Chapter 449 – Important Things Are Said Twice. And Emphasized
The whole world was in a frenzy, cheering wildly for this intense, fiery battle between two men.
However, that couldn’t last forever.
〔Come on! Let’s decide, Mr. Machio! Let’s see who wins this fight!〕
Even the spectators, who had been cheering wildly, fell silent as the battle drew to a close.
And the final moment was a simple one: the two men clashing head-on, each unleashing their ultimate power.
At that moment, the entire world fell silent once more.
Everyone held their breath.
They were waiting to see which man was truly stronger.
And……
〔Let’s go! I won’t let anyone get in the way!!〕
That technique was unleashed once more.
“Hey, that’s the move he used against Rebal in the exhibition match!”
“Oh, the one Sadiz was talking about, something about the Great Demon King’s technique!”
“Back then, Lord Hiro and Lady Mamu stepped in to stop it……”
“But this time…… this time for sure!”
The citizens of the Empire remember that huge maelstrom all too well.
And now, Earth unleashes it once more.
Directed at Machio’s most powerful technique as he charges toward him.
〔Wowoooo! 【Arcane True Zenith Cannonball Tackle】!!〕
〔【Great Magic Spiral・Earth Spiral・Sonic Impact】!!〕
Blow it away!
Everything!
Those who had witnessed Earth’s efforts up to this point burned the sight of this culmination of his accumulated power into their minds.
And at the end of the fierce collision, only one person was sent flying.
“Ah…… hey, look! Over there…… he was blown away there.”
“Yes! The one standing is Earth!”
“So, then… that means… this means…….”
The one standing is Earth.
The one who was blown away is Machio.
Those who witnessed the outcome exchanged glances, confirming the situation with one another.
And then……
〔I give up… it’s my loss.〕
Machio himself, the one who had fought, declared his surrender.
〔I … won… me… did I win…?〕
There is only one possible interpretation of this.
“Your Majesty!”
“Ah… ah… magnificent…. Earth… you… you! To have elevated yourself to such heights… heh heh, you really are something. As expected of Hiro and Mamu’s―――― “
Even from the palace……
“Awesome! He did it, that guy!”
“Yeah! He actually won!”
“Wow! That’s amazing! He’s so strong!”
” Yeah, he seemed a bit of a disappointment back in the Academy, but he really did have talent after all!”
“That’s right. I guess that makes sense. Because he’s…….”
“Ah, as expected of the Hero’s –“
From the Imperial City as well……
“Hey, look, Earth! His eyes are watering!”
“Haha, he must have been really happy!”
“Now that I think about it, has he ever won a championship or come in first place since entering the Academy?”
“Nope, never. No wonder he’s so happy.”
“But it was amazing~. As expected of a Hero’s–“
The Academy students let out cheers along with what could be described as “admiration” in a way.
But then, at that very moment!
―― Champion. Number one. The moment he truly realized it, the boy closed his eyes.
At that moment, the “narration voice” that had played at the beginning of this viewing session suddenly cut in.
“Huh!?”
“Your Majesty, th, that was…”
“…… Ah…and, as expected… this is… ‘His voice’.”
Solja’s afterglow of admiration and awe for Earth was shattered, and his face twisted with disgust.
What flashed through Solja’s mind was the utterly despicable demon that had once been the sworn enemy of the Seven Heroes, someone he’d rather forget.
Furthermore……
“Who exactly is he…? No, but why here…? Hmm?”
“Your Majesty! L, look, look at that!”
“W, what? The scene suddenly changed… and why… is it in black and white?”
The scene abruptly shifted from Earth, who had been overcome with emotion and lost in sentimentality in the arena, to a view that was, for some reason, in black and white.
Everyone squinted, wondering what was going on, and they recognized the scene.
“Hmm? Oh…… isn’t that the arena in the Imperial City? This is from the Imperial Tournament!”
Solja gasped in realization, and everyone else noticed as well.
“It’s true! Scenes from this year’s tournament…… Huh?”
“Y, yes, that’s definitely it. Why?”
The soldiers, as well as the citizens of the Imperial City outside the palace, began to murmur amongst themselves.
“H, hey, what’s going on?”
“Hey, show that guy! Why did it suddenly change?”
“The Imperial Tournament… Oh, I saw myself in the audience!”
“Me too!”
Yes, the scene currently being projected in the sky was from the Academy’s graduation tournament held in the Imperial City several months ago.
――Before the tournament began, the boy was brimming with confidence that he would win. But the moment he actually won, he closed his eyes and recalled everything that had happened up to that point. And of course, that fateful tournament as well…
The scene is accompanied by a narration.
And…
〔Even so, Earth is so strong…〕
〔Until now, you were saying that the Son of Hiro and Mamu would lose!〕
〔I knew that, didn’t I? Young Earth is a man who does it when he does it!〕
〔Oh, that’s ridiculous!〕
〔Well, I’ve reconsidered it!〕
〔Yes, as expected—〕
The voices of the people of the Imperial City at the Imperial Tournament are broadcast to the world.
