Ch.353The NPC Who Dropped the Sun. (2)

The incident in the Empire was on a scale far greater than anything we had experienced before. Truly, it was so massive that no one could simply pass the buck and run away.

“Long live Her Highness the Imperial Princess!!!”

“””Long live!!!”””

“Long live the wisdom of the Empire!!!”

“””Long live!!!”””

“So, are you really going to go through with this?”

“Of course I have to. What else am I supposed to do? Are you suggesting I should just become queen—no, empress—as things stand? You said this was your responsibility, so you need to see it through to the end, right?”

“Pfft, that goes without saying.”

The war that nearly engulfed the continent between the Empire and the Holy Theocracy ended completely with the unbelievable defeat and total annihilation of 400,000 Imperial troops on the Ponia front, along with the simultaneous capture of the Emperor and Chancellor by revolutionary forces and the Imperial Princess’s group within the Empire. However, the aftermath was far from over, and we ended up being stuck in Duke Helgot’s territory—not the Imperial capital—for over three months.

Moreover, in this absurd situation where countless people died outside the battlefield, and the number of missing persons reported already exceeded 100,000, the nation’s leadership had completely vanished. So Ragni, who had made a name for herself as the revolutionary princess, couldn’t simply abandon the Empire and leave.

-Knock knock.

“Your Highness, King Grend Ponia of Ponia and Headmaster Naiti of Naiti have headed to the meeting hall.”

“Alright, I’ll be right out. Kara. Let’s go, Jack.”

“Sure thing.”

Of course, Ragni didn’t handle everything alone.

In fact, provincial nobles, rural aristocrats who had opposed the war, and several high-ranking nobles with functioning brains had escaped the revolutionaries’ blades. Furthermore, after Princess Ragni stopped the tyranny of the Emperor and Chancellor, they all promptly gathered in response to her letter asking them to come to the capital to overcome the national crisis together. There were plenty of scumbags too, but surprisingly, there were many loyal subjects in the country. And thanks to them, over these three months, while the capital Ortman had been reduced to complete ruins, the newly designated capital in Helgot territory had maintained a festive atmosphere for days, weeks, and now months.

“Any regrets?”

“Absolutely none.”

Riding in a carriage with Ragni, I stare expressionlessly at the people cheering and shouting that the meaningless war is over and that life will get better again. What Ragni wanted to achieve and protect by heading to the Empire alone must surely be the sight before us now.

After a short carriage ride, we arrive at the meeting hall—the outer castle of Helgot Fortress, which the Headmaster had destroyed. It’s supposedly where distinguished guests are first received, but I can’t help thinking it’s the epitome of tax money waste.

-Creeak.

“Here we are, Princess. Let’s get out.”

“Hmph. It suits you well.”

I get out of the carriage first and escort Ragni, who is now adorned far more beautifully than when we first met, armored in what appears to be a heavy dress. I can’t help but smile at her teasing about my formal attire. Well, I’ve received over a month of etiquette training for wearing this, so it would be a problem if it didn’t suit me.

“Imperial Princess Ragni Bluemoon Ortman has arrived!”

Personnel from Hurk Marquis territory, whom Ragni had recruited, along with members of assassination squads and covert operation units, all dressed in armor like knights, guard the path to the meeting hall. Walking on the red carpet makes me feel like I’m actually having a wedding ceremony with Ragni. Of course, once we get inside, it will be completely different.

The massive doors of the hall open, and the leaders of various countries who arrived earlier, along with King Grend Ponia representing the victorious nations, and the Headmaster of Naiti, are seated at the high table, looking at Ragni and me.

One might question why we, representing the defeated nation, are arriving late. But it’s actually the opposite—there are no seats for Ragni or me. Despite wearing formal attire, I feel like a criminal standing in court before receiving a verdict.

“Welcome, Imperial Princess Ragni Bluemoon Ortman of the Empire. Is that position acceptable for you?”

“Of course, King Grend Ponia, Your Majesty. This is just the right place ‘for the defeated to make their excuses.'”

The King of Ponia, who could be aptly described as dignified, glares at us—no, at Ragni—with a stern expression, and she meets his gaze without intimidation. Hah, even though this is all “staged,” it’s incredibly tense from the start.

“Then, let us hear these excuses right away. The details of the Empire’s proposed compensation and apology as the defeated nation, and this matter of the ‘Dissolution of the Empire and Formation of the Eight Continent Federation’ that you sent in advance. Let’s discuss it all here.”

“Yes. Before I address the leaders of each nation, there is something I must first explain…”

Three months after the war ended, the Empire’s celebration was becoming “the Empire’s final celebration” with the defeated nation’s princess’s declaration.

*

“Ugh… Ah?”

“Father. Have you regained your senses?”

“You, you are… Ra-Ragni? What on earth, that appearance…”

“Yes. Your daughter. And the ‘former Imperial Princess’ Ragni Bluemoon Ortman.”

