Saito woke up in Mister Colbert’s room. Lying down on the table, he was covered by a blanket. It seemed that the one who put the blanket on him was Mister Colbert, who was asleep in his bed.

  It seemed that Saito had inadvertently fallen asleep. Rays of morning light shone through the window.

  Now I remember. I was so tired from crying yesterday that I fell asleep.

  While thinking that, Saito stared at the display of his notebook computer. It seemed like the power supply had been taken off.

  I was thinking about asking Mister Colbert to reconnect my notebook to the battery, but decided against it.

  I memorized it last time, so I am able to recall it…… so it is not necessary to do it again.

  From the window, he gazed up at the sky.

  Somehow, this world was connected to Earth, one way or another.

  What could it be that connected these two worlds together?

  Considering how tanks and aircraft could come to this world, it should also be normal for electromagnetic waves to enter.

  Ah, that seems to be the case. Saito looked around absent-mindedly as he thought.

  After all, I was a weak man.

  I have comrades, so I think that I can accomplish something, since that’s what I can accept while living in this world. Nevertheless, when I read the mail, I was suddenly overcome by the feeling of homesickness.

  To put it plainly, I am a weak man.

  It can’t be helped since I suddenly read the mail. Thinking this, Saito left his notebook computer behind in Mister Colbert’s room.

  Saito felt depressed. While he trudged through the corridor he muttered:

  "Tomorrow will be a troublesome day. The three-year anniversary of the Pope’s coronation…… My spirit must not be like this."

  At any rate, my mood must be kept hidden from Louise.

  I don’t want her to get depressed again.

  I should be thinking about more immediate concerns. Saito positively thought.

  Okay, Let’s hide this depressed face of mine. While forcefully doing that, Saito opened the door to the living room.

  "Louise, forgive me for not coming back yesterday. I was drinking with Mr. Colbert in his room and collapsed……"

  Louise was sitting in the chair looking at the mirror. But it seemed that she wasn’t going to scold Saito. Instead she smiled back, almost as if a it were a trap.

  "Good morning."

  Louise’s sudden smile surprised him.

  "What the……? What’s with your clothes……"

  "Eh, this? I went out to buy this last evening."

  Louise wasn’t in her usual Tristain Academy uniform, but a cute blouse with a short, deep blue silk skirt and a red ribbon which trailed from the collar.

  "Why?"

  Saito asked, amazed. Of all days, why today? No, even if this is a joke in Romalia’s great cathedral, Saito still couldn’t understand the reason.

  "Oh I understand, it’s for tomorrow’s ceremony isn’t it? But is it okay to be wearing that?"

  Then Louise smiled pleasantly and said.

  "No, it’s for going to town to shop with you today."

  "?e, why?"

  "In the town, there is a festival for the celebration of His Holiness the Pope’s third anniversary. In noble society there are festivals; here on the streets it seems like they have festivals too. Now, I want to go to the festival with you."

  "But tomorrow…… shouldn’t we be using the time we have today to prepare ourselves?"

  "No, it’s okay. Practicing right now would not change the result. It would be a pointless effort. Besides, sometimes relaxation is important too."

  Looking innocent, Louise grabbed Saito’s arm.

  "Okay, let’s go?"

  In the end, attracted by Louise’s unusually cute behavior, Saito went to town. Louise was glued to Saito’s arm. What, was something wrong? He turned for a moment toward Louise. Louise only smiled back.

  As expected, I have a bad feeling about this.

  "Hey Louise?" Saito asked.

  "Yes."

  "What are you scheming?"

  But Louise was laughing. Kyahaha.

  Kyahaha? Louise laughing? Saito’s head was full of questions, but Louise remained glued to Saito arm.

  "I’m not scheming anything."

  "Lie!"

  "It’s not a lie. Honestly, for today I just want to take a stroll with you through town. That’s all."

  Looking at it from all sides her smile was not a scheming one. Still, there is something hidden, Saito thought. Then Louise pointed at something.

  "Eh, that’s right, for today I will listen to anything you request."

  "Huh?"

  "Really, I’m serious. So don’t be polite, okay?"

  Smiling and leaning to him. Saito felt more and more suspicious. For the sake of testing, he said.

  "Then, show me your underpants."

  He thought he was going to be kicked, so he prepared for that.

  But, neither kick, punch, nor magic attack was launched. Instead, Louise shyly began to slowly lift up her skirt.

  "Okay."

  It’s been a while since I last saw Louise’s underpants, he thought.

  She didn’t seem to be angry.

