* * *



And I was released from my mind.


　At dawn, hundreds of subjects lined up in front of the Imperial Castle to listen to the speech of the Emperor Gordo Marvel.

　When the Emperor confessed that he had been brainwashed by the fortune-teller Spica Amrit for two years, the place was suddenly in an uproar.

　And everyone who knew the emperor before was convinced that the emperor's mutation was due to brainwashing.

　Suddenly, he had changed his policy from his previous strong and caustic meritocracy to a poor state strategy that could not be called pacifist. There were few who did not wonder. But none of us were able to find out what caused it, and none of us were able to solve it: ...... Yes, until yesterday.


It's a good thing that you've got a good idea of what you're doing. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's been brainwashed by Spica. He is truly a great hero for the country!


　The emperor praised Seven loudly, with no small amount of beautification.

　He was truly grateful from the bottom of his heart. The moment his brainwashing was lifted, he was truly horrified. But he was able to remain stout, partly because of his responsibilities as Emperor, but most of all because of Seven, who was there for him.


　He was convinced that Seven could be trusted with the job.

　No, he was convinced that he could only entrust Seven with the task.

　Seven's contribution to the Marvel Empire has been immense, and its achievements cannot be ignored.

　In the case with the Orangi Kingdom over the Small Kingdom of Cizun, despite the interference from Spica's brainwashing, Seven brought Nova to a one-on-one fight, drew them to a draw, and gave them the boss materials of the A-class dungeon as a souvenir, and achieved not just a peace, but a strong peace.

　Perhaps if he hadn't given that thunder monkey's fur to Nova, King Orangi would not have been convinced. The emperor, who knew King Orangi's character, thought so.

　And most importantly, he had discovered Spica's modus operandi and released the emperor's brainwashing. This was one of the greatest achievements ever, saving the emperor and saving the empire. His gratitude as an individual, Gordo Marvel, and his gratitude as the Emperor of the Marvel Empire, were so synergistic that the Emperor could no longer see Seven as anything but a hero.

　He also had the supreme ability to win a complete victory over Nato Shaman, deliberately draw Nova Barthelemon, and defeat Casablanca in an instant.

　He is greatly admired by the habitual 5th Platoon and the proud members of the Kingsguard, and is popular with the maids who love to gossip, and there are no black rumors. In addition, even Cigarone has a keen interest in him, and even Light thinks of him as his own brother.

　It's unlikely that a more outstanding figure than Seven will appear for decades or hundreds of years to come. The Emperor couldn't help but think so.


''Oh, I am pathetic!　Two years at the mercy of Spica!　I can't face the people of the Empire!　Even though I rule an empire as usual, my people will not follow me!　Hence, I have decided!


　If you want to rebuild the Marvel Empire, now is the time. Now is the only time when Seven is gaining momentum. There's no choice but to use that tremendous momentum to pull the empire, which is sinking into a quagmire, up again.


I will take responsibility for this, and hand over the position of emperor to the next generation!

!


　The sudden declaration is met with a thud.

　But the emperor's mouth does not stop.


'I don't need to tell you who the next emperor will be!　It is now self-evident that the one who has done the most for this one piece of the empire is the one who deserves it the most!

Oh, wait!　Father!

What the hell, Melson!　Don't shield me!

'No, sir!　I'm afraid it's too hasty!

'Shut up. ......!　You didn't really think you'd be the next emperor, did you?　I am furious with you. What were you doing while I was being brainwashed?　What have you been doing for two years!


　The emperor insisted to Melson, who voiced his impatience.

　It was a statement that he had put himself on the shelf, but it was also an undeniable fact. Compared to Seven, who had solved the problem in less than a month, Melson hadn't worked too hard. It was the same for both Nato and Light. Hence, they had no choice but to shut up and cower.


'It's Cigarone!

You wished to see me at last, Your Majesty?

Despite his unfamiliar position as prime minister, he did a good job. He opposed my brainwashing, and he sometimes took hard-line policies against me on many matters. You have the strength to keep your beliefs to the letter. When the new emperor ascends to the throne, you will take care of the general.

Of course, sir.


　Only one thing about Cigarone, the emperor had a high opinion of him.

　Cigarone is the poster child for meritocracy. He has the same unwavering beliefs as the empire of yesteryear.

　He always said no to the opportunistic attitude of the brainwashed emperor. He was not satisfied with that, and had a tendency to be dogmatic, ordering Seven to defeat Nova in secret. Normally this would not be a good thing, but it was precisely because of this that the Emperor had entrusted him with the generalship of the Empire.


''Father!　Even I have to disagree with your father.

"Melson, I know how much you love your country. Be that as it may ...... and understand this.

?

If you're the emperor, the empire will fall.

!


　Two years of brainwashing had prevented him from saying this for a long time.

　The emperor thought that Melson was the only one unworthy to be the next emperor.


