Side story episode 7
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The Great Emperor of Black Gold.
It was the name of an emperor who was said to be more powerful than anyone else, not only in this age when magic was dying, but throughout the entire history of the continent.
Furthermore, there was the Fourth Empire, which achieved a reign that was more brilliant than ever before under the rule of the Emperor.
Until one day, suddenly, the empire disappeared without a trace.
It was literally the disappearance of an empire. The northern frozen lands that had once been the territory of the ‘Duke of Saxony’ and had been reborn as the land of the Emperor after Dale of the Saxon House became the ‘Great Emperor of Black Gold’.
The land literally disappeared, and what filled the place after it disappeared was the sea.
After the heart of the Fourth Empire itself disappeared, the continent was plunged into an endless maelstrom of war.
The Fifth Reich, the Sixth Reich, countless empires have risen and fallen.
Meanwhile, the magic towers that were once called the pillars of the continent also gradually lost their power and began to disappear into history.
For some unknown reason, the magic of the world was gradually dying.
The amount of mana that needed to be processed with aura and magic power was drastically decreasing, and even if I squeezed what little was left, I could no longer find my former glory.
The wizards of the High Circle disappeared one by one, and even those who could use the Aura Avatar became fewer and fewer in number.
The savages gossiped that the reason magic began to die out was because the great black gold emperor, the ‘Emperor of Magic’, had disappeared.
He had such great power that he threatened the throne of God and was punished by heaven.
The forbidden experiment failed and the aftermath led to destruction.
After that, the goddess Sistine became concerned about its power and began to harvest mana from the world.
Everyone was muttering about the fall of the Fourth Empire, which seemed unbreakable, but no one knew how the Black Gold Emperor and his empire had fallen.
That must have been it.
“The weapons these revolutionary forces are using are relics unearthed from that very empire.”
At Dale’s words, Margrave Rosenheim held his breath and said.
“Tongue, the magic armor of the revolutionary army… … is it the legacy of the Great Magic Empire?!”
“I thought the structure and the way it worked were very familiar.”
Dale said blandly. Familiar. Margrave Rosenheim said, taking the meaning of the words at face value.
“I thought you weren’t an ordinary wizard, but you even have knowledge of the era of the Fourth Empire.”
“… … .”
“Well, it’s certain that only the Great Demon Empire’s level of technology would be able to develop weapons of this level.”
Margrave Rosenheim nodded, finally realizing the true nature of the revolutionary army’s technology.
He couldn’t even dare to imagine the identity of the man in front of him.
“Hey, Mr. Dale!”
It was at that very moment that Yuffie, who had been hiding before the raid on the Marquis’ castle, appeared, and the Marquis of Rosenheim turned his head at the sound of her name.
“Dale… …?”
Much about the history of the Fourth Reich is still shrouded in mystery. However, as the story of the empire continues to be told to future generations, not all of its records have been lost.
So, upon hearing that name, Margrave Rosenheim held his breath. For a moment, an indescribable fear seized his heart.
A magic emperor who can raise an army of the dead that fills the horizon with a single gesture, extinguish the light of the world, and summon monsters from the other world.
The name of the Demon King who is said to be so cruel that he would never show mercy to his enemies and would rather beg for death in front of them.
Dale of Saxony, the Great Emperor of Black Gold. That was the name of the being that everyone feared.
But the confusion was short-lived.
In this age where magic is dying, there can be no story as magical as that.
Even if the magic this man showed was something beyond the norm, something that people of this era could not even dare to imagine… … .
Even if this man’s name was that of the Demon Emperor, it wouldn’t make a difference.
The Great Demon Empire has disappeared into history, along with the heart of the empire, the northern lands formerly known as the Duchy of Saxony.
That is why the idea that the very ghost of history is standing before you is an absurdly absurd story.
“I must inform His Majesty the Emperor of this fact immediately.”
“Do as you wish.”
At those words, Dale turned his head away as if he was not interested in anything else.
“Where do you plan to go?”
“Am I obligated to answer?”
Just then, Dale asked coldly.
At that cold voice, an unknown fear once again gripped Margrave Rosenheim’s heart. No matter how hard his head tried to scream out for reason, his heart gave in.
“… … I am interested in the legacy of the Fourth Reich that the Revolutionary Army is unearthing.”
But Dale soon continued speaking in a softened voice.
“I intend to find them and find out the truth.”
“Hey, are you planning on heading towards the enemy camp with the revolutionary army alone?!”
That’s ridiculous, Rosenheim tried to continue his speech. But he stopped himself and started laughing.
I remember the magic this man showed me. The magic armor that was said to be the legacy of the Great Magic Empire, and the way he tore apart the revolutionary army armed with that armor without a care.
So who in this world would dare to stop him?
“I am indebted to you, Your Majesty, for many things.”
Dale bowed his head quietly in respