Elsewhere, after hearing Luno's words, Hong Gemata's face turned green, then red.
Back then, he had thought suicide would preserve himself and keep him from being controlled by Luno. Only now did he learn that when Luno had possessed him, he had never intended to control him... nor had he even been capable of controlling him.
In other words, he had died for nothing.
If he had not killed himself, he might even have been able to bring Luno back to Crystal City and hand him over to the judiciary to be judged for his crimes!
Now that Luno had entered the Dream Crystal Plain, this brand-new world where no judicial system had been established, there was instead no way to punish him.
Hong Gemata was both furious at his own past impulsiveness and helpless before the reality at hand.
His expression was ugly, and steam seemed to rise in his eyes as he held back tears.
Seeing this, Tatakai nearby consoled him. "I'm sure everyone can understand your choice. After all, Yimada and I were already dead then, and the emotions had been built up to that point. If you hadn't killed yourself, it wouldn't have made sense."
Hong Gemata said, "...If you can't console me, then don't."
Yimada said, "Tatakai means that your suicide was meant to highlight your stupidity... Oh, no, I mean, to make things more dramatic. Mm, dramatic developments are generally what the public enjoys and embraces. If someone were to write your deeds into a story, it would be enough to elevate you into a legendary figure."
As Yimada said this, he glanced at Yota. "Come to think of it, since the deaths of the three of us were so dramatic, surely some publisher would take an interest in it?"
Yota said, "...No."
Yimada