Unfortunately, I’m Not A Hero 55: Interlude: Ur

Unfortunately, I’m Not A Hero 55: Interlude: Ur

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Commissioned by Shaderic

Wordcount: 2500

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When Kurama described to me the “festival” that was set to take place before her wedding to Hachiman, I thought that I would find it disturbing.

A celebration which lasts days and nights, in which the entirety of a society invests itself in excess. Whole streets were to be places of merriment. Stalls were to be set for food, games made for simple entertainment, and contests held to simply please the crowds. 

I was familiar with such things, but the size, scope, and culture of Kurama’s Tribe made me worry and fret. 

Hachiman held festivities in Ylstu, but they were restrained. Kurama’s arrival was the beginning of small festivities, in which he praised his people for their achievements, and granted them a day of rest, recuperation, and entertainment. These typically took place on the day before the “weekend,” thus granting workers and many others nearly three whole days of respite, and garnered him immense praise in exchange for trifling amounts of coin, as he merely expended stores of food and drink that could not fit within the stores, and did not reach the hands of merchants. 

His festivals are simple, sufficient, and supplies the individual with entertainment, before they enter days of respite.

The festivities described by Kurama were extravagant, licentious, and no respite would be had, as every moment would be dedicated entirely to celebration.

I feared that I would dislike it and be utterly incapable of enjoying it.

Thus, I schooled my features, and awaited its commencement with trepidation as it began. 

…

The festival began in the town square of the valley, with a declaration of Kurama’s mother, as well as words from Lady Roseanne, and the others brought to join festivities. While honorable, strong Onimusha defended the Kurama Matriarch, my sisters and I were set as Roseanne’s guards, and if not for Kurama’s words, Hachiman’s reputation, and Roseanne’s vouching for our ability and honor, the other nobles would have been slighted. 

And, perhaps, even with all three of those things, they would’ve been slighted nonetheless if not for the chaotic celebration which ensued. 

Horns, bells, and drums resounded through the entirety of the town at once, a cacophony of noise which was only drowned out by the cheers of the gathered populace, as with a grand gesture of magic the town was transformed by a clap of the Kurama Matriach’s hands. Decorations hidden away in illusions, set in the dead of night by Kunoichi, were unleashed all over the town. 

Banners and lengths of vivid silk unfurled of a dizzying array of colors, but many proclaimed the occasion to be that of Hachiman’s marriage. Doves were let loose from cages by Kunoichi, each one taking flight through the town, and they formed a pure white flock, and they filled the skies with their white wings and melodic chirps. Then, from the tops of rooftops, performers of every kinds came forth. 

Musicians began to play, acrobats leapt to and fro in concert, and displays of magic entirely meant for entertainment erupted from every rooftop to the delight of those in the streets. 

And, as the crowds began to follow whatever gathered their attention, the stores opened and unleashed upon the entire town the scent of wonderful foods, the promise of entertainment, and the prizes to be won. 

It was dazzling beyond belief, and looking upon it all took not only the gazes of my sisters, but also that of Roseanne and the others we were meant to protect. 

It took my breath away, and I yearned to experience it, but as I looked upon the joyous celebration my gaze was drawn to a Hachiman.

Despite my own feelings, and the reactions of all those present to the magnificent display, I wanted to see if my Chieftain looked upon it favorably as well.

And, my heart stopped, as upon his face I saw a small smile born of pleasant surprise. 

For the briefest of moments, I looked upon him without all his hatred, fury, and grief, and I could not turn my gaze away. The years fell away from him in that instant, and he looked the young man that I knew he was. The tenseness of his jaw was gone, giving him a gentleness that he didn’t normally have. His usual glare was replaced by a look of curiosity and fascination, and his brow lifted and the narrowness of his eyes lightened in the process, easing his countenance furthermore. 

At the sight of Hachiman’s enjoyment, my heart began to beat so strongly that I barely heard the sound of celebration which shook the very platform we stood upon. 

I found myself looking upon him… and my sole thought was whether I could make him so happy again. 

