1. The Last Record
Royalty is not eternal.
When the development of an empire gradually deviates from its original path due to internal or external reasons, whether intentional or accidental, from that moment on, its downfall becomes inevitable.
After all, the long-standing comfort has caused the king to lose some vigilance; the servants who should have been his most effective weapons have become the blades that betray him; and due to certain “wills” that cannot be resisted, the wheels of destruction for the empire roll forward, unstoppable.
Once ruling everything, the glorious empire must ultimately face the final chapter of its lifespan. It is not due to any “inheritance of offspring,” a reason that could at least be accepted, but simply because it fell by its own hand. To establish the empire with one’s own hands and to witness its destruction with one’s own eyes is far too difficult for the empire’s sole queen to bear.
Thus, when the queen realized what she was doing, she had already been led out of the palace by the few loyal fairies who had received her grace.
“Your Majesty… we are at least safe here for the time being.”
The chaotic fairy Claudilus gasped for breath, yet there was not a trace of relief in her eyes. After all, everyone knew: this was merely a stopgap measure. The empire was on the brink of destruction, and the traitors were about to flaunt their power and wreak havoc. Even if everyone exerted their utmost effort to bring the queen to this fairy altar, where they could barely be safe for a while, if nothing was done, the traitors would eventually find them through their connection with the queen.
Using the queen’s grace while inflicting harm upon her—those despicable self-disciplined fairies, those detestable traitors! Unable to resist cheap temptations, easily betraying their loyalty, how could they, who were so exceptional, not possess even a shred of the glory and dignity gained from receiving the queen’s grace!?
Claudilus wanted to say something more, but… her words were interrupted by a voice nearby.
[The queen ultimately escaped to the vicinity of the fairy altar.]
He is the painter of scrolls.
At a time like this, how can this man still have the composure to sit here with a stern face, continuing to write his history!? Though it was frustrating, Claudilus couldn’t afford to focus on this man right now; she turned her gaze to the other fairies who had come along with the queen.
“Next, we will channel our power to the master together. In any case, let’s first ensure the master has enough strength to escape far away, to evade the pursuit of those traitors. And we will stay behind to buy the master as much time as possible… You all have no objections, right? Since our combined strength can send one person away, it should naturally be the master who goes first.”
No fairy would object, for those who were willing to follow the queen here had long since proven their loyalty to the master without needing words.
After receiving the fairies’ affirmative response, Claudilus looked at the queen.
“Master, please quickly reclaim your grace, and then… let’s escape from here!”
After all, this was the last resort. The empire existed for the queen; as long as the queen remained, then… everything could possibly return to normal.
However, in the next moment, what everyone received was the queen’s eerily calm response. Even as the distant sounds of smoke, fire, and explosions echoed from the empire’s castle, the queen remained unwavering.
“If only one person can leave, then I do not wish it to be me. This is my empire, and even at the last moment, as a ruler, I must witness its destruction with my own eyes.”
Saying this, the queen turned to her painter of scrolls.
Just moments ago, her voice had been calm, but now it carried a hint of urgency.
“And besides, someone needs to leave more than I do. Painter of scrolls, take this sole opportunity; get away from here, do not return, escape to the ends of the earth, as far away as possible.”
Yet, in that moment, the queen’s hopes fell flat.
The man before her, the one who recorded the history of the empire, who chronicled everything about himself, remained as calm as ever, clearly saying, “I do not accept.” If the queen’s calmness stemmed from her readiness to face the end as a ruler, then why could the painter of scrolls be so composed…
Did he not know how desperately he wished he could escape!?
After a brief silence, the painter’s voice remained unchanged.
“Your Majesty, I am merely your painter of scrolls. In this moment of your decision, please do not consider my existence.”
If the painter’s usual coldness and aloofness could earn the queen’s admiration and affection, then at this moment, his unwavering demeanor pushed her to the brink of impatience!
Because…
The queen could no longer understand; did this man truly grasp his importance, did he truly understand why the empire was like this!?
“Scroll Master! Are you insane!? Their goal is to kill you! To make you die! At a moment like this, what good is it to pretend to be invisible in front of me!?”
“Your Majesty, I have said that I am your Scroll Master, and because of that, I must record your history until the very last moment. This is not a time for you to play and frolic, so please do not treat my existence lightly.”
Play and frolic—such words, once spoken, had barely given the queen a chance to react before the fairies had already seized the Scroll Master’s clothing, nearly ready to slaughter him! The chaotic fairy Claudilus even yanked at his collar directly.
“Writer! Don’t refuse a toast and then drink a penalty! Do you think we’ve become like this for no reason!? Isn’t it all because of you! At this moment, the master is still wholeheartedly devoted to you, why is it that… even your final response to the master is still this disgusting attitude!!?”
“……”
The Scroll Master’s silence nearly provoked the fairies to violence, but in the next moment, he was sharply halted by the queen’s voice!
“Enough!”
It was just a single word, yet the queen’s subsequent restraint seemed to lack strength.
“But, my master! This scum!”
“Enough… don’t make it harder for him.”
The Scroll Master seemed oblivious to the fairies’ anger, the queen’s protection, and everything before him, and simply continued.
“Your Majesty, I believe time is running short. Please share your final thoughts, so I may complete your record…”
“You… ha, hahaha~ Scroll Master, you truly are a qualified Scroll Master…”
In the queen’s eyes, only sadness and helplessness remained, even breaking into a bitter smile, “There’s nothing to be done; who told you to be this kind of man… otherwise, I wouldn’t…”
Sniffling, in the blink of an eye, the queen discarded the disheveled appearance from just moments ago.
“I will stay with the empire until the end. That should suffice, right? Scroll Master, your duty is complete; you may flee.”
【The king perishes alongside the empire.】
【Recording complete.】
The tremors from the explosion had even reached this place, the Scroll Master, affected and swaying, hastily scribbled down a few words, then…
He looked up at the queen, who gazed back at him with a face full of helplessness.
“It’s enough, my queen. Your story has come to an end. Please forgive me for asking you to speak the conclusion you are reluctant to share.”
“Well…”
In the next moment, the queen’s slightly parted lips froze, because…
“Because only in this way can I put an end to the identity of the Scroll Artist.”
The Scroll Artist, who had closed that book of “records,” did not make any move, yet to the queen, it felt as if he had transformed into someone else entirely, reigniting the flame in her heart that had almost been doused!
“The record is complete… my king.”
“But I will not let you meet the same fate as in history.”
——
This volume is similar to the previous one with Kephiel, a specific supplementary volume, and this time it’s Nilu’s turn.
In fact, I have rarely used this somewhat melodramatic writing style since I stopped writing yuri stories. I hope it doesn’t come off as too awkward.
This volume will consist of several chapters.