018(End)
Editor: Fluffthoughts
(Noe’s POV)
The lighting placed on the lectern shines on my face brightly.
When the magic agency discovered and developed a new magic, the conference room used as a place of presentation was not limited to reporters, and people in all sorts of fields were crowded inside.
Towards the atmosphere that’s different from standing on the research lab platform, I took a gulp from the water that has been prepared and took a deep breath again.
After calming my mind, I put my hands on the voice-enhancing magic tool.
[On behalf of the Magic Agency, it is an honor for me to receive this award. There’s just one thing I want everyone to not to forget. That there’s another person who has rendered distinguished service, who was unable to come today.]
To be honest, I don’t understand why I was given an award. He was the one who established the cure for the Dreaming Illness and no one else, I was merely accompanying and assisting him.
However, if I can keep him from getting involved in unnecessary trouble by getting up the stage then it’s fine, I renew my thinking.
When I briefly cut off my speech, I shoot a glance at the lady sitting in the utmost front row.
When she met my gaze, she guiltily looked away. At this moment, I only wish for her to be released from her sorrow.
[And thanks to Lydi (Miwa) Boirmortie, who cooperated in establishing the cure! Without her, the cure wouldn’t have been found. Despite losing a lot of her loved ones, she never stopped moving forward. This achievement is by no means gained by me alone!]
When the trouble that occurred at the high school ended, Bellom-sama immediately headed towards the Boirmortie territory. There, the confirmed truth is full of despair and sadness that the word “tragedy” isn’t enough to express it.
If it was me, in a world where all hope couldn’t be seen, I think I would have given up.
[Once you contract the Dreaming Illness, regretfully, you can’t attain complete recovery. However, the said 100% mortality rate no longer exists! I hereby declare that the Dreaming Illness can now be treated as an ordinary illness that anyone can cope with.]
The applause and cheers arise at the same time, the room is engulfed in enthusiasm.
The reason why the announcement of the illness’ cure caused such a great amount of joy was probably because of the news that the First Prince has contracted the Dreaming Illness.
I wonder if Rafael-kun is visiting his grave about now?
He who was praised as a peerless handsome man and promised to become an exceptional magician decided to relinquish his right to the throne because of what happened in the High School Division.
It was said in the streets that he’s an unfortunate prince, and a lot of plays that made him as the hero have been held a lot.
The person himself laughed through his nose, though.
Once he’s settled down and has time to spare, it may also be good to invite him to watch the play.
Imagining his confident face contort in disgust, I leaked out a laugh.
◆◆◆◆◆◆
(RAFAEL’S POV)
[Are these flowers as an offering enough?]
I expand the magic formula and created flowers made of ice.
Sheryl discovered the negative and positive properties of Mana.
After that disaster, I learned that the use of magic was involved in it as well.
Because the Dreaming Illness patients have constant emission, by adjusting the Mana inside the body, the Mana that’s being discharged will be equal causing them to be able to use magic.
But in my case, although I’ve become able to use magic, because of the huge amount of Mana I originally hold, I miscalculated and the consumption of Mana could not keep up with it.
[I never thought that I will come to depend on a wheelchair.]
Although I gave up as a candidate for the throne, I still have responsibilities as a royalty.
Because I am busy moving around the country, there’s no way I’d be able to deploy large-scale defensive formations anywhere and use high-level magic several times.
With minimum resistance, I adorn the gravestone with ice flowers.
The magic Sheryl devised has now spread widely and is highly valued mainly as in-stage productions.
He seriously left his name in a weird area.
And among those, the fact that there are plays using me as the theme, I don’t even want to think about it.
[Should I increase it?]
I somehow got carried away, and when I noticed a garden of ice flowers has been made around the tombstone.
[No matter how much you look at the same viewpoint, you really won’t understand it unless you’re standing on their shoes.]
I didn’t think that the scenes viewed from the wheelchair to be this low.
I never knew just how many people will gather planning to be acquaintances with the one who is at the number one position for the throne.
Now that I’m free of it, it’s not a position I want to regain.
