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Emperor Georg Gnos Urgos
Epilogue: Until the Day the Sky Forgets the Stars
Translator : PolterGlast
・Former
Political Officer, Now Chief of Staff Puis
One's innate nature
does not change until death. Just as the gods sealed in the Abyss
suffered from being given false forms, an undesired role or form deeply
torments the person themselves. I refuse such a life.
Those are Ashley-sama's
words. He threw away a role unsuited to himself and chose the path of freedom
in this world where the battle has ended.
Of course, Georg-sama
and I objected to Ashley-sama. If everyone simply followed their true
nature, society wouldn't function. That's unfair, Ashley! Are you
intending to be the only one to become free! We said...
I suppose the world
is divided into two types: free people, and people who sacrifice their freedom
to serve someone... Ashley-sama is the former, and we, being overly
serious, are the latter...
We are envious of
that wildness of his, being able to choose freedom despite originally being in
the position of a prince... Why can't we cast aside our roles and enjoy a life
of travel like him? That is because if we run away from these roles, we would
leave irreversible scars on this Empire, which still remains in chaos... Ashley-sama
was also supposed to bear that role as a prince...
I'm sorry, my
complaining went on for too long. Let me talk about what happened afterwards.
As you know, the civil war ended in victory for Georg-sama and Ashley-sama.
After Ashley-sama
left the battlefield to save Zirant-sama, we detained the defeated
generals, disbanded the enemy army, and made them return to their proper posts
and hometowns. We went up to the Imperial Capital's palace, settled things with
the false emperor who did not participate in the war—that is, the Crown
Prince-sama—and seized the political center of this country.
And before we knew
it—two months had passed... Ashley-sama didn't even show up for Georg-sama's
coronation, and finally showed his face at the palace three days later.
Carrying the sweet fruit Ambrosia as a souvenir from the underground empire,
and cheese from Fimbul.
「For a
younger brother and the hero who saved the country to not show up to his older
brother's coronation, what are you thinking, Ashley-sama! This old man
doesn't remember raising you to be such an ingrate!」
「That's
why I'm saying I'm sorry. The journey took a bit longer. Want to come along
next time, old man?」
Old man—rather, I
remember well how Gideon-san was apologizing profusely to Georg-sama.
「How
many people do you think are suffering because of your wandering habit! Please
do some work, work!」
「That's
why I said I leave it to you. If you old folks forge my signature in my name,
there would be no need for me to do paperwork.」
I suppose the people
who went over there are having quite a hard time... I am worried about Gideon-san's
health...
Now, to return to
the topic a bit, the casualties of that great war ended up being just under
40,000. This is a fortunate number for the Empire. If the battle had dragged on
any longer, the Empire would have suffered a fatal blow.
No, an even greater
blow was the shortage of generals and bureaucrats. Many scattered on the
battlefield, and many bureaucrats and politicians were complicit in the civil
war. For that reason, the first action Georg-sama took after becoming
Emperor was granting pardons. Even so, if there is a shortage of human
resources, it is only natural that I get fired as the lord of Erin.
Georg-sama
forcefully snatched me away from Ashley-sama and placed me in the seat
of Chief of Staff. Could this perhaps be a love built on plunder or something, fufufu...
「Puis...?
What are you laughing at while looking at my face...」
「Yes,
if I don't engage in some delusions, I wouldn't be able to get through a life
like this.」
My contact with Durin-chan
and Atomina-sama has decreased significantly, but since I can look at Georg-sama's
fierce profile anytime now, I'm reasonably satisfied. So busy, so incredibly
busy, that I want to curse Ashley-sama...
「Why
did it turn out like this... I need you to quickly build up your achievements
so I can recommend you for Prime Minister. We are completely lacking in
talent...」
「I
decline that. Ashley-sama commanded me to assist you in exchange for
handing me over to you. If I become Prime Minister, I won't be able to watch
over you.」
「Haa...
don't take his words at face value... Where and what is he doing right about
now...」
「I
heard he was going South.」
My family was on the
side that lost in a political dispute in the previous era. Georg-sama—His
Majesty the Emperor—probably wants to make me Prime Minister to blow a hole in
past conflicts.
「I'm
begging you, Puis, put yourself in my shoes... I cannot bear the heavy
responsibility of being Emperor, having only ever been in the military...」
「Then
we'll have to work hard at developing human resources so that we can have it
easier.」
The Empire has a
mountain of problems. No, it can be said that we have made it to today while
leaving problems to pile up. It is true that the previous Emperor His Majesty
was excellent, but he had merely postponed the conflict between the North and
South. In that era, there was probably no other choice.
