Published at 17th of August 2019 8:11 am

Volume 8.5, Chapter 6: The Golden Sea and Silvery White Snow

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Part 1

Alaia was crowned as empress and her coronation ceremony was held on a winter day, a few days after the new year.

With Maxfern and Grevanas thrown out of the universe, the coup d'état naturally came to an end.

It was originally an incident that Maxfern and Grevanas had created behind the scenes, and with the incident cleared up, there was no longer anyone that would stand up against the royal family. The coup d'état army surrendered, and Alaia and the others finally returned to the imperial palace.

The month after that was incredibly busy. The collapsed political system had to be restored and the national forces had to recover after the civil war in order to keep the neighboring countries from getting any funny ideas. Though the coup d'état had ended, Forthorthe was still just a single country right now, so there were a ton of things that had to be done. Through the help of others, Alaia cleared task after task.

About a month after the end of the war, the country was starting to revive. By then, most of the disorder had stabilized, and the industries ravaged by the war were beginning to recover. Seeing her chance, Alaia announced her grand coronation ceremony to the citizens in order to give them hope. As a result, the entirety of Forthorthe was celebrating the hardest they had since the foundation of the country.

“...The scars created by the war still haven't healed. After a month, the country is finally starting to revive. However, I am not being pessimistic. I was only able to return here thanks to everyone’s help. So there is no way that the scars of this country can't be healed with everyone's cooperation. That is what I firmly believe.”

Alaia was giving a speech. A large crowd had gathered in the imperial palace's courtyard to witness her coronation ceremony. On her head was a beautiful crown made out of platinum and decorated with jewels. That was the proof of being the empress of Forthorthe.

Today, Alaia was becoming empress. Today, the Holy Forthorthe Empire's gears of history turned once more. The gears would continue to turn, and 1,000 years from now, the Forthorthe would reach the space age, and become a galactic empire. And in another 1,000 years, a lone girl would depart from here to the outskirts of space in a blue battleship. This day was the first step towards that. And at the same time, an ending was approaching.

Alaia stepped off the platform after finishing her speech and let out a small sigh.

“Phew...”

After her sigh, she took several deep breaths. With Alaia's weak constitution, the day of the coronation had a really tough schedule for her.

“Good work, your highness.”

As Alaia was breathing, Fauna came up to her. Fauna put her hand on her chest and her painful expression gradually loosened up.

“Fauna, I'm really glad you are here.”

“Please take care of your body. Your highness, no, your majesty, your body is no longer just yours.”

“Thank you, Fauna. Please continue helping me from now on too.”

As payment for awakening Signaltin, Alaia's health had degraded. Because of that, Fauna would use spiritual energy from time to time to heal her. This was a secret between just the two of them; not even her own sister, Charl, had been told of it.

“Sister!”

And that Charl was now running towards Alaia, with Mary right behind her.

“You can't, your highness, go slower! Your outfit will come off!”

“It's fine! You're such a worry wart, Mary.”

Like Alaia, Charl was wearing a formal dress for the ceremony. However, she didn't care about that as she cheerfully ran. Meanwhile, Mary was worried that the dress would tear or come off.

“Sister!”

Charl threw herself at Alaia. Since she had entered her growth spurt, Charl had grown quite considerably in a short while. As a result, Alaia staggered when she caught Charl. However, since Flair casually supported Alaia, she didn't end up falling.

“Thank you, Flair.”

“Not at all, your majesty. This is my job after all.”

Flair showed a calm and gentle smile to Alaia and Charl.

She had lately become more feminine; this was most likely thanks to the war ending. Since she had the strongest sense of responsibility, she had stayed alert ever since the day the coup d'état began. With that now over, her original personality was now starting to show.

“So, why were you in such a rush, Charl?”

“Blue Knight isn't here! Sister, did you see him?”

Charl was in such a hurry because she was looking for Koutarou. Having gotten bored after the ceremony, Charl decided to go play with Koutarou. However, he was nowhere to be found, and so she had decided to ask Alaia if she knew where he might be.

“Lidith, what job was Reios-sama given?”

“Lord Bertorion hasn't been given a job today.”

Lidith shook her head when Alaia asked her. She was wearing a long robe that showed that she was a bureaucrat. Lidith was serving as Alaia's court lady. In modern terms, she was something like a secretary. And she was looking to become a minister, just like her uncle had once been. Her uncle had walked down the wrong path, but she sought to correct that.

“That's strange, he was here just a little while ago...”

Alaia could remember seeing Koutarou when the head priest put the crown on her head. She secretly wanted Koutarou to see her with the crown on, so there's no mistaking it.

“Hmm... Do you know, Caris?”

