Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Holy Sword's Choice (2)
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The ritual to select the Hero.
The eleven candidates were scheduled to be tested in turn.
The order in which they would grasp the Holy Sword was determined by their recent tournament rankings.
“……”
The solemnity gave way to a palpable tension.
The only one as relaxed as ever was Luciel.
She seemed to believe that whatever the outcome, it was the Goddess's will, so there was nothing to worry about.
Soon, our little cutie stepped forward first.
I thought it was a long shot, but sure enough, there was no reaction.
The Holy Sword had rejected the world’s cutest fox beastkin.
“Ugh, I knew this would happen…”
She returned to her spot, looking embarrassed.
She didn't seem particularly disappointed, though.
It was clear she hadn't held much ambition for it in the first place.
The girl shot me a mock-sullen look.
*I got rejected in an instant. I need comfort!*
As if to say that, she offered her head, and I gave it a gentle pat.
Next up was the princess.
But she made a move no one could have predicted.
“I… will make my attempt last.”
“—??”
*Why? For what reason?* Everyone showed their confusion.
She merely glanced at me, not retracting her words.
Was she yielding to the others?
Or perhaps it was her way of giving me a chance.
To think she had awaited this moment for so long…
I wasn't sure what she was thinking, but for now, I would just have to watch.
After that, the process of confirming the Hero candidates continued.
Several others made their attempt, but the Holy Sword remained completely unresponsive.
Most of them didn't even show a hint of disappointment.
It made sense, as the same situation had repeated itself for the past ten years.
It seemed they all figured this year would pass just like the others.
Before long, it was Cedric’s turn.
One look at his ice-cold face was enough to know his state of mind.
He reached out his hand cautiously, as if he were betting everything on this moment.
And…
The Holy Sword remained aloof.
“—!!”
He trembled with rage, as if unable to accept it.
As if that wasn't enough, he suddenly glared at me.
*You again? How long are you going to keep getting in my way!*
That was undoubtedly the accusation in his eyes.
Hey, how is that my fault?
There's a limit to how much you can blame someone, and he had just crossed it by a mile.
Sure, I had secretly hoped he would fail, but wasn't it the same for him?
“……”
I had a bad feeling.
A premonition that he was about to cause some serious trouble.
A faint aura of darkness emanated from him.
I couldn't tell if it was just my imagination, but he already looked half-corrupted.
Could a spy from the Demon King's Army be involved?
This might even be an opportunity to catch them.
For now, it was time to wait and see.
I ignored Cedric and watched the ceremony proceed.
A series of non-reactions.
Luciel, looking unbothered, even wore a smile.
Ilensia, on the other hand, seemed relieved, as if it were for the best.
Yeah, that made sense.
She had given up the sword and taken up the bow at my suggestion.
How awkward would it be if she were suddenly chosen by the Holy Sword?
“Come on, get going!”
“……”
Soon, it was my turn.
Aruru urged me on with an excited voice.
I walked slowly and stood before the altar.
The Holy Sword, Duplexion.
An EX-grade item, hailed as the greatest of all weapons.
It displayed its ultimate power when annihilating evil and slaying demons.
An indescribable sense of mystique emanated from it.
At a glance, it looked more like a work of art than a weapon.
*Thump, thump.*
I now stood at a crossroads of fate.
The difference between becoming the Hero and not was immense.
Even the status of an heir to a great family was insignificant before the Hero.
The one being who could stand against the Demon King.
The hopes of countless people, given form.
Well, whatever the result, my ultimate goal wouldn't change.
To deal with the Demon King's Army and defeat the Demon King himself.
For the sake of a happy ending, that fundamental premise would remain unshaken.
With a trembling heart, I grasped the Holy Sword. And…
“—!!”
“—!!”
As if it had been waiting, it erupted in a brilliant light.
Its radiance was undeniably distinct.
[Achievement Unlocked: Master of the Holy Sword]
[Reward: +1,000,000 Achievement Points]
[Entering Main Quest]
[Fame System Unlocked (New!!)]
A series of messages appeared.
They were definitive proof that I had become the Hero.
I instinctively looked around.
Everyone, without exception, was staring wide-eyed.
They seemed to have moved past surprise into sheer astonishment at the birth of a Hero.
“Wow! Jace did it again!”
Aruru cheered, her face a picture of pure joy.
She seemed so ecstatic she had forgotten to even wag her tail, fidgeting uncontrollably.
“My eyes did not deceive me. It has come to pass as the Goddess prophesied. Now, from this day forward…”
Luciel sent me a profound gaze.
I had a feeling the Saintess's unpredictable behavior was about to continue.
“Then again, I suppose there’s no need to be so surprised.”
“I expected this to some extent…”
*It's not that surprising.*
*He was the standout among the Hero candidates, so it's only natural.*
A consensus seemed to be forming among the others.
Amidst it all, Cedric clenched his teeth so hard it looked like his gums would bleed.
He seemed to have lost half his reason, consumed by rage.
He looked as if he was about to scream that he couldn't accept it.
While he was a concern, it wasn't over yet.
Esterize.
The girl who dreamed of becoming the Hero still had her turn.
I walked toward her.
The princess’s expression was joyful, yet somehow vacant.
“Congratulations, really. I knew you were this generation's Hero.”
She smiled brightly, as if that was all that mattered.
It seemed she would be content just being the Hero's companion… but not a chance!
“It’s your turn.”
“Huh?”
“The ritual isn’t over yet.”
“W-Wait… isn't everything already decided?”
“Go on.”
“……”
Though she looked confused, I insisted.
