Ch.3737. Festival and Omen (2)

People were dancing in a circle under a cross-shaped pole. The pole was completely covered with leaves, vines, and flowers, looking lush and green. At the top of the cross section, there were ropes hanging down from both arms like a suspension bridge, with a round wreath attached below. I frowned and turned away from the sunlight shining on the edge of the pole.

“So, why is that called the May Pole again?”

I asked George, who was sitting cross-legged beside me. George was smiling contentedly as he tasted some ale he had stubbornly acquired from somewhere in secret. He put down his wooden cup on the grass with a thud, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and answered my question.

“I heard this tradition of erecting the pole originated from the Evernode… regions south of the north. They set up poles during spring flower festivals in May, hence the name ‘May Pole.’ Though nowadays, Evernode’s summer solstice festival has become much more famous.”

He knows everything, doesn’t he? I nodded lightly and turned to my left. Marianne, wearing a flower crown instead of her nun’s cap, felt my gaze and turned her eyes toward me. Her silver hair, crowned with flowers instead of her nun’s cap, sparkled in the solstice sun.

“…It might be silly to ask this, but is it okay if you don’t go dance?”

“Yes. I’ll just watch from here.”

Marianne nodded. She glanced at the Holy Sword at my left hip and the flower crown hanging on its hilt, then turned back to look at the May Pole. I could see Daphne with her pink hair flowing as she danced in a circle. I could also see Karin holding Daphne’s hand and dancing together.

It was fortunate that Daphne liked children. Marianne seemed like someone children would follow, but she probably wasn’t talented at taking care of them, and George seemed like neither. I’d be grateful if she didn’t make them cry. Well, I hadn’t expected Daphne to monopolize Karin without giving me a chance to interact with her.

“Did you find out what you asked me about before?”

Marianne suddenly asked. By what I asked her before, she must mean during our night watch. I couldn’t nod or shake my head. I had only grasped a faint clue, too vague to say I had figured it out.

“I’m not sure. At least I understand it’s a sensation that can’t be explained in words.”

A flower petal floated down in front of me. I raised one finger and swung it like a sword toward the petal. The petal seemed to linger at my fingertip for a moment before flying back into the sky.

“But the more I learn, the less I seem to understand. It’s like an onion—peel one layer and there’s a new skin, peel that and there’s an even tougher layer beneath.”

Both in the capital and in Evernode, I occasionally visited libraries to browse through swordsmanship books. From the most basic stances to complex sword techniques and profound martial arts. Using my authority as the Hero, I looked into quite famous and secret sword techniques, but I didn’t gain much insight. They were just good references.

“That’s what wielding a sword is all about, Ilroy. Not just swords—every warrior in this world probably thinks the same way.”

George, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.

“Even with weapons that are easy and simple to use, like maces or the morning star I use, no one anywhere can claim to wield them perfectly. Let alone difficult weapons like swords or spears.”

George exhaled a long sigh as he enjoyed the effects of the alcohol. What he said was probably right, but with ale in his hand while saying such things, he was just like an old man giving unsolicited advice. The strange visual of the flower crown still on his head was an added bonus.

“If you’ve grasped even that much of a clue, I think you’ve passed the biggest hurdle.”

Marianne spoke again.

“Eventually that clue will break down the wall, like a small hole in a dam.”

“I feel like I’ll understand once it becomes a bit clearer. Right now, I feel like I’m just standing at the threshold.”

It was vague when I didn’t know, but now that I was beginning to see dimly, it was frustrating.

“It’s a process that many swordsmen, or spearmen, go through at least once. Once you overcome it, the world you see while holding a sword will change.”

George spoke as if he had gone through the entire process himself. Well, as the Knight Commander, what he said was probably mostly correct.

“But why are you seeking new changes when you’ve been fighting well so far?”

George asked curiously. I frowned deeply at him.

“Isn’t it obvious? Because I’m still not strong enough to defeat the Calamity.”

“…Right. There’s no guarantee we’ll be as lucky as we were with the Kraken in the next battle.”

Crash.

The circular formation of dancers under the pole collapsed. Those who fell laughed as they left the line, while the remaining ones prepared to form a new circle. Daphne and Karin were still holding up well in the formation.

“You’ve changed, Ilroy.”

George said. Having finished his ale, he rattled his empty wooden cup before clicking his tongue and setting it down on the grass.

“Your obnoxious personality is still the same, but you’re a bit more… how should I put it.”

George frowned.

“More human-like, I should say.”

“You make it sound like I wasn’t human before.”

“I don’t know. You were always hostile and silent toward everyone except Isis. I won’t ask why you were like that then. But why have you changed?”

How am I supposed to answer that? I made a sulky face.

“I don’t know. Maybe something changed after I defeated the third Calamity, when I decided to send those two away. It was like a feeling that ‘this can’t continue.'”

“…Yes. It was a risky choice. I never imagined you would dismiss all three of your original party members. Let alone Nella, who seemed to be on your side.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“I didn’t choose the original party members anyway. They were assigned to our party based on various directives and recommendations. Including you.”

“True, after your purge, I thought I would be next, so it’s surprising that I’m still here in one piece.”

I shrugged. Why would I send George away? Even in the original story, he was the steadfast one who remained in the Hero’s party until the end despite everything they went through.

