How to Survive as a Genius Spy in the Game Chapter 296 - Final Chapter, Summer (End)

Five years had passed since the final battle with the Great Devil. It might seem short or long, but it was enough time for the aftermath of the great war to fade away.

Of course, many people had died, so there were still those who shared in the sorrow, but it meant that everyday life had been restored.

Proportional to the passing time, even the Battle of Romanek Plain, which had once inflamed the hearts and brought tears to the eyes of the people of the continent, was gradually becoming blurred.

This doesn’t mean it was forgotten. For most ordinary people living their daily lives, tales of heroes were just occasional passing entertainment.

And that applied to those who had fought in the battle as well. In the flow of time, the past was becoming more and more distant.

Of course, there were still those who lived in that battle of the past. They were pitiful ones.

“I… I! I fought alongside Lord Carl Schurtafen on that snowy black plain back then!”

A knight who had lost his left leg during the Battle of Romanek Plain would often wander around the capital in a shabby state. There weren’t many such people, but they did exist.

Although the Empire provided a considerable monthly honorary allowance to the war veterans, these were people who had already lost the purpose of their lives.

“Ah, we know. Who doesn’t know about that, Sir Knight?”

“Come here. You’ve had too much to drink. No, no. I’m saying you should have a glass of water.”

People still looked at the knight with compassionate eyes. He had spent his entire life wielding a sword. No matter how noble the battle was, his personal life had already been devastated.

Left behind in the most brilliant period of his life. It wasn’t their fault.

The Empire hadn’t been negligent either. The preferential treatment and financial compensation for the participants were certain. Nevertheless, the Empire was preparing something additional.

“Please come to your senses. I hear Her Majesty the Emperor is going to do something again.”

It was only recently that Erendil had seen such people. She had been too busy with post-war work, and when the Emperor was to make an appearance, the imperial staff would move in advance.

Those who knew the situation had no reason to tell the Emperor about it. But Erendil was different.

Like those knights, her heart too remained on the Romanek Plain of five years ago.

She instructed to devise ways to help them. Simply providing more honorary allowances was not the solution.

It would only encourage them to squander it. Through Osten, Erendil requested the production of more advanced prosthetic hands and legs.

And she thought about ways for the Empire to employ them separately. There were many ways. They could be instructors training soldiers, or manpower for national projects.

And now she was in the final stages of progress, racking her brain. It was a matter of which method would be better.

“Hmm…”

The sound of cicadas tickled her ears from outside the terrace. It was full summer. The lush vegetation gave a cool feeling, blending with the blue sky above the white city.

Of course, the weather wasn’t like that. The Emperor’s office was maintaining coolness with magic, but.

“If it’s difficult to make a decision, why don’t you rest a bit and think about it?”

“Yes. That would be better.”

Erendil nodded at Grand Duchess Lyurik’s words. A moment of rest. Erendil silently looked out the window. In the distance, the green shade caught her eye.

The Emperor approached the terrace. It was strange to feel that the scenery was beautiful. Since that day, most of her appreciation had been closer to pain.

“Sien, stop the magic.”

“Your Majesty, if I may be so bold, it’s very hot outside.”

“Don’t make me say it twice.”

“I apologize.”

Even after the magic stopped, the coolness remained in the enclosed space. She opened the glass door. Hot winds approached.

The winds were not to her liking, but the heat wasn’t bad. For some reason, it felt like her mood was improving. Erendil smiled faintly.

“You’re smiling after a long time.”

Grand Duchess Lyurik, standing beside her, continued.

“Has it been a long time?”

“It has been a long time.”

“I’m not sure.”

“The fact that you say you’re not sure means it’s been a long time since you smiled.”

“Don’t say things I don’t want to hear.”

Erendil grumbled, but Grand Duchess Lyurik felt sorry. That emotion slightly showed on her face. Erendil narrowed her eyes and glared at her.

