kscans

Chapter 692 - Ceremony

—It was, in a way, a classic piece of staging.

The lights slowly began to dim. As the dome, with its perfect light-blocking capabilities, filled with a daytime twilight, the eagerly waiting audience stirred with a great murmur.

After the murmur came silence.

It was likely the result of the crowd being drawn into the silence of the majority, who instinctively knew the rule of theater and cinema: “The show is starting, please be quiet.”

And so, those gathered knew. They knew there was still some time before the scheduled start of the event.

And so, the majority of them knew. They knew that the pre-released cast list included the name of the “Princess” again this year.

And so—more than half of them had noticed and deduced. From her absence at the opening ceremony and the lack of any announcement about her since, they knew that some kind of surprise project involving her was underway.

Therefore,

"""—!!!"""

The moment a single beam of light shot out,

And a shimmering silver-blue figure appeared at the center of the stadium, the crowd, which had been waiting with bated breath, erupted in unison, a tremendous roar of cheers that seemed to threaten to blow the building apart from the inside.

And the “Princess” who had descended into the real world… unlike a certain someone’s fresh reaction, she didn’t flinch or frown.

"—…"

She simply, silently, raised her index finger to her lips.

It was an almost ridiculously masterful display of control. The wave of people, who had instantly fallen into line, created another silence, and the sound vanished from the dome.

"…Mm, thank you."

An even voice, and a simple word of thanks.

With just that, Alicia White, who had already achieved “world domination,” easily captured the hearts of everyone in the venue—

"Welcome, again. To our stage."

With a slightly shy smile, she pulled them deeper into her swamp.

And so, once, twice, sporadic cheers spread as individuals couldn’t hold back their passion, echoing through the stadium… and then, understanding her silent request, the stage returned to silence for the umpteenth time.

"…A little while ago, I made a new friend."

She began her story abruptly.

"We were acquaintances before. But when I invited her to hang out, we got along surprisingly well…"

Her performance was flawless, betraying no hint of nervousness, her expression natural.

"…Though I have a feeling I was just being dragged around by her the whole time."

Her voice was like the sweet chime of a bell.

And within it, something rarely heard before—or more accurately, something they had never seen in their blind adoration until a certain point—the innocent girlishness of a young woman.

"Anyway. I got a message from that selfish friend of mine that she was finally returning to the stage, so,"

To all those captivated by her sight and sound, the Princess offered a genuinely natural smile.

"Now…—I'd like to introduce her."

Straight ahead. She extended her hand, guiding another spotlight to its destination.

And then, a “gray” figure descended, first met with confusion. A few seconds later, as question marks surely flooded everyone’s minds, a mixture of excitement and chaos washed them away.

"…I'm ho—"

Was she nervous or not?

Before “she” could finish her fluffy announcement of her return, the crowd, reacting with an almost fanatical fervor to the true surprise, annihilated all silence.

"…You okay?"

Perhaps it was the long break. The “enemy” who, in past Four Pillar Wars, had shown not a hint of nervousness, now jumped in surprise, her shoulders visibly flinching. Seeing her dazed expression,

I felt a surge of various emotions, just like the audience. One of them—a playful jab at a friend—surfaced as a faint smile as I called out to her.

And so, the one who had thrown the venue into true chaos, the performer on par with the “Princess,” the Sword Queen—the small Yamato Nadeshiko who bore the name of Sword Saint, replied,

"…My ears are numb."

As expected, she wasn't particularly nervous.

Her reaction was likely just a reflex to the cheers and heat she hadn't experienced in a while. Her voice and way of speaking were completely unchanged. Looking slightly embarrassed by her own reaction, she rubbed her earlobes with her free hands as if to soothe the numbness.

Then, as if in consideration for her, as if handling something fragile, as if watching over a precious, unexpected miracle to keep it from disappearing,

"You're popular."

"Hehe, not as much as you, Iris-san."

Clearly, it was for her. The volume of the cheers was politely turned down. Amidst the quieted roar, she was teased once more, and the Sword Saint let out a graceful smile.

"Now then…—To all of you in attendance."

Unlike her “friend,” who was also a skilled actress, she faced the tens of thousands of spectators with her natural composure and leisurely pace.

"I am Ui, the Sword Saint. As introduced, my ‘selfishness’ has come to an end, and I have now returned to the stage… But, as you all know,"

Her slow, deliberate speech, which almost made every word sound like it was written in hiragana, drew many into her unique atmosphere.

