Chapter 330

The Hotus Eight Gods vanished.

They were gone, never to return.

It meant that their rule, which spanned 1335 years, had also ended.

The Clown who tactlessly cut into conversations, the pinnacle of the West, the Great Witch of the North, the God of the East, Deballo Debius and Kerenneus Cansella Caseptus, and even Continua the Great Emperor—all were now gone.

In the place where they vanished, a golden crown remained.

I put it on my head. The crooked wooden crown I was originally wearing instantly became one with the golden crown.

It was quite heavy.

But not excessively so.

It was only as heavy as the weight of gold.

Neither more nor less.

If it became too heavy, I could always set it down for a while.

I walked and sat down on the golden throne.

Being made of gold, it was naturally uncomfortable.

It was cold and hard.

Although it was tolerable to sit on, I couldn’t help but utter a complaint.

“I’ll have to change the chair.”

I was alone.

But I wasn’t lonely.

Since I had reconciled with the world, I couldn’t be lonely.

I sat on the golden throne I had so hated, wearing the golden crown I had so loathed.

Yet, strangely, I laughed.

“Are you watching, Amethus.”

I waved my hand towards the sky.

“I finally reached the Imperial Throne, after all.”

Like a madman, as if something was truly there.

“Though it turned out very different from what we thought.”

***

The Empire had to welcome a new Emperor.

The name of the 51st Emperor was Shion.

There were many opposing opinions.

‘He is not the victor of the Succession War! This goes against the long-standing tradition of the Imperial Family!’

‘He drove out His Majesty Ferbias. He is no different from a traitor!’

‘He must have even driven out Continua the Great Emperor! Where did he and his two confidants go?’

‘There are even rumors that he is the same person as the hero of the West who tried to overthrow the Empire!’

They were very legitimate and rational statements. There were many voices across the Empire criticizing Shion. Some even attempted military movements. However, none succeeded.

“They have much to say.”

It was Hermai Merhes.

Although the Eight Sages had vanished, he did not.

The Six-Star Mage sought out Shion, who had become Emperor, and asked to be taken as his confidant.

He claimed it was an order given by Continua the Great Emperor while he was alive.

“Let’s see if they can spout such nonsense after being struck by my lightning.”

“And mine, too.”

The Two-Flame Grand General Sen Hostanio was also with him.

The Six-Star Mage and the Two-Flame Grand General personally traveled throughout the Empire to prove the legitimacy of Emperor Shion.

They did not hesitate to use drastic measures at times.

With the Eight Sages gone, these two were the most powerful beings in the entire continent.

Continua the Great Emperor lived for 1335 years as Emperor, across forty-nine lives.

This meant he was also an exceptionally skilled and seasoned ruler.

His arrangements went beyond just Hermai Merhes.

He had made thorough preparations for Shion to take over power in the most natural way possible.

These preparations were made under the assumption that Shion might destroy the Empire and establish a new nation.

Taking over the same nation posed no great problem.

As intended, the series of processes—Shion learning the Emperor’s duties and gaining the recognition of the Imperial people—were carried out very naturally and without incident.

The Last Emperor, the Last General, and the Last Minister.

The three Man-Gods who ruled the Empire had perfectly prepared for their time of disappearance.

In fact, it wasn’t just the three Man-Gods of the Empire.

The Last Slave of the West, the Last Mage of the North, and the Last Dancer of the East had also made the same preparations.

Their voids were quickly filled.

Even though the Hotus Eight Gods vanished, people did not know of their disappearance.

This was because they had always been ready to leave.

No, most people didn’t even know they existed in the first place.

It was exactly as the Eight Sages had wished.

They quietly vanished.

Instead, Shion remained.

***

This was before the name of Emperor Shion became known even in the West.

The West was recovering from the wounds of war.

The people of Merion, the large city on the Bururade Peninsula, were the same.

Although they did not suffer direct damage from the war, they had to endure various disadvantages due to the fall of the hero Shion.

“Cornelius.”

Serena spoke.

“Cornelius!”

“…Yes? Yes!”

The Mustache Mage answered with a start. His body was covered in soot and flour.

This was because he had spent a long time in front of the baking oven.

His well-trimmed mustache made Cornelius look like a skilled baker.

“Don’t you know how many loaves of bread we have to bake today? We don’t have time to look around!”

“That’s right. You are correct.”

Cornelius nodded.

He was once the Grand Dean of the Imperial Academy of Magic, but was now an employee of the Verchello family.

Serena took on all kinds of work to fill Shion’s absence, and Cornelius silently helped her.

“I must bake bread, bread…”

“Why are you smiling like that?”

“Am I smiling?”

“Be serious!”

Serena got angry.