“And don’t look at me like that. I’m in a not-so-bad mood for the first time in a while.”

Grand Duchess Lyurik observed for a moment before continuing.

“Your Majesty.”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“It’s time you got married.”

“I said I don’t want to.”

“A lot of time has passed.”

Grand Duchess Lyurik’s concern was natural. Currently, Erendil was the only member of the imperial family in the Empire. It was customary for royal families and imperial households to think about descendants.

In fact, among those in the imperial palace now, no one was unaware of Erendil’s feelings. It couldn’t be helped.

After Carl Schurtafen went missing in the Battle of Romanek Plain, Erendil’s behavior seemed like that of someone broken to anyone who saw it.

Even those who didn’t know originally could only notice given the circumstances.

That’s why they stayed quiet for about two years. The Emperor’s smile was rarely seen. But two years was the limit.

The nobles of the Empire told the Emperor to find a mate. The loyal subjects were the same.

-I don’t want to.

Every time Erendil’s refusal continued, but for those thinking about the future of the Empire, it was something they couldn’t give up.

Grand Duchess Lyurik was also one of the people who often said such things. Even though she knew Erendil disliked it.

Of course, Erendil wasn’t the kind of person who disliked or pushed away Grand Duchess Lyurik for saying such things.

“A lot… Do you think a lot of time has passed?”

“…”

At Erendil’s words, Grand Duchess Lyurik bowed her head. It was because a solemn atmosphere had arrived. The grand duchess felt a little sorry.

The Emperor had seemed to be in a good mood for once, and she wondered if her words had made her depressed. But it was her duty as a subject.

“I, I don’t think so. My time is still stopped on that plain back then.”

“Lord Carl Schurtafen would want Your Majesty to overcome this.”

“I suppose so. That’s right. If it were Schurtafen, he would wish that I not be so sad.”

Erendil readily admitted, but her expression was firm.

“But just because I know that doesn’t mean I have to act as Schurtafen would wish. I am the Emperor. I mean I will do as I please.”

“Your Majesty…!”

Grand Duchess Lyurik called out to Erendil with desperate eyes. It was true that she could do as she pleased, but the issue of succession was different.

If Erendil were to die without leaving an heir, the Empire would be thrown into chaos once again.

People would flock to the empty throne. Grand Duchess Lyurik was one of those potential candidates herself.

Even if she didn’t want to, supporters would gather and cause confusion.

“I don’t understand the reason. Didn’t the grand duchess get married later than I?”

Grand Duchess Lyurik married Cedric a year after the Battle of Romanek Plain. It was because of the connection with her siblings and him treating her.

Cedric, who would have originally become a Mad Saint and caused chaos, was now a nobleman taking care of people.

After Carl Schurtafen disappeared, there was quite a controversy when the Empire’s most powerful figure married a commoner. However, the nobles didn’t think badly of it.

If Grand Duchess Lyurik had married a specific noble, it might have shaken their position instead.

Moreover, since Cedric possessed the Mystic Power of ‘healing’, Grand Duchess Lyurik’s position actually became even higher.

“Your Majesty, I am not the Emperor of the Empire. You are different.”

“I don’t know what’s different.”

“You’re a wise person, so I know you understand well.”

“Enough. I don’t want to talk about this anymore today.”

Erendil spoke firmly. Grand Duchess Lyurik also took a step back. She knew this fight wouldn’t be resolved right away.

She was a person who had watched the relationship between Carl Schurtafen and Erendil from almost the beginning.

She thought that after a few more years passed, she could change Erendil’s mind. Of course, Erendil didn’t think so.

“You may go now. Let’s talk about this agenda again tomorrow.”

“Yes. I shall withdraw.”

After the grand duchess left, Erendil also issued an order of expulsion to her maid and mage.

“I want to be alone. Go out for a while.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Erendil sat in a chair placed on the terrace. Her golden hair shone brightly in the sunlight. She took a sip of iced tea.

