Episode 123. The End and the Beginning (Complete)
While Lacrahan was spending the night with Bercheria, new members of the dungeon arrived.
This terrible place, where not even water or a single meal was provided, was so miserable that few survived.
In other words, those who survived were astonishingly fearsome beings.
“I am the Emperor! The Emperor! And this place is the Supreme Being!”
Gerard, who had entered the dungeon shouting, grabbed the bars and screamed less than an hour later.
“Please save me. Please. I will do anything to get myself out of here. Anything. Please. Please."
Returning to the imperial palace after spending the night with Bercheria, Lacrahan heard a report about the trio in the dungeon.
“From now on, in the dungeon...”
Lacrahan glanced at Bercheria and continued.
“Give dry bread equal to the number of those who are alive.”
“And those who were there before?”
“They...”
Most of them were innocent wizards.
But this was beyond Lacrahan's jurisdiction.
It was for the next Emperor to decide.
"Preserving the living is the priority."
"Yes, Grand Duke."
As soon as Bercheria fell asleep, he carried her and headed to the imperial palace with Muha.
His hands, which had been trembling after imitating the power of the Supreme Being, seemed to have recovered somewhat simply by spending the night with Bercheria.
Because Muha made it difficult to return quietly, he had no choice but to hear Wyatt's situation report.
But that was all for the report.
Lacrahan planned to stay here with Bercheria until they finished preparing to return north with their knights. They would never be apart for even a moment.
Then, a knock came from outside.
"Your Highness, I have something to tell you ."
The voice was unfamiliar.
Lacrahan frowned, but he hurriedly opened the door, worried that Bercheria would wake up.
He could not tolerate waking her from her deep sleep.
"What is it?"
When he opened the door, dozens of council members were standing in front of him.
“What?”
Lacrahan raised his eyebrows nervously, and they all bowed simultaneously.
“Your Highness, I have something to tell you!”
They all shouted in unison, and Lacrahan turned around in surprise.
Bercheria, who had risen from her bed, was rubbing her eyes and looking at him.
“What is it?”
Lacrahan abruptly turned his head, and the ministers flinched and took a step back.
“How dare you...”
Lacrahan, about to lash out, felt Bercheria’s gentle hand on his back.
She poked her head out to his side, looked at the council members, then back at Lacrahan.
"Please, sit on the throne of the Emperor of Periat.”
An unexpected invitation leaked from the council members’ lips.
Instead of answering, Lacrahan frowned.
The imperial throne had never been vacant in the empire's history, so the councilors felt a deeper sense of crisis than ever before.
"So you're asking me to take the throne?"
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Ha."
Lacrahan had moved to the banquet hall with Bercheria.
If not, he would have been huddled against the nearly twenty councilors who had gathered there by now, their foreheads pressed against each other.
This wasn't a metaphor; it was a fact.
The large group had already moved, and the knights of the North had already appeared, forming a line behind the councilors.
In short, the banquet hall was packed.
"What are you doing?"
Lacrahan muttered, running his hand over his face. The ministers seemed oblivious to his words. They could tell at a glance that the average age was over eighty, but they stood before him with stern faces.
"It's only been ten years since the war. There's no telling what will happen if they learn the imperial throne is vacant."
"Your Highness, you know better than anyone that the Kingdom of Contana is targeting our empire at every moment."
"War could break out again!"
Lacrahan sighed and raised his head.
"So what? I have no intention of becoming Emperor. There's no reason for me to."
At the irritated tone, Wyatt, who was nearby, tapped the heel of Lacrahan's shoe as if by mistake.
It was likely a silent threat to refuse and not look at him.
"Grand Duke. The situation is extremely dangerous right now. The Empress we married off to the Kingdom of Contana has been murdered, and Prince Der'Ansis is right here in our Periat."
"That's right. Even one step now would be a precipice."
"It wouldn't be surprising if war broke out at any moment."
"Ha."
Lacrahan sighed and looked at Bercheria.
After all that darkness, they had finally found time alone together, and he didn't like the idea of the ministers wasting that precious time.
He wanted to shout that he didn't want to hear about war or anything else, then hug Bercheria and retreat to his room. Just as that thought crossed his mind, Wyatt, standing behind Lacrahan, lowered his head and whispered.
“Did you think you could wipe out those humans in a minute?”
“...”
“And then you thought I’d run away with Bercheria?”
Did you learn mind-reading?
“Are you reading my mind?”
Wyatt smirked and shrugged.
Lacrahan frowned and turned around, then coughed when he saw Bercheria smiling.
“Grand Duke Lacrahan.”