“This is bread to be served to the patrons helping the Verchello family, of all people! I have to be alert to hold my place until Shion returns!”

“Yes. That’s right, indeed…!”

“He must be suffering in prison even now….”

“Suffering?”

The Mustache Mage blinked his eyes.

Then, he unconsciously started grinning.

“Suffering, him suffering… Hehe…”

At Cornelius’s laughter, Serena glared daggers at him.

“What is wrong with you today, Cornelius! Is the story of Shion suffering funny?”

“…Ah, I apologize, Young Lady.”

“Since this morning, you’ve been looking up at the sky as if you’re waiting for someone.”

Serena raised her head.

“Not working, constantly. Who are you waiting for…”

She suddenly recalled that this baking man was a Four-Star Mage.

That meant he could communicate with people at the ends of the earth with a few incantations.

“…….”

She was lost in thought for a moment.

She had no choice but to worry about what reason this power and money-loving Mustache Mage had to be so excited, what he was waiting for while looking at the sky all day, and why he laughed at the mention of Shion suffering.

“……Surely…….”

Soon, a crazy thought occurred to her. It was an unbelievable thought, something too sweet, which she wanted so much that she couldn’t believe it.

But still, if it were true, she would be so happy. She hoped Cornelius had heard such news.

“……Surely, Cornelius. Did you hear something about Shion…?”

“I apologize, Young Lady.”

Cornelius bowed his head.

“I didn’t hear the news.”

“…You didn’t?”

“I was contacted directly.”

He was smiling very broadly.

“He asked me to keep it a secret because he wanted to surprise the Young Lady, so I kept my mouth shut until now.”

“……!”

“But I can’t hold it in! This Cornelius Merhes is too excited to bear it!”

Serena’s eyes widened.

“…You mean, Shion got out of Kosavagarobira?”

“Is it just that he got out of prison!! Is it just that he got out!!”

He eventually burst into loud laughter.

“That person! What has he become now is… Whew, I’m afraid to even say it!”

Yet, he didn’t stop his hands from kneading the bread.

Ah, he had to bake bread!

Shouldn’t he bake the bread our Emperor loves when he arrives!

Cornelius Merhes raised his voice and shouted.

“I chose the right side! I absolutely chose the right side! Cornelius’s foresight was correct!”

“…Shion…!”

Serena raised her eyes.

Dark clouds were gathering from the sky far away.

But strangely, instead of the day becoming darker, it was becoming brighter.

Those dark clouds were not the product of nature.

They contained lightning and storms, yet they made the world brighter—it was the magic of the Six Stars.

“Shion!”

Serena de Verchello immediately ran out.

Impatient to wait for the dark clouds, she grabbed her skirt and ran across the field.

Young Lady Serena! Regardless of Cornelius’s surprised shouts, Serena ran across the green meadow, looking at the sky.

There were gazes watching her run.

They were the people who helped her. Meh al-Hmed, the Head of the Technical Department of the Bururade Peninsula Alliance, the couple Dussell Duke and Yeni Duke, the Head of the Etceteras Guild Veranio, and Archbishop Hille.

Everyone ran.

The people of Merion on the green meadow soon followed Serena and ran out.

They ran even without knowing the reason. It was because Serena was smiling so brightly.

They were so breathless and sweaty, yet they couldn’t look happier.

“–Shion–!!!”

***

“Why are you calling so desperately?”

The voice came from behind me.

I was descending from the sky with Hermai Merhes.

“Anyone would think a dead person had returned.”

“…….”

My golden hair was brilliant.

My azure blue eyes were the same.

“……Shion?”

“Yes. Serena.”

I had the golden crown on my head.

“It’s me.”

“Shion!!”

Serena wanted to resent me, but she couldn’t, so she instinctively just rushed into my arms.

“Shion-!!!”

“How many times are you going to call my name?”

I chuckled lightly.

Then, I hugged Serena de Verchello tightly.

I had learned how to grasp everything lightly, but today I couldn’t bear it.

I hugged my wife with all my strength. Serena, likewise, held me with all her might.

“…A lot happened…”

The couple exchanged words while hugging.

“…A lot happened while you were gone.”

“Me too, Serena. A lot happened.”

I suddenly remembered.

“That’s right, a lot… a whole lot…”

Poesia, Poesia, my beautiful Chyallo flower… Serena in my previous life, weeping from her empty eye sockets.

That miserable and deeply resentful sight.

But where did my deep resentment go?

Where did my misery, which refused to leave, vanish in the meantime?

“…….”

Instead of pondering the answer to the question, I squeezed my eyes shut.

Hard times.

Painful efforts.

Hatred and deep resentment.

The sorrow that made my eye sockets sting with tears…. I tightened the grip of the hand holding Serena.

