Snow and I headed straight for the ship where the current head of the Walker family resided, without looking away.
Snow’s adoptive mother, the head of a great noble family, was, as expected, on the uppermost floor of the Walker family’s luxurious ship, Valfala.
It was likely the largest single room in the fleet of lodging ships. Snow’s adoptive mother sat elegantly on a chair placed in the center. Numerous attendants and burly guards stood by around her.
Of course, the formidable members of the Walker family were also present, including the “Strongest,” Glen.
However, Snow showed no signs of fear—or rather, she desperately hid her fear as she faced her adoptive mother.
I stood behind Snow, like a guardian knight.
No matter what happened, I was prepared to draw my sword from my Inventory at any time to protect Snow. That’s why I was here.
In the tense atmosphere, Snow spoke up.
“—Forgive me, Adoptive Mother. I am leaving the Walker family.”
She said it plainly and clearly.
“Snow… Again…?”
The head of the Walker family sighed, as if looking at a child throwing a tantrum.
Snow must have made up her mind, but there was no surprise on her face.
Seeing Snow’s expression when she entered the room, she had likely anticipated this conversation. They were mother and daughter, even if by marriage. Looking at their faces, it seemed they could understand each other’s thoughts.
“So, what will you do after running away from the Walker family? Have you forgotten how you were eventually brought back after running away and leaving everything to Glen?”
Snow gasped.
Surely, the trauma of past failures flashed through her mind at that moment.
Even so, she stood with her feet firmly planted on the floor, not letting her trembling body show.
“Enough, Snow. Face your own destiny. Use the power of your blood for the world, for the country, for the Walker family. Why can’t you understand that this will lead to the fulfillment of your life?”
The head of the Walker family commanded sternly.
“—Th-That kind of thing!”
Snow raised her voice, not to be outdone by the command.
She raised her voice to shield herself from the Walker family’s pressure.
“Tell that to someone more capable!! I can’t do it. I’m just a weak human who’s a bit strong and has wings. I absolutely cannot fulfill the obligations of such a great noble. I can’t be like a noble!”
The head of the Walker family’s eyes widened as she heard Snow’s unvarnished words.
“No matter how much I try here, I don’t think it will lead to fulfillment in life! A life without happiness has no meaning! The Walker family is stifling, suffocating! I hate nobles! This isn’t my place!!”
“…No, that is not true. This is where you belong, Snow. …If you leave here, you will regret it, Snow. You will regret it.”
The head of the Walker family threatened slowly.
“I—I regret it all the time! What’s a little more regret now? It doesn’t matter! That’s why I will run away, again and again! Even if I fail again in the future, I’ve decided to run away! Even if I run away and regret it, even if I give up and regret it, I will keep running away, time and time again!!”
But Snow was unwavering now.
No matter how clumsy or ridiculous, she roused her weak self and pushed through with her will.
“Foolish… Even if you repeat it, nothing will change…”
“Even if it’s foolish, I will repeat it! Don’t underestimate my pitiful self, head of the Walker family! Even if I foolishly repeat the same mistake, I will continue to run away in my own way! I will repeat it, again and again, until you give up! This time, I will not give up!!”
That scream was not just a scream.
It was close to a “Dragon’s Roar” imbued with magic power.
The head of the Walker family’s expression changed slightly.
The people surrounding them flinched from the shockwave.
“Even though I am pitiful and have no pride, I am still a descendant of dragons! —Don’t think I’ll stay content in my cage forever! You will be the one to regret and give up!!”
The final scream had already turned into Vibration magic.
It damaged the furnishings of the room, shook the ship itself, and pushed back those around them.
At the center of it all, Snow and the head of the Walker family glared at each other.
“Haa, haa…”
The head of the Walker family watched the breathless Snow.
Her expression was unreadable.
However, it was clear that she had no intention of backing down in the face of Snow’s immense power.
With nothing more to say, Snow turned her face towards me.
And then, with a worried expression, she showed it only to me.
“Hey, Kanami. Even though I’m like this, can I stay with you…?”
