Chapter 503: The Meeting, Part 6

Hiyori swallowed nervously as she tried to process what had just happened, still struggling to believe that she was the one who had been chosen to become the next Saint of the Demon Hunter Association.

From this moment onward, she would be responsible for handling the affairs of the entire association, including the countless duties and expectations that would inevitably fall upon her shoulders. The thought alone was enough to make her feel overwhelmed, especially since she had never imagined herself standing in this position in the first place.

Honestly, she wasn’t ready for any of this.

She had always assumed that Haruna would be the one to take over eventually. Considering how much effort Haruna had put into earning the approval of the association’s members, the head, which was their father, and even the former head herself, it seemed perfectly reasonable to expect her to become the next Saint. Compared to Haruna, Hiyori didn’t think she had done nearly enough to deserve such an important position.

Yet, somehow, things had turned out differently.

And that was precisely what made the situation so difficult for her to accept.

However, there was something bothering Hiyori even more than the thought of having to live up to everyone’s expectations. As frightening as the responsibility was, she could probably find a way to deal with it eventually, provided she had enough time to prepare herself.

What she couldn’t stop thinking about was Haruna.

The person who had spent so much time trying to please the members of the Demon Hunter Association, earn the trust of its leaders, and prove that she was worthy of becoming the next Saint had been passed over in favor of someone else.

Despite everything she had done, the power had chosen Hiyori instead.

It was difficult to imagine how Haruna must have felt at that moment, especially when she had probably spent years believing that all her efforts would eventually pay off. She had worked hard for this opportunity, and now, just when it seemed as though everything was finally within her reach, the position had been given to someone she probably hadn’t even considered a serious candidate.

Naturally, anyone who had devoted so much time and effort to achieving a particular goal would find it difficult to accept seeing someone else receive it instead. Even if the decision wasn’t based on personal merit, the disappointment could still be unbearable, and Hiyori couldn’t blame Haruna for feeling upset about what had happened.

That was why Haruna was staring at her with bloodshot eyes, looking as though she could hardly believe what she had just witnessed.

Hiyori couldn’t believe it either.

She had never expected to be chosen, especially when she knew that Haruna was better prepared for the position in so many ways. Haruna had worked harder, earned the respect of the people around her, and seemed far more capable of handling the responsibilities that came with becoming the Saint.

Meanwhile, Hiyori was still trying to figure out how she was supposed to handle the situation without making a complete mess of everything.

Honestly, if someone had told her yesterday that she would become the next Saint, she probably would have laughed at them and asked what they had been drinking.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t a joke, and nobody seemed interested in telling her that there had been some kind of mistake.

Haruna eventually lowered her head, her expression twisting into something that looked almost ashamed. She remained silent for a moment before turning around and leaving the venue.

Hiyori could only watch her go, unable to find the right words to say.

What was she supposed to tell her?

Should she apologize for being chosen? Should she explain that she hadn’t wanted the position in the first place? Perhaps she could even tell Haruna that she would gladly give up the position if doing so were possible.

Unfortunately, none of those options seemed particularly helpful.

If anything, telling Haruna that she didn’t even want the position might only make things worse, especially after everything she had done to earn it. Hiyori could imagine how insulting those words might sound, even if she genuinely meant them.

For the moment, she could only remain where she was and hope that Haruna would eventually have the chance to calm down.

“Hiyori,” the former head called out.

Her grandmother was looking directly at her, and the expression on the old woman’s face was surprisingly clear and composed. Anyone who had witnessed her recent struggles with her memory would have found it difficult to believe that she was the same person who had repeatedly forgotten conversations with Hiyori, sometimes within minutes of having them.

At that moment, however, she seemed perfectly aware of everything happening around her.

“Come here, my dear,” the former head said gently.

“Y-Yes!”

Hiyori immediately straightened her posture before making her way toward the front of the venue, where her grandmother was waiting for her.

As she walked, she couldn’t help noticing the countless eyes following her every movement. Some people looked at her with curiosity, while others seemed openly disappointed by the outcome. A few didn’t even bother hiding their judgment, their expressions making it obvious that they had expected someone else to receive the position.

Honestly, Hiyori wanted nothing more than to hurry up and get away from all those stares.

She could practically feel their eyes following her, as though they were silently asking what made her worthy of becoming the Saint when Haruna hadn’t been chosen. Even though nobody said anything directly to her, the atmosphere alone was enough to make her feel as though she had somehow done something wrong.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t simply rush forward like someone trying to escape an embarrassing situation. As a member of the Ichinose Family, she had been taught to conduct herself with dignity, especially when standing before people who held important positions within the Demon Hunter Association.

Her family name carried certain expectations, and she couldn’t afford to disregard them simply because she was feeling uncomfortable.

So, despite the growing uneasiness in her chest, she continued walking at a measured pace until she finally reached the front.

Once she was standing before her grandmother, Hiyori looked up at the old woman, trying to gather the courage to ask the question that had been bothering her ever since the announcement.

“Grandmother…” she began hesitantly. “Why?”

Her grandmother tilted her head slightly, seemingly unsure of what she meant.

“Why what, my dear?”

“Why me?” Hiyori asked, her voice growing quieter as she struggled to put her feelings into words.

Why had the power chosen her instead of Haruna?

Why had she been given such an enormous responsibility when she didn’t even feel prepared for it?

And why had everything turned out this way when practically everyone had expected a completely different result?

Those were the questions she wanted answered, although she wasn’t sure whether her grandmother could provide the explanations she was looking for.

“I am not the one who decides who becomes the Saint, Hiyori,” the former head replied calmly. “I can only convey what the power has revealed to me. The decision itself was never mine to make, and I have no authority to grant someone a position that wasn’t meant for them.”

Her explanation made sense, at least in theory.

The power of the Saint wasn’t something that could simply be inherited through bloodlines or handed down according to someone’s wishes. Instead, it would manifest in a person chosen by the power itself, regardless of their family, status, or the expectations of the people around them.

Even the former head, despite everything she had accomplished throughout her life, couldn’t decide who would become the next Saint.

Her role was simply to receive the revelation and communicate it to everyone else.

In other words, she had been the messenger all along, and there was nothing she could do to change the outcome.

Hiyori lowered her gaze for a moment, trying to organize the countless questions running through her mind. Her grandmother’s explanation answered one of her concerns, but it did very little to settle the confusion she felt about the entire situation.

If anything, it only made her realize how little she actually understood about what had happened.

“I have so many questions I want to ask you,” Hiyori admitted, looking back at her grandmother. “Would it be all right if I asked them?”

“Of course, my dear. Go ahead and ask whatever you wish,” the former head replied, giving her an encouraging smile.

Hiyori stared at her grandmother, searching the old woman’s face for any sign that might help her understand what was going on. She had so many things she wanted to know that it was difficult to decide where she should begin, especially when she wasn’t even sure how much time they had left together.

After a brief moment of hesitation, she finally settled on the question that had been bothering her the most.

“Did you already know about this?” she asked. “And if you did, how long have you known that I would become the Saint?”