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Chapter 13
“Puh, sorry. I won’t tease you anymore. Your reactions are just too funny, that’s all.”
“How dare you! Y-you insolent—how dare you mock the Emperor of the Valdehardt Empire!”
“Your Majesty, I’ll have to do even more disrespectful things from now on. Will you be able to handle that?”
“D-don’t tease me!”
“I’m not teasing you, I’m serious. In order to use healing magic, I have to tap your body parts 100 times.”
“……!!!!!”
The emperor’s bright red face instantly turned pale.
Looking as though he were short of oxygen, he curled his body up tightly and asked in a trembling voice,
“I-Is that true? You dare lay your hands on my body?”
“Yes. Pat-pat, 100 times.”
“A-a hundred times?”
“Just hand me one of your arms. I’ll finish as quickly as possible.”
“Are you now boldly declaring that you intend to harass me!”
“It’s not harassment, it’s treatment. Seriously.”
I was getting tired of teasing him now. Everything he reacted to was just “ahh! ahh!” every time.
His dramatics were at the level of a Shiba Inu right before getting a shot. I’d never seen such an undignified emperor before.
At this rate, wouldn’t all the time run out before I even reached 100 taps?
Should I risk being labeled a pervert and just touch him?
“Haah……”
As I sighed repeatedly with a weary expression, Isthar’s wariness gradually faded.
His complexion returned to its original pale state. I truly couldn’t understand the psychology of men in this other world.
He watched me with fearful eyes like a stray cat hiding under a car, then carefully relaxed his curled-up body and obediently held out his hand.
“…My hand?”
“Don’t ask questions—just understand.”
…What does that even mean?
Honestly, people in high positions. They expect mind-reading from those beneath them.
“You mean you want me to pat your hand, right? I don’t want to be accused of harassment for not getting permission.”
“Yes, that’s right. You are only permitted to tap the back of this hand exactly 100 times!”
For some reason, his resolute attitude made me close my eyes tightly.
An emperor in the prime of his youth being this awkward around women.
Could he be completely inexperienced? Don’t members of royalty usually marry at a young age?
Still, considering he’s been regularly poisoned, it’s clear he has no allies. Even if he was married, it probably wasn’t a proper one.
He’s pitiful, so I’ll treat him well. If I put him to sleep first and then give him something tasty, his personality will improve.
I gently covered his hand—still bearing traces of Russell—with my own, where most of the scars had already faded.
As I slowly moved my hand, his body relaxed comfortably.
“Not so bad, is it?”
“……”
He fell asleep far more quickly than Theo ever had.
I watched his tired profile as he slept like a child, then slowly closed my eyes.
I had a sweet dream. A future Earth where no disasters had occurred—the most hopeful version imaginable.
I was back on stage, moving to the rhythm with the wind, belting out my voice amid cheers.
Then suddenly, I realized I was dreaming.
Reality couldn’t possibly be this sweet.
All hopeful scenarios in the world only come true in dreams.
The moment I realized that, I felt a heavy emptiness and put down the microphone. My throat tightened so much I couldn’t sing.
At that moment, a storm of grayish-white dust swept across the concert hall like a tornado.
I stared blankly at the approaching tornado, then closed my eyes as if resigning myself.
The rough dust scraped across my soft cheeks. I felt a floating sensation as if I were flying, then suddenly plummeted downward.
“…Huh—!”
I woke up drenched in cold sweat.
I couldn’t distinguish what was a dream and what was reality, nor where the boundary between them lay.
In truth, ever since the disaster began alongside the cherry blossoms, I had long since lost any sense of reality.
I suppose anyone would have felt the same.
I stared blankly at the tightly closed curtains, then gathered my courage and flung them open in one swift motion.
Outside, the same grayish-white dust I had seen in my dream continued to pour down like a torrential rain.
“This is ridiculous. The most unreal situation is actually reality.”
Now barely grounded in reality, I remembered the emperor who had fallen asleep in my bed and looked around the room.
But he was nowhere to be seen.
“What? Did the emperor’s visit… turn out to be a dream…?”
…No, it wasn’t. The messy clothes he had left behind proved otherwise.
I sighed deeply, picked up the neatly placed outfit on the table, and tossed it toward the washing machine.
Even though I knew it would wash and dry itself over time, it was simply a habit.
“Hmm?”
In the place where the clothes had been, there was a note left behind.
From the texture of the paper alone, it screamed “luxury,” so it was clearly left by Isthar.
Feeling pleased, I immediately opened the note.
“To Dorothy,
Since you didn’t wake up even after I tried to rouse you, I’m leaving this note.
As you assured me, my body has improved significantly. Your healing magic appears to be quite powerful.
I hope you will use that ability for good purposes.
