Chapter 278 – With Raging Courage
278 – With Raging Courage
The news introduced the four parties, including the Wraith party who won the White group.
Next up were the legends.
The strongest Demon King and the world’s top class Monsters that he acknowledges.
The Unyielding Hero party.
Also, it seems that a special guest will make their appearance.
I get a strange feeling when I think about how I will be facing those men and women in a matter of hours.
It just doesn’t feel real.
What could this sensation be?
Nervousness? Excitement?
Perhaps it’s restlessess.
I’ve anxiously awaited this. I can’t wait any longer.
「Breakfast is ready.」
I eat the breakfast Milla cooked.
Delicious as always.
「How is it?」
「It’s delicious. The meals at the inn were good too, but…how should I put this? Eating Milla’s cooking makes me feel…relieved? Sorry, I don’t really know how to say it.」
Milla blinked for a bit, then her cheeks blushed red.
「No, I am overjoyed. Uhm, Lem…」
「Hm?」
「If you were to eat my cooking everyday, for example, would you be…happy?」
Milla looked nervous.
「Of course I would, but cooking everyday sounds like a hassle, and I believe it’s about time I learned to cook. Once this tournament is over, I should be able to make some time…」
It seems my cooking sense is catastrophic by nature. When I studied under my master and even when cooking together with Milla, I am swiftly kicked out of the kitchen.
While cooking may not be an essential skill, eating ready-made meals or eating out all the time is not kind to the wallet.
Being able to cook wouldn’t hurt.
I feel guilty having to always rely on a fellow colleague like Milla.
We’re both busy because we’re so alike.
「Fufufu.」
When I looked at Milla, her face was red and she had on a childlike grin.
「Did I…say something weird?」
「No, fufu, that reply was just so much like you. Also, I am the same.」
「The same?」
「I believe I would be very happy to hear you praise my cooking every single day.」
My breathing stopped and my heart jumped out of my chest.
This throbbing in my chest, different to the feeling when in the heat of battle, easily steals away more common sensibilities.
Unable to look at her directly in the face, I pretended to concentrate on my meal until the moment passed.
However, I was aware that Milla’s gaze would occasionally turn towards the TV.
I finish the meal.
It’s a little early, but I decided to leave. Before I reunited with my party members, there are two places I want to visit.
「Do you have everything?」
「Yes, I’m good. I checked several times.」
Apart from the Registration Card that holds all the info about one’s Avatar, the actual weapons are also required.
Even if your Avatar is supposed to have a cursed sword, it can’t replicate that information if the real thing isn’t in your possession.
If that wasn’t required, then several people would be able to swing the same cursed sword around at the same time.
In the case of holy swords, such dishonesty cannot be done in the first place, but the rules are applied all the same.
Thus, I didn’t forget to equip the holy sword I received from my father.
Atop my head sleeps the black chick that only I can see.
The Spirit Dark.
「Well then, have a pleasant journey.」
「Yeah, I’ll be off.」
「Do your best.」
「I will.」
「Also…」
Milla came close to my face.
In an instant, she was close enough for me to feel her body heat and smell her scent.
Eyes so red you could drown in them passed by me, and I could feel her lustrous lips on my ears.
「How frustrating…」
Ah, that’s what she as Carmilla said that time.
The Carmilla party wasn’t able to move on to the final stage.
They lost the battle against the Wraith party.
She has admitted her defeat.
On top of that, she cheers me on from the bottom of her heart.
However, not all of her emotions have been sorted out yet.
Like how a vivid memory stays in your mind even when you are old.
The more serious you are, the more the memory of defeat sticks in your brain and won’t go away.
Frustration that is enough to make you scream won’t just be digested like food, and occasionally it will show on your face.
As if to say「I haven’t been digested yet, I’m still here.」
「That is what makes you Milla.」
And that is why I smiled.
Her frustration and regret at not being able to get into the battle that will determine the strongest will surely make her grow stronger.
「I am greedy, you see. I do not plan on giving up on any of the statuses that you gave me.」
I once said this to Milla.
You are my benefactor, my ally, my friend…and also my rival.
「I haven’t forgotten. You are my rival, Milla.」
Milla pulled away from me, letting out a defiant chuckle.
And then, she gave a mischievous grin.
「Other than the ones that you might be thinking of right now, there is one more status that I will not give up on.」
I could once again feel the heat on my face.
Satisfied by my reaction, Milla saw me off for real this time.
◇
「Le~m. Your autograph, please.」
When I visited Cashew’s home, her older sister Maca came to greet me.
If I’m not mistaken, I believe she’s twelve. A lively, dog-eared girl.
