Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Maze, Chapter 7

and let us see  them."
    "Yes!"

Epilogue
    "After his majesty sits on the throne, you kowtow to him again. The entire process is just like this."
    The Spring Minister continuously reminded Taiki, who then nodded.
    "Yes."
    The coronation ceremony had finally arrived.
    The stage was the main hall of the government, at the foot of Kouki Mountain in the capital city of  Kouki.
    In front of the main hall there was an expansive square, which was filled with people. The purpose of  the coronation ceremony was to announce to the other kingdoms and to the people that a new ruler was  ascending to the throne.
    After the ceremony started, one could hear cheers coming from the outside. There was no one who  wasn't joyous about the enthronement of a new ruler.

    The day before, Taiki had left Hakkei Palace for the first time and gone down to the streets of Kouki.
    He encountered the attendants whom Gyousou had parted with at Mt. Hou, and who had returned by land  route, and of course, he saw Keito, with whom he had traveled with. Other than that, he also met up with  Risai, who had come to Kouki for a visit as an aide to the Shukou of Jou Province for the coronation  ceremony, as well as Hien.
    Risai and Gyousou also took a quick trip around Zui Province.
    Taiki was astonished to discover that Kouki Mountain was even taller than he had imagined. He  avoided the eyes and ears of the people to wander the streets and saw things as amazing as the waters of the  gem springs. From start to finish, everything was completely new to Taiki, as he looked at everything wide- eyed.
    "Did you sleep well last night?" asked Gyousou of Taiki, as Taiki's court ladies were helping him  straighten out his clothes.
    "Yes, because I was so tired, I fell asleep right when I hit the bed."
    "Very good."
    "I might have been sleeping too well. I've pretty much forgotten all those words of congratulations  that I had memorized before..." Taiki said this very candidly, which made Gyousou laugh.
    "In any case, I will be the only one who can hear you."
    "Or perhaps even Lord Gyousou won't be able to hear me."
    Taiki tilted his head to listen to the noise coming from outside. Gyousou did the same, and smiled as  he did so.
    "You have a point."
    - - - - -
    He didn't know why, but Taiki couldn't sit calmly in his seat. Thus, he was pacing endlessly in his  antechamber, all the while reciting the words the Spring Minister had taught him. He suddenly heard  someone calling him.
    "Hey, kid!"
    Taiki quickly turned his head. "En Taiho!"
    The nearby court ladies rushed to bow to Enki. Enki gently waved his hand to stop them.
    "I'm here to see my good neighbor."
    Gyousou smiled wryly and responded, "Thank you for coming. I am sorry for the inconvenience."
    "Yes, thank you, En Taiho. Where's King En?"
    "At the banquet for honored guests. He's almost drunk... Are you nervous?"
    "A little..." Taiki replied honestly.
    Enki's face seemed to say, 'Oh, well!' as he smiled and said, "You really are timid! And you're so  small, too."
    Gyousou didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Kouri is still only ten years old."
    Enki knitted his brow. "I was curious about this before. Your name is very interesting."

    Taiki blushed a little. "Actually, my name is Kouri, without the grass radical."
    "I see..."
    "Oh, that's right! I heard that En Taiho was also born in Hourai. What was your name?"
    "Rokuta. I don't have a surname, because my status was not high enough."
    Taiki tilted his head. It seemed like it had been a long time since everyone had a surname. Could it be  that the Kirin of En has lived a long while? "When were you born?"
    Enki glanced at the ceiling. "500 years before you!"
    "Huh!?"
    - - - - -
    In the capital, flags fluttered about. To the common people, who were already weary of the  extravagance of the previous king, the simple coronation ceremony was even more favorable.
    Beside the throne stood a child. His hair color was hard to come by, but because of where he was, it  would not be wrong to assume that he was the kirin.
    A wise elder explained that Taiki was a black kirin. Though he wasn't clear on what sort of special  characteristics a black kirin possessed, he had heard that they were very rare creatures. The people of the  square were all filled with pride.
    From on top of the platform, Taiki looked down at the thunderous multitude. He was a little bit  afraid, and yet there was no feeling of guilt as they gazed upon him, and this made him