Chapter 692 - Ceremony
—It was, in a way, a classic piece of stagecraft.
The lights slowly began to dim. As the dome, which boasted perfect light-blocking capabilities, filled with twilight despite the daytime sun, the waiting crowd began to stir with anticipation.
The murmuring gave way to silence.
It was likely the result of the majority being swayed by the ingrained common sense that applies to any 'stage,' be it for a movie or a play: The show is starting, please be quiet.
And so, everyone gathered there knew. They knew that there should have been a little more time before the officially announced start.
And so, the vast majority knew. They knew that among the pre-released 'cast,' the name of the 'Princess' was present again this year.
And so—more than half of them had noticed and deduced. From the fact that she hadn't appeared at the opening ceremony, and that no announcement had mentioned her since, they knew some kind of special event involving her... a surprise, was in the works.
Therefore,
ROOOOOOOOAR!!!
At the end of the single beam of light that shot out.
The moment a glittering figure of silver and blue appeared in the center of the stadium, the crowd, who had been waiting with bated breath, erupted as one. A colossal cheer thundered through the stadium, so loud it felt as if the building might explode from within.
And yet, the 'Princess' who had descended upon the real world... unlike a certain someone's flustered reaction, didn't flinch or grimace in the slightest.
“—...”
She simply, silently, raised a single index finger to her lips.
It was almost absurd how completely they were in the palm of her hand. The wave of people obeyed in an instant, creating another silence as all sound vanished from the dome.
“...Mm, thank you.”
Her voice was level, her words of thanks mundane.
And with that alone, Alicia White, who had already achieved 'world domination,' easily captured the hearts of everyone in the venue—
“Once again, welcome. To our stage.”
With a faintly awkward smile, she dragged them even deeper into their adoration.
And so it went, once, twice. Intermittent cheers spread as individuals failed to contain their excitement, echoing through the dome... before the stage, sensing her unspoken words, obediently fell silent once more.
“...A little while ago, I made a new 'friend.'”
Her story began abruptly.
“She was an acquaintance at first. But when I invited her to hang out, we got along surprisingly well...”
With a perfectly acted, natural expression that betrayed no hint of nervousness.
“...Though I have a feeling it was more like I was the one being dragged around.”
Her voice was a sweet, bell-like tone.
Within it, they could hear something rarely heard—or more accurately, something they had never seen in their blind adoration until a certain point: the girl's own innocence.
“Anyway. I got a message from that selfish friend of mine, saying she was finally coming back to the main stage.”
To all those watching and listening, captivated, the Princess offered a truly genuine smile.
“And now...—let me formally introduce her.”
She pointed straight ahead, guiding another spotlight with her outstretched hand.
Then, a figure in 'gray' descended, and confusion came first. A few seconds later, a mixture of excitement and chaos washed away the question marks that must have been flooding everyone's minds.
“...I'm ho—”
But the crowd, reacting with near-frenzy to the true surprise, didn't wait for 'her' to finish her gentle announcement of her return. Their passion obliterated all silence.
“...You okay?”
Was it the long break? Seeing her 'enemy'—who had never shown a hint of nervousness during past 'Four Pillar Wars'—visibly jump in surprise.
She let a sliver of her many emotions show on her face—namely, a teasing jab at her friend—and called out to her.
In response, the performer who rivaled the 'Princess,' the [Sword Queen] who had thrown the venue into true chaos—the petite Yamato Nadeshiko who bore the name [Sword Saint]—
“...My ears are... tingling.”
As expected, she didn't seem particularly nervous.
Her initial reaction must have just been a reflex to the cheers and fervor she hadn't experienced in a while; her voice and manner of speaking were completely unchanged. With a slightly embarrassed look at her own reaction, she rubbed her earlobes with her free hands as if to soothe the tingling.
Then, as if in consideration for her, as if handling something fragile, as if carefully watching over an unexpected miracle to ensure it wouldn't vanish, the crowd quieted.
“You're quite popular.”
“Fufu, not as popular as you, Iris-san.”
As the volume of the cheers was politely turned down, clearly for her sake, the [Sword Saint] let out a graceful smile at the continued teasing.
“Well then...—to all of our esteemed guests.”
Unlike her 'friend' who was skilled at performing, she addressed the tens of thousands in the audience with her natural composure and leisurely pace.
“I am Ui, the [Sword Saint]. I have now concluded the 'selfishness' I was introduced with and have returned to this stage... However, as you all know,”
As she drew the many listeners into her own world with her slow, unhurried speech, where every word could almost be heard as hiragana.
“I am not a silver-tongued 'entertainer'—therefore, rather than with words, I would like to offer my return greeting with a display.”
And so, for one, two, three seconds.
In the atmosphere she was deliberately changing with each passing moment, she slowly closed her eyes, then slowly opened them to look at her friend.
Late, late, so very late.
Looking at the results, she'd missed everything, arriving far too late for any of it.
