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Book 15: Epilogue
Book 15: Epilogue
Book 15: Epilogue
Epilogue: His Name Is
In the middle of the 9th month, 1550th year, Continental Calendar
It had been a while since Hakuya and Tomoe returned from the Father Island.
Hilde, Brad, and the doctors gathered from all countries were still stationed there studying and treating Magic Bug Disease. The situation wouldnt subside so easily, so their return was likely to take some time still.
In the meantime, Liscia, Aisha, Naden, and I were at sea with Excel on the ship she captained, the Albert II.
The ship had left Lagoon City at the start of the 9th month, and we were heading through Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago Union waters to the Spirit Kingdom on the Mother Island with our five escort ships.
Three of those escorts were given to us by Shabon to guide us through the Archipelago Unions territory.
On the deck of the Albert II...
Whew, the wind feels great, Liscia said, leaning over the side, letting her hair blow freely in the sea breeze.
The warm days had continued into the 9th month, and the way the sun shone on the sea spread out in front of us looked like a scene out of summer. This might be the first time Ive ever gotten to enjoy summer. Before, when we had a beach barbecue in the Republic, we could see the frozen continent in the distance, and when we fought Ooyamizuchi, it was on the rough winter sea.
Liscia, who was at my side, looked at me with a chuckle. I havent been able to take such a relaxed trip with you in a while.
True... Youve been watching the kids all this time.
Liscia had been with the children pretty much ever since they were born, and I was always dealing with my political duties. Situations like the bonus diplomatic voyage to Zem and the quest to slay Ooyamizuchi kept my schedule murderously busy.
Obviously, we lived in the same castle, and I was helping with the kids as much as I could, so we were managing to have family time, but heading out somewhere with Lisciaexcept on official trips like the summit in the Dragon Knight Kingdom just hadnt been possible.
Now Cian and Kazuha were big enough to stand up without holding on to anything and could toddle around on their own. In my old world, that would make them big enough to leave at daycare, so they could be left to other people.
Thats why I invited Liscia to come on this trip to the Spirit Kingdom.
I wanted to let Cian and Kazuha ride on the ships deck too.
Thats...going to have to wait until theyre a little older.
Cian and Kazuha were staying home in the Kingdom.
Between Juna and Roroa, who were on maternity leave; Carla the maid, who they were quite attached to; and Albert and Elisha, who made frequent visits to the castle to play with them, there was no shortage of people to look after our kids.
Maybe because of that, even when we left, they never cried, which made Liscia and I feel kind of sad.
Liscia moved closer to me, slipping her arm through mine. Hee hee! Having some together-time, just the two of us, is nice every once in a while.
Ah ha ha, agreed.
But, you know, the staring from behind hurts just a little...
Liscia glanced behind her as she pressed close to me. I turned to look too, and there were Aisha and Naden staring out from behind the door to the bridge. When they noticed wed noticed, they ducked their heads back in.
Theyre still being pretty considerate, Liscia said with a wry smile. Since this is my first relaxed trip with you in ages, theyre letting me have time with you to myself... I guess they cant help but be curious though.
Ha ha ha...
All I could do was laugh awkwardly. It wasnt my place to tell my wives how they should show consideration to one another.
Then Liscia groaned and stretched. Stilltraveling by ship is nice. Its slower than a gondola, but I can stretch wherever I like, and even spar with Aisha on the deck if I want to.
Sure, but...dont get carried away and wreck the ship, okay?
We wont. Obviously.
Well... We had to carry you-know-what with us safely. We couldnt just get in a gondola and take a direct flight with Naden, I said, thinking of what was in the ships hold. It needs to be handled carefully, so we had to do it this way... You know?
Yeah, I know, Liscia said, looking a little sad, and rested her head on my shoulder.
Some days later, our ship arrived at the Mother Island in the Spirit Kingdom.
There were a lot of high elves gathered at the port, cheering. It was like the whole country was welcoming us. For a xenophobic country like theirs, they were being unusually welcoming, but the fact that they knew our country played a large role in curing Magic Bug Disease, and that they werent under Fuugas control like the Father Island, had a lot to do with that.
When we disembarked from the Albert II, a high elf man wearing a prominent, laurel-like crown approached. He looked a lot like Gerula.
Welcome, O King of Friedonia. I am Garula Garlan, elder brother of Gerula, who you cared for in your country, and king of this one.
Nice to meet you. Im Souma A. Elfrieden.
We, the high elf people, welcome you.
Thank you.
As we exchanged a firm handshake, the assembled crowd burst into applause. The others from the Kingdom were shaking hands up on the ship too.
I quickly introduced Garula to Liscia, Aisha, and Naden who had disembarked with me, and decided to deal right away with my primary goal in coming to this country. I signaled to the Albert II, and raised my voice so the crowd could hear.
As of this moment, I hereby return a treasure of your nation which mine has been holding on to for you!
When I did, the Albert II began carefully lowering her cargo. It was a single coffin, the lid of which was made of glass.
I brought Garula next to it so he could see, and when he did, he narrowed his eyes, and then gazed up to the heavens.
Inside, with a number of flowers, frozen to prevent rot, were the remains of Gerula Garlan. The long battle with disease had hollowed out his cheeks, but careful mortuary makeup made him look as though he were merely sleeping.
I told Garula, who seemed to be struggling to hold back tears, Gerula donated a number of organs to research after his death. However, I still felt his body should be returned to the land he loved.
You have my thanks for this... King Souma, Garula said, looking me in the eye, having won against his tears.
Gerulas remains were slowly carried between two lines of high elves. They couldnt help but shed tears for the man who had literally given his life for his country, saving countless people from Magic Bug Disease.
Ohh, Lord Gerula!
I feel so sorry for you...and yet, your sacrifice saved us.
The previous cheering was at an end, replaced instead by sobbing and wails of mourning.
As I looked at those people, I asked Garula, What will the Spirit Kingdom do now?
Well have to change what needs changing, Im sure, Garula said in a quiet voice. It should be clear to anyone that we cant afford to keep the country shuttered any longer. Those ossified by old ideals will finally be forced to move forward. I would like to unify them, and begin trade with your Maritime Alliance.
I was a little surprised to hear him say that.
How unexpected. Id heard from Merula that the king of the Spirit Kingdom was a militarist.
From what I was told, the children of the former king were an elder brother who was an excellent warrior, and a younger brother who was brave and wiseand it was the elder who took the throne.
Thats why when I first met Gerula, I assumed the Spirit Kingdom King would be even more stubborn, but now that I actually met him, he seemed gentle-mannered and a flexible thinker.
Oh, I see... Garula smiled a little. Well...Im just going to talk to myself for a moment. Please ignore me.
Huh?
Would the elder brother, the militarist, really want the throne? He only longed to fight on the front lines, so what would he do if asked to take it? Especially if he had an identical younger brother who found administrative work no trouble at all.
Wait... Dont tell me?!
Did they pull a switcheroo? Just so that he could remain a single commander fighting on the front lines instead of becoming a king. If so, the king in front of me is... And the remains sleeping over there are...
I was taken aback, and must have had a silly look on my face, because Garula broke into a smile.