The Fading Light of a Grand Design

Time flies, and this fifth year is about to end.

[You have obtained Noyou’s consent.]

[The sight of the young woman, however, pierced your heart with a pang of sorrow.

If your grand scheme came to fruition, the Empire would be overthrown, and she would lose everything.

Though you had nothing to offer her, she had dedicated the greater part of herself to you.

To her, none of these losses mattered.

Perceiving that your physical form could not endure much longer, Noyu made a fateful choice.

She wished to see your aspirations fulfilled before your life’s end.

You instructed Chris to ignite a nationwide wave of witch hunts.

It was publicly declared that any captured witch would be sent to the Imperial Capital for judgment, with collective punishment levied upon their kin; those who dared to harbor a witch would be executed without mercy.

Suddenly, everyone lived in fear.

You personally oversaw the construction of Bastille Abbey, a sanctuary intended for these witches. As most of them were still tender in age, you cared for them with a paternal tenderness.

The emperor, ailing with age, clung to life solely by virtue of potent elixirs. His sole heir was his daughter, Noyu.

In truth, you were the Empire’s true power holder.

For these witches, accustomed only to scorn, such unexpected kindness fostered an unwavering loyalty within a mere year.

You forbade them from venturing outside, instead encouraging them to peacefully study magic within the Abbey, a command they obediently followed.

You hoped they would accompany Aile after your departure.]

****

[Inevitably, as Chris’s actions grew increasingly ruthless, the long-dormant Aile could no longer remain still.

She publicly declared your eighteen counts of treason in the Empire’s south and raised the banner of rebellion.

In an instant, the southern vassal states pledged their allegiance, while northern barbarians, seizing the opportune moment, launched an invasion. The empire’s very existence teetered on the brink of collapse.

Aile struck a pact with the northern barbarians: whoever first entered the Imperial Capital would claim the throne.

A profound sense of peace settled over you, for you knew your life was rapidly drawing to a close.

Noyu led the knight order to intercept Aile, her staged death meticulously arranged by your hand.

All that remained was to await the final outcome.]

****

“This vessel of flesh has but a few days left to endure.”

“This simulation, too, must draw to a close.”

Mingqian spoke, his body terribly frail, unable to move without Eliza’s support. Now that Eliza had stepped out, he could only inch forward, leaning heavily on his cane.

****

[You observed the intelligence reports from Chris: Aile fared well in the south, seemingly having regained her former vivacity.

Your body was in a dire state; your very wellspring of magic had utterly withered, sustained only by Noyu’s blood.

It was akin to a figure with a perpetually flashing ‘Danger’ sign above their head, sustained only by a constant regimen of potent elixirs.

The clock upon the wall ticked away, a relentless countdown to your demise.

For the majority, death looms as a terrifying prospect.

Yet, you were different; knowing you existed within a simulation imbued you with a profound sense of detachment towards all things.

Even this daily struggle with immobility, when weighed against the endless nights and days of your past imprisonment, felt like a profound liberation.

At first, it was merely the inconvenience of sluggish limbs, but soon followed the loss of consciousness, then taste, and you even feared your emotions were slipping away.

Still, listening to Chris’s complaints and Aile’s recent news, a gentle smile touched your lips.

These past few days, sensation had begun to fade even from your legs.

‘It’s nothing,’ you murmured with a bitter smile, ‘merely Heaven bestowing a final, weighty task upon a man already touched by death.’

Your premature smile faded as even the gentlest breeze proved enough to send you sprawling. You struggled, straining every muscle, yet found yourself utterly incapable of rising.

You lay paralyzed and powerless, your gritted teeth doing nothing to help.

You attempted every method, but your body stubbornly refused to obey.

In resignation, you began tracing the intricate patterns on the floorboards, until Eliza, her face etched with panic, gently lifted you.

Next, your vision began to fail; you could no longer discern objects clearly.

Consequently, you spoke little, fearing you might mistake one young woman for another and cause them displeasure.]

Time flowed onward.

****

[Propped by your cane, you embarked on a laborious ascent towards the city walls.

At that moment, northern barbarians were assaulting the city, leaving a trail of burning, slaughter, and plunder in their wake, with Eliza overseeing the battle in your stead.

After three arduous hours, you finally managed to drag yourself atop the battlements.

“Master!”

Eliza’s panicked voice reached you. She rushed to your side, holding your frail body tightly.

“You, what are you doing! Please don’t overexert yourself…”

“Is that Eliza? I wished to see it one last time.”

Years ago, when you first began this simulation in this world, you had appeared in this very spot.

Then, too, it had been a barbarian invasion.

Yet, this moment mirrored that past time perfectly.

You painstakingly shifted your body, gazing towards the setting sun.

The fiery red orb was like your own dwindling life.

You were hurtling towards your end at an astonishing speed.]

If Aile did not arrive swiftly, he might not live to see the young woman return.

****

Regardless, the barbarians absolutely could not be allowed to breach the capital.

[You mustered your last reserves of strength, personally overseeing the battle.

At your appearance, the morale of the defending soldiers surged dramatically.

You stood resolute amidst a storm of arrows and arcane spells, yet miraculously, not a single one found its mark upon your body.

The soldiers cried out, proclaiming a divine miracle, though only you knew your luck was absurdly good.

Under your command, Eliza severed the head of the barbarian king, and the barbarian army instantly collapsed and retreated.

Though the capital’s siege was broken, fate, in its cruel irony, decreed that the dying barbarian king’s final arrow would find its target in your chest.

It seemed a causality-altering attack proved futile against a man already destined for death.

Eliza swiftly summoned the finest physicians, but by then, your life truly flickered like a candle in the wind.

You estimated you had three days left to live.

Three days later would be Aile’s birthday.

Three days before Aile’s birthday, you penned the very last line in your diary.

‘Happy Birthday, Aile.’]

****

Mingqian set down his pen, handing the diary to Eliza.

“After I die, please burn it. I don’t wish for Aile to be influenced by these things.”

Eliza remained silent.

The next day, Chris, as if sensing something amiss, returned from the distant south.

That day, she wept in his arms for a long time.

“And Aile? How is she?”

Chris, though sniffling, answered his question.

“Aile… she’s doing well. I can tell she’s just one step away from Level 100.”

“That’s truly wonderful.”

This was good. Mingqian had no more regrets.

He smiled, gently stroking Chris’s head.

“After I’m gone, you absolutely must protect Eliza.”

“Don’t say such things, Master! You… you will not die!”

“I don’t want… I don’t want you to die! I haven’t even managed to conquer you, haven’t even properly imprisoned you!”

Mingqian offered a bitter smile.

“Chris, you are a good child. You should be content…”

“I’m not content at all! Not at all!”

“A world without my Master… I don’t want it…”

Chris repeated the words, as if trying to imprint them onto Mingqian’s mind.

But a person’s destiny is predetermined.

“Eliza, from now on, only the two of you will have each other to rely upon. I am truly sorry I could not keep my promise.”

Eliza watched the scene unfold, her eyes gradually shadowed by a profound darkness.

****

Soon after, news arrived that Aile’s army had utterly defeated the knight order, and Noyu had perished. The court was shaken, and ministers petitioned the emperor to demand Mingqian’s head.

Deterred by Chris’s formidable power, not a single member of the Royal Guard dared to execute the order.

On the third day, Aile reached the Royal Capital. The defending soldiers attempted to resist, but Aile’s grand magic plunged them into slumber, and the capital fell in an instant.

The emperor abdicated and surrendered to Aile, and Aile Clausius ascended to the throne.