Chapter 1068 - The Soft-Hearted King
"...A soft..." "...ie?"
Nia and Sora whispered, one after the other. Kendy-dono gave them a vague smile as they tilted their heads at his mutter.
"The [千理眼 (Senrigan)]... It was one of Emperor Revenant's most unique powers. He... he possessed the ability to accurately foresee the end of a battle from its very board."
As if to cover up the monologue he'd accidentally let slip, he smoothly shifted the conversation toward the explanation for our confusion.
"And with that ability, he would forfeit any losing battle before it even began. ...However, that never happened when he was acting alone... or when he was challenging someone. The losing battles Revenant would abandon were always..."
Kendy-dono looked at 'him' with an expression we couldn't describe... if it wasn't just my imagination, it was far deeper than anything he'd shown in the East, West, or North.
"Those where many of his subjects and friends would be hurt. He's a man ill-suited for the name of a King."
He concluded his words as he watched the man.
In short, that was it. Using those eyes called Senrigan, he'd read the battle against us and foreseen the conclusion... likely a losing battle. Knowing that, and refusing to let his comrades be hurt pointlessly, he'd withdrawn them before the fight could even start.
In other words...
"...He seems like a good person..."
"...He's a king who really cares about his people..."
He was too kind-hearted a man for the name of a King. Hey, stop that. It really hits home when you think about him being a person from the distant past. Men are inherently weak to this kind of chivalry. Don't make me cry across time...
...
The situation moved. Emperor Revenant, having settled things before the 'Trial' could even begin, took a dignified step forward, whether he knew what was being said about him or not.
As he did, the 'black' that had been hiding his features cleared, and I let out a single remark.
"...Haha, we don't look alike at all."
While our builds and silhouettes were indeed similar, once the black paint was gone and his details were revealed, there wasn't even a shred of resemblance. He was the very definition of handsome.
His hair was a scarlet color that suggested the calmness of a sunset rather than the intensity of a fire. In contrast, his deep blue-black eyes looked like they reflected the bottom of a boundless sea.
His face was fresh and youthful, yet it lacked any childishness. He was the embodiment of '精悍 (Seikan)'... the kind of adult face that I could never have, no matter how hard I tried. He was a peerlessly handsome man who truly looked the part of a King among the Primeval Four... and then.
...
"..."
He walked leisurely and stood before a single person. And then...
...
He must have recognized her as the previous owner... no, the current owner. Ashe looked confused as the Emperor stopped right in front of her, and with a rare, hesitant gesture from the Sword Queen herself...
...
The Princess's hand received the 'blade' from the King's hand... and at that moment.
"...Ah..."
"Eh, um..."
"No, he doesn't look like..."
The moment that statue-like 'Seikan' face dissolved into a mischievous, innocent, child-like smile, the three girls all whispered something... and at the same time, his body began to scatter into light, just like the three before him.
And just as it always had...
"Revenant."
A voice was thrown toward him, as if seeking a farewell that had been withheld until now.
The blue-black eyes shifted their gaze to mirror the knightly figure of his comrade. Both of them wore faces that let their surface emotions show, but hid their depths. They exchanged looks, and...
...
The last thing the King whispered was a voiceless murmur. Having left behind one smile and a single silence, Emperor Revenant vanished. Kendy-dono let out a long, thin breath, then smiled slightly and closed his eyes.
"...Sleep well."
He offered his greeting in a gentle voice.
*
- A scene from the distant past -
"Yo, Revenant-ko. I figured you'd be bored, so I... came... to see you?"
"..."
"Whoa, why the long face? Let me guess, Alistia rejected you again?"
"I'll kill you."
"Whoa, whoa, what's with that language for a King? You can't let your subjects hear that."
"Tch... I don't want to hear that from you, you delinquent knight commander. I've had to hear complaints dozens of times about how the guys in the knight order are mimicking your foul mouth."
"That's their fault for mimicking me. Besides, I was just set up as the knight commander. I'm different from someone like you who chose to become 'King' and take on the position and responsibility."
"God, you're annoying."
"I told you, your language is foul, Your Majesty. I don't care about me, but you should really think about your dignity."
"Shut up, idiot."
"You should really do something about that vocabulary. Why don't you become an apprentice to that stubborn monk?"
"Hah, I'd rather die."
"I'm giving you some seriously good advice here..."
"Hah!"
"Ugh, you're getting on my nerves. You really are just a kid..."
"Ah, seriously, everyone's always...! Nosy and meddling...!"
"Oh? ...Wait, I see. Did that stubborn monk just finish giving you a lecture?"
"Serious advice, huh? Fine then, show me an example!"
"Whoa, this guy..."
"Try talking with perfect dignity! If you do, I'll follow your lead!"
"Whoa, seriously? You're doing this?"
"What? Oh, you're serious?"
"I told you I was serious. I don't care about my own appearance, but I don't mind taking care of a little brother figure."
"Who are you calling a little brother? I'll deck you."
"Scary. ...Then, listen well."
"Huh? Oh, seriously? You're doing it?"
"I said I'm serious. I'm being held responsible by the civil officials who keep saying, 'Please do something about Revenant-sama's language, it's because of your influence as his childhood friend.'"
"Wait, who the hell's being influenced by you?!"
"Ah, shut up, shut up. I'll show you how it's done, you idiot."
"The moment you said that, the contest for who's the bigger idiot was already over."
"Ahem..."
"..."
"I am Kendy!!!"
"?!"
"The first knight of the glorious Emperor Revenant!!!"
"Pfft, hahah!!! You, you, stop... pfft, cough...!"
"My noble King! I beg of you to heed this knight's advice to protect your dignity and glory! Given your wisdom, it should be a simple matter! So, please!!! Please!!! Please..."
"Stop it, you idiot! It's a mess from beginning to end!"
"My King!!!"
"I said shut up! Stop forcing it, Bo-Kendy!"
"I refuse, my Lord! I'm going to keep this up until your foul mouth is corrected!"
"You're already failing! A knight doesn't call his King 'you'!!!"
"I'm going to keep calling you 'you' until your foul mouth is corrected!!!"
"That's not what needs correcting!!!"
*
It's kind of sad.
Only two hours left. Happy New Year.