Chapter 72: Become Strong

"We went out and all, but there really isn't much to see here..."

"Well, this town was chosen because it's nearby and because this isn't a king-versus-king 'King's Battle.' On top of that, merchants from the neighboring Yaranli Kingdom aren't coming anymore, even though trade should be possible, so they only do business with the surrounding villages."

Even as we strolled through town together, nothing particularly stood out. I had no experience with dates in places like this, so I wasn't really sure what to do. I often went out in the royal capital with Hikari and Alicia, but that's the center of the country, so there's always plenty to see.

Personally, my favorite place is the clock tower. You can climb all the way to the top, and the view of the royal capital from there is nothing short of breathtaking.

"So that damn queen's influence reaches all the way out here too...! If a country only trades within itself, it'll rot from the inside out...!"

"I'm completely out of my depth when it comes to that sort of thing, so I can't really say much. I sign the papers the ministers bring me, and I do read the documents properly, but whether I actually understand them is another matter."

"Are you really a king...?"

I only vaguely remembered my previous life. According to Carol, who's obsessed with magical tools, the Holy Sword had absorbed most of those memories as energy and nearly erased them entirely. Both my episodic memories and general knowledge from that life were practically unusable. Even things like games felt like distant relics from a past I wasn't entirely sure had ever existed.

That said, anything I'd learned in this world using those memories as a foundation hadn't been absorbed, so I didn't consider it a problem. If that sword ever tried to absorb my memories of Hikari and the others, I'd snap it in half.

"I am a king, but I haven't even been one for half a year yet. Actually... it hasn't even been two months, has it?"

"That was true? In some ways, I think your country is even stranger than mine."

"I went to the royal capital to register as an adult, and during the ceremony where everyone tries to draw the Holy Sword, I ended up pulling it out."

I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

"The thing is, nobody thought it could actually be drawn, so when I succeeded, the entire kingdom went crazy."

"Sorry, I take that back. It's not just strange. That's completely insane."

Honestly, I agreed.

Maybe because I was the one involved, I'd simply accepted it as normal. Back when I was still a villager, I hadn't thought much about it. But Julia was right—it really was bizarre.

In a way, this situation only happened because everyone had faithfully followed the words of the first Sword King from five hundred years ago. I was genuinely grateful to all the politicians who had kept the Kingdom of Swordria functioning until I finally appeared.

"Maybe it's because of that, but the ministers keep telling me to get married. They want to make my bloodline into the official royal family."

"I see. Swordria has nobles governing different regions, right? But since there hasn't been a royal family for so long, they've probably all built up their own power bases and become a headache to deal with. Honestly, I'm surprised the country never split apart... Ah. The influence of the Dragon King of the Draconia Dragon Kingdom, right?"

"Having a powerful neighboring country means nobody can make any reckless moves. Especially when there's no Sword King around to mediate if things go wrong."

Generally speaking, the strongest military assets in this world were the kings themselves.

It was an unwritten rule that only a king could stand against another king. That was the balance of power.

So what would happen if the king of a neighboring country started rampaging unchecked?

I'd be furious.

And the nobles couldn't rely on a king's protection. Even if a king existed, why would they help people who had been abandoned by their own rulers? If a neighboring king invaded, nobody would be able to stop them.

I no longer believed that a hundred or even a thousand soldiers could kill a king.

The Spear King who had possessed Julia's body had been a monster beyond reason. The only reason we'd won was because she had been using Julia's unfamiliar body while weakened by poison, and because she'd been continuously inhaling toxic fumes throughout the fight.

Without overwhelming numbers, none of us would have survived.

That's what it meant to be a king.

"Ugh, enough of that. We finally went out together, so why are we talking about all this annoying stuff? Come on, at least try to escort me properly."

"Even if you say that... Hmm. How about we go look at some Swordrian clothes?"

"Hm... Learning their manufacturing methods could be useful. Even if we can't replicate them perfectly, if Yaranli could reproduce them, it might become a new industry..."

I couldn't help smiling wryly.

Even on her day off, Julia immediately started thinking about work.

At heart, she was simply serious.

That was why she constantly thought about things like the meaning and value of life.

It was certainly one of her strengths.

But if she focused on nothing else, someday she'd become trapped by those thoughts and lose her freedom.

That's why she needed people who could drag her out into the world every once in a while.

"Still, with them around, she'll probably be fin—"

"WAAAAAHHHHH!! MOMMMM!!!"

"...Huh?"

"It came from over there!"

The moment we heard the faint sound of a child crying, Julia took off running.

