Chapter 23: One of Us Dies (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 23: One of Us Dies (4)
A life trajectory that appears comfortable to others might actually be a series of twists and turns rougher than a seismograph to the person living it.
Everyone has their share of ups and downs, but people often jump to the conclusion that someone leads a smooth life based solely on their status, title, or position.
They aren't entirely wrong. While people are starving to death in piles somewhere else in the world, if you were born a noble or royalty, you could at least stuff your belly to the point of disgust.
But do humans exist solely to eat? Moreover, a hero must strive for more than that, and the weight on their shoulders is far heavier than that of ordinary people. Thus, the pressure felt by the direct heir to the British Imperial Dynasty—the most powerful force in present-day humanity—is something an average person could hardly imagine.
'I get it, but...'
That doesn't justify abusing one's power. As I said, everyone has their own circumstances. If you're a hero, you ought to overcome them even more. In my book, that precise moment is when one truly becomes a hero.
...In that sense, I still have a long way to go before becoming a proper adult myself, Kang Geomma.
But combining my past life and this one, I’ve lived quite a long time. So I reckon these greenhorns should understand if I teach them a bit about the bitterness of life. Or not, whatever.
Anyway.
That’s how human beings naturally learn empathy. It's the process of realizing you aren't the only one suffering in this world. That series of realizations is what I consider humanity and life. You can take my word for it, if no one else's. Because that was exactly how I was in my previous life.
Back when I thought I was the unluckiest bastard in the world, the Boss told me otherwise. Of course, the fact that his method wasn't a rod of discipline but a 'sashimi knife of love' still leaves a slightly bitter taste in my mouth, but regardless.
That’s just what I learned.
To cure these promising eighth-grader-syndrome patients who think they are the center of the universe and the most miserable beings alive, I know nothing better than a rod of love.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH—!!"
So, you see, this scream is the sound of a graduating cadet growing up. As the saying goes, growth comes with pain.
—You bastard! When are you ever going to grow up?!
I learned it all from you, old man.
You're spitting in your own face, mister.
Episode: One of Us Dies
"Haa, haa..."
The Auditore had surrounded Princess Victoria and the male cadet in a tight circle. The masked figures wiped the blood off their blades before slowly closing in on the two cadets. The pressure the two cadets felt was undoubtedly no less than what active-duty heroes experienced.
'Since their opponents are the Auditore, it's probably even worse.'
Neither the princess nor the male cadet showed any intention of giving up. Standing back-to-back, they raised their armaments with everything they had.
Both were pale, but the male cadet looked especially grim. Well, losing an arm would make anyone look like that.
On top of that, the Auditore—the very embodiment of the Grim Reaper to nobility—were approaching while exuding thick killer intent.
'They won't be getting a good night's sleep for a while.'
Was that all? Fat and chunks of flesh lay scattered at their feet. Except for the two of them, everyone else had perished uselessly under the Auditore's blades. Since this was a subspace, they didn't lose their actual lives, but the psychological trauma of watching their allies die was substantial.
Perhaps because of that...
"Huu... huu..."
The male cadet suddenly began to sob.
It was miserable enough to be dragged out here out of nowhere, and now he was fated to die (strictly speaking, inside the subspace). He probably felt like casting aside his pride and everything else.
"...Don't... haah... Don't cry...!"
"Hic!"
When the princess snapped, the male cadet hiccuped.
"Does crying change anything? Does crying solve this situation? If that's all you're going to do, don't get in my way—just go hand over your life quietly!"
"P-Princess..."
"Crying is just a cop-out, and we are heroes! We are the kind of people who should spend that time finding a way out of despair! As if things weren't tough enough, stop being a distraction!"
The princess glared sharply at the male cadet before catching her breath. Her eyes burned with fighting spirit as fiercely as ever. Frankly, I was impressed. Beneath their masks, the Auditore were likely reacting the same way I was.
I had inwardly thought of her as just another royal blinded by ambition, but it seemed I needed to take that back.