“…Former Empire? What does that even mean…”

In the dungeon beneath Helgot Castle, in a dark space where criminals were confined, the Emperor of the Empire sat chained and disheveled, looking with bewilderment at the grown-up, elegantly dressed Ragni, having “properly recognized” her. He had finally registered the appearance of Ragni, who had grown more feminine over the past four years.

“Thanks to you and Salber, something quite remarkable has happened. The Empire has been defeated, over 400,000 soldiers have died at the hands of demons, and about 50,000 Ponian troops have perished. Moreover, the number of people who disappeared from various territories due to the Theocracy has exceeded 110,000 according to today’s additional reports. Truly, I wish you would appreciate how hard I’ve worked to sort all this out in just three months…”

“What, what are you talking about?! Defeat?! 400,000 dead?! Over 100,000 missing?! What nonsense is this…!!”

“This is the price of your madness that left the country neglected.”

“Ma-madness? What are you talking about…”

“I’ve been conducting mental treatment with my holy magic for over two months, but this isn’t the first time you’ve returned to your senses. Ah, my name is Militz Prime. Since this isn’t our first introduction either, I momentarily forgot.”

A snow-white priest watching from outside the cell greeted him with a picture-perfect smile. Ragni waved him off and continued speaking.

“You were fortunate. I was told you were still in a treatable state, so I took a chance and entrusted you to him. You recovered faster than expected. He says that if you come to your senses this time, you can maintain your sanity with continued treatment, unless you choose to go mad again. Well, you won’t need that for long anyway.”

“What, what on earth happened during this time! And where is this…!!”

“This is the underground prison of Helgot territory. The capital Ortman has been devastated. Because of the ancient artifact device you activated with royal blood, 40% of the capital’s citizens died, 40% are still undergoing treatment, and the remaining 20% are either missing or suffered severe injuries with lasting aftereffects. Ortman has now become a complete ghost city.”

“What, what does that even…?”

Ragni revealed everything. All the stories she had already told the Emperor several times whenever he had regained his sanity. As he listened to all these accounts, the Emperor’s face, which had just regained some color, gradually turned pale, but Ragni’s words continued up to the meeting she had attended today as a representative of the defeated nation.

-Thud!

“This, this can’t be. It’s impossible. The Empire, in my time… I, my Empire…”

“Militz.”

“I’m already on it.”

Seeing the Emperor bang his head against the wall and stare blankly into space, Priest Militz immediately activated his mental treatment holy magic. And then.

“Father, is it comfortable to escape into madness? How many times do you think I’ve had to tell you all this? It’s about time you came to your senses.”

“…If you, if you had just stayed quietly in the Empire!! None of this would have…!!”

“If I had, you would have been dead long ago.”

“…!!!”

Her cold red eyes held anger and hatred that couldn’t possibly be considered the gaze of a daughter looking at her father, along with a very small amount of pity. And despite the Emperor being rendered speechless and choking on his own breath at her cold gaze and voice, she continued speaking with the voice of absolute zero.

“The Empire will be dissolved in a month. We will fully compensate each victorious nation with material payments, and the high nobles and lords who protected and sustained the country until the end will be exempt from compensation responsibilities. They will have their authority recognized and be merged with nearby neutral cities or Ponia. The Empire—you destroyed it.”

“…Monster, you monster!! No, you monster!! If only you had never been born!! My wife wouldn’t have died, and I wouldn’t have gone mad!! You’re the one who destroyed the Empire!!!”

The Emperor, feeling like he might go insane but forced to remain clear-headed by the holy magic, roared with a cracked voice. Ragni merely curled the corner of her lips coldly at the sight, as if suggesting his words were like a child’s tantrum. And then.

“Militz. He won’t go mad today, right?”

“If I expose him to the holy magic for about an hour, even the shock from just now should subside.”

“Good.”

-Swish. Thud.

“…What is this?”

After confirming with Militz who was using the holy magic, Ragni took a book from inside her garment, tossed it in front of him, and then stood up.

“Your hands should be able to move, so read it yourself. I read that, and that’s why ‘your words calling me a monster’ don’t frighten me at all anymore.”

“…What?”

The girl who had once hunched her shoulders in fear whenever the Emperor called her a monster was no longer there. Standing tall with her chest out proudly, Ragni smiled at the Emperor who was staring at her in disbelief, and began to move away from the prison…

-Click!

“Ah, that’s right.”

But as if performing in a play, Ragni made her shoe click loudly on the floor to emphasize that she had forgotten something, and returned to the front of the cell, this time with a genuinely happy smile as she addressed the Emperor.

“Hehe! Thanks for approving my marriage. I’ll be happy with Jack, okay?”

“…Huh?”

Hearing thanks for something he had never approved and learning that the daughter he had called a monster would be marrying someone and finding happiness, the Emperor’s face contorted even more severely than when he had heard about the country’s downfall.