There are so many things Rose wants to ask her.
It’s clear, though, that neither of them has any intention of saying more.
“Farewell…” Rose turns, then vanishes.
Natsume lays Alexia’s head on her lap and sighs.
“Is this what you’ve chosen, Master Shadow…?”
The stained-glass depiction of the three heroes and the demon’s tragic form seems as though it’s hinting at something.
Chapter 7
Showing Off a Smidgen of My Strength!
It’s difficult to sustain any emotion over a long period of time.
Even if you lose something precious to you, you won’t be as sad about it in ten years. Emotions fade by nature.
Positive ones are no different. It’s impossible to make a single moment of joy or happiness last for a decade, either. Even anger diminishes with time.
And thus, I have a theory I’d like to propose.
Most interpersonal problems will solve themselves given enough time, which means it’s fine to ignore them.
“Do you know what I was thinking as I waited for you outside your dorm?”
“Nope.”
I answer the intruder’s—Claire’s—question honestly in my room.
It seems one day wasn’t enough.
I guess my sister needed longer to cool off.
“I visualized beating you to a pulp. In my mind, I could see myself hitting you over and over and over and over. But my anger still doubled every second you kept me waiting.”
“I see.”
Discovering there’s a type of anger that grows with time has been a valuable learning experience for me. But people eventually die. Even though my sister is furious, she won’t be able to sustain those feelings to the grave. In other words, time is still the ultimate solution.
“But you probably don’t even care.”
“What? No. That’s not true.”
I gaze up at the ceiling of my dorm room as my sister sits atop my chest and strangles me.
Her red eyes and black hair flicker in and out of my vision.
“Wanna test to see how long someone can survive without air?”
“When you strangle someone, they pass out because you’re cutting off the blood flow through their carotid artery. Air doesn’t have anything to do with it.”
“Oh, I see. Well, whatever.”
Her grip tightens.
Actually, this is great. I can just go limp and take a nap.
“You’re thinking of going limp and taking a nap, aren’t you?”
“O-of course not.”
“It’s written all over your face.”
“I’m sure you’re just imagining things.”
“The next time you break a promise to me, I’ll make you pay. Understood?”
“I will do my best to become a man who upholds his promises. Now, would you mind getting off?”
Claire removes her hands from my neck, but she’s still sitting astride me.
“They say you’re supposed to sit on your dogs when you’re teaching them who’s boss.”
“Oh, I see. Don’t worry. I’m well aware of the pecking order here.”
“Nope. I don’t like your attitude.”
With that, Claire drops a piece of paper on my face.
“What is this…?”
I look at it and discover it’s a ticket.
“A reserved seat for the Bushin Festival. You can’t get your hands on them anywhere.”
“Huh.”
“I’m giving it to you so you can go watch the fights and learn something. I think there’s hope for you.”
“I dunno…”
“I see promise in you, and that’s why I’m going to help you practice. If you put in the work, you’re sure to see something come out of it. And I’m ordering you to put in the work.”
“No. I can’t.”
“You can. Are we clear? And you’re coming and watching the festival.”
“Okay, okay.”
“Excellent.” Claire stands up, still looking a little displeased.
“Oh, right. You aren’t participating this year, right?”
“Excuse me?” Claire glares at me with murder in her eyes. “I’m entering as Princess Rose’s replacement as the academy representative. Don’t tell me you didn’t know that your own sister was participating.”
“O-of course I knew. I—I was just double-check—Urk!”
Claire reaches out with her right hand and grabs my neck in a claw grip.
Then, she leans in and glares at me. You know, that thing delinquents do when they’re trying to intimidate someone.
“By the way, you remember my birthday, right?”
“O-of course.”
“I would hope so. And you’ve memorized all my tournament results?”
“O-of course.”
“And the day I won my first tournament?”
“Y-yeah.”
“Good. There are some things you should really make sure not to forget. Things you’ll want to remember…if you want to live a long and happy life.”
I bob my head up and down.
Claire gives my head a good rap, then releases me.
“I’m going to take the trophy this year, so you’d better make sure you’re there.”
“Yeah, absolutely.”
As she leaves my room, she continues glaring at me until she rounds the corner.
“Man, I’m tired.”
The primary rounds finally start tomorrow.
“Guess I should get some visualization exercises in.”
With that, I close my eyes.
It’s the start of a new week, and the Bushin Festival primaries are here.
Apparently, Claire went to the venue ahead of me. I hold the ticket I got from her and search for my seat.
The ticket in question is covered in extravagant gold leaf, so it definitely has that “reserved seat” feel to it. After following the directions on its back, I find myself in front of a room guarded by an ostentatious door. For some odd reason, it’s segregated from the general spectator area.
This can’t possibly be it, I think. After checking with the staff member standing by the door, though, I find that it can.
They lead me inside with utmost politeness, and the moment I enter the room, I immediately want to leave.
