Epilogue
Part 1
---[Underwood] Ceremony for [Floor Master]’s assumption to office.
On the last night of the Harvest festival, the whole plaza was an atmosphere of seriousness as the banquet that had continued for days on end was also paused for the event that was taking place at the top of the Great Tree.
The Protector of the South, Sala Doltrake had been appointed as the next [Floor Master] and was receiving the [Horn of Draco Greif].
Watching the ceremony from the plaza of the Underground City, Izayoi and the others were drinking Spotted Pear Juice while reminiscing about the days they had in the Harvest Festival.
“With this, the [Draco Greif] Alliance would be much more peaceful.”
“Yes~Griffith have also left after the game and there aren’t any more dissent that can be heard from the Alliance.”
Kuro Usagi replied to Izayoi’s comment. Griffith had left his Community after the confirmation that Sala was to be assuming office for the position of [Floor Master]. Though it wasn’t known whether it was a stand-offish act or a simple acceptance of defeat, it was still a battle that he had gambled on for the position of [Floor Master] which had the condition of making the loser abandon their leadership post. Hence it wasn’t that surprising for the other members of [Two Wings] to accept the reality as well.
Asuka and Yō who were drinking Spotted Pear juice beside Izayoi had also seemed to have the burden lifted off their shoulders as a relaxed smile appeared on their faces.
“Sala shouldn’t have any problem now that she has the [DracoGriff Horn] to replace her broken one right?”
“That horn was the dragon horn of Draco Greif and hence there was only one horn. I heard that Shiroyasha will also present other Gifts for her assumption to office, so there’s no need to worry.”
“I see…”Asuka said.
Not long after, a violent gust of hot air eddied around the top of the Great Tree and was gradually spreading outwards.
The hot winds tore through the Underground city below and dispersed the creeping chills of the cold night air. Seeming to realize that this was the moment that the new [Floor Master] had assumed office, the city was filled with the light melodious clinking of glasses as they made a toast to it.
Kuro Usagi gazed at the Underwood around her while muttering her heartfelt blessings and envy.
“…Sala-sama, thank you for your hard work. Kuro Usagi and her comrades will also work hard and not lose out to you.”
Carrying the fate of the Community, contributing to the revival of the City and having her accomplishments acknowledged.
From Kuro Usagi’s perspective, these were not unrelated to herself. Having supported and held on to the [No Name] Community when it was destroyed, this example of a revival was definitely a heartening achievement.
[ [No Name] will someday…be able to proudly fly our flag above our Community…..Canaria-sama!]
Someday they would retrieve their stolen flag, name and meet up with their former comrades.
Kuro Usagi held that dream in her heart as she looked up at the flag hanging on the Great Tree.
Choosing this moment, Lily and the Senior group of children, who were waiting nearby for an opportunity, ran over to her.
“Kuro Usagi Onee-san……”
“……Lily? Is something the matter?”
Kuro Usagi tilted her head as she observed Lily who was acting suspiciously.
Lily’s fox ears were red as she passed the little bag she had hugged just moments before to Kuro Usagi.
“This is….?”
“A present for you. It was chosen by Izayoi-sama, Asuka-sama, Yō-sama, Jin Bo-chan and us for you.”
“---Eh?” Surprised, Kuro Usagi ‘s ears were perked up.
Casting a questioning look to those three, the three problem kids nodded in affirmation though they turned their gazes elsewhere, plainly refusing to look at Kuro Usagi when they did so.
“……Nn. You did summon us to this kind of interesting place after all.”
“And we managed to form an Alliance which counts as a milestone and a reason for us to celebrate.”
“Thank you for all the times you’ve looked out for us Kuro Usagi.”
Yō ended it with a big smile on her face while Izayoi and Asuka plainly didn’t want to show their face to Kuro Usagi.
Though their concern for her was clumsy, their thoughts were still able to evoke feelings of happiness in Kuro Usagi.
“Th…Thank You. Kuro Usagi will treasure it…!”
While she said it, Kuro Usagi’s fingers were about to open the little bag when the three problem kids grabbed her on each side, stopping her from opening the package.
“Okay. There’s still time to open the present later.”
“It’s the last night of the Harvest Festival already! Of course we should have our fill of the food and drinks!”
“Kuro Usagi, let’s go!”
“Eh? Wa…Wait a moment!~”
The present pushed into Lily’s hands, the four of them had sped off towards the centre of the plaza.
