Ch.426Epilogue ~ Chapter 0. The Lion’s Embrace, and……

* * *

BANG!

With the sound of the royal castle collapsing, the sharp shouts of soldiers echo throughout the castle.

“Overthrow the traitor Serpina von Einhart!”

—WAAAAAAH!

Sitting in the crumbling castle is the universally unwelcome villain and tyrant – Serpina von Einhart.

With her piercingly bright golden hair and golden eyes, the extraordinarily beautiful woman let out a hollow laugh to her only ally, as if she had foreseen this situation.

“…It seems this is as far as we go.”

“Indeed.”

“What do you think? As the national strategist, do you see any way to overcome this situation?”

Serpina’s gaze falls upon a man.

A white-haired man.

Her one and only strategist and lover with an exceptionally brilliant mind—Swen.

“I’ve simulated a hundred different scenarios.”

“And?”

“Unfortunately, it seems there’s no way for us to win.”

“…Is that so? Would asking your ‘Mind’s Eye’ change anything?”

“No. …Regrettably.”

Swen’s voice trembled as he spoke.

Swen.

—A strange man who introduced himself as someone from another world.

At first, she didn’t believe him. She dismissed it as the ravings of a madman commonly found in troubled times.

However, his ability was real.

Apparently, he possessed an ability called the “Mind’s Eye.” It was an absurd power that allowed him to deduce absolutely correct answers based on questions he received—an unbelievable ability no matter how many times she heard about it.

Of course, Serpina now knew that he truly possessed such an ability.

After all, she had tested it numerous times.

But.

While it could draw out “absolutely correct answers,” it naturally couldn’t twist predetermined fate—

And the result was their current situation.

The capital, Einhart Castle, on the verge of falling to enemy forces.

“I never expected Yurie and Lynn to form an alliance.”

“And we didn’t expect Karelia, who unified the southern continent, to ally with Lynn.”

“How did everything go so far beyond our expectations?”

“I don’t know. This kind of situation unfolding… it’s my first time seeing it too…”

“…”

Serpina carefully approached Swen and asked.

“You know, Swen. According to you, our world is something like a giant chess game, right?”

“Yes. More like a tactical simulation… something like that.”

If everything Swen said was true—

Apparently, he had been playing some kind of “game” that closely resembled our world before coming here.

Honestly, she still couldn’t understand what he was talking about. She believed him only because she loved him.

Serpina could never forget how he had thanked her countless times, saying he would have been in various dangers if she hadn’t taken him in.

“Didn’t you say that I’m usually the one who unifies the continent in that game?”

“That’s right. But this is strange. This world-line seems different.”

“…World-lines and whatnot, to think I’d seriously listen to such nonsense… I must have chosen the wrong man.”

“What are you saying, Serpina? Where was all this when you were crying your eyes out saying I saved your life?”

“Since it’s our final moment, you’ve become quite impertinent.”

“Impertinent? After all I’ve done for you.”

CRASH!

An explosion sounded nearby.

It seemed the mage corps led by Archmage Reika had arrived at their doorstep.

“Remember? We secretly went to Revlin Port together.”

“I remember. It was so beautiful there. Blue roofs, blue skies… Maybe we should have just disappeared and lived there together. You were so cute speaking formally to me, worried someone might recognize us.”

“Swen. As long as Einhart blood flows in my veins… you know I couldn’t do that.”

To Serpina, Swen was an incredibly special existence.

He was the only person who knew that—contrary to what the world believed—she hadn’t killed all her relatives.

Moreover, he was also the one who had foreseen the betrayal of her trusted subordinate Jenna and dealt with her, saving Serpina’s life.

In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that his role was instrumental in somehow keeping the crumbling country going until now.

“Serpina.”

“Yes?”

“Remember what I told you? That I’m a possessor.”

“I remember.”

“Do you believe me?”

“…Yes, I believe you.”

No matter how absurd it sounds, Swen… I’ll believe everything you say.

Hearing Serpina say this, Swen gives her a splendid smile.

“It seems that if I die… I’ll return to my original world after losing all my memories.”

“Really? You can know such things?”

“Yes. I see something like a message window. …Though I’m sure that explanation doesn’t make much sense to you.”

“It’s okay. You don’t need to explain. I’d believe you even if you said you could fly.”

“…As I’ve said before, it’s dangerous to trust a subordinate that much. Though trusting me is fine.”

“You know very well that someone who says ‘only trust me’ sounds rather suspicious, right?”

“You never let anything slide, do you, Serpina?”

Swen smiled lightly, then—

“And… I’ve been wondering why I possessed this body, so I locked myself in the Einhart Grand Library searching through various ancient texts. I couldn’t find a definite reason… but I think I might be able to come back here.”

“…Huh? What do you mean by coming back?”

“Well… let’s say the me who disappears now might be able to return to some point in the past. It’s kind of… difficult to explain, just think of it as a legend. Something magicians used to talk about when they were still around.”

“But the existence of magicians has already been proven.”

“That’s true.”

Swen sighed briefly, then moved closer to Serpina.

—CRASH!

Several boulders fell right beside them.

