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Vol 04 Chapter 135: The Future

「Akashic Records…」

「Arcana…」

「Hey, you two. How long are you going to keep spacing out?」

Even after returning from the Romalia Forest, they both seemed preoccupied with what Griffon-sama had said, muttering to themselves.

「Aren’t you curious, Almus?」

「Not really.」

I shook my head vigorously in response to Julia’s question.

Honestly, it doesn’t matter to me. After all, I can’t use magic.

I can repel curses and sense magic to some extent, but… I can’t cause any phenomena like a female magician might.

It’s because I’m a man. Men aren’t good at refining magical power.

In the first place. I don’t understand how they can get obsessed with something that might not even exist. I’m much more interested in things that are right in front of me—gold, territory, or women.

「Maybe… my magical formula is also part of the Akashic Records.」

Tetra muttered.

Well, It is said to contain every record in the world, so it would make sense that it includes one or two formulas.

「Do you two want to be able to use Arcana?」

「No.」

「Not really.」

Both of them shook their heads in unison. It seems they aren’t particularly interested in using the Arcana itself.

「Arcana might even cure incurable diseases or bring back the dead.」

I won’t mention anyone in particular, but you know…

「Um, the person who taught me magic once said… When people die, their lives dissolve into the earth and become one with the world, and their souls dwell in the next life. This is apparently called the cycle of life… The world continues to spin and life continues because of this cycle. Therefore, immortality is a forbidden realm that humans must not interfere with. It’s absolutely not allowed…」

It’s a view on life and death that I’ve heard even on Earth. It seems people everywhere have similar thoughts.

Griffon-sama also said that Arcana is a ‘taboo that rewrites the laws of the world’. If too many people used magic, it might disturb the balance of the world. I don’t really know, but that doesn’t sound good

「People who used Arcana in the past ended up dead. I don’t want to die. I still want to be with Almus.」

Tetra blushed and leaned against me. I stroked her soft hair and let it twine around my fingers.

「But you’re curious, aren’t you?」

「…a little, in interested in the so-called truth of the world.」

Tetra nodded slightly.

「Is there really such a thing as the truth of the world?」

I doubt anyone can reach such a thing even if it exists. No matter how much we search, it’s not something humans can reach. If a god created the world, they wouldn’t place such a thing within human reach.

「Well, it’s true that there’s no use thinking about it now.」

Julia hugged me and pressed her lips against my cheek.

「I’m more interested in something else right now.」

「What a coincidence. So am I.」

I brushed back Julia’s hair and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Next, I kissed her cheeks and gently nibbled her ear.

「Mmm…」

「The war is over; shouldn’t we start thinking about having a second one?」

I licked Julia’s lips once.

「Almus…」

Tetra hugged me from behind. With a lonely tone, she pressed her chest against my back.

「I’ll leave you two alone for now… please, take care of me later too.」

「Ah, thank you, Tetra. I love you.」

As I said this and turned around… My cheeks were seized in both her hands. She pressed her lips forcibly against mine.

Tetra’s soft tongue entered my mouth, moving as if alive.

I was surprised by the suddenness… But I matched Tetra, moving my tongue in response.

Our tongues intertwined complexly. The saliva that overflowed spilled from between our lips.

I slurped up Tetra’s saliva, swallowing it. It tasted like honey.

Tetra, too, sucked on my tongue while drawing up the saliva.

We sucked the mixture of our saliva from each other.

It was unclear whose saliva was being drawn in and swallowed by whom.

After what felt like a long time of our tongues entwining… Perhaps because she was out of breath, Tetra finally broke the kiss.

Between us, a bridge of saliva formed and then broke apart midway.

Tetra scooped up the broken bridge with her finger and put it into her mouth.

「Mmm… It tastes like Almus…」

Tetra looked a bit dazed as her gaze wandered, but she soon stood up.

「Well, I’ll leave the room now. You two do your best.」

For some reason, Tetra left the room with a triumphant expression on her face.

「Ugh…」

Turning around, I saw Julia pouting, her eyes moist.

「Why did you do that?」

「No, it was Tetra being forceful…」

It was a surprise attack, so it couldn’t be helped. It wasn’t my fault. Though I took the lead midway.

「Cheer up, please.」

「I’m not… really mad.」

Julia said this and turned away. I grabbed her cheeks with my hands and forcefully turned her face towards me.

「I’ll do anything, just forgive me.」

「Then kiss me.」

Julia closed her eyes. Our lips met.

