Foreigner Volume 9, Chapter 207

Volume 9 Chapter 207, Demonic Dragon ~ 22

　There is a small village in a valley with deep mountains.

　It is too inconvenient and dangerous for people to live in, and only a few people know of the village deep in the mountains.

　Some people who know the village call it―The Land of Beginnings.

　There are no roads leading to the small village where the Holy Sword Clan lives. This is to separate it from human society. It takes 10 days to reach the nearest village by following the roadless path in the mountains.

　Of course, the area is also overrun by beasts and monsters. The rugged nature also hinders human intervention. This is how the Holy Sword Clan has remained isolated and unnoticed. Of course, there is also the purpose of preventing people from escaping from the hard training.

　In such a village, there was a visitor for the first time in a long time.

「I beg your pardon」

「To crush the devil.」

「With a well-trained self」

「Who are you!?」

「Zelphys, who was stationed in the west!」

　The guards nodded at Zelphys' voice and opened the gate. Zelphys entered the village with dignity and looked around.

　It had been about 18 years since he had left the village. Compared to those days, nothing has changed in The Land of Beginnings. Or rather, so much has not changed that Zelphys' mouth is unknowingly agape. The plaza where he ran as a child, the standing tree that he used to hit the ground to train his swordsmanship, and the few fields have not changed at all.

　There are only about 40 people here, 30 boys and girls in training. The head of the clan, who is currently absent, and four others supervise and nurture the trainees, as they are the ones who can go to the battlefield in case something happens. The rest are just a few old and strong men who have been allowed to go into seclusion after the age of 50 and have not put down roots in the area where they have been assigned.

　Zelphys was a little surprised to see the oldest of the old men.

「Former Head」

　Zelphys knows that this old man once served as the head of the clan. He was the previous head of the previous Sayasute. He must be in his late 70s, as he recalls. Zelphys is stopped softly as he rushes to kneel by an old man who still holds him in high esteem even though he is retired from active service.

「Is it true that the Lord has been defeated?」

　The old man's gaze has a strength to it. The old man's body may have deteriorated, but the strength of spirit that once made him the head of the clan seems to be alive and well.

「Yes, it is true. Here is the proof.」

　Zelphys knelt down and reverently held out the hilt of the Holy Sword, which had lost its blade, to the former head. He accepted the sword, which had once belonged to the former head, but which had now been reduced to a mere shadow of its former self.

「Ohh ...... the Holy Sword, became like this ......」

　The former head received the hilt with trembling hands and his shoulders slumped. He could tell by its grip that this sword had lost its power.

　The Holy Sword 『Soul Eater』 is a symbol of power. The sword had the power to slaughter even demon races. Although Zelphys had roughly 【Transfer】 a letter to the village describing the circumstances, the shock of seeing the actual sword was still quite great.

　The former head led Zelphys to the meeting place of the village with his shoulders drooped.

　The three Seijin(名の成者/adult?) ― those who have completed their training and have been allowed to stay in the area rather than being transferred to the provinces ― who have been in charge during the absence of the head of the clan, are in the upper seats. However, the seat of the head of the clan remains vacant.

　Only those with unclouded power and the Holy Sword in their hands can sit in that place. And now, the sword that qualifies one to sit in that place is no longer there.

　The former head sat down in the last seat. This former head is a recluse, but his experience as a long-time head of the clan has been bought into him, and he holds the position of a kind of advisor. There are four other old and strong men. It seems that everyone except those in training has gathered here, Zelphys values.

「Zelphys of the West. Thank you for your service.」

　The most capable of the four, a mature man who had been the head of the clan for the previous generation, spoke up on behalf of the others. Zelphys sat down on his haunches, his sword in front of him, sheathed, and bowed his head.

　The seven people here must have seen the 【Transfer】 letter that Zelphys had sent after the event. Even so, they would not be at ease unless they heard the report of the man who saw firsthand the series of events that led to the cruel destruction of the Holy Sword.

「Once again, I would like to share with you the last words of our Lord. 『Tell those who are scattered throughout the land that our clan has collapsed, and tell them. You are now free』.」

　The room fell silent. The same message as in the letter, Zelphys continued. He was obeying the last order of the head of the clan, who had ordered him to tell them so.

「I was also told this, 『A clan without a Holy Sword is helpless. If you still want the name of the head of the clan, I will give it to you. I will not return to the Land of Beginnings, so you can do as you please with whomever you wish』」

　Zelphys' last words, uttered once again by the head of the clan, caused a slight stir in the room.

　Now that the clan has lost the Holy Sword and the head of the clan, there is no meaning to the clan. If they are simply talking about the head of the clan, now that Isolde has retired, the next strong wielder should take her place.

「Even if our Lord said that we're free after all this time,......」

「Indeed. What about the children gathered here?」

　The two adult members of the clan, flanked by the former head of the clan, whispered to each other with troubled faces.

　Once again, the time has stood still in this village―Zelphys recalls in his heart.

　This village has nurtured people who can defeat the demon race. However, the last time the village defeated the demon race was nearly 50 years ago, when the former head was the head of the clan. The reason for their existence was almost lost, and they still lived in fear of the demon race, training their children only to defeat them. It is no wonder that they are puzzled when they are suddenly told that they are free. It is one thing for someone like Zelphys, who has been outside the village, but for those whose way of life is complete within the village, they do not know any other way of life.

　Up to this point, Zelphys was able to remain calm and conscious. However, Zelphys became agitated by a comment made by one of the old men who was standing behind the two adult men.

「That's why a little girl like her doesn't deserve the position of head of the clan. ......」

「Then, you think someone else could have won over Isolde-sama!?」

　Zelphys did not get up, but he changed his expression and lunged at the old man who had muttered that.

