His consciousness, which had been drifting through a daze of slumber, surfaced violently at a sudden wave of cold across his entire body, and he bolted upright.
He was in a dense jungle, enclosed on all sides by an endless sea of green.
Standing near Gilbert were several familiar faces.
"Father... Prime Minister...!"
The moment the final figure entered his field of vision, terror and shock struck him so hard in the solar plexus that he could not even make a sound.
Paying Gilbert no mind whatsoever, the three began to talk.
"Worthless as he may be, he is still my son. You have my thanks for giving him another chance."
The King of the Holy Amelia Kingdom, Edward Loto Amelia, expressed his gratitude to Kai Heinemann.
"If you want to thank someone, thank young Somni and that freckled boy. Even after what was done to them, they ultimately wished to spare this piece of trash the death penalty. I am only offering him a chance out of respect for their wishes."
"I understand. As for the two he nearly murdered, I will personally—"
Kai Heinemann raised his right hand, cutting off the words of his father, the king.
"Don't bother. It isn't as though they've forgiven this scum. Besides, both of them are thoroughly sick of dealing with you royals."
"I see... I suppose they would be..."
His father murmured to himself, sounding faintly crestfallen.
"Your Majesty, time grows short," the Prime Minister advised.
"Right. Of course."
His father let out a long, heavy breath and looked down at Gilbert.
"Gilbert, you stained your hands with the blood of your own subordinates—the single most unforgivable sin for royalty. The only reason you draw breath right now is purely through the mercy of those you treated like vermin.
"As your parent, I earnestly pray from the bottom of my heart that you will overcome this trial."
"Father, I don't understand what you're saying! What trial?!"
Sensing an extraordinary, ominous weight behind those words, Gilbert cried out in mounting panic.
Without offering the slightest answer to Gilbert's questions, his father shut his eyes tight.
"Do it."
He made the request of Kai Heinemann, his voice heavy with choked emotion.
"Satori!"
Giving a slight nod, Kai Heinemann drew a book from thin air with his right hand and called out.
Materializing like wisps of smoke, a bobbed, green-haired girl appeared.
"Did you summon me, Supreme Great One?"
She knelt reverently before Kai Heinemann.
"Temporarily erase his memories. Let's see..."
Kai Heinemann rested a hand on his chin, pondering for a moment.
"Set them to return once he fulfills the condition I am about to give you."
Having issued the order to the bobbed, green-haired girl, he slowly stated the condition.
"I see. I am truly sorry for all of this."
His father, who had kept his eyes shut tight while listening to Kai Heinemann's condition, turned back to him and bowed deeply.
The reigning king of the great Holy Amelia Kingdom was bowing to a mere incompetent. Not long ago, such a sight would have seemed utterly surreal. But now, in Gilbert's eyes, Kai Heinemann was nothing less than an incomprehensible monster. And his father was about to hand him over to that very beast.
The moment that horrifying realization crossed his mind—
"Father, no! Save me!"
He shrieked desperate pleas to his father, the king, like a helpless child.
"Gilbert, your right of throne succession is temporarily suspended, but it is not forfeit. If you can acquire what is truly required of a ruler of the Holy Amelia Kingdom, I will permit you to return to the Throne Succession War."
"I don't understand what you mean!"
"I suppose you wouldn't. Even after hearing the condition Kai set, it is beyond your grasp. That is why the current you cannot be saved. But no matter what a failure you are, you are still my son. Please... find a way to overcome this trial Kai has set before you!"
His voice cracking as he shouted, his father turned his back. It was the first time in Gilbert's life he had ever seen the king look so frail, his shoulders trembling. As Gilbert stared in stunned disbelief—
"Satori, do it," Kai Heinemann commanded.
"Understood."
Before he realized what was happening, the green-haired girl appeared right in front of him, extending her palm toward his head. In the next instant, Gilbert's consciousness plunged into a deep, inescapable slumber.