If anything, the assessment of Ryozo, the Academy Principal—with whom she had an awkward relationship—was spot on. Princess Victoria was indeed a talent far beyond the cadet level. Mental fortitude in emergencies and martial prowess: she scored full marks in the two most crucial virtues a hero must possess.
"Just a few seconds... We just need to hold out for a few more seconds."
"Hic... Understood..."
Encouragement following a sharp reprimand. At that, the male cadet's once-dark eyes regained their spark.
—Impressive, Nox sent via telepathy.
'How is it from the perspective of fighting her?'
—Beyond expectations. No, far exceeding them.
'My thoughts exactly.'
—If I were in your shoes as the Heavenly Sword, I would be welcoming her with open arms. To take such a talented individual as a disciple is a blessing in itself.
'...'
—I don't know if she meets your standards, but among the nobles I've met recently, she is by far the greatest talent.
At those words, a sudden wave of nostalgia hit me, and Nox's subsequent words blurred into the background. I was reminded of what the Boss used to say to me. Though he worked me to the bone—harshly so, even looking back now—he had always bragged to customers that out of all the disciples he had taken in, my talent was second to none.
'Father.'
You were a true adult. Living as an infinite regressor, your emotions could have worn down completely like a stub of a pencil, yet you gave to me unreservedly and treated me as a proud disciple and son.
Dammit, am I hitting an early midlife crisis in the prime of my youth? The face of the Boss, whom I can no longer see, kept coming to mind like this. If I had one single regret about Earth, it was that I hadn't been able to say goodbye to him.
—There's about 10 seconds left. Shall we wrap this up?
At Nox's voice, my momentary stray thoughts shattered like a glass window. I shook my head.
And then I spoke aloud.
"Everyone, step back."
"..."
I dusted off my rear and stood up.
Both the Auditore and the princess turned bewildered gazes toward me.
"I'll handle the supplementary lesson."
I untied the cord around Murasame and signaled the Auditore to back off. After a brief pause, the Auditore nodded. They withdrew hesitantly, breaking the stalemate.
With the sudden shift in circumstances, the male cadet seemed unable to grasp what was happening, but Princess Victoria was different. She met my gaze directly and bit her lip tightly.
'...?'
Yet for some reason, dimples faintly indented her flushed cheeks. When I narrowed my eyes, the princess instantly froze with a cold expression, as if nothing had happened.
"...Is this a private lesson from the Heavenly Sword?" the princess asked.
"You are the Princess, after all. I should cater to you."
"I'll take the first move."
"Be my guest."
The princess stomped her foot.
KABOOM—!
The flagstone exploded, and her figure rushed in so close it felt like she was practically pressed against my vision. An ultra-close range where our breaths collided.
'To think she still has this much strength left.'
I choose you as the representative.
Tap.
Right on cue, Murasame's cord settled softly onto the floor like a coiled snake.
[The Blessing of the Sword God manifests.]
As if signaling the start of class, a sound resonated.
+++++++++++++++++++
《May the Blessing of God be with you》
+++++++++++++++++++
The flash of the blade shot forth like an arrow released from a bowstring.
* * *
Meanwhile, in Demon Realm Gehenna.
"Squeak squeak squeak? (Can humans really live in a place like this?)"
"Chirp chirp squeak. (How should I know?)"
"Squeeeak. (Only That Person knows... ramen.)"
Five squirrels were huddled together, head-to-head, observing something. Their collective intelligence shone brightly.
They were not native to the Demon Realm. Starting from Joaquin Academy, they had endured all kinds of hardships and finally crossed through the Gehenna Gate.
This was only possible because every single one of them was an elite among elites called directly by 'That Great Person'! Although three out of the five had developed hair loss due to the harsh ordeals...
They proudly entered Gehenna!
The reason That Great Person called them must surely be a matter where the fate of squirrel ecology hung in the balance! Even if That Person used them as carrier pigeons—no, carrier 'squirrels'—they were prepared to fulfill their duties with pride.
