In the year 3513 of the Continental Calendar, when Jin was seventy-seven years old, the Empress Emerita of the Shouro Empire passed away. She was one hundred and five.
Following the death of her older brother, the Predecessor Emperor, she had originally been intended as a "stopgap" ruler until the Crown Prince, the rightful direct heir, reached adulthood. However, due to her extraordinary political acumen, her keen eye for character, and her deep affection for her people, she was remembered as one of the most brilliant and virtuous monarchs in history.
Further supporting this legacy was the technological boon she received through her friendship with the Magi Craft Meister of that era, as well as the fact that she was blessed with many distinguished ministers.
When she passed, it was said that not only the people of the Shouro Empire but also those of the surrounding nations mourned her deeply.
Her posthumous name was the Great Bright Merciful Mother Empress.
She was laid to rest alongside the emperors of old on a hill overlooking the shores of Lake Tosmo.
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Then, on April 8, 3900:
"My Lord, today is the anniversary of the Great Bright Merciful Mother Empress's passing."
Laojun, the brain of Hourai Island, brought the news to Jin.
"The Great Bright Merciful Mother Empress?"
"Yes. She was the one commonly referred to as the Empress during her reign."
"Ah..."
A sense of nostalgia welled up in Jin's chest.
The Empress who had overseen the development of the Shouro Empire.
The gentle yet strong woman who, after abdicating to her adult nephew, had supported the Empire from the shadows as the Empress Emerita.
Jin, who saw in her the image of the Orphanage Director—and whose beloved wife, Elsa, had been from the Empire—had provided her with immense support, both overtly and covertly.
"I see, was it today..."
Laojun told Jin that she had breathed her last as if she were merely falling asleep.
He also mentioned that Jin’s past self had been present at her final moments.
"Today is the exact anniversary... I think I'll go visit her grave. Does the Shouro Empire hold any special services?"
"No, My Lord. I believe it is limited to volunteers offering flowers."
Jin nodded, accepting that such a thing was only natural after 387 years.
"Alright, first, let's prepare some flowers."
On subtropical Hourai Island, various flowers bloomed throughout the seasons.
Furthermore, because Mount Hourai rose three thousand meters high, the island also hosted vegetation ranging all the way to subarctic climates.
"Laojun, are there any taboos regarding the flowers I should offer?"
"No. As long as the flowers do not have thorns, anything is fine."
"Understood."
Jin went to look at the flower beds in front of the laboratory. It seemed Elsa had maintained this area along with Jin’s children—Yuu and Mio.
Though a long time had passed and the flowers planted back then were gone, the flowers planted in their stead—autumn-sown varieties that bloomed in spring—were now in full glory.
"Daisies, rape blossoms, baby's breath, and Miyako-wasure... I think?"
These were flowers that had also grown at the orphanage where Jin was raised. He had planted species that resembled them as closely as possible.
"Cornflowers and... I believe these were called stocks?"
After picking an armful of flowers, Jin had Reiko help him bundle them into a bouquet.
"Alright, then let's head to the Shouro Empire."
He decided to go with Pegasus 2 this time.
Hope acted as the pilot, and Reiko accompanied him.
They used the transporter to move to the airspace above Lake Tosmo in an instant.
Due to the time difference, it was dawn here.
"It's good that there aren't many people around."
Pegasus 2 landed on the wide beach of Lake Tosmo, and Jin stepped out with Reiko. Hope stayed behind.
This was, of course, because the late Empress and Hope had never met.
A mounded tomb stood there—the cemetery of the Shouro Imperial Family.
"Oh, it's a quiet place."
The cemetery was situated on a small natural hill, surrounded by an artificial embankment about three meters high, spanning roughly one square kilometer.
The general public was only allowed as far as the prayer area outside the embankment. A rest area had been established nearby, accessible to anyone who wished to visit.
"I wonder if I can go inside?"
Jin's question was answered immediately.
"Welcome, Jin-sama, Reiko-sama."
Two golems were guarding the entrance to the tomb. They were units created by the Jin of the past.
They seemed to be maintained regularly, as their movements were smooth.
"You are here to pay your respects, I presume? Please, enter."
He was able to enter without issue.
"After all, Father, you were recognized on sight even back then," Reiko noted.
Jin was at the top of the list of people the Empress Emerita had trusted most, so it was only natural.
The interior was paved with white marble, with trees and flowers planted throughout.
Guided by Reiko, who knew the layout, Jin headed toward the mausoleum.
Pure white snowdrops were blooming in the flower beds. They were usually early spring flowers, but since the climate here was somewhat cool, they seemed to be at their peak.
"Snowdrops, huh."
Jin recalled a legend he had heard from the Orphanage Director.
"In the beginning, snow had no color. When it asked God for help, God told it to ask the flowers to share theirs.
So the snow asked the flowers, but not a single one would share its color.
However, among them, only the snowdrop shared its color with the snow. That is why snow is pure white."
Or so the story went.
It was apparently a German legend.
The flower language associated with this legend was "A friend in time of need."
Snowdrops had other meanings as well, but Jin loved this one, along with the legend he had heard long ago.
Even in Ryunosuke Akutagawa's Tu Zichun, which he had read in his Japanese textbook, people would fawn over someone as long as they had money, but the moment they became penniless, those same people would turn their backs and treat them with utter contempt.
Because Jin knew the harshness of the world better than most, this legend and its flower language remained etched in his memory.
While lost in these thoughts, they arrived at the front of the mausoleum.
Jin offered the flowers on a stand made of white marble.
On the central tombstone, the names of the successive emperors were engraved.
In the middle, he could read the name: Great Bright Merciful Mother Empress, Gerhardt Hilde von Rubies Shouro.
Jin offered a silent prayer, quietly clasping his hands together.
After a while, Jin opened his eyes and looked around, noticing a stone monument nearby.
"A human is not born a human, but becomes one."
He saw these words carved into the stone. They were likely the words of someone from the past. The monument looked quite old.
Then, turning his gaze toward the mausoleum, Jin noticed a white figure standing there.
"Is that..."
"The gravekeeper," Reiko replied.
The figure approached slowly. By now, Jin could see with his own eyes that it was an automaton he... his past self had created.
"Welcome. Thank you for visiting."
The gravekeeper automaton bowed quietly.
She was a pure Japanese-style female-type automaton, dressed in white robes.
"This is the automaton Father dedicated to the tomb of Her Majesty the Empress Emerita."
"Yes. My name is Kikuhime."
Kikuhime had black hair reaching down to her waist, tied at the back of her head, with her bangs cut straight across her brow.
Her attire was a so-called miko outfit, though both the top and bottom were white.
"I see. You've worked hard for a long time. I'm counting on you from here on as well."
"Yes. Please leave it to me."
Kikuhime bowed and stepped back.
Suddenly, a wind blew.
The sky Jin looked up at was blue and clear, unchanged from four hundred years ago.