Chapter 76

The sword-girding ceremony had already begun.

The VIP seats that had been prepared by removing the rings, as well as the general seats that had been repurposed from the Colosseum's audience seats, were all filled.

The venue was filled with a quiet excitement.

At the center of the venue, on a stage raised one step higher, a throne was set up, and King Corinne was seated there.

In his hand was the Kvar Besta, sheathed.

Speeches of words from the top of the Corinne Kingdom, including the king, and congratulatory words from the nobles who had come from various countries continued.

Among them was Cyril's figure.

His congratulatory speech was impressively composed, and one couldn't help but admire him as a representative of a country.

Then, finally, the main event began.

It was the event where Anne would receive the sword from King Corinne. She had not yet appeared in the venue.

Anne appeared from the entrance for the athletes at the end of the Colosseum.

A gasp of admiration could be heard from the surrounding audience. Anne's beauty in her dress was worth it.

Anne walked down the red carpet that had been laid out straight to the throne, a path made especially for her.

Just by walking, she exuded grace. The efficient movements from her mastery of swordsmanship, the etiquette drilled into her from a young age as a noble, and above all, the pride she carried as the bearer of Kvar Besta, made her shine.

The impact of Anne's appearance made the venue silent for a while, but gradually the effect wore off.

The audience gradually remembered that Anne was the daughter of a criminal.

"Traitor!"

"How dare you show up here!"

"Get lost!"

Malice towards her was thrust at her one after another.

But Anne did not waver in the slightest.

She just walked straight ahead.

The noise became increasingly unbearable.

But no one stopped it.

The staff of the event were aware but did not move. They knew they could do nothing against the masses.

Or perhaps, Feilarte's hand was at work.

Kuna, who was sitting next to me, bit her lip. She must have been pained by Anne being mocked. And she must have been frustrated that she couldn't help. I understand that feeling. I feel the same.

"That's terrible, everyone."

"Kuna, Anne must have known this would happen from the beginning. She decided to participate in the sword-girding ceremony anyway."

"I know, but..."

"We can only watch over Anne."

It was roughly as expected.

I had hoped that some restraint might work in a setting with the king and important figures from inside and outside the country.

Indeed, those in the VIP seats were behaving themselves. It was too much to ask for the masses to show restraint.

"Soushi, I have to tell you in advance. I'm sorry."

With that, Kuna stood up.

Most people didn't notice Kuna standing up.

Naturally, the standing of a single girl in the VIP seats was a trivial matter, and no one needed to pay attention to it at this moment.

Kuna closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Was she going to shout to stop the noise?

But what Kuna started was...

"Morning breaks, and I peek at your face next to me, the sun illuminating you."

It was a song.

Yes, Kuna sang.

Logically, it made no sense.

In the noise created by thousands of people, a single person's song would be drowned out immediately.

But it was different.

"What is this song?"

"Where is it coming from?"

"It's so gentle, such a mysterious song."

Kuna's song reached everyone in the venue.

The song of the fire fox was a mystical song, easily transcending common sense.

Kuna's song reached everywhere, to the ears and hearts of all.

The people who had been making noise just moments ago fell silent.

This song was a blessing for Anne, filled with Kuna's kindness and empathy. With this song resonating and Kuna's thoughts enveloping them, no one could utter foul words.

Moreover, the people wanted to hear Kuna's song. Therefore, any unnecessary noise was not needed here. It would be a waste to taint such an overwhelming song.

...She really did it. The song was supposed to be given later. The schedule was in chaos. The staff of the sword-girding ceremony must be in a panic right now. But it was good timing. I stood up and played my ofar to support Kuna.

Unlike Kuna, my ofar, which had no special power, couldn't reach the audience in terms of volume. But it could support Kuna.

Indeed, Kuna looked at me and smiled. That was enough.

Thinking this, I played my ofar, and the sound of my ofar, carrying Kuna's song, reached the audience firmly.