As her friend had said—no, even more than her friend had said. With the awareness that she was more 'selfish' than anyone in this virtual world, and that she had followed that selfishness for her own sake alone.
With the body of one who had been in seclusion, the [Sword Saint] smiled her own self-serving smile.
“Ar-chan.”
“Mm.”
To the friend she had spent time with, spoken with, and grown close to on their journey of play, she said.
“I have no intention of apologizing, or anything of the sort.”
“...Mm. I don't want or need one.”
Understanding the loneliness her friend had carried, she affirmed her own selfishness.
“I will not say I am late, nor that I have kept you waiting. But that is precisely why—I shall, with the 'blade' I have honed at the end of my egocentric selfishness,”
The unarmed [Sword Saint] placed a hand on her chest and looked forward.
“stake my claim as your 'friend.'”
“...Yes. —I accept your challenge.”
In that instant, the stage transformed.
Lights flared, shining lines shot across the floor, and a field of battle blazed into existence. And then, the text that appeared in the middle of the stadium and on the giant screens above the spectator seats...
...displaying the names and status bars of the [Sword Queen] and the [Sword Saint] facing each other, revealed the contents of this overly grand 'surprise.'
This was the true opening ceremony.
Following the example of that 'star' from long ago who kicked the world aside, plunging both players and spectators into a frenzy, this was to turn a playful tournament into a 'seriously playful arena.'
The one who had waited and the one who had kept her waiting now faced each other.
There was no one who could sound the starting bell for their dialogue.
“—Ui.”
“Yes.”
“I won't hold back.”
“...Fufu, yes.”
As the stage transformed into a battlefield, the [Sword Queen]'s dress morphed into a battle garment in an instant, and she took up her sword. And in response to her gaze,
The Sword Saint simply smiled gracefully.
“As will I—I shall face you... with everything I am.”
She returned the words that a single girl had wished for without ever being able to wish, and,
“—Cocoon Phantasm Release.”
A light ignited on her chest where her hand rested.
And,
“Conceal and hide—[Yueltemis, Cradle of the Divine Hall].”
She chanted a name unknown to the world.
“—, —!”
It was unexpected, exceeding all expectations.
This was beyond mere equipment or skills. Her world manifested, swallowing Iris, who held her breath at the sight of her opponent unhesitatingly wielding something so 'special.'
It was not the secret sanctuary someone was familiar with... but a ring of bamboo fencing someone knew well.
A perfect circle, roughly thirty meters in diameter, marking the boundary of battle.
And... and then.
“Now then...—First, let us do without 'skills' or 'magic.'”
“...!”
“Second... let's also suppress our 'stats' a little.”
“..., ...”
“Third. The match will be decided by a single point. The first to have their weapon touch their opponent's body wins.”
“...”
“Fourth. ...Fourth, let's see... Ah, from this point on, special effects from equipment are also forbidden. Let us fight with a single sword and a single katana.”
One after another, she continued to declare her truly 'selfish' terms. Iris, who had been watching and listening in silent thought—reached an answer, her eyes widening slightly.
“...Is that even allowed?”
She asked, as if troubled, as if complaining.
“Fufu... I'm afraid it is.”
She replied without breaking her smile, upon the 'rules' she herself had laid down.
“Just as you said, Ar-chan—it is a storyteller's armament befitting my 'selfish' nature, is it not?”
She teased playfully, without a hint of remorse.
“Now then, one last thing.”
And, and, and, the game was not over yet.
“Let us make our weapons equal as well.”
A light manifested from deep within her chest. The [Sword Saint]'s hand reached out and grasped the dazzling 'key' that appeared, phasing through her brilliant haori.
“—'O sacred moon, drifting between dream and reality, I, who have been granted the name of Sword Saint, beseech you.'”
She murmured a Shinto prayer.
“'I vow not to fear. I vow not to halt my steps. I vow to be as a blade.'”
Words of covenant, spoken from the heart.
“'With these three vows, I pray. Grant me a single sword, worthy of the path I walk.'”
And with the pledge that promised a step forward,
“'Hear my prayer, I humbly, humbly ask.'—”
Her hand grasped,
“'Heart's Authority—Unsheathe.'”
In that instant, a single 'katana' of spiritual light was born.
With the authority to create worlds, she now drew forth a blade forged from her own heart with a clear, ringing sound,
“[Hare-no-Murakumo].”
Calling its name, making it her own—the [Sword Saint] advanced.
“Now, renowned [Sword Queen]...—let us duel to our hearts' content.”
As if to declare that no one, not even she herself, could stop her now.
perceptive readers may have already guessed, but time will jump in the next chapter.
No matter what you say, I absolutely cannot depict their fight right now, so I beg your forgiveness and promise the best 'that moment' in the future.
I W A N T T O W R I T E I T T O O .
In any case, there will be a chance for the two of them to shine during the Triangle Duo, so please bear with me until then.