Ch.1717. The Hearing (4)

The Holy Sword was stuck in a rock, just like in any legend. It was quietly preserved in an ancient ruin on a mountain surrounding the royal capital, embedded in stone as if sleeping. Ilroy, who had ventured out as an ordinary adventurer, happened to enter the ruins and pulled out the Holy Sword.

It wasn’t that other adventurers hadn’t tried to pull out the Holy Sword before. It was almost an annual ritual for adventurers who passed near the ruins, but the Holy Sword never budged. Some even tried to break the rock where the sword was embedded, but it was utterly futile.

“Come on, let’s go.”

“Damn, I just wasted my energy. What kind of sword can’t be pulled out even with mana-enhanced strength?”

“Why do you think it’s called the Blue Orthodox Church’s sacred treasure, divine object, and Holy Sword? You need to be qualified. And you, for one, have failed.”

Attempts to pull out the Holy Sword gradually decreased. The knights of the royal capital, knowing the sword wouldn’t budge, didn’t even bother trying.

The Holy Sword, which seemed destined to remain only a legend, was finally pulled out by a young man who visited the ruins for the first time that day. That’s how Ilroy became a hero. And that was almost all I knew about Hero Ilroy’s past.

“Hero, come forward with the Holy Sword.”

The minister, who had discarded all initial formalities as if he’d sold them to a fence, commanded me. I pulled my mind back from my thoughts to the council and looked at the minister.

“Are you truly questioning my qualifications as a hero right now?”

“We ask the questions, not you. Hero, come forward with the Holy Sword.”

This minister had quite a talent for irritating people. If I lost my composure and raised my voice here, the atmosphere I’d carefully maintained would completely reverse. If I could just meet Ilroy, I’d like to tell him to behave properly. How arrogantly must he have acted for someone to tell me I wasn’t qualified to be a hero with such a crazed voice and eyes?

“If you determine that I’m not qualified, what do you plan to do then?”

A hideously ugly smile spread across the minister’s face.

“If there’s someone with qualities superior to the current hero, wouldn’t it be right to appoint that person as the hero? Then you would no longer be the hero or the expedition leader.”

Looking at that face any longer would make me sick.

“If you admit your mistake now and take responsibility by stepping down as expedition leader, we can forget about questioning your qualifications. There’s no need to complicate matters, is there?”

So that’s what he really wanted. For me to be intimidated by the minister’s proposal and declare my surrender. I let out a small sigh.

“Well, you can question my qualifications. But how will you test them? Do you plan to hand the Holy Sword to your knights and have them demonstrate swordsmanship?”

If you don’t know anything, please stay quiet. As I spoke indirectly, the minister’s face contorted even more, and he trembled with clenched fists.

“…According to legend, the Holy Sword bestows sacred power with light upon the chosen ones.”

The minister spoke, having barely contained his anger. Like a seasoned politician, he seemed accustomed to managing his emotions. Though his voice was half-hoarse, as if he had been gritting his teeth.

“If it finds a proper master, the Holy Sword would show some change. Completely different from how it looks while you’re holding it now.”

The minister pointed at the Holy Sword at my waist.

“[How annoying that he’s spouting rumors he’s merely picked up, and keeps referring to humans who handled me as masters.]”

The Holy Sword grumbled in my mind. Just wait a little. Those faces will soon rot like overripe fruit anyway.

“Now, it’s up to you, hero. What will you—”

“Let’s do this.”

I walked down from the platform. The ministers’ shoulders flinched at my sudden movement. How do they manage in politics with such timidity? I snorted softly and drew the Holy Sword with my left hand. The blade gleamed in the light of the chandelier above the council chamber.

“No, hero! What on earth are you trying to do?!”

The minister turned pale and flapped his hands like chicken wings. Ignoring their reactions completely, I gently thrust the Holy Sword into the center of the council floor. I didn’t want to use too much force and crack the floor.

Thunk.