“You remained neutral in the conflict between Aryen and me.”

“…”

George silently nodded and then flopped back onto the grass. He seemed intent on taking a nap. Meanwhile, under the pole, Daphne’s feet got tangled as she was spinning, and she fell. Karin, who was holding Daphne’s hand, tumbled on top of her. Daphne brushed off the grass and dirt from her clothes, did the same for Karin, and then approached us.

“Whew. That was really fun.”

Daphne said with a smile, her hair full of grass blades. She looked innocent. I remember in the original story, when she was in the mercenary party, she wasn’t this cheerful. This must be closer to her true personality.

“You looked like you were enjoying yourself.”

“Except for the dizziness from spinning too much. Do I look like I can’t act my age?”

I let out a laugh as I looked at Daphne.

“How old are you to say something like that?”

“Twenty-three. Come to think of it, I still don’t know how old everyone in our party is.”

George slightly turned his face to look at me and Daphne.

“I’m thirty-three. Prime of my life.”

“You look older than that.”

“You little shit.”

I turned away from George’s scowling face to look at Marianne.

“I’m… twenty-two.”

Twenty-two. Younger than I expected. I thought she would be older than Daphne, but surprisingly, she was a year younger. I mean, not that she looks old like George, but she gives off a more mature impression… This kind of thought would be rude.

“[Of course it’s rude. You need to learn more about manners.]”

The Holy Sword spoke to me. I had to suppress the urge to ask the Holy Sword about its age.

“[…I shouldn’t have said anything.]”

The Holy Sword spoke in a voice that was half dejected and half sulky. …Just because I try not to think about something doesn’t mean I can’t. Like when you’re told not to think about an elephant, you can’t help but picture one. Sorry, Holy Sword. Just then, Daphne slightly bowed her head and looked at me.

“What about Ilroy?”

My age? I don’t know. In the original story, Isis was twenty, and Aryen was twenty-nine. What should I do? I really don’t know. There was hardly any information about Ilroy in the original story. George was also looking at me curiously. You don’t know either?

“Twenty-seven.”

I blurted out an age based on what I’d seen of myself in the mirror. Is that right? I probably wasn’t over thirty, but I looked old enough that I couldn’t say early twenties.

“Twenty-seven… I see.”

Nodding, Daphne wobbled and sat down between George and me with Karin. I helped remove the grass blades stuck in Karin’s hair as she grinned.

Karin kept her eyes closed, waiting for me to finish removing the grass, when suddenly she seemed to come to her senses. She opened her eyes wide and took a sharp breath. Then she avoided my hand and started shaking her head vigorously to remove the grass herself. Ugh. Did she dislike my touch that much?

“…She wants to appear grown-up, I think.”

Daphne whispered softly. I raised my eyebrows and looked at Daphne. She smiled gently and stroked Karin’s hair.

“You know well.”

“In the village where I stayed before coming to the capital, I took care of many children. I had younger siblings, and since I was one of the oldest children in the village, the kids followed me like a leader.”

Daphne said this as she removed a leaf that Karin had missed from her pigtails. Having tidied herself up, Karin, childlike, quickly shook off her dizziness and sat up straight.

“You can lie down longer if you want.”

Karin shook her head.

“The Iron-Blooded Princess must quickly overcome such dizziness.”

Karin’s expression was resolute for a nine-year-old. I lowered my head to meet Karin’s eyes.

“Why do you want to be the Iron-Blooded Princess?”

“Because iron blood is strong.”

Karin said this while pouting. I smiled bitterly and nodded.

“Why do you want to be strong?”

“…I want to become strong to help my brother and father like the Hero does. But my father is already strong, so he probably doesn’t need my help.”

Karin lowered her head.

“I wish I could be like the Hero.”

“It’s okay if you’re not strong yet.”

I said this while gently stroking Karin’s black hair.

“You can become strong by the time your help is needed. Karin doesn’t need to rush. And the most important thing for the iron-blooded is,”

I pointed to my chest. Karin followed my gesture and placed her hand over her heart.

“Here.”

“My heart?”

“Yes. Your heart. If this is strong, you can do anything.”

Iron-blooded. I didn’t want to tease her and laugh about it yet. After all, how Karin would grow would depend on what I said to her now. I definitely didn’t want to ridicule a childhood dream.

Karin nodded blankly, and I smiled as I stroked her hair. Bright laughter continued to sound around us, and the sun of the longest day of summer gently embraced everyone. Suddenly, drowsiness came over me. George was already asleep, and Marianne was lying down with her eyes closed. Daphne also seemed tired as she rubbed her eyes. Karin had already lain down beside Daphne.

Maybe I’ll take a nap too.

Just as I was feeling the ground to find a good spot to lie down.

Boom.

The change came suddenly.

Completely awake now, I jumped to my feet and turned my eyes toward Evernode’s outer wall.

“Ilroy?”

I heard Daphne’s voice. And then,

Rumble rumble rumble.

The ground began to shake slightly. People who had been absorbed in the festival looked around in confusion.

“Is it an earthquake?”

“The ground is suddenly shaking…”

“[Ilroy.]”

The Holy Sword’s voice. My senses twitched. I could tell even without her telling me.

Beyond the mountain range, across the deep valley, in the middle of the most desolate land in the world,

Something had begun to move.