Hadekain’s frontier.
At a villa in a forest that led to Marik, I was facing Sophien through a mirror.
—……This is the final command I give as your emperor.
The emperor reflected in the transparent glass somehow seemed like a figure from the distant past.
The young Sophien who had repeated endless deaths, who had floundered through regressions.
—Here, with me…… let us play a game.
She wanted a game.
Like that time once, when we could still treat each other at ease. Like those days when we did not have to worry or agonize over the destruction of the continent.
In a voice too fragile to be called a command, as if she were making a request of me.
I looked at her without any expression.
“Your Majesty.”
—…….
But I gave no answer, merely conveying in a dry tone what I intended to say.
“The Intelligence Agency’s conjecture is correct.”
For an instant, Sophien clenched her teeth. She glared at me and muttered.
—Correct?
“Yes. I will betray Your Majesty.”
—…….
She closed her eyes for a moment.
—Then you shall become a traitor. Your house shall become a house of treason. You will meet the most wretched end and vanish from the history of the Empire.
“Even if I betray Your Majesty, Yukline will become Your Majesty’s strength.”
House.
The name Yukline, the people of its territory, and my younger sister Yeriel had come to hold great meaning to the present me. Not only to Deculein, but also to Kim Woojin.
—You dream big. If you, its head, become a traitor—
“Because Yeriel will be the first to expel me.”
—……Yeriel?
“Yes. That child has the qualities to lead Yukline. Keep her by your side and make good use of her.”
Before long, the head of Yukline would be Yeriel. Yeriel would lead the house in Deculein’s stead. Because she knew that was my wish, she would not be swept away by personal feelings.
—…….
Sophien said nothing. She stared at me, her breath heated.
I spoke.
“Your Majesty. Soon, those who have fed upon the Altar’s grace will gain power.”
Not only in the Empire, but throughout the continent’s Magic Towers and knight orders, the Altar’s “spiritual essence” was spreading.
Countless mages and knights were being enchanted by an irresponsible and convenient power and serving the Altar; even the nation called “Reok” was plotting the sinister scheme of converting the entire country to the Altar.
“It is not limited to mages and knights. Even the endlessly low and wretched commoners will devote themselves to the Altar, obtain power, and seek to overturn the class system.”
The Altar’s faith randomly encroached upon the pyramid known as “class.” Among both the upper and lower ranks, they welcomed the “power without price” bestowed by the god Quay.
Without effort, without talent, without anything at all—they had become addicted to the tempting fruit that made one stronger simply by drinking it.
“It seems I do not wish to stand by and watch such lowly wretches.”
I said to Sophien.
“Thus, I will gather them.”
Those kinds of people had likely succumbed to the Altar’s temptation because they were sick of oppression by nobles like me, or because they hated an unequal society.
“I will once again climb to the summit of those vermin who fled from reality.”
Therefore, I would return to the very top of their heads.
At their summit, I would reign once more.
I would make it clear to them.
As long as you live on this continent, at least as long as you try to serve “evil,” you can never escape the name Deculein…….
“I will become the most orderly of great evils.”
—…….
Sophien looked at me without saying a word.
“I will become Your Majesty’s enemy.”
However, her complexion was different from before. With eyes somewhat steeped in sadness, and a face that also seemed to say I was insolent, she tilted her head slightly.
“Therefore, prepare for war now. Make ready to advance into the Land of Extinction. If you do not devote your full strength, Your Majesty will be defeated.”
Defeated.
The instant I mentioned that, Sophien’s atmosphere changed completely.
—……Defeated?
She straightened her posture again. She glared at me with her unique arrogance and pride. She was once again the Sophien of old.
—It seems those Altar bastards are overflowing with confidence.
Looking at her, I gave a small smile.
“In that Land of Extinction, I will await Your Majesty with nothing but a wooden board.”
* * *
A night when the full moon rose vividly.
Perched on a tree in the forest, Lia was kicking her feet in midair as she watched Julie guarding the villa’s entrance.
“She won’t move aside~”
Ganesha muttered with a hint of laughter.
“Yeah. It looks like Deculein even put up a barrier. I can’t see through it or eavesdrop.”
Lia nodded as well.
They had been tailing Deculein and Julie until now, but they were completely blocked by Julie alone.
Even though she had only the body of a doll, she was strong.
Of course, if they forced their way forward, they might be able to win. But breaking the resolute knight known as “Julie” was something neither Lia nor anyone in the Red Garnet Adventurers wanted.
