59. Coronation (1)
59. Coronation (1)
Yuma and Bel returned to the imperial princess's palace.
They hadn't been able to hold a proper conversation on the way back. They'd run into the <Red Knights>, and there'd been a whole commotion subduing them.
Yuma and Bel headed to the place where they'd spent the most time together lately. That place was none other than the training ground.
Ordinarily, the training ground next to the imperial princess's palace was often empty, but Yuma had spoken to Head Attendant Roian and given orders to ensure no one entered it today.
Yuma and Bel sat side by side on the stairs.
'I am not in pain.'
Yuma's blue eyes looked directly at Bel.
'When did you hear me say something along the lines of not having much time left?'
At Yuma's question, Bel scoured the far recesses of her memory. The memory of that day was etched clearly in her mind.
'Two days ago. After taking an early morning walk, you said it while climbing the stairs, Yuma....'
At Bel's words, Yuma traced his own memory back.
That day, what he'd been worrying about while climbing the stairs after finishing the walk remained vivid in his mind.
'Right. It was when the Demon Realm Army's invasion wasn't far off, and I was worrying about it....'
And at that time, he definitely remembered coughing up blood. He'd taken the <Fruit of Invulnerability to Poison>. The very first time he coughed blood was in his own quarters. The second time had been right after that early morning walk.
After organizing his thoughts, Yuma opened his mouth again.
'That probably meant that the Demon Realm Army's invasion isn't far off.'
'...Huh?'
Bel's eyes grew round as saucers.
She couldn't easily believe Yuma's words.
'Th-then...the blood?'
It wasn't just words; the blood that had trickled from his mouth had been the problem. No matter how she thought about it, that had definitely been blood.
'Spitting blood is a characteristic of my mana operation method. It's just expelling stagnant blood after using power a bit excessively. An operation method that simply has that as its trait.'
Yuma smoothly recited the excuse he'd thought up while walking slowly back to the princess's palace.
Bel stared at Yuma with violently trembling eyes.
She seemed to be agonizing over whether she should believe this outright.
'One month. I'll be fine after about one month.'
Explaining about the <Fruit of Invulnerability to Poison> would make it far too long if he wanted her to fully understand.
And if he said it was because he'd used too much overwhelming power when killing a god, it seemed like that would just start her worrying all over again.
So he'd simply fabricated the most reassuring story he could...!
That was because Bel's condition had looked that bad.
'If the princess asks me one more time later, I'll have to say that.'
Because he had already glossed it over to the princess as the aftermath of god-slaying.
Yuma felt his karmic burden growing steadily heavier.
He hadn't committed any sins. Yet he felt the karmic burden only growing heavier.
Yuma took hold of Bel's hands, which were still trembling.
Bel felt Yuma's warmth traveling through her hands.
'I will not die.'
Bel's shoulders shook violently. Yuma placed his hands on Bel's trembling shoulders.
'So there's no need to worry.'
'O-okay....'
Bel was in Yuma's arms once more.
If there was a difference from a few hours ago, it was that back then they'd been standing. Now they were both perched on the training ground stairs.
As if unwilling to let go, both arms wrapped around his waist. Her face stayed buried against his chest.
Yuma once again saw tears welling in the corners of Bel's eyes. Without realizing it, Yuma began to stroke Bel's head.
Because she still looked so pitiful, trembling with lingering anxiety.
'I'm fine.'
'Really? You're not lying...?'
Bel kept asking.
'You're not really sick. You don't really have much time left?'
'No.'
'Then the reason you suddenly started teaching me swordsmanship was just because I needed it. Because you wanted to pass it down to me?'
'Yeah, because it will help you grow.'
'That's right... Everything Yuma said was right. Hehe.'
Only then did the trembling in her body, which had been clearly visible even to the naked eye, begin to subside.
She had finally started to feel relieved.
'What a relief....'
She nodded her head slowly, wiping away her tears.
'Really, what a relief.'
Yuma sincerely felt some strange, unidentifiable guilt surging up inside him.
Bel stayed still for a long while, saying nothing, her face buried against Yuma's chest.
'...I'll only believe half of that. Yuma.'
Bel thought that inside Yuma's embrace.
'...Even if what my lord says is true. I'll get strong quickly so that my lord won't need to step in.'
Bel made that resolution.
***
Having barely convinced Bel and returned to his room, Yuma was utterly drained.
-A most wise choice you've made. Had you spoken the truth about the <Fruit of Invulnerability to Poison>, Lady Bel might have tried to kill you, Master. Even embarrassment must be kept within bearable limits.
-Did you not see just now? Lady Bel's genius. I was deeply impressed watching her perfectly execute the Cherten Style. Even if Master Decan had seen it, he would have been unable to hold back his admiration.
-Ahhh. Just now, your skill in deflecting the attack of a Master-level lifeform created by an unidentified god was magnificent. Please, do use that skill with me in hand next time as well.
This bastard.
It had gotten noisy again.