Snow wasn’t worried about the Walker family, but she seemed concerned about my reaction.
To not tarnish her hard-won moment, I replied nonchalantly.
“Yeah, you can. I still think you’re saying the worst things, but… I like this Snow better. She’s more straightforward than before. And most importantly, she’s more like herself.”
“Heh heh… You like *this* one… I’m a little happy…”
Snow smiled.
Not with self-deprecation, but with pure joy.
Seeing their exchange, the head of the Walker family finally spoke.
“…Hmph. …So, that Knight is Snow’s support, is he?”
She glared at me.
She seemed to have judged me as the true enemy.
“It can’t be helped. We will take Snow back to the Walker family. This time, we will show no mercy. We will have a thorough talk until that head of yours cools down.”
Under the guise of a “talk,” she intended to capture Snow.
I stood beside Snow and answered in her stead. It was finally my turn.
“Are you intending to apprehend Snow right here, right now?”
“Apprehend is a harsh word… We are merely trying to talk as family.”
“If you mean to capture Snow against her will, I will call for people. Although she lost the match, Snow is a participant in the Dance Battle Tournament. The Allied Nations guarantee her freedom. Even if the Walker family is connected to the country of Laura Via, the other four countries are not, are they? Well, if you intend to quarrel with the other four countries, I won’t stop you.”
“…Hmph. That would be troublesome.”
The head of the Walker family backed down readily.
It seemed her previous statement was to gauge my reaction.
Of course, she didn’t cease her threats towards us.
“However, once the Dance Battle Tournament is over, at that moment, you will be surrounded by the elite forces of Laura Via. And even if you manage to escape that encirclement, the Walker family’s grasp will not loosen. Surely, Snow will break under the Walker family’s power and return. I know this.”
“No, it’s the opposite. You will be the ones to break under our power and give up on Snow. I know this.”
I answered immediately.
The resentment I had accumulated towards nobles until today turned my words harsh.
Hearing this, the head of the Walker family frowned.
It seemed a crack had finally appeared in her composure.
“Such a confident child… As expected, the “Hero” chosen by that “Prodigy” and the “Strongest”…”
She then glared at Glen, who was standing far away.
However, Glen kept his face turned in the opposite direction, maintaining an indifferent posture.
“Don’t misunderstand. I am not a “Hero.” What I’m doing is unfairly defending a friend. There’s no way someone like me is a “Hero.” I’m just Snow’s partner.”
“There’s no way someone like you is “just” a human… Unpleasant child.”
The head of the Walker family pouted and criticized me.
Then, with a grand sigh, she slowly spoke.
“…Hmph. …Then, for now, I will entrust Snow to you. However, Snow is the property of the Walker family. We will take her back someday. Don’t forget that…”
“Yes, I won’t forget. However, I suspect it will be until death, so please accept my apologies in advance. I’m sorry, Walker-san.”
“Sarcastic child. …You’ve made yourself disliked. And yet, I don’t dislike you, you who act like a “Hero”.”
“I apologize again. I dislike you, who acts like a “Noble”.”
Though it was a bit of a rant, I denied the head of the Walker family with my hatred for nobles.
Hearing this, the head of the Walker family shrugged her tensed shoulders and leaned back in her chair.
“…Go.”
She then urged us to leave.
Since we had no reason to refuse, Snow and I started to leave as instructed.
However, the moment we were about to leave the room—the last murmur of the head of the Walker family reached my ears.
It was a very small voice, only audible to me with my high perception.
“—I will not give up, Will-san, Glen-san… Unlike that girl, she is the true “Strongest”… The hope I found—my “Strongest Hero”…”
It was a declaration that she wouldn’t let us go.
Her obsession with Snow.
She was directing it towards Glen and someone unknown.
It reminded me of Snow from a little while ago.
Thinking that Snow and the head of the Walker family were indeed mother and daughter, even if by marriage, I left the luxurious ship, a territory of the Walker family.
Thus, Snow’s and my declaration of war on the Walker family ended.