''Why, why!　Why ......!

"You say you want to do it for your country, but in fact you only want to be the emperor. In fact, you only want to be the empire you are the emperor of. All you want is to run the empire as you wish, to be satisfied with your temporary security. If the man who aims to be emperor becomes emperor, the empire will gradually decline.

No, sir, not at all!

In any case, I can't trust the Empire to you. Melson. ...... Love is not only about taking possession and not letting go, it is also about letting go. Love is not only taking possession of it and letting it go, but also giving it up. Don't get it wrong, you fool.

Huh. ......!


　Melson is horrified by a sermon from his father that had never been given in the past two years.

　He is back, the Emperor Gordo Marvel from the days when Melson had looked up to him.

　His father, whom he had only thought was feckless, has been restored to his former dignified imperial form with the release of his brainwashing.

　And Gordo's words had sharply hit Melson's figure.

　She still doesn't have enough strength to lead the empire like Gordo did. She is also aware of that. She could predict that if she herself became the emperor, the empire would be greatly weakened.

　But he had no other choice.

　That's why he believed there was no better choice than to reign as emperor. Even if it was a temporary relief.


''Father!　Then, at least let your father continue to reign as emperor!

It cannot be.

Why?

"I have betrayed the trust of my people. If this continues, no one will follow.

'It's not your father's fault, it's Spica's!　Your father is not responsible for anything!

It is. There is, O Melson. An emperor is not a simple thing that can be described as good or bad. It must be the one who is needed most in the Empire at this moment.

But ......!

"f*ck you!　I've made up my mind, I won't let you get in my way!


　Melson looks in despair as Gordo prods her.

　Even though she is somewhat biased, her patriotism is genuine.

　She's even willing to get down on her knees to defend her country.

　That's why she's so biting.

　She had a certainty that Seven was the enemy.

　It was very sensible. But it was no exaggeration to say that it was therefore certain.

　There was an unearthly atmosphere, like when Val Moreau had been sent in a box, that made Seven feel scared.

　It is hard to believe that they are allies, as if they were "monsters" walking around in clothes and human skin.

　If Seven becomes the emperor, the empire will end. Time and time again, she had told him so. But when I told her why, there was no way to convince her. ......


I'm sorry for the suddenness of the story, however I am also sorry for the fact that it was so sudden. I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what to do with it. Seven will become my son and then my successor.

!


　Light rolls his eyes at Gordo's declaration.

　The person he had half-jokingly wished was his brother would be his brother-in-law indeed. Wright had been continuously surprised ever since the speech began, but this announcement surprised him the most.


''Tsk!''

　Melson, on the other hand, clicks his tongue irritably at the sight of Wright.

　His incompetent brother, who until recently was vying for the position of emperor. I thought he was a ferocious wild cat that would bite anyone ...... but now he had lost even that ambition, his claws were clipped and he was as mature as a tame cat.

　Oh, and Melson is convinced that it was the opposite.

　It was the opposite, he said. It wasn't that Wright was using Seven to take advantage of the emperor's position; it was that Seven was using Wright to take advantage of the emperor's position.

　Wright is being seduced by Seven. The Emperor has been seduced by Seven, as well.

　Everything was done by Seven.

　The Malbel Empire is just the way Seven wanted it to be.


"Prepare for the father-son cup!　I shall now conduct the Cup.



　　* * *



　We're in for a real treat.

　What am I going to do now? Do you think it's all right for me to be the emperor?

　No, it would be a big no-no, a big no-no for the Empire.

　Because in less than a week, a month will have passed. My vacation is going to be over. And what happens then?

　The Emperor is replaced in an instant (・・・・・).

　I'm not Seven, I'm Second. I'm a Second First Test, no matter what anyone says. I am the avenging enemy of the Empire that boxed Val Moreau up and sent him back on a cool flight.

　A guy like that became a knight of the Prince's Kingsguard, took credit for it, became a general, was recognized by Emperor Gordo Marvel, and finally became an emperor. This is an undeniable fact. Everyone is trying to make me a general and make me an emperor.

　Yes, that's right. It's not my fault. They did. It's mainly the fault of Spica and Melson and Gordo and others.


　...... I don't care anymore*.


We will examine the matter.


　The knight who had introduced himself as a mediator, dressed in the formal wear of a knight wearing a hot cloak, poured the wine into the cup in a very ostentatious manner and gulped it down in one gulp.

　I see. For a moment, I wondered if he and I were going to be father and son. There's no way that's possible, right?

　Well, of course, it wasn't like the knight was going to die instantly.

　It's a good idea to have a good time with your friends.


"Your Majesty, please drink your heart out and take it away.


　After a lengthy narrative, the knight brought the cup of wine in front of the emperor and said so, and then quietly stepped back.

　The emperor nodded one nod, tilted the cup slightly and quietly sipped the wine.

