Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: The Event (2)
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I had the Princess step forward in my place.
And in doing so, I betrayed everyone’s expectations.
The Emperor, the princes, and everyone else did not bother to hide their disconcerted expressions.
What was that? Were we tricked?
He didn’t seem like the type to deceive anyone.
I ignored all their gazes.
The core purpose of this event was to demonstrate the Hero’s strength.
Was there any reason for me to be the one to do it?
If the Princess showed them something, my own reputation would rise in tandem.
They would probably consider us equals, and in truth, there wasn’t a huge difference between us.
However, since all expectations were focused on me, Esterize’s presence was relatively faint.
Even looking at the current situation, that much was clear.
They saw her not as a Hero, but as Companion A.
One way or another, people always favor their own.
Though we were both Heroes, I was bound to receive more attention.
A girl of unknown origin.
The heir to a great family belonging to the Empire.
Naturally, they had no choice but to support the latter.
It would be the same even if Esterize revealed her true identity.
Things might have been better if her kingdom were still intact, but from the Empire's perspective, she was ultimately a foreigner.
It might seem trivial, but the public tends to care about such things.
It was inevitable, yet the phenomenon was undesirable in many ways.
The Princess deserved to be judged fairly.
Unlike me, the weight she carried on her shoulders was of a different quality entirely.
Her cause was vengeance against the Demon King's army.
Her clear goal was to one day rebuild her kingdom.
Her sense of responsibility was to care for the people who followed her.
In short, she was born with every trait of a protagonist.
It wasn't that I lacked such things, but a comparison was simply out of the question.
And for good reason…
I was just some guy who got randomly transmigrated and became strong thanks to a cheat-like system window.
Of course, my desire for a happy ending wouldn't lose to anyone.
But it was impossible to surpass the fervent wish the Princess held in her heart.
I want her to become strong.
One day, she will grow into someone so magnificent that all will acknowledge her.
Though for now, she was unknowingly a little shabby.
At some point, she was certain to shine more brilliantly than anyone else.
As if to prove my faith, the Princess's aura changed completely.
“—!”
She had merely taken a stance.
That alone was enough to shatter everyone’s preconceptions.
The face of the knight set to spar with the Hero hardened.
As the representative of the Imperial Knight Order, his skill was beyond doubt.
A powerhouse who had reached S-rank.
And it takes a powerhouse to recognize another.
It seemed he had belatedly realized the Princess's true nature.
At first, he had looked disappointed.
He had underestimated her, seeing the lingering traces of youth in her face.
From a common-sense standpoint, he was right.
The knight was a middle-aged man, while the Princess was just about to have her coming-of-age ceremony.
For a member of the Imperial Knight Order, composed entirely of elites…
He had more than enough right to look down on someone so young.
Assuming both had started learning swordsmanship at the age of five…
The Princess would have 15 years of experience, the knight 30. The difference was nearly double.
The gap in years is absolute.
Furthermore, to be admitted into the Imperial Knight Order, he must have possessed some talent of his own.
It was a gap that seemed impossible to close.
But before the power of a protagonist, such things were meaningless.
Esterize’s potential was truly unprecedented.
No one, save for the other Hero candidates on her level, could even hope to compare.
What’s more, it hadn't been that long since the girl had first picked up a sword.
In less than a decade, she had become a powerhouse who surpassed all others.
It was a truly absurd case, but that was precisely what made her the protagonist.
A being you had no choice but to acknowledge.
A girl who made you want to cheer for her.
The Princess’s special nature needed no further explanation.
As per the original story's flow, the strongest Hero in history would be born.
Someone like me, who only became a Hero by the system's machinations, should probably just stay in the background.
I wasn’t just saying that; it was the most ideal development.
Looking back at myself, I was definitely not the protagonist type.
I might have already become half a protagonist, but could my fundamental nature truly change?
This was reality, not a game.
A vague mindset wouldn't be enough to endure.