I had a strong conviction that she, too, was worthy.
Everything had gone too smoothly so far.
There was only one possibility left.
If my guess was correct, it wouldn't be strange for something unexpected to happen.
“Alright. I’ll give it a try…”
She took the Holy Sword with a reluctant air.
But the result surpassed everyone’s imagination.
“—??”
Once again, a sacred light poured forth.
*What? Why? What in the world is going on?*
The princess couldn't hide her bewilderment.
Wow, it actually worked?
I was half in doubt, but this was the most ideal outcome.
A buy-one-get-one-free event…
No, it meant that this generation's Hero had been decided as two people.
We could both exercise the authority of the Hero.
At the same time, the duties would be shared, lessening the burden.
“Two Heroes?”
“My, this is an unprecedented situation…”
Everyone gathered here was struggling to process it.
*What happens now? Can someone please explain?*
As if by agreement, all eyes turned to Luciel.
She, too, seemed quite perplexed, but being the Saintess, she interpreted it favorably.
“This, too… must be the Goddess's will.”
“……”
“Well, two is better than one, isn't it?”
The fact that there was only one Holy Sword wasn't an issue.
When A had exhausted their strength, B could simply take over.
I just hoped the princess would be A, and I would be B…
In any case, it was a good thing, with no downside.
To put it bluntly, even if something terrible happened to one of us.
The other could still fulfill the Hero's duties.
“My calculations were a bit off… but I suppose it doesn't matter. I’ve already made up my mind.”
Luciel stared at me intently.
*My Hero is you and you alone. Now, take responsibility!*
She looked ready to charge at me with that sentiment.
As if to prove it, her favorability shot up, nearing 80 points.
I imagined it would have soared even higher if I had been the sole Hero.
“I-I still don't get it… Is this right?”
The princess was still in a state of confusion.
It was so unexpected that she seemed to be hoping it was all a dream.
She was playing coy, despite being happy deep down.
Her dilemma was probably this:
She wanted to be the Hero, but at the same time, she had hoped I would become one.
In the end, both wishes had come true.
She was just too stunned to realize it yet…
“This is utterly preposterous… I do not accept this!”
“……”
Cedric suddenly erupted.
A few of us, myself included, reacted with an ‘of course,’ look.
But the majority tilted their heads, as if wondering what was wrong with him.
After all, this was a situation where one should offer congratulations on the surface, even if they felt jealous inside.
“Esterize, I can accept, but Jace… you are not worthy!”
“And why do you think that?”
“A guy who barely became a Hero candidate just recently is now the Hero? Something is clearly wrong!”
“……”
His eyes blazed with fire.
He then went so far as to challenge me to a duel.
He declared that if I defeated him, he would accept the outcome without complaint.
It was an absurdity of the highest order.
As everyone looked on in disgust, Luciel snapped and shouted.
“This is all part of the Goddess's plan. Do you mean to deny it? You are truly beyond saving. Cease this disgraceful behavior at once. If you do not…”
*How dare you challenge my Hero?*
*Do you think I'll just stand by and watch?*
With that sentiment, she pulled a blunt weapon from under her skirt.
She looked ready to face Cedric in my stead if need be.
Ah, this is getting complicated…
Her stance was absolutely firm.
It seemed a bit excessive, but at the same time, I felt a sense of reassurance.
If she was already like this, I imagined she would move heaven and earth for me in the future.
In any case, this was a problem I had to solve myself.
I had anticipated something like this, so I actually felt a sense of relief.
It was a chance to deal with a nuisance I'd been ignoring.
He had been a source of stress, one way or another, so I needed to teach him a lesson now.
“If that is what you truly think… I accept.”
“—!!”
Perhaps sensing the weight behind my words.
Cedric flinched for a moment before his hostility flared up again.
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
Accordingly, the reactions of the people around us changed.
*A duel on such an auspicious day is a bit much, but…*
*It wouldn't be bad to see the skills of Jace, the new Hero, for ourselves.*
Thus, they held their breath, maintaining their silence.
Even Luciel put away her weapon, as if to respect my decision.
An unavoidable battle.
It was only right that I give it my all.
I held out my hand to the princess, and she dazedly returned the Holy Sword.
“……”
Seeing me holding the Holy Sword, Cedric’s gaze turned cold.
*You're going to use the Holy Sword already? Isn't that a bit much?*
He looked incredibly displeased, as if to call me a cheater or a coward, but that was his problem.
*Hmm? What's the issue?*
*It's only natural for the Hero to use the Holy Sword, isn't it?*
In truth, I was more than confident of winning with just my own weapon.
But if we were going to duel, a picture of overwhelming dominance would be better.
[Holy Sword Duplexion]
[A great holy relic that annihilates evil and slays demons]
[The higher the user's fame, the more exclusive skills of the Holy Sword are unlocked]
[Its true power is unleashed against stronger opponents. Max 200%]
[Its performance is proportional to the user's will. Max 200%]
[Reduces the stats of all demons except the Demon King. Max 50%]
[Stats increase slightly each time a being of evil alignment is defeated]
The options on the Holy Sword were nothing short of spectacular.
As an EX-grade weapon, and the best among them, it was nearly invincible.
*Hmm, I'll be able to reap some sweet rewards from now on, right?*
Unfortunately, reality wasn't that easy.
The executives of the Demon King's Army were all terrifyingly strong.
I would likely only gain the upper hand by using the Holy Sword.
Anyway…
For now, I had to deal with Cedric.
A rare opportunity.
I might as well take this chance to savor the power of the Holy Sword Duplexion.