These aren’t just reserved seats. These are the hyper-VIP.
Everywhere I look, I see the faces of famous aristocrats and their families. The who’s who of the academy is all here, as are the daughter of the current leader of the dark knights, who was in section one of Royal Bushin with me, and the hot second son of a duke. Everyone here is notable in some way.
When I get to my seat, I find myself sitting next to royalty.
“Oh, and who might you be?”
It’s a woman with fiery red hair and eyes: Alexia’s older sister, Princess Iris Midgar.
“My name is Cid Kagenou. It would appear I’m sitting in the wrong seat. Please excuse me.”
I perform a beautiful spin and try to retreat.
“Oh, Claire’s younger brother. I guess that must mean you’re the one she gave the ticket to.”
“…You know my sister?”
My escape attempt ends in failure. If a member of the royal family starts talking to me, it’s not like I can just ignore her. Alexia being the exception, of course.
“I do. We became close during my sister’s kidnapping. I’m planning on having her join my Crimson Order after she graduates. Do have a seat.”
“Oh, I couldn’t…”
“You have the number correct. Please make yourself comfortable.”
“…Thank you.”
Princess Iris’s sincere smile pains me. If only her smile had been as full of malice as Alexia’s, I could have just flipped her off and bailed.
“Claire has told me so much about you. I’m a little jealous of the bond you two share.”
“I think you might be overstating ou
r relationship.”
“Oh, that reminds me. You were friends with Alexia, weren’t you?”
“Friends is…one way to put it. It’s more like I pick up the gold coins she chucks on the ground.”
“The coins she chucks on the ground?” Iris repeats.
“You know, like when you toss a stick and get your dog to fetch it.”
“Oh, so the two of you played with a dog together? Thank you for taking such good care of her.”
“We didn’t play with a dog. I was the… You know what, never mind. Actually, those gold coins came from the royal coffers, so I should be the one thanking you for taking such good care of me.”
Upon hearing that, Princess Iris beams happily.
“It sounds like you and my sister are like two peas in a pod.”
“Yeah, no, that’s definitely not how I’d put it.”
“You know, Alexia was supposed to be here today, but she suddenly said she didn’t want to come at the last minute…”
“Ha-ha. Is that so?”
“I’m really sorry about that.”
“Oh, no, no, no. Please, don’t worry about it. I mean it.”
I make ample use of the free beverage service as we talk.
The daughter of the dark knights’ leader joins our conversation. “Princess Iris, which contestant do you have your eyes on this year?”
The duke’s hot second son pipes up. “I’m interested in your thoughts, too.”
Apparently, the two of them know Iris through Royal Bushin.
“Well, they all look quite strong, but if I had to pick one”—Iris touches her cheek as she thinks—“it would be Annerose, the former member of Velgalta’s Seven Blades. I recognize many of the other faces from past Bushin Festivals, but this is her first year competing. When I watched her preliminary matches, I could tell she was strong. I’m looking forward to facing her in the second round if we both make it that far…”
She smiles, full of confidence.
“I watched her fights, too, and man, is she strong. If we fought right now, I doubt I could beat her…”
“Yeah, me, too, but I’m sure Princess Iris can take her. The Royal Bushin method has been getting a bad rap ever since the terrorist attack. If Princess Iris wins here, though…”
“Hey, don’t go putting that pressure on her.”
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
As the two of them start arguing, Iris cuts in. “It’s fine. I was planning on winning from the outset, after all. I’m prepared to carry the weight of the Royal Bushin method, as well as this very country, on my back.”
I feel bad for interrupting when things are getting so intense, but I wanna be part of this conversation, too. “Um, is there anyone else who’s piqued your interest…?”
I probably come across as socially awkward right now.
“Wait, who are you again?”
“He looks familiar… Oh, right, you’re that guy who used to be in section one.”
“Ah, now I remember. You were Princess Alexia’s…”
Iris interjects. “He’s Cid Kagenou, Claire’s younger brother.”
The other two nod, seemingly satisfied with that.
“Unlike Claire, you’re the one without any talent, right? Make sure you keep up your training.”
“Your sword work was pretty uninspired, but there’s no point comparing yourself to others. Slow and steady wins the race, after all.”
“Thanks for those words of wisdom. So, Princess Iris, anyone else you found interesting?”
“Hmm…”
“L-like, uh, y’know, that Mundane guy that Annerose is fighting in the first round, for example. This, uh, this is his first time participating, too.”
I bring up Mundane in the smoothest manner imaginable so I can gauge their reactions.
Iris’s is noncommittal. “Mundane… I haven’t seen any of his matches yet, so I really can’t say.”
Great. That means that Princess Iris doesn’t know much about him yet.
“Oh, I saw him fight. He was fast but not much else. And his stance was amateurish, so it feels like most of his wins were just dumb luck. Annerose will beat him.”
“I saw him, too, but… He really doesn’t seem like the primary-round type. He’s got guts but no talent.”
