https://ncode.syosetu.com/n5562hc/83/
Final Results
The mock battles for the final round of the competition were over sooner than anyone could have possibly expected. Maybe there was something interesting to see when the other teams faced each other, but whenever our team was up to fight, we won without our opponents ever having a chance to lift a finger. The newspapers ended up actually criticizing us because of how boring we made the game.
Still, there were many who spoke up to defend our victory for what it was, and there were others who thought our way of fighting was something to be admired, calling it a way of fighting that didn’t result in any bloodshed. It’s not like I was dancing with anything that noble in mind, so that one makes me a little uncomfortable.
In any case, all that was left for me to do was wait for them to finish up counting the final votes.
Lately, I’ve been spending what might be my last remaining nights with Lily in her dorm room.
We stayed up late last night as well, so when my grumbling stomach woke me up, it was already past noon.
Lily is sleeping next to me, and with the comforter hanging down at her waist, her upper half was exposed for anyone to see.
Even though she’s asleep, her muscles are somehow able to unconsciously protect her body because no matter where I tried to touch, a wild hand slapped me away.
“Lily, I’m hungry.”
At my whispers, Lily groaned and rolled over so her face was facing mine. She still wasn’t fully awake yet, breathing through her nose as her eyelids listlessly parted.
“Good morning Liffy.”
“Morning”
When I stretched out my neck, bringing my face closer to hers, Lily finally seemed to get some energy. Her eyes opened wide, and my face was the only thing reflected in her jewel-like irises. Her long eyelashes could easily bat away any bugs attracted to those gems.
Her expression showed an alertness, but her body still looked lethargic as it slowly pulled me closer to her. It’s the kind of easily avoidable kiss that I could turn down if I ever had the mind to. Usually I would actually. I’m always worried about having bad breath when it’s this early in the morning, but when I have no idea how much time we have left together, I can’t waste a single second.
When I parted my lips to catch my breath, Lily’s lips chased after me.
I rolled over onto my back, and before I knew it, Lily was overtop of me.
Lily closed her eyes, sharpening her hearing and sense of touch, and enjoyed the kiss.
Eventually, upon Lily’s decision, the kiss came to an end after she was satisfied. A long string of saliva spread out between our lips, cooling my head a bit when it broke apart and falling onto my nose.
“Lily, it’s already tomorrow you know?”
“I know. And we are going to get past this together. Then, we will travel the world. Do you remember the view from my parents’ tower? Once today is over, we will travel those roads, cross those mountains, and sail those rivers. There are cities far beyond the horizon, filled with all sorts of people, and some of them are kissing just like we are now. I wonder if those people are seen as strange, just like we would be here. I can’t wait to see and find out.”
I’m not sure I can say I’m as excited over the idea of meeting the people of the world, but even I think that the idea of a world I’ve never known opening up to me sounds exciting.
Whether I can follow through with her expectations though is another matter. I’m 16th out of 16 people. I’ve somehow kept the position of last place throughout this entire competition.
I would be overjoyed to hear that Nerine’s supporters flocked to me in droves, but her appeal is way too different from my own. I can only assume most of them would end up supporting Peony instead.
“I’ll be fine no matter what. I’ll wait for you Lily, forever. Here in the capital, on your travels, anywhere. No matter how long it takes. All I want is to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Lily looked at me with a sad expression.
“Don’t say something like that. We shall either live together, or die together.”
“Won’t it be fine? You’ll become a hero, and after a short separation, you will come back for me. Meanwhile I’ll work for Rose-san at her bar. The food there is delicious, so I can always eat my loneliness away whenever I’m missing you. I can wait for you just like that for however long it takes. Although I will get seriously angry if you tell me I’ve gained any weight when you do come back.”
“I wouldn’t be able to stand it. Just thinking about being alone on a trip, away from you, makes my heart want to burst. Please, continue to stay with me. If I lose you, I might end up giving up.”
I had a vague sense that Lily wasn’t being hyperbolic. Half of me is proud to have gotten the originally cold Lily to fall in love with me so deeply, but preferring death to a couple years away from each other is a little too heavy.
I know there will be temptations and hardships for both of us, but I’m sure we can endure through and be patient. That’s how I was thinking, but Lily is apparently not of the same mind.
Lily thinks that the only path forward for us is to pass together. Any other result would mean there’s no future for us.
It’s not that I want admit it but that I have to. Our time here together is coming to an end. I would be a huge nuisance to Lily by following her around, so big a nuisance it’d even shake her resolve.