The ministers watched my actions with half confusion, half fear. I gently wrapped my hand around the hilt and left a final request to the Holy Sword.

‘I’m counting on you.’

“[Don’t worry. I know what you’re thinking. By the way, this reminds me of when you first pulled me out.]”

‘What a strange thing to say now.’

With a bitter smile, I released the Holy Sword and stepped back. I truly felt sorry for the Holy Sword, but I had no memory of first pulling it out. I took a deep breath and proposed my solution.

“I believe you all know how I was chosen by the Holy Sword. I pulled it from a rock in ruins outside the royal capital.”

The council remained silent, waiting for my next words. When all eyes were fixed on the Holy Sword, I pointed to it and said:

“There’s no need to demonstrate my skill with the sword. If anyone here can pull that Holy Sword from the floor, I will relinquish my position as hero and expedition leader, and transfer all titles and duties to that person.”

The ministers stirred greatly. Amidst the commotion, the eyes of the minister who had been arguing with me wavered. My confident demeanor seemed to give him a bad feeling. The minister couldn’t retract his proposal since he had spoken first. George looked confused, glancing between me and the Holy Sword, while Bishop Andre gazed at me with sparkling eyes, his chin resting on his hand.

“…You’re very confident, hero.”

“And you seem to lack confidence, Minister. If you’d like to apologize for questioning my qualifications and withdraw now, I’ll take back the Holy Sword.”

He probably didn’t expect me to respond like this. Well, I wouldn’t have been this confident if the Holy Sword hadn’t spoken to me. Consider yourself unlucky, Minister.

“…Very well. If that’s how you want to play this.”

He’s putting on quite a show for someone who won’t be drawing the sword himself.

The minister nodded to the knights, and those waiting in the back rows came forward. Befitting their knightly background, they showed no signs of agitation. Except for George. George looked at me as if asking, “What are you thinking?” and I answered by looking at the Holy Sword.

“Want to go first?”

I playfully asked George. He stared at my face for a while, trying to read my expression, then sighed.

“I’ll try first.”

“Yes, Commander George of the Gray Bear Knights. As a member of the expedition, you certainly qualify. Go ahead.”

The Holy Sword belongs to me, so why is the minister giving permission? While I narrowed my eyes and glared at him, George approached the Holy Sword and grabbed the hilt. All eyes in the council focused on George. He gave me an apologetic look and then applied force to his grip.

“…!”

Silence.

“Hup!”

More silence.

“Commander George? I said you may try.”

The minister spoke with a puzzled voice. George looked visibly flustered. The cold sweat streaming down his forehead suggested he was truly using all his strength to pull the sword. I thought he would go easy on me since we’re comrades, but what an inflexible, vexing fellow.

“…I am trying.”

“What?”

“I’m using all my strength to try to pull out the Holy Sword.”

George said in a dazed voice. Then he shook his head and stepped away from the Holy Sword. The ministers murmured quietly.

“Don’t jest, Commander George.”

“I swear on my honor. I am using all my strength right now.”

When George spoke in a rigid voice, the minister’s face colored with anxiety.

“Is there no other knight who wishes to try?”

As the minister spoke in a low voice, the knight commanders exchanged glances. Among them, a knight who had been glaring at me throughout the hearing raised his hand and stepped forward.

“I’ll give it a try.”

“Good, Commander Alberto of the White Hawk Knights. Go ahead.”

Now I’m completely sidelined. I wish someone would at least give me something to eat.

The knight called Alberto boldly stepped forward and grabbed the sword without hesitation. Before gripping it, he glared at me once, as if to say, “I’m still better than you.” Alberto gripped the hilt with a confident smile and tried to lift it.

Of course, the Holy Sword didn’t budge at all.

“…What? This can’t be right.”

What should have been an inner thought escaped Alberto’s lips. His reaction was priceless. Alberto adjusted his posture again and gripped the Holy Sword with both hands as if pulling up a radish.

