MaruMA:Gaiden01:Epilogue

Epilogue

“… Th-that’s it, tosa.”

The moment that they connected all of the scribbling together into a short story, Lord Günter von Christ and the editor from The Central Literary Institute of The Great Demon Kingdom, Badwik Folkloke, fell silent.

After putting the scraps of paper back with nervous hand movements, Günter quietly closes the red-covered diary.

“… T-to think that such a secret existed, tosa… To think that His Majesty The Demon King’s soul… belonged to Suzanna Julia in its past life…”

Now that he says that, it actually explains a few things. When Adalbert had shook up Yuuri’s brain and he became able to understand this world’s language, Günter himself had said:

‘He drew out the stored language skills from a gap in Your Majesty’s soul. All souls without exception have the accumulated memories of all of their past ‘lives.’ Of course, normally the doors to that knowledge do not open and the soul only utilizes information it has gained in its new ‘life.’ However, that man pried the door open and forcefully drew out a portion of those memories. Since there was knowledge of our language there, that is proof that Your Majesty’s soul was once in this world.’

If that was the case, then why could he speak perfectly but be completely incapable of reading text? Why exactly could he read the engraving on the back of Morgif’s guard by touching it with his fingertips when he could not make any sense of the words by sight?

Suzanna Julia was not blessed with sight at birth, but she could read at a considerable pace by feeling engraved letters.

And if Adalbert had carelessly used that savage technique and brought her memories to the surface from the depths of Yuuri’s soul…

And the only one who knew this was Lord Conrart Weller, the one who cared for her more than anyone else.

“… What a horrible… what… this, ahh.”

Unable to withstand the strain of continuously worrying about these grave issues, Günter’s thought processes snapped. The now-supported truth hit very close to his emotions that bordered on becoming a personal grudge.

“I had thought that His Majesty was only opening his heart to Conrart and it turns out that there was this sort of circumstance surrounding them. I see, then that is to be expected. I can understand why His Majesty will only relax around him. Aha, so Lord Weller knew. He knew that His Majesty’s soul was originally Suzanna Julia’s when he took it to the other world… So that’s why…”

The editor slaps both of his hands a few times on the table in unison like a child.

“Awwwwwww! There’s-no-ending-to-the-story-however! Did His Majesty’s soul end up being born safely? I want to know what happens so bad however~!” “What.Are.You.Saying!? If he had not been born safely then he would not be in this castle messing around with Wolfram and flirting with Conrart… I hate you… This is unforgiveable, Conrart…”

Before he knew it, Günter had paled with anger and jealousy as he sat across from him. Wanting to get back to business, Badwik forced his voice to be as calm as possible.

“Uh, um, the Suzanna Julia Your Excellency spoke of, is she perchance the woman hailed as one of The Great Demon Kingdom’s Three Great Witches, Lady Suzanna Julia von Wincott? If so, not only businessmen like myself, but most everyone in the kingdom knew that Lady Suzanna Julia was engaged to the eldest son of the von Grantz family because of an article in The Great Demon Kingdom’s daily report so… ah.”

Before he could even mention Lord Weller’s name, he was stopped by a glint in Günter’s eye that would easily extinguish the life of even a dragon. Skillful backpedaling is one of the most important tricks to succeeding at life. The editor immediately rearranged his expression and waved his right hand around in front of his face. His cheeks twitch a little, but he somehow manages to hold his business smile in place.

“Unfortunately our company does not have a periodical division devoted to scandals so no matter how fascinating a love affair, we are not equipped to spread it to the public. So that means that the only thing I can do is to not tell our competitors about this. Ah, what exactly did I just hear? I suddenly developed amnesia however!”

“It is lucky that you are an intelligent person. Forget everything you have heard here this instant. If you ever reveal anything to anyone about this, I will find you no matter where you hide. Snow Günter will freeze you to death.”

He’s half frozen already.

“… In any case, since it’s a novel marketed towards the ladies… the theme is too serious and I can’t use it… It’s probably best to simply use the sound parts of your diary! It’s a little lacking in page count, but we’ll just play it by ear and revise it as we go. We’ll make it more, more of an amusing, bookish piece of literature to read.”

“Write it like a book!?”

“Yes.”

“… I have to?”

“Of course however.”

“Me? Really?”

“Who else is going to write it? Your Excellency is already The Novelist, Lord Günter von Christ.”

Defeated by the title of ‘Novelist,’ his mind slips away.

Novelist, novelist, novelist. Ah, what excuse do I-… no, how should I explain this to my family? Oh, will I not have to practice a stylish autograph? It might seem unnatural if I write in a strange cursive, but majestic and angular letters would be amateurish. No but if they lose interest in this proposal while I am practicing then that will be unbelievably embarrassing.

However, there was no need for these worries.

