"The heroes of the Human Race aren't glamorous."
"In fact... you could never guess what roles our elders of Ink Pavilion are playing."
"Is that fair to them?"
"But they do it anyway, day after day."
"Whenever an elder of Ink Pavilion dies, someone else takes their place, continuing to wait in silence for the day they need to die."
"This is why Ink Pavilion remains the leader of the Human Race to this day."
"The Ten Elders of Ink Pavilion never gather together!"
"Those words aren't baseless."
"I'm telling you this today not to ask you to live up to these predecessors, but simply to make you remember-remember that there are many people in this world silently protecting you."
"When, one day, you stand tall and have the ability, you too must become towering trees, holding up the sky for the Human Race!"
"At least... on the day you die, when you look back, you should be able to say proudly: in this life, I did right by the Human Race, and by... these fifty-six memorial portraits!"
"This is the first graduation ceremony this special that I've held in over ten years."
"May all of you..."
"Become dragons among men, and each... a pillar of our Human Race."
"It has been an immense honor to walk alongside you for three years."
"I hope that one day, you will become the pride of our Mobei Second High School."
The principal took a deep breath and, together with the scattered teachers behind him, took one synchronized step back. "We cannot accompany you through the rest of your lives, but... we share in your glory."
He clenched one hand into a fist and struck his chest.
The salute of the Human Race.
Every student below wore an exceptionally solemn, grave expression.
They