Chapter(64)

Episode~(64) Determination of the weak

SOVEREIGN OF DEATH~(64)

Pearl like eyes, sparkling under the moonlight.

Looking into those eyes, Akane felt her guilt slightly sail away.

[No one will ask you to take responsibility for today. To begin with, Nobody could have expected this to occur]

Mavis sighed just thinking about it all.

A direct attack on the capital, no one expected it in the slightest.

There was no reason for Akane to feel guilty to this tragedy.

[Even with the sage and the hero we were unable to do much, so there is no need for you to feel burdened]

They would were the strongest of the kingdom couldn't even prevent the tragedy from occurring so taking that burden upon yourself would be idiotic. 

It wasn't that Akane was unaware of this.

She knew, she knew-

[But-]

It couldn't be helped that she felt that way.

Even though she had a playful personality she took her responsibilities very seriously.

This could easily be seen by how hard she trained. Even if she had higher potential and could easily get by training moderately, she wanted to save the people of this world as was her role.

Being unable to even accomplish that, how could she not question her existence?

[No buts, there is nothing any one of us could have done to change today's outcome]

Even if you claimed to have seen the future, the kingdom might have only jeered and mocked you a fool.

Today's incident was inevitable. 

Because no one expected an enemy attack, all knights were pulled from their original stations and placed near the banquet to keep guard over the event.

It was the kingdoms blunder, no one person could take responsibility for it.

Thinking about it she sighed.

[The most that we can do is get stronger to prevent a similar tragedy from occuring]

Sniffle*

Akane wiped the corners of her wet eyes and looked at Mavis weakly.

[You're right-the current me is weak....too weak]

Against a powerful opponent she was nothing but fish on the cutting board.

[In such a situation, If I were to face an attack alone I have no way of resisting]

Her gaze lost strength and she could only lower her head, facing the ground.

The very thought of facing monsters like Sullivan filled her soul with terror.

Her hands gripping her dress trembled as the countless possibilities of death flashed across her mind making her face pale.

Knowing that such beings existed, and that she would eventually need to fight them felt as if there was a blade hanging over her neck.

[Akane...]

Mavis wanted to comfort her, reaching out a hand she tried to come up with the words.

But it was useless. The words never formed.

Rather, should she comfort Akane now she would only take away the chance for Akane to accept her weakness.

Later, there would be no growth. As a knight, she had the duty to see through a hero's growth. But, as a friend and someone close to her, she didn't want to see Akane so distraught and she felt complicated.

Yet, before she could even come to a proper thought. Akane had already made up her mind.

Lifting her lowered head, she gazed into Mavis's eyes with a strong gaze. A gaze filled with the flame of determination that completely overwhelmed her fear. 

[Still!]

She clenched her fists tightly. Even while still trembling at the thought of Sullivan she gritted her teeth and affirmed her resolve.

[It doesn't matter how weak I am now]

She wasn't Renji who could immediately grow stronger due to his cheat of being a hero.

[As long as I know where my weaknesses are-]

Neither was she Aoi who had the blessing of the goddess and could gain the love and protection of the church.

[As long as I work hard enough, I know that I can get stronger]

The fear would last but no doubt, it was temporary. And along with its disappearance and even fiercer will would burn inside her.

 [And now that I already know what I'll be facing in the future, it makes it easier for me to never slack off]

It was like an exam. If you didn't know what was going to be on it you would only skim through a but before feeling like it was enough.

But once you knew the topic, even if it was at the level that would take weeks to understand you would fully commit to comprehending it.

Akane was a serious person but she was also the free and easy type. Without tonight's event, she would likely have gotten bored with training and lowered the difficulty of her training to slack off a bit.

Gulp*

But with a battle against such a terrifying beast imminent she would have no chance to dawdle. 

'That was just a lackey...what about the demon king?'

She didn't want Mavis to fight alone because she was too weak to help.

Neither did she want Aoi to be put in danger and unable to protect her. 

Her eyes, already filled with the flames of determination lit up once more.

[I'll get stronger, I promise Mavis!]

Mavis was slightly taken aback.

A normal person would have no doubt experienced a shock and become shut off for at least a few days or even weeks if their mentality wasn't strong enough.

'You're amazing, Akane'

Admiration towards Akane grew in her heart. Even if it was her, it would take her a few days before she overcame the mental shock caused by this incident.

Yet a girl younger than herself showed such astonishing growth.

Shaking her head, she could only think that she wasn't mature enough yet.

[Nn, let's get stronger together]

The hope to someday fight side by side as companions filled both their hearts.

No one knew that this would someday cause them to have a closer relationship, but that was a story for another day.

Afterwards, inside the hall it was just a series of cleanups.

Cleaners dressed in grey coveralls, along with the help of several lower ranking knights helped to move the bodies.

They carefully and diligently worked to remove the bloodstains and the chunks of flesh and blood stuck to the walls, ceilings and ground.

Akane, no matter how thoughtful and willing to help wanted no part of this and so didn't even get involved.

Sure, she felt guilt being unable to save those that died.

Still, there was a fine line between making amends and just straight up making a mess.

If she even glanced at the chunks of flesh she would hurl up everything she had eaten tonight.

It wouldn't be a pretty sight at all.

The very thought of seeing them had her gagging uncontrollably.

To take her mind off of the nauseating thought, she turned her head looking for Aoi but she was nowhere to be found.

'She was with that bastard earlier'

Aoi must have gotten annoyed with the swarm of women surrounding Renji and dragged him away.

Knowing Renji, he definitely wouldn't leave a group of women by his own accord.

And yet, Aoi was still head over heels for such a guy. Even a blind man could see this guy was a no good playboy so why was her best friend and so many other women going crazy over him.

'It can't just be because he is a hero....right?'

She was rightfully confused. 

And more importantly-

[Doesn't he already have his childhood friend?]

There were even rumors saying he had some sort of relationship with the princess's younger sister but it was yet to be confirmed.

Even so, shouldn't the guy focus more on his wife….er, girlfriend?

'No, what even are they to each other'

Confusion wracked her brain.

Renji and his childhood friend had been together a lot since coming to this world, it wouldn't even be wrong to say some supernatural force glued them together.

However she never once heard Renji say they were a couple.

His childhood friend, Sayo also didn't seem to mind that they were in a vague relationship so to be honest, no one knew what sort of relationship they were in.

'Whatever'

She shrugged. 

What did it even have to do with her?

Just thinking about how to open the eyes of that stupid friend of hers was stressing enough. Should she worry about other girls as well?

Nonsense!

At the side, seeing Akane furrow her brow and mess up her hair, Mavis tilted her head in confusion.

Thinking that it may be because of Aoi's absence she asked worriedly.

[Are you worried about lady Aoi? If that's the case, we can go find her if you'd like]

Mavis knew how wary Akane was to the hero, and to be honest she also was a bit repulsed by him.

She still recalled his vulgar eyes at her during training. It was one of the reasons she never chose to be his direct supervisor but instead chose Akane.

But, Akane shook her head.

[Leave it]