Ch.358The NPC Who Dropped the Sun (7)

Continental Calendar, Year XX, Month X, Day X.

“…And thus! From this day forward, the defeated Ottoman Empire shall be completely dissolved. All autonomous rights shall be returned to the subjugated nations. All damages and reparations caused by this civil war shall be paid with the entire assets and lives of the current Emperor, Edmund Bluemoon Ottoman, his family, and Imperial Chancellor Irelaid Salver.”

The proclamation made directly by King Grend Ponia before the imperial citizens stirred considerable opposition in the hearts of the people who had believed the revolution would normalize the empire. However…

*Clank!!*

“Th-that’s!!”

“Y-Your Imperial Majesty?”

“No, more importantly…!!!”

Blue hair and red eyes. The sight of Imperial Princess Ragni Bluemoon Ottoman, who had stood at the center of this revolution, ascending the execution platform in chains alongside other criminals, completely crushed the people’s resistance before it could fully ignite.

“Today!! The three leaders who corrupted the continent!! Shall receive their due punishment through execution right here!!”

The execution proceeded so suddenly, without any rumors or prior notice, that there was no time to voice any complaints.

“I shall now announce the crimes of these criminals on this platform. First, the charges against Chancellor Irelaid Salver are…!”

Various crimes were revealed to the world—any single one warranting capital punishment, with more than two resulting in guilt by association for three generations. After nearly five minutes of listing reasons why he deserved to die here today, the announcer continued.

“Criminal Irelaid Salver. Do you have any final words?”

“…Ha, haha. The Church and the Divine will never forgive you!!”

*THUD!!*

The guillotine mercilessly dropped its blade, and next, the former Emperor was positioned in the ‘same place.’

“Next! The crimes of the Emperor, Edmund Bluemoon Ottoman, are…”

Abandonment of war efforts. Inability to control vassals who conspired with demons. Mass murder of the capital’s citizens, and decades of oppression against the innocent princess. These and many other large and small imperial transgressions were loudly recited before the people.

“That is all! Criminal Edmund Bluemoon Ottoman. Do you have any final words?”

“…The monster, the one who should never have been born, was me.”

*THUD!!*

His head joined that of the Chancellor who had fallen before him. And finally…

“Unlike the two criminals before her, the Princess bears no direct fault! Rather, she could be considered a victim!! For many years, she stood beside the incompetent Emperor with outstanding wisdom and abundant knowledge, protecting the empire and its people. However!! She is still of imperial blood! It would not befit someone in her position to bear no responsibility for this situation! Does the Princess object to this?!”

“…No. I fully acknowledge my responsibility.”

“Your Highness!!!”

“Your Highness must not die!!!”

“Stop this!! She is an important figure of our nation!!!”

“Stand back!!”

“Hold the citizens back!! Subdue anyone trying to approach the platform with shields!!”

“Middle Knights forward!! Raise your shields and block the citizens!! You must not harm them!!”

“Yes, sir!!!”

The sudden execution ceremony of the imperial family. Though the number of gathered citizens was not small, it wasn’t enough to break through the knights guarding the platform. Moreover, since it was announced that the Princess had committed no crimes and had been protecting the empire all this time, the number of people desperately crying out to spare her life only increased.

“I, King Grand Ponia of Ponia, ask Princess Ragni Bluemoon Ottoman: It was certainly our proud military that ended this war. However! I have heard that it was you who stopped the Chancellor and Emperor with your own hands and saved the innocent imperial citizens. Is this undeniably true?”

“I stopped my father and the Chancellor’s rampage, but I could do nothing before it happened. I tried to save the imperial citizens, but countless lives were tragically lost. This is not an achievement but a failure that deserves punishment.”

“Your Highness!!!”

“No! You bastard, don’t punish Princess Highness!!!”

“Push!! Push!!! Tear down the platform!!!”

“Save Her Highness!!!”

“Ugh!! C-Captain!!”

“Even the Middle Knights are being pushed back!!”

“Hold them!! The citizens must not reach the platf—”

“SILENCE, EVERYONE!!!”

“?!!”

“Kyaaah!!!”

Those clinging to the armored knights, those wailing, and even the king and princess standing proudly on the platform all staggered at the sudden voice. A massive voice, like someone shouting directly into their ears, shook the entire square, halting the chaotic situation. Everyone turned their heads to find the source of the voice.

