Chapter 323: One of the Two Will Die (4)

The life path that seems comfortable to others may actually be filled with tremors more violent than a seismograph for the one living it.

Everyone carries their own twists of fate, but most people assume that if someone holds a good job, title, or position, they must have had an easy life.

That’s not entirely wrong.

Somewhere in the world, people are dying of hunger, while being born a noble—or even royalty—guarantees you a full stomach to the point of excess.

But is that all a human lives for?

Even less so when it comes to a hero they must aspire to something more, and the burden they bear is infinitely heavier than that of others.

That’s why the pressure on the rightful heir of humanity’s most powerful empire—the British Empire—must be hard for the average person to even imagine.

‘I understand.’

But that doesn’t give him the right to abuse others. As I said, everyone has their own circumstances.

And it is precisely a hero who must overcome those adversities.

In my opinion, it’s that moment of triumph that defines a true hero.

By that logic, I’m still far from considering myself an adult.

But if I combine my past life with this one, I’ve lived enough. So I think I’ve earned the right to teach these warm-blooded kids the bitter taste of life.

And if not, well, too bad.

Anyway.

That’s how humans learn empathy. Realizing they’re not the only ones who suffer in this world. That process, to me, is the essence of “humanity” and “life.”

Even if others don’t understand, you can believe me. Because that’s how I was in my past life.

When I thought I was the most unfortunate person in the world my master told me I wasn’t.

Of course, the method he used wasn’t kind words, but rather the “sashimi of love,” which left me a bit traumatized. But even so, I learned.

I don’t know if there’s a better method than the “sashimi of love” to treat teenagers with an inferiority complex who think the universe revolves around them, yet still feel miserable.

Kyaaaaaaaaah!

So that scream you just heard is the sound of a senior cadet growing up. Because growth, by definition, always comes with pain.

— When are you gonna grow up, brat?!

I learned that from you, sir!

That’s like spitting at the sky, ahjussi.

***

“Haa, ha.”

The Auditore surrounded Princess Victoria and the male cadet in a circle.

After wiping blood from their swords, the masked ones began to tighten the formation slowly.

The pressure the two cadets felt must’ve been on par with that of an active hero in battle.

‘Especially since their opponents are the Auditore.’

Even so, neither showed signs of surrender. Back to back, they raised their weapons with all their strength.

Both faces were pale, though the boy looked worse. After all, he only had one arm.

And to make it worse, the group approaching with murderous intent was the dread of all nobles—the Auditore.

‘They won’t sleep peacefully for a while.’

And that wasn’t all.

Bits of flesh and fat rolled across the floor. All others, except these two, had fallen to the Auditore’s swords.

Even though it was within a subspace and no one died for real, the psychological blow of seeing your allies “die” must be devastating.

Maybe that’s why—

“Uuh… uuh…”

The male cadet began to sob.

Being dragged into this situation was already unfair enough—and now he was going to die (even if only within the subspace). At that point, one might want to throw away pride and everything else.

“No… haa… don’t cry…”

“Hic.”

The princess snapped at him, and the cadet flinched.

“Crying isn’t going to change anything! Will that fix it? If so, then stop getting in the way and just go offer your neck already.”

“P-Princess…”

“Crying is just an excuse. We are heroes. We’re the ones who must find a way even in despair. Things are already hard enough—you’re making it worse!”

After glaring him down, the princess took a deep breath. Her eyes still burned with determination.

I have to admit—I was impressed. And surely the Auditore, behind their masks, thought the same.

Until now, I thought she was a princess blinded by pride. But it seems I’ll have to take that back.

Rather, Ryozo’s assessment—despite their rocky relationship—was right on point.

Princess Victoria was already beyond student level.

Her mental fortitude and combat poise under pressure—the two most essential traits of a hero. She had both in spades.

“Just… just a few more seconds. If we hold out a bit longer, we can do this.”

“Sniff… Okay…”

After the harsh scolding, came encouragement. And the boy’s eyes, once full of resignation, regained a spark.

— Impressive.

Knox spoke to me via telepathy.

‘What’s your assessment from your perspective?’

— Far beyond my expectations.

‘I agree.’

— If I were you, Heavenly Sword, I’d be rejoicing. Having someone like her as a disciple is a blessing.

…?

— She might not meet all your standards, but among the nobles I’ve met recently, she’s without a doubt the most talented.

Upon hearing that, a wave of nostalgia hit me, and his voice faded from my mind.
Because I remembered something the master once said.

That out of all the disciples he’d had, I was, without question, the most talented. Even though he put me through hell, he never stopped bragging about me to his clients.

‘Father…’

You were a true adult.

Even while living as an eternal returnee, when emotions would normally be worn down to the nub, you gave everything to me freely, treated me like a disciple and a son you were proud of.

Damn it—am I hitting menopause early at this young age? I can’t stop picturing his face, even though I know I’ll never see him again.

If there’s one thing I regret from Earth, it’s not saying goodbye to him before I left.

— About 10 seconds left. Should we stop?

Knox’s voice shattered my thoughts like broken glass. I shook my head.

And I said out loud,

“Everyone, fall back.”

“……?”

I dusted myself off and stood up. The Auditore, the princess, everyone looked at me with confusion.

“I’ll handle the rest of their training.”

I untied the cord of Murasame and gestured to the Auditore to withdraw. They hesitated at first but eventually nodded.

They withdrew gradually, dissolving the stalemate.

