The Departure of the One Who Could Not Succeed the Heroic
Translated by Omkar
Edited by Omkar
“You’ll have to explain yourself in a formal environment. Besides, there are other charges against you.”
About four months ago, an Elven man was slashed to death near the royal capital.
The crime was committed on a dark, moonless night. Although there were witnesses, the culprit had not been identified.
The only information that seemed to provide a clue was that he was handling three or four thin, warped swords.
“So, as it stands, the measures taken against you are those of a crucial witness.”
“That’s not me, right? It is somebody from the Onido School, isn’t it? False accusation. It’s a false accusation.”
“Your swordsmanship is a self-developed version of the ‘Onido Ryu Nito Kenjutsu’. There is no one else who can perform such a feat.”
“Ugh….”
“Why did you kill the Elven Men?”
“I told you, it wasn’t me. But I can understand why he did it. I guess he couldn’t stand the fact that I was sniffing around his prey.”
“Prey…..?”
“You’re rather a popular person ? You probably know that.”
“Did this Elfling wanted to see me?”
“No, of course not. I recently met an elf girl whose main interest was to find lost children, but I think she might have something to do with you. Oh, yes, yes. You see, I was recently working as a bounty hunter with this elf girl. Do you think she’ll get along with the murderer of her own kind?”
“If I don’t tell you, you won’t understand, will you?”
“That’s the kind of opinion that might come out of this…..”
Musashi became quiet.
But after a few moments of silence, as if he couldn’t resist, he opened his mouth.
“Oh, by the way, that boy. Mel Lylute, right?”
She was startled. Just hearing the name made my heart race.
“It’s amazing. I never thought he would pull out the Sword of the Hero.”
“Yes, that’s true. But I think he was fully qualified to do so.”
” You aren’t frustrated? You were praised as the “heir to the will of the hero,” and you were supposed to be the one to pull it off.”
“Is it frustrating? Such feelings are …… Oh, yes, there is. But it’s not what you think.”
“What’s the difference?”
“I think that to inherit the will of a hero is a very hard life. I entrusted it to him. I do regret that I should have taken it out earlier. No, I may have just been self-deluded. I guess I wasn’t qualified to begin with.”
Musashi responded with a curt “Hmm,” and then continued with his question.
“So? What are you going to do now?”
“…..The Order of the Knights of will be expelled. When I was a child, I once triggered the “madness”. I was allowed to join the Knights on the condition that I had acquired the Heavenly Eye and that I would never trigger the madness again. I’m naturally prepared for any additional punishment after my expulsion.”
I can’t be a “hero” anymore.
There was a high possibility that I would be imprisoned again, and my days of being deprived of my freedom would begin.
It was heartbreaking and painful.
So–
“I think I’ll make a plea.”
“You’re rejoining?”
“No,” Marianne said, shaking her head even though she could not see Musashi.
“I will follow him. I’m going to ask for a mission to bring back the hero.”
“Why?”
“The Sword of the Hero is a treasure of our country. If it is taken out of the country, it is a major problem. The heroes are also a valuable asset.”
“You’re so serious. You’re not my type.”
“Excuse me….”
Did I say anything to offend him in our conversation? Marianne shuddered.
I don’t like it. I hate it. That’s why I pick on him more. Those hard-headed people will never accept you for the reasons they hear from someone else.”
“What other reason do you need?”
“Oh, no. That’s fine for external reasons. It’s not that. It’s more like an urge that comes from within you. You need to be aware of the reason why you want to do it. If you don’t have passion, your words won’t reach them.”
“From within yourself….?”
“Why do you want to go after him? Why are you so obsessed with “The Hero” and “The Hero’s Sword”?
“I’m….”
I want to follow him.
I want so badly to go after – Mel Lylute.
It’s because…
“I’ve fallen in love with him. That’s why I want to see him again and talk to him.”
I close my eyes tightly and scream. I was so embarrassed that my body became hot, thinking that it might be heard as far as the ground floor.
“P-wha-ha-ha! And ouch, ouch, ouch, my wound hurts….”
“What are you laughing at?”
“No, it was too predictable. You fell in love with him after just one or two kisses? That’s so cute.”
“‘Yes, I wouldn’t say it hasn’t affected me at all, but that’s not the only reason. I think he is a man worthy of respect.”
“Respect, huh? Do you really think so?”
“What are you trying to say?”
I was annoyed by the insistent tone, so I asked the question back with a stronger tone.
Musashi was happy about it, and answered cheerfully to this one.
“You’re really funny, you know that? Well, don’t be so angry. His strength is uncommon. However, his strength is not stable. Even though he pulled out the Sword of the Hero and had the power to overwhelm you, the ”madman”, he was easily caught up in the chase with you, and was fighting on the edge with me. Why didn’t he give it his all from the start?”