“The one who contributed most to this war, regardless of what anyone says, is me, Neity Naikada, Headmaster of Neity. Yet, I wasn’t invited to this festival. King of Ponia, you’re doing something quite amusing.”

The voice of a middle-aged woman descending from the sky with flowing blood-red hair engulfed the square. The one who destroyed what was believed to be the empire’s next capital, Helgot territory. Not a single imperial citizen present was unfamiliar with her appearance. Nor was anyone ignorant about Neity, the [Neutral City]. As the leader of that city landed on the platform, the atmosphere that had been heating up just moments ago turned ice cold, as if it had all been a lie.

*Shing!!*

“Y-you woman!! How dare you act like this toward His Majesty of Ponia—”

*Woooong!!!*

“‘Woman’? Hey, Grand Ponia. Your guard dogs need better training.”

“!!!”

The knights who had never pointed their swords at the charging citizens now directed them at her with shouts, but Naikada merely raised the corner of her mouth mockingly and released an incredibly dense blue magical power, visible even to those with minimal magical sensitivity. At this sight, both the citizens and the knights guarding the king broke into cold sweats and shrill screams, but…

“Headmaster Neity Naikada. I recall you said you wouldn’t be coming today.”

“True, I had no intention of coming. But then I heard something quite entertaining was happening, so I changed my mind. You should be grateful.”

Only the princess and the King of Ponia faced her without the slightest tremor, responding as if demonstrating the proper bearing of royalty. Everyone else swallowed hard at this display.

“Yes, an entertaining spectacle. Hmm, the Emperor is already gone. So, is ‘that one’ all that’s left?”

“I greet you. The Imperial Princess, standing here as a criminal. I am Ragni Bluemoon Ottoman.”

“Oh? Not even trembling.”

She observed the princess who stood with undiminished nobility despite being bound in chains.

“Headmaster Neity Naikada of the Neutral City. Please set aside your anger. The imperial citizens are afraid.”

“Hmm. I see, very well.”

When she bowed her head in request, the Headmaster withdrew all the magical power that had seemed about to devour everything around her. Then she approached the bowing princess and reached out to lift her face.

“What do you intend to do, Lady Neity Naikada?”

“What’s this, King? You’ve already sent two to their deaths. Surely you can hand one over to me.”

This time the king blocked her path. As they began to face off as if competing for the right to punish the princess, the square fell completely silent. The king was the first to speak.

“I’m sorry, but I cannot hand her over to you. Her punishment differs from those two heads that have fallen there.”

“Oh? Is that so. I was going to do the beheading myself if that was the case. So, what punishment awaits her?”

“This empire has a magical tool for criminals whose offenses are severe but don’t warrant death—it turns them into ‘slaves.’ She will wear that magical tool and live out her life as punishment for failing to fulfill her imperial responsibilities.”

“Ah, the [Collar of Subjugation]. Well, if that’s the punishment, I suppose it can’t be helped.”

The citizens were bewildered by the situation, where those who had seemed ready to kill each other now appeared to be protecting the princess. But no imperial citizen was unfamiliar with the Collar of Subjugation. As they gradually began to process the implications of their nation’s royal becoming a slave, murmuring and trying to regain their composure…

“Imperial Princess Ragni Bluemoon Ottoman!”

“Yes.”

“Even if we were to weigh your failures against your achievements, it is clear that your failures outweigh them. Do you object?”

“No. I acknowledge my crimes.”

“Then.”

*Click.*

The citizens were given no chance to regain their composure and rush toward the platform again. As if to emphasize this point, the king immediately fastened a black collar around her neck.

“From this moment forward, you may no longer bear the Ottoman name. You are no longer of imperial blood but a commoner, Ragni Bluemoon. Henceforth, even if Ponia or other nations raise ‘that’ name in this land, you shall not be granted the qualification to claim nobility, let alone imperial status. This is my command and your punishment.”

“…I am grateful for this merciful punishment and humbly accept your command.”

The people who had lost their country and their leaders sighed in despair. Only the person who fastened the Collar of Subjugation could remove it.

The citizens had witnessed the King of Ponia placing that collar around the princess’s neck, meaning that to save her would require waging another war against Ponia. And then…

*Rustle*

“To the citizens of the Empire, I offer my sincerest apologies. Please, never forgive the imperial family or myself for all eternity.”

The sight of the princess kneeling on the execution platform, chained and wearing the Collar of Subjugation, pressing her head to the ground before the citizens, announced to all who witnessed it the end of the Empire.