“Liffy, are you thinking of a bad future? Don’t worry. It won’t come to pass.”
That very Lily is running on the assumption that I’ve already won, and I can’t find any doubt in her expression.
“Do you come from the future? Why are you-“
Before I could finish my question, her lips covered my mouth.
I don’t know if she’s trying to convince herself as much as me, but when she sounds so certain, I start wanting to believe her too. That’s how I’ve managed for as long as I have.
Things are going to work out, just like always. Lily is the one who makes me thinks so.
♠
The day has come to announce the final results.
Sitting at the very front of the audience seats were all the contestants who had been eliminated before now.
Melia and Nerine were sitting next to each other and waved as I climbed up the stage. I didn’t have the confidence to proudly wave back in front of a huge crowd, so I kept my wave down by my waist and called it good.
I can feel more at ease once all this is finally over. I’m sure my fifteen fellow competitors are all thinking the same thing.
Even though mentally, I’m positive that this is where I fall, I can’t help but consider the possibilities as I take my seat. I wonder if the other contestants who are sure of their failure are feeling something similar.
Sitting down in the chairs lined at the edge of the stage, I was faced with four brightly shining chairs with accompanying tiaras placed at the center of the stage.
Lily would look amazing in that tiara. Just once, I want her to smile at me before we have to be all serious and talk about our future aspirations. While I killed time emersing myself in my delusions, the time to start arrived.
“Thank you everyone for your hard work during these long weeks of the Hero Audition. Today, we will finally announce the results for the final round of voting. In my hand here is the piece of paper bearing the names of our four finalists. I will begin these proceedings by announcing the names of our second and third place contestants.”
After Heath’s initial greetings, he got straight to the point. He held the piece of paper a little farther away from his eyes, so he might be farsighted.
“Second place, Ren Pirochun. And our third place finisher, Ran Longines.”
A wave of murmurs ran through the crowd when an unexpected name came out as second. She was sitting in fourth, but even with a win in the final challenge, nobody expected her to climb up this high.
I guess the previous fans of Nerine were more divided than I had thought. Maybe a lot of them actually ended up supporting Ren since you have the mage connection there.
Once their names were called, the two girls hugged each other and headed towards their chairs arm in arm.
The only vacant seats left were first and fourth place. Things will end here with Peony and Lily. I could tell from their faces that most of the other contestants had given up already. I meanwhile found it hard to look straight ahead. I know I have to see Lily’s shining moment, but I could feel tears welling up at the edge of my vision.
Through Lily’s encouragement, I had actually come to believe that I could make it to the top four. However, with Ren taking her seat, that delusion has officially been killed.
“Next, I will actually go ahead and announce our first place winner…. Peony Laeria!”
Once again the venue was overcome with a wave of excitement. Lily….isn’t in first. She was deprived of her lead once already by Nerine, but she never fell below second. This should be impossible.
If you think about how Nerine’s votes would go, I could see how Peony would end up taking the lead. Still, how would Lily have fallen behind Ren and Ran? She never did anything to lose any supporters.
And at that moment, a possibility crossed my mind. Lily dropped out. I was never going to become a hero. Since there was never a chance we’d be heroes together, did Lily decide we should drop out together? That has to be it right?
But I was wrong. When I looked at Lily, she looked back at me. She’s closer to tears than I am. The way her face is scrunched up, she’ll end up collapsing as soon as she drops her guard.
Stop. I need to start thinking about what we’re going to do after this.
The best choice is for Lily and I to elope together. We’ll sneak out of the venue before the party ends. We’ll only need one change of clothing, so we won’t need to stop by the dorms. We can head straight for the capital’s exit and jump onto the first carriage we find that’s about to depart.
If we only go one way, our pursuers will catch up quickly, so could we ask some people to pretend to be us and spread word that we’re going in several different directions? Maybe Rose-san would be able to help.
A boat would be faster than a horse-drawn carriage, and it would be harder for anyone to follow us. But I don’t have a map on me, so I have no idea where the nearest pier is. But, no….I’m not getting anywhere like this. I’ll come up with a more concrete plan once I’ve talked with Lily.
“And now….our final winner, coming in at fourth place…. Liffy Ruhuna!”
Lily’s name. I pushed my thoughts to the back of my mind and put up a front, turning to Lily and clapping my hands to congratulate her.
But, the people surrounding me were all looking my way, seemingly confused.
That’s when I realized, I’m Liffy. I became a hero. By myself.
Experimental Translations 