The council members were all looking at Lacrahan with longing eyes.
“It won’t be much different from ruling the North. It’ll just be a little...”
“A little?”
“It’ll just be bigger, right?”
Lacrahan smiled, as if frowning.
He ruled the North because it was his home.
That’s why he didn’t abandon it, but protected it with all his might.
That was all.
“I’ve never ruled the North.”
When the council members tilted their heads as if to ask what he meant, Lacrahan tilted his head.
“I just found a way to live with my people.”
“My goodness.”
“How could you say such a thing?”
Lacrahan’s answer brought even more desperate longing to the council members’ eyes.
For so long, living with a selfish Emperor, they had been forced to work beyond their quotas.
Even when the imperial finances were in shambles, they had to give money to the Emperor’s government.
With that money, Lyone bought dresses and jewelry to her heart’s content, even while the people starved.
“That’s right, Grand Duke. We need an Emperor like that.”
Lacrahan couldn’t hold it in any longer and whispered in Bercheria’s ear.
“Save me.”
Bercheria burst into laughter.
She stepped forward, seemingly determined, and said,
“Actually, there is someone who can replace the Emperor.”
Bercheria’s voice made the council members’ eyes widen.
“Of course, I will have to teach him many things.”
“Who is that?”
Bercheria suppressed her laughter and looked around at the council members.
“If you look closely at Muha’s dung, you’ll probably find it.”
“And if you say dung...”
Bercheria finally burst out laughing at the bald councilman’s stuttering words.
“Please tell her she’ll suffer from hives for a few days, but it won’t be life-threatening, just tell her that.”
The council members nodded, oblivious to what was happening.
“Is it all resolved now?”
Bercheria stood up and reached out to Lacrahan.
She squeezed his large hand tightly, looking back at the council members and adding,
“So, from now on, I want you to stop interfering with us. Not just you, but anyone else.”
“But...”
“You saw what happened to Emperor Gerard, who tried to interfere with us.”
“Ah.”
This time, no one could argue with her or even question her.
It was a perfect, clean ending.
That night.
Bercheria and Lacrahan sat on the terrace in thin gowns, looking up at the sky.
He had Bercheria perched on his lap, and they were wrapped together in a large blanket.
Their temperatures were so close together that they didn't feel the slightest bit cold.
"Have you thought about living the rest of your life as a god?"
Lacrahan paused, seemingly lost in thought, in response to Bercheria's question.
"What was life like, born through the Awakened One?"
Bercheria closed her eyes and pondered Lacrahan's question.
Both had lived as both humans and gods, but neither could say which was better.
"Human life is so short. I've even died in accidents. In a way, I think human life is about not knowing if we'll be separated tomorrow."
"That's why we can feel so many different emotions. Gods live so long that they become numb to all senses."
That's why only provocative thoughts remain.
No relationship flows normally, like a Supreme Being.
"For love, living as a human is the best."
"Perhaps."
Bercheria smiled faintly.
"I don't care what happens."
She tilted her head and leaned against Lacrahan's arm.
His firm, warm body always felt good to the touch.
"I'm not just saying this; I mean it. Even if I were to live as a human, I'd be happy just to have you."
"Me too."
Lacrahan, his face relaxed and free of tension, kissed Bercheria's cheek with a soft, gentle peck.
A fluffy laugh rippled from her.
"Let's think about it a little more slowly."
"Yes."
Lacrahan took a deep breath and hugged Bercheria closer.
It was a perfect day.
The sun was warm, the breeze gentle.
As long as Bercheria, the god of weather, existed here, the people of Periat would never suffer from famine or be disheartened by crop failures.
Crops would grow abundantly, and flowers would bloom, spreading a fragrant scent.
Even if the imperial court was currently in chaos, it would gradually find stability over time.
Even if the councilors washed Kelita, rescued from Muha's dung, and brought her back to her senses, there would be no immediate results...
Still, she would become a symbolic figure of Periat.
The governance of the imperial court would still be the responsibility of the councilors.
"Lacrahan."
"Yes."
Bercheria closed her eyes and whispered softly,
"I love you."
Could there be anything sweeter than a confession heard after so many years, so many eons?
"Me too."
Lacrahan couldn't hold back and showered her back with kisses.
He hugged Bercheria tightly, who curled her back in a ticklish embrace, and spoke the words he'd been holding back for so long.
"I love you too, Bercheria."
Pretty, fluffy snowflakes fell from the sky.
Whether Bercheria and Lacrahan's future lay in human life or in the lives of gods, one thing was certain: they would never be apart again.
