216 – Epilogue-9
“I think this should be enough.”
“Well, they wouldn’t do anything too dangerous.”
The meeting is over.
The imperial family tried to buy more time, but I had no reason to accept the sluggish negotiations with them.
Although we have negotiated with a few humble royals with acceptable conditions, we have yet to have a proper conversation or agreement with most of them. I hadn’t even thought of that.
because it’s ready
“So, tomorrow… can I do it?”
“Don’t worry too much. Most of the citizens here will not have seen the coronation ceremony with their own eyes.”
The coronation ceremony is scheduled to take place tomorrow. Other imperial families will now have to confront ‘Emperor Enerel’ instead of ‘Hero Enerel’.
“Whoa…”
“Please put your mind at ease. Even if you become His Majesty, we will not give you excessive responsibilities.”
“Is that true?”
The old man smiled strangely.
“We do not give the work. His Majesty the Emperor will do it himself.”
“shit.”
He wasn’t wrong.
seat of the emperor The old gods here were people who shared my life and death, even if I put aside their personal morality and other issues.
It wasn’t like we got through the chaos together, but if I lose my power and step down as emperor, they won’t be happy for the rest of their lives either.
Of course, you couldn’t ask too much of me. In fact, it didn’t make them uncomfortable just because I wasn’t working.
Work is power. Even if I only hold the title of emperor and do nothing, it only strengthens the power of the elders.
“Recently, it seems like you’ve been making a lot of promises here and there… isn’t it?”
That strange, know-it-all look in his eyes was very annoying. But I couldn’t resist.
“…okay.”
Yesterday, too.
/////
“In the end, it turned out like this. Don’t you regret it?”
Facing the old priest again, I was able to realize that a slight bloody smell remained from his body.
As for the weak me when I first saw him, it was so weak that I couldn’t understand it at all.
“Okay. How are the children?”
“There are many who can take my place. Even if I fall victim to his will, someone will take over.”
“is it.”
“In my own way, I’m giving my heart to these children. It’s a bit sad that the trip I left behind, ended up being a failure.”
I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him. After all, I didn’t choose Erinis.
The hardships she went through with me as a maid was, after all, an unforgettable memory.
That someone was angry with me for my resentment, that it was okay to do anything, that someone stayed with me for no purpose, just because I was hurt.
“I, too, am indebted to him.”
Until the last moment, I did what I couldn’t have done without the power of Erinis.
Without her, it would have collapsed long ago.
“Kids… don’t they lack support, though?”
“At least the children who came in here are fine. But, wasn’t the capital chaotic? There must have been a lot of abandoned children.”
“I’m going to do it… When I get to a position where I can, I’ll be sure to help.”
The old priest smiled lightly.
“You’ll be a great emperor. However, good deeds and reforms are bound to bring backlash and hatred, so you’ll have to be careful.”
“I’ll try.”
It was the same. Those clumsy sculptures were still there. The figure of Erinis came clearly into my eyes.
“And… there was a message from the goddess.”
“really?”
“I heard it. Oh, I was so envious of that silver-haired saintess. To think that there is a priest who has lived hearing such a clear and distinct voice of God all her life…”
The old priest’s expression was complicated.
The happiness of being able to experience this only now, the jealousy of Celia who had been experiencing it all along.
Even pity for the fact that in the future she will never again be able to experience the sensation of talking to God. A lot was put into his expression.
“So, what did Erinis say?”
“I didn’t understand it, so I’ll try to copy what he said as much as possible.”
“…okay.”
I held my breath and waited for him to open his mouth.
“It’s boring to stay awake. If you help me, maybe I can go back to sleep, do you have any ideas?”
Pausing for a moment, I pondered the meaning.
Did he not want Erins to be awake, and wished to fall asleep again?
“Priest. Did you talk to him that often? Excuse me, but how do you usually talk…”
“He was always sorry. He said that there were so many things he couldn’t do for you, and he was always sad.”
Laughter flowed out.
Erinis, the goddess of vengeance, can’t help me properly unless it’s about my ‘revenge’.
Compared to the Goddess Church, which is in charge of mercy, there was no choice but to lack a way to exercise power directly.
“…Please tell me it’s done.”
Right away, it wasn’t that priests couldn’t use divine power. Even if God does not directly intervene, this country will not collapse.
It was a little sorry for the goddess, but well, wouldn’t she wake up on her own someday?
“He said he might help the warrior with his personal affairs.”
“I know it too.”
The cause of all this happening was that the goddess was so shocked by what I had received that she fell asleep. The goddess of vengeance filled the place.
In other words, as long as the goddess who summoned me here wakes up again, she can always prepare the magic ingredients needed to return.
“That’s Okay.”
However, I didn’t want to lean on God now. I didn’t want to run away just because the opportunity presented itself.
If he had any regrets in the first place, he wouldn’t have saved Farseer and Celia.
“T-If you have something to come down, tell me to eat at least once. It might be a bit difficult.”
“…I understand. Please, take a look.”
“Tell me not to worry.
Children overflowing in orphanages, people who are probably dying right now.
It’s sad, but I wouldn’t let Erinis fall into an unwanted sleep for that.
I will. Even if it’s hard and exhausting, with your own strength.
I promised so.
/////
The choir sings songs of praise to God, and the knights and servants swear allegiance to me.
Numerous rituals, spells, and magic are intertwined and nestled in my body.
‘…It’s heavy.’
The crown hadn’t even been worn yet, and these spells were too heavy.
Eleanor was looking at me with a more reverent face than anyone else. However, there was a hint of joy on his face.
Standing in front of me, she was waiting for the moment when she put the crown in her hand on my head.
Nerwen’s eyes weren’t looking at me. However, the head was tilted towards me.
She was genuinely enjoying my transformation, with all of her senses other than her eyes in bloom.
A smile spread across Celia’s lips. Occupying a corner of the plaza with her nun friends, she looked happier than anyone else.
Farseer moved his hand without stopping. It was a well-run coronation ceremony, but it seemed that there was something she didn’t like.
I heard that they are moving to smooth the consciousness, maximize the effect, and minimize the side effects, but I did not listen because I did not understand it even if I listened closely.
However, I could see that she was afraid. Because she was a failure once.
I struggled to make eye contact with her and smiled a little.
I was conscious, so I couldn’t shake my hand.
Even so, I was able to give him a glance telling me not to worry. Perhaps she was a little relieved, too, and stopped her hurriedly turning hand.
Eleanor muttered as she looked at me for the last time.
Unfortunately, it was an ancient language, so I couldn’t understand it. Interpreted, it must have been ‘Are you ready to bear the responsibility and glory of the emperor?’
My answer was also an ancient language that I had memorized in advance. After he finished speaking, he could feel a lot of magic pulsating.
Now, it’s a start.
The chaos in the empire is not yet over. Ascending the throne is only the beginning.
It may be impossible to make this world a warm world where I am not uncomfortable.
What makes a world where the people who are sacrificed, the pain, the anger, and the hatred disappear infinitely.
The relationship with the hero’s party is just beginning.
As Celia showed me, there can be many reasons why people hate people.
However, I chose the following.
I was afraid of the future and did not settle down. Not obsessed with and obsessed with the past.
I did what I wanted most now, and avoided what my current self didn’t want most of all. nope, broke it
And so it will be in the future.
The crown Eleanor was holding came up on my head as I was on one knee.
Heavy, but bearable. The weight of the crown, the spells and oaths, the responsibilities and powers attached to it.
He looked up and met Eleanor’s eyes. Seeing her smile, I could clearly feel it.
Me, she, everyone here.
that you are waiting for tomorrow.