EP.93 Blessing Ceremony
Currently, the system was boasting unprecedented vigor.
The crowd, without regard to race, gender, age, or status, filled the streets to such an extent that counting them was a daunting task.
As one person’s cheer faded, another’s immediately took its place, and the continuous fanfare of the military band was giving a semblance of order to the seemingly chaotic scene.
Even a foreigner stepping into this vicinity for the first time would easily deduce what this fervor was celebrating.
And for good reason.
“Saintess! Hooray! Hero! Hooray!”
The joyous shouts echoing in unison relentlessly called out to the beloved figures they admired.
“Cough, cough!”
As the heat reached its peak, a few soldiers who had naturally blended into the crowd cleared their throats and raised their voices.
“Look over there! A bird!”
“No! It looks like a wyvern!”
“Whoa! What could that possibly be?”
The embarrassing dialogue clearly staged was a sort of opening line announcing the arrival of the festival’s protagonists.
It sounded like something a boy just hitting puberty would say, and indeed, the faces of the older soldiers reciting those lines were flushed with intense embarrassment.
‘The appearance of heroes must be like this!’
They had no choice but to follow the strong-willed directives of the performance’s organizers.
“Ah, no! That’s—”
With one soldier’s booming order, all eyes suddenly turned skyward.
It was right after that.
A massive shadow darkened the vast sky and plunged into the central square of the city.
Boom!
Not just cannon fire, but the impact and thunder worthy of a meteor.
The ensuing silence weighed heavily on the air, revealing the idle state of the complacent populace deeply immersed in peace.
Grrr.
In the thick dust, the first thing to emerge was the enormous head of a dragon.
“Kyaa, kyaaa!”
“Wh-what is that?! It’s a dragon!”
“What are you all doing! Hurry and evacuate the kids! The kids first!”
The street was on the brink of chaos as an unexpected disaster loomed, now noisy for a different reason.
However, in the eyes of the guards who knew the truth behind the turmoil, there was not a trace of worry or concern.
Whoosh!
It was at that moment.
Someone riding atop the dragon gracefully landed in the town square.
“Hero has arrived—!!!”
The thundering roar was so loud it made even the earlier noise seem adorable.
With arms spread wide in a Y-shape, facing the sun gallantly, the figure appeared almost as if worshipping something.
“H-Hero…?”
A soft voice hesitantly mentioned the identity of that formidable figure, and just then, in response to the public’s curiosity, she beamed a proud smile.
“Whoa-aaaaaaa!!!”
The crowd’s heat soared to unimaginable heights, echoing across the entire system with an intense fervor.
Some shouted exuberantly, others prayed reverently while shedding tears of joy, and quite a few were so overwhelmed with emotion they fainted.
Such responses were completely natural.
To the people of the system, the hero was an idol, a mighty figure, and a hero.
Even such a juvenile entrance could not diminish their enthusiasm.
How long had it been?
As the soldiers charged with maintaining order finally managed to rein in the people’s fervor somewhat, other protagonists atop the dragon began to reveal themselves one after the other.
“W-Who are those!?”
The cheers, which had already seemed to reach their limit, once again swelled in volume.
Archery Mastery. Apis.
Mage Power. Dawna.
Iron Wall. Bigtim.
Among the best masters in the system, the name “Demon King Tado” was a holy title reserved solely for the small group deemed worthy of bearing such a grand feat.
Hero Party.
The full embodiment of this group was now unveiled before the public, a moment that certainly would be preserved in the history of the system as a brilliant mark of humanity.
One question remained, however—their expressions, all but the hero’s, were notably dark for figures standing on the brink of a century’s festival.
Yet, few could pinpoint that subtle discomfort amidst the intense fervor.
“Hey, Dawna. How long are you going to space out like that? The ceremony has started, you know? Get your act together!”
Suddenly, Apis poked Dawna, who was staring vacantly into the void with her mouth agape, with a tiny voice that the crowd couldn’t hear.
“I was… I was the first to like him… We’ve had meals together 14 times… and held hands 38 times… He even said I was pretty 5 times…”
Dawna was repeating the same words emptily like a broken doll.
Her self-awareness had long since sunk to the depths where light could not reach.
“…This is bad.”
With a sudden sigh of despair, Apis murmured her disappointment.
Bigtim, who had heard the backstory of why Dawna was in such a state, quietly covered his face in agreement with her sentiment.
Thus, the only one who could maintain a bright smile without worries at this moment was the hero, completely unaware of the series of events that led to this.
Nevertheless, the parade continued.
Using a colossal dragon as a carriage, they traversed the streets of the system, followed by the joyous steps of the citizens filled with admiration and expectation.
“Kyaa! Hero! Please just look this way once!”
“Wow, you look much younger than I heard! You look younger than my daughter!”
“Hoo, hurg! Now… now I can die without regrets!”
The hero, considering it her role to respond to this fervor and ensure the parade concluded without injuries, was on high alert, sharper than ever.
“Thank you! Everyone! Your passionate support as a hero! I will surely repay it! Ah! Wait a moment! To the gentleman standing next to the shoes shop wearing a hat! There’s a banana peel by your feet, please watch out for that! And! To the housewife cheering from the balcony! If the kids are holding onto the railing, please tell them not to!”
It was as if one was witnessing an elementary student newly assigned to be class president, but perhaps due to the sheer might emanating from the dragon she subdued at times, even her fidgety demeanor appeared majestic to the citizens.
The seemingly endless parade continued until the sun began to tilt off into the sky and finally reached the sanctuary where the saintess rested, ending at the meeting room.
“…”
A sudden sacred silence enveloped the crowd.
Where had the earlier ruckus disappeared to? The spectators silently gazed at the hero descending from the dragon, their expressions almost reverent.
Swish.
With raised sword adorned not with her usual mourning but with splendid decorations, the hero resolutely lifted her blade high.
Eventually, she drove that pristine blade into the ground.
“Hmph!”
Crack!
Just as the former heroes had done, she swore to drive the Holy Sword into the presence of the saintess, affirming she would fulfill her mission safely.
Even though the Holy Sword was merely a decorative item now, and the saintess was absent for unforeseen circumstances, it was no issue.
As long as the appearance of the past heroes and saintess was acknowledged by the public, it would suffice.
“I swear to bring peace to this world, giving my all to you.”
The hero’s solemn vow, believed to be directed at the saintess, might very well have been aimed at someone entirely unexpected, and no one there could have dared to guess that.
Cheering and fanfare honoring the hero’s oath resonated once more as the most significant event in the system began with resounding success.
Crackle, crackle.
Yet.
Beneath the bright sun, where blessings and joy thrived, shadowy figures in the dark observed them with eyes full of hate and contempt.
Red eyes.
Snow-white hair.
A strange combination of colors that would easily stand out even in profound darkness.
Draped in impurities that couldn’t blend in or interfere with the dark, they began to wear eerie smiles reminiscent of the Cheshire Cat from fairytales.
“Snicker.”
Like a noose tightening around their necks, their stretching silver hair, skin reminiscent of birch bark, and subtly exuding hidden divine power enveloped them.
They murmured in unison, their intentions coming together as one.
“The saintess. The hero. Die. All die.”
It was an unmistakable curse.
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