Their story was just beginning.
While Lacrahan was spending the night with Bercheria, new members of the dungeon arrived.
This terrible place, where not even water or a single meal was provided, was so miserable that few survived.
In other words, those who survived were astonishingly fearsome beings.
“I am the Emperor! The Emperor! And this place is the Supreme Being!”
Gerard, who had entered the dungeon shouting, grabbed the bars and screamed less than an hour later.
“Please save me. Please. I will do anything to get myself out of here. Anything. Please. Please."
***
Returning to the imperial palace after spending the night with Bercheria, Lacrahan heard a report about the trio in the dungeon.
“From now on, in the dungeon...”
Lacrahan glanced at Bercheria and continued.
“Give dry bread equal to the number of those who are alive.”
“And those who were there before?”
“They...”
Most of them were innocent wizards.
But this was beyond Lacrahan's jurisdiction.
It was for the next Emperor to decide.
"Preserving the living is the priority."
"Yes, Grand Duke."
As soon as Bercheria fell asleep, he carried her and headed to the imperial palace with Muha.
His hands, which had been trembling after imitating the power of the Supreme Being, seemed to have recovered somewhat simply by spending the night with Bercheria.
Because Muha made it difficult to return quietly, he had no choice but to hear Wyatt's situation report.
But that was all for the report.
Lacrahan planned to stay here with Bercheria until they finished preparing to return north with their knights. They would never be apart for even a moment.
Then, a knock came from outside.
"Your Highness, I have something to tell you ."
The voice was unfamiliar.
Lacrahan frowned, but he hurriedly opened the door, worried that Bercheria would wake up.
He could not tolerate waking her from her deep sleep.
"What is it?"
When he opened the door, dozens of council members were standing in front of him.
“What?”
Lacrahan raised his eyebrows nervously, and they all bowed simultaneously.
“Your Highness, I have something to tell you!”
They all shouted in unison, and Lacrahan turned around in surprise.
Bercheria, who had risen from her bed, was rubbing her eyes and looking at him.
“What is it?”
Lacrahan abruptly turned his head, and the ministers flinched and took a step back.
“How dare you...”
Lacrahan, about to lash out, felt Bercheria’s gentle hand on his back.
She poked her head out to his side, looked at the council members, then back at Lacrahan.
"Please, sit on the throne of the Emperor of Periat.”
An unexpected invitation leaked from the council members’ lips.
Instead of answering, Lacrahan frowned.
The imperial throne had never been vacant in the empire's history, so the councilors felt a deeper sense of crisis than ever before.
"So you're asking me to take the throne?"
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Ha."
Lacrahan had moved to the banquet hall with Bercheria.
If not, he would have been huddled against the nearly twenty councilors who had gathered there by now, their foreheads pressed against each other.
This wasn't a metaphor; it was a fact.
The large group had already moved, and the knights of the North had already appeared, forming a line behind the councilors.
In short, the banquet hall was packed.
"What are you doing?"
Lacrahan muttered, running his hand over his face. The ministers seemed oblivious to his words. They could tell at a glance that the average age was over eighty, but they stood before him with stern faces.
"It's only been ten years since the war. There's no telling what will happen if they learn the imperial throne is vacant."
"Your Highness, you know better than anyone that the Kingdom of Contana is targeting our empire at every moment."
"War could break out again!"
Lacrahan sighed and raised his head.
"So what? I have no intention of becoming Emperor. There's no reason for me to."
At the irritated tone, Wyatt, who was nearby, tapped the heel of Lacrahan's shoe as if by mistake.
It was likely a silent threat to refuse and not look at him.
"Grand Duke. The situation is extremely dangerous right now. The Empress we married off to the Kingdom of Contana has been murdered, and Prince Der'Ansis is right here in our Periat."
"That's right. Even one step now would be a precipice."
"It wouldn't be surprising if war broke out at any moment."
"Ha."
Lacrahan sighed and looked at Bercheria.
After all that darkness, they had finally found time alone together, and he didn't like the idea of the ministers wasting that precious time.
He wanted to shout that he didn't want to hear about war or anything else, then hug Bercheria and retreat to his room. Just as that thought crossed his mind, Wyatt, standing behind Lacrahan, lowered his head and whispered.
“Did you think you could wipe out those humans in a minute?”
“...”
“And then you thought I’d run away with Bercheria?”
Did you learn mind-reading?
“Are you reading my mind?”
Wyatt smirked and shrugged.
Lacrahan frowned and turned around, then coughed when he saw Bercheria smiling.
“Grand Duke Lacrahan.”