Her Job is a Chef and with great effort from the person herself, she can cook up delicious food.
「Hey, Maca. It’s rude to just ask like that.」
「Aw, but wouldn’t it be nice to have it decorating the house? Hey, don’t you want that too, Cashew?」
Carrying food to the table, Cashew’s ears perked up.
「Lem’s…autograph…!」
Her eyes sparkled.
「Ahaha, if you’re fine with my autograph, I’ll sign as many as you want.」
「Yay! Oh, I wanna decorate the restaurant I work at with it too, can I?」
To support her family, she helps out at a family friend’s restaurant.
「I don’t mind, but I wonder if they’d let you…」
I give a wry smile, but Maca just replies saying「No problem!」clutching both her fists.
「I threw some propaganda at the boss! When I showed him the videos of the thing going on right now, he yelled『Such passion!』while crying.」
By thing going on right now, I think she means the All-Heaven Festival Contest.
「…Is that so? That makes me very happy.」
I’m still a Black Sorcerer. I managed to get a holy sword, I am able to fight while my allies fully understand that I am supporting them unlike when I was with the Fenix party, and I am personally taking part in fights.
But my Job has not changed.
A large part of my victories are thanks to my allies.
But…I see.
If our battles are able to light a fire in the hearts of complete strangers, I’m glad.
「Ah, it’s Lem! You’re back! Yay!」
Cashew’s little sister Mia saw me and ran up to me.
「Lem! Hmph, I thought you wouldn’t show your face here again!」
Even Cashew’s younger brother Cashew looked sorta happy to see me.
「My oh my, since when did Lem become the most popular person in our home?」
Their mother, Hazel, says that with a pleasant smile.
And then, the girl who is my secretary comes to me after finally finishing putting out all the food on the table.
She is a good and honest girl when she does her job well.
「Uh, uhm, Lem?」
「Yes?」
「Welcome back…!」
Her smile truly does warm my heart and a smile naturally leaks out.
「Good to be back.」
After that, I ate the meal with the Cashew family, gave them souvenirs, and talked about the towns I had to visit for the All-Heaven Festival Contest.
I feel so at home here I feel like I could stay forever, but I can’t do that today.
I chose to spend a lot of my free time there.
Mia and Nuts looked lonely, so I couldn’t help it.
「I’ll be rooting for you. Boss gave me time off, and I got good seat tickets by the power of Lady Demon King.」
As expected of her Highness, she took care of things that even I didn’t think of.
I see, so everyone in the Cashew household is rooting for me.
Although, the attention that the final stage of the All-Heaven Festival Contest is getting is absurd. I probably wouldn’t have been able to prepare tickets to watch the match without considerable help.
Since I am a contestant, I should have been able to negotiate around that and at least got a seat for an acquaintance.
I told myself that I should give my thanks to her Highness the next time we meet.
I walk out of the entrance of Cashew’s home.
「Lem…!」
Cashew followed me out, calling out to me.
「What is it?」
Cashew held my hand in hers, her face bright red and looking down.
After several seconds, she found her resolve and raised her head.
「Uhm! I… I believe in you! You’ll win, Lem! I know it!」
「…!」
I could feel something welling up in my chest.
Happiness? Inspiration? Such words cannot describe the emotion ceaselessly overflowing from within.
If I let my guard down, this feeling would soon turn into tears.
「…Ahaha. What a coincidence, that’s my favorite word.」
I lean over Cashew.
When I was chased out of my party, I pretended to withdraw calmly, but the truth is, it really hurt. I was depressed. I was miserable and I was in despair.
I could not realize mine and Fenix’s dream of reaching 1st ranked together, and I couldn’t realize my hope of having the world accept Black Sorcerers by reaching the top rankings as one.
I couldn’t finish this long and arduous fight that my master had shown me.
I was full of regret.
It was a setback that felt like the past ten years of my life were for nothing.
Not that I was planning to give up, but not giving up and not being in despair are two different things.
Just because I can get back up doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt, that it isn’t hard, nor that it won’t be a struggle.
That day…
A girl trying her hardest to sell fruit cheered me up. Cashew.
Even a girl this small is trying her very best.
I can’t lose to her.
From that day onwards, every time I looked at Cashew, I felt re-energized.
I spontaneously pat Cashew on the head.
「If that’s what you so believe, I very well can’t let that become a lie.」
I’m sure that everyone making an appearance in the battlefield today is the same.
They are all carrying the expectations of their fans. Fans who firmly believe that they will win.
There is no battle where only one side should win.
Even so, everyone still thinks this…
「I will definitely win.」
That is what it’s like in the competitive world.
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