Epilogue: War for Destiny

The news about the end of the duel spread out all over the country through the Shogunate's public radio service and newspaper company.

"The Shogun achieved a bloodless victory in his duel!"

"The Kirin Lord was rendered unconscious!"

Although the news seemingly looked nothing more but an interesting event to the commoners, the nobles and government workers who understood the underlying politics that can be pinned to this victory quickly inquired the Shogun's wife and legal counsel about it.

"Lady Amanogawa, we do not wish to disrespect… but as this victory caused another sovereign's loss both in honor and credibility amongst his people and peers, I believe we are justified with asking about our next moves."

"That is right, Amanogawa-sama… Although we possess a great economic stability and military might, I believe you have been aware of the Southern Quartet's alliance's victory against the Yukogahara and Satou clans, as well as their very recent decisive victory against the Arakami pirates of Mizuki island province."

"Please enlighten us about our next moves, Lady Amanogawa…"

At the seat where her currently exhausted husband should be sitting, Amanogawa Chiasa was being asked by their council of ministers and designated commissioners about how they will handle a possible altercation with the Kirin Lord's alliance party.

"Do not worry about that, ladies and gentlemen… the Shogun and I have already arranged for such measures ahead of the time."

"I apologize for my words and tone, Amanogawa-sama. But for us right now, talk is cheap, and actions are what counts. Even if you state that you have prepared something, if you will not speak to us, we will not understand what you are trying to do."

"…Calm yourself, Minister. How many times do we have to criticize your lack of patience before you learn to wait for the answer that you are asking for?"

Chiasa took her teacup and silently sipped its contents as the council of their officials were silenced for a moment.

"They're here."

"Alright. Let them in."

Behind her, her husband's close friend and general whispered that their guests are here, and she told them to let them in.

"Yahoo! Did you miss me, guys?"

"O-Officer Kawasaki?"

"Endou-kun… I'm glad you were able to make such a quick trip."

"Aww… Thanks for saying something about it, Chia-senpai. I went there as fast as I can since you're the one who requested it."

"You brat… I just made you do it since you're out there roaming around aimlessly anyway… Come on, don't block the door and let our honored guests enter the room."

"Ah yeah! Hey, come on in and take your seats. They've been waiting for you for a long while, you know?"

Suddenly a group of people entered the room and the Shogun's officials were quite puzzled until they recognized who it was that just entered the meeting chamber.

"W-W-W-Wha… what?"

"Is this your preparation, Lady Amanogawa?!"

"Heh."

With a smug smile on her face, Chiasa stood up and introduced the seven people in the group invited over in Hitachi under her direct order.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to all of you, the Daimyos and representatives of the Southern Quartet Alliance."

She pointed at them one by one and each passing person made everyone in the council more and more intimidated.

"Head Nun of St. John the Divine Chapel, Sister Camilla Dormer. General of Shinka, Ayanami Mitsuhide. General of Kiko, Shimura Nobisuke. Chief Economic Consultant of Kiko, Kaminari Tatsu. Daimyo of Fuku, Yamaguchi Koshiro. Chamberlain of Kiko, Aoyama Chiyo. Daimyo of Shinka, Kusanagi Kyoko."

"…!"

"Now, do you wish to talk about the recent duel, ladies and gentlemen."

There was still a smug expression on Chiasa's face as he asked that question to their officials whom she knew, was only pushing it as an issue in order to spark publicity for themselves and now, seeing that the preparation she prepared was thorough, became silenced.

"W-wait!"

"Yes, Lady Aoyama?"

However, before anything else, Chiyo raised her hand with a concerned expression on her face.

"I… I want to see Iwasawa-sama first."

"…"

"This duel… I wish to be beside him after he wakes up."

Seeing the worried expression on her face, Chiasa spoke something beneath her breath.

"…Sora really was kind to have that guy stay alive."

"W-What?"

"Nothing special, Lady Aoyama… Officer Zettour, please guide them to the Kirin Lord's recovery room."

"Z-Zettour?"

From the room behind her seat, came out a tall man with black hair and of unmistakably foreign bloodline.

"H-Hans?!"

"S-Sister? Sister Camilla?!"

There was shock in the eyes of both the nun and the young man as they approached each other and checked if it really was the one they were suspecting.

"You're alive… I can't believe it, sister! You're alive!"

"Oh… oh! Thank you, Almighty God… Thank You for keeping him safe…"

Although a heart-warming reunion was happening in front of them, the meeting of the Southerners with their friend and master has to be done first.

"Officer Zettour, I do not wish to cut your reunion with the nun prematurely, but please make haste already."

"Y-Yes, mam!"

And so, the arc between the Shogun and the Kirin Lord has ended, giving way to the next stage of this story about the purpose of Otherworlders and the conspiracy behind the inconsistencies and even the origin of this world where they have been brought into.

"I'll be waiting for your next move… Priestess of the Otherworld."

And lo, the Shogun himself has been preparing for all of it… his meeting with Hiroshi, his lands who has bowed under him, his allies who are behind him… all primed and ready for the chaos ahead of them.

"You have tricked Akira to be the demon of your family's secret cult… And I will not allow that to happen again. Especially not to Hiroshi who already lived a life that did not belong to him."

In the next part of this story, blood will run and war will rage, as the conspiracies that once kept this country still and in balance must be destroyed and replaced by pillars of truth.

"…Come and test my mettle to the utmost level, Daigo Reika."

Who will Hiroshi side with this time?

"I will show you what I, who once witnessed humanity decline the salvation of their world, can do to save this new world that I have called home."