“But Your Excellency’s name gives a formal and stuffy impression so if it’s alright with you, would you mind thinking up an emotionally captivating pen name that would be a little more popular with women? Most importantly, if you publish this under your real name then everyone in the kingdom will know that you were involved however.”

“Ah, is that so? A pen name befitting a novelist.”

He’s a bit crestfallen.

The editor keeps on speaking quickly and brings up something quite far off into the future.

“I might be getting ahead of myself however, but I think that writing a good title will boost the popularity. How about something that will draw the eye right to it and leave a good impression?”

“… Hm, even if you say that…”

“If you don’t have any good ideas then, yeah, how about something like ‘The Ultimate Relationship Between Master and Servant’? The hidden feelings of Your Excellency directed at His Majesty. ‘I want to confess, but-I-can’t-because-you-are-my-master-and-I-am-your-servant!’ ... Like that, right?” He feels like he’s seen this before, but he can only silently nod his head in acquiescence at the ‘right?’ and accompanying look of doubt. Once the editor is on a roll, no one can stop him.

The negotiations went without a hitch and finally Günter’s two works, ‘A Dream Diary that Starts in Spring’ and ‘A Love Diary Composed in Summer’, received minor revisions and were set to be published simultaneously.

As someone without any particular experience in the literary field who was suddenly tasked with compiling a two-part series. Even if he was told to add to places or rewrite parts, there was no way that he would be able to proficiently do those things.

He whined at every opportunity saying ‘I can’t do it, I’m so useless’ and other complaints.

Badwik was once again fired up with his work and provided some private, sunny support from the blazing editor spirit residing in the depths of his heart. If it wasn’t for that, the publishing date would have been delayed for a while and the works would have become unknown masterpieces. To make matters worse, the publishing company had a deadline.

“… This is impossible. I cannot write anymore.”

“It’s okay however! You can definitely write it however!”

“But even though this is my diary, it feels as if it is someone else’s story. It is not interesting at all and I cannot even bring the demon language properly into my mind anymore.”

“That’s-not-true-it-is-interesting-however! This is something everyone goes through.”

“But… no matter how I look at it, there is no way I will be able to make the deadline!”

Even when addressing this serious problem, Badwik clenched his tiny fist and reassuringly said ‘You will make the deadline!’ to encourage the other man into self inspiration.

At first glance, this was a baseless assertion, but he might have grown confident after working so many years in the business world. There was no longer any way out for Günter and the only thing he could do was keep on working even if he lost his time to sleep.

“Well now, you’re all dressed up. Are you going out somewhere Gügügünty-güüü?”

“Yo-Your Majesty! … This, this is uh… I have a minor matter to take care of in town.”

“Oh really.” Yuuri smirked with an I-see-how-it-is look. It looks like he is imagining something mischievous. “Is it a date?”

“A d-date!? Your Majesty, that is absurd! I would never think to date anyone besides Your Majesty!”

“This again? You don’t have to be so embarrassed. I am very open-minded about the love affairs of the elderly. Love is love no matter what age and the Hiroshima Carps are still carps. If you’re not going to meet a girl, then what’s up with that bright cape? It’s not like something you would normally wear. And what’s up with that feathered mask… wait, a mask?”

Günter was clutching a brightly colored mask to his chest with his right hand. Thinking that it was something he shouldn’t interfere with, Yuuri hurriedly evades the subject.

“Huh, a masked date… That’s kind of ‘adult.’ Well anyway, the weather is nice so have fun today! Say hello to the lady for me!” “Aahhh Your Majestyyyy! You are mistaken! That is not why I have this mask!”

Actually, he had a book signing at a large bookstore in town that day. Since he had published the books under an alias to hide his social position, he could not expose his face to the public. Even so, he wanted to know what the readers reactions were and if he was personally involved, then the profit from writing the book might go up. Therefore, it was a masked book signing. A beauty in an alluring mask would sign the books, just as advertised. It seemed fun, but he couldn’t just rely on skill.

Yes, last month the two-part work was selling enough to stay in the black. However, it was only average based upon the actual numbers. From now on, the honest activity of the writer himself would be important in increasing sales. In order to reduce the mountain of stock stored in the warehouse, the new author of diaries, Lord Günter von Christ (pen name: different), would fight until the end of time!

The loyal servant of the great Boy King

He hid his passionate feelings for his master in his heart

And wrote a diary of dazzling love and conflict

They were the wild delusions of a nobleman, tosa.

This is a pic Temari drew based on this gaiden/dramas where Günter is asked to sign some books for his fans and he’s using a mask not to be recognized.

Approximated translation: Congratulations on the love Journal CD. I drew Gunter as the mysterious author of novels (something something) Please keep releasing juices happily from now on. Matsumoto Temari

Back to Chapter 5

Return to MA Series