Despite the scorching summer sun, she didn’t feel bad. It was a peacefulness she hadn’t felt in a long time. For some reason, it felt like a day when something good might happen.

Nevertheless, she recalled winter within the summer. It was a habitual reminiscence. It was the last day she had seen Schurtafen.

Snow falls from the gray sky. The world was black and white on the snow piled on the black plain. A blurry world overlaps on top of that.

-Don’t forget. It’s two seconds later.

-…Don’t get hurt.

-I’ll try.

In the conversation she had recalled thousands and tens of thousands of times, Erendil always felt a pain in her chest. How must her knight have felt when he told her not to forget two seconds later?

She didn’t know at the time due to the urgency, but now she knew the feeling that gaze gave.

The eyes of the knight looking at her as he said he would try were filled with determination and were intense. And they had lingered on her for a long time.

That gaze had been clear. But it was gradually becoming blurry. Even after recalling it thousands and tens of thousands of times, she couldn’t remember it as well as time passed.

And again, her knight runs on top of the clear black and white world. All Erendil, flying in the air, had seen was his back.

Erendil felt her eyes getting hot. She was used to showing tears alone, but today she didn’t want to cry. Because it was a good day.

“…?”

Just as she was about to swallow her tears, wind blew from somewhere. Erendil turned her head with wide eyes. Her mouth opened reflexively.

“Schurtafen?”

This had happened many times. She could dare to say that she had turned her head and looked for Schurtafen more than thousands of times even at winds that always blew.

But this time was different. Because the warm and cool winds she had loved touched her hand, arm, neck, and head.

And a shadow fell over her sitting on the terrace. Erendil hastily looked up.

“Why are you crying?”

And there was Carl Schurtafen. Erendil stood up abruptly. The knight landed lightly and stood in front of the Emperor. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened as she reached out her hand.

The touch at her fingertips told her that this moment was not an illusion or a dream. Her knight showed a faint smile.

“I’m sorry. I’m a little late.”

Erendil didn’t say anything. She just jumped into the knight’s arms as if flying. And she embraced him with all her might, afraid she might lose him.

Warmth was transmitted. That warmth was clear even in the heat of summer.

Summer finally came to Erendil, who had been staying in winter. And it was the same for Carlyn. For the first time in his life, he embraced Erendil tightly with affection.

The summer wind blew. Although it wasn’t called by him who used winds, it was wind that they would love for a lifetime.

-The End-

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Translator Note:

That is it for the main story of this novel. Phew~. What a long journey this was, for me, and for you the reader. 

First of all, I want to say thank you for those who read this novel until this far, for those who stayed this long, and for those who bought the advanced chapters. I truly, truly for the bottom of my heart, thank you. Of course, this is not only for the one who bought the advanced chapters, it’s all for the reader of this novel.

However, there are still 4 more chapters to wrap things up. So, I hope you also read them. I will release them at the same time when this chapter released.

Also, I want to hear your opinion for the novel. You can just put them in the comment section, or if you’re feeling generous, put a review on the NU page for this novel.

Ah and one last thing, please if you can, give some love to the author of this series too. You can search the novel through Google by copying the KR Title for this novel (게임 속 천재 스파이로 살아남는). You can also find the KR title on NU.

And one last, last thing, if you like my translation, please check the other novel that I translated (apologize for the sudden ads):

1. Subscriber of the Gods (KR, Action Fantasy)
2. Magica Technica ～Sword Demon Rakshasa’s VRMMO Battle Record～ (JP, Action Fantasy)
3. After School, at a Family Restaurant at Night, With That Girl From My Class (JP, Romance)
4. The Most Beautiful Girl in the School Asked Me to Act as Her Boyfriend, So I Accepted, But Gradually I Felt Like She was Becoming More and More Serious (JP, Romance)

That is it for me. Again, thank you so much, and much love.

Dawn.