  \r \r \r

  Meaning……? “Hey, this is the middle of the street, there’re a lot of people here.” Saito said while furiously trying stop her.

  "Stop it, People can see that."

  With a smile, Louise returned the skirt to its original position.

  Too suspicious.

  Is this really the real Louise?

  Could it be that someone transformed her?

  Right, Myoznitnirn’s magical tool, for instance……

  That was an act, Saito thought. The tension began to build with his next words.

  "Ah, then, allow me to touch your breasts."

  "Go ahead."

  Louise nodded almost instantly, with a smiling face.

  "Ok, then I will not hold back."

  Gulp, Saito swallowed his saliva and began to touch her small breast. Rustle, rustle. (I guess that this is the sound being made, don’t know where to put it)

  Even with her small breasts, touching her there, Saito’s excitment began to rise.

  When he looked back at her, she was still smiling brightly. A face with a color of happiness. Prepared for death, Saito started to shake. If this is the real Louise, let’s try that. He thought.

  "And…… this a breast?"

  "Yes."

  she positively nodded with a smile.

  This was absolutely not Louise!

  "Nah, too small, compared to Tiffania."

  "thats okay with me."

  Saito jumped back that instance, taking a stance.

  "Who or what are you!"

  "Just like I keep saying, I am me. Please believe me."

  "Why aren’t you angry?"

  "Because, I……"

  She hesitantly said those words, and when she figured out something, she raised her face.

  "Yes! You see, tomorrow there’s going to be a fierce battle. The enemy seems to be Myoznitnirn, right? So this is some kind of reward! you see?!"

  Louise said that in what seemed to be a joyful manner.

  You would normally, even in a situation such as this, object.

  In the end, Louise seemed to have changed her way of thinking. Perhaps it was the noble pride within her. Saito reached understanding. Louise spoke again.

  "You want to touch more?"

  "……"

  "It’s alright! Go ahead! touch them! Please!"

  "……"

  "Please?"

  For the ninth time, she smiled. ’Oh well, if she is enjoying this then I should too.’ Saito thought. This leisurely situation is not a reckless action. Besides, there is the possibility that one of us may be lost tomorrow. Anyhow, however bad the situation turns out to be we will survive.

  Tomorrow is the commemoration of the Pope’s coronation and things are busy in this Romalian street. Of course, it shouldn’t differ too much from the festivals usually held in Tristania.

  As expected of the street stalls and the performances, the atmosphere here felt busy. Even in Romalia, in every place around here, pilgrims could be seen crowding merchants. The various goods brought by them were put in the front of the stalls.

  Louise stood in front of clothes shelves that were displayed in the front of a stall, doing her best to search for something.

  "What, do you really want a scarf that much?, I will buy it for you, so go ahead to choose something better."

  Even with that said, Louise only shook her head. And then determined to choose a plain scarf, she requested this one.

  "……Hey Louise, what do you plan to do with a scarf of that color?"

  The scarf’s color didn’t fit with women’s tastes. A black one, with lattice pattern embroidery. But Louise just answered by shaking her head.

  "See this black color, it suits you."

  "What, did you buy that for me?"

  Louise nodded and smiled sweetly.

  "Could it be that you somehow accidentally drank a love potion again?"

  "That’s not it. Like I said, its a reward."

  "I see, so this is a reward too," Saito murmured.

  For the time being for today I will accompany Louise, Saito thought.

  Saito and Louise loitered around the street. Around noon, priests went out too to drink and sing war songs with their comrades-in-arms.

  The impression that I had, when first entering this place, though it’s quite strict, it is still not too different with other towns in Halkeginia. In the middle was a dance party provided by a band using a flute and drum to perform.

  Louise pulled Saito and brought him to the center.

  "Let’s dance."

  With cheerful rhythm accompanying them, Louise and Saito danced. A pleasant want(waltz). Louise was dancing, and Saito was trying to follow her lead.

  After they were satisfied they went to the tavern that they had been chased into by the Templar knights.

  When they entered the tavern, they saw that the table had been replaced by high class looking sparkling one. It seemed that the money Kirche had given as compensation was quite sufficient to repair all the damage. The window and stand counter had been replaced with a glass one.

  This tavern was really different from the previous one. The one that stood right now was a first class tavern.

  The shopkeeper too was wearing first class brand-new polished clothes. When he saw the two of them, he smiled.

  When they entered, the shopkeeper recognized Louise and Saito and looked awkward.

  Until this time much trouble has been happened(?). He grinned at Saito and, without saying anything, the shopkeeper started to send foods one by one to both of them.

  And then he whispered silently to Saito’s ear.

