Chapter 222
Chapter 222
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 222
Chapter Title: Last Leaf, First Sapling -1
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As the story neared its completion, an abrupt external attack struck. I quickly recalled my countermeasures.
With murders occurring one after another during this sacred festival, couldn't I borrow the power of the organizers like Cardinal Pana or other factions? No.
I could, but I shouldn't. Because publicly, the victim was an NPC. A magically crafted dummy with no identity.
If we aggressively pursued the killer and protected those involved, and it came out that this was just a lump of mana hologram, things would get a bit awkward. It'd be like admitting one crazy mage was shaking up the entire tournament.
The fact itself wasn't a problem.
It was just me being a few screws loose, throwing down a challenge as an illusion mage in my own way. Since I'd lose in a straight fight on stage, I pulled off this surprise show. It's part of my abilities, right? Totally fine.
What could they do if I brazened it out like that? At worst, kick me out of the tournament.
The problem was getting caught by Sissel.
"Surprise, it was all a Truman Show!" Yeah, that'd have her lethal gravity swordsmanship flying straight at my face. No surprise there. So at least until the scenario ended... better to exclude outside help.
Was I just going to sit there and take it? No way.
"Citizens, rest assured. Our Reform Faction will capture the murderer tarnishing the blessed atmosphere of the Hero Selection and protect you all from harm! Bennett, a word, if you please."
"...In addition to hunting the fiend, we've prepared safety measures, so worry less."
I put Field Priest Julius at the forefront, turning crisis into opportunity. The Reform Faction announced it would handle the incident. If we investigated ourselves, no risk of the hologram getting exposed, and solving it cleanly would win public favor.
On my side, I assigned escorts to the NPCs. Not all of them, of course. No manpower to cover over twenty. Just the ones key to the story.
Like Karen, for example.
Sissel's story was almost at its end. My instincts told me only a brief interval and the climax remained. As long as the scenario didn't break.
Nothing revealed about the killer yet.
But it wasn't some ordinary thug.
I had tons of ways to track people. Sucking info from people, objects, everything like this. Yet the culprit slipped every net.
Along with bizarre misfortune. Whenever I tried probing, some annoyance cropped up. Not coincidence—Fable ability, most likely.
Whether it aggro'd me by chance, intent, or fluke, whatever bullshit power let this happen, I'd check after the session ended.
And the mysterious Mage X... Yuna. She was stealing the show each round with flashy finishes, earning big cheers from the crowd.
Why she pulled this prank? Niore tipped me off. She played cat, now roaring tiger. Relieved, but maybe I slacked on attention.
Also, she came to have fun, but now she's working like this. Like taking a big family trip only for your partner to field client calls all day.
Yuna and Sissel share family history. So probably some shared lacks. Which made me ask myself:
What does Yuna enjoy?
Looking back, no real hobbies came to mind. So I was picking words for her.
Countermeasures ended there. Time flew.
Round of 16: Sissel Yurensuto vs. Iaido's Kai.
"Um... What is your reason for wanting to become a hero? Could I hear your current feelings, aspirations, and if possible, life goals...?"
"...Why the sudden background check in a tournament arena? If you're trying to distract and ambush, know it won't work on me, Kai of the Iaido!"
"That's not it. I'm just... trying to find meaning in this duel..."
"......"
The man in draw stance answered—to beat my rival who fled far via death. Since he never won in life, he'd need to become a hero to beat the dead.
That emotion's base wasn't hate, but a mix of complex feelings. Was that a rivalry?
Sissel couldn't read him fully, but knew he staked much on this duel. He was desperate. Trying hard.
Yet the duel ended without Fable.
.
Quarterfinals: Sissel Yurensuto vs. "Awl" Elder
"May I ask your reason for seeking to become a hero?"
"To die. Lived my life in darkness, no meaning left to keep going. Want my end on a brilliant stage bathed in light. You're similar, no?"
"...Not anymore."
"Kekekeke... You'll live leaving much behind. To avoid dying alone."
The elder gripping the sharp awl looked like a moth. But moths chase light to live; he sought fire to die. Sissel gazed at him, asking herself:
Am I that weary, wishing for an early grave?
No, not now, at least.
The duel ended without Fable.
.
Semifinals: Sissel Yurensuto vs. Frigid Juren
"You who seek to become a he—"
"No talk—!! I'll beat you and show what Frigid Juren as hero can do—!!"
...No conversation possible, but his passion was immense. Azure Tower mage seeming one screw loose, but mages often were. No Fable reached, but his mana control was exceptional.
"Obligatory Grasp - I'll Collar You."
"The world... so heavy...?!"
Used Fable. Won.
The tournament now faced finals, opponent the mysterious Mage X.
On the budding branch, only the last leaf swayed.
.
Elder Alonso stirred his coffee, wrinkles crinkling in satisfaction. Sissel's matches pleased his eyes.
"Watched well. Now you respect opponents properly. Give time to show effort, then crush head-on. As a strong one, is there a more dignified fight?"
"I've come for the answer you deferred before."
"Don't need my words; you've awakened to it yourself now, no?"
"......"
Focusing on tournament foes stirred odd feelings in Sissel. Their zeal had clear direction. Now she knew it precious, sparkling.
So to a romance absolutist elder, how pathetic must aimless sword-swinging Sissel have seemed? Winning tournament meant nothing ultimately—already a loss.
But now... one doubt resolved, another took its place.
"...Does being broken have meaning?"
"Hm."