〔〔〔〔〔As expected of the Son of the Hero!!!〕〕〕〕〕
―――These were words that the boy had heard countless times throughout his life, not words of praise, but words of a curse. No matter what the boy accomplished, people only looked at his parents, who were always at his back, and no one ever tried to see the boy himself.
The somewhat contrived narration cut in, and the scene shifted back to the tournament.
〔That Earth, he’s amazing! Amazing! I can’t believe he beat that Machio!〕
〔Oraah! You bastard, what a match!〕
〔It’s great… I, too…Me too!〕
〔I’m gonna do it… I also! I’m gonna get stronger!〕
〔Well done, young man!〕
〔Yeah, that was cool!〕
―― However, at this very moment, no one here knows that the boy is the “Son of the Hero”. They send him their heartfelt congratulations, knowing him for who he truly is and recognizing all the effort he has put in up to this point.
And then the scene shifts back to the Imperial Tournament……
――The boy had been working desperately hard all this time. But……
〔Is it true that the technique he just used was the Great Demon King Tre’ainar’s?〕
〔Idiot, why would the son of a hero use the Demon King’s skill!〕
〔If that’s the case… it’s a shame!〕
〔You have no pride as a son of a hero?〕
This is the scene in which the citizens of the Imperial City viciously berate Earth.
“””””…… Huh……”””””
――Yes, the Empire, his birthplace… that’s right, “The EMPIRE!” didn’t acknowledge him.
〔Hey, isn’t that funny in the first place? That failure of a son was so strong…〕
〔That’s right. No matter how much, I thought it was funny when he was overpowering that Rebal!〕
〔Oh, maybe he got his hands on some vile power!〕
〔What? That kind of…… such a guy is the son of a hero…. and you’re trying to be a warrior!?〕
〔Kick him out of school, that guy right now!〕
〔Warrior disqualification!〕
〔Permanent expulsion from the warrior world!〕
――He was reviled, condemned, slandered… and to top it all off……
〔Idiot! What got stronger… if you want to be strong, is anything acceptable?〕
―― And above all else, the boy was even rejected by his own father, the Hero Hiro… that’s right, “HERO HIRO”……
At that moment, the smiles vanished from the faces of the Imperial citizens, and they froze in shock.
Then, the scene shifts to Earth, shouting his heart out at Hiro.
The people of the Empire, who hadn’t really understood Earth’s cries due to the confusion and commotion at the time, only now realize what Earth had shouted back then.
〔What? Like there’s anything left to say now? When you finally looked at me, you’re looking with such eyes …. if my father and mother looked at me better, they’d understand! If you two actually looked at me…. what I bumped into, struggled with, agonized over… if the world hadn’t imposed a convenient title on me… it would have been things like that!〕
〔Earth ……〕
〔So, what’s wrong with me right now? I didn’t cheat, I didn’t have a hand in anything suspicious! I trained and studied, I fought with my own strength! Only to have you have to look at me like that! I hit a wall, and I don’t know for a long time that everyone says the second generation is a lost cause, or that we’re not enough. Even though I finally got here… Why!〕
It’s completely unedited, word for word.
〔Now I understand. This country…… including my father… me… no one cared about Earth Lagann. What you were interested in is the son of an ideal hero who is convenient for you…. as for me…… Earth Lagann…… I didn’t matter…….〕
“””””Ah!!!????”””””
〔If I knew it would be this hard… I would not want to be born as a hero’s child… ‘Father’……〕
And then, those who were suddenly struck by the realization—and who knew all too well what it meant… that is, every citizen of the Empire—froze in that moment, their faces stiffening as they fell silent.
――Yes, the boy had failed to become the “Ideal Son of a Hero” that the world had hoped for.
〔Father, I’m just… just once… my dad… everyone… not as a son of a hero. I just wanted you to praise me…. that’s all…… Sorry…… I couldn’t be the son of a perfect ideal hero … I’m sorry…… Mother… Sorry…… Sadiz…… I’m just annoying…. I’m sorry……〕
――And at this moment…… the boy broke away from his homeland, the Empire, and his father, Hiro… from “the Empire” and “the Hero Hiro,” and fled into the world.
No one knew. Nobody knew what Earth was muttering, shouting, and lamenting such things at that time.
What Earth had been thinking until then.
“Earth…… y, you… you were… that’s how you… no, if that’s the case… we…….”
At that moment, Solja, too, understood everything, and slammed his fist forcefully against the terrace railing.
It was Earth’s anguish, something he knew nothing about, yet something that would have been obvious with a little thought. A complex.
At the same time, the people of the Empire understood as well.
“Ah… I…….”
“I, I, I wasn’t thinking that… I wasn’t thinking that……”
“I… I might have said it… that he’s the son of a hero… the son of a hero……
“I…… as expected, he is, the son, of a hero……
At that moment, almost everyone began to tremble as if their hearts had been gripped by an eagle’s talons.
And then, the scene returns to the tournament.