“It’s about time he called us in~”
Just as Ganesha was pouting her lips and flapping her twin tails—
—Come in now.
Deculein’s voice flowed in from somewhere. At the same time, the barrier enveloping the villa was released.
“Wow. You got it right.”
Lia’s eyes went round. Ganesha gave a small smile.
“Lia. You go in.”
“Huh? By myself?”
“Deculein opened the barrier, but I don’t think that knight will allow anyone but you~”
Ganesha pointed at Julie. At the villa’s entrance, Julie was still glaring this way with narrowed eyes.
“……Ah, okay.”
Lia hopped down from the tall tree. She walked openly and fairly toward the entrance of the villa.
Julie approached.
“Please hand over your weapons.”
“I don’t use weapons.”
“Yes. I believe that is so.”
Julie’s hands searched Lia.
She checked not only her pockets but every corner inside her clothes, then pulled out one of Lia’s belongings and looked at it suspiciously.
“What is this?”
“It’s a flower.”
“Why did you bring it?”
“To give to the Professor.”
Lia answered awkwardly.
“For now, I will keep this with me.”
“……Yeah, well. Do that.”
Only then did Julie nod, open the villa door, and enter together with Lia.
Step, step—
After walking down a short corridor, Julie stopped first in front of the study.
“Go in.”
“……Yes.”
Lia opened the door. The scent of books and ink reached her first. Sniff, sniff—she smelled it for no reason as she looked at Deculein.
He was sitting at the study desk, seemingly writing sentences in a notebook, and behind him was the “canvas” leading to the painting prison, sealed by magic.
Thud—.
The door to the study closed.
“……I’m here.”
Out of needless nervousness, Lia fidgeted with her earlobe. Deculein dipped his quill in ink and said,
“You have missed many chances to kill me.”
His voice was utterly composed.
“Eh?”
“Every moment right now should be a chance. I am weakened at present, and you are strong, Lia.”
“……No. So. Are you asking me to kill you?”
Deculein gave no answer.
Scratch, scratch—
Even after calling her in, he was simply absorbed in writing something.
“……No, excuse me. Count.”
Lia bit her lower lip. For some reason, she could not endure it, and asked what she had been curious about all this time.
“Why are you trying so hard to die?”
Scratch, scratch—
Even so, Deculein’s pen did not stop, moving as if he were scrawling.
Glaring at him, Lia clenched her fist.
“Why are you so desperate to die? I’m Yoo Ara, so why are you telling me to kill you?”
“…….”
Abruptly, his hand stopped.
His eyes sank calmly.
And he called her.
“Yoo Ara.”
“……Yeah. Yoo Ara.”
Lia said her own name as well.
Deculein set down his pen.
“Yes. You resemble her. Through some miraculous process…… in other words, through reincarnation or inheritance, you may even be her.”
Tap—.
He closed the notebook.
“So, continue chasing me.”
“……?”
It was a rather strange thing to say. Lia blinked as she looked at Deculein.
“I will betray the emperor. I will cooperate with the Altar and complete the lighthouse.”
The sight of him declaring his own sins came to Lia like a sense of dissonance.
Strangely enough, it seemed to overlap with the image of that guy from some time ago.
“You will return to the Empire.”
“…….”
Lia sank into quiet contemplation, and Deculein spoke.
“Bring me down.”
* * *
After the Red Garnet Adventurers withdrew, I sat in the villa’s study, reading a book. Not far from me, Julie was wiping her sword with a cloth—swish, swish.
Swish, swish—
Swish, swish—
The sound was comforting.
Because of my personality, I had thought being alone would be more comfortable, but now that I was actually in this situation, that was not necessarily the case.
Julie, who merely did insignificant things beside me, occasionally spoke to me, and from time to time stared blankly only at me, made my heart feel cozy simply by being there.
“Do you like the sword?”
When I asked, Julie looked back at me and smiled brightly.
“Yes. I like it because it is a sword you made for me, Professor. I have also grown used to it quickly in this body.”
Thanks to her honest and pure response, a smile formed on my lips as well.
But that ease lasted only a moment.
In a rather subdued tone, I asked,
“How much time do you have left?”
The current Julie could not remain by my side for long. Since she had the body of a doll, she would someday break, and even if her body endured, the diary’s medium would one day be severed.
Julie shrugged and answered.
“Do not worry. There is still time left for me to protect you until the very end, Professor.”