"You have to make sure it reaches. My clumsy ofar complements Kuna's song well. I don't hate it, Soushi's sound."

Cyril muttered softly.

The sound of my ofar reaching the audience was due to Cyril's work.

Cyril used wind magic to amplify and carry the sound, delivering it throughout the venue without any degradation in sound quality.

Cyril could perform such a highly difficult magic spontaneously, with a whistling tune. What a monster! I smiled. I have to surpass this person someday. It won't be easy, but that's why it's worth doing.

Before I knew it, only Kuna's song and my ofar's sound were echoing in the venue.

All other sounds had disappeared.

Anne, enveloped in Kuna's song and kindness, walked towards the throne. Her steps were light.

She looked at Kuna and smiled for a moment. Kuna's song must have reached her too.

Anne reached the stage where the king was seated. At the same time, Kuna's song ended.

The audience was immersed in the afterglow of Kuna's song.

"That was a blessing song gifted by the friendly country of Elsie."

In the midst of this, an announcement from Nerinela, the person in charge of the sword-girding ceremony, was made.

He was wiping sweat and seemed quite flustered.

If a song was sung spontaneously, it would cause such a reaction.

Still, he was covering for us properly. He might be a good guy.

His voice was being transmitted through a dedicated magical amplifier set up near the throne. Originally, Kuna's song was supposed to be amplified and delivered using this.

...In hindsight, Cyril's magic might have delivered a clearer sound, so we might have gained a slight advantage.

"The singer is Kuna Elsie, the youngest daughter of the head of Elsie, Cyril Elsie. And the accompanist is..."

There, the man paused for a moment.

Did something happen?

"Kuna Elsie's fiancé, Soushi. This is a blessing song from the princess of Elsie and her fiancé. They are not only representatives of Elsie but also friends of Anne Roquette. It was a wonderful song filled with both blessings and friendship."

I was startled and looked at Cyril and Yuki. Both were smiling.

I remember Yuki saying, "It's strange for outsiders to be involved in Elsie's blessing song," but they made me a part of it by doing this.

I'll have to question them later.

"Princess Kuna Elsie, Soushi. Thank you for the wonderful song. We will now continue with the sword-girding ceremony."

The man, as if it had been planned from the beginning, smoothly moved on to the next event.

He was impressive.

Kuna and I bowed to the audience and returned to our seats.

The people no longer shouted insults.

Anne was in front of the throne, and she was moved by Kuna's song. No one cared about making noise here.

In this situation, the sword-girding ceremony for Kuna would proceed without any problems.

The king stood up, and Anne knelt on the spot.

"Anne Roquette, I entrust you with the sword once given to the hero who saved the world, the great mage Shujina. This sword is the pride of all the swordsmen of the Corinne Kingdom. Are you prepared to bear the weight of this sword and become its bearer?"

The king asked Anne.

"Yes, I, Anne Roquette, am prepared to bear Kvar Besta and stand at the pinnacle of all swordsmen."

"Then, grasp this sword."

Anne respectfully received Kvar Besta and stood up, drawing the sword from its sheath.

Each of her movements was beautiful.

Anne raised the sword high.

"Kvar Besta, respond."

In response to Anne's prayer, the first stage of Kvar Besta's ability was released.

Countless red lines ran along the white blade, glowing.

The audience was stunned.

This was proof that Kvar Besta recognized Anne as its master.

A shock ran through the hearts of the audience, who had only been denying Anne.

Anne then performed a sword dance.

The audience was captivated by Anne's graceful dance. It was more like a sacred dance offered to the gods than a sword dance.

Anne's performance ended.

If Kvar Besta had only recognized Anne, the audience might not have accepted her.

But Kuna's song, filled with love for Anne, had softened their hearts.

"In the name of Corlof Corinne, I hereby declare the birth of a new bearer of Kvar Besta!"

With the king's words, applause echoed throughout the venue.

Anne, holding the sword high, was visibly trying to hold back tears.

I felt proud, as if it were my own achievement.

...I'm glad, Anne.