“……I lived holding many secrets.”

“Can you tell me now?”

“There are too many for one go.”

“I still want to hear them.”

Then. I opened my mouth without hesitation.

“I am a regressor.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I’ve lived two lives. Also, I was an imperial prince, and I had many secrets.”

Serena tilted her head at the unfamiliar word.

“The Regressor Prince has many secrets?”

“Yes, the Regressor Prince has many secrets.”

She asked again.

“What about now?”

“I don’t know well. I am just myself.”

“Is it over?”

“It’s over now.”

I smiled.

My innocent, boyish smile was so beautiful it was almost childlike.

My face was so bright that it was hard to believe I was a person who had suffered such deep resentment and pain.

“I reconciled, you see.”

***

Septem Arcana.

Septem Arcana.

“Seven Secrets and Seven Ars.”

The Seven Secrets.

He dreams a vain dream.

He does not trust.

He does not give up.

He is locking up.

He burned everything up.

He became inhuman.

He is a liar.

“I made those promises.”

The Seven Ars.

First, Fantasy Finger.

Second, The Unclosable Twenty Steps.

Third, The Heated Iron Bloodline.

Fourth, The Screaming Hunchback.

Fifth, Soul Fire.

Sixth, Dragon of Six Horns.

And the Seventh. The Crown of Paradox.

“I tried to save the world with my secrets and my Ars. I thought I had to save it.”

My shameful former self.

“But I could not. Instead, I was only rejected, and ultimately, a hole was pierced through my heart.”

“That’s how I became miserable.”

“No, my misery, which I had constantly ignored, was finally revealed.”

“My secrets made me miserable. I thought secrets were my power and my identity, but they were the yoke that bound me.”

“So.”

“So, I…”

“…I simply let go of my whole life.”

“…….”

“…And then…”

“…A deeply resentful time, immense pains, countless waitings, agonies that I never even imagined existed… came and crushed me.”

“…All my feelings were mashed to a pulp, turned into juice, and then turned into smoke that burned away everything…”

“…Futility, they scattered only in futility…”

“…….”

“…But eventually…”

“…A breeze…”

“…….”

“…Yes, a gentle breeze blew.”

“What I had let go of returned to me as a breeze. The breeze smelled of Chyallo flowers.”

Poesia.

“That is how I reconciled with my life.”

***

Shion once lost everything.

A storm of life, whose reason I didn’t know, struck me and stole everything I held.

I was deprived so deeply that I couldn’t count or even remember what I had lost.

But now, a gentle breeze began to blow.

The things I had lost were coming back to me in double measure.

They were gently knocking, asking me to open the door.

Unbelievable days continued as if it were the most natural thing.

I became Emperor and ruled the Empire.

The Empire prospered astonishingly.

Days that were so peaceful that even I was sometimes bewildered—no, days so bright and beautiful that I wanted to call them cheerful—continued across the entire land.

People from the West came to me, the Emperor. Lord Denoebang was among them.

I did not blame him, or the Elders of the Dawn Brotherhood, in the slightest.

I decided to reconcile with them too.

This was because I had also lived by clawing at others.

Obro Denoebang also came to me.

He asked to stay by my side instead of returning to the West. I gladly allowed it.

I lost the jade-eyed Amethus.

But instead, I gained three confidants.

The Six-Star Mage, Hermai Merhes.

The Two-Flame Grand General, Sen Hostanio.

The White Lord, Obro Denoebang.

And a man named Velgil also became my attendant.

Although he did not possess the same skills as the previous three confidants, he was kind-hearted and quick on his feet.

He became Emperor Shion’s faithful advisor.

I even regained my lost wife.

I had lost Serena once, but Serena was still by my side.

I could see Serena de Verchello whenever I wished.

That felt so miraculous.

I only ever had one wife in my life.

My wife’s name was, of course, Serena.

The Emperor and Empress Consort sometimes personally baked bread and shared it with those close to them.

They also made Seram-ade, and sometimes even personally ground the wheat.

They built a very happy and harmonious family, and there were no people living as beautifully as them in all the lands.

While living like that, they had children, three sons.

They had no daughters.

***

‘The Regressor Prince Has Many Secrets’ The End.

S.D.G.

“Hello, I am the Great Three-Origin.”

It had three heads.

“A gentle breeze is blowing.”

One was rotten, one was only bone, and one was beautiful.

“I am the author of this work, and I am greeting you through the mouth of the Undying Demon Queen Lefren.”

He said it very brazenly.

I worried whether I was attempting something too drastic in the afterword. But what did it matter? It was the afterword! I might as well do whatever I want!

“’The Regressor Prince Has Many Secrets’ concludes with episode 330. It was a story that was painful and agonizing for Shion, but he reconciled with his own story.”