Charl asked Caris. She and Charl got along almost as good as Charl and Koutarou. So she was someone easy to talk to.

“I didn't see him in the dining room.”

Caris shook her head as she was chewing on some bread in her hand.

She was now one of few remaining magicians in Forthorthe. The court magicians had vanished alongside Grevanas. As a result, only the magicians out on missions remained. Caris was currently acting as their leader; she had now become the head of the court magicians.

Alaia's policies had made it so that no new magicians were recruited. She had decided to reduce the number of magicians after Grevanas's violence. She was aiming to create a country that didn't rely on special powers or special people. So the court magicians would eventually disappear. However, Caris felt that was for the best. To her, magic not being needed was a proof of peace. Caris wanted her life of eating something delicious everyday to continue. For that to happen, a long-term peace was necessary.

“Hmm... Blue Knight, where did he go... does he really not want to let me ride a horse again...”

Where.

When Alaia heard Charl say that word, she instinctively remembered something.

“From an endless time and a countless distance.”

The next moment, Alaia started running.

“Sister!?”

Charl immediately chased after Alaia. She knew that Koutarou would be where Alaia was running.

“Koutarou-sama!!”

It wasn't logic, it was just a hunch. But she had to go, because if she didn't, she felt like she would never see him again. And so she began running. She entrusted her body to the strong feelings inside of her and moved her legs as fast as she could. She had long forgotten about the coronation ceremony.

Meanwhile, Koutarou was on a small hill in the suburbs of Fornorn. Together with him was Clan, and a crimson dragon over 20 meters long.

“I see, so you two are heading home too.”

“Yes. We've already seen all the sights in this country.”

The fire dragon emperor, Alunaya was welcome into Forthorthe as a state guest.

Alunaya had been under Grevanas's spell and forced to fight. That was what the blue crystal had been for. And Alunaya had been set free from Grevanas's control once Koutarou had destroyed it. That's why it had saved everyone with its last flame breath. Alunaya wasn't a hostile dragon, but a peaceful one.

Having learned the truth, Alaia was deeply grateful and invited Alunaya in as a state guest. Fresh food and alcohol was brought in daily. Even bands and theatrical companies would come and perform. That was Alaia's way of thanking Alunaya, and at the same time apologizing for what Maxfern and Grevanas had done to it. Alunaya accepted Alaia's apology and became a friend of Forthorthe.

However, after the coronation ceremony, Alunaya had decided to leave. Humans and dragons had their own lifestyles. Alunaya had things to do, so it couldn't remain here forever.

“Where will you go now, Alunaya-san?”

“To a new home. This world has grown colder, and it has become much harder for us to live here. That's why we have decided to travel to another world. The others are awaiting my return.”

“A different world... I see, so that's why.”

That had been the reason for why dragons had gradually vanished from Forthorthe. They hadn't died out, instead they had moved to a more comfortable world. The only dragons that remained were those with a low intellect, those who refused to listen and those who were against moving.

That was a shocking truth, but Koutarou and Clan both knew how powerful Alunaya was. And they too had come from a different world, so the two of them could easily accept what Alunaya had said.

“Where will you two go?”

“We'll go back to the future.”

“The future!? Fuhaha, no wonder you had such a strange smell. I see, I see, so this is the smell of the future.”

The same held true both ways, Alunaya was also able to easily accept that Koutarou and Clan had come from the future. They were all foreign to this world, so they were connected by circumstance.

“But still. If you aren't from this age then... I'll have to thank you as well.”

Alunaya believed its gratitude towards the people of Forthorthe had been destroying the bottle containing the virus. However, that wouldn't apply to Koutarou who wasn't from this world. So since Alunaya had a strong sense of obligation, it felt that it needed to thank him in some way.

“There's no need for thanks. If Forthorthe hadn't been saved, we would not have been able to return to our own world.”

“Kukuku... Then think of it as a proof of friendship.”

Alunaya laughed in a silent voice, and its eyes began shining green.

Then, a crest of a dragon's head was carved on the back of Koutarou's hand. However, he couldn't feel any pain. It was a special crest that Alunaya had carved using magic. If anything, it was similar to the crest on Alaia's forehead.

“This is...”

“This crest is connected to me. If you ever require my assistance, then speak your wish towards this crest. I will certainly appear, no matter how far apart we may be or how much time may have passed.”

“You really don't have to do this.”

“That's true. But in that case, just call me out to play before you die.”

“Would calling you out for such a reason be okay?”

“Like I told you, that's the proof of our friendship. Kukuku... now then!”

Alunaya spread its giant wings as it laughed and lightly flapped them a couple of times. That alone was enough to create a powerful wind that shook Koutarou's and Clan's hair.