「…This is like an indirect kiss between me and Tetra, isn’t it?」

「Don’t sweat the small stuff.」

◇

Two weeks passed since we returned to the country. It was a hectic fortnight.

The disbandment of the army. The construction of facilities for the prisoners of war. Verification and implementation of treaties signed with various countries.

And arranging the date and time for the delivery of reparations from the Rozel Kingdom.

Once everything was settled, and we finally had a moment to breathe… That’s when it happened.

◇

「Dad! Dad!!」

Julia cried out in anguish. Father-in-law managed to barely open his eyelids.

「You’re being too loud, Julia…」

「Dad!!」

Julia hugged Father-in-law. He gently stroked her head.

I heard the news that Father-in-law collapsed the night before last. He has been unconscious until tonight.

「Dad, here’s your medicine. Please drink it.」

「It’s too late for medicine now.」

Father-in-law gestured with his hand, refusing the medicine she offered.

「It’s just a concoction to ease the pain.」

「…I see.」

He lowered his hand that had been refusing the medicine.

A concoction to ease the pain… If she is only giving him painkillers, it means there is nothing else we can do at this point. All we can do… is to ease the pain so that he can die as painlessly as possible.

「If possible, I would like Julia to drink it too.」

That makes sense.

I handed the bowl containing the medicinal broth to Julia.

Julia scooped up a small amount of the broth and brought it to Father-in-law’s lips.

He was only able to take three sips.

Father-in-law closed his eyes as if completely exhausted. He had been healthy just two weeks ago… now, he looked as withered as a dead tree.

「I’m sleepy…」

「… I mixed in some sleeping medicine into it to help you sleep.」

Julia smiled sadly.

Julia, seeing her father’s condition and realizing he wouldn’t recover, decided to make his passing as peaceful as possible…

「Brother, is there anything else you want?」

Raymond prepared paper and a pen and asked.

「…Please bury me in the same place as my deceased wife. The funeral… I probably should ask for it to be simple, but… make it a lively one.」

Father-in-law turned his face toward me. His eyes were hollow, reflecting no light.

「All authority over the Rosais Family will be inherited by Almus. I also command all my vassals to pledge loyalty to Almus… though this is perhaps needless to say now…」

His voice gradually grew softer.

「Please, make it so that the next king is Julia’s child…」

Father-in-law gazed intently into my eyes. Probably, he couldn’t see. However, his gaze did not waver.

「…otherwise do as you wish from now on. Whatever you want to do. Don’t worry about me.」

Father-in-law closed his eyes. Julia took her father’s hand, checking for a pulse.

「…It seems he’s just asleep.」

After that, Father-in-law never woke up.

◇

「Julia, shall we have some wine?」

After the grand funeral, as per Father-in-law ‘s wishes…

I approached Julia, who was gazing at the night sky alone, holding a jar filled with wine. Julia nodded slightly.

I poured the wine into a glass made in Persis.

「I was worried about how to comfort you since you were crying so much. But it seems you are alright.」

「…I knew he could die at any moment. He’s been sick for a long time, after all… He lived ten years longer than we expected him to, and he was able to see his grandchild too…」

Julia managed a small smile. She didn’t seem energetic, but neither did she seem overly depressed.

Julia gulped down the wine. I promptly refilled her glass.

「Drink up, drink up.」

「…Are you planning to take advantage of me when I’m completely drunk?」

Julia, perhaps already tipsy, clung to my arm. Her plentiful chest enveloped my arm.

I’m not so much of a beast that I would be in the mood for that after a funeral. But well, Father-in-law would probably be happy if we make a successor.

「Julia… are you alright… what are you doing?」

A displeased voice came from behind. Tetra stood there, holding a jar. Her gaze was fixed on my arm—or more precisely, on the part where Julia’s chest was pressed against it.

My arm was wedged right in the cleavage of Julia’s chest.

「What? Are you jealous because you can’t do it?」

Julia flashed a triumphant smile.

「I can do it too.」

Tetra countered and pressed her chest forward as well. Tetra also has a decently ample chest, but it doesn’t compare to Julia’s.

I can feel them, but it’s impossible to get my arm wedged like with Julia’s. It seems this round goes to Julia.

「Lump of useless fat…」

「Jealous?」

Tetra’s expression twisted.

「Don’t fight with me in the middle.」

I sighed.