　The knight who witnessed this lowered the cup once, spoke, and then brought it in front of me and spoke again in a long speech.

　It's kind of chivalrous, isn't it? I wonder what on earth brought this kind of culture to the empire. Come to think of it, the Cubero's place was similar. They look like mafia, but their words and actions are Japanese chivalry. It's a Japanese game, so maybe that culture has been passed down in a strange way.


When you are ready, I ask that you drink it all in one gulp and then pay it forward.


　What a lot of things to think about, and they're ready to go.

　They want me to put it in my pocket, but this outfit, I don't have a pocket. I'll just use my inventory.


Hmmm... ......


　He put the sake cup to his mouth and opened his mouth thinly.

　Soon, the liquor invaded my mouth.






''--Huh?



　Oh, shit, I'm f*cked. ...... "Bawi Extract". I was so careless. I swallowed it.


　You're kidding. Why is the Emperor not dead?　Oh, I get it, that time you lowered it once. It must have been set up by the knight of the medium.

　I spilled the contents of the cup on the ground and put the cup away in my inventory.


　But still, it's been a long time since I've seen him--this appearance (...).


　The wraith is ...... no good. The effect of Bawi's effect caused me to lose my breath. Worst of all, it's my replacement. When you're changing with the Wraith, Bawi's lethal poison affects the Wraith first. I learned my lesson.

　And apparently, in this world, dead messenger demons can't be brought back to life. Oh, shit, I'm sorry, I was inadvertent ...... Thank you for everything, Wraith.



'Se, Seven, ...... that, the figure ......?'


　The emperor pointed at me in astonishment and said that in a trembling voice.

　That appearance and nothing else, this is my true form.

　You may be surprised because you were replaced by a different person in an instant, but ...... inside you haven't changed a bit.

　I'm sure you'll find that the only thing that bothers you is the fact that they've switched out their appearance, which will show the extent of the meritocracy that the Empire touts.


"If you claim to be a meritocracy, you'll have to recognize me, Gordo Marvel.

What's that ......?


　I didn't expect the change to be released at this time of year when there was a huge audience.

　But thanks to that, I was able to recover.


　What should we do now? How do we get rid of it?



...... Se, Second First Test ......!

!


　Behind Melson, the long-haired man shouted and slumped back down.

　Oh, I remember. It's you, Seram-kun. You're the imperial dog who was using the wind spirit Nymphe as an emissary.

　At the same time as he shouted, the crowd became buzzing and noisy.

　Everyone must have known. The name of the enemy of the empire, the Second First Test. I'm kind of happy about that.



'Ce, Seven ......?'


　Suddenly, I see Wright's face.

　...... It was an anxious face.

　It's as if he looks as if he's about to cry. 'Have you been fooling me all this time?' It's a look of desperation, as if to say, "I'm just one step away from despair. Everything I've done so far has fallen apart in an instant, and I'm about to suffer a deep heartbreak.


　That's not going to happen, you stupid bastard...



Light!　Don't run, resist!　Think about it in your own head!

!!!



　--reversal.

　In a situation like this, you just snap and push with momentum. You do whatever it takes to take control and set the pace. If this were a game, I'd do it for sure.


'All the growth you believed in, all the growth you relied on, all the lies you've shown?　Hey, you're not.


　Breaking the air, disrupting, getting attention, dominating the place, creating an environment where people could lend an ear, and then hitting them with their true feelings.

　At the last minute, I realized how much I've grown during this vacation, too.

　A game is a conversation, but ...... the opposite is true. The conversation was also a game.


'I'll leave it up to you, just as you left it up to me. Wright, you'll figure out what you're going to do now, in your head.

'My ...... head with my ......?'


　Light listened to me with a serious expression and muttered while wrinkling his brow as he listened to me.

　...... While doing so, I can see that the knights are gradually surrounding me while maintaining a certain distance. I guess they're very cautious, but they're at least fifteen meters away from me in a radius.

　Probably the main forces are the members of the Kingsguard with Princess Melson. Behind them are also the figures of soldiers. That was probably led by Cigarone-san.

　Surrounded by this many, it's hard to win. It's easy to run away, but I don't want to run away.

　Well, what should we do? Light is still thinking about it. The Emperor had already evacuated. Melson went behind the knights with Nato. Mr. Cigarone is .......



'--All of you, go!　He's no longer a hero!　Enemies of the Empire!


　At Melson's command, the knights draw their swords in unison.

　Then, they try to close the distance towards me--.


''............''


　You know, in the back.

　There was a man with a mask in his hand and a mask on his face.


　As soon as I saw him, it was almost a reflex - I closed my eyes, covered my ears and squatted down.



　Immediately after.









　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time in the world with the unbelievable scream that echoes through the air: ...... A few hundred people other than myself were instantly rendered incapable of combat action due to the state of the art "shivering".