Baseless confidence was nothing more than arrogance.
That was why the Princess’s existence was essential.
Of course, I couldn't just pass all my responsibilities onto her.
I would support her with all my strength.
The most ideal picture was one of us relying on each other.
I stopped my train of thought and observed my companions' reactions.
Even though the duel was about to begin, they were as calm as ever.
From their attitudes, it seemed they were certain of Esterize's victory.
Well, her grades at the Hero Academy were on par with Aruru's.
She essentially reigned supreme over all the other prodigies gathered from across the continent.
Knowing her strength as they did, it would have been stranger for them to worry.
That being said…
So why was our little cutie fidgeting so much?
“Ugh, my mouth feels so empty… It’s only proper to eat something at a time like this, right?”
“…”
A fox beastkin, groaning because she couldn't have a snack.
Separate from her hunger, it had become a sort of habit.
I, too, felt a strange itch.
I know how you feel, but just hold on a little longer.
This is an ordeal in its own right.
Patience is bitter, but its fruit shall be filling.
All the various dishes provided by the Imperial Palace will be yours!
“Ah, ahh…”
The girl fought valiantly to overcome her instincts.
But if that were possible, she wouldn’t be a beastkin in the first place.
After suffering a heroic defeat in the battle against herself, she fell into a state of depression.
“The end… I wanted to go out in a blaze of glory…”
“…”
Her tail stopped wagging.
Her fox ears drooped listlessly.
Aruru expressed her dejection with her entire body.
The pitiful sight made my own heart feel like it was tearing apart.
What should I do?
Our little cutie is dying in real time!
Just then.
Ceria popped something into Aruru's mouth.
“—!”
It was just a single piece of candy.
But that alone was enough to instantly restore her vitality.
Hmm, how should I put it?
It was as if I had just witnessed the miracle of life.
“I didn’t bring much. So…”
“Mhm, I’ll savor it!”
It was a small snack, not even a mouthful.
But as if to say, ‘it’s better than nothing,’ she wagged her tail happily.
At the adorable sight, Ceria gave a faint smile.
A thought suddenly occurred to me.
Perhaps… I don't deserve to be our little cutie's owner?
Ceria, unlike someone else, had prepared for every contingency.
Her love and care for her companion surpassed my own.
“…”
Shock, upon shock.
I had only doted on Aruru; my consideration for her was lacking.
Providing meals is a given.
I should have been attentive to everything else as well.
No, wait a minute…
I’m a man, and Ceria is a woman.
It was only natural that I lacked a certain delicateness.
I tried to console myself with that thought.
But the fact that I was an inadequate owner remained unchanged.
Feeling sorry, I gently stroked the girl’s head.
As if nothing was wrong, she smiled her usual sweet smile.
Well, I can just do better from now on.
From now on, I’ll have to take care of even the smallest details.
Just as I finished my self-reflection, the duel began.
The Holy Sword in Esterize’s hand began to glow.
Perhaps it was because she had manifested her Sword Aura so swiftly and perfectly.
The imperial knight let out an unconscious exclamation of awe.
“Hah, to have already achieved Sword Aura at your age…”
He seemed genuinely surprised.
But the Princess responded as if it were no big deal.
“This much is basic, isn’t it?”
“—??”
“All the Hero candidates can do this much.”
“—!”
It wasn't something she had just mastered, either.
She had awakened it long ago and had now reached a state of complete mastery.
“So the Hero Academy has been raising monsters…”
As if he had no energy left to be surprised, he shook his head.
Then his eyes widened, and he met the Princess’s aura with his own.
“I pay my respects to your wondrous talent. It won’t be long before you far surpass me.”
Heroes are beings who grow ceaselessly.
They display an extraordinary ability to become stronger by the day.
That was why no one could ever look down on a Hero.
“Even so, for now… I believe I will win.”
“Hmm, and why do you think that?”
“Everything else aside, it’s because of experience.”
