Chapter 204: Succession Ceremony (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 204: Succession Ceremony (6)
It was noon, and the sky seemed exceptionally high, even for late autumn.
The sunlight scattered a glare so piercingly bright it made one's eyes sting. Beneath it, hundreds of cameras flashed in unison, pointing in a single direction. It looked as if the humans on Earth were waging a war against the sun.
The subject had yet to appear. This seemingly wasteful effort by the reporters was not for the present, but in preparation for the moments to come.
The reporters kept shifting their gaze between their cameras and the main building's grand gates. Their eyes, filled with solemn determination, were as clear as the lenses in their hands. They adjusted their shutters, checking and rechecking their focus.
It was a delicate and tedious task, but the reporters did not mind. They only wished to capture the fleeting moment those gates opened—faster, more abundantly, and with greater precision. With that singular desire, their fingers busily adjusted the lens apertures.
Weapon watched them blankly. He was waiting for the Succession Ceremony alongside the other members of the Travel Club.
Suddenly, someone bumped into Weapon's shoulder. The offender offered a half-hearted, careless apology before continuing on their way. Weapon let out a dry laugh.
Normally, he would have snarled and picked a fight, but today, this was a common occurrence.
Weapon looked around. The massive crowd gathered in the area was so immense that its sheer scale was awe-inspiring.
Man, why are there so many people? It's a weekday. Don't these people have jobs?
Since they packed the vast grounds of Joaquin Academy without leaving a single empty space, estimating the number of attendees was practically impossible.
A red carpet cut through the crowd like a long, crimson river. Starting from the main gates, it stretched all the way to the distant stage, which was barely visible unless one squinted. Staring at it, the intense red of the carpet felt as if it were draining one's sanity. Sometimes, the sheer intensity of a primary color could swallow a person's soul.
Weapon shook his head. He nudged Ryozo's side with his elbow and struck up a conversation for no particular reason.
"Hey, Saki. Look at the reporters' eyes. Just looking at their faces, you'd think they were war correspondents."
Her eyebrows arched elegantly. She found Weapon, who looked excited despite his words, utterly pathetic. She briefly considered stomping on his toes but decided against it.
Ryozo replied with a disinterested expression.
"It makes sense. This is a major event that hasn't happened in half a century. Besides, we know who the new Seven Stars hero is, but the reporters don't. We're the weird ones for being so calm; they aren't overreacting."
"Still, those reporter folks shouldn't be showing their excitement so easily. I wonder if they'll faint and drop their cameras when they find out who the new Seven Stars hero is."
Weapon clicked his tongue and shook his head. Watching his profile, Ryozo thought, This is how kids like him grow up to be insufferable old fogeys.
Weapon was currently feeling smug. I know, but they don't. That shallow vanity had instantly transformed the teenage boy into an insufferable old fogey.
Ryozo stopped paying attention to the promising young fogey. She tilted her head back and looked up at the sky. The clear autumn sky filled her light-blue eyes.
The sky-blue colors met. The only difference was the presence of clouds. Ryozo felt the chilly breeze, clearing her mind. She stared at the clouds, the sun, and the sky for a long while.
Someone gave her clothes a couple of short tugs. Ryozo lowered her head. A pair of glasses, glinting in the sunlight, entered her field of vision. It was San Hana. She spoke.
"You seem to have a lot on your mind, Saki. Well, it's only natural. Someone who was just a fellow club member until the other day has suddenly risen so high."
"..."
Ryozo looked at San Hana with startled eyes. Had her senior ever initiated a conversation so warmly before? Usually, she was the type to respond to others, not start a conversation herself.
Ryozo hesitated for a moment before replying.
"It's like you said, Senior. I do feel a bit floaty. But it's not like I'm incredibly shocked or unable to believe it. I mean, think about it. Isn't everything Geomma has done up until now even more unbelievable?"
San Hana chuckled softly at her words.
"That's certainly true. Slaying two Corps Commanders, and... other things. In any case, it's definitely not the kind of achievement a teenager could accomplish. If I had to think of someone, only 'one person' comes to mind."
"That's why people compare Geomma to Balor Joaquin the most."
"Hmm, well. The one I was thinking of isn't the Hero of the Origin. But if you think so, Ryozo, then that could be right too."
"There's another 'human' who can be compared to Geomma besides Balor Joaquin?"
Ryozo asked back, visibly bewildered. San Hana continued with a silent, serene smile.
"I didn't say that person was human, though?"
"Then who are you talking about, Senior...?"
"That's... a secret. I'll leave it as a riddle, since you seem to like riddles. If I had to give you a hint... don't think too much in black and white. How about that?"
Saying so, San Hana turned her gaze back toward the main gates. She even hummed a tune, looking quite amused.
San Hana, you are the biggest riddle to me.
Ryozo stared at her, lost in thought about the person known as San Hana.
The more I look at this woman, the more certain I am that there's something about her.
It was Kang Geomma who had immediately noticed San Hana's unusual nature. He had asked if she didn't resemble someone. Back then, Ryozo hadn't understood what he meant, but now, she felt like she was on the verge of grasping it.
San Hana definitely has a clear connection to someone we know.
The problem was that the more she tried to trace who it was, the more elusive it became, like sand slipping through her fingers. Trying to force the thought only brought on a wave of dizziness.
I'll have to keep a closer eye on her from now on.