Lily took a glance inside the little package and spotted that there was a letter besides the present that they had chosen.
And this was written for the recipient region:
To our dear comrade---Kuro Usagi.
“---Hehe, Izayoi–sama and the others sure aren’t honest enough about it.”
[To our dear comrade]. These words made Lily wag her two tails happily.
The Senior group of children had also followed the lead of those four in high spirits.
Enveloped by the drafts of cool night air and well-wishes to the new [Floor Master], the residents of the Underground City weren’t planning to sleep tonight as their toasts and merriment continued to echo for a long time.
Part 2
---[Underwood]’s Best VIP Guest room.
Standing in the room that was smoky with the burning of incense sticks, Shiroyasha gazed up at the moon.
The ceremony of presenting the Gift and the title of [Floor Master] to Sala had come to an end not too long ago.
But for Shiroyasha, she still had two more important tasks that were urgent and not completed yet.
Having won the Game of [Hippocamp Riders], the [No Name]s were entitled to receive a Gift from Shiroyasha.
However, it wasn’t a Gift that they were looking for---they wished for [Gry the Gryphon to be a Guest comrade in their Community].
“That was the Gift that Izayoi had asked for……the rest will be up to you, Gry.”
A piece of Geass Roll fluttered lightly to the floor. And the contents inscribed on it were:
[The loss of the wings from [Thousand Eyes] member, Gry, is due to us of [No Name]. Hence, we would like to take him in for the period of time that he needs to recuperate.]
Gry had read the beautifully handwritten Geass Roll with thoughts of accepting his fate.
---Just a few days ago, he had judged himself to be unfit to participate in any Games in the future.
Having lost his wings was but one of the reasons……But the most important reason was still the fact that he had lost his partner in flight.
The consecutive losses of his partner and his wings gravely wounded his pride and he was sure that no one would want to ride on him to battle anymore. At least that was the feelings he had before he read this document.
[……Looks like that lad really plans to keep his words from that time…]
Even though he had already mentally prepared himself even before he suffered the fresher wounds, that guy did not seem to have given up on him. The nobility of that man caused Gry’s battle scarred heart to be ablaze with the passion to fight on.
Closing his eyes to give it a clearer thought, he soon worked up the determination as he bowed to Shioyasha.
“Shiroyasha-sama. You’ve accepted me when I was sent out from my homelands. I will not forget the kindness that you’ve shown to me, ever. But, I ……”
“It’s okay. I permit you to leave. I will send a letter to them to prepare a welcome for their new comrade. You can help add to the strength of that new wind which blows in the East Side."
Shiroyasha gave him a nod as she smiled knowingly.
Obtaining the understanding of the master that he had served under for ten years, caused tears to well up from the rims of Gry’s eyes.
“……To me, [Thousand Eyes] will always be the homeland of my heart. If something arises, please call for me. I swear that I will rush to your aid no matter the obstacles that try to stand in my way.”
“Nn. I’ve received your oath……Oh well, just count this as your pension sum from me---No, it should be said as for your reserve funds. Here, just accept it.”
Tracing a ring in the air with her finger, Shiroyasha transformed the smoky trail into a golden ring that she fastened to Gry’s talon.
“This is?”
“Kekeke. It’s a tool that Humans need in their daily lives. Just take it as a Gift to acknowledge your achievements and hard work. You can use it later when you return to your room. It’s quite a valuable item so please treasure it.”
“Yes, I will. I’m deeply indebted and thankful.”
Gry bowed respectfully and left Shiroyasha’s room after saying his farewells.
“……Heheh, watching youngsters leave on a new journey really is a pleasant feeling.”
Shiroyasha who was alone in her room lighted up her pipe.
After a few breaths of the incense and her pipe, Shiroyasha spoke to the person outside her window.
“Hey, Kouryuu. How long are you planning to stand out there? Get yourself in here now.”
“Oh, I was found out?”
Kouryuu feinted surprise as he replied and entered from the window with a leap.
A strong gust of night breeze blew in as he did so and the incense smoke was blown out of the room. Shiroyasha immediately rounded on him with fire in her eyes for that was her favorite incense.
“Hey! Can’t you come in through the front door proper?”
“Oh~but with Draco’s son around, it wasn’t convenient for me to come in through the front……but that child seems to have grown to resemble his dad.”