That is all.
Emperor of the Valdehardt Empire, Isthar.”
Fortunately, the note was easy to read.
Just as I could understand Isthar’s speech, the written language seemed to have synchronized as well.
“Seriously, would it kill him to add a simple ‘thank you’?”
And what’s with that lecturing tone—telling me to use my ability for good purposes like some old-fashioned teacher?
I glared at the note with irritation in my eyes.
Part of me wanted to throw it straight into the trash, but for some reason I had a feeling I might meet him again, so I decided to carefully store it in a drawer.
While making my morning coffee to calm my irritation, the system window delivered some welcome news.
[The guidebook for the shelter owner who has fallen into a disaster world has been updated.]
“Alright. I’ll read it while drinking coffee.”
I casually poured three packets of instant coffee mix into a mug, added a slightly insufficient amount of water, and stirred until it turned a beautiful caramel color.
Reading with a warm cup of coffee on the side—it almost felt like being in a café.
“Let’s take a look.”
The guidebook had been updated with three chapters. It seemed that one chapter was added per visitor.
『Chapter 3』
-
Power distribution within the Valdehardt Empire
-
Valdehardt Empire ‘Allenges’ Imperial House
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Valdehardt Empire ‘Menegoli’ Imperial House
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Revolutionary Rebel Forces
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Mercenary Group ‘Erita’
-
Valdehardt Empire ‘Allenges’ Imperial House
Ten years ago, following the massive explosion of the 29th Island, the last king of the Menegoli Imperial House of the Valdehardt Empire passed away.
Although there was an heir, Leonar, the high priestess Mariel designated Isthar, heir of the collateral Allenges ducal house, as the next emperor.
Due to a prophecy stating that a great disaster was approaching and that only Isthar could prevent it, the people fully supported him.
However, since Isthar was not yet of age at the time, his father, the Duke of Allenges, became the first emperor of the Allenges imperial line.
Three years later, the first emperor died under mysterious circumstances, and Isthar ascended the throne as the second emperor.
The current emperor, Isthar, holds a rather weak position.
“Ah… I see.”
No wonder his position is weak. If his predecessor also died under mysterious circumstances, he must have been assassinated.
I let out a sigh of sympathy and turned the page.
-
Valdehardt Empire ‘Menegoli’ Imperial House
The Menegoli Imperial House boasts a history of about 400 years.
However, due to long-lasting peace, corruption spread within the royal family, and regions outside the capital, Valarion, were neglected, resulting in over half the territory falling under the control of the revolutionary rebels.
Ten years ago, the throne was passed to the collateral Allenges ducal family.
The last crown prince of the Menegoli house, Leonar, now serves as Grand Duke Menegoli and wields the greatest influence in the capital.
-
Revolutionary Rebel Forces
Once effectively ruling over more than half the empire, only remnants remain now due to the gray-white dust disaster.
They received support from the Republic of Yuriedel on the 29th Island, and rumors say their leadership consists of mages.
-
Mercenary Group ‘Erita’
A coalition mercenary guild led by a leader known as “the black-haired Theo.”
They are taking the lead over the imperial family in protecting citizens from the gray-white dust.
They are desperately seeking places to shelter refugees caused by the disaster.
“…Black-haired Theo?”
Could it be that the mercenary leader “Theo” is the same Theo I know?
My mouth fell open, and the coffee I had been holding dripped onto my apron.
Cursing my own clumsiness, I quickly grabbed tissues and accidentally spilled the rest of the coffee onto the guidebook.
Splash—
“Damn it.”
All the strength left my shoulders. Resigned, I could only watch as the coffee spread artistically across the page.
A thin stream of liquid that survived to the end passed over Theo’s name and stopped at Isthar’s name.
At that moment, it felt like a lightbulb went off in my head.
The spilled coffee had sparked my deduction.
Theo is a mercenary. Isthar is an emperor.
At first glance, the two seem unrelated, but they share something in common.
They both hold positions capable of leading people.
Of course, Isthar’s position is weak, but as an emperor chosen through prophecy, he must still have the people’s support.
Moreover, Isthar became emperor to prevent the disaster, while Theo is actively saving people within the disaster itself.
If things are unfolding this way…
“System, is my role to connect Theo and Isthar?”
[The shelter owner is free to act as they wish.]
“Hmm. That’s vague…”
It would be nice if it gave a clearer answer. Maybe I should rephrase the question?
“Will Theo and Isthar visit the shelter again?”
[Yes.]
As expected. Just as I had suspected, Theo and Isthar visiting as “guests” of the shelter was by no means a coincidence.
They had a reason to come here. If that’s the case, then my role as the shelter owner must be quite important.
“Is there any way for me to summon Theo and Isthar to the shelter first?”
