Chapter 368

Public sentiment had calmed down.

I spent a week relaxing for the first time in a while.

All I had to do now was wait.

Of course, it wasn’t like I had no problems.

There was the matter of the empress’s misunderstanding.

She thought I liked her.

She had mistaken my words for a confession.

Honestly, it bothered my conscience to leave it like this.

It was like I was taking advantage of her feelings.

But I had already missed the chance to correct her.

I should have done it right then and there, but too much time had passed.

“It’s impossible now…”

I shook my head.

I knew her too well. I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

If it had just been my problem, I might have considered it.

“The political situation is finally stabilizing.”

It was clear that correcting her would throw everything into chaos again.

That wouldn’t be good.

It could even trigger the unrest in the kingdom that Red Rain had been aiming for.

“There’s only one solution.”

I made up my mind.

This wasn’t about taking advantage of her feelings.

It was a necessary sacrifice for the greater good.

And,

“It’s a relationship that can never be anyway.”

I muttered coldly.

That was the reality.

I already had an official fiancée, Regina, and I had promised a future with the elf senior.

That was two women already.

The empress wouldn’t tolerate another woman in her life.

It was only natural.

So it was a pointless situation.

Unless she abdicated.

‘Ha, what an absurd thought.’

I chuckled.

She had told me that she had been dreaming of becoming the empress since she was a child.

So now that she had achieved her goal, she would never give it up, not even in fifty or a hundred years.

“Hmm.”

My expression hardened as I suddenly remembered something.

She was terminally ill.

I didn’t know how much time she had left.

But to take advantage of someone who was dying…

“…I don’t feel good about this.”

I blinked heavily.

But there was nothing I could do.

This was for the sake of the world.

“At least I should make sure she has good memories before she dies.”

My words were filled with complicated emotions.

* * *

A platform had been set up in the plaza in front of the Imperial Palace.

Marquis Safia stood on the platform.

The plaza was crowded with people.

It was the day of the announcement of the results of the investigation into the assassination attempt, so it was only natural for people to be curious.

“The Marquis will be making an announcement soon! Everyone, be quiet!”

The soldiers tried to quiet the crowd.

The noise subsided.

Marquis Safia cleared his throat and prepared to speak.

He must have cast a voice amplification spell, so everyone would be able to hear him clearly.

“I have been entrusted by the emperor with the task of conducting a thorough investigation into the recent incident, and I have found irrefutable evidence! I hereby announce the results of the investigation to the public!”

He began with a serious tone.

“The evidence is right here! And this is…”

He calmly and clearly explained the evidence and its implications.

He was a skilled orator, able to convey the key points in a clear and concise manner.

He was indeed worthy of being entrusted with such an important task by the empress.

The people’s expressions changed as they listened to his explanation.

Surprise, shock, confusion, indignation, rage…

It was understandable.

They would naturally react that way if they heard that the self-proclaimed crown prince had actually killed the late emperor, and that he had done it in collaboration with an unknown organization.

And it was even more shocking to hear that he had condoned the massacre of his own people on Diotes Island, attempted to assassinate the princess, and even brought in monsters from that organization to kill his own people during the civil war.

“T-That damned traitor…!”

“He’s a demon! A demon!”

“He colluded with a vile organization to usurp the throne and betray the empire!”

“Ah… What If the empress hadn’t won…”

“Ugh, the treacherous prince might be dead, but that Red Rain or whatever is still out there…”

“It was them! They dared to attack the empress!”

The crowd erupted in anger.

I had expected this reaction, but I was still relieved.

This meant that the situation had been resolved.

The outcome was clean, but the process hadn’t been easy.

If the empress hadn’t mistaken my words for a confession…

I would just have to consider it a stroke of luck.

Marquis Safia’s announcement was coming to an end.

“Therefore, it is clear that Red Rain is behind this heinous crime! And so…”

“I’ll take it from here.”

A voice suddenly interrupted him.

Huh?

And then I saw her.

The empress had arrived.

“T-The empress!”

“Oh, it’s Her Majesty!”

“The empress is here!”

The plaza erupted in cheers again.

It was only natural, since the empress, whose popularity had soared after her outing, had appeared.

But I tilted my head in confusion.

‘She’s here in person?’

This hadn’t been planned.

I didn’t know, and judging from his surprised reaction, neither did Marquis Safia.

It meant that the empress had made this decision on her own.

‘Could it be?’

She climbed onto the platform.

Marquis Safia hurriedly bowed.

“Y-Your Majesty, what brings you here…?”

“I have something to say to everyone.”

“A-Ah, yes…”

He stepped aside.

She stood at the front of the platform.

“You all heard the announcement, right? About who’s behind this horrific incident.”

Her clear voice rang out.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

A chorus of enthusiastic replies came from the crowd.