"I am not a silver-tongued entertainer—so, instead of telling, I would like to show… my greetings for my return."

And so, one second, two seconds, three seconds.

In the air that changed with each passing count—an air she changed with her own presence—she slowly closed her eyes, then slowly opened them to look at her friend.

Late, so very late.

Looking back, she had missed everything, not making it in time for anything.

As she said—no, even more than she said. With the full awareness that she was more “selfish” than anyone in the virtual world, having followed that path for her own sake,

Having lived in seclusion, the Sword Saint smiled selfishly.

"Alicia-chan."

"Mm."

To the friend she had spent time with, talked with, and grown close to on their playful journey, she said.

"I have no intention of apologizing or anything of the sort."

"…Mm. I don't need that, and it's not necessary."

Understanding the loneliness she had carried, she affirmed her own selfishness.

"I won't say I'm late, or that I kept you waiting. But that is why—with the ‘blade’ I have sharpened at the end of my self-centered indulgence,"

The unarmed Sword Saint placed a hand on her chest and looked forward.

"I would like to announce myself as your ‘friend.’"

"…Yes. —I accept your challenge."

In that instant, the stage transformed.

The lights flared, and glowing boundary lines shot across the floor, illuminating the field. And in the air of the stadium, and on the giant screens above the spectator seats, it appeared.

The names and status bars of the Sword Queen and the Sword Saint, displayed opposite each other, announced the contents of the massive surprise.

This was the true opening ceremony.

Like a certain “star” who had once kicked the world aside, following the example of the scene that had thrown both players and spectators into a frenzy, to turn a playful tournament into a “serious, 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 give the starting signal for their dialogue.

"—Ui."

"Yes."

"I won't hold back."

"…Hehe, yes."

As the stage transformed into a battlefield, the Sword Queen, who had instantly changed from her dress into her battle attire, took up her sword. And to the gaze directed at her,

The Sword Saint simply smiled gracefully and,

"I, too—with everything that I am, will be your opponent."

Returning the words that a certain girl had wished for without being able to wish for them,

"—Cocoon Phantom, Release."

A light ignited on her chest where her hand rested.

And then,

"Conceal and hide—Yueltemis, Cradle of the Divine Hall."

She intoned a name unknown to the world.

"—!"

Beyond expectations, an unforeseen move.

It wasn't a matter of equipment or skills. Iris held her breath at the sight of her unhesitatingly taking up her “special” power, and was swallowed by her world as it manifested.

It was not the familiar secluded dwelling… but a familiar ring of bamboo fencing.

A perfect circle, approximately thirty meters in diameter, a boundary line for their battle.

And… and.

"Now then…—First, let us do without skills or magic."

"…?!"

"Next, second… let us also suppress our stats a little."

"…"

"Third. The match is for 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, all special effects of equipment will be prohibited. Let us fight with a single sword and a single katana each."

One after another, she declared her truly “selfish” terms. Watching her, listening to her words, Iris thought in silence—and upon reaching the answer, her eyes widened slightly.

"…Is that even allowed?"

She asked, sounding troubled, almost complaining.

"Hehe… I apologize, but it is."

She replied, her smile never wavering, upon the rules she herself had laid out.

"Just as you said, Alicia-chan—a fitting armament for a selfish person like myself, wouldn't you say?"

She played her part with a mischievous, unapologetic air.

"And now, one last thing."

And, and, and, the game was not yet over.

"Let us make our weapons equal as well."

A light manifested from the depths of her chest.

The Sword Saint’s hand grasped the dazzling “key” that appeared through her ornate haori.

"—‘O sacred form swaying between dream and reality, moonlit one, I who was given the name of Sword Saint beseech you.’"

She chanted the prayer.

"—‘I pledge to know no fear. I pledge to never halt my steps. I pledge to be a blade.’"

Words of pact, from the heart.

"—‘With these three pledges, I pray. Grant me a single sword, worthy of the path I walk. This I declare.’"

And with the promise that swore her to step forward,

"—‘Hear my plea, I humbly, humbly declare.’—"

Her hand grasped,

"Blade of Manifested Will."

The momentary birth of a single spirit katana.

With the authority to create a world, she now drew a blade shaped from her own heart with a resounding ring,

"Harenomurakumo."

Called its name, and commanded it—the Sword Saint advanced.

"Come, renowned Sword Queen…—Let us duel to our hearts’ content."

As if to say that no one, not even herself, could stop her now.