「Next
week, I am meeting with older brother Julius.」
「Oh...
how is his condition?」
「He's a
completely different person. Now, I don't even know what we were fighting for
anymore...」
「Is
that so... The long nightmare of the Imperial Family has finally cleared up,
hasn't it...」
Prince Julius
was ordered to be placed under house arrest for the crime of mass murder, having
kidnapped the people of his domain and used them as materials for the Cherubim
Armors. Looking solely at his actions, he is nothing but the lowest of
criminals, but he is also the ringleader of the Southern nobles. As things
stand, there is no choice but to have him live a life under surveillance until
death, as a defeated person. However, the strange thing was that he, who should
be the biggest war criminal, is rehabilitating and trying to atone for his
sins.
「Sometimes
I think about it. If I hadn't cut down older brother Yord at that
time... Older brother might have returned to his senses too――」
「That's
just dwelling on the past. No matter what the circumstances were, it doesn't
change the fact that he is a sinner.」
Prince Yord
was cut down by Georg-sama in the land of Ratatosk. Georg-sama
appears to regret it, but if you ask me, his dying saved us a lot of trouble.
Since he had absolutely no popularity or trust, the Knight Order easily
accepted the death of their commander, Yord, and swore their allegiance
to Georg-sama. Let's celebrate Knight Aureus's appointment as
Knight Commander, who played a major part in the Southern Army's surrender.
Right about now, he must be experiencing the same hardships as us in the Knight
Order's territory.
◆ ◇ ◆
「Why am
I the Knight Commander... Why do I have to live a life full of nothing but
political affairs! Hey, call some women, at least let me work while chatting
with women! ...Why not! Come on, at least women are fine, right! I'm the Knight
Commander, aren't I?!」
Although he was a
countryside knight, he possessed the popularity and trust that Prince Yord
lacked. His sufficient ability convinced the military-oriented knights, and
above all, the single point that he was, all things considered, a reliable good
guy――became the decisive factor for his recommendation.
「His
Majesty Georg! This Morac has come to report. Regarding prices,
with the cooperation of our affiliates and the Hezu Trading Company, they are
gradually stabilizing. Ah, of course, the parliament is also proceeding without
a hitch――」
Morac-sama
was the quickest to turn his coat. The moment he surrendered to Georg-sama,
he suddenly transformed into this kind of sycophant... Personally, I'd like to
put this war criminal under house arrest until he goes senile, but
unfortunately, we are lacking in human resources...
「As
expected of you, Uncle. Leaving it to you was the correct answer.」
「I-Is
that so! Then I am glad, feel free to ask me for anything else. You are my
younger brother's precious son!」
Under surveillance,
it was decided to continue entrusting him with the role of Chairman. It's true
that we won, but if we completely destroyed the old order from its roots, it
would conversely throw the world into chaos. We are always gasping at the wall
between ideals and reality.
「You've
got a lot of nerve saying that, considering you kidnapped Atomina-sama
back then...」
「Urgh?!!
T-That matter... My bad about that day, Georg!! I was wrong, I... why
did I do such a thing... I just don't understand... Thinking back on it now,
it's completely absurd...」
「Uncle,
please don't make such a gloomy face. Puis, didn't I tell you not to
touch on that topic...」
「My
apologies, Morac-sama, it just slipped out. But Georg-sama,
wouldn't it be better to enforce some form of accountability?」
「Stop
it, don't instigate Georg!? I said my bad, I said my bad, didn't I, hey
His Majesty Emperor Georg!」
I cannot accept
this... Many people died in that war. Even if I'm told that he had just gone
crazy after making Ashley-sama and Carral-sama suffer, I cannot accept
it. Also, Dunail-sama's position as the Chief Priest was guaranteed. I
heard the stabbed fifth son has already recovered enough to be able to stand
up. I heard his taste in collections suddenly changed, and a large number of
his tasteless treasures flooded the market.
Furthermore, the
former Crown Prince is currently embraced by the sweet dreams brought about by
the Tears of Demiurge in his own territory. He probably won't last much
longer. Sweet dreams break a person and bring them to their death. Even so,
every time he wakes from a dream, he happily tells his pages that he had a fun
dream. The stories transcribed into books are moving, overflowing with
happiness and the ups and downs of life; I hear that numerous masterpieces are
being produced at the cost of the Crown Prince's life.
The Tears of Demiurge, as long as its usage isn't mistaken, can become a parting gift to the dying, or the seed for the greatest stories. However, for us humans, it was a hidden treasure that appeared far too early, one we could never eternally master.
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