disappointment.

“The scent disappears here again, nyah…”

The girl who lowered her head was Danya.

Her companions quickly gathered around her.

“No, you did great, Danya. Let’s take a short break before continuing.”

“That’s right! Sister Danya, without you, we wouldn’t have even gotten this far!”

The three of them huddled beneath a large tree.

These short breaks, taken whenever they lost the trail, were the only moments of rest they allowed themselves.

“There’s no doubt now, nyah. The Bloodstone Cult is involved.”

Danya had confirmed it while tracking Ian’s scent.

The trail was saturated with the smell of blood.

If this were a place with heavy foot traffic, that might be understandable—but they were deep in the mountains, where no proper roads existed.

That meant there was a high likelihood that the scent belonged to Bloodstone Cultists.

‘And the way Ian vanished so suddenly…’

One blink, and Ian was gone.

There had been no sound.

No trace.

No one had sensed anything.

— “Uh… there’s a note in my hand.”

If Elena hadn’t suddenly found that note, everyone would have thought Ian was just playing a prank.

— Kidnapped. Do not follow.

The message was hastily scribbled.

Their enemy was undoubtedly powerful.

Ian had vanished without anyone noticing.

Not even a whisper of movement had been detected.

It was as if he had evaporated.

“Still, it’s a good thing we have Danya. Without her, we’d be completely lost.”

Lina smiled, lifting the spirits of their discouraged group.

She was right—Danya’s sense of smell was their only hope.

Though Ian had left behind no visible traces, Danya could still faintly pick up his scent.

Her sense of smell had sharpened significantly after receiving Ian’s help.

And since she had physically interacted with him before, she could pick up even the faintest lingering traces.

Then—

Danya’s ears twitched.

“Wait. I hear something.”

 

Fwip!

She leaped onto a tree and pointed.

“Over there. Bloodstone Cultists.”

They had encountered several cultists while tracking Ian.

And recently, they had been running into them more frequently.

Could it mean they were close to one of their hideouts?

One thing was certain—talking wouldn’t work with them.

“Let’s go, Elena. Danya, cover us with arrows.”

Lina’s flames erupted.

A towering pillar of fire roared to life.

For them—

Night never truly came.