199 第百九十八話『漏れ出でた産声』




 It was a grand banquet in the city of Garou Amalia.

 Even those who spend their days working and earning only a few daily coins smile with a drink in their hand on this occasion. It is the same for men and women.

 Just celebrate, just sing. A place where that is genuinely allowed. That was today's banquet.

 A ritual, a ceremony, an alliance meeting. It may be called by many names. But whatever it is, it is certain that on this day, a banquet will be held to celebrate the alliance between heraldry and Gazalia, and to hope that they will remain friends forever.

 I am worried about the future. After all, the overwhelming power of the Great Patriarchate and the nations are turning against us. It is possible that those we celebrate with today will be dead tomorrow. The battlefield is close at hand.

 So let's laugh today. Instead of worrying about tomorrow when the cold wind blows, let's celebrate the present.

 To live is not to sob over the past, nor to stare into the future and fight against fear, but to simply walk in the present moment.

 As if in sympathy with the feelings of someone else, the whole of Garouamalia was leaking out breaths full of vitality.

 The ceremony was held in one of the squares that was the center of all this activity.

 The square was equipped with the various structures necessary for the ceremony, as well as the largest of the ceremonial tables.

 The platform was built on a pile of white stones, and its top was clearly visible from the surroundings. The white stones, arranged in an orderly fashion, were illuminated by the sunlight, giving the viewers a solemn atmosphere.

 Seated on the ceremonial table were the unmistakable representatives of heraldry and Gazalia.

 That is, Saint Mattia and Queen Fin-Erdis of Gazalia. They sit next to each other, exchanging a few words and smiles, as if to show their friendship.

 I don't know if it was something they had originally planned, or if it was just a spontaneous conversation. But every citizen sees the scene and thinks.

 Heraldry and Ghazaria, human and elf, have unmistakably joined hands in this moment. Their bond must be like an iron chain. We all thought that there was an unmistakable sign of friendship here.

 But the truth is, not so much. The barriers between humans and elves are deeper than one might think. Some of their customs, cultures, and even languages do not overlap.

 There may be times when we will go down the wrong path.

 But for today, the citizens of Galuamaria and the elves of Ghazaria have confirmed their friendship. We talked to each other, trying to make it true.

 Whether it will be fleeting or eternal remains to be seen.

"Today, at this time, our bond will be engraved in history.

 Saint Mattia's resonant voice filled the sky. The citizens surrounding the ceremonial table responded to the voice with a rippling murmur. It was no longer clear whether it was a cheer or just a huge mass of sound. That's how much sound was drifting around the ceremonial table.

Elves and humans, there are no barriers between races here, and we will proudly stand against all who would harm us.

 The voice of Finn-Erdis, Queen of Gazalia, wavered in the wind. The whole of Galuamaria was filled with the same reaction, if not stronger, than the reaction to the saint Mattia.

 The citizens all let out a cheer, their whole bodies showing their joy, but they kept their ears up to make sure they didn't miss a single word.

 One by one, the words were inscribed. The Garouamalia vibrated, and the voices echoed again. After this had been repeated several times, Largd-Anne, who had been serving the saint Mattia and facilitating the ceremony, opened her mouth as if she had taken the opportunity.

I'm sure you've heard of it.

 I think it was at the same time he said that. At the same time, perhaps, he appeared at the top of a path that led from the stairs on the ceremonial platform.

 His name was Lugis.

 Some of the citizens recognized him and shouted, while others wondered who he was. In the midst of all this, he walks down an open road.

 His attire was not the usual coarse attire, but a dark green color similar to a military uniform. The jeweled sword at his waist made a dull sound as it reflected the sunlight.

 The way he walked was not very ceremonial. Rather, his movements were more natural, swaying and swaying somewhat. But the citizens, even Ann and those sitting on the ceremonial table, did not condemn him.

 Everyone just waited, quietly, for him to finish walking down the street and walk up to the altar. The citizens, who had been buzzing at first, gradually began to watch him, and in the end, silence reigned around them, and the only sounds were the sound of Lugis walking and the swinging of the treasure sword.

 Finally, the only sounds were the sound of his walk and the swinging of his sword. Her dark green dress stood out well against the white base of the ceremonial table.

 Anne, the facilitator of the ceremony, gave a prearranged speech. It was as if the whole thing had been delivered by him alone. And then, as if all of this had been accomplished by him alone, he would say.

 As for Lugis, he probably has a feeling of absurdity growing in his heart. But what do you know, rituals are usually exaggerated.

 The Ritual of the Emblem is a ceremony to transform a mere man into a hero. It is a ritual in which someone who is essentially only a person is reincarnated into something else in the name of the heraldic god.

 I'm not sure what to make of that. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

"The one and only Lugis. Do you have the will to be born again in this world as a hero?

 I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea. The hair was shaken by the wind.

I believe that I do.

 The saintly Mattia's cheeks relaxed slightly at the answer. I believe there is. It's not the answer that I had originally planned on, she said, smiling at Lugis.

 But that's okay, too. At any rate, Rougis has accepted. To be under the command of the heraldry. He agreed to be a hero of the heraldry, and he said it. I'm not sure what to say. That's exactly what I can't show on my face.



"Then in the name of our great god Oufru, Lugis, you are now a hero. The gods will welcome your presence!

 Mattia's words pierced the air, and the crowd erupted.

 It was like a burst of flame. It was as if the crowd itself was a living organism.

 Now, before their eyes, a hero was born.

 A hero. The one who would save them all. One who has been favored by fate. The one who will rewrite history. It's right in front of us now. Everyone's heart is lifted. There was a stirring in their hearts that they were now witnesses to history.

 Lugis, alone among the cheers, narrowed his eyes slightly. What kind of emotions were swirling in the depths of his heart, even the gods could not know.

 Therefore, there is only one thing that is clear. The only thing that is clear is that he, Lugis, has finally given birth to his story here and now.

 The noise in the surrounding area had finally calmed down a bit. Mattia's voice leaked out again, as if he had been watching.

"Rougis. No, hero Rougis. Let me congratulate you on your new birth.

 I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who's had a bad day.

 The saint's lips swayed as if they were swaying in the wind.