7DP 192.2

BGM: Tojima Want to be a Kamen Rider(Really recommend the anime!)

１９２: The morning sun rises again, painting the world in its gentle light

TL : Cnine

ED/PF :

R1: [1-2], R2[3-4]

Part 3

　The dwarves shouted in excitement as they slowly retreated.

「Ha ha ha ha, so he was somesort of celebrity after all.」

　Jilbagias chuckled lightly.

「But wasn’t his craft supposed to be armour!?」

「That sword, it must be someone else’s work, right!?」

「OI, WHO FORGED THAT SWORD!?」

「Blast it, if that’s Ficelle’s craftsmanship, I’ve got to see more!」

「Come over here! Let me see it properly!」

「More like, what are you waiting for? Come at me!!」

　Amid the dwarves’ boisterous laughter, Jilbagias waved cheerfully at them as they retreated.

「...You’re not going to pursue them?」

　Veteranos asked, having appeared beside him at some point.

「…Best not to say it too loudly,」

　Jilbagias murmured as he ran a hand over the gleaming silver scales of his armour.

「To obtain this scalemail, I swore an oath to that dwarven smith. So long as I wear it, I’m bound not to lay a hand on any dwarf.」

「Ahh, I see. That explains it.」

　Veteranos nodded in quiet understanding at Jilbagias’ calm explanation.

「Besides… There’s no need to chase them. The hunt isn’t over yet.」

　Jilbagias’s grin widened as he turned his gaze toward the towering royal castle,

　and the great, radiant tree shining beside it.

　　　　　　　　　　†††

「…They’ve gone.」

　At the top of the royal castle, on the observation deck of the main tower,

　King Ossimayer XIII, who had just seen the retreating forces leave, gently ran his fingers over the belt at his waist and murmured with quiet sorrow.

　Gathered around him were aged veterans—former Royal Guards and senior statesmen. All bore wounds of varying severity; the only one uninjured was King Ossimayer XIII himself.

「We owe the Dwarven Warrior Corps more than we could ever repay,」

「We must prepare decorations for them at once,」

　One minister answered the king with grave formality, drawing faint smiles from the weary faces around them.

　They had barricaded themselves inside the main tower. The doors below were sealed by the minister’s magic, guarded by soldiers still standing firm.

　But no one knew how long the defence could truly last…

「…Now then, my friends. The time has come to open this.」

　Ossimayer XIII took out a bottle of wine from a small chest at his feet, holding it with quiet reverence.

「Ohh! So that’s His Majesty’s treasured bottle!」

　The retainers stirred with excitement.

「Indeed, it's a thirty-five-year-old 『Aerlien Beame』...」

　Aerlien Beame— a famed spirit brewed from barley in the western grain fields of the kingdom.

　As the former king raised the bottle with fond remembrance, the retainers fell silent.

　Thirty-five years old――

　Those who had served him longest recognised it immediately. It was from the very year Ossimayer XIII ascended the throne.

「To think you’ve kept it safe all this time, Your Majesty. Were it mine, I’d never have had the patience—I’d have opened it long ago!」

「Indeed! Leaving an Aerlien Beame of that calibre untouched for so long… that’s true restraint!」

　Acting as though they hadn’t noticed the sentiment behind it, the retainers laughed warmly.

「We can hardly wait to taste its splendour, Your Majesty!」

「Come, let us make the toast quickly!」

　—— Below them, the sounds of chaos echoed; the Demon King’s army was drawing near.

「Now, now… No need to rush me.」

　Cradling the bottle in his arms, Ossimayer XIII tapped the sealed cap and, using the last of his remaining magic, murmured a spell.

　The seal loosened with a soft rustle.

「Now then, everyone, take up your cups.」

　Ossimayer XIII walked along the line, personally pouring the clear liquor into each minister’s glass.

「You as well. No need for restraint.」

　He offered drinks to the former Royal Guards as well.

「What an… honour, Your Majesty.」

　The former knights grinned. Those without cups had their helmets filled to the brim.

　Finally, Ossimayer XIII poured the last drop into his own glass.

「…I am honoured to have shared this moment with you. My thanks.」

　—— They were all smiling.

　The retainers and Ossimayer XIII himself.

　Even those pale from injury, even those holding back tears—every one of them smiled.

「For Defteros Kingdom.」

　A minister raised his glass.

「ALL HAIL HIS MAJESTY!」

　The Royal Guards joined in, raising their glasses.

「To my irreplaceable retainers.」

　Ossimayer XIII added his own toast.

　Ah… the sunrise rising at the far horizon,

　its light glimmered across their glasses.

「And now… To the young ones, and to the future of humanity, cheers!」

　“Cheers!!” they answered together.

「May Ossimayer XIV and the people of the Kingdom of Deuteros be blessed…!」

　And they drained their cups.

　A wonderfully fragrant wine—

　the finest they had ever tasted, and the last.

　Sunlight shimmered in their glasses — a final glimmer of hope —

　as though they refused to let it fade.

　　　　　　　　　　†††

　――On that day, the black banner of the Demon Kingdom rose over the royal castle of Evaloti.

　The royal capital fell at unprecedented speed—

　just two days after the raid began.

　King Ossimayer XIII and the senior officials barricaded themselves in the main tower

　and then took their own lives.

　Thus, the proud history of the Kingdom of Defteros came to an end.

　…Yet the royal sword signifying the rightful successor escaped to the eastern regions together with Ossimayer XIV and the surviving forces.

　The heirs of the noble families, as well as most of the children remaining in the capital, also succeeded in fleeing.

　The Royal Guard’s strength still remained.

　Hope still lived.

　But that hope also marked the beginning of a long and difficult path—

　the road ahead for the Defteros Kingdom’s government-in-exile, led by Ossimayer XIV—