Emperor Abraham was not a man without affection.
More precisely, he was someone who strived not to give affection.
He sacrificed the few for the sake of the many.
There could be no exceptions to that rule.
Even if those exceptions were his own children.
Everything I love becomes my weakness.
It was advice he once gave to Tronios Ether as well.
The moment he cherished something, the moment he showed joy in it, it became a target.
That was back before Abraham became Emperor, when he was still somewhat similar in nature to Theseus.
His friend, the woman he loved, and his teacher were all murdered.
Simply because he was of imperial blood.
For that reason alone, everyone he cared about had to die.
And they died in horrifying ways.
The perpetrators had even arranged the scene so Abraham would be forced to witness the aftermath.
That was why Abraham never allowed himself to have people he loved.
And even if he did come to love someone, he buried those feelings completely.
Valen, Mille, Lorelai, Ged.
The children who failed Emperor Abraham’s trials and died.
Abraham remembered them.
He had not forgotten a single one.
The final smiles of the children he killed haunted his dreams every night like a curse.
Abraham did not regret what he had done.
If they could not withstand even that kind of attack, if they could not notice it coming, surviving within the Imperial family would have been impossible for them anyway.
It would only have increased the likelihood of them meeting an even more horrific end.
Paradoxically, whenever Abraham hurled a knife at his children, he prayed for them.
He prayed they would survive his attack.
He prayed they would prove they had the right to endure this hell.
But prayers are never answered.
Rules allow no exceptions, and miracles do not happen.
Perhaps that was why—
…Loki.
He had been pleased by the vicious determination of his second son, the one he once considered unqualified.
There was a secret no one knew.
The child the Emperor cherished most was actually the second prince, the one he treated with the greatest indifference.
He had neither strength nor talent.
Yet through sheer tenacity, he overcame Abraham’s trials.
Even Abraham himself had given up on him, but Loki succeeded.
It was a betrayal Abraham welcomed.
“Theseus.”
There are no exceptions.
If it is necessary, then it must be done.
Even if the price is his child’s life.
Even if the price is his own.
For the sake of this damned Empire.
Within the twisted chains set in motion from the very beginning.
“You will die today.”
It was the one belief that allowed him to endure without collapsing.
***
The tyrant’s sword pierced the hero.
At that unmistakable scene, every person watching the Imperial parade widened their eyes in shock.
Fwoooosh!
Soon, the tyrant’s blazing flames engulfed the hero.
And at the sight of it, sparks began to kindle within the hearts of those who watched.
The people who had only cowered and bowed their heads until now slowly began to lift them.
But not yet.
At most, the spark had only just been lit.
Still, that was enough.
Because the one destined to carry that spark and grow it into a great flame had already been chosen.
“I am the Emperor. Did you truly think I would die from something as trivial as old age? Insolent fool!”
Abraham kicked the burning Theseus and pulled his sword free.
Crimson blood turned into scarlet steam within the raging flames.
“That is your fate.”
Within the fire, Theseus could see his father’s expression.
He could read the misery reflected in those eyes.
The sword piercing through his body was already a fatal wound on its own.
The flames scorching his entire body carried enough force to reduce a man to ashes.
But Theseus knew.
Even this attack was something he could survive.
So that’s it.
Theseus remembered.
What happened back then at the banquet hall?
The knife hurled toward him had carried enough force to kill a man, but it had not been impossible to avoid.
Abraham’s standards were cruel.
But there had always been a path to survive.
This time was no different.
To everyone else, it would appear that Abraham had tried to kill him.
And in truth, he had.
Abraham really had tried to kill Theseus.
With only the minimum amount of force necessary.
This is just like back then.
He had left him a path to live.
According to Abraham’s plan, Theseus had to die here.
At the very least, it had to appear that way.
So Abraham acted in a manner that would leave no room for doubt.
He used enough power that anyone watching would believe death was certain.
He could have gone even further than that.
But Abraham did not.