She waited for the cheers to subside and then continued, “As the emperor of this empire, I will not tolerate such inhumane acts. I hereby declare, before all of you, that Red Rain is an enemy of the empire, and an enemy of mine. I, and the empire, will do everything in our power to eradicate them.”

* * *

The empress had appeared before the crowd and declared Red Rain as an enemy of the empire.

It was unexpected, even for me.

I had suggested that we announce the results of the investigation today and then declare Red Rain as an enemy of the empire in an official proclamation later, after the news had spread.

I didn’t think it was necessary for the empress to personally elevate a criminal organization that operated in the shadows.

But she had made a different choice.

She had personally declared Red Rain as an enemy of the empire.

I wasn’t sure which choice was better.

But I had to admit one thing.

It was a powerful and memorable scene.

Honestly, I wanted to applaud her.

“That was great, Senior.”

“Now the whole world will know about them.”

Annette and Camian were pleased.

It was understandable.

Red Rain, which had been lurking in the shadows, had been dragged into the light and become a target of the entire world.

“Yes, this is just the beginning.”

I nodded.

“They will become even more cunning and vicious. And their main target will be…”

“The Holy City…”

Annette couldn’t bring herself to mention lepheria Academy, her alma mater.

“And our academy, where the last fragment of the Dark God is sealed.”

But Camian said it with a determined look in his eyes.

As expected of the protagonist.

“Yes, you have a heavy burden to bear. But you have to be strong. I believe that you are the ones who can save the world and the academy.”

Annette’s eyes wavered at my words.

“Huh? B-But you, Senior…”

Camian added with a serious expression, “That’s right. We were able to do what we did because of you. I believe that you are the one who will play the decisive role in saving this world.”

The protagonist had come to rely on me, a mere extra.

It was a strange feeling.

But I couldn’t protect them forever.

They had already grown up.

It was time for them to fight their own battles.

“I’m a fourth-year.”

“W-What do you mean…?”

“A-Are you saying you’re going to abandon us after you graduate?”

“…”

Hey.

They were acting like I was their father.

“Stop saying weird things. I don’t know what will happen after I graduate.”

It was true.

Honestly, everything from this point onwards was uncharted territory.

Even the fact that their graduation was the ending was just my assumption.

But it seemed almost certain that the protagonist’s fourth year would be the final chapter.

It meant that it was time for me, Max Celtrine, to leave the stage.

Well, normally, I should have been gone a long time ago.

‘So I don’t know what to do either, you guys.’

I had thought about it, but I hadn’t made any concrete decisions yet.

I still had time, so I would think about it carefully and make a decision later.

“W-Wait, you don’t know? But you always have a plan, Senior…”

“Ugh, even you can’t lie that well… Just be honest. You’re saying you can’t be with us anymore because we’re not on your level.”

“…”

What did they think of me…?

I was speechless.

“Sniff, sniff, S-Senior…”

“I’m sorry for being incompetent. I’m sorry for being a burden. I’m sorry for not working hard enough. I’m sorry for being the second son of a rural lord. I’m sorry for only having one girlfriend. I’m sorry for being poor…”

…Someone, please save me from this situation.

“You two always have such a beautiful relationship.”

W-Whose voice was that?

“Excuse me, but I’m going to borrow him for a bit.”

It was a voice of salvation.

…I grabbed Regina’s hand and quickly left.

* * *

“Why did you make your juniors cry?”

“…It was only one of them.”

“The other one looked heartbroken too.”

“I spoiled them too much.”

“Phew.”

Regina chuckled.

“Yes, they looked like baby birds being forced to leave their nest. It means they rely on you a lot. More than just a respected senior.”

“And yet they still follow me, even though they’ve almost died because of me countless times…”

I shook my head.

“Maybe those shared experiences have strengthened their bond with you.”

“That’s… true, but…”

“You haven’t decided on a course of action yet, have you?”

It seemed like she had been listening to our conversation.

“No, not yet.”

“That’s unlike you.”

“It’s an important matter, so I need to think about it carefully.”

“What if,”

“Huh?”

“You become the empress’s husband?”

“Cough, cough!”

I coughed and waved my hands frantically.

“W-What are you talking about? I-I’m not into that kind of thing.”

“Then can I tell her that?”

Her smile was scary.

“T-That’s… Cough!”

“I’m just kidding.”

…Please stop making those kinds of jokes.

“It must be tough for you.”

Huh?

“You had no choice, right?”

My expression faltered.

She was implying that I had taken advantage of the empress’s feelings.

Regina had been observing the situation from a distance.

But she had understood more than I had thought.

With her sharp observation skills.

“But I want you to know one thing.”

“What…?”

“I’m always on your side.”

My heart skipped a beat.