“I believe it's time for me to leave. It's been fun, Blue Knight.”

“Likewise. Take care, fire dragon emperor Alunaya.”

“Attendant, you stay healthy too.”

“You've got it the wrong way around, Bertorion is the attendant.”

“Kukuku, you've been a funny lot ‘til the end.”

Alunaya flapped its large wings and flew up into the sky in an instant. The setting sun shone its light on the dragon's crimson body, and the red light made it look like the entire dragon's body was on fire. Alunaya continued flying and vanished past the horizon without looking back once. Alunaya lived up to its name and showed a powerful and dignified appearance as it left.

“...I guess it's time for us to go too, Clan.”

“Yes. We've stayed for quite long enough.”

Once they could no longer see Alunaya, Koutarou and Clan headed towards Clan's spaceship, the Cradle, that had been summoned to the hill.

“Still, in the end, the real Blue Knight never appeared...”

“However, history has been more or less corrected. With this we should be able to return to our own time and place.

“I hope so...”

Koutarou and Clan walked, shoulder to shoulder, their steps were far from swift. At first they had just wanted to escape from this age, but now they felt an attachment to it. And that feeling slowed them down. They just wanted to see the scenery of this age for a moment longer, to feel the wind blowing for another second.

“By the way, how are we going to get home? I heard you had found a clue.”

“Right now, the Cradle won't be able to fly into space. So I figured that we could use the ship as a literal cradle and sleep until the parts necessary to repair the ship have been produced.”

“Even if we sleep, we'll just die before that. Those parts won't be produced for another 2,000 years, right?”

“It's fine. By freezing the time inside the Cradle, time will be stopped for us, but continue around us. Of course, I'll need to do some adjustments first.”

“...I don't really get it, so I'll leave it to you.”

“Yes, yes. I'm always the one who has to do all the work...”

When they had first arrived in this age, they had been trying to kill each other. However, now it was like they had been friends for years. Their relationship had greatly changed since they came here. That's just how much time had passed.

And that wasn't just for the two of them. They had developed bonds with the people of this age. That's why they felt lonely. They slowed down even more. The two of them loved the people of this age.

“By the way... was it alright not to say your farewells to Alaia-san and the others?”

“Yeah. If I did that, my decision would waver.”

“I understand how you feel. I'm sure I'd just delay the date to return by a few days at a time, and end up never leaving...”

“So you have a delicate and cute side to you too.”

“W-What's that supposed to mean!? Haaa... Geez...”

The time to leave had finally come. It was the moment the two should have been dying waiting for.

However, leaving behind the bonds they had formed was a truly sad event for the two.

Part 2

For the two of them to be able to sleep for 2,000 years, they'd need to use a place that wouldn't be disturbed for 2,000 years. There weren't many such places. Fortunately, Clan had a clue of where to find one.

Alaia had first gathered troops in the vicinity of a small fort in the Pardomshiha territory. And 2,000 years later that place would be known as 'Bertorion's special territory' and was very heavily guarded. After the war, Alaia had given that territory to the Blue Knight, and it was designated as a special territory that not even the royal families could touch.

In that area, Koutarou and Clan would be able to sleep undisturbed for 2,000 years. Neither investigations or excavations would be held there. Though there had been talks about examining parts of the area on the 2,000 year anniversary of Alaia's crowning, but in the end, nothing was done.

Koutarou and Clan were now going to head to that special territory in the Cradle. Though it couldn't fly in space, some emergency repairs to let it fly through the sky had been made. They should be able to reach the special territory before the sun fully set.

“Bertorion, come up to the cockpit after you've taken your armor off.”

“I understand. I'll be there as soon as I'm done.”

After Koutarou had entered the Cradle, he had separated from Clan, who headed towards the cockpit, and had gone to the hangar. His job as the replacement Blue Knight had ended, and he no longer needed to wear the armor. So he was planning on removing it and getting lighter.

After entering the hangar, Koutarou walked to the area used for space suit maintenance. The devices there began automatically moving, and after determining what kind of armor Koutarou was wearing, it reached it with its arms and fixed it to a maintenance booth. After that, the armor opened up and Koutarou stepped out from inside.

“How convenient.”

After getting out of his armor, Koutarou turned back towards the maintenance booth. There was a lot of damage on the blue armor. Dents, scratch marks, burn marks and more. Every one of those wounds reminded him of fierce fights.

“You did well... thank you for your hard work.”

Koutarou mumbled to himself and lightly tapped the chest plate in appreciation.

Having spent this half year wearing this armor for most of the time, Koutarou had gotten attached to the it.