The moment these elite squirrels discovered a human male in the middle of the Demon Realm was while they were lightly leaping over the Realm's foliage with ninja-like movements.
For some reason, they felt a sense of familiarity. Though of different species, they had encountered someone from their hometown in this wilderness. Thus, they stopped in their tracks and approached the man.
"(He's not moving at all?)"
"(What if he's a Majin?)"
"(Did your eyesight get worse along with your hair loss? Anyone can see he's human. Blunt ears, flesh-colored skin.)"
"(Correction. That statement has a high potential for misunderstanding.)"
"(You come to the Demon Realm and suddenly get eighth-grader syndrome, sigh.)"
"(Correction. Everyone harbors a Dark Flame Dragon in their heart...)"
The elite squirrels held a heated debate gathered around the lying man.
Only the Secretary squirrel stepped up close to the man's philtrum, carefully inspecting his presence.
"(I'm getting a sense of déjà vu.)"
As she muttered, one of them asked, "(About what?)"
"(Doesn't he look like 'That Person's' partner?)"
"(Ah~ You mean that hero of humanity. Hmmm... Indeed, except for his facial features, they look very alike.)"
"(We call that not looking alike, kid.)"
Just as the Secretary squirrel sighed and shifted her gaze back to the man—he shot up violently!
"SQUEEEEEAK!! (Fuk, you scared me!!)"
The man was glaring wide-eyed at the Secretary squirrel. The squirrels scattered in a fit of panic. The Secretary also spun around frantically, but her feet suddenly left the ground.
The man pinched the nape of her neck with his index and thumb, lifting her up. Swimming in midair, the Secretary closed her eyes in resignation.
"(Lord Lycan... please, even without me...)"
"Did you say Lycan?"
"(...Even without me... even if I... Huh?)"
The Secretary squirrel stopped squirming and looked back. Her eyes widened to the size of cherry tomatoes.
"(A human can understand our language?)"
"When you regress multiple times, you pick up all sorts of random skills. Squirrel language is just one of them."
The man slowly pulled his upper body forward. Faded leaves slid down his abs.
"So."
His gaze sank heavily into darkness.
"Did you say 'Lycan'?"
* * *
I had originally planned to select them in three stages, but the first stage seemed sufficient. The male cadet who fought alongside the princess showed decent promise, but his comparison target was far too exceptional.
After the surrounding subspace cleared, it took a long time for the cadets to pull themselves together. Even if the Auditore had held back, their handiwork was far too brutal for mere cadets to handle.
I called for the medical team.
Leaving the exhausted cadets in the hands of the medical team, I cleared out the training hall with the Auditore.
The moment I stepped out the door, sunlight washed over my face.
"Good work, everyone."
"It was nothing, Heavenly Sword."
Warmed by the sunshine, the Auditore melted into my shadow like ice. Nox glanced at me briefly before concealing his presence in the same manner as his family.
"Ugh, how many days has it been since I last moved my body?"
I twisted my waist side to side, stretching. I was just about to head toward the main building when—
Chime~
A text message arrived. Checking it, I saw it was from Speed Weapon. It hadn't been long since he was dispatched to the Demon Realm—was he back already?
"The Association must have called him back."
By the way...
'He brought it, right?'
I got excited. The delivery package I had been waiting for had arrived.
However, as I tapped the screen while humming a tune, my hand soon froze in midair.
============
Potion Pocket: Sorry. I made a mistake
Me: ?
Potion Pocket: I brought what you asked for
Potion Pocket: ...but I brought something else along with it
Me: ???
Me: Brought what??
Potion Pocket: ...A girl who looks just like you...
Potion Pocket: Ah anwyay!!
Potion Pocket: Absolutely stay in hiding today!!
<Potion Pocket has left the chatroom>
Invite to chatroom
============
A cold chill ran down the back of my neck.
...Ah. So this is how the graduating seniors felt earlier.