Chapter 636: Epilogue
“You are only going to meet and greet him. There’s no need to be so nervous.” “Y-yes, Grandfather.”
Grandfather says that, but I think it’s impossible not to be nervous.
To think I will actually meet the founder of our Duchy of Brunhild, His Majesty Touya Mochizuki, the First Grand Duke, the person who is spoken of in countless legends.
My name is Kouya Brunhild, or Kouya Mochizuki in the domestic register. I just turned fifteen the other day and completed the Coming-of-Age ceremony. That night, my father and grandfather called me and revealed a secret passed down through the Brunhild Royal family.
The First Grand Duke is still alive. It is said he still watches over this world from an island floating in the heavens. Over three hundred years have passed since the Duchy of Brunhild was founded. My father is already the fourteenth Duke.
When I asked if the First Duke was a long-lived species, I was told he was not, but was welcomed by the gods. It makes no sense.
Although records state he passed away, it seems that successors to the Duchy are required to meet him once. It is supposedly to test their qualification. Hearing that, it’s impossible not to be nervous.
“First of all, if we had judged that you lacked the qualification, we wouldn’t have even told you about the First Duke. We told you because we judged you would be fine. The First Duke probably knows that too.”
Eh, does that mean he sees everything…? That just increases my anxiety…
Unable to shake off the tension, I followed Grandfather, and we came out to the castle courtyard. Is the First Duke going to come to a place like this?
Grandfather took out his smartphone and seemed to be typing an email.
The next moment, I noticed a maid standing in front of us. When did she get here?!
“It has been a while, Lady Francesca.”
“It has been a while. And this is…?”
“Yes. This is my grandson, Kouya.”
My grandfather was bowing his head to a mere maid. No, anyone Grandfather bows to cannot be a mere maid. I hastily bowed my head as well.
“This is Lady Francesca. She is one of the ten Apostles who serves the First Duke.”
“My name is Francesca. The Master is waiting for you upstairs, so we shall transfer immediately. Please place your hands on mine, both of you.”
Before I could understand what was happening, I placed my hand on Francesca’s outstretched hand, just like Grandfather. In an instant, we had transferred from the castle courtyard to a garden filled with blooming, colorful flowers.
I could see a transparent, dome-shaped canopy in the sky. Is this the island floating in the heavens where the First Duke resides?
“Now, please follow me.”
Following Francesca, who began to walk, we strolled through the garden. Beyond the transparent, glass-like wall, a sea of clouds spread out, confirming that we were indeed high up in the sky. I have never heard rumors of such an island. Does it have a function that makes it invisible from the outside, concealing its existence?
Eventually, we passed through a gate blooming with roses and came to an open area. I saw a man sitting in a white gazebo on a slightly raised platform in the center.
“Hello. Welcome to Babylon‘s ‘Garden.’ I am Touya Mochizuki, the First Grand Duke, and your ancestor.”
This man is the First Grand Duke? He looks only slightly older than me, just an ordinary young man with no particular features… Compared to the portrait in the castle, the image is quite different. He looked much more… commanding in the portrait.
“You’re making the same face your grandfather did when he first came here. Why do all the children who come here for the first time make that face?”
Seeing my subtle expression, the First Grand Duke said that to my grandfather with a wry smile. Grandfather opened his mouth, also with a wry smile.
“I apologize, but it is probably due to the portrait in the castle.”
“I knew it. See, I told them it was better not to exaggerate… It’s better to use a normal look for things like that.”
“But it’s going to remain forever, isn’t it? We want to leave a proper representation. Only the successive Dukes know the truth, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
A beautiful woman was standing next to the First Duke. Her long blonde hair swayed in the breeze. Her eyes, when she turned toward us, were different colors: the right one was blue, and the left was green. Confused, I whispered to my grandfather.
“Who is that Lady…?”
“That is the Duchess Yumina, the matriarch of our Brunhild Royal Family.”
Duchess Yumina…!? One of the nine wives who supported the First Duke and the ancestor of our Royal Family!?
