The Revenge of the Soul Eater

Trial Ceremony

 

  *clang*, *clang*, *clang*, sounds of dry thuds echoed as a wooden sword rolled on the ground.

  I was stunned as I looked at my own hands that have been emptied.

  “That’s it”, the voice of the judge felt strangely far away.

  It was a match that I had to win.

  However, I had completely lost.
The wooden sword was knocked out of my hand instantly.

 

  Thirteen years old–  it was the coming of age trial ceremony for the pupils of the phantom blade style.

  My opponent was a dragon tooth warrior- a skeletal swordsman that was created from magic.

  It was by no means a weak opponent.
In fact, even a regular soldier of the empire or a single adventurer would have a hard time fighting it one on one.
It can be said that it wasn’t an opponent meant for young boys and girls.

  However, nobody here would have any doubts about facing an opponent like that.

  For the pupils of the phantom blade style, it’s natural that they’d win vs an opponent of this level.
In fact, the other seven people that took the trial before me had all won.

 

  There was only one person who lost.

  All the hard work that I had accumulated for today, all the efforts that I had put in for this moment over the last many, many years had all crumbled to nothing.

  When I hung my head down in silence, the voice of my father came from above.

  It was a deep, cold, dry voice.

 

  「–Sora.」

 

  「Y-Yes, Father!」

 

  「The Mitsurugi household is a house of ancient warriors founded by the sword saint who sealed away the demon god three hundred years ago.
The phantom blade style is an evil crushing sword that our ancestors risked their lives to create.
A blade that protects mankind from mythical creatures such as dragons, giants, and demon gods that are as dangerous as natural disasters.
For that reason, our family was given the important task of being the protectors who guard the demon gate by the emperor.
Were you aware of this?  」

 

  「I-I am aware!」

 

  「The people born in the Mitsurugi house have the obligation to inherit the founder’s sword.
And then, they have the responsibility to pass the sword to the next generation.
Those who cannot fulfill these two duties have no place in this household」

 

「F-father…」

 

「The people who can’t pass this trial ceremony do not have a right to learn the phantom blade style.
And those who have not mastered the phantom blade style are not qualified to carry on the Mitsurugi name.
From this day on, I am disowning you.
You are no longer allowed to use the name Mitsurugi beyond this point.
Finish packing your stuff today and you will leave this island tomorrow.
The weak are not needed in this place」

 

  He banished his own biological son without a second thought in an indifferent tone.

  There was not a single sign of being troubled on father’s– The seventeenth generation sword saint, Mitsurugi Shikibu’s face.
He looked at me the same way he looks at a rock on the ground.

 

  For a father who has devoted his life to the sword, a man who was not talented in the sword would be equal to dust to him, even if it was his son.

 

  …I knew about that.

 

  He has always looked at me that way for as far back as I could remember.
No matter how dense a child is, they would eventually understand.

  I have always been trying my hardest to have such a father recognize me.

 

  However, it did not work out in the end.

  No matter what I say here, my father’s mind will not change.
There was no use in crying, groveling, or begging for mercy.

 

  It wasn’t only my father who felt that way.
The many pupils, and the star pupils who were lined up on his left and right were also looking at me with cold eyes.

 

  Scorn, contempt, pity, indifference…

 

  It was just as my father said a moment ago.
The curse of that demon god that was sealed by the sword saint continued to encroach upon this world through the demon gate even today.

  Demons and demonic beasts of levels that far exceed the main continent’s monsters roam free on this island, but all of that is because of the demon gate as well.

  People called this island the demon island (Onigashima).

  For those who are