I could only smile at the way Count Duduvan changed his tune/attitude. It was unexpected that it was also there that Serge first went against his father.
Even now, Serge who has decided to remain serving as my bodyguard is probably keeping watch in the vicinity.
[Me thanking you might be out of the blue. But it’s the truth that your existence had cast a stone on the general knowledge until now.]
That’s why I want you to sleep in peace.
[This medal of honor is from me.]
I put the medal on the tombstone.
The family waiting at the back will come collect it later, but well, even if it’s just for appearance’s sake.
[Samuel, your death was by no means in vain.]
◆◆◆◆◆◆
(SHERYL’S POV)
After we finished visiting Samuel’s grave, it quickly runs through my mind that the press conference for the settlement of the Dreaming Illness’ cure is about to end.
On the cloudless sky, the sun’s blazing light is dazzling.
Feeling the wind, as I take a step forward while listening to the insects’ cries, this world’s existence was being carved strongly in my heart.
The back of the golden head swaying looks cute, inviting laughter.
[But I never imagined I will have Sheryl push my wheelchair.]
[I’m having fun…. More importantly, do you really not have any plans of returning as a throne candidate?]
[A weak King is not needed.]
Rafael talks about what would happen if an existence who at times compete against those who have the same standing as him as well as other foreign countries looks obviously weak.
But the truth is, since his talent as a magician hasn’t lowered at all, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s a threat to other countries.
As I know that sometimes he leads his negotiation partners by the nose by the means of his looks, I thought that if he’s crowned, Rafael will surely handle decidedly official business like nothing.
But politics is probably more than I thought.
Rafael stood up in front of the carriage.
He’s as tall as usual.
Rafael looks back at me and holds out his hand. I naturally put my hand in his.
The wheelchair has been cleared up by Nicole with familiar hands.
[Why am I the one getting escorted?]
[Please be careful, Princess…. ugh]
I lightly kicked Rafael’s shin on purpose.
[I’m sorry, I’m not used to it.]
[Aren’t you becoming a bit violent?]
[Isn’t it because someone is saying unnecessary things?]
I was pulled by his strong hand, and I got into the carriage.
When I tried to sit face to face with him, he held my waist and sat me by his side.
[It’s a lie that Rafael is weak….]
[I just have more strength than you.]
The reality that my height increased but my strength didn’t make me so bitter.
Perhaps it’s because I was bedridden when I was a child, even if I consciously train my body, I can’t put on some muscles.
To still not be able to stand up to Rafael’s strength, it’s something I’m not satisfied with.
[Your hair has considerably grown.]
[It’s because my brother won’t let me cut it.]
The hand that Rafael used to pull me to him is around my shoulders. Most of my hair that now extends up to my chest is now lumped together.
[That’s your fault, too.]
[Even though I tried my best….]
It was the first time Big Brother shouted at me who confronted the dangerous Miwa without any consultations with him.
Remembering his scarily angry voice, I rub my upper arms with myhands.
Although it has been decided that I can’t cut my hair until he allows it, I wonder what kind of obsession does my brother have towards long hair….
[Even I was worried senseless. I was on the verge of beating Serge and the rest up.]
I was able to meet with Serge and Camille who stopped Rafael forcefully as I requested after the condition of my body stabilized, but a bruise is still visible on his face at that point of time.
Rafael’s anger still didn’t calm down even after I returned, and he didn’t allow me to perform the treatment.
[Seriously, doing something so dangerous…. What did you plan to do if your hypothesis was wrong?]
[At that time, I would have gone to treat you even if I have to crawl. I don’t have any plans on dying in the first place, everyone’s just thinking too negatively.]
Since the result of the hypothesis is correct, Bellom-sensei who heard the treatment method from Nicole urgently got in contact with the magicians and healers.
An improvement is also made on the suction technique, slightly improving it efficiency.
[What is the person who couldn’t get out of bed for a while saying?]
[During those days, I was after all still unsure whether using the normal healing technique was alright.]
