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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Ruby
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Yuma and Bell returned to the Princess’s Palace.
They couldn’t have a deep conversation on the way back.
This was because of the commotion of encountering the Red Knights and defeating them.
Yuma and Bell headed to the place where they had spent the most time recently.
It was none other than the training grounds.
Originally, the training grounds right next to the Princess’s Palace were often empty, but Yuma had ordered the head servant Royan to ensure that no one entered the training grounds today.
Yuma and Bell sat side by side on the stairs.
“I’m not sick.”
Yuma’s blue eyes stared directly at Bell.
“When did you hear me say something like I didn’t have much time left?”
At Yuma’s question, Bell searched through her memories.
The memory of that day was clearly etched in her mind.
“Two days ago. After an early morning walk, you said it while climbing the stairs…”
At Bell’s words, this time Yuma retraced his memories.
He clearly remembered what he had been worrying about while climbing the stairs after finishing that walk.
‘Probably when I was worrying about the demon army’s invasion being close…’
And at that time, he definitely remembered coughing up blood.
After consuming the [Fruit of All Poisons Immunity].
He had coughed up blood for the first time in his quarters, and the second time was right after finishing that early morning walk.
Yuma organized his thoughts and opened his mouth again.
“That probably meant that the demon army’s invasion was close.”
“…Huh?”
Bell’s eyes widened in surprise.
She found it hard to believe Yuma’s words.
“Th-then… what about the blood?”
It wasn’t just the words, but the blood that had flowed from his mouth was the problem.
No matter how she thought about it, it was definitely blood.
“The blood is a characteristic of my mana operation method. After using power a bit excessively, I cough up murky blood. It’s just a characteristic of the method itself.”
Yuma started smoothly telling the excuse he had thought of while slowly walking to the Princess’s Palace.
Bell was staring at Yuma with violently shaking eyes.
She seemed to be considering whether to believe these words as they were.
“A month. It will be fine after about a month.”
Talking about the Fruit of All Poisons Immunity would make the explanation too long to fully understand.
And if he said it was because he used too much power to kill a god, it seemed like that would make her start worrying again.
So he created a story that would be as reassuring as possible…!
Because Bell’s condition looked that bad.
‘If the princess asks again later, I’ll have to say it like this.’
He had already brushed it off to the princess as the aftereffects of killing a god.
Yuma felt his karmic debt growing larger.
He hadn’t committed any sins. But he felt the karmic debt growing larger and larger.
Yuma held Bell’s trembling hands.
Bell felt Yuma’s warmth through her hands.
“I won’t die.”
Bell’s shoulders shook violently.
Yuma put his hands on her trembling shoulders.
“So there’s no need to worry.”
“O-okay…”
Bell snuggled into Yuma’s arms again.
The difference from a few hours ago was that then they were standing, and now they were both sitting on the training ground stairs.
As if not wanting to let go, her arms wrapped around his waist, and she kept her face buried in his chest.
Yuma saw tears welling up in Bell’s eyes again.
Without realizing it, Yuma started stroking Bell’s hair.
She looked so pitiful, still trembling with anxiety.
“I’m fine.”
“Really? You’re not lying…?”
Bell kept asking.
“You’re really not sick? You’re not running out of time?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Then suddenly starting to teach me swordsmanship, was it just because I needed it? Because you wanted to pass it on?”
“Yes, because it will help your growth.”
“That’s true… everything Yuma says is right. Hehe.”
Only then did the trembling of her body, which had been clearly visible even to the naked eye, begin to subside.
She was finally starting to feel relieved.
“Thank goodness…”
She slowly nodded her head and wiped away her tears.
“I’m really glad.”
Yuma genuinely felt some unknown guilt rising within him.
Bell remained silent for a while, her face buried in Yuma’s arms.
‘…I’ll only half believe you, Yuma.’
Bell thought this while in Yuma’s arms.
‘…Even if what my lord says is true. I’ll quickly become stronger so that my lord won’t need to step in.’
Bell made this resolution.
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Yuma, who had finally convinced Bell and returned to his room, was exhausted.
“-You made a very wise choice. If you had told the truth about the Fruit of All Poisons Immunity, Bell might have tried to kill you, Master. You need to be appropriately shameful to be bearable.
-Didn’t you just see it? Bell’s genius. I was very impressed seeing her perfectly execute the Cherten Style. Even if Master Dekan had seen it, he would have been unable to hide his admiration.
-Ahhh. Just now, the Master’s skill in deflecting the attack of a master-level being created by an unidentified god was amazing. Please use that skill while holding me next time too.”
This bastard.
It got noisy again.
Yuma came to the conclusion that he needed to put Balmung in the punishment room for a while.
“-Master, wait a moment…”
Swish
Yuma ignored Balmung’s words and put it into the spatial pocket.
