Sky of Destiny – Continuation of the Dream (3)

Although most people in the world are not well aware of this fact.

In truth, when it comes to the background of how the work “Sky of Destiny” came to be, one could say that the Emperor played an extremely significant role.

Of course, the reason Ragna ended up producing “Sky of Destiny” was entirely due to the request of his master Aris.

Aris had only said ‘Please make an animation about magicians,’ without attaching any conditions to it.

And at that timing, the Emperor had asked Ragna if he could make an animation related to the ‘Legend of the Knight King’.

In the end, “Sky of Destiny” was a work that Ragna created by mixing those two requests like a chimera.

In a way, it was as if the request of someone as important as the Emperor of the Empire had been dealt with as if it were a chore, but.

The Emperor had never had any complaints about this.

Because it was interesting.

“Sky of Destiny” was a work that guaranteed equal or even greater enjoyment than “Machine God Chronicles”, which had been the Emperor’s favorite anime until now, and.

Since he had a lot of interest and curiosity about the history of the continent including the Empire, he could enjoy “Sky of Destiny” twice as much as other viewers.

That must have been why.

“Arghhhh!”

Witnessing the scene in episode 36 of “Sky of Destiny” where the Hero King’s left arm is cut off and a sword is thrust into his chest, he ended up foaming at the mouth.

“Ragna, Ragna, Ragna…!”

The Emperor muttered Ragna’s name as if he had gone mad, but there was no way the already turned off television screen would turn back on.

He wanted to summon Ragna here right now, like when the ending of “Machine God Chronicles” was done in such a way back then, but.

The Emperor had already made a promise with Kaya that he would not interfere with Ragna in any way regarding the production of animations.

As the Emperor of the Empire, he couldn’t go back on a promise he had already made.

However.

“No matter what, this isn’t right…! For the Hero King, the founder of the Empire, my favorite character to meet such a ridiculous end…!”

So, the reason the Emperor was getting so worked up now was nothing special.

It absolutely wasn’t because of trivial reasons like how he had mobilized all his servants including the chamberlain to pour votes for the Hero King during the last popularity poll.

Or how the Emperor had secretly commissioned the production of elaborate 1/7 scale Hero King-related goods.

He was simply worried that if the Hero King, his distant ancestor and founder of the Empire, exited in such a futile manner, it would damage the dignity of the Empire.

Moreover, this wasn’t just the Emperor’s personal thought.

“Count Lizet. Did you happen to watch episode 36 of “Sky of Destiny” that aired yesterday?”

“Ho ho, of course I did. My, it was an extremely exhilarating development. To think that Yuri, who was incompetent beyond compare in episode 1, has now grown to be able to defeat the Hero King one-on-one. Isn’t that the epitome of a full-circle structure?”

“Huh? Is that all you felt after seeing yesterday’s development?”

“…? Then what feeling should I have had?”

“The Hero King was defeated. The Hero King was defeated! And not by anyone else, but by Yuri!”

“But… isn’t it natural for the protagonist to defeat the Hero King who appears as the final boss of “Sky of Destiny” for the development of the work?”

“Huh? Count, do you call that speaking? If the Knight King had defeated the Hero King, I could have accepted it, but a mongrel who doesn’t even know his roots defeated the Hero King! To see such a horrific spectacle and feel nothing, Count, were you actually a spy for the Kingdom?”

“My goodness… How petty. Unable to gracefully accept defeat and throwing such an ugly tantrum. This is indeed the typical behavior of Hero King fa… no, fans who are obsessed with the Hero King.”

“What did you say! I’m merely acting out of love for this Empire! You unpatriotic traitor without a shred of patriotism! Isn’t it only natural for an Imperial citizen to support the Hero King! Yes!”

…Well, scenes like this where people praising the development of episode 36 and extreme Hero King fanboys clashed could be witnessed quite frequently here and there in the Imperial Palace.

Even nobles who try their best to maintain etiquette in front of others are behaving like this.

It’s truly horrifying to think about what kind of commotion must be happening among ordinary citizens outside the Imperial Palace.

All of this, because of the Hero King’s defeat.

If only the Hero King hadn’t been defeated.

If he had been honorably defeated by the Knight King rather than some Academy student greenhorn, the Emperor’s heart wouldn’t be this troubled…!

As the Emperor was pulling his hair out, debating whether he should summon Ragna to the Imperial Palace right now or not.

“Well. It’s Your Majesty’s freedom to summon the Director to the Imperial Palace… but I recommend Your Majesty to just stay still.”

“…What did you say?”

Kaya, who had been quietly observing the Emperor’s outburst until now, spoke to him in a calm tone.

“Because if you act that way, Your Majesty will regret it a week later.”

“…Regret? Me?”