〔Yes, without question! The winner of the Arcane True Zenith Style Fighting Tournament is~~ Eaaaaaaaaartth Lagaaaaaaaaaannn!! Congratulations! That is the best of the best!〕
〔Congratulations, Earth!〕
〔Champion!〕
〔Blessed to witness the birth of our new strongest man!〕
〔Earth! Earth! Earth! Earth!〕
〔Yes… I can only say that he is really amazing? Machio seems to be safe too … I’m glad…〕
〔Well, Big~ Brother~… Big brother! Congratulations!〕
〔Older brother! Kyaho, Kyaho, Kyaho!〕
――And at that moment, the boy finally found people who saw him not as “the Son of a Hero,” but as “Earth Lagann”, people who acknowledged him, and……
〔You’ve grown really big, great, and… really…… you’ve really become stronger… Little man〕
The image of Sadiz was projected.
Smiling with tears in her eyes, her expression showed that she had remembered everything she had forgotten……
〔As expected… just as you’d expect of Earth Lagann. The power, the effort, the glory of the victory that he grasped at the end. I, Sadiz… was deeply moved… from the bottom of my heart… I’m proud of Little man.〕
――And on this day, the boy was able to grasp what he truly desired.
〔…… Ah… uh… Ah…….. u…….〕
In the end, Earth collapsed in tears, overcome with joy.
The citizens of the Empire were left speechless by the sight.
And……
“A son burdened by the weight of his great father’s name…… well, I s’pose that’s a common enough tale in these ‘peaceful’ times, ain’t it? Still, managin’ to get this far despite all that is a fair bit of graft, it is… an’ so, you only realise what’s ‘appened now that your lad’s turned fifteen, and you think you can just trot on over to say sorry…… That’s a bit too bleedin’ convenient, innit, Hiro…… Mamu……”
Hakuki, having watched the entire tournament, including flashbacks to the Imperial Tournament, calmed down, sat back down in his chair, crossed his legs, and sneered at Hiro and Mamu, who were weeping in anguish beside him.
“It’s true… Earth is so amazing… Not only does he work hard, but he also gets results… in ways we don’t even know about……”
“That day… and how we’ve neglected that child all this time, saying whatever we pleased… I keep remembering it over and over now… and every time, I’m reminded just how foolish we were…”
How much do they both want to say “Well done” and “You were amazing”?
Even though they knew that they were unworthy, they still wanted to praise their son’s efforts and achievements directly to his face.
But they still couldn’t do that. And they felt self-loathing over and over again for their own stupidity in letting things get to this point.
And……
“Woooooooo Big brother! Waaaaaah, waaaaaaah!”
“Ugh…… As I thought, Brother is so amazing…… sniff.”
In the elven settlement, Espie and Slayer were already in tears.
“S, Sir Earth~, wow, you were so wondrous…… and yet, such grievous sorrow befell you.”
“…… Ah~, Honey…… I can’t take it anymore… I swear I’ll make you happy for the rest of your life.”
No, it wasn’t just the two of them—Amicus, Shinobu, and quite a few other elves were shedding tears as well.
“Nuuuoooooh~ Hubbyyyyyy! You look soooo cute when you’re crying, I just wanna, like, eat you right up~♥”
With a few exceptions.
Anyway, while the elven settlement was overflowing with excitement and tears, there was more to it than that……
“Even so… it really pisses me off! The Empire!!”
“Me too! I saw the tournament once through the magic crystal, but seeing it a second time, I hated it even more!”
“Aye, I thought the very same, brother, sister! ’Twas cruel beyond measure—poor Sir Earth!”
“Yes, me too! The Empire… no, the citizens of the Empire! What a thing to say to my Honey?”
They began to express their anger not only about Earth, but also about the Empire.
“Hmm? Oh yeah, I was totally thinking the same thing! I was seriously about to, like, destroy it all for him!”
“Right?! I think this is the first time I’ve ever agreed with Norja! The Empire deserves to fall!”
“Yeah, or rather, I declare! I will absolutely not send Brother back to the Empire! Even if they see this and come apologizing, it’s too late! I don’t care if the Empire gets ruined!”
On the contrary, the situation had reached the point where they were agreeing with things that wouldn’t have been funny coming from Norja of the Six Supremacy.
“””Let the Empire be destroyed already!”””
Espie, Slayer, and Norja linked arms and shouted.
The other elves all started saying, “The Empire truly is a most vile and heartless realm~”.
Koujiro and Mikado are also holding their heads in their hands and saying, “Acha~”.
And then……
“…… Somehow…… this has turned into quite a mess…… That Paripi bastard even went and threw in some weird flashbacks and narration… I mean, this is… the end, right? Right?”
Meanwhile, Earth, who had been rolling around clutching his head after being subjected to a barrage of embarrassment, poked his head out, wondering if things had finally settled down……
『Well…… all things considered…… tis highly doubtful. I suppose, tis merely the beginning…… Or rather, does he intend to reveal all? That man.』
Tre’ainar asserted that this couldn’t possibly be the end. And with a wry, exasperated smile……
『But still… mentioning important points twice, and emphasizing them further a second time… Now… reactions like Espie and Slayer’s… would those be limited ‘solely’ to this elven settlement? What of people from other lands, what thoughts were evoked when they saw this…………………… well, Hiro deserves as much.』
Sads Translates 