…

While my sisters attended to Roseanne and the others nobles of note, I remained with Hachiman as we moved through the festival. Though he regained his composure, and the smile was no longer upon his lips, I’ve been beside him for so long that it was easy to see the truth. 

Despite all his words, complaints, and the scowl upon his lips, he was excited. 

“Jeez, you’d think they’d hold back a little, given how much they made us promise for their money. This is just gross.” Hachiman’s words were empty, devoid of any true hate, and I stayed by his side as A’Bel and Reiser cleared the way for us. His eyes, which normally was always fixated forward, drifted everywhere and his usual, quick pace was nowhere to be found. “I thought this place couldn’t get any lewder, but here we are, walking around Kindred fucking around without a care in the world.”

There were many lewd games, but he paid them nearly no attention. Instead his eyes turned to stalls of food, or simple games of chance, until he suddenly stopped.

I traced his gaze and found myself looking upon a strange stall, where innumerable threads were connected to hanging items. From looking upon the game alone, I discerned that one would get their prize from the game by pulling on the correct thread. There were more threads than there were prizes, and some prizes were obviously lesser in quality than the one in the center, so the manager of the stall merely gave the “chance” of winning to those who paid her.

It was a simple game, but Hachiman walked towards it, and soon enough matched the shopkeeper’s gaze. 

“Did you make this game?” There was a tenseness to his voice that I didn’t expect, until I looked upon his face again. His earlier joy and calm was replaced by something more terrible than his typical anger. A cold mask of indifference was set upon his face, which hid every single one of his emotions. “Answer me.”

“N-no, my lord, it—it’s a traditional game.” Though the festival went on around us, I barely noticed it. Hachiman has a strange ability, which was born not of magic, but simply from the life he led. When he wished to take hold of a situation, he dominated and commanded all attention without hesitation. While Kindred relished all forms of emotion, the mask of absolute indifference instilled surprise, hesitation, and even fear in the individual. “My family came from across the seas, and e-every festival we would have this game.”

The black-haired, squirming Driders words nearly had me speak up for her, as I feared that Hachiman’s recognition of the game would lead him to conclude that Kindred oversees did the same as the Empire.  

However, I did not have to speak for the Kindred, as A’Bel placed a hand upon his shoulder.

“The magics of the Empire are unknown to the rest of the world, my dear summoner. You recognize this game solely due to chance.” The Demon spoke into his ear with a soothing, calming voice which only earned Hachiman’s ire. However, his ire was vastly preferable to the absolute indifference that he had worn a moment earlier. I breathed a sigh of relief, as the Demon used her power to calm my chieftain. “Look, you worried Ur, and she’d been so happy looking at you while you were so excited.”

The Demon’s words reached me the same moment Hachiman’s gaze turned to me. 

I knew that I had nothing to feel ashamed about. If my chieftain is happy, then I have every reason to be happy as well. The joy of a good leader is born from the efforts of their people, therefore if he was happy, that meant my sisters and I were doing well. 

So, I did not know why I felt my cheeks redden to a deep scarlet at the Demon’s words, as well as my chieftain’s glare. 

“Fine, I’ll relax, but if you’re somehow lying to me…” Hachiman left his threat to A’Bel unfinished, as the Demon grinned at him. Reiser kept watch over us, and for the first time I noticed that many were looking upon the four of us with interest. I pushed aside my feelings in favor of observing the crowd for any possible threats, and did my best to ignore how much I now yearned for battle, as anything was better than the confusion I now felt. “Ur, go ahead and try this game with me to make sure this this woman isn’t cheating her customers.”

Hachiman’s words once again had a bite of emotion, so the keeper of the stall no longer felt lost, and bristled with outrage.

“How dare you insinuate such a thing! I have you know that of these hundred threads thirty are connected to prizes, and of those thirty-one is the greatest prize I could afford!”

“Yeah, yeah. Its gambling with extra steps. Don’t pretend like it’s anything else besides stealing from the unlucky.” Hachiman threw several coins the Drider’s way and she plucked them out of the air with her two sets of arms, whilst leveling a glare at my chieftain. It was the same glare that Henri sent his way. A glare filled with the yearning to pin him down and have their way with him, constrained only by personal pride. “Is it three per play or ten?”