I understand why they are doing this—Tetra is trying to cheer Julia up, and Julia is playing along, but… They really should choose their methods and place better.

「There’s something serious we need to discuss.」

「Who are you going to do first?」

Tetra licked her lips.

「Not that!!」

「So… you want to do it with the two of us at the same time!!」

「That’s not it either!!」

What do you two think I am? Indeed, the succession issue is important, but…

Now is not the time!!

「Julia…」

「Okay, I got it!」

Julia began to undress.

No, that’s not it. I’m trying to be serious here.

「It’s not that kind of discussion…」

While I hastily helped the half-undressed Julia get dressed again…

「I’m thinking of founding a nation.」

「Founding a nation?」

Julia tilted her head, puzzled.

「Aren’t you already a king, Almus?」

Julia looked confused, as if she didn’t quite understand what I was saying.

「…You mean You are going to create a country where you are the first king?」

「Exactly.」

I affirmed Tetra’s interpretation.

「We’ll dismantle King Rosais’ Country and create a new country from scratch, where I will be the progenitor. The Rosais Family will no longer be the main family but will instead become my relatives. A new royal Family will be created. Let’s see, perhaps we can call it the ‘Julius Family’ after Julia’s, my first wife, name.」

The name of the country will also change from King Rosais’ Country to King Julius’ Country… no, there is a better name.

「How about we take the name of the country from the territory of my adoptive father, Griffon-sama, the Romalia Forest… how about ‘Kingdom of Romalia’ for the name?」

The Kingdom of Romalia will be a real kingdom, not an alliance of patrician families so it’s not necessary to call the country by the king’s name as before.

「Um… so the next king will be…」

Julia’s voice trembled slightly with anxiety.

「Almus!!」

Tetra exclaimed loudly, then shook her head vigorously.

「Ankus can’t be the next king. I have Kirisian blood in me. King Rosais’ Country is mostly inhabited by Adernians, and the patricians are pure Adernians… It would only lead to unnecessary chaos.」

I stroked Tetra’s head. She looked a bit startled.

「I’m sorry, Tetra. I put you in a difficult position.」

I turned back to Julia and hugged her tightly.

「Sorry to worry you. I’m not planning to destroy the Rosais Family at all. After all, I am the patriarch of both the Aris and Rosais Families. There’s also the former king’s will. The next king will be your child. That won’t change.」

「…So-sorry. I… I…」

Julia whispered in a fading voice.

She is falling into self-loathing.

「Julia… you don’t need to worry about it. I’m not interested in the throne. After all, I lost my status once and lived as a commoner for most of my childhood. Besides, the throne won’t bring Ankus happiness, only misery.」

Tetra smiled at Julia. Tears overflowed from Julia’s eyes.

「Tetra…」

「…Julia.」

The two embraced each other tightly.

Sometimes I wonder. Could these two be… into each other?

「By the way, we’re settling on ‘Julius’ for the nomen, right? What about the cognomen? Are you going to take it from Griffon-sama and go with ‘Romalia’ as well?」

「No, Romalia will be the country’s name.」

Matching my cognomen with the country name isn’t necessarily a problem… But honestly, I worry it might provoke the patricians and the plebeians.

They might say that I usurped the country. Well, that’s actually the case, but appearances and formalities matter.

「So then…」

Tetra leaned in close. Her beautiful sky-blue eyes were getting nearer.

Our noses were almost touching…

「How about ‘Caesar’?」

Uh… Why would that name come from Tetra?

「What’s up?」

「No, it’s nothing but… why ‘Caesar’?」

Tetra pointed straight at my eyes.

「Hm?」

「Grey. One of the things that represents you are your grey eyes, your Oculis Caenusi.」

Come to think of it, the Adernian language does bear a resemblance to Latin. That makes sense then.

Grey eyes are somewhat rare. Darker shades of grey are more common, but a true grey like mine, right in the middle is unusual.

In fact, I’ve never met anyone else with this eye color.

「That sounds good, doesn’t it? ‘Caesar’. I think it’s wonderful.」

Julia also agreed.

‘Julius’ and ‘Caesar’… Hmm, I doubt I will be able to live up to such illustrious names.

But then again, that person never became a king, whereas I already am, so in a way, I’ve surpassed him… That’s another way to look at it…

Oh right, I still have to found the country. Maybe the patricians will try to stab me?

Well, it should be fine. Tetra decided on it after all.

From today, I am,

Almus Julius Aris Rosais Caesar.

…That’s quite long.