Yuma briefly arrived at the conclusion that he needed to put Balmung in the punishment dimension for a while.
-Master, just a moment....
Swish.
Yuma ignored Balmung's words and shoved it into the subspace pouch.
Two hours later, he pulled Balmung back out.
-I shall remain quiet. Master.
After clearing up the misunderstanding with Bel and teaching her one more sword technique, time flew by incredibly fast. Before he knew it, it was the day of 1st Princess Brigitte's coronation ceremony.
By now, there weren't even any nobles left who were dissatisfied with the fact that 1st Princess Brigitte would become the next emperor. To be precise, even if they had complaints, they didn't dare voice them.
Because Emperor Agares had gathered the nobles and hammered the point home.
That the next person to sit upon the imperial throne would be 1st Princess Brigitte.
Brigitte sat in her chair, wearing a vacant expression.
'I wonder if putting this stuff on so thickly even has any meaning.'
Brigitte spoke as she watched the female attendants tending to her face.
The attendants knew the words weren't directed at them. Because standing behind Brigitte was the Former Supreme Commander of the Battlefield, Yuma.
Yuma spoke indifferently.
'I didn't expect you, who agonized so carefully over where to hold the coronation, to complain about getting your face done up. When I asked why you were personally going around choosing the coronation site, you answered: it's because it's the first time in your life.'
Brigitte nodded her head slowly.
'I did. That was my answer.'
'It's a coronation that will be the first and last in your life, so it's better to be as beautiful as possible.'
The corner of Brigitte's mouth twitched.
'Indeed, that is so. Yuma.'
After sending all the female attendants outside, Brigitte adjusted her dress, a blend of white and gold that naturally exuded gravitas.
Then she murmured in a low voice.
'You have worked hard to bring me here. My sword.'
'That's a rather belated sentiment. Hasn't this day come far sooner than expected?'
Yuma's words were correct.
This moment had arrived far too quickly, beyond expectation.
Because it was something that had been achieved roughly three months after meeting Yuma.
Brigitte chuckled as she met Yuma's unchanging blue eyes.
'To call the events up to now mere hard work—there are far too many things yet to struggle through from here on out.'
That was true.
Brigitte's words continued.
'Will you continue to stay with me?'
Yuma nodded.
He couldn't abandon his foundational comrade, after all.
It was something he always thought, but Yuma was quite fond of the hero party he had built up.
'Don't state the obvious, just focus on the coronation.'
'Yes, I will.'
Brigitte slowly rose to her feet. Yuma stood beside her.
Brigitte opened the door of the waiting room.
And she pulled back the curtain leading to the stage.
The place Brigitte had chosen as the site of her coronation was, in the end, the very same place where the first emperor of the Asthes Empire had declared his ascension.
The place where the Military King Ikeras von Astes was born.
It was in front of the <Crossroads of Glory>, known as the heart of the capital, located just before the imperial palace.
A place where all the imperial citizens of the capital could see.
And because it was such a place, countless security troops were deployed there.
There was a high platform with defensive artifacts installed on three sides.
That platform was the place where Brigitte would stand.
Thud— Thud—
The knights advanced, stomping their feet.
With their spears held high.
The military band beat the drums.
Thud— Thud—
The red flag with golden edges, the symbol of the Astes Empire, fluttered. Inside that flag was a golden crown and a spiral circle encircling that crown.
Behind the countless knights, there was a golden carriage. Inside that carriage was 1st Princess Brigitte.
'It is Her Royal Highness, 1st Princess Brigitte!!'
'It is the birth of a new emperor!'
The voices of the imperial citizens resounded through the Crossroads of Glory.
Step.
Brigitte ascended the platform of glory where the first emperor of the empire had been born. There was not a hint of hesitation in her stride.
Her pure white hair fluttered. Atop her dress, which blended white and gold, a golden cloak was draped.
Behind Brigitte was the aged emperor.
It was Emperor Agares, with his white hair and blue eyes.
The cheers of the imperial citizens echoed once more.
Because, contrary to the rumors circulating that Emperor Agares was so decrepit his passing was imminent, he stood in a magnificent posture, his back unbowed.
'Brigitte von Astes, what kind of emperor will you become?'
The solemn question resounded.
'Until now, this empire has never fallen to anything. Not to the invasion of enemies. Not to poverty. Not to disease. Nothing has been able to bring this empire down. And the empire shall not fall in the future either.'
Brigitte's voice echoed through the Crossroads of Glory.
'Any existence that covets the empire shall be delivered punishment in the august name of Astes.'
Her composed vow flowed forth.
'Only glory shall follow those who believe in and follow this Brigitte von Astes.'
The cheers of the imperial citizens resounded.
'In the name of the sovereign of the Astes Empire, Agares von Astes, I declare.'
The emperor removed the crown.
'From this very moment onward, I proclaim Brigitte von Astes as the emperor of the empire.'
The crown was lifted above Brigitte's head.
'Prove that very vow before these imperial citizens from now on.'
A new emperor had ascended.