Chapter 199: Succession Ceremony (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 199: Succession Ceremony (1)
Sacrifice.
The masses do not know the weight carried by those two simple syllables. Yet, they demand it of heroes as if it were only natural.
They want heroes to burn themselves out to achieve noble deeds, believing they should willingly throw away their lives for humanity.
Furthermore, as a hero's renown grows, the word 'sacrifice' becomes a crushing weight upon their shoulders.
If so, what is the total sum of sacrifice a Seven Stars hero must bear? And is that sacrifice truly worth its price?
Saki Kojima had pondered this proposition for a long time.
Surprisingly, the answer he had come up with in his youth was 'yes.' Of course, this was thanks to another person who had a profound influence on that conclusion.
"Someone has to shoulder that weight, don't they? It might as well be us. What's with that 'Why?' look on your face? It's obvious! Because we're strong! We can endure it better."
These were the words Alice Louise had spoken during their days as cadets at Joaquin Academy, flexing her sturdy arm muscles. To the young Kojima back then, it had sounded like idealistic nonsense.
Anyone can talk a big game. The real issue is how well one follows through on their words.
But Alice truly lived by her words. Wherever there was someone in need, she would walk into the most treacherous lands of her own accord.
She took the lead in setting an exemplary path as a hero. And that principle continued even after she and Kojima bound their lives in marriage.
Kojima wanted his wife to stay safely at home, but Alice refused with a stern look.
"Say that one more time, and we're getting a divorce."
...Even so, peaceful days continued. Until that day arrived.
Forty years ago, Basmon, the 6th Corps Commander, suddenly appeared near the Gehenna Gate. Simultaneously, humanity's seven strongest powerhouses were mobilized. They were the heroes who would later become the Seven Stars.
The location of Basmon's appearance was the greatest obstacle. Demons grow stronger the closer they are to the Demon Realm. Thus, the key to the subjugation was drawing Basmon far away from the Gate. To do that, someone had to act as bait and lure him.
Confronting the 6th Corps Commander at his peak and drawing him to the battlefield without him noticing was a monumental task. It was practically a suicide mission. Furthermore, it had to be accomplished alone.
If two or three went, the beast might catch wind of the trap.
"I'll do it."
Siegfried had readily volunteered. Someone had to do it, and he decided it was only right that it be him.
While the other six could theoretically replace him, their chances of survival would be drastically lower. Even back then, he was the man hailed as humanity's strongest.
Richard de Myura had thrown a fit later, insisting he would go instead, but the consensus leaned toward Siegfried. Richard's reckless temperament risked ruining the entire plan.
And so, the discussion seemed to conclude with Siegfried setting out.
At dawn, before the dim twilight had even cleared, someone visited Siegfried's outpost.
"I'll go, Senior."
Alice spoke to Siegfried, who was in the middle of preparing, her eyes filled with resolve.
"I'm a tank. It's only right that I handle this."
Siegfried frowned and dismissed her.
"As your senior, I cannot send my junior into the jaws of death."
"I know exactly why you're trying to act as bait instead of me, the tank. It's because I only recently gave birth to my third child."
Alice placed her hands on her hips and retorted grumpily.
"I appreciate the consideration, but to put it bluntly, what if something happens to you? Our chances of subjugating him end right there."
"Even so, the answer is no."
Siegfried shook his head with firm eyes. Alice pressed her unyielding stance.
"I was drafted here precisely to step up in moments like this. You trying to take my place is a clear infringement on my rights. So, I'm going. You and I both know this is the only way to minimize casualties."
"……"
Siegfried's face grew solemn. Because he knew. He knew Alice's argument was the best option.
"...Does Kojima know?"
A bitter smile played on Alice's lips.
"Of course he doesn't. If he knew, do you think he'd sit still? He would have done whatever it took to stop me."
"Setting me aside, you will be resented by Kojima as well."
"I know. And honestly, he knows it too. He knows I'm the best person for this role. But he just couldn't bring himself to say anything."
Alice suddenly looked up at the pale dawn sky. The lingering darkness was fading, and the sun was being born.
As the veil of night was lifted, the shining moon and stars sank into the sky.
With the arrival of morning, the lights that had adorned the sky vanished, as if having fulfilled their duty. Without leaving behind even a shred of resentment.
They simply stepped aside because they had finished their part. And it was the same for Alice.
"This is the only way to prevent greater sacrifice."
This unilateral sacrifice would surely seem like a selfish decision to those around her, especially her family.
Yet, only this selfish choice swirled in her mind. For one reason alone: because she was a hero.
Gazing quietly at the sunlight drenching the earth for a long moment, Alice murmured:
"Kojima is a hero too. I'm sure he'll understand my choice."
* * *
"What did you just say?"
The voice, trembling with fury, came not from the Sword Emperor, but from the Spear Saint. His face contorted in sheer rage as he stomped over, halting right in front of the Archery Saint's nose.
"I'll ask you one more time, archer. What did you just babble to Nibelung?"
"Are you getting hard of hearing in your old age, Senior Richard?"