I felt a sense of pride.

The target was not just Shion.

“In fact, in this work, it was rare for me to give characters specific endings. I threw characters out, like scattering seeds in a field, and wrote while contemplating how they would move from then on.”

“As a result, I often created unexpectedly good characters. No, the characters I particularly like seem to have been created that way.”

I want to repeat a few names.

Jade-eyed Amethus.

Tamerarious Secundus.

Gold-toothed Kifkos, Gureunarut Gloriosus. The White Lord Obro Denoebang. The Six-Star Mage Hermai Merhes, The Iron Lion Deballo Debius….

“I was particularly fond of Nico and Nana, the two Nereyades.”

“This is a secret, but Nana was a completely unplanned character.”

“I only had the idea that one of the Ten Great Generals of the Empire was hiding their identity in the West, but then I suddenly wondered what if she was related to Nico Nereyades.”

“She is female and young… Nico mentioned a granddaughter, so should I use that? Then it will look like a planned foreshadowing, right?”

“What should the name be? Nico was Greek-style, so the granddaughter should also be Greek-style…. A name starting with ‘N’.”

“Greek woman, starting with ‘N’… Nana Mouskouri? Nana? Then Nana Nereyades…! That’s a good name! Very amazing grace!”

“Good! Nana, it’s Nana!”

“Nine Streams General Nana! That’s plausible! Nico and Nana are family, but they have some kind of grudge. A human-like breakdown between two inhumanly strong people! Hmm…! Delicious!”

The appearance of the cackling three-headed Demon King instantly transformed. It was the shape of a flower with a thousand petals, The Last Clown, Beila Beile. Beila Beile, as always, enthusiastically rattled on. Although they weren’t his words, he was merely being dominated by the author.

“Should I add a setting that she knew Amethus? Amethus, Ferbias, and Bukenos were friends in their student days, but I thought it was too male-only. What if Nana was also with them…!”

“Good, good!”

“Let’s give her one of the Ancient Weapons related to Nico. Time to make the Ancient Weapon setting more concrete….”

“No, since this happened, let’s have Nico fight instead of his granddaughter!”

“Nico and Shion clash with all their might over the sea! That battle from seven years ago again…!”

“…Ah, but I don’t have any stockpile.”

“…Then I have to come up with Nico’s Ars and the battle scene within two days…?”

“…Oh.”

“SHIT.”

“SHIT! SHIT!! SHIT-!!!”

“Write! Write fast! Nico Nereyades, the Whale of Hobel Bay. Then the Ars is…. Whale? Whale? Moby Dick? White Whale? White Whale!”

“Ah, Shion also needs a fifth Ars…. Something to add to the Hunchback…. Ugh, flames? Blue flames? Since there are no goblins in this world, ghost fire is awkward, something similar… Soul Fire? Soul Fire! Then since he’s a burning giant, it would be okay to give him a nickname linked to Surtr from Norse mythology! (This idea was forgotten and couldn’t be used.)”

“…….”

“…Hem, I apologize.”

“In truth, it was always like this. I still find novels very difficult. Because of that, I only got better at the trick of brazenly passing off something I threw in without much thought as, ‘No! I had it all planned! I planned everything!’”

“It was like that throughout the serialization. I serialized it for almost a year, but there was almost no period when a stockpile existed. It was routine to frantically send the manuscript right before the serialization time.”

He spoke nonchalantly, but harbored an apologetic feeling toward the person in charge.

You’re watching, the person in charge, aren’t you? S… S…. …I just like you. Thank you always.

“This is a personal story, but.”

“I went through a very difficult period for several years.”

“Storms of life, whose reason I couldn’t understand, crashed upon me. That was my reality. Even now, I don’t understand it. But it passed, and I am only forgetting it.”

Hardship, agony, and pain.

I spent a long time with a heart like the Hunchback.

“So, I am amazed and grateful that I can conclude this long journey of 330 episodes now. Even this time spent writing the afterword with a somewhat playful heart feels like a part of the gentle breeze to me.”

“I have much more to say, but I will keep it short.”

“A gentle breeze finally blew for Shion. It feels like a gentle breeze is now blowing for me too. How about you? Are you waiting for the gentle breeze? Or have you already reached your Shion?”

If not yet, I would like to pray that you encounter the gentle breeze. He quietly folded his hands.

“All of you who have joined Shion’s story.”

“It is thanks to all of you.”

“Thank you.”

“I love you.”

***

“For your reference.”

“There is an external story!”

“You must read more! Because I will unfold the stories that haven’t been told yet…!”

“Just a little…!”

“Please stay with me just a little longer…!!”

***

‘The Regressed Prince Holds Many Secrets’.

Continues in the External Story.

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