“It’s…”
“I can’ t let it come out–that’s what I think.”
Yes, it was strange, if you ask me.
But Marianne countered that it might be a restriction of some skill – not a unique skill, but a limited skill.
This is because all of the unique skills are widely known, but the limited skills are still unknown or newly developed.
“There’s something strange about those limited skills, too. He demonstrated the use of at least three of his limited skills. All three are quite rare. All three are quite rare, at least in this country. Can we just chalk this up to coincidence?”
“You think I can use the limited skills that others have?”
“That’s not the only explanation. Plus, he could use it as much as he wanted, ignoring frequency limits and interval times.”
“If so, isn’t that still another limited skill?”
“It’s not that. Rather, it’s more like you can take….. your opponent’s abilities and make them your own? While resetting again and again.”
“That can’t explain why he can pull out the “Hero’s Sword”. There was no one in that place who had the power to rival the heroes.”
“Well, I guess you’re right. But I think he may have acquired a completely unknown unique skill.”
It all started when Mel underwent the ”Blessing Ceremony”.
It happened just a few days ago.
He may have used that unknown skill to identify the priest as a great bandit and defeat him, Musashi continued.
Have you ever heard of the “Divine Eye”?
“The ‘Divine Eye’…? No, I haven’t.”
“It came out of the mouth of the guy who was stalking you. I think that guy was using it in the sense of “Heavenly Eyes,” but I’m curious about it. Maybe Mel Ryluto has been given a unique skill that surpasses the ‘Heavenly Eye’?”
Musashi’s reasoning was out of line with the world.
Yet it was still convincing.
Marianne’s grim face suddenly relaxed.
“If that’s the case, it’s only right to keep it secret. It would be wrong to accuse him of being unworthy of respect.”
Moreover, Marianne said matter-of-factly.
“You were involved in the murder of the Elves four months ago, weren’t you? You were the one who was after me, weren’t you?”
“Eh? Huh, no, no, no. It was someone else. Not even an elf.”
“You’ll have to explain yourself during the interrogation, not to me. I will report the information to the interrogator.”
“Wait, wait, wait. I think I’ve given you quite a bit of useful information. I don’t mean to be indebted to you, but don’t you think you should give me a little consideration?”
“I made no such promises. If you had suggested it beforehand, I wouldn’t have asked.”
Marianne snapped back.
“I knew it, you’re the type I don’t like…”
After that, Musashi decided to keep quiet.
Three days later…
“I’ll be on my way.”
Marianne was on horseback, on the outskirts of the royal city. She had thrown off her red armor and was dressed in her traveling clothes. Behind her back, however, was an imposing greatsword.
Gazuso watched her go.
“Take care” he said with a salute.
“Please don’t, Father. I am no longer the vice-commander or even a knight. I’ve been assigned to search for the hero, but it’s a secret mission that cannot be told to anyone. I am a criminal who was expelled from the royal capital. Please forgive me if I continue to be an incompetent daughter.”
Gazuso Verdemion huffed and shrugged his shoulders.
“You look radiant for someone you despise as a criminal.”
“It’s only natural since my wish has come true.”
When Marianne was summoned to the Royal Capital and expelled from the Order, she asked to be appointed to search for the “heroes”.
Everyone laughed it off, saying it would never be accepted.
However, Marianne insisted on the importance of the hero and the hero’s sword, and even though she had been forgiven for her crime of running amok in the city, she advised that she herself would become a criminal and take on the task.
The strategy of exploiting the psychology of the high officials of the royal court who wanted to expel the troublemakers was also successful.
Of course, the most important factor was her enthusiasm.
“It’s a difficult mission, but you’ll do it. In the end, I did nothing for you. I imprisoned you and deprived you of your liberty as ordered by my superiors, and since you joined the Order, I have only been watching over you as a subordinate.”
“No, if you hadn’t been by my side, I would have been struck by ‘madness’ earlier and would have been locked up in my home again by now. Thank you very much.”
“Are you going to be okay on your own?”
Marianne felt it was rude, but she quickly offered her hand from her horse.
Gazuso was surprised and hesitant, but he shook her hand gently.
Marianne had a soft smile on her face.
“I have my fears…. But I have to overcome them. I’ll try my best to interact with as many people as possible, so that one day, I can control my nightmares freely.”
‘Madness’ is only a unique skill. If I can increase my rank, I can control it.
So I decided to face it.
She said that because she had turned a blind eye to it, her status had increased but her rank had not.
“Mm, good luck. Be careful.”
“Yes”
Marianne drove her horse, heading east.
I’ve changed the skills name from translated one’s to as in raws, as it sounds way more better than the translated. (E.g. “Mountain Deer’s Pace” to “Yamaga no Suruga”)Gazuso is Marianne’s father… What a surprise.