The council members were all looking at Lacrahan with longing eyes.
“It won’t be much different from ruling the North. It’ll just be a little...”
“A little?”
“It’ll just be bigger, right?”
Lacrahan smiled, as if frowning.
He ruled the North because it was his home.
That’s why he didn’t abandon it, but protected it with all his might.
That was all.
“I’ve never ruled the North.”
When the council members tilted their heads as if to ask what he meant, Lacrahan tilted his head.
“I just found a way to live with my people.”
“My goodness.”
“How could you say such a thing?”
Lacrahan’s answer brought even more desperate longing to the council members’ eyes.
For so long, living with a selfish Emperor, they had been forced to work beyond their quotas.
Even when the imperial finances were in shambles, they had to give money to the Emperor’s government.
With that money, Lyone bought dresses and jewelry to her heart’s content, even while the people starved.
“That’s right, Grand Duke. We need an Emperor like that.”
Lacrahan couldn’t hold it in any longer and whispered in Bercheria’s ear.
“Save me.”
Bercheria burst into laughter.
She stepped forward, seemingly determined, and said,
“Actually, there is someone who can replace the Emperor.”
Bercheria’s voice made the council members’ eyes widen.
“Of course, I will have to teach him many things.”
“Who is that?”
Bercheria suppressed her laughter and looked around at the council members.
“If you look closely at Muha’s dung, you’ll probably find it.”
“And if you say dung...”
Bercheria finally burst out laughing at the bald councilman’s stuttering words.
“Please tell her she’ll suffer from hives for a few days, but it won’t be life-threatening, just tell her that.”
The council members nodded, oblivious to what was happening.
“Is it all resolved now?”
Bercheria stood up and reached out to Lacrahan.
She squeezed his large hand tightly, looking back at the council members and adding,
“So, from now on, I want you to stop interfering with us. Not just you, but anyone else.”
“But...”
“You saw what happened to Emperor Gerard, who tried to interfere with us.”
“Ah.”
This time, no one could argue with her or even question her.
It was a perfect, clean ending.
***
That night.
Bercheria and Lacrahan sat on the terrace in thin gowns, looking up at the sky.
He had Bercheria perched on his lap, and they were wrapped together in a large blanket.
Their temperatures were so close together that they didn't feel the slightest bit cold.
"Have you thought about living the rest of your life as a god?"
Lacrahan paused, seemingly lost in thought, in response to Bercheria's question.
"What was life like, born through the Awakened One?"
Bercheria closed her eyes and pondered Lacrahan's question.
Both had lived as both humans and gods, but neither could say which was better.
"Human life is so short. I've even died in accidents. In a way, I think human life is about not knowing if we'll be separated tomorrow."
"That's why we can feel so many different emotions. Gods live so long that they become numb to all senses."
That's why only provocative thoughts remain.
No relationship flows normally, like a Supreme Being.
"For love, living as a human is the best."
"Perhaps."
Bercheria smiled faintly.
"I don't care what happens."
She tilted her head and leaned against Lacrahan's arm.
His firm, warm body always felt good to the touch.
"I'm not just saying this; I mean it. Even if I were to live as a human, I'd be happy just to have you."
"Me too."
Lacrahan, his face relaxed and free of tension, kissed Bercheria's cheek with a soft, gentle peck.
A fluffy laugh rippled from her.
"Let's think about it a little more slowly."
"Yes."
Lacrahan took a deep breath and hugged Bercheria closer.
It was a perfect day.
The sun was warm, the breeze gentle.
As long as Bercheria, the god of weather, existed here, the people of Periat would never suffer from famine or be disheartened by crop failures.
Crops would grow abundantly, and flowers would bloom, spreading a fragrant scent.
Even if the imperial court was currently in chaos, it would gradually find stability over time.
Even if the councilors washed Kelita, rescued from Muha's dung, and brought her back to her senses, there would be no immediate results...
Still, she would become a symbolic figure of Periat.
The governance of the imperial court would still be the responsibility of the councilors.
"Lacrahan."
"Yes."
Bercheria closed her eyes and whispered softly,
"I love you."
Could there be anything sweeter than a confession heard after so many years, so many eons?
"Me too."
Lacrahan couldn't hold back and showered her back with kisses.
He hugged Bercheria tightly, who curled her back in a ticklish embrace, and spoke the words he'd been holding back for so long.
"I love you too, Bercheria."
Pretty, fluffy snowflakes fell from the sky.
Whether Bercheria and Lacrahan's future lay in human life or in the lives of gods, one thing was certain: they would never be apart again.
Their story was just beginning.
- The End -
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