Now, it was dangerous if they didn’t escape.

Of course, escaping wouldn’t solve anything.

“Since we’re short on time, I’ll get straight to the point. When I return to my original world, I’ll play this game again.”

“Didn’t you say you’d lose your memories?”

“It’s okay. I love this game. And… I’ve engraved in my heart that there’s a woman I love here, so even if I lose my memories, I’m sure I’ll play this game again.”

Serpina blushed at his words.

“…Do you say such things to just anyone?”

“What are you talking about? I only have you.”

“Liar. You brought someone recently. Saying you wanted to make her your second wife, from the Al Kaski family—”

“Stop right there! Why bring up a relationship that’s already over!”

It was a foolish conversation, but that was fine.

Soon… both of us will die.

I wanted our final conversation to be silly rather than serious.

Just like how Swen had always made me, who was always so solemn, feel.

“Anyway… I think you’ll lose your memories in other world-lines too, so this might be meaningless, but if someone who seems like me appears—”

—Kill me with your own hands.

“…!!!”

“That’s the only way I can possess this world again.”

Serpina stared at Swen with wide eyes, but—

Swen looked at her with a very peaceful expression.

“Serpina. I will… I will definitely save you. You who have been abandoned by the world, you who are pointed at by everyone as a villain, a great witch… I will save you. So, don’t forget me. No matter what happens… I won’t forget you either.”

“Swen…”

—CRASH!

They could sense that not much time remained.

Soon… this royal castle would collapse.

A huge boulder was about to fall on their heads.

Perhaps sensing this,

In the final moment, Swen smiled brightly and—

“…Let’s meet again, Serpina. I lo—”

CRAAAAAASH!!!!

The royal castle collapses.

The symbol of the old era who fought to the end defending the throne—the golden-haired monarch and the white-haired strategist—were buried under the rubble…

And thus, the long history of the Einhart Empire came to an end.

* * *

‘I will never forget.’

It was truly strange.

That Swen’s words would come to mind when she regained consciousness.

‘Swen…’

Yes.

Serpina had not lost her memories.

After regaining consciousness from being buried under rubble, she realized she had returned to the time when she had just established the Serpina Army, before meeting Swen.

Swen had called this “regression.” He had explained that since this world was a kind of game—a simulation—such things could happen.

Then should I… kill Swen?

At first, she wondered how she should kill him, but—

In truth, that concern was largely meaningless.

Because she died again before even meeting Swen.

But dying didn’t matter much.

When she regained consciousness, she would return to the point when she established the Serpina Army.

What she gradually learned through repeated regressions:

The subsequent developments changed slightly each time.

For instance, if the Aeshus Army was destroyed by the Brans Army in the first world—

In the second world, the Brans Army was destroyed by the Aeshus Army.

It was clearly the same world, but for some reason, the subsequent history kept changing.

This added more credibility to Swen’s claim about a “simulation world.”

Then would Swen appear someday?

Though Serpina’s body and mind grew increasingly weary from the repeated regressions—

‘I’ll wait…’

Because he said, “Let’s meet again.”

Serpina waited. She continued to live, and live, and live, facing various world-lines and waiting.

* * *

And so, how much time had passed?

In a world-line whose number she couldn’t recall, a messenger came to the Serpina Army.

—More precisely, not a messenger but a monarch from a small neighboring country.

“Today I’ve come to speak with Lady Serpina directly.”

“…!!!!”

Serpina stared at the man with wide eyes.

For some reason, her heart was beating strongly.

The man paid no attention to Serpina’s demeanor and simply stated his business.

“Please form a 36-month alliance with our army in exchange for 2,556 gold.”

—Thump, thump.

Serpina was certain.

This was it.

This was the very moment she had been waiting for endlessly.

“My lord. There is nothing to gain from an alliance with a small country. You must not be swayed by sweet talk.”

Beside her, the national strategist Jenna offered some advice, but—that didn’t matter at all.

Her decision was already made.

“Guards! Is anyone there!”

“My lord…?”

Jenna was startled by Serpina’s sudden action, but—

Serpina paid no attention.

“Imprison this man in the underground dungeon!”

After imprisoning the monarch of a small country who had merely come to form an alliance—Serpina beheaded him.

CLANG!

As his blood seeped into the cold dungeon floor… something magical unfolded before her eyes.

[ ??? / ??? ]

[ You have found ‘???’ ]

‘!!!’

Serpina was surprised, but being intelligent, she quickly realized.

This must be the “message window” he had mentioned.

[ ??? / ??? ]

[ In exchange for meeting him, you will lose your memories ]

[ Please select Yes if you agree, No if you do not ]

[ Yes / No ]

‘I’ll lose… my memories?’

That doesn’t matter.

It’s okay.

That man… he came back to me like this.

Despite losing his memories, he ultimately came back to meet me again.

—Finally.

I’ve finally found you.

Finally… I can meet you again.

I can do it too.

Definitely.

I’ll definitely be able to meet him again.

‘Yes.’

An overwhelmingly bright light penetrated Serpina’s eyes.

And—

—Another era of chaos that no one could predict was about to begin.

—Epilogue End—