“I am honored, my lord.”

“Really, you're very well made.”

Koutarou smiled as the armor replied and he then removed the wooden insignia rank on its chest and the two swords on the waist. Those three items were something he didn't want to leave behind in the hangar.

“Alright.”

Koutarou put the insignia and the two swords back on himself and headed towards the hangar exit. At the time, he could feel the floor rumbling and at the same time he heard a loud noise.

“So we've set off...”

That was the vibration of the Cradle floating from the ground. After a while, the shaking stopped and the noise died down in the hangar. After lifting up a bit from the ground, the spaceship didn't shake at all. Now all that was left was to quietly fly all the way to 'Bertorion's special territory'.

However, as he was about to leave the hangar, another loud sound rang out. That was the call sound for the panel right next to the entrance, and the next moment Clan showed up on the panel.

“Bertorion. The farewell party has arrived.”

As Clan said that, a hatch on the stern side of the hangar slowly opened.

“...Farewell party?”

The first thing Koutarou saw through the opening hatch was snow that had started to fall. Next he saw a meadow with the wind blowing through it, being lit up by the setting sun.

And when the hatch had fully opened, he saw a silvery and golden glow.

“Koutarou-sama!!”

“Blue Knight.”

That was Alaia and Charl, still wearing their formal dresses from the coronation ceremony. The wind blowing through the meadow shook their hair, and the setting sun made it shine. The Cradle had already reached quite a high altitude, but Koutarou would never mistake the two, as he would never forget them.

“Empress Alaia! Princess Charl!”

Koutarou held on to the handrail by the hatch and shouted at the two below him. As he did, their expressions brightened up and they waved their hands.

I see... so they came to see me off...

Koutarou was overwhelmed and no more words could leave his mouth. He just continued looking straight at the two who were waving at him. However as he looked at them, his vision was blurred as eyes began filling with tears. He wiped his tears away so he could properly see, but his vision was quickly blurred. Koutarou gave up on wiping away his tears and instead raised his voice.

“Goodbye! Empress Alaia! Princess Charl!”

Why couldn't he come up with better words to say? Koutarou was frustrated with his own stupidity. All he could say were simple farewells. But in reality, he had a lot of gratitude, friendship, and loneliness he wanted to convey to the two.

“Don't cry, Blue Knight!! You're a man, aren't you!!”

However, Koutarou's feelings were properly conveyed to the two. They wiped their tears away and they ardently watched as Koutarou was moving further and further away.

“Blue Knight!! Play with me if we meet again!! Stay well!!”

Charl had been in tears when she understood that Koutarou was going home. However, now she was desperately making a smiling and seeing him off. An unbearable amount of tears streamed down her cheek, but Charl didn't care about that. She continued moving her small arms and waved at Koutarou. For each time she waved her arms, the tears scattered off her cheeks shone like beautiful jewels.

“Koutarou-samaaaa!!”

Next was Alaia's turn. She spread her arms out and reached towards Koutarou, it was as if she was trying to embrace him as he was gradually moving further away. As she did that, she opened her mouth in an attempt to make her last words reach Koutarou.

At that moment, the Cradle's boosters activated, and a loud roaring sound occurred as the engines created a large amount of thrust.

“.........,.........,.........”

Because of that, Alaia's words were unable to reach Koutarou. However, even if her voice couldn't reach him, he knew that they were words of farewell.

“.........,.........,.........”

Alaia continued moving her mouth, with large tears flowing out of her eyes, and she reached her arms out towards Koutarou. Her earnest feelings most definitely reached him.

Just how grateful she was towards Koutarou.

Just how sad she was that the day of their parting had finally come.

“Empress Alaia... Princess Charl...”

That's why Koutarou desperately waved his arms towards the two who were getting smaller for each passing moment. That was the only way for his feelings to reach them now.

The rocket created a strong wind that blew over the meadow, and with the setting evening sun shining on it, it was like the meadow had turned into a golden sea. And then the silvery white snow began to properly fall. The contrast of gold and silver was a beautiful and fantastic spectacle.

Alaia and Charl stood there, constantly waving their hands as their hair fluttered in the wind. Neither words nor expression would reach Koutarou now. Waving their hands was now the last thing they could do.

While looking down at the two from the hatch, Koutarou was also waving his hand. Even after he could no longer distinguish them from the rest of the scenery, he continued, and continued waving his hand.

The bonds that had formed over these months would not be easily severed. Since he knew that their feelings were connected, since he knew that the girls were even now waving their hands, Koutarou continued waving his hand.

In front of him he saw a golden sea and silvery white snow.

And so, being held in a gentle, warm light, the legend of the Blue Knight ended.

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