“H-hello, Your Majesty the First Duke, Duchess Yumina. I am Kouya Mochizuki.”
“Nice to meet you. My name is Yumina Mochizuki. I am your distant, distant grandmother,” she said.
Grandmother… W-well, that may be true, but the discrepancy is huge. She looks younger than my own mother…
I happened to glance behind the Duchess and saw eight women sitting at a round table on a terrace, drinking tea. Could they be the remaining wives of the Nine Wives?
“The next King has black hair,” the First Grand Duke observed. “Yes, his mother was from Eashen.”
“Hehehe, he looks just like you when you were young, Touya-san.”
I look just like the First Grand Duke? Me? Is that so…? Will I also look like the First Duke in front of me in a few years?
“So, what do you think?” the First Grand Duke asked.
At his words, the Duchess’s eyes turned toward me. She was looking intently at me with a serious gaze, different from before… I felt so uneasy… as if she could see right through me… She kept looking for quite a while; what does this mean?
“Hehehe, there is no problem. As expected of the descendant of Touya-san and myself,” the Duchess said.
When the Duchess smiled again, I felt relieved, even though I didn’t know why.
“That’s good. With this, you are recognized as the next Grand Duke. I went through the same thing, so I understand how you feel.”
My grandfather went through the same thing too… Is this the ritual for becoming Grand Duke?
“You were much more tense than he is. You seem to have calmed down considerably,” the Duchess teased Grandfather. “Well, that’s because forty years have passed, you see…”
That’s rare. My grandfather is flustered. It seems even my grandfather holds the Duchess in high regard.
“Now, since the ‘Discernment Ceremony’ is complete, let’s give the upcoming Grand Duke a present,” the First Grand Duke announced.
When he said that, Francesca walked towards me with a small white box. I took the small box she offered. It was heavier than I expected. What is this?
“Open it.”
As instructed, I opened the small box, and inside was a shiny, brand-new black smartphone.
“This is…!”
It was different from the smartphone I owned, or any model currently released. Is it the latest model? Wait, this is…!
I instinctively looked at my grandfather, and he nodded solemnly.
“Yes. All smartphones manufactured in Brunhild are made on this island, where the First Duke resides. This fact is known only to a limited number of people in the Duchy. You must never speak of it, understood?”
I knew it. No one knew where the smartphones sold by Brunhild were manufactured. Not even I, the Duke’s son. It’s Brunhild‘s top secret. For a long time, other countries have tried to uncover this secret by sending in spies, but they would never find it here…
“That smartphone is your coming-of-age gift. It has new features that no previous model has and its performance is significantly improved over existing smartphones.”
“Improved performance…? Like better camera features?”
“No, no, no. Even if you improve the camera, it won’t change that much. That smartphone is imbued with an attribute. If you possess it, you can use magic even if you don’t have the aptitude for it,” the First Duke explained.
“What!? Even magic for attributes outside my own aptitude!?”
Traditionally, magic cannot be used without the appropriate aptitude. This is an astounding feature that overturns that common knowledge.
“We are releasing six colors, each imbued with one of the six attributes—Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Light, and Darkness: Crimson Red, Ocean Blue, Mint Green, Coffee Brown, Platinum White, and Night Black. We made sure that they interfere with each other, so even if you carry two, you won’t gain multiple attributes.”
The First Duke explained that it only assists aptitude, so it’s not a function that allows immediate magic use just by possessing it. You still need study and training. Nevertheless, it will undoubtedly be a saving grace for many people who have given up on magic.
Ah, is that why he gave me this Night Black smartphone? I have aptitude for all attributes except Darkness. That’s why I secretly admired Darkness attribute Summoning Magic. With this smartphone, I might be able to summon a summoned beast I’ve always wanted. Thinking that, I felt excited.
“This is the greatest gift. I will treasure it.”
“Good. Use that smartphone, and take good care of the next generation.”
The First Duke, who said that, was holding a similar black smartphone in his hand.
Epilogue End (Ending Song: Isekai Jewelry)
