Fate's Divide

The crimson blade shines in the darkness of night,

the black sword embraces warmth.

Both are comrades of the flame.

—A song passed down in the Scarlet Clan

 

"… I get the feeling she's going to keep going on how she's been…"

"Probably."

After seeing Violet and Ultramarine off, Nina and I nodded to each other. It seemed that Ultramarine didn't quite understand the situation. Violet was desperately explaining it to her, but she kept on saying things like how she wasn't going to fall for monkeys or anything… and generally being completely off the mark.

Well, it's good that we'll be able to keep seeing Ultramarine and that we can hear about the situation of the Violet clan through her I suppose.

"Still… humans and elves are both troublesome, aren't they."

Yutaka sighed deeply in self-deprecation.

"Are you talking about what just happened?"

"No… It's just that it was decided that Yuuka couldn't become the next head of the Swordsaints."

Nina shook her head in response to Yutaka's question and lowered her shoulders.

The Swordsaints' head. It was effectively the same as the head of Scarlet, that is, the current village chief.

It wasn't something that anyone decided on or said out loud. But when there was a major decision to made by the village as a whole or a dispute between villagers, the final decision was always entrusted to the human Swordsaints.

That tacit understanding had become a fact that would never waver, and the human Swordsaints had changed accordingly. In the past, the strongest person at the time had been at the head, but in recent years, those who excelled in judgment and popularity were chosen. Yutaka was a perfect example of the current head.

And unlike strength, which was easy to demonstrate, the criteria for one's judgment is difficult to quantify. At some point, the decision of who would be the head was decided by the elders of the Swordsaints.

"Personally, I think Yuuka is more suited to the position than Isana."

Nina spoke simply. I didn't have such a light take on the matter, but if I were to be frank I'd side with her on the matter.

Comparing Isana to Yutaka, she's like her younger sister. Although she wasn't unsuitable to be the head of the village with her strength, bravery, and excellent judgment, she had bit of a high opinion of herself and looked down on other humans.

Well, she's still young, so she'll probably calm down as she gets older.

"It's not like I can't understand their feelings for preferring Isana, though."

If Yuuka became the head of the Swordsaints, she'd probably keep the position until she found a mate like Aqua had. That's not very healthy, I think. At the very least, it's natural that the Swordsaints would have some resistance to that.

Although there was the possibility that Yuuka would marry someone like Aqua and retire immediately, if she married an elf, her lifespan would be eternal. I could understand why the Swordsaints would be reluctant to have the history of the clan be taken away by an elf.

"Big brother… do you think Isana is more suitable?"

"That's not what I mean. To me, everyone are like cute children is all."

In that regard, Yuuka and Isana are the same to me. And if I were to be reckless and choose one of them, the people of the Swordsaints would follow them, no matter what they truly felt in their hearts. I didn't want to do that. They have been the ones to guide, support, and develop this village.

"Still… I want to make Yuuka the head."

In a pleading voice, Yutaka continued to try. It was strange, given that he'd always been a strong, simple man. He stood as the current head of the Swordsaints, so it wasn't just him wanting to entrust an unfulfilled dream to his daughter.

"Aqua, Yuuka, what do you think?"

"Personally, I think either one would be fine…"

Looking like she wanted to say something, Aqua looked at Yuuka with a strange expression.

"I… I'd like to be the head. I want to stay in the Swordsaints. I want to improve what my father entrusted to me… I want to make the Swordsaints into something that he will be proud of."

Yuuka stared at me, pleading quietly. Her eyes weren't the eyes of someone who was being forced by her parents. Her eyes were serious and full of passion.

"What were you entrusted with?"

Unexpected, Nina chimed in.

"Well.."

Yuuka looked at me, hesitating.

"Is it something hard to talk about in front of me?"

"A little…"

I… I received a bit of a shock when Yuuka nodded.

I thought what she was entrusted with would've been something like a tradition, or maybe the pride of the Swordsaints, or maybe even some sort of skill. I never thought it'd be something that she couldn't tell me.

"Ah, i-it's not like that! It's… something I don't know that can or can't be done and I just don't want big brother to end up with a false expectation…"

Yutaka spoke up in a panic.

"It's alright, don't worry about it. Right… so even you guys have a thing or two you don't want me to know about, right?"

It was a bit lonely, but it was normal for children to want to hide things from their parents. Moreover, I knew that they weren't hiding it in bad faith, so I didn't feel like I had to pry into it.

"Anyway… I understand that you have a reason for wanting her to be the head. It'd be an issue if she doesn't, right?"

I spoke the simple question that was on my mind. It was a bit grating having to say stuff like 'head' or 'village chief', but it wasn't as if it came with any real power or wealth.

Although we did have a currency system, we weren't collecting taxes and the people of the Swordsaints were just hunting and farming like normal. At least for now, being the head didn't get you anything.

"It's not that it can't be done without being the head… but I want to be a Swordsaint."

"Huh? It's not like you can't be a Swordsaint if you're not a direct descendant or anything though?"

"Huh?"

Surprised by my words, Yutaka and Yuuka both widened their eyes.

"No, I mean, it's true that those who aren't the direct descendants of those who become the head don't call themselves Swordsaints, but that doesn't mean they aren't. At least, I don't think that way."

Besides, I'm the one who decided that the name could be passed down and inherited, so it's not like I'm wrong.

"Then there are more than a hundred people in this village who are called Swordsaints. Even Numera at the inn is one."

"Ah, you're right. If I count from Jirugo, let's see… this is the twentieth generation?"

I nodded in agreement with Nina's counting.

"Eh!? Numera, doesn't he have silver hair?"

"Well, hair colors drift when you mix in other bloodlines. The reason your hair is always red is because you Swordsaints tend to stick together."

They didn't seem to realize it, but this was a small village. If you really looked into the varoious family trees, it wasn't uncommon for cousins to marry each other. Well, there wasn't even paper a few decades ago, so it was doubtful that anyone had actually made a family tree. Nina and I had remembered all of it though.

"Ah, that silver hair is from Ken's lineage, right? That color is pretty strong."

"Even now, there are still some who are born with silver hair. Going back from Yutaka, it'd be like his grandmother's grandfather's great-grandfather's… Kimaga and the others were like that, weren't they?"

Atavism is what it's called. Even if their parents were redheads, there were still children born with silver hair. All of the current Swordsaints were descendants of the second generation, Dargo and Ken's daughter, Mika, after all.

"Basically, even if Yuuka isn't the head, she and her children will always be Swordsaints, right?"

Despite the two redheads being stunned, Aqua asked in a calm voice.

"Yeah. Well, it's not like anything will be different just because I remember it or anything though…"

From the beginning, the head was chosen from the direct descendants, so it's not like it's meaningless.

"No, it's fine."

But Yutaka straightened up and shook his head.

"Yeah. If that's the case, then it's fine even if I'm not the head."

Yuuka also said it without hesitation. After being so attached to it, she looked relieved as if the burden had been lifted.

Nina and I were confused and just stared at one another.