Only two ways this can go really.
1. If Odin wins, it’s because he’s the one who’s behind the idea the whole time.
2. If Odin dies, it’s because Odin’s plan requires him to die for it to work.
Note I didn’t say, “If Kintoki wins”. Kintoki doesn’t have to win for the second thing to happen. Odin can secure a tie and still get what he wants if he has to die for his plans to work.
So putting aside the issues with the Birdmen King… Did Kouichi make the deadline?
I re-read the last few chapters, but I can’t figure out if Kouichi still has a day left, or is it the final hours of the quiz.
Because if Kouichi still has a day left, there’s not going to be much issues of his qualifications. But on the other hand, if it’s in the final hours, I can guess the people who were trying to sabotage the quiz are going to argue that Kouichi hatched it too late - as it was probably after the date ticked over.
Not getting the hate for the King and Tihla.
It’s literally outright stated that the ruler of the Birdmen has the freedom to love whoever they want. And from the Queen’s reaction that falling in love with Tihla was not an issue of itself nor something she could do anything about - which implys that having a concubine or secondary consort is legal and morally acceptable within the Birdmen country.
It only became an issue for the Queen and the supporters of the crown prince when the crown prince became suicidal.
And judging from how they are in the minority - the birdmen in general were celebrating that there would be a new royal child - that further cemented that the Ruler of the Birdmen is allowed to have open relationships.
While my personal morals don’t agree with that (I prefer monogamy). Trying to apply my personal morals to a country and situation where my morals are obviously not what is considered the standard by which things should be judged would just make me look foolish and ignorant.








I believe I started reading this when it first started being scanulated back in 2004/2005. So finally seeing the end of this after LITERALLY TWO FULL DECADES feels both sad and happy.
Truly the end of an era.