  "I will be dependent on you for the next year too."

  Meanwhile, Louise was still smiling.

  When the food had been served to the table, Louise offered some soup to Saito.

  "?h?"

  , a——a·(?, maybe aah( as in say aah))

  With Louise started to say that, Saito still felt a little troubled. Even if this was a reward, it was still too much.

  "Hey Louise, please tell me the truth. I won’t get angry. Did you destroy the zero fighter by accident? So you are trying to make me feel better."

  "That’s not it. For today, I wanted to look cute. I want you to see the cute side of me. Please believe me, that’s the only reason."

  When he heard that, he was dumbfounded and couldn’t say anything. Looking happy, Louise just smiled.

  Once again, they walked through town. Louise gazed at Saito, and lightly said, "Let’s go over there."

  "Hey, let’s kiss," she said.

  "?h? Right here?"

  Something outrageous had been said. Even her face looked shy. Is it possible she wants to do that in a place where there are less people? Looking flustered, Louise suddenly started to push Saito into the nearest alley.

  After that, she fixed her gaze on Saito’s face, and stood there on her tippy toes. Full of passion the two of them pressed their lips together. It was a deep kiss.

  For a moment, they pressed each other’s lips together. After satisfying themselves, the two of them separated. Once again, Louise showed him an extraordinary smile.

  Saito could not understand the meaning behind her smiles, but Saito too tried to smile back vaguely.

  While the two of them were walking, Saito would take a peek at Louise, and when she noticed that, she would return a smile, a very lovely one. In the end, they continued walking. Saito thought, for Louise, he would do anything to protect her.

  But it couldn’t be helped, sometimes he would remember his mother’s face. When that happened his chest would hurt.

  "Something wrong?"

  "Nothing at all, don’t mind me."

  The instant that happened, Saito forced a smile, cooling his head.(?)

  Wholeheartedly, the two of them spent their time together, and when the night drew near they returned to their room. In the end, Saito was with her the whole day. Calmly thinking, from whatever aspect, it was too suspicious.

  "Here, have some water, you must be tired."

  Louise poured water into a cup and gave it to Saito. After taking a breath, he drank it. Saito asked.

  "Hey Louise!"

  "Yes"

  "……You see, I’m still wondering, why are you smiling so much?"

  "Can’t I?"

  Once more, Louise smiled a sweet smile.

  "It’s very strange you know! As long as I remember, this whole year you’ve only smiled twice! However, today you smiled 72 times."

  "I’m very happy you counted. Thank you."

  Once again, she smiled. It was an angelic smile, a lovely smile.

  "That’s why I will smile continuously this last minute."

  "What?"

  "?nly twice a year, huh. But from now on, the time we could have spent together, twenty years, forty years?, or even fifty years……, I would have smiled whenever I could."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "You know, I won’t smile again for the rest of my life."

  Even with her smiles still surfacing, tears began to flow down Louise’s face.

  "Louise?"

  "For the rest of my life I won’t be loved by anyone anymore. But you must not be like me. Please love whoever, anyone you love. Just like me, you can watch over that person, from your world."

  Tears continued to flow and made lines on her cheeks from her eyes to her chin. That kind of form.(Huh, I don’t get that last part)

  "?h? What?"

  Having said that, Saito suddenly became very drowsy.

  "?h?"

  It was Magic. But the moment he noticed that, the magic had already taken effect.

  "Louise…… you…… the water before……"

  Losing strength, Louise hugged Saito, touched his face with her hands, and pressed her lips against his.

  Strength completely left Saito’s body.

  The water before, just like as Saito said, had a sleeping potion put into it beforehand.

  While gently embracing Saito, Louise whispered,

  "Goodbye, my gentle person…… Goodbye, my chevalier(knight)."

  Hick. (sounds of crying from Louise)

  After embracing Saito for a while, she put Saito in the bed. After a moment, she stood up.

  "……It’s okay now."

  A moment after that, the door behind her opened; Julio was standing there with a smile surfacing on his face.

  "Are you really sure about this?"

  With no expression, Louise nodded.

  "Yes, for the sake of Saito too, to open the [Door world]."

  "Then for that sake too, you will……"

  "With all my pleasure, I will give you my cooperation. Whether to capture Myoznitnirn or to take back the Holy Land…… All of it. Not only that. For the sake of Halkeginia’s ideals, I will give my life, my Void ability and my noble status."

  Julio nodded.

  "It seems like a saint has been born. Then, let’s go immediately. We will explain the modification to our plan for tomorrow, since he won’t be here anymore."

