After that.
With the loss of their leader, the "Organization" effectively collapsed. The remnant operatives left in the Royal Capital devolved into a rabble, and every last one of them was wiped out by the Third Princess's faction, which had stormed the city.
And so came the end of the terrorist organization's campaign of destruction — including the mass slaughter by magic targeting the Royal Capital, the worst incident in the history of the Yustia Kingdom. With the organization's demise, it was all over.
Now came the time for rebuilding.
First came the restoration of the Royal Capital, still heavily scarred from the March of the Dead. Those possessing Bloodline Magic suited to the task were rushed in to begin reconstruction of critical facilities.
Next was recovery from the political turmoil, a process that benefited from the fact that King Fried had survived. In a grim irony, his prolonged imprisonment deep underground meant he had been spared the March of the Dead entirely.
However, Fried's long confinement had left him severely weakened. He was in no condition to carry out his duties, and so he personally designated a successor — one who would serve as regent, and moreover, was virtually guaranteed to become the next king. As it happened, there was only one member of the royal family who qualified: her.
In this manner, the kingdom scrambled to recover on every front.
Now that the threat was gone — now that the key figures of the organization had been killed off one after another — such a response was only natural.
— And yet. Save for one.
There existed a single surviving person who was, without question, the mastermind behind everything that had transpired in the Royal Capital.
To personally pass judgment upon that person — the greatest criminal in the kingdom's recorded history. That was to be her first major task as regent.
"Then — step forward."
In the throne room.
She who sat upon the seat that only one person in the entire nation was permitted to occupy, with every right to do so.
Liliana Josefa von Yustia addressed those gathered before the throne in a voice that, paired with her delicate beauty, carried unmistakable authority.
Behind her stood Rose, the "Sky Witch." Thanks to Rose's recommendation and King Fried's declaration, Liliana had ascended to that seat with remarkably little resistance. That was due in no small part not only to their combined influence, but to Liliana's own accomplishments.
Guided by a voice far too composed for her youth.
The prisoner — Yurugen von Trakia — appeared before them.
Now in the throne room were Liliana, Yurugen, and Rose. Added to them were the key figures of the third princess's faction and a scant handful of the kingdom's high officials.
There was, therefore, nothing to hide.
...And so. What she was about to declare would be her own words—not parroting what those around her had told her to say, but what she herself had concluded as a ruler.
With all of that understood by everyone present, Liliana turned to the great criminal and spoke.
"Yurugen von Trakia. You knowingly cooperated with an 'organization' that plotted the destruction of this kingdom. And then, of your own volition, using your own magic, you took the lives of numerous nobles. That is correct, is it not?"
"Yes. Acting Queen Liliana."
"...That is an unforgivable act of treason. Both as a noble and as a human being. It is a crime that must never be committed, and no one would oppose imposing upon you every conceivable torment before ending your life. No—the kingdom should undoubtedly do precisely that."
Having laid out this premise—one with which every person in the room would readily agree—
"—However,"
Liliana continued.
"As you, the very person who brought about that outcome, already know—the Royal Capital, and indeed the entire kingdom, is in a state of unprecedented chaos. We must restore the Royal Capital as swiftly as possible and rebuild the nation anew, so that something like this can never happen again."
"..."
"For that, we need many hands. Workers—people of exceptional ability, above all. They are exactly what this country is desperate for right now, and no matter how many we have, it will never be enough."
"...!"
At that, Yurugen raised his face with a flicker of surprise.
Liliana looked straight at him. You understand where this is going, don't you?
"From the kingdom's standpoint, your life should be forfeit as a great criminal. It should serve as a warning—a tribute to the nobles who fell. But the current state of the country does not permit that. We need every capable person we can get, even one.
—You understand, don't you? Right now, this country...
...someone as...
...capable as you..."
"...to execute people
without a second thought—
that kind of
luxury is not
something we can
afford.
We are not in that position."
"
This was not a thoughtless execution. Nor was it a pardon born of being swept up in emotion.
Liliana proposed only this: that the execution be rescinded, with the country's interests foremost in mind.
"I am passing judgment. You will not be killed. Instead of killing you, I will have you put your exceptional abilities to full use in service of this nation's future.
And I have prepared the means to make it so. ...Ermes, bring it out."
"Yes, Lady Liliana."
At her words, Ermes appears from behind Liliana—the one who had slain the Boss of the organization. Without question, the boy who had come to be called the hero of this battle, in both name and truth.
He activates the jade dial—now synonymous with his very identity—while weaving a Chant, manifesting a magic circle in the palm of his hand.
"...What is that?"
"A spell that Ermes developed in collaboration with our Sky Witch, Rose.
The effect is total subservience. The moment you accept this magic circle and it is branded onto your neck, you will be bound to obey my every command absolutely. The only ones who can break the spell are its casters—Ermes and Rose."
The people nearby gasped—at Ermes and Rose, who had created such a fearsome spell.
...But those who knew the truth understood—with what feelings he had created this spell.
It was a spell forged with the feelings of wanting to save Yurugen's life — a man who had committed a crime worthy of immediate execution under normal circumstances. To shape an argument convincing enough to satisfy those around him, and above all, so that *she* would not lose her father too.
"Ermes chose this path. And Yurgen — choose. Death by execution, or live and accept this magic, become my hands and feet, and help build the foundation of a new nation."
Understanding both the feelings Ermes had poured into this magic and the words Lilliana had spoken to him.
Yurgen once again fell to his knees, overwhelmed by a torrent of emotions.
"...I will accept the magic. My deepest gratitude for your magnanimous heart, Lady Lilliana."
And so the great sinner who had attacked the Royal Capital because he knew the darkness of the kingdom.
Was given back his life, and returned to the path of building the nation his wife had once aspired to create.
...Including him. Just as so many of her subjects had wished.
Now, I'd like to continue with a few more installments of the post-battle epilogue. I'd be truly happy if you'd read them all the way to the end...!
My new series,
*"The Mediocre Guy Everyone Calls the Eternal Second Banana Somehow Gets Accepted into a Genius High-Schooler VTuber Unit, Cutting Right Past His Childhood Friend"*
is also currently serializing!
It's surging through the rankings at the highest level of momentum I've ever had...!
I want to climb even higher, so please do check it out!!
There's a link at the bottom of the screen, so along with *Creation Magic*,
if you could read that too, and maybe give it a follow and a star rating as well, I'd be overjoyed...!