“Yea. If it were possible, I would really wish that he and Griffith could patch up……”
“That would be poking your nose where it shouldn’t belong. For siblings to patch up their relationship, it would require the siblings themselves to be willing.”
Kouryuu laughed heartily. Hearing a subtle meaning in his words, Shiroyasha raised an eyebrow as she asked:
“……Don’t you want to resume your relations with your sister?”
Shiroyasha’s question wiped the smile off Kouryuu’s face.
Kouryuu gazed up at the moon outside the window and seemed to be talking to himself:
“…… That lad from [No Name] asked me this question: What sort of face would you want to bring before your Onee-san? Those words were damn right. Pretending to be a recluse when I’m just a useless person who wanders around. What kind of face do I have to bring before her?”
“……”
“If it were the current me, nothing would change even if I went to meet her. I still don’t have the achievements to hold my head high when I meet her again. If it causes her to be angry with me, it would still be bearable……but I’m afraid that she would cry upon seeing my current self.”
Besides worrying about being a disappointment to the other, he was more worried about causing grief.
And it was with that thought in mind that he found the courage to stand up again.
Shiroyasha closed her eyes seemingly in deep thought but she was thanking Izayoi in her heart.
[Successfully relighting the flames of ambition in the ‘Withered floating log’?……That guy sure is impressive.]
Not waiting for Kouryuu to continue his words, Shiroyasha quickly got to her feet and took a goatskin parchment from the bookshelves to show it to him.
“Kouryuu. If you really want to have some achievements to talk about, I’ve got just the right and important task for you.”
“I knew it. That’s why I had waited outside the room…… its regarding the return of your Divinity to Heaven right?”
“Nn. For the days to come, my actions in the public will be under much restrictions. For that time period, the East would lose its [Floor Master]. So, could you…help be my replacement and protect the East Side for me?”
The goatskin parchment that Shiroyasha had passed to him was the proof of a [Floor Master]---the [Authority of a Host Master].
Sweeping his eyes across the inscribed contents, Kouryuu tilted his head and gave a wry smile.
“I’m really thankful for you thinking so highly of me, but it’s just that I do not have much leadership qualities.”
“Nothing of that sort that you need to worry about. I will just appoint you as a VIP guest member of [Thousand Eyes]. If that’s not enough, I can also lend you a portion of the Suns Authorities. That should be more than enough right?”
At that, Kouryuu’s eye couldn’t help but become wide and round.
It wasn’t the problem about needing more or less power but the fact that to have someone treated as a VIP guest member all of a sudden was an unprecedented preferential treatment.
“That…That really flatters me a lot but your opinion of me too high?”
“No. In fact, I judge that I should at least go to that extent. The Demon Lord Alliance is still an unknown number and I predict that their total battle strength to be at least a fourth level or even hitting the third level. And it isn’t time for me to hold back on lending strength. Since the lower levels have a lot of Communities that are worth nurturing.”
Shiroyasha’s words had been serious but when nearing the end, the corners of her lips twitched up into a smile. Kouryuu also nodded his head in agreement.
“About that, I would agree sharing the same sentiments. The lower levels do have a lot of interesting things, including the [No Name].”
“So, does that mean you will accept?”
“Yes. I’m willing to take on the responsibilities of a Stand-in [Floor Master].”
Kouryuu firmly shook Shiroyasha’s extended hand.
The one who stood in this place wasn’t the man who was once called a ‘Withered Floating Log’ anymore.
At this very moment, his body was emitting a strong and unyielding domineering spirit comparable to the days when he, Saurian Demon King had fought against the numerous and famous demigods and deities.
“Good! I will leave the handing over procedures to my Shop assistant to guide you along. If you have any queries, just ask her for I’m leaving right now.”
“What’s the rush?”
“According to the information that Bull Demon King had provided, there’s already one Demon Lord of the Demon Lord Alliance who’s been identified for sure. And he’s a very tricky fellow to deal with. I must take the opportunity to give that Demon Lord a warning before I’m totally restricted.”
Kouryuu’s iris that had narrowed to a slit was giving off a glint as he asked:
“……Which Demon Lord is that? Is he famous?”
Shiroyasha’s face had turned all serious and a little anxious as she cut to the point with the mentioning of the name.
“His name is ---[Maxwell Demon Lord], a demon lord that controls portals.”
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