Book 11 Chapter 15
Chapter 267
#12 The Epilogue of the Second Daughter.
“Why is it like this?”
Father’s heart could not be read.
Because the very essence of his soul was far beyond even dragons.
This was true for Aki and Mir as well. Even if they had many wyvern souls, they couldn’t match the essence of a true dragon.
“Nen, why do you think you were given such an ability?”
“It’s because I was held captive in the soul of Dragon Slayer, the incarnation of evil, for a long time!”
“You, you read Miria’s heart a long time ago. That might have had some effect, but I think there’s another reason.”
“What kind?”
“That’s something you have to find out yourself, on your own journey through life.”
Setsunen puffed out both cheeks indignantly and climbed onto the desk.
“To make me curious and then not tell me is evil! It’s something you should never do if you love justice!”
Then, Rain looked into the distant sky with an expression filled with longing.
“You’ll learn many things in the world. There are so many things in this world. Beautiful things, frightening things, joyful things, sad things…”
“There is also evil and justice!”
“Yes, is it only evil and justice? Among people, there are strong people, weak people, interesting people, pitiful people, evil people, and righteous people, all in great variety.”
“…!”
“As you see these things with your own eyes, hear them with your own ears, and touch them with your own hands, you’ll gradually come to realize things without even knowing it.”
Father, who had risen from the desk, lifted Setsunen into his arms, flashing the warm smile Setsunen loved most.
“How you should use the power you were born with. Just as your older sister became.”
He was confident that such a day would not come, but that day arrived quite quickly.
A theft occurred in the classroom; the hairpin of Sophia Duren, the second daughter of Archduke Duren, the Elector of the North, was lost.
The suspect for this act was identified as the commoner cadet leader Torres, who was always in rivalry with Sophia for the top spot.
“No, no. There’s no way I would steal something like this! Why?”
“I understand your family is struggling financially. Weren’t you trying to fill your storeroom by selling Princess Sophia’s hairpin?”
“Nonsense!”
However, contrary to Torres’s denial, the hairpin was found in his locker!
“No, this, what.”
It was Setsunen’s mind-reading ability that solved this problem.
“Everyone stop, premature slander is evil!”
“Slander? Didn’t you see the hairpin actually come out of that locker? Setsunen Ludwig?”
“The real culprit is in here, evil!”
She read the minds of several cadets with her mind-reading ability and uncovered their alibis.
Thus, she revealed that the true culprit was not Torres, but Basa Croft, a Northern noble cadet who served as Sophia’s attendant.
This incident brought a very significant change to Setsunen’s life.
“You are amazing, Lady Setsunen Ludwig!”
“To think you uncovered this!”
The number of friends who approached her with sincere goodwill significantly increased.
And Sophia Duren even cast aside her dignity as a high noble and bowed her head in apology for Basa’s actions.
She felt as if she had glimpsed the potential of her own power, and of this world!
From then on, for some reason, life became truly interesting.
And soon, an opportunity arose for her to help her father with this power.
“Next is the reorganization of the judicial institutions.”
One day, she was able to eavesdrop on a conversation between her father and Emperor Raida, who had visited him.
She liked to hide in the large drawer of the Prime Minister’s office, erase her presence, and then surprise her father, so she was in the drawer that day too when this happened.
“Yes, I have also reviewed the proposal you submitted thoroughly. The establishment of local courts and high courts under the Imperial Court…”
“It is a measure to prevent people from suffering unjust incidents, Your Majesty.”
“I know. But this is no different from weakening the power of the central institutions and instead giving opportunities for local officials to become corrupt.”
“…!”
“I understand you want to take these measures because the law is far from the common people, but if this is implemented as is, not only will the nobles object, but the damage will ultimately fall entirely on the common people.”
“Indeed, hearing Your Majesty’s words…”
At that moment, when her father seemed troubled, Setsunen slid open the drawer and appeared!
“There’s a famous saying that if you have a heart that loves justice, discerning evil is as easy as pie!”
Yonghyeon Rain Ludwig’s eyes widened.
“Ah, no. Nen? Where did you… Hurry and leave. Your Majesty, I apologize. Please forgive her rudeness.”
Of course, he only said that for appearances; a smile that said, ‘I can’t stop her,’ played on his lips.
It was possible because he lived with the highest emperor in the Empire more like a friend than a superior.
The Emperor, who also enjoyed teasing Father, accepted Setsunen’s actions with a playful smile.
“It’s alright. Rudeness from a dragon kin? Rather, isn’t your behavior rude?”
“You are always kind to Setsunen, Your Majesty. I worry that Your Majesty’s excessive kindness might spoil her.”
“Is that for you to say, you who didn’t even let men approach Aki? What was it? Didn’t you even try to propose the ‘Aki Protection Act’ at the beginning of your term? You said death for anyone who proposed to Aki? Your jokes went too far.”
“Begging your pardon, but I was serious about that.”
“….”
“….”
“Then let me speak sternly. Nen, just loving justice does not mean justice will be realized in this world. You need the ability and power to do so.”
“Such words, not trusting Nen, are also evil! Nen has that power!”
“Prime Minister, what does she mean?”
“That is… Nen can read people’s minds.”
Emperor Raida, who had been tilting his head in confusion, suddenly brightened his eyes the next moment.
“Wait a moment. Yes, no, your legal reform plan might just be perfected with Nen’s help.”
“What do you mean?”
“Transfer the highest judicial department to the Papal State. The head of that department will be Setsunen when she grows up.”
“…?”