Amid the sudden change in atmosphere, the male cadet looked bewildered—but Princess Victoria was different.

She looked me straight in the eye, biting her lip hard.

‘…?’

Yet for some reason, her cheeks were slightly flushed, and dimples appeared. I squinted, and just then, she returned to her cold expression, as if nothing had happened.

“Is this a private class with the Heavenly Sword?”

Said the princess.

“You are a princess, after all. I must treat you accordingly.”

“Then I’ll take the initiative as a courtesy.”

“Whatever you want.”

The princess stepped forward boldly.

Boom!

With a crack in the stone floor, her figure drew so close it filled my eyes. So close our breaths mingled.

‘I didn’t expect her to have so much energy left.’

I’ve decided—you’ll be the representative.

Tap.

Right on cue, the cord of Murasame slithered to the ground like a coiled snake.

[The blessing of the God of the Sword manifests.]

A sound rang out—as if signaling the start of a lesson.

+++++++++++++++++++

《May the blessing of the gods be with you.》

+++++++++++++++++++

The flash of the sword shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.

***

At that very moment, in the demonic subspace Gehenna—

“Chirr, chirr, chirr? (Can you really live in a place like this?)”

“Chirrrr. (And how would I know?)”

“Chir chir chir. (Only He would know… ramen.)”

Five squirrels were huddled together, watching something intently. Collective intelligence sparkled among them.

They weren’t native to the demonic subspace. They had departed from Joaquin Academy, faced countless calamities, and finally crossed the Gate of Gehenna.

It was only possible because they were the elite of the elite, personally summoned by the Great Lord!

Even though three of them had lost patches of fur from stress, they had entered Gehenna with pride.

Surely, the Great Lord had called them for a mission that would determine the fate of the entire squirrel race.

Even if they were used as carrier pigeons—no, squirrel messengers—they were willing to embrace that role with honor.

These elite squirrels, slipping through the forest of the demonic subspace like ninjas, found a human man. Though different species, they felt a strange sense of familiarity—as if they had encountered someone from their homeland in this wasteland.

So they stopped and approached the man.

“(He’s not moving.)”

“(What if he’s a demon?)”

“(Did you lose your eyesight along with your fur? He’s clearly human. Rounded ears, skin the color of living flesh.)”

“(Correction. That statement is rather misleading.)”

“(Ugh, you’ve gotten so philosophical since we arrived in the demon subspace.)”

“(Correction. Everyone has a black dragon sealed in their heart…)”

The elite squirrels argued heatedly around the man lying on the ground.

Only the secretary squirrel approached the man’s philtrum to check for signs of life.

“(I’m getting a strange sense of déjà vu…)”

One asked.

“(From what?)”

“(Doesn’t he look like His companion?)”

“(Ah~ you mean the hero of humanity. Hmm… aside from the facial features, yeah, he kinda does.)”

“(So, in other words, he looks nothing like him.)”

The secretary squirrel sighed and looked at the man again.

At that moment, the man suddenly sat upright.

“Chiiiiiiiiirr! (Damn it, you scared me!)”

The man’s eyes snapped open, staring straight at the secretary squirrel. The squirrels panicked and scattered in all directions.

The secretary tried to flee too, but her paws lifted off the ground.

The man had picked her up by the neck with two fingers. Suspended in the air, the squirrel closed her eyes.

“(Master Lycan… even if I don’t make it…)”

“You said Lycan?”

“(…Even if I don’t, I…?)”

The secretary squirrel stopped struggling and turned her head. Her eyes widened like cherry tomatoes.

“(A human understands our language?)”

“After repeating so many regressions, you end up learning all kinds of useless things. Squirrel language is just one of them.”

The man slowly leaned forward. A withered leaf slid across his abs.

“Now then.”

His gaze turned cold and heavy.

“You said… Lycan?”

***

The selection had originally been planned in three phases, but the first seemed more than enough. The cadet who endured alongside the princess showed potential, but the benchmark was simply too exceptional.

When the training subspace dissolved, the cadets remained stunned for quite some time. Even though the Auditore had held back, their level was far too overwhelming for cadets to endure.

I called for the medical team.

After leaving the exhausted cadets in their care, I cleared the room along with the Auditore and the instructor.

As soon as I stepped outside, sunlight hit my face.

“Good work.”

“It was nothing, Lord Heavenly Sword.”

With the warmth of the sun, the Auditore melted into the shadow of my silhouette. Knox also gave me a brief glance before vanishing like a ghost.

“Whew, how many days has it been since I moved my body?”

I stretched, twisting my waist side to side. Just then, as I was heading toward the main building…

Rolin~

I received a message. Upon checking, it was from Speedweapon. It hadn’t been long since he was sent to the demonic subspace—was he already back?

“Looks like the Association called him.” Even so…

‘Did he bring it?’

I got excited. It was because the package I had been waiting for had finally arrived.

But as I hummed and tapped the screen, my hand froze mid-air.

ニニニニニニニニニニニニ

[Potion]: Sorry. I made a mistake.

Me: ?

[Potion]: I brought what you asked for.

[Potion]: ……But something else came with it.

Me: ???

Me: What thing??

[Potion]: …A girl who looks exactly like you……,

[Potion]: Aaagh no f***ing way!!

[Potion]: Hide today, no matter what!!

[Re-invite to chat]

A chill ran down my spine.

…Ah, so this is what the seniors had felt back then.