The Archery Saint retorted, looking annoyed.
"I clearly said that Senior Siegfried 'seems to have grown weak.'"
"...You arrogant bastard. I've tolerated you long enough, but now you're trying to climb all over your seniors."
"Ha, since when were you and Senior Siegfried on such good terms anyway? You two growl at each other whenever your paths cross. I didn't think you were close enough to get angry on his behalf."
The Spear Saint didn't bother replying to the Archery Saint's sarcasm. Instead, he threw a punch straight away. As if expecting this, the Archery Saint stepped back clockwise to dodge the straight punch.
While the Spear Saint was unmatched in raw strength, his movements tended to be simple. No matter how much wind pressure his fist carried, all he had to do was deflect it.
Grab.
The Archery Saint's left shoulder was caught. A hand as large as a pot lid clamped down firmly on his upper arm.
"Stop acting like a child, archer."
The Spear Saint looked down coldly at the immobilized Archery Saint. Then, he spoke in a low, heavy voice.
"Out of respect for Alice, I'll let you off with just one blow. Grit your teeth—unless you want to replace all your teeth with implants."
Just as the Spear Saint's shoulder shifted, a green figure suddenly flashed between the two.
Boom!
A violent, air-rending sound. A collision so intense that dust billowed up erupted, causing the chandelier above to collapse with a crash.
The straight punch was blocked right in front of the Archery Saint's nose. A wrist, gripped tightly by a slender hand, trembled in midair.
"Gorilla, that's enough from you too. The Sword Demon is right here. And did you forget what we agreed on? To stay quiet during the evaluation."
Medea let go of his hand. As she shook out her wrist, the Spear Saint finally lowered his fist.
"I lost my temper. My apologies, Medea."
"If you know that, then control yourself. Always acting first and apologizing later. It's exhausting. Anyway..."
Medea turned her gaze to the Archery Saint.
"Junior. If you flap your mouth like that one more time, I won't let you off. I'll let it slide as a minor incident today, so get out while I'm still being nice."
"……"
"And let me warn you, don't you dare approach the Sword Demon ever again starting today."
The Archery Saint stared at her intently before spinning on his heel. With his back turned, he glared at the three of them with narrowed eyes before quietly exiting the grand drawing room.
The situation was settled. As the atmosphere settled into a lull, the Sword Emperor approached me.
Having just been humiliated, his face was stiff, but he faced me with an embarrassed expression.
He seemed to feel embarrassed that the elders had put on such an unsightly display in front of me.
The Sword Emperor broke the silence first.
"We've shown you an unsightly display. My apologies."
As expected. His reaction was entirely predictable.
I replied as naturally as possible.
"You must have been the one who was truly angered, Sword Emperor. Hearing such words right to your face."
"Haha, it's fine. I'm not a child; I don't fly into a rage just from hearing a few words like that."
Only then did his stiff expression soften slightly, and the Sword Emperor looked toward where the Archery Saint had departed. He suddenly asked me:
"To you, it must have looked like Kojima resents me deeply. Am I right?"
"To be honest... it looked like he viewed you as his mortal enemy."
"Right, so that's how it looked."
The Sword Emperor's voice sank low as he continued.
"Even if Kojima holds resentment toward me, it probably isn't that deep by now. Not that he likes me, of course. But the target of his greatest anger isn't me."
"……"
"The person he is angriest at is himself. Self-loathing, so to speak. He still cannot understand the choice made by the one he cherished most. It's because Kojima tries to view everything through intuition rather than emotion."
Self-loathing? The choice of a cherished one? Since I didn't know the full story, it was a bit difficult to comprehend.
When I didn't reply, the Sword Emperor snapped out of his thoughts. He scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment.
"My goodness, I seem to get sentimental far too often as I grow older. You must be tired, so go on in. The Succession Ceremony is in three days, isn't it? You'll likely be incredibly busy, so get some shut-eye."
* * *
The night grew deep. Returning to my dormitory, I lay on my side and stared at the wall. No matter how much I tossed and turned in bed, sleep eluded me.
My mind was in a flurry. Partly because of the commotion from a few hours ago, but more than anything, the 'Succession Ceremony' completely occupied my thoughts.
I rolled over, shifting my gaze from the wall to the ceiling. The yellowish stains left behind by daily life. Before I knew it, over two years had passed since I arrived in this world.
I chewed over my memories one by one. Just two years ago, I was slicing raw fish. In three days, I would be crowned a Seven Stars hero.
It was something I couldn't have even imagined when I first entered the academy. Back then, I had no grand purpose; I was just struggling to survive. But from now on, I had to act while carrying the very survival of humanity on my shoulders. The vessel that held only my individual self had shattered.
It wasn't a matter of choice—whether I could do it or not. It was a duty.
"……"
It was then.
Vrrr.
The phone on the desk buzzed softly. I slipped out of bed and checked it.
[Nice to meet you, Sword Demon. My name is Vixbig. Please understand that I am getting straight to the point as the situation is urgent.]
The screen lit up once more.
[Ryozo has disappeared.]