“One.”

“What a fucking trash system this is holy shit!”

Hachiman complained, but moved onward to the stall. I took note of the change in atmosphere, as it was returning to what it once was, through Hachiman’s efforts. He could have simply left after being dissuaded by A’Bel, and the stall owner’s venture would’ve been in jeopardy. However, instead he is doing this, getting the interest of so many others, and doing his utmost to help someone he accidentally wronged. 

He might not be apologizing with words, but he is apologizing nonetheless, and I couldn’t help but feel pride well up within me at the sight of his growth. 

And, of course, I also felt triumph.

Despite everything that has happened to him, all the pain he endured and suffered, he is regaining himself bit by bit.

We both lost in the game, but as we left the stall to further investigate the entirety of the festival, I felt it didn’t matter in the slightest. 

Seeing Hachiman’s excitement and joy was all that mattered.

…

Kurama’s garments evoked a sense of divinity. She was glad in layers of red and white silk. It accentuated her beauty incredibly well, but they were masterfully-made silks were incomparable to the final layer of her dress. It was a mantle, which would require a whole dozen of minders to mind as she walked down the aisle, upon which the history of her tribe was lovingly sewn. Masterful Driders, unlike normal tailers or even those of them with less skill, could easily add upon the work of others as long as it was composed of silk. 

So, Kurama wore a painting of her entire family’s history, an ensemble of all the joys and sorrows of her family, and will walk towards Hachiman surrounded by her family and kin. Her mother, father, siblings, and cousins are all set to return on her wedding day. They will look upon her with joy in their eyes, elation in their hearts, and speak against any who dare whisper anything about her amongst them.

And, Hachiman will stand alone.

He will stand alone before all the gazes of the Kindred. He will be clad in his strange form of dress, his infamy, and his power. In the eyes of all Kindred, my chieftain decided to stand alone, not even with A’Bel, as a show of his solidarity. While all those gathered look upon the works and history of Kurama’s tribe, and their entire history and efforts over centuries, they will see him in the few seasons since Lady Roseanne saved him from the Empire.

Why?

Because it is the path that will benefit Ylstu the most, as he once again presents himself a singular existence that is irreplaceable. 

That is all the reason he ever needs to shoulder any weight, take on any challenge, and attempt to overcome anything.

However, a choice lay before me, courtesy of Kurama.

“The choice is yours, Ur.” She stood beside me clad in clothes that presented her at her most beautiful, and to my right was a white dress she offered to all my sisters. The dress was a simple, but elegant, reaching only midthigh to permit perfect movement, and a golden clasp on the shoulder with Ylstu’s mark. My sisters will gladly wear it, as unlike many other clothes, it will permit us to fight at our best. However, while my sisters had only once choice, I had another. “I’m sure that he’ll complain, but even Hachiman can’t stand alone.”

The other option Kurama offered me was clothes similar to what Hachiman wore. 

A “suit” composed of pants, vest, shirt, and jacket composed solely of black and white. He wore it to give himself an aura of authority, and he wore it very well. The consorts and prostitutes being brought into the wedding would wear similar attire, but obviously changed so they were a reflection of him. Even those strange, different men with different minds and hearts gained a fraction of his authority and reputation when they wore the clothes fashioned after his own. 

Still, it never crossed my mind that I could take after him, and wear clothes directly styled after his own, so that I could stand beside him.

Just so that he wouldn’t be alone. 

“He has a plan that he intends to see through, by standing there alone.” I spoke to Kurama, sharing with her a fragment of the information Hachiman trusted me with. However, my words had no spirit behind them, as I was still struggling to choose my path. I should say no, but the word wouln’t come. “I shouldn’t.”

Kurama was silent for a moment, but soon enough my friend placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Hachiman always has a plan, but it is always for others, and not for him. So… we must strive to plan help him, as he strives to help us.”

Her words held no command, and she left me to choose after she uttered them.

Thus, the choice became two questions, instead of arrangements of fabric.

Will I support my chieftain’s plans?

Or, shall I support Hachiman?

I asked myself, and the answer was clear within a heartbeat.