  Just a moment before she left the room, Louise turned her head once more. Endless tears still flowed on her cheeks. Wiping those tears, Louise whispered,

  "Goodbye, my most important person in the world."

  From Baka-TsukiJump to: ,

  Epilogue[]

  The capital of Gallia, Lutèce.

  The man who was called the “Mad King” by Romalia’s pope was right now in the middle of a boundless beautiful garden full of flowers, and gazing afar in all directions.

  This was a flower terrace which could even be the number one in Versardier, with its ever-blooming rich flowers.

  The southern rose terrace.

  To Joseph, this was a flower terrace where he can have fun by himself, and where he could also comfort himself from his meaningless solitary life. This was a paradise on earth built with the greatest skills of every garden architect of this country.

  On this land of around two square kilometres, there were a countless number of coloured roses.

  The one that held the most attention was the blue one.

  That was this year’s……, after improving multiple test products, the finally finished and steady blue breed of rose.

  This rose, since it had a link with the royalty’s blue hair, had been surnamed “La Gallia”, which meant that it was a symbol of Gallia.

  Joseph looked at the flower terrace with satisfaction. He wasn’t clear about the huge amount of money he had spent on this blue rose.

  “This rose garden is really way too beautiful.”

  Exclaimed Mrs. Molière, who was at Joseph’s side. Joseph nodded with satisfaction.

  “The amount of money spent on this rose garden was already enough to run a small country.”

  “This is the most beautiful kingdom in the world. The taste of Your Majesty is quite elegant.”

  After that, Mrs. Molière looked at Joseph and asked with a mischievous tone.

  “Why did Your Majesty need to build this rose garden?”

  As Joseph’s lover, Mrs. Molière expected some sweet words. She was looking forward to something like “It was for you.” or something like that. However, the king’s answer wasn’t like that.

  Joseph lightly said.

  “This is so that I can destroy it.”

  Mrs. Molière pursed her lips, to show her disenchantment,

  “Ah! You are joking again!”

  “Joking? Ah, right. It might sound like that.”

  Joseph said that awkwardly, but this made Mrs. Molière even more angry. No matter when, this king is always like that. One couldn’t figure out if he was joking or saying the truth.

  "I have something to ask His Majesty."

  "Do not hesitate."

  "Your Majesty, do you love me?"

  Joseph looked without understanding what Lady Molière had said. As if to say: You asked that to me?

  "Of course"

  "If so, then why aren’t you gentle with me?" asked Mrs. Molière, beginning to mourn.

  "Is that what you feel?"

  "I can’t bear to love a man who treats me cruelly."

  Joseph was surprised to see the tears of Mrs. Molière.

  "What did you say?"

  "I love him!"

  "You mean you love me? Is that true? Do you love the incompetent king? Do you love me even though I am humbled at home and abroad?"

  \r \r \r

  "That’s why I love him."

  "I only think about money and status."

  His wife Molière worsened in tears."Even if your Majesty was a civilian, a beggar, my love would not change. I love your Majesty."

  "Why do you love me?" asked Joseph, a bit puzzled.

  "Your Majesty, you are a lonely man, you are the king of the world’s wealth, but I just want to heal your heart, please. I am a woman who wants to relieve these problems, as this is love."

  Joseph took the pleasure of laughing at his wife Molière.

  "You’re a nice person, Wife Molière. I think you’re worthy of my love."

  Mrs. Molière seemed intoxicated by the words of Joseph.

  Finally she got those words of love she craved.

  These words made her very happy. She was very proud.

  He is just a person who pretends to be the king. Often your heart and mind are contradictory.

  She had always been his companion. Mrs. Molière understood what no one else could understand about him, something like the infinite darkness of the abyss.She fell in love with a king.

  Mrs. Molière wanted her love to melt the ice in the heart of Joseph.

  I’ll be the water that fills the hole in his heart.

  These words should be able to cure the rotten heart of this king. The fragrance of flowers and words of love should help.

  "Your Majesty, I have something to propose. It is for the sake of our future. Your Majesty, instead of total pain in your system, it would be better to share love."

  However, Joseph said nothing.

  "Your Majesty?"

  A second later, Mrs. Molière……

  "Oh, oh Oh, your Majesty, ohhhh"

  Ms. Molière was stabbed in the chest.

  The strength of her body disappeared.

  "Why?"

  Mrs. Molière did not understand why she was stabbed. And without understanding, she gradually fell into a deep sleep from which people never awoke.

  Joseph slowly withdrew the dagger from Mrs. Molière’s breast. Like cutting meat, blood started gushing.