“If the trials of common people harmed by corrupt officials ascend to Setsunen, wouldn’t the cases be perfectly resolved there?”
“…!”
“What would be the severity of the Papal State’s punishment? Wouldn’t officials try to handle matters as fairly as possible to prevent such incidents in advance?”
“That… but I am concerned. Whether Nen can do that. If all trials in the Empire ultimately go to Nen, how arduous would that work be?”
“Nen is okay!”
“Nen.”
“Saving Dad’s face is justice! Nen likes justice, but she likes Dad much, much more, so judging evil isn’t hard at all!”
“Nen…”
“Dad said it! That I would find out the reason this ability was given to me! Nen wants to go learn too, like 언니! Please let me go to learn the skills to uphold justice and eradicate evil! From Grandpa Yoshal.”
Nen never forgot the expression Father wore that day throughout her eternal life.
Yonghyeon Rain Ludwig, who wore a smile that seemed happy, wistful, and proud all at once, beckoned Setsunen.
“Nen, come here.”
Father, who hugged Setsunen tightly, remained silent for a while.
And although she couldn’t read his heart, that moment settled deeper into her soul than any other memory.
And the warmth she felt that day always became a compass of light, guiding her through Setsunen’s long and arduous life.
Because she had a dream.
Someday.
She, too, wanted to become someone who could embrace others like that.
* * *
The scale of the Yellow Dragon Legion’s ceremonial escort that came to pick up Setsunen was grand…
No, rather than grand, the dignity of the being who came to meet them here was extraordinarily lofty.
Because of this, Setsunen’s identity became fully known to the world, but anyway, the time had come for everyone to know.
“It’s been a long time, Lord Yoshal.”
The golden true dragon, Cardinal Yoshal.
The true dragon who was like a father to Lista. He was also the one who gave Rin the Golden Staff of Light.
This is why Setsunen calls Yoshal “Grandpa.”
She had met him once during the Black Spot Incident, and again before she was appointed to the Magic Star. Because Miria had to return the Extreme Divine Sword, Shirpen.
- Actually, Lista’s memories are as blurry to me as looking through a mirror.
- …
- But still, meeting you, what should I say, I can’t help but be happy. Really. Is this what it feels like for the soul to rejoice?
That was the reunion of Yoshal and Miria.
And other wyverns had wept mournfully upon seeing Setsunen, because the wyverns that formed Setsunen’s soul were their ancient kin.
“Child of the spring breeze. And child who has received the mission to lament this world. Thanks to the guidance of the gods who brought us together again.”
“Setsunen said she wants to receive an education.”
“I have already read the letter you sent. You hold a truly admirable heart, Setsunen.”
“Nen… I entrust her to your care.”
“Do not worry. Possessing the insight that only the Brilliant Dragon held, this child, prepared by the providence of the gods, will surely become a light that brilliantly illuminates the final age.”
A peculiar regret was tinged in Yoshal’s expression and voice, which were always solemn and strict, befitting a Yellow Dragon.
“And hearing that she is Lista’s child, it makes me understand what kind of feelings you humans have when you look at your descendants.”
“I understand that feeling well, too.”
“If that is so, then do not worry. I, Yoshal, will pour my heart and soul into imparting all my light to her.”
“I am truly happy to hear you say that. Miria will also be grateful. Nen, it’s time to go.”
Setsunen, who had been holding Rain’s hand tightly, took a deep breath, firmed her resolve, and trotted towards Yoshal.
As he watched her retreating figure, blood appeared on his lips. Had he bitten his lip without realizing it?
Even though he knew he had to send his children out of the nest, why did the pain of that moment never get easier to bear?
“Dad!”
Just then, while groaning from a heavy ache, Setsunen called Rain.
Smiling dazzlingly like the sun, placing both hands on her belly button, and bowing politely at the waist.
“Setsunen will study hard, become the incarnation of justice, and then return… is what I mean!”
Just for a very brief moment.
He felt as if he had caught a tiny glimpse of that distant future, of how Nen would illuminate the final age.
Rain approached Setsunen. He took out the soul treasure from Seresia’s sub-spatial pocket.
“This is something very precious to me.”
For Aki, there is not only gratitude towards Alakish, but also the bond of having shared the longest and most arduous journey from the very beginning.
Mirngardia, though their time together is the shortest, is an intense bond, her very existence a divine miracle, as the soul of the ancient Tureina resides within her.
“Dad’s straw hat! Symbol of Justice!”
But Nen has nothing.
I don’t think so at all, but I’m worried that Nen might think so someday, and perhaps be saddened by it in the distant future.
To let her know that it’s absolutely not true, so she can remember it by looking at this her whole life.
“Now, I’ll entrust it to you.”
Only then could he understand.
At this moment, 300 years later, only after giving that straw hat as a gift to his child leaving his embrace, did he finally realize.
What kind of expression the Dean-aunt must have worn when she placed the straw hat, bought as a gift, on him.
“So, will you promise me? That when we meet again, you will have become an adult who can share the light in Nen’s heart with the world.”
He had tried to hide his expression by using the excuse of putting on the hat, but Setsunen subtly lifted the hat and peeked out her face.
When their eyes met, a smile bloomed, like the first ray of sunlight breaking through the dark dawn.
“Worrying Dad is evil! Setsunen is the incarnation of justice! You don’t have to worry about such things!”
I am truly a happy man.
To meet children like these, not just one but three. To be able to watch their growth so closely.
I am a blessed man.
I am truly a blessed man.
“Yes, I’ll be looking forward to it.”