That was a statement that couldn’t be easily dismissed even for the Emperor.

“I don’t want to spoil the development of the work, so I can only speak like this. But, I can assure you one thing. After watching episode 37 that will air next week, Your Majesty will come to resent the hasty actions of your past self.”

At Kaya’s words that were nothing short of resolute, the Emperor swallowed a groan.

“…Hmm. Is it to that extent.”

“Yes. So, trust me now. It’s not Your Majesty trusting me, nor me trusting Your Majesty. Trust me, whom Your Majesty trusts.”

“Oh.”

For a moment, the Emperor looked at Kaya with a somewhat newfound expression.

“Surprising. I didn’t expect such passionate words to come out of your mouth. It doesn’t seem like something you thought up. Did Ragna perhaps teach you that?”

“Ah, you noticed.”

Kaya said with a bitter smile at the Emperor’s words.

“Actually, I peeked at the storyboard of the work that the Director is planning to make next. It’s a mecha work like “Machine God Chronicles”, and it’s a line that the older brother who guides the protagonist says to the protagonist. I was so impressed that it must have remained in my head.”

So that’s how it was.

Not me believing in you, but believe in you who believes in me, huh.

That’s somehow a line that makes a man’s heart flutter, isn’t it?

“Interesting. During “Machine God Chronicles”, the mood of the work seemed like it would drill through the ground, but it turns out he could make that kind of work too. My, just hearing one line of dialogue and I’m already looking forward to the activities of this character called the protagonist’s brother.”

At the Emperor’s words, Kaya recalled the ending that character would meet, which was written next to the storyboard.

“…..”

In the end, Kaya quietly closed her mouth.

Well… It’ll work out somehow.

Surely the Emperor won’t kill Ragna, right?

Right?

---

“You’ve finally arrived. You’re late, Knight King.”

“…Hero King.”

After the fierce battle with the unidentified swordsman who had been blocking her way.

What the Knight King witnessed upon arriving at that place was none other than the sight of the Hero King quietly looking at her with a sword thrust into his chest.

Only the sound of the wind echoes here.

The two kings, without uttering any words, were simply quietly trying to face their farewell to each other.

“…Truly a foolish woman. Until the very end, you tried to oppose me.”

Saying so, the Hero King quietly raises his hand and gently strokes the Knight King’s cheek.

“I’ll ask you one last time, Knight King. Are you willing to become mine? And did you never have the desire to rule this world following me?”

“…No, I did not.”

And to the Hero King’s proposal, the Knight King answered in a low but polite tone.

“We heroes are merely shadows of the past. Therefore, all humans living in the present are like treasures to us. Because we ran towards that future they represent.”

“…I see. So that is your answer. Truly foolish beyond compare, Knight King.”

His fingers slip.

The arm that was stroking the Knight King’s cheek quietly falls down.

“But I forgive you. There are beautiful things precisely because they cannot be obtained.”

Saying so, the Hero King gives a gentle smile towards the Knight King and.

“Then farewell. You’ve done well, Knight King.”

He disappeared from this world.

“…”

And Yuri silently watched the end that the two kings met, without saying a word.

After a while, the Knight King who had been standing quietly without saying anything suddenly opens her mouth.

“…So, it’s over now.”

“Yes. With this, everything is over.”

“I see. Then, our contract ends here. When we first met, I told you this. That I would protect you until the end no matter what happens. I’m truly glad that I was able to keep that contract until the very end.”

“…Yes, you saved my life many times. Thank you.”

If he could have, Yuri wanted to hold onto her.

To tell her not to go.

To ask her to stay in this world a little longer.

But that was absolutely something he must not do.

Because the Knight King had already made her decision.

When she rejected the Hero King’s proposal and raised her sword against him, insisting that the dead should not interfere with the world of the living.

At that moment, she had decided how to conclude this battle.

So, he must not hold her back here.

He absolutely could not tarnish the one and only answer that the Knight King had reached after much anguish.

That was the answer Yuri, who loved the woman called the Knight King, had come to.

…She’s disappearing.

Just like the Hero King did, as the Knight King’s body was fading away and her existence was starting to disappear.

“Come to think of it, there’s one thing I haven’t told you.”

“…Hm? What is it?”

At that moment, the Knight King gently turned to look at Yuri and with a faint smile on her face.

“Yuri, I love you.”

“…”

With those words, the Knight King cleanly disappeared from this world, and.

“…Sniff. Why on earth are tears-“

Watching that scene in real-time, the Emperor ended up shedding big tears from both eyes.

“Is it because it’s already summer? The moisture keeps making tears form…”

Although it was still spring weather outside with some chilly air remaining, the Emperor muttered so without even minding such trivial facts.

One day in spring….

No.

It was summer.