“When I heard that, I told myself that’s right. The duty of a kirin is to choose the emperor. After that, my duty is over. So I should be attacking hard on all my jobs. However, I am still unable to carry out my job as the Saiho and the provincial lord, because I am still too small.”

“...Isn’t the duty of a kirin to deliver mercy to all the people?”
“It is not choosing the emperor?”
“I mean, isn’t choosing the emperor a part of it? It is nevertheless to choose the best emperor for the people.”
“So... my duty is not finished, is it?”
“I think not.”

“So what is a kirin’s job?”
“The job for you, Taiki, is to grow up.”
Seitaku said with a laugh.
“It is the same for any child, isn’t it?”

Seitaku picked a Koukashou from the branch that dangled on top of his head, and put the fruit into Taiki’s palm.
“... You will have a lot of worries. But that is a part of your job. Eat well, sleep well, laugh and cry a lot. Those are all parts of your job.”

Taiki looked into his palm. It was a bright red, beautiful fruit.
“... Is it all right for me just to grow up? The people are suffering a lot. Tai is very cold. Many of the people are tortured by the snow. I am the Saiho and the provincial lord, but I cannot do anything. Doing nothing else but just grow up...”

But, Seitaku said.
“Even I am not doing anything great. I am a farmer, so I don’t really know anything about politics. Renrin is more familiar with stuff like that, so I just leave everything to her. What I can do are thing like raising livestock and grow crops only.”

“Even though you are an emperor?”
That’s right, Seitaku laughed.
“Exactly because I can only do those, I make fields like these to farm. I guess they have a little use after all. They clear a part of the garden, and save some fees for maintenance. And they help a little with the budget. I believe it is much simpler and more economical than buying from the merchants in Jyuurei.”
“So you are selling food to the imperial cooks?”
Yes, Seitaku nodded very seriously.

<< PREV :: INDEX :: Page 4 :: NEXT >>