　He has seen the battle, though not up close and personal, and he knows what Isolde is capable of. Isolde's strength is true and unclouded. She was truly worthy of being the head of the clan. The only reason she lost was because her opponent was simply superior to her.

「The position of head of the clan is based on unclouded power! She is the head of the clan because she is the best of her generation! Age and gender do not matter in a clan! And you, of all people, would dare to belittle that!」

　As a member of the village, he had to carry out his duties equally and with only the highest regard for power, but this comment of the old man's irked Zelphys.

　The words were a taunt to Satoru, who possessed a power that overflowed from this world and won the battle, to Isolde, who challenged Satoru head-on, and to the previous generation of Sayasute, who challenged Satoru and lost his life after the defeat of the head of the clan.

「Refrain, Zelphys.」

　The former head, seated at the end of the table, raised his voice. Zelphys turned around, his eyes bloodshot.

「I don't see the need for that. Only the head of the clan is my loyal. Only those who are powerful can make me obey. That is the way of life of our clan. Is that not so?」

「I am asking you to refrain for a reason.」

　Zelphys was taken aback by the calm and aloof appearance of the former head and relaxed his shoulders. However, he did not forget to give a quick glance at the old man who had just made a careless remark. The old man looked uncomfortable.

　There was one other person who stood tall amid all this commotion. He was the previous head of the clan. Zelphys notices this and turns to face his predecessor.

　The previous head of the clan, who had been silent with his eyes closed since the first greeting, opened his eyes and fixed them steadily on Zelphys.

「Zelphys」

「Hah!」

「The one who defeated Isolde, the head of the clan...」

「A young man named Satoru, a 『Foreigner』 summoned by the 『Fallen Sacrificial Princess』 Leia Löwenstadt.」

「Did you see the battle?」

　Zelphys paused and nodded.

「From a distance.」

「It was quite a battle.」

　Zelphys exhaled, calmed his mind, and slowly recalled it.

　It was a battle of a different dimension.

　Isolde's sharp skills, even made him scared. And Satoru's physical strength, speed, and caliber that surpassed even that.

　Zelphys speaks fluently.

　Zelphys told how Satoru defeated Isolde with his overwhelming power, destroyed the Holy Sword, and how Sayasute challenged him. He defeated the predecessor as if he were a child. That he accepted Sayasute, who proudly cut himself in defeat, and beheaded him as if to intercede for him.

　No one could speak.

　After finishing his story, Zelphys looked around the group and then slowly spoke the truth.

「Even if it took everyone in the village, we would not be able to defeat him.」

　You won't know until you try! Zelphys took one look at the old man who had just spoken out of turn and snickered.

　He can talk that big because he hasn't seen it. Zelphys does not know that this old man has a personal grudge against Isolde because Isolde has beaten him off many times before she passed the test of adulthood and took over as head of the clan.

　However, the previous head of the clan knows this, and he took a cold glance at the old man, who again spoke out of turn. The village's most powerful man stared at him, and as expected, he reluctantly lowered his raised fist.

「Sometimes, Zelphys」

　The previous head of the clan, who had been determined not to miss a single word of Zelphys' speech, opened his mouth gravely and looked at the clan member who had come from far to the west to make a report.

「What are you going to do now?」

「I am going to pay my respects to my ancestor, the former head of the West, Sayasute-sama.」

　Zelphys removed the bag he had been carrying at his side all along and showed it. In it was the head of a man who had proudly challenged and died as he was.

「It was a noble end.」

「All right, I understand.」

　The previous head of the clan nodded gravely. He had defeated Sayasute and assumed the position of head of the clan. There must be a lot on his mind.

「We all pay our utmost respect to the last days of Sayasute, the former head of the West.」

　When the former head of the clan said these words, everyone spread their knees and bowed their heads in respect, striking both fists to the ground. With these words, it was decided that Sayasute's head would be accepted in this village.

　Now that there is no head of the clan, no one would object to the previous head of the clan taking over the position of head of the clan and issuing the decree. Even though he was defeated by Isolde's natural talent this spring, they all know that the previous head of the clan is still out of his league.

「Whatever I do, I will obey the orders of the last of the head of the clan.」

「So do I. Though my time is short.」

「Previous head! And even the former head ......!」

　Zelphys was startled by the voice of the previous head of the clan, followed by the voice of the former head. Kuhh The one who started the conversation was the old man who had been talking gibberish since a few minutes ago.

「『Live freely』―This is all that matters. If the Holy Sword is in this condition, and if the still missing 【Empress of the Flame】 Hyalvas is found. Who would win?」

　"Nugu," the old man said, at a loss for an answer

　The 【Empress of the Flame】 Hyalvas, who is said to be the strongest of the demon race other than the Demon King ― perhaps, Zelphis thinks, with the caveat that Satoru, the Foreigner who had beaten Isolde and not even taken on Sayasute, could easily defeat her.

　But on the other hand, it would be impossible for anyone other than Satoru. Considering the power of the Hyalvas, as he has told, even if the whole clan were to take on her, they would be brushed aside.

「If you are willing to take that risk, you may call yourself the head of the clan. At least, I refuse. If you are prepared to fight the demon race without the Holy Sword.」

　The old man was dejected, unable to reply to his predecessor, who coldly told him. Of the two remaining seijin, one of them seems to be willing to comply, although he is somewhat disgruntled.

「Then we have to think about what to do with the children in the village we are fostering.」

「That is my responsibility.」

　The former and previous generation have a meaningful conversation, and the former head strokes his chin and then turns to Zelphys.

「Zelphys」

「Hah」

「I have a favor to ask of you.」

　The offer took Zelphys by surprise, but after some thought, he agreed to the request.

TLN: Sorry, not confident with the people title on this chapter.

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