[Vol. 8] Chapter 153: Guardian of the Blade
As expected, under the soft glow of the Goddess’s statue, the next chosen one was soon revealed.
"Woom~!"
The second holy platform, which represented the Path of Asura, lit up with a glowing ancient rune written in the [Ancient Niel language]. A new pillar of light shot up into the sky and then fell down upon a gray-haired girl with a single ponytail, a sword fighter.
“……”
As she felt the holy light shining on her and the divine symbol quickly forming on the back of her hand, Hongyan remained calm. It was as if she had already expected this.
She didn’t know who the Goddess would choose as the hero, of course, but the number of candidates for the Asura path wasn’t much greater than those for the Heaven path. And although a few more strong people had been added later after the Three Questions of the God, Hongyan could feel it…
Their hearts still lacked sharpness. They weren’t calm enough.
This wasn’t her bragging. In terms of understanding the Asura path, she had indeed gone further than anyone else here.
“A hero, huh? I didn’t think I’d ever stand in this position... but... not bad.”
The gray-haired girl smiled and shook her head.
Just like Elunie, Hongyan didn’t join the trials of the Chosen Heroes because she had to win a spot. It was all because someone named Le Qiaoqiao couldn’t stop nagging her about it, talking nonstop once she heard of the trials, Hongyan simply couldn’t say no.
On the other hand, Hongyan herself was also thinking, if this event was such a big and grand gathering, maybe that person would show up too.
So she came to the Holy Capital.
And just like she had hoped, she finally found her older brother, someone she had been searching for years, not to reconnect, but just to get an answer and closure.
But after all she had seen and experienced during her journey, Hongyan had grown more mature. Her goal was no longer narrow and stubborn.
Letting go of the past, it was simply another step on the path of sharpening one’s sword.
Amid countless fiery and admiring eyes, some full of confusion and envy, Hongyan stepped forward, climbing onto the holy platform of Asura.
The voice of the Goddess echoed once more.
[Hongyan, one who came from afar, seeking answers and letting go of the past. You crossed two worlds, climbed mountains and crossed rivers. For decades, you sharpened your sword. Your sword guides the way, and your heart remains unbroken. Now, your sword heart shines bright. As the Guardian Hero, I grant you the divine item, the [Bladeguard]. May you use your sword to judge good and evil, to protect what’s right and strike down what is wrong.]
As her words ended, a beam of divine light flew out from the Grand Hall and landed exactly on the sword at the girl’s waist.
But to Hongyan’s surprise, the light didn’t transform her sword, but rather the scabbard that held it.
“……”
Other people might have been confused by this, but Hongyan, as the sword fighter herself, knew exactly why.
She practiced a style called ‘Iaido’, the art of drawing the sword. The most important moment wasn’t the sword itself, but the instant when the blade left its sheath, that split second when energy and power exploded forth.
Attack through defense. Stand firm like a mountain, then strike like lightning.
That’s why the scabbard was actually more important than the sword.
…As expected of a true god.
Even though she still had doubts about whether “all-knowing and all-powerful” was an exaggeration, Hongyan had to admit, this Goddess had just granted her a weapon so well-matched, it felt made just for her.
If the Goddess didn’t understand her deeply, there was no way such a perfect gift could’ve been given.
Not to mention, she had also, in just a few words, revealed Hongyan’s past and origins in a hidden but clear way.
As she thought about this in her heart and felt awe at the unbelievable power of the Goddess, Hongyan bowed, hand resting on her sword.
"Thank you, Goddess."
Two of the six chosen heroes had already appeared. Just as the crowd was feeling either quietly disappointed or nervously waiting for the next name to be announced...
A sudden, unexpected shout broke the moment, loud and out of place.
"Wait! Goddess, I believe this trial is unfair!"
Everyone froze for a second. They turned to look and saw that the voice had come from a stunningly beautiful girl standing below the Heavenly holy platform. Her long hair was white like snow, and she gave off a cool, frosty presence. Floating around her body were soft, icy blue ribbons of light, almost like a symbol or mark. Those who were knowledgeable immediately realized who she was.
"She's from the North, a snow tribe girl? I think the people from that region call them ‘Yuki-onna’. But to shout so loudly in the Goddess’s trial, where does she get the confidence?"
"Friend, you’re underestimating her. Did you see those floating ribbons? They're just like the holy symbols of the Church. Normal snow tribe girls usually have only two, maybe four at most. But six ribbons like that? Only the legendary Pure Snow Tribe or the direct royal bloodline of the Snow Empire are said to have them. And the royal family of the Snow Empire is rumored to be descended from the Ice Goddess herself. They're rare, but they carry true divine blood, they're considered 'children of the god'."
"Exactly. She's no ordinary person. That's Nolan Sinong, the Crown Princess of the Snow Empire and the High Priestess of the [Eternal Winter Temple]. In the North, her status is said to be on par with our three Saintesses. A different kind of power equal to even the Holy Pope... In fact, there are three Saintesses, but there's only one High Priestess of the [Eternal Winter Temple]. In some ways, her rank might even be equal to, or higher than, the current Snow Empire ruler."
"A few decades ago, during a warm period in the Ice Belt, I traveled north with a trade caravan. I once caught a glimpse of her in the Snow Capital. She looked just like this back then, and now, after more than ten years, she hasn’t changed at all. Even if it’s because of her divine bloodline, her real power must already be..."
"So what?! This is the Holy Empire! The fact that the Goddess even allows someone like her, who doesn’t follow our faith, to join this trial is already a great mercy. Instead of being grateful, she dares to openly question and interrupt the process? That’s disrespectful! Where are the Holy Knights, why aren’t they acting?!"
The crowd murmured and argued. Although most of their voices couldn’t be heard clearly in the hall, their unfriendly and hostile stares were like needles pricking the air, impossible to ignore.
The Bright Light Saintess stood up. She turned and looked at the white-haired girl who had just spoken. As someone also from the top level of one of the five major powers, someone with divine privilege, she of course recognized Nolan Sinong, the Snow Empire’s Crown Princess with divine blood.
But in this situation, Yuna couldn’t allow personal feelings to get in the way. Her face remained calm and expressionless as she said:
"Princess Nolan Sinong, under the eyes of the Goddess, this trial is completely fair. Her Divineness has not given you the right to question the trial. Please remain silent, or I will be forced to charge you with blasphemy and remove you from the grounds. You may even be arrested."
"You are the Crown Princess of the Snow Empire, the leading figure of the [Eternal Winter Temple]. Your every word and action represents the stance of your entire country. Our two nations, bordering the extreme cold, have always respected each other's boundaries. Right now, the world situation is unstable. I hope, before you speak again, you’ll think carefully, not just for yourself, but for the millions of people behind you."