  Her beautiful eyes opened one last time to look at Joseph. Joseph had the same indifferent expression to his wife lying on the floor almost dead. Then Mrs. Molière slowly closed her eyes one last time.

  Joseph did not hesitate to open an oil tank, spilling it all over the terrace of flowers. Then, he set fire to the oil.

  Unblinking, he watched the rose garden on fire.

  Staring into the flames……

  Then a woman appeared from the fire.

  Not seeming to mind being in the midst of the flames, she was wearing a black robe and her hood alone showed her crimson lips.

  It was Myoznitnirn.

  Myoznitnirn looked at the corpse of Mrs. Molière.

  "Was it your lover?" She asked.

  "I do not know, maybe yes, maybe no. Anyway, it does not matter."

  "Why?"

  "Why, why kill her?"

  "She said she loved me and that’s why I killed her own people. She must have felt much pain in her heart."

  "And you, Joseph-sama, do you have pain in your heart?"

  Myoznitnirn smiled as if to say, you know how to do things. But Joseph refused.

  "No, it can’t be solved in the same way."

  Myoznitnirn, satisfied, nodded and proceeded to give her report to Joseph.

  "According to the report, ten special Jormungand had been completed."

  "Well……"

  "There is also a message saying that you have to meet the three users of the Void in Romalia."

  "Oh" Joseph laughed.

  "It’s the perfect opportunity. Get ready; you will command the special army."

  "Yes, sir."

  Myoznitnirn disappeared in the fire.

  Joseph picked up from the table a sound transmitter that worked with wind magic and an iron pipe. It was a transmitter that could only be used within the same castle.

  "Get me in contact with the Fleet Commander" (note: do not know if it was a spell or was an order for someone else, it’s not specified in the text)

  He was immediately connected to the Fleet Admiral. Joseph, through the transmitter, ordered perfectly.

  "Naval fleet in the harbour of San Marin (?? · ???) Your objective is …… the Romalia Empire."

  Across the transmitter, Commander Claville was afraid of the order given by Joseph.

  "No need to announce the war. The cities, the streets, the towns, the people, everything must be destroyed," Joseph commented.

  "War? You want to start a war? But Romalia was one of our allies against the revolutionaries of Albion."

  "Ally? Is that what you think? Let me tell you something. Ah, well. What if there were other countries that are conspiring against us? Isn’t it more difficult to resolve this?"

  "I do not know what you’re talking about, Your Majesty!"

  No matter what the order was, he spoke without thinking twice. It was for this reason that he had become commander, instead of the other men who were all incompetent. But that did not matter. Simply run the fleet. The real struggle would come from Myoznitnirn’s army; they simply will be the drivers.

  Joseph was annoyed with having to say the right words.

  "Well, obey the order. This is a high order. If we want to stop this conspiracy, we must end Romalia soon."

  On the other side of the transmission, the commander pondered the matter.

  Joseph was often derided as an incompetent King, but he was not an idiot.

  When he proposed something, no matter how or what, he had to fulfill his goal.

  This should also be part of their whims.

  This included the desire to win. Claville knew all this.

  Joseph put the transmitter on the table and said, cursing.

  "War is a stupid thing. I do not want war. But this is not just war. This so-called war is to consider interests. What are the benefits of attacking Romalia? Would we not be destroying our soul, to attack the country where people are race to God?"

  Joseph hit the table.

  "Ah ah, I’m just a man, after all. But why say that God loves all his children, if I feel nothing but pain? And ironically, he has given me strength! But just nothing in my heart! Nothing! ah ah ah ah, I’m not more a man than just empty thanks to him!"

  Joseph comforted himself.

  "Ah, my heart is empty, as the bladder of a rotten fish. Nothing can fill the emptiness in my heart …… Neither love, nor joy nor anger, nor sadness, and even hatred that have Charlotte for killing his father, my heart is hollow."Joseph looked into the sky. Then he watched as the guards tried to stop the Fire Flower: "Fast", "Turn the Fire", "Palace on fire"……

  All cries echoed in the garden. However, Joseph did not care.

  His eyes burned from the intense fire, but he stayed a moment longer, just to say nonsense.

  "Well, Charlotte. To overthrow God, you must kill your brother and entire cities. Okay, Charlotte. Not everything in life is virtue and glory, there is all mourning and suffering. You can only commit a sin so great and irreparable if you want to feel a little guilty."

  Joseph laughed. It was an innocent smile like an angel.

  "Charlotte, I’m a man, and for that reason I can also feel the tears that pamper others."

  From Baka-TsukiJump to: ,