“…….”
I did not ask again. I merely looked at her in silence.
This moment, in which she, whom I had sent away without even a proper farewell, had returned and affirmed me, was somehow something I was grateful for like a gift, and at the same time something painful like a curse.
One corner of my heart, already beginning to necrotize, ached.
“Julie.”
I called her. Julie looked at me and answered.
“Yes.”
“I am sorry.”
At the words “I am sorry,” she gave a small smile.
I continued as if confessing.
“I wanted you to live. No matter how painful, no matter how agonizing, I only wished that you would not die.”
“Yes. I know those feelings of yours, Professor.”
“And yet, I wanted you to be happy.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Julie diligently responded to each of my words. That was oddly funny, and a laugh escaped me without my realizing it.
“……However, I was unable to fulfill that wish.”
“It is all right.”
Sssrk, Julie rose from her seat.
She sheathed her sword and slowly approached me.
“Rather, I would not have wished for that kind of happiness. For you to torment yourself while only I became happy, for only I to survive…….”
She lowered one knee. With the courteous etiquette of a knight, she looked up at me.
“In the end, it would have made me unhappy. From the very beginning, ours were desires that could not coexist.”
“…….”
I placed my hand on Julie’s hair.
Al Los’s doll perfectly embodied the nature of its medium, so this doll must be a nearly perfect reproduction of the young Julie.
“……Would it have?”
I stroked her cheek. She caressed my hand.
“Yes. But what a coincidence.”
“Coincidence?”
“……The wish you just held for me, Professor.”
Julie said with a smile.
“I, too, hold a wish similar to that one.”
Tap, tap.
The sound against the window.
Rain that had begun to fall at some point.
“I hope I can fulfill one single wish. If I can fulfill only that, I will be the happiest.”
“……A wish?”
“Yes.”
Tap, tap.
The rain quickly grew heavier, raising a mist of water, and the settling sound of rainfall soaked the space.
“I hope that, in the moment I disappear…… I can protect you, Professor.”
Now, a gentle moisture spread through the study.
The smell of paper, the smell of ink, the smell of rain, seeped in peacefully.
“I hope my true end will be together with you, Professor.”
After finishing her words, Julie leaned her forehead against my knee.
“That is my wish.”
“…….”
I placed my hand on her head. Stroking it slowly, I said,
“Yes. I will die later than you.”
“……Hm?”
Then, as if somewhat dissatisfied, she puffed out her cheeks slightly and glared up at me again.
“Can you not avoid dying?”
Tap, tap.
Amid the continuing sound of rain, I shook my head.
“I cannot.”
“…….”
“But do not worry. For some reason, I feel I must die in order to live.”
Julie did not ask any further.
I quickly changed the subject as well. I disliked the heavy atmosphere.
“By the way, Julie. I smell the fragrance of flowers from you.”
A slightly soft scent came from her as she knelt before me.
“……Ah, right.”
As if she had belatedly remembered, Julie widened her eyes and took a single flower from within her clothes.
“It is a flower Miss Lia had on her. I briefly forgot that I had confiscated it.”
“I see.”
A simple mistake truly like Julie. Of course, even that was lovely, but the flower she presented made my expression harden for an instant.
“……You said Lia brought this?”
I asked as I received it.
“Yes. She said she brought it to give to you, Professor. Do you know what flower it is?”
“…….”
Of course I did.
Because those blue leaves and the small blossoms that grew one after another were a beauty far too familiar to me.
“It is a forget-me-not.”
Forget-me-not.
An Easter egg left by Yoo Ara, whose flower language was “please do not forget me.”
As I looked at it…… I suddenly became sleepy.
As if something had burst at the crown of my head, languor and exhaustion flowed from the ends of my hair down through my entire body. My body escaped my control, lost its strength, and collapsed on its own.
“Are you all right, are you all right?”
Julie asked as she supported me. Her voice, which had remained calm until now, suddenly shook.
“……Mm. I am just a little sleepy.”
Leaning against Julie, I looked at the “forget-me-not” I had dropped onto the floor.
The flower Lia had brought.
Forget-me-not.
Yoo Ara.
Yoo Ara, von Veronigis Meinnicht…….
“Yes. I will move you to the bed.”
……However, my thoughts did not continue any further.
“Rest comfortably. I will always be by your side.”
With Julie’s warm voice as the last thing I heard, my consciousness fell into a deep, sweet sleep.