The Great Hall is the largest space in the Miken House. Just how large it is is, it is so large that it would be more than enough for the master, the twin peaks, the four lords, the eight flags, and all the other important people in the Onigashima estate.

　The moment I stepped into the tatami-floored hall, all eyes were on me at once.

　At that moment, what flashed through my mind was the test ritual of five years ago. The ridicule, contempt, pity, and indifference that had been directed at me by the people around me at the time my father had disowned me and banished me from Onigashima, replayed in my mind one after another.

　Those abominable memories.

　The memories that had been groaning in my head every time I remembered them for the past five years.


''--hmm.''


　I brushed it off with a single snort and stepped carelessly into the hall.

　Seeing me, Goz broke down in a reliable manner. In the past, when I would appear in front of my father and his pupils, I would always be deflated. I guess he was happy to see my growth as I played back their gazes without any trouble.


''Now, Sora-dono, please proceed to the front of the Gokan-sama. Everyone has been waiting for Sora-dono, that they have.


　Goz speaks as if everyone had gathered to greet me. I couldn't help but chuckle when I heard that.

　There's no way that all these eminent men and women would gather to welcome me alone.

　They didn't come together for me, but for my mother. On the anniversary of the death of the deceased, it is common for the entire family to mourn together on the anniversary of the deceased's death, which is in line with the teachings of the Dharma God that covers the continent.

　Miken Shizuya was the sword saint of her day, and the official wife of Miken Shikibu, the great aristocrat of the Ad Astera Empire. When it is the anniversary of her death, all of her subjects will gather to mourn her with great pomp and circumstance. In fact, that was the case until I left the island.

　To most of the people gathered here, I was just an intruder on the anniversary of her death. They would be waiting, not for me, but for this farce to end.

　With that in mind, I walked past the courtiers on either side of me on my way to my master's office. Along the way, I saw a few familiar faces here and there, but not a ripple in my mind. Nor did the curious, hostile, or blatantly judgmental looks he received from the courtiers make his heart shrink, as it had in the past.

　Gone are the days of slouching, hunched shoulders and hunched backs. As I walked straight ahead, chest out, chin pulled back, some people looked at me and said, "Oh," but that didn't matter to me.

　And so I sat down in the designated position. While sitting upright, a familiar voice fell from above my head to me as I bowed to the head of the family.


''-- It's been a while, Sora.''


　His father's first voice for the first time in five years. His voice was devoid of warmth, but at the same time, it was devoid of wet malice.

　It may not sound like a bad response, but the lack of goodwill and the absence of malice means that he is indifferent.

　The sound of his voice, heavy, cold and dry, is the same as it was five years ago.

　How many times have I shuddered at the sound of this voice, which does not harbor any emotion?

　How many times had I been shaken by this gaze, which was like looking at a stone on the side of the road?

　My father probably sees me the same as I do now and as I did five years ago. In the first place, he may not even try to distinguish them. It's as if he's a god looking down on the universe from above, sitting supernaturally and calling out to me. There is not a hint of fatherly compassion in that.

　--It's a good thing that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to have to worry about it.

　I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not the only one.


''It's been a long time, my lord.

'I see you've been working out since you left the island.

As you wish, sir.


　There were a few more questions after that, but I continued to answer all of them quietly. There is no need to hide anything in particular. When I was asked if it was true that I struck down a dragon species by myself, I honestly affirmed it.

　At this time, what erupted from those around me was not a murmur of admiration, but rather bitterness and laughter, as well as ridicule directed at those who spout off big words without the ability to do so.

　That's enough to know my position in Onigashima. Sure enough, it seems that the reports of Goz and the Berch sisters were not taken seriously.

　That's probably why the Four Hags were dispatched. I'm sure that the four flags ended up running back to the island due to the quick thinking of Cryer, but their reports didn't seem to fall on deaf ears.

　They must have been thinking that it would be too much trouble to send a new attacker to the island, so they decided to come back on the anniversary of their mother's death and remove their disguise.

　Someone moved in a sluggish manner to confirm this assumption.


"My mansion-sama, forgive me for my remarks.

"I forgive you, Gilmore.


　Gilmore Berch, one of the Four Lords, stepped forward, his white beard swinging. The head of House Berch began to speak eloquently, giving me a quick glance.


The words of the Lord of the air are brilliant. It is amazing that you have slaughtered a dragon all by yourself, that you have done so well. It's no wonder that my son Claia, Klimt and Goz Siima were unable to match him. You have been called an embarrassment to the Golden Age, and you have not even managed to beat the test, yet you have managed to do so in just five years.


　A loud laugh erupts from the courtiers in the room, as if at peace with Gilmore's flowing oratory. Half in contempt for me, and half in obedience to the leader of the Berch family, who is flying high at Onigashima, I guess.

