Carved into the stone was Bacchus’s name and a short epitaph.
HERE LIES BACCHUS VALENCIA, SIXTEENTH INHERITOR OF THE CHERRY BLOSSOM BLADE SCHOOL OF SWORDCRAFT.
“Who…put this here…?” Rose murmured.
“You have three seconds to put your hands up and show yourself. Try anything, and I won’t hesitate to kill you,” Chairwoman Reia said with a malice I’d never seen from her.
““““““…!””””””
The aura coming from the chairwoman was overwhelming. It was hard to think of her as the same woman who sat around all day cackling at Weekly Shonen Blade.
“My Jewel Beetle Head is an invisibility-type Soul Attire… I know your reputation, Ms. Lasnote, but I still didn’t think you would be able to see through it so quickly,” a man in black said, emerging from the dense forest behind us.
I’ve never seen a Soul Attire that can turn a person invisible. I hadn’t been able to sense the man at all until he decided to show himself. His ability wasn’t suited for direct combat, but it had a wide range of other uses, including assassination, scouting, and raiding.
She really is incredible… The man’s invisibility was impressive, but Chairwoman Reia had seen through it instantly. She was normally a lazy, problematic person who pushed all her work off onto others, but there was no denying her combat prowess.
“That’s a Fox Financing uniform… What do you want?” the chairwoman asked.
“I have been waiting for Rose Valencia on the orders of my mistress, Rize Dorhein,” said the man. He walked calmly toward Rose with his hands up to show he meant no harm, then bowed. “Silver hair and crimson eyes… You must be Ms. Rose.”
“…What does a messenger from Fox Financing want with me?” Rose asked warily.
“My mistress owes a great debt to Mr. Bacchus, which she chose to repay by erecting a grave befitting the world’s greatest swordsman, pressuring Cherin to buy this state-owned island, and giving it to you, the inheritor of the Cherry Blossom Blade School of Swordcraft. I am here to carry out her orders and present you with the deed to this island.”
The black-clothed man took out an envelope and gave it to her. Inside, Rose found the title to the land with her name written as the owner.
“W-wait… Gramps knew the Blood Fox?! And what do you mean she ‘owes him a great debt’?!” Rose exclaimed.
“Forgive me, but I am simply a messenger. I know nothing more than you,” the black-clothed man said emotionlessly. “Now, if you will excuse me, I have another job to attend to.”
He bowed politely and left.
“…Ah, so that’s it. She owes him for that incident with Ferris,” muttered Chairwoman Reia.
“Ferris…? Do you know something?” asked Rose.
“Yeah. Ferris Dorhein is Rize’s little sister and the chairwoman of Ice King Academy. Back when she was a student, that idiot got caught up in a big incident and was kidnapped. Old Bacchus ended up saving her. Apparently, he challenged her captor because they seemed strong, but they ended up being far from a worthy opponent, which was a huge letdown for him.”
…That sounded just like Bacchus.
“Rize is a detestable woman…but she wouldn’t use a gesture like this to deceive us. This extravagant grave and the deed are her way of repaying him. You can accept them in good faith,” reasoned the chairwoman.
“I see… In that case…I guess I should be grateful to her,” said Rose.
I actually thought that Rize was a nice person. I couldn’t imagine her betraying the Five Powers and the Holy Knights Association by leaking information to the Holy Ronelian Empire.
We turned back to the grave now that the man from Fox Financing had left. It really is impressive… The stone was engraved with a blizzard of cherry blossoms, and set beside it were Bacchus’s longsword, his best blue haori jacket, and a bottle of liquor from Cherin. I couldn’t imagine a grander grave; it perfectly suited his larger-than-life personality.
“Everyone came to see you, Gramps,” Rose said, smiling gently.
We all took turns setting flowers, liquor, snacks, and other mementos by the grave, saying prayers and offering a few heartfelt words.
“Mr. Bacchus… Thank you so much for saving my life. I’ll always treasure the week we spent together,” I said, bowing.
“Thank you for protecting my precious students, Bacchus. We didn’t always get along…but they’re all good memories now. Let’s share a drink again someday,” Chairwoman Reia said sadly.
“I’ll never forget my debt to you, Bacchus,” said Shii. Tears welled up in her eyes as she bowed in front of the grave.
“Waah… Old man Bacchus… I’m gonna get stronger… I’m gonna become the greatest swordfighter in the world, just like you… So, so…watch me from up in heaven!” cried Lilim, tears streaming down her face.
“Thank you…from the bottom of my heart…,” Tirith said, biting her lip and bowing deeply.
“I heard you saved my life with the power of your Soul Attire. Thank you so, so much. Let’s share a drink for real once I’m old enough,” promised Lia.
“Gramps…your final Mirror Sakura Slash was stunning. I’ll do my best to succeed you as the seventeenth inheritor of the Cherry Blossom Blade School of Swordcraft,” Rose said, closing her eyes and touching the cherry blossom petal mark on her chest.
We all stood there silently reminiscing about Bacchus, and Rose turned to face me. “Gramps was really strong, wasn’t he, Allen?”
“Yeah. He was incredible. That final Mirror Sakura Slash might be the strongest attack ever performed,” I said.
That incredible sight, as if the very world were shaking; Bacchus’s valiant figure; his powerful slash that scattered hundreds of millions of cherry blossom petals—I would never forget any of it.
“Hee-hee, you think so? I’m sure Gramps is smiling down on us after hearing you say that,” Rose said, looking happy. “Will you all visit his grave again with me sometime? He always liked a crowd.”
“Yeah, of course,” I said, and the others nodded firmly.
I’ll see you next year, Mr. Bacchus.
Having said our farewells, we returned to Liengard and went back to our everyday lives.