Because he did not truly want to kill him.
“Never again.”
Theseus tumbled down from the carriage platform.
Abraham’s face, standing beneath the sun, was hidden in shadow, though the Emperor’s mask would have concealed it anyway.
And precisely because of that—
“Do not return to the Imperial Palace.”
Instead, it made everything even clearer.
“Live the life you wanted.”
That sorrowful expression.
That affectionate voice buried beneath the screams and roaring cries.
The weakness of the man who had no choice but to be Emperor.
Who had no choice but to become a monster.
“Live that way.”
For the first time that day, Theseus finally saw it.
And in that moment, he realized something.
When he had wished to leave the Imperial Palace—
His father had never once tried to stop him.
***
The Misfits each reacted differently upon meeting Emily.
“So this is the one we’ve heard so much about?”
“The teacher talks about you a lot. I’m Helena.”
“Ah! Uh, that’s… her, right?”
“Jeff, if you don’t know, just keep your mouth shut. You look stupid.”
And their reactions to Emily and I getting engaged were no different.
“Haha, trash.”
No, actually, they were perfectly consistent.
Every single one of them calls me trash.
I keep saying this, but I’m the one who got engaged against my will.
And somehow I’m still the one getting insulted.
At this point, I’m used to it.
Fine.
I should probably just accept it as proof that I’m ridiculously fortunate.
Because honestly, Emily, Yuna, and Ariel are all beauties who normally would never have had any connection to me in the first place.
It’s only natural people would be jealous and resentful.
They’re all far too good for me.
That was how I chose to think about it.
It made me feel a little more at ease.
“You heard what I said, right?”
“You mean the part where the teacher went beyond two-timing and became a three-timing monster?”
“…The part where I told you to be ready to leave at any moment.”
“You already told us that before. We’ve finished preparing.”
“Really? Then that’s fine. I just stopped by for a bit. Wanted to introduce my fiancée and see how everyone was doing.”
“It’s kind of exhausting having to be introduced to your fiancée three separate times.”
“Says the criminal who doesn’t get to be picky.”
If I’m trash, then you guys are officially recognized criminals by society.
“Anyway, how’s the World Tree these days? Nothing strange happening?”
“It’s growing nice and healthy. Honestly, it’s growing too well, and that’s the problem.”
Dietrich, who was responsible for the World Tree’s security, scratched his cheek as he spoke.
Well, the larger the World Tree became, the harder it must have been to use traces to conceal the surrounding area.
If even training-obsessed Dietrich was sick of it, that said everything.
“Come on, Emily. Let’s go see the World Tree.”
“Yes, big brother. How romantic.”
“Uh… y-yeah, I guess it is.”
…Romantic?
I suppose going to see a gigantic tree could be considered romantic.
Of course, that opinion would probably change the moment someone learned about the little kid living there.
***
Unlike last time, I spotted the World Tree’s avatar the moment we approached.
Sitting on a nearby branch, the avatar gazed blankly into empty space with a strangely wistful expression. Considering it had borrowed the appearance of young Tillis, the look felt deeply out of place.
Well, that made sense.
Tillis never made expressions like that.
“I want crème brûlée.”
Still, the things it said were exactly the same.
It was impossible not to think of it as simply Tillis with a wider range of facial expressions.
“Have you been well?”
“No. I’ve been too anxious every single day to bear it.”
“Well, sounds like your daily life hasn’t changed much. I’m often like that too. It’s common enough that you shouldn’t worry about it.”
“You’re not exactly sane either.”
…Saying something like that with such a bright smile was a bit much.
“Has Mephi not been visiting much lately?”
“She comes often enough. But unlike before, she doesn’t bring crème brûlée anymore. Did she run out of allowance money or something?”
More likely, she just didn’t want to share and ate it all herself before coming.
Honestly, kids should get along better instead of being so petty.