“Ah…”
“The presence or absence of real combat experience is absolute… That said, I cannot afford to lose on purpose, so I ask for your understanding in advance.”
The purpose of this duel was to reveal the Hero’s strength.
It would be best if the Hero emerged victorious.
But as an honorable knight who protects the Imperial Family, he intended to fight with all his might.
At this threat that wasn't quite a threat…
Esterize simply smiled a meaningful, silent smile.
Her opponent seemed not to understand its meaning, but I had a pretty good idea.
Real combat experience, he said…
Was there anyone who could surpass her in that department?
Swords clashed against swords.
The collision of immense power created a deafening roar.
In an instant, they exchanged dozens of blows.
Their skills were so evenly matched that the tense stalemate continued.
A duel between a young girl and a well-built, middle-aged man.
The sight inevitably invited comparison.
The Princess was mature for her age.
But her opponent was a large man, standing at 190cm tall.
Of course, for those who wielded Sword Aura, the difference in physique wasn't all that important.
In any case.
Judging by appearances alone, it was a terribly unfair matchup.
Just fighting on equal terms would be worthy of high praise.
And yet, she was gradually gaining the upper hand.
As she did, the knight’s expression grew increasingly grim.
*No, wait a minute…*
*Why is she so strong?*
*She’s blocking all of my attacks? This is impossible…*
His bewilderment was plain to see.
Indeed, the Princess was perfectly parrying all of her opponent's attacks.
At some point, her one-sided assault began.
To reiterate, their skill levels were comparable.
That much was certain, yet the flow of the duel had become so lopsided.
The Princess simply had more experience.
There were many reasons, but that was the most decisive one.
To begin with, someone belonging to the Imperial Knight Order wouldn't lack experience.
In his younger days, he must have traveled far and wide, making a name for himself.
However, the combat experience he had accumulated was from a time long past.
The Imperial Knight Order, as its name suggests, is primarily tasked with protecting the Imperial Family.
Though they might spar amongst themselves and carry out other duties, maintaining a sharp sense of real combat would be extremely difficult.
He felt like he was a little removed from active duty.
But Esterize had been continuously gaining experience ever since ‘that time’.
A girl walking alone and forlorn through the wilderness.
A girl raiding a goblin settlement to rescue captives.
A girl who enters an unknown dungeon, only to fall into a trap and grimace.
A girl who, after a two-day life-or-death struggle, finally subdues an S-rank monster.
A girl who wanted to cry from the utterly grueling life she led, but forced a bright smile for the sake of her single-minded goal of rebuilding her kingdom.
A montage of the Princess's solo exploits played in my mind.
She had truly been through hell and back, and it was still ongoing.
She hadn’t rested for a moment.
She had practically transcended human limits.
With a single hope held in her heart.
She must have strived relentlessly to overcome the bleakness of her reality.
And that wasn't all.
A secret she could not tell anyone else.
Until she revealed her identity to me, the girl had walked a lonely path.
How lonely must she have been?
Her desolation was something I could not even begin to fathom.
Well, fortunately, from here on out, she was destined for success.
The influence of her companions, myself included, would bring her mental stability.
In any case, the Princess's strength was the real deal.
Her swordsmanship was more practical than anyone else’s.
Even an imperial knight could do little more than retreat pathetically.
It was the result of combining her combat experience with an unparalleled battle sense.
An utterly one-sided flow.
I had expected as much, but it was clear that even a considerable powerhouse was no match for the Princess.
“—!”
Shock and astonishment dominated the arena.
The people who witnessed the true nature of the Hero were, without exception, captivated.
The swordsmanship itself was incredibly deadly.
But with the Princess as its wielder, it possessed an unwitting elegance.
The girl finally knocked the weapon from her opponent’s hand.
It was obvious to anyone watching that a significant gap existed between them.
Now, everyone must have realized.
Who the protagonist of this new era truly was.