　But now, you've been provoking me so blatantly that it's almost refreshing. What kind of a person is it for the four lords to expose their inner feelings so blatantly?

　It's a good idea to speak intimately to someone you don't like, which is the top of the four lords of the swords family's "literature" - as expected, was it unbearable for Gilmore to have his two expected adopted children beaten up?

　Or perhaps he was trying to appeal to Laguna, the next head of the family, by directing his verbal abuse at me, and also provoking Goz and others.

　If anything, this one seems more likely. From what I've heard in glimpses from Cryer in Ishqa, the interior of the Berch family is quite cold. I'm not sure if it's a good idea to think that they are trying to get revenge for the harm done to their adopted son, but rather that they are working hard to expand their own power.

　I was silent as I thought about this when Gilmore looked at me, the corners of his mouth raised. He must have judged that I was shrinking in comparison to my surroundings as I was five years ago, because he continued to speak in a somewhat relaxed manner.


You will be able to find out if you have a good idea of what to do with your own. You should not be able to get your hands on any of them. I think that the Tsuchigumo should be used as a test opponent.


　As soon as Gilmore said that, the hall shook roughly. It's not the same as when he belittled me earlier, but this time it was a murmur of deep-seated surprise.


In fact, I have already made preparations. As a matter of fact, I've already made the preparations. If today is an important day to mourn the loss of Shizuya-sama's soul, I thought it was important to get the rest of the things done quickly.


　It was Goz who responded to Gilmore's words.

　He opened his mouth vigorously with a look of obvious fury.


'Wait!　I have never heard of a spider being used for a trial ceremony. And Sora-dono has only just come all the way here today, that he has. It is not a very nice thing to say to have no time to rest and participate in a test ritual. If you know that today is a very important day, then you should do the test rituals on a different day, that you should do them on a different day!

I would never say this to an ordinary person, Goz Sima. You are the only one who has ever been able to defeat an ordinary person. Where is the need to impose the same conditions on such an expert as an ordinary person?　I'm sure that even Kukden would like to end these chores early and mourn your mother's bodhi without a care in the world.


　As I said this, Gilmore smiled at me.


''How do you like it, Sora-dono?　It is not possible for the Dragonslayer to be afraid of a spider. I am sure you would agree with me, that I would not.

....

Oh, how do you like it?　I'm just making a flippant assumption, but is it true that you have been lying to the Mikado-sama about this?　In that case, I will say nothing bad. You should immediately apologize to the Emperor and to all those who are present here. This is the sacred place for the evaluation of your swordsmen. A single word of nonsense is not permitted.


　As Gilmore's words ended, a silence filled the great hall.

　Feeling all the eyes of the place pierce through me, I shut my mouth and, incidentally, my eyes, and stand in the fortress of silence.

　With every second, the atmosphere around me changes to a swallowing one. The air is tingling and stinging. If someone shouted in anger, I would be swallowed up by their rage in that moment.

　Knowing this, I continue to keep my mouth shut.

　One second, two seconds, three seconds, four seconds... When I open my eyes, I see that even Gilmore, who was supposed to be the trapper, is flirting with irritation. I thought I was either going to be strong in a hurry or admit my faults and hang on, but I don't understand why I continue to sit on the edge without a wind of fear.

　I'm sure you're not going to be able to find a way to make it work. I'm sure you're not going to be able to get away with it," he said, just before the anger around him exploded, as he had done with his father.


I'm not sure if that's the end of what I want to say, Master Craftsman?

What do you mean?

She asked if that was all she had to say. As you have just told me, I want to end this matter early and mourn your mother's death without a care in the world. I don't have time to listen to your complaints. If you have something to say, please say it in a sentence. If you have something to say, tell us when you are finished. I will ask you again. Is that all you have to say, Mr. Gilmore Berch?

''Well, it looks like you have lost your sense of propriety to your superiors in the past five years. As the heir of a swordsman, you lacked the ability, character and character of a heir, but you had the only thing that was polite to you. You seem to have lost a single merit.

''If that's what you say, then it must be so, isn't it? As for me, I think I've been polite enough, but I apologize if I've been rude.

You--

Oh, and,


　I continued to speak as if I were trying to push my opponent's objections.


'It was a spider, and you can deal with that right afterwards. As I said, I would like to end this kind of business as soon as possible. It's no joke that I'm going to be crossing the day.


　When I responded to Goz's insistence by kicking off his argument, Gilmore's face showed both an expression of grimace and displeasure at being interrupted by me at the same time.

　For a moment, Gilmore seemed unsure of what to say, but I guess he didn't want to spend his time with a woodcutter like me.