With her physical abilities, she effortlessly vaulted over houses and sprinted across the rooftops.

"Hey, wait!"

I hurried after her.

With my current abilities, I could probably follow her route even without the Holy Sword, but rooftops made for terrible footing. Instead, I ran through the streets toward the source of the crying.

Following the child's sobs through several roads and around countless corners, I finally spotted Julia.

She was desperately trying to comfort a child who looked about five years old.

Apparently, she'd reached him first but had no idea what to do afterward. The moment she saw me arrive, she smiled with obvious relief.

"Sword King, this kid was out with his mother, but he chased a butterfly and got separated before he realized it. Can you do something?"

"I'm impressed you managed to get that much information out of him. There, there. Everything's okay now. The king is here."

"T-The king...?"

"That's right. Not just any king—the Sword King and the Spear King."

Maybe because two grown-ups had suddenly appeared—or at least, sixteen-year-olds probably counted as adults from a child's perspective—the boy finally stopped crying.

His eyes were still red and swollen with tears, though, so Julia gently wiped his face clean.

"What's your name?"

"K-Kenta..."

"Good job. You said your name properly. Here, have a candy."

"M-Mom said I'm not allowed to take things from strangers!"

"...Wow. Your mother's actually raising you right. Color me impressed."

What had I been doing when I was Kenta's age?

Thinking back, all I remembered was spending time with Hikari.

Actually, I couldn't remember much of anything except being with her.

I also remembered constantly ignoring my mother's advice and causing trouble. Looking back now, I really had been a handful.

Your values really do change once you grow up.

"Anyway, let's find his mother. Sorry, but would you mind giving me some time?"

"If you suggested abandoning him, I'd be angry. Come on. He's stopped crying, so let's get moving."

Julia took Kenta's hand and started walking.

She had once told me her parents were murdered.

Maybe seeing a lost child reminded her of her younger self.

Even so, the fact that she could reach out and take that hand was one of her greatest strengths—and one of her greatest virtues.

I respected both.

Holding Kenta's hand, we searched for his mother.

We could have shouted for her, but people were still working throughout town, and neither of us wanted to disturb them.

Fortunately, a child that young couldn't have wandered very far.

Before long, we found a woman frantically searching for him.

The relief on her face was immediate.

"Thank you! Thank you so much! My son, he really—"

"Don't thank me. Thank her. She's the one who found him first."

"Is that so...? Thank you very much. Kenta, thank the young lady."

"Thank you!! Big Sister King!!!"

"It's nothing. I just don't like seeing children cry."

Julia turned away, clearly embarrassed by their gratitude.

But I noticed her ears had turned bright red.

She was surprisingly shy.

"If you don't keep an eye on children, they'll wander off in an instant. Next time, hold his hand properly. Being alone... it really hurts."

"You're right. And thank you again. Kenta is my child with my late husband, so he's especially precious to me."

"I see... Your name was Kenta, right?"

Julia crouched down until she was at eye level with him.

Taking both of his hands, she looked directly into his eyes and spoke.

"Become strong. Strong enough to protect your mother—and yourself. You never know what might happen. If your mother is in trouble, you can't afford to stand there helplessly. Whether you use a sword, a spear, or magical tools, it doesn't matter. Just work hard and become strong."

"Big Sister?"

"Maybe that was too difficult to understand. But become strong so you won't end up like me. Strong enough to protect your mother. Now then... what's your answer?"

"Okay! I understand! I'll become strong too! Just like Big Sister Spear King!!!"

Apparently satisfied by his energetic smile, she stood and looked back at me.

A fierce determination burned in her eyes.

The kind that refused to let anyone stand in her way.

"Sword King. I have a favor to ask. Is there a wide open area somewhere outside town?"

"There is. There's an empty hilltop. Will that work?"

"Yes. I guess doing nothing but relaxing just doesn't help me clear my head. You and Laila and the others have all been very considerate... but it still doesn't suit me."

She apologized, looking slightly guilty.

But everyone unwinds differently.

Some people enjoy reading.

Some enjoy experiments.

Some enjoy practicing with a sword.

And some take delight in finding couples—regardless of species—and enthusiastically shipping them together.

Everyone has their own way of spending their time.

"I decided I'd spend the whole day doing whatever you wanted. We'll go anywhere you want, and I'll join you in anything."

"Thank you. Truly."

As she said that, Julia grinned like a predator.

She had completely forgotten about dressing up for the outing.

The elegant young woman from earlier was gone, replaced by the face of a warrior.

And I realized that was one of the things that made her so captivating.