Epilogue 2

Eichi: The Watchdog and the Priest. I don’t know the full story that led to this feud between these two confidants of the man once hailed as a god.

But it seems that Nagisa-kun was able to send Gatekeeper off in exchange for handing over the Priest to him.

You could say he offered up a live sacrifice to drive away the evil spirit.

Gatekeeper accepted Nagisa-kun’s terms and withdrew as agreed upon. It was a bit unexpected, however; he’s surprisingly principled.

Yuzuru: Perhaps Ran-sama is a particularly skilled negotiator?

Eichi: Who knows? In exchange for his leaving, Nagisa-kun might have offered him something other than the Priest, too.

But what that could possibly be is beyond me.

Gatekeeper’s original goal was money. He intended to steal profits generated by the massive entity ES has become.

If it came down to it, I was planning to settle things with Gatekeeper using money, too.

I would offer terms such as investments in my conglomerate to get him to leave the country and to withdraw from the idol industry.

I didn’t particularly want any dealings with the mafia, but if it came down to it, I would have no choice.

My negotiations would rest on the idea that it would be more profitable for him to extract a sizable sum from me now than to leech off of idols over time.

And if he wouldn’t accept that deal, I was prepared to threaten crushing his entire organization using the full strength of the Tenshouin Conglomerate. I had resolved to persist even into an all-out war.

I thought that if I confidently appealed to him, he should be able to properly weigh the cost to risk ratio and back down.

But it seems there was no need for that. He left the moment he got his hands on the Priest, entirely placated.

I desperately wanted some reassurance, so I offered him financing, to a certain extent.

In return, I asked him to promise never to get involved with us again.

But his response to my proposal was this:

—“I don’t need none of that small change.”

So it seems he gained something more important to him than money; he looked all too satisfied when leaving. I understand this much very well.

Yuzuru: If that’s the case, then I wonder what the relationship was between himself and the Priest. I understand that they were both once a certain someone’s confidant.

Eichi: I imagine that to Gatekeeper, he was an old enemy that he had to confront at all costs.

Someone whom he wanted to deal with here and now, even if it meant putting everything else on hold.

That matter, though, is still somewhat unclear; it’s a shame that I was unable to have him swear off the idol industry.

He may yet strike again if we show weakness. We survived this encounter, but the next time is uncertain; we’ll need to be careful.

ES is the castle of dreams that I went to great lengths to build. I won’t stand for it to be toppled so easily.

Yuzuru: I, too, shall lend what support I am able.

That is, provided my master still wishes it.

Eichi: I wonder about that. Tori may truly have lost faith in me this time. I always only prioritized myself without ever sparing a thought for his feelings.

No matter how desperately he worked, or how many times he begged, he was never able to get what he wanted; the stress and exhaustion from it drove him into a corner.

Yuzuru: If you understand that much, then it may be advantageous to modify your words and actions in the future.

Fortunately, it does indeed seem as if there will be a future.

Eichi: ...?

Yuzuru: The idol industry will defend itself against disaster and pests alike, so that it may continue to prosper and develop.

fine has also become one of the outstanding idols selected for SS, thus proving our true strength to the world.

And if I may be so proud, I know that my master will not break, no matter what misfortunes he endures. Indeed, I did not raise him to be so weak.

Tori: Yuzuruuu! Eichi-samaaa!

Eichi: ...Tori.

Tori: Sorry! I’ve been resting with Hiyori-sama this whole time! I was kinda out of it, so I don’t actually know what’s going on!

When I woke up, everything was all over...! Urghh, this is such an important moment, too! Forgive me?

Wataru: Fufufu ♪ There is nothing to forgive! You did nothing wrong, Princess!

Besides, nothing is over yet... right, everyone?

Yuzuru: Hibiki-sama. I must apologize; you went to the trouble of bringing my master back here, didn’t you?

Wataru: I did! Nagisa-kun contacted me and asked me to collect him, so I rushed to his side at full speed!

Tori: The ceiling panel in the room I was sleeping in suddenly came off, and Hibiki-senpai dropped through the hole. It scared the crap out of me... Why do you have to be so dramatic about every last thing?

Wataru: Because I am an entertainer ☆

Eichi: Fufu. You and Nagisa-kun have become quite chummy without my realizing it, haven’t you?

Wataru: We have worked together as Artissimo, after all!^[1]

Besides, he trusted that I would not devise unnecessary schemes, unlike you, Eichi.

Or otherwise rampage about with yearning for the Princess like Butler-san—rather, I would simply come to fetch him with no further action on my part.

Eichi: You hardly ever act with consideration to personal gain, which means that you’re actually a trustworthy partner who won’t change sides under temptation of bribes or rewards.

...Which is precisely why Gatekeeper used you as his point of contact, as well.

Wataru: Oh my, did you notice? That’s exactly right! There were indeed points where he was trying to manipulate you through me!

Yuzuru: Well, Eichi-sama does listen to whatever you have to say, Hibiki-sama.

Wataru: Eichi loves me, you see! It was actually made clear while we were in SANCTUARY that what I say and what I do are considered with far more weight than need be—^[2]

Deciding which information to divulge and which to withhold was truly an ordeal! Amazing!

Yuzuru: You loved a troublesome person and were loved in return, Hibiki-sama.

Wataru: Ah, but it is that troublesome nature of his which is so lovable... ☆

Tori: That’s nice... I wish Eichi-sama loved me that much, too ♪

Yuzuru: Is my love not enough for you, sir?!

Tori: More like you need to tone it down, Yuzuru. You’re drowning me. Saegusa-senpai told me you went around doing all sorts of crazy things, right?

Yuzuru: That man only speaks lies; there’s no need for you to believe a word he says!

Tori: Don’t talk like that~ He’s your precious childhood friend, isn’t he?

Oh, that kind of makes you two like Tsukasa and me, right? In that case, I guess I would talk like that, so I get it.

Eichi: I do, as well. Childhood friends are like siblings: it’s one thing when you, yourself, tease or mess with them, but it’s an offense to you if someone else does the same.

But being made to act like you’re intimate is also irritating.

Tori: It’s like a whole mess, huh? Ehehe, I have something in common with Eichi-sama. I guess I should thank Tsukasa for that, then.