　Immediately, he nodded in an exaggerated manner, saying, "Very well.


Then, with your permission, we will conduct the trial immediately. Is that all right?

No, I have to ask you one question first.


　He objected to Gilmore's attempt to end things. The irritation on Gilmore's face was clearer this time.


'Why do you still want to play this nonsense?

''You're the one who's playing nonsense. 'If your ability to defeat the dragon species is true, there is no problem in entrusting one or two demons to you,' is your condition. If you want me to prove my power, there's no denying that I'm willing to fight against an earth spider. However, that has nothing to do with the testimonial ceremony. I don't plan to join the Illusionary Itto-Ryu family now, nor do I intend to be a vassal to the Giken family.

What do you mean...?


　The pouting Gilmore's face was probably the first I'd ever seen in my life. It was probably the same for most of the people in the room.

　It was a rare sight, but unfortunately I was the only one who could enjoy it. After all, everyone except Gilmore was also very pale.

　The only one who didn't change his expression was his father sitting in front of him, and even the twin peaks on either side of his father were slightly moving.

　Most of the people here, including Gilmore, don't believe that I've defeated the illusory species. In other words, they think I'm trying to return to the Gokens with a false achievement. Even those who have accepted some of the authenticity of Goz's report are not so sure about my intentions.

　I flatly rejected their assumptions. The result was this silence.

　And then I heard a stifled voice from behind me.


''--Sora-dono.''

What is it, Lady Sima?

As I said in Ishqa, I have already told you that Lord Sora has learned to wear the heart attire. As I have already told you in Ishqa, I have already reported that you have acquired the attire of the heart, and that you are not allowed to place a person who has learned to wear the heart attire outside the umbrella of the swordsman. However, if you can qualify for the title of Seirin Bishi, that's a different story.

....

As you know, there are some of the blue ribbon officers who are engaged in activities outside of the island, and it is Gokan-sama's intention to welcome you as one of them. If they perform well off the island, the day will come when they can officially take on the surname of your sword!

'I see. So the swordsman has put me to death. "Prove your strength," he wrote in his letter, "and you'll prove your strength," when in fact, he would not give me what I wanted unless you became his vassal.

The sky!　If Your Highness has planned this time to be merciful to you, I would like to ask for your approval...!


　I fluttered my right hand without looking back at Goz, who stirred with some kind of hard look, and I waved my right hand in the air without looking back.


'Oh, excuse me. I'm sorry," he said, "I didn't mean to be rude. It's fine, Lord Seema. I was expecting this to happen anyway.

...Sora-dono?

Falsehoods are an expedient means to an end if it is to serve the law of the Plating God. That is the swordsman's way. It's no different than what you did in Ishqa.

Hey...


　I could feel a hint of exasperation, but what was he surprised about? I don't think it was possible, but did he think he was different from Gilmore?

　Oh well. As I said, I knew it was going to be like this anyway.

　I took a moment to look again at the banners that were present here while everyone around me was stunned. I looked at the swordsmanship, the twin peaks, the four lords, and the eight banners. I saw the essence of the swordsmanship of the swordsmen gathered here, the essence of the martial arts, all of it.

　And then I thought to myself.

　They are strong.

　That's the elite of the swordsmen. It's no wonder I was in awe five years ago when I was surrounded by these people.

　In particular, the swordsmanship is like looking up at the top of a white peak floating beyond the clouds.

　A tower-like peak reaching high into the sky. This is the extreme point of the divine realm that cannot be reached by the human body. I'm sure you'll be keenly aware of the fact that they can't reach it, even with a dragon in their midst.

　But still.



　--I was able to see it for sure!




　A natural shiver went down my throat.

　More than when I cut down Goz. More than when he stepped on Klimt. More than when he ate Cryer. More than when I defeated the Hydra, for example.

　The top of the mountain, which five years ago could not be seen, can now be seen. It is the same for the Swordsman, not to mention the twin peaks.

　It was proof that the past five years had not been in vain.

　And there was one more thing I learned. Perhaps the swordsmanship was not as long as the sword club had been for the past five years.

　The extreme point is the final point at which the mind user can reach, and no more.

　In other words, it is the limit. There is no room for the one who has developed his talent to a hundred.

　The only way to get out of this situation is to raise the level of the game, but the only way to do so is to have an opponent who is stronger than you.

　However, where would there be an opponent stronger than the Kensei? The strongest player is the one who is not stronger than you. The strongest person is the one who cannot raise his or her level any higher.

　Or if you are an illusory species, you may be able to raise the level of the Sword Saint.

　But even I, who defeated Hydra, can't reach the current Sword Saint. Any illusory species that can raise the level of the Sword Saint, that's just - oh, that's just it.


　--only a dragon that kills a god, right?