As it is good to pour Mana into the subject, it’s impossible to conduct an experiment without verifying whether there are no problems with using the healing technique to cure any injuries caused by the Mana’s activity after the Mana’s balance has collapsed.
As I confronted Miwa, my Dreaming Illness flared-up again, and since I couldn’t use magic in that situation, I was suffering from the pain for some time.
Nevertheless since I stocked up some Mana and was able to use magic during that event, the Dreaming Illness’ symptoms calmed down relatively quickly.
[It’s the same with the hand mirror. I wonder if there was no evidence of there having a visualization of the Mana’s property.]
[That was bad luck. It couldn’t be helped if it fails but if my hypothesis was right, I thought that it would be enough suck out the Mana of the Dreaming Illness patients.]
Rafael sighed towards the me who was talking about a human experiment of some kind.
[Even though you’re usually an idealist, why do you become cruel when it comes to human experiments?]
[Even I am willing to take the initiative to make myself the test subject if there’s a possibility of success, you know? It’s just that, well….. it might just be that the day to day research’s backlash is that it’s affecting my thoughts.]
According to Bellom-sensei, I am a researcher through and through and my restraint disappears when it comes to research.
What’s the scary part about experimentations is that it gets more fun the more I do it.
I just went there with Rafael and did roadwork to examine the mana properties of each plot of land.
Other than showing the Karma value, the hand mirror has a function to display an individual’s status, so it was designated as a national treasure and is forbidden to use except for the King.
The hand mirror’s mechanism on how it shows the holder’s status is unknown, thus a lot of researchers use it as their research subject.
I wonder if it’s because today’s the day the treatment is being established, the events of that day naturally flows into my mind.
[I’m really glad they didn’t go so far as to execute Miwa.]
[It’s because it was an uncontrollable event. There were some who voiced their doubts, but it’s undeniable that the treatment wouldn’t have been secured without her. Fortunately, both you and I are alive like this. Later, she was regretful more than anyone else which also played a huge part in her taking the healer’s path wholeheartedly. There was a room for taking the extenuating circumstances into consideration. Although she was deprived of her rank, there shouldn’t be anyone who will blame her.]
Apparently, Earl Boirmortie persistently wanted to secure Miwa as his trump card. Although because the statement came from the man himself, its credibility is unknown.
It seems that after Miwa’s family and neighbourhood acquaintances’ deaths, the Earl thought he can make Miwa’s Mana spontaneously discharge if he shakes her up mentally, making his political opponents acquire the Dreaming Illness.
He said that although it was risky, there weren’t any incidents back at the Training Center so he let his guard down.
He never intended to hurt the prince.
However, as it turned out that my attack on the carriage was planned by the Earl which resulted to Rafael suffering from the Dreaming Illness, the Boimortie Family was sentenced to death except for Miwa.
My chest hurts when I think of Miwa who lost her family twice.
But this was this country’s law.
Just as I was about to think about the laws from my previous life, Rafael asks me while looking into my eyes.
[Can you still remember the memories from your previous life?]
[It’s getting dimmer as years pass, though.]
It’s just the same as the everyday life, the memories that are not always being remembered gradually fades away.
[For this world to be a game on your previous life, it’s a hard thing to believe…. Isn’t your bilateral character from there as well?]
[Is it? I’m proud to say that I was born with this personality, though.]
Aside from having memories, I might be affected somewhat.
When I talked to Bellom-sensei about Miwa, I was informed that there are a few precedents who had memories from their previous lives.
Although, it’s the first time to have people like the both of us who retained our memories from a completely different world, and it was said that most people will forget them after going through early childhood.
Rafael caresses my cheek.
It looks like it has become Rafael’s habit to caress any part of my body.
Thanks to the royalty-exclusive carriage, I feel that my eyelids gradually become heavier because there is no shaking and the temperature is also comfortable.
Should we sleep for a bit? There’s still time before we arrive at the castle.]
Tonight we will have a dinner party with only a few close friends and with Noe who did the press conference.
Remembering that I will be meeting with old faces after a long time, my face smile broadly.
Just like that, the both of us leaned on each other as we close our eyes.
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