“Hnngh!”

With an unseemly shout, he flexed his forearms and latissimus dorsi muscles. Of course, the Holy Sword didn’t move an inch, and Alberto’s face only turned crimson. Alberto’s wrestling match continued for several minutes until the minister, unable to watch anymore, called for him to stop three times.

“…Next.”

But the next knight, and the one after that, couldn’t even make the Holy Sword move slightly, let alone pull it out. With each knight’s failure, the color drained from the minister’s face, and the strength in his voice calling the next knight diminished. Other court nobles in attendance began looking between me and the minister.

“Urrrrgh!”

Finally, a knight even larger than George collapsed. Sitting on the floor, he breathed heavily and shook his head.

“…It’s impossible. No matter how much I enhance my body with mana and try, it won’t budge at all.”

“These… these bastards.”

The minister was gritting his teeth so hard they might crumble. Unable to contain his anxiety and anger, he abruptly stood up and strode forward. None of the other court nobles, including the hearing committee chairman, made any move to stop him, just watching.

“Are you playing games with me?!”

The minister grabbed the hilt and tried to pull it out with force. He’s going to hurt his back if he keeps that up. Despite the minister’s efforts, the Holy Sword remained immovable. Now seemingly unconcerned about his unseemly appearance, the minister clutched the hilt and began to strain with all his might.

“Urrrrrrgh!! Aaaaargh!!”

I slowly approached the minister, whose face had turned bright red from exertion. Watching his futile struggle was no longer amusing but rather pitiful. I bent down and looked at the still-straining minister, who looked up at me with a trembling jaw.

“Y-you… what did you do to the Holy Sword…?”

“Let’s end this farce now.”

I gently pushed the minister aside and grabbed the Holy Sword. The now-familiar mana of the Holy Sword flowed into me, and its voice sounded in my head as if it had been waiting.

“[Watching them struggle was quite amusing. Quite entertaining.]”

Now it’s time for the finishing blow.

“[I know. Since you’ve provided me with such entertainment, I’ll help you. Bear with it for a moment.]”

I pulled up the Holy Sword without much effort. The blade began to glow ominously from the base, and when it was fully revealed, it became a brilliant beam of light that enveloped the entire council chamber, making everyone bow their heads as if witnessing a divine miracle.

“…Holy shit.”

Someone’s astonished murmur was heard, and

“My God…”

Bishop Andre’s voice trailed off in ecstasy. I raised the Holy Sword, pointing it at the ministers seated in the council, and declared:

“I, and no one else, am the hero chosen by the Holy Sword.”

The light of the Holy Sword faded. Enduring the aftereffects of the Level 1 release by gritting my teeth, I sheathed the Holy Sword again. The council was completely silent, all eyes on me.

“Do you understand now?”

The minister, collapsed on the floor, shook his head frantically. This is your defeat. You may not admit it, but it is.

“No… no. It can’t be.”

“Enough. Let’s end the hearing here.”

Breaking through the minister’s denial and the heavy silence, a woman’s voice echoed across the council chamber. Though not particularly loud, its resonance was strangely clear and distinct. The council ministers looked toward the source of the voice with startled expressions, and I too looked in that direction with eyes wide in surprise.

It’s that person.

I swallowed hard and gripped the Holy Sword, which asked curiously:

“[Who are you talking about?]”

The one who placed me in the position of expedition leader and “granted me authority over expedition personnel.” I never dreamed they would appear here today.

“[The one who granted you authority?]”

With the Holy Sword’s voice, the doors to the council chamber opened. And footsteps crossing the corridor grew closer and closer.

Click.

Click.

As the presence became clearer, and all the silence and confusion that had built up from the Holy Sword converged on that single point, a voice resounded powerfully throughout the council chamber.

“Her Majesty Queen Agnes Blanche Lumiere, the rightful ruler of the Kingdom of Kairos, stern judge, great warrior, and benevolent protector of the people, enters!!!”