Next time, I should probably send her over while physically carrying the dessert in my own hands. Though there’s a high chance she’d eat it halfway there anyway. Still, at least a few times she might actually share.
“Ahem! This is Emily. Emily, you can’t see her, but the avatar of the World Tree is sitting on that branch over there.”
“I can see her.”
“Hmm?”
“I can see her.”
“How?”
Emily blinked as if she had no idea why I was asking.
Then, for a brief moment, a faint light shimmered across her irises.
“Ah… never mind. I get it.”
She’s got something in her eyes?
Looks like she absorbed not only the Scriptwriter’s nanotechnology but also the technology he used to detect demons.
What she meant by “seeing” was probably closer to “detecting”.
That alone was already incredible, but…
“Wait, did you perhaps find a way to save me?”
“No? I’ve just been busy.”
“My tree life is on the line here!”
When you put it that way, it doesn’t actually sound all that serious.
It’s not even a human life, it’s a tree’s life… Environmental groups might be horrified if they heard that, but honestly, it’s hard for me to take it seriously.
“Ahem! Still, I’ve looked into this from every possible angle, so you don’t need to worry that much.”
“That man stares at me once a week! His eyes are suspicious! He’s dangerous!”
“If you judge Sir Lanius like that based on appearances, I almost feel sorry for him.”
“I’m the one whose life is being threatened!”
That really sounded like something people could easily misunderstand. If there was one fortunate thing, it was that ordinary people couldn’t see the avatar of the World Tree.
“Anyway, based on the reliable information I found, there’s almost no chance the imperial family is targeting the World Tree.”
“I don’t believe you! All you ever do is lie!”
“I don’t think I’ve ever lied to the World Tree.”
“You just look like a liar!”
Quite the physiognomist, huh?
I wanted to deny it, but considering my track record, I really couldn’t.
“I-I’m scared! That wicked old man keeps scanning my true body with those creepy eyes while searching for me!”
“You said he can’t see you anyway. Since it’s come to this, why not just stand right in front of him and mock him? Wouldn’t you feel less wronged even if you died?”
“How can you even say that?!”
Why not?
At least, that’s what I’d do.
If I were going to die anyway, I’d curse him out with every insult I could think of before I went.
“That man can see me!”
“Really? Well, if he’s that skilled, I suppose it’s possible.”
Even in his unawakened state, he was powerful enough to overwhelm Tillis.
I didn’t know the exact criteria for being able to see the avatar of the World Tree, but even so, it wouldn’t be strange if someone like him could.
“Why was I born a tree?”
“Looks like you’ve entered the existential crisis phase.”
The avatar of the World Tree sank to the ground with a gloomy expression and started muttering philosophical thoughts.
“Ahem, don’t worry too much. I even brought an expert to help find a solution.”
“An expert?”
“Yes.”
I hadn’t brought Emily along for no reason.
Part of the reason I brought her along was for protection, but more importantly, I wanted to see whether her technology could move the World Tree.
There was no way to grasp the scale of it through words alone, so I planned to show it to her directly and ask if it could be relocated.
“Emily, do you think you could move this tree somewhere else? Quietly, without anyone noticing.”
“I think it’d be possible if we shattered it into pieces first and then restored it afterward.”
“Aah! What a terrifying child!”
“……I’d prefer not to damage it.”
“If we restore it afterward, then it’s basically the same as not damaging it, isn’t it?”
“She’s not even human!”
Man, the commentary from the sidelines is so loud I can barely focus on the conversation.
“Emily, let’s try thinking of it as a person. Is there any other way?”
“You want me to imagine moving a person the size of this tree?”
“That’s right. And they can’t move on their own.”
“…….”
Emily stared up at the tree for a moment, then turned back toward me and answered.
“Wouldn’t it still work if we disassembled them first, moved them, and then restored them afterward?”
“…….”
“…….”
I told her to think of it as a person, and somehow I still got the exact same answer.
That simple, matter-of-fact solution left not only the World Tree speechless but me as well.
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