Sissel was finally finding her life's direction, its meaning. Should've learned young. Thus, she thought of those felled by her blade... the unfulfilled.
She saw her future in them.
Past life drifting purposeless was meaningless but worry-free. But gaining faint dreams bred anxiety.
Like a suddenly rich man fretting over jewel thieves.
What if I fail to achieve it?
"You'll judge that."
"......"
Always backseat driving before, now "figure it out"? Sissel instinctively puffed cheeks, then deflated fast. Habit from stage as Bunny Princess.
While Knight Sissel Yurensuto racked wins.
Changes came to the masked idol Bunny Princess too.
"...Thanks for coming today! Now the final song, then back to the burrow. R-Ready for fun?"
"Bunny Princess! Bunny Princess!"
She'd grown accustomed. Lines once left to Karen now spoken with slight stumbles.
Learned pro singing knowledge, infused technique with intent. Swordsmanship branched infinitely via power control too. Every craft had depths.
Knew leading atmosphere, enjoying it. Audience responding, moved, clapping—pure euphoria.
"Kyuu, kyuing."
"Waaaaah—!!"
...So she mustered courage for cuteness.
Compared to Yurensuto elders never praising even on deathbeds, fans lavished it. Starved rabbit finally feasted, laughed full.
Now even a junior.
"Our new Rabbitz member, Darkrabbit-chan!"
"...Uh, hi. Darkrabbit, chan?"
"If you're dressing her like that, at least name properly, or if ruining the name, dress human-like—mmph!!"
"Ahaha, Dark-chan's shy. One sec?"
Feisty-looking girl. Asked how recruited; Karen said to fill low notes. Actually for NPC guard duty.
"But Karen, low notes were your..."
"Jeez, mine were lacking a bit? Darkrabbit-chan's voice suits you perfectly. Duets now too!"
"......"
Heart stung.
As Fable-reacher, Sissel's hearing near-superhuman; audience murmurs came naturally.
Karen's singing average. Hid flaws via directing, dancing, flow—no standout talent.
Fine till Sissel joined. Fireball beside firefly? Comparisons inevitable.
Keep side character from Bunny Princess. Such talk.
So Sissel felt guilty toward Karen. Like she dimmed her light. Even dragged new member for herself.
Studying song, improving—thought it'd fix all. Problems kept coming.
Maybe quit?
"...I know you're thinking weird stuff, Sissel?"
"......"
Confessed honestly.
Karen burst laughing, patted seat beside. Red hair swayed. Her benefactor who opened new paths, grinned slyly.
"So, my singing's useless?"
"...No, not that. No."
Sissel flailed denial frantically. Hadn't she been moved by Karen's stage, reaching here?
Karen poked exposed Bunny Princess side. Sissel yelped "Heeek!", shrank. Karen giggled at it.
"Honestly, jealous."
"......"
"Got what I lack. Sing great, deputy vice-captain of famous knights, fight well, probably rich? All but chest."
"......!!"
Does broken have meaning?
Firefly before sun?
For Fable-free Knight Sissel Yurensuto, glory-wall-unfilled young Sissel, failure-prone future Sissel—meaning?
To this, Karen spoke of sailing.
"Life's rowing a boat. Each on own, chasing own isle somewhere."
"A boat?"
"Some big, some start huge, some have cannons or fins, some small chest."
"......"
Yet big or small, humans face failure. Can't achieve all desires. Like Yurensuto head and wife.
But way to make all failures, broken things meaningful?
"Enjoy the voyage itself!"
"The voyage?"
"Wasn't it fun? Learning song, occasional cracks, stage with growing-shrinking crowds."
It was.
That wouldn't change. Tournament period—Sissel's happiest life moments. Meaning in itself?
"...Then I overthought. Even small things have value. Not needing huge—fine as was."
"Like Sissel's chest."
Fuming.
Couldn't take thrice. Properly scratched, Sissel shattered mood, lunged at Karen. What fat said!
"Quit teasing for real—!"
"Ehyahahahat!"
Today's show ended.
Karen and Darkrabbit-chan left early for performance bookings, leaving finale to Sissel.
Sissel sang routine, took tips (huge per Karen—peanuts vs. Elaine's direct salary).
Ceded stage to others, slipped to dressing room, changed secretly, snuck out building...
Walked moonlit night path.
Reform Faction priests urged citizens avoid night walks or group up. Serial killer still loose.
Killer targeting festival ruin? Picking tournament entrants. Four victims already.
But Sissel walked alone. She was strong.
Whoever killer, not dumb enough to challenge top contender. Stick to middling like before.
Non-Fable entrants.
Group A tournament raced to finals; Group B delayed by murders, far behind—probably 16s now.
Karen hadn't dropped yet.
Good bracket luck. Skill not champion-level, would fall eventually... but not now.
Reach high. Promote as wished. Sissel prayed to moon, goddess.
Then, ear caught noise.
Screams, murmurs. Another murder? No desire seeing sprawled corpse, catching killer.
One Fable use left. Mid-serious thoughts of quitting knight for singer. So.
No interest tangling needless, risking life.
Sissel would've ignored. If not hearing "red hair" amid din.
"......"
Probably not.
Karen went home early. With Darkrabbit-chan. Red hair common anyway. Not it.
Thinking so—feet moved own accord.
Walked.
Crowd-choked scene appeared. Blocked inner view. Like first Karen meet. But day then, night now.
And no Karen visible.
Sissel drifted into onlooker gap. Pushed steadily forward. Parted human curtain, what Sissel saw—
Red hair.