Boom— Boom—
Suddenly, the sound of drums erupted from the front. A solemn silence descended, accompanied by the drumbeats that sounded like a pounding heart. It was a stillness that bound the gazes of hundreds of thousands of people. They stared at the firmly shut gates of the main building.
No one spoke, but the sound of people swallowing hard could be heard here and there.
Bwaaaap...!
The trumpeters standing at attention blew their horns in unison. The horns and drums blended in a low resonance. People could feel their hearts pounding vividly.
Exciting speculations swirled in their minds. Who would emerge when those gates opened? Could it be the hero they supported? What would their epithet be?
In truth, it didn't really matter who or what it was. A moment of history was about to unfold. That alone was enough to make everyone's eyes sparkle with anticipation.
"The newly crowned Seven Stars hero is emerging."
The gates began to open. The reporters aggressively pressed their faces to their cameras, as if aiming through sniper scopes. At this moment, the crowd was so dense it seemed on the verge of overflowing. Everyone had a cheer loaded in their throats.
Soon, a figure shimmered faintly through the wide-open gates. At that exact moment, the eyes focused on the entrance widened to their limits. Even the reporters pulled away from their cameras to see with their own eyes, wondering if they were hallucinating.
Step.
Black shoes stepped onto the bright red carpet. People rubbed their eyes and opened them again, squinting hard. Someone unconsciously spoke.
"Is... isn't that the Sashimi Sword Saint?"
Starting with that whisper, a murmur quietly rippled through the crowd. By now, there were very few who did not know Kang Geomma. He was the hero of the Joaquin Disaster, the genius cadet who had taught the noble-born heroes a lesson.
Thus, the public regarded Kang Geomma as a highly promising hero. People agreed with that assessment without objection.
However, that was strictly in the sense of being "promising." Unlike the members of the Travel Club, the general public did not know the inner workings. Therefore, the appearance of this incredibly young boy was enough to shock them to their core.
Still, isn't he way too young? Everyone had similar thoughts. The reporters' eyes gleamed like wolves spotting prey.
Step.
Meanwhile, he continued to walk through the crowd, which parted like walls on either side. His white robe, bathed in sunlight, fluttered gently. With every step Kang Geomma took, the commotion quieted down.
Step.
The Sword Emperor, the Sage, the Spear Saint, and the Archery Saint. The four heroes followed behind Kang Geomma. At a glance, it looked as if Kang Geomma were leading them in a grand procession.
Everyone's eyes once again followed the footsteps of the one walking at the very front. His expression was utterly calm, even appearing somewhat languid. As if he had experienced such bewildered stares countless times before, Kang Geomma walked without showing a shred of intimidation amidst the massive crowd. Everyone stared at him blankly.
Those indifferent black eyes. Looking into them, everyone felt something swelling in their chests. It was awe—directed toward a teenage boy who wasn't even an adult yet.
"President..."
Weapon muttered. He was holding back an overwhelming surge of emotion to its absolute limit.
When he had first owed his life to the President, Weapon had faintly imagined a scene like this. The sight of him diving toward the Mermaid with two sashimi knives in hand. Not only that, but during the Joaquin Disaster, he had once again stepped forward on behalf of everyone.
Weapon knew that behind the President's actions lay countless anxieties and worries. In that regard, the President was also just a human, a cadet just like himself.
That was what made the President even more incredible. He endured all of it to face the strong. Yet, he never sought recognition or understanding. He kept his words brief, even with his fellow club members, silently choosing to shoulder the burden alone.
Weapon's eyes welled with tears. This was the moment his friend—a man both deeply human and superhuman—was finally being recognized. He decided not to hold back his rising emotions. His friend deserved to be cheered. If so, it was his duty to start it.
He took a deep breath. Then, with lungs full of air, he roared.
"You idiots!"
As if shattering the solemn atmosphere, Weapon shouted once more.
"Cheer louder! He's the new Seven Stars hero! The one you've all been waiting for!"
For a moment, everyone wore blank expressions. They glanced at one another. Then, someone stepped forward to join in.
"Kang Geomma!"
A male cadet grinned, baring his white teeth, and shouted at the top of his lungs. It was the male cadet from the Dragon Class who had once looked down on Kang Geomma. He was also a survivor of the Joaquin Disaster.
Next, a youthful voice rang out.
"Lord Geomma!"
It was Hon, squeezed in among the crowd. Choi Seol-ah, who was standing next to her, tried to cover her mouth but soon gave up. Sighing, she ultimately joined Hon in shouting.
"Congratulations, my Lord!"
It didn't end there.
"Kang Geomma!"
"Qiang Jian Mo!"
"Gang Gum-ma!"
Tongues from all corners of the world erupted sporadically. The resulting cheers heated the air to a boil.
The entirety of Joaquin Academy seethed with excitement. Snapping out of their daze, the reporters quickly began capturing the scene.
A smile naturally formed on the Sword Emperor's lips at the sight. He fixed his eyes on the white robe walking at the front. Two characters, beautifully embroidered in gold thread, shimmered on his retinas.
Some might say that the epithet was a bit too much. It was a title so lofty it bordered on arrogant. Yet, it could not have suited the boy any better.
"Heavenly Sword."
Savoring the texture of those two words, the Sword Emperor slightly raised his head.
The sky seemed exceptionally high today, even for autumn.
Was it just his imagination? Perhaps not.
Lost in these thoughts, the Sword Emperor continued his stride.