The other two have written him off as a scrub, it seems.
Everything’s going pretty much according to plan. I’ve been able to control Mundane’s public perception just the way I wanted.
All the groundwork has been laid.
Now, the fun starts…
“There is one other person I’m interested in, though she’s not a contestant.”
I said my bit, so I’m already satisfied, but Iris pipes up again.
“Apparently, the winner of the first Bushin Festival, the elf swordmaster hailed as the War Goddess, is here in the capital.”
“An elf swordmaster… You don’t mean…?!”
“She hasn’t made a public appearance in over a decade!”
Uh…
“I would be surprised to find a single person fighting on that main stage today who doesn’t have what Beatrix the War Goddess is doing on their radar.”
Who?
Whoever this chick is, she certainly wasn’t on my radar.
It’s almost time for my fight, so I say I have to go to the bathroom and hurry on over to the players’ waiting room. Looks like Claire won her first round, and she has a chance of making it pretty far.
As I walk down the corridor, I pass alongside someone wearing a gray robe coming the other way.
Suddenly, I stop.
A moment later, they stop, too.
We turn around in unison.
Vibrant blue eyes peek out from beneath the robe and stare straight at me.
“You smell like elf.”
The voice is feminine and husky.
Her faded gray robe is worn and frayed.
I stay, waiting for her to continue.
“Do you have any elf friends?”
Her blue eyes peer into mine as though searching for something.
“A couple, yeah.” I don’t see any reason to lie, so I tell her the truth.
“There’s an elf I’m looking for.”
“Okay.”
“She’s cute.”
“Cool.”
“Do you have any idea where she is?”
“That’s not a lot to go off of.”
“She should look just like me.”
“Uh-huh.”
“She’s my late sister’s daughter.”
“Huh.”
“Do you know of any elves who look like me?”
“Um…”
“Do you know of any?”
“Your robe is covering your face…”
“Ah, right.”
She removes her robe, laying her face bare.
I offer no reaction.
It’s an intentional act on my part.
After all, she looks a lot like Alpha.
“Not ringing any bells. Sorry.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
I’ll have to ask Alpha about this next time I see her. They aren’t 100 percent identical, but they look similar enough that I wouldn’t be surprised if they were related.
“I see.” She shrugs dejectedly. Then, in one fluid motion, she draws her sword.
There’s no bloodlust or wasted motions behind her swing, only certain death.
As I watch her out of the corner of my vision, I accept what’s happening.
I get it. She’s gonna stop right before she hits me.
And sure enough, her blade stops right as it touches my neck.
All it does is touch it, though. She doesn’t cut so much as a single layer of my skin.
Her timing is exquisite.
“Whoa?!” Pretending to go weak in the knees, I collapse to the ground.
I think that was believable.
“Hmm?”
; She tilts her head to the side and draws back her sword.
“I was mistaken. Sorry.” She gives me a neat bow. “I’d thought you were stronger. What’s your name?”
She offers me her hand as she speaks.
“C-Cid Kagenou…,” I reply, making my voice tremble as I take her hand and rise to my feet.
“I’m Beatrix.”
Beatrix doesn’t let go of my hand.
“Um…?”
“This is a good hand. I’m sure you’ll grow stronger.”
With that, she flashes me a pretty smile. It resembles Alpha’s.
“I’m sorry for startling you.”
After apologizing one last time, she turns her back on me and leaves.
I watch her recede, then mutter “…I bet she’s pretty strong” to myself before turning around to leave.
Iris sits in her reserved seat and waits for the match to start.
She can see the entire stadium from the reserved seating area, and it has a private staircase that leads directly to the arena.
The two dark knights are already being called to the ring.
One is the woman with pale-blue hair whom Iris has set her sights on, Annerose.
The other is a black-haired man named Mundane Mann. It’s the first time she’s laid eyes on him.
Iris’s gaze sharpens when she sees the two of them.
A man sits down next to her. “It looks like it’s about to start.”
He’s sitting in Cid’s seat.
“I’m sorry, but that seat is…”
“Hmm?”
Iris looks up at his face and goes silent. She whispers a silent apology to Cid.
“Perv…”
“I trust you’re keeping well, Princess Iris?” Perv grins gracefully, but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “It’s like a dream, watching a match with you.”
“What a flirt. Don’t you have a fiancée?”
“She seems to have flown the coop, unfortunately. Don’t worry, though. Just a little lovers’ spat.” Perv lets out a light laugh.
His looks are handsome for a man around thirty, but something about his smile rubs Iris the wrong way.
“Is King Oriana in good health?”
Perv answers Iris’s question without missing a beat. “I’m afraid he wasn’t able to make it today. He told me he’s confident he’ll be able to come tomorrow, though.”
“King Midgar plans to start showing up tomorrow, as well.”
The Eminence in Shadow, Vol. 2 (Light Novel) Page 16