He took Balmung out again after two hours.
“-I will be quiet, Master.”
After clearing up the misunderstanding with Bell and teaching her another sword technique, time flew by quickly.
Before they knew it, it was the day of First Princess Brigitte’s coronation ceremony.
Now, there were no nobles left who were dissatisfied with the fact that First Princess Brigitte would become the next emperor.
To be precise, even if they were dissatisfied, they didn’t dare to voice it.
This was because Emperor Agareth had gathered the nobles and made it clear.
That the person who would sit on the next imperial throne would be First Princess Brigitte.
Brigitte was sitting in a chair with a blank expression on her face.
“I wonder if there’s any meaning in putting on all this makeup.”
Brigitte said this while watching the lady-in-waiting touch up her face.
The lady-in-waiting knew the words weren’t directed at her.
This was because behind Brigitte stood the former Field Marshal, Yuma.
Yuma spoke dryly.
“I didn’t expect you to complain about putting on makeup when you were so carefully considering where to hold the coronation ceremony. When I asked why you were personally going around choosing the location for the ceremony, you answered that it was because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event.”
Brigitte slowly nodded her head.
“That’s right. I did answer like that.”
“It’s your first and last coronation ceremony, so it’s better to be as beautiful as possible.”
The corners of Brigitte’s mouth twitched.
“Indeed, that’s right. Yuma.”
After sending the lady-in-waiting out, Brigitte adjusted her dress, which was a blend of white and gold that naturally exuded a sense of weight.
And she murmured softly.
“You’ve worked hard to bring me this far. My sword.”
“That’s a sudden thing to say. Hasn’t this day come much faster than expected?”
Yuma’s words were right.
This moment had come much faster than expected.
It had happened about 3 months after meeting Yuma.
Brigitte chuckled while meeting Yuma’s unchanging blue eyes.
“To call all of this hard work, there’s still too much to overcome from now on.”
It was true.
Brigitte continued speaking.
“Will you continue to stay with me?”
Yuma nodded.
He couldn’t abandon his fundamental companion.
As he always thought, Yuma quite liked the hero party he had formed.
“Don’t state the obvious, just focus on the coronation ceremony.”
“Yes, I will.”
Brigitte slowly stood up.
Yuma stood beside Brigitte.
Brigitte opened the door of the waiting room.
And lifted the curtain leading to the stage.
The place Brigitte had chosen for the coronation ceremony was ultimately the same place where the first emperor of the Brigitte Empire had declared himself emperor.
The place where Military King Ikeras von Astes was born.
It was right in front of the [Crossroads of Glory], called the heart of the capital, in front of the Imperial Palace.
A place where all the imperial citizens of the capital could see.
And because it was such a place, numerous security forces were deployed.
There was a high platform with protective artifacts installed on three sides.
That platform was where Brigitte would stand.
Thump─ Thump─
The knights advanced, stomping their feet.
Holding their spears high.
The military band beat their drums.
Thump─ Thump─
The red flag with a golden border, the symbol of the Astes Empire, fluttered. Inside that flag was a golden crown and a spiral circle surrounding that crown.
Behind the numerous knights was a golden carriage. Inside that carriage was First Princess Brigitte.
“It’s Her Highness, First Princess Brigitte!!”
“The birth of a new emperor!”
The voices of the imperial citizens echoed at the Crossroads of Glory.
Step
Brigitte stepped onto the glorious platform where the empire’s first emperor was born.
It was a step without any hesitation.
Her snow-white hair fluttered.
Over her dress, which was a blend of white and gold, was draped a golden cape.
Behind Brigitte was the old emperor.
It was Emperor Agareth, with white hair and blue eyes.
The cheers of the imperial citizens were heard again.
This was because, contrary to the rumors that Emperor Agareth had become very old and didn’t have many days left before passing away, he looked great, not even bent at the waist.
“Brigitte von Astes, what kind of emperor will you be?”
The solemn question echoed.
“Until now, this empire has not fallen to anything. Not to the invasions of enemies. Not to poverty. Not to disease. Nothing has been able to bring down this empire. And from now on, the empire will not fall.”
Brigitte’s voice echoed across the Crossroads of Glory.
“Anyone who dares to covet the empire, no matter who they are, will be punished in the name of the Kingdom Astes.”
A calm pledge flowed out.
“Those who believe in and follow this Brigitte von Astes will be followed only by glory.”
The cheers of the imperial citizens erupted.
“In the name of Agareth von Astes, the ruler of the Astes Empire, I declare.”
The emperor took off his crown.
“From this moment on, I proclaim Brigitte von Astes as the emperor of the empire.”
The crown was placed on Brigitte’s head.
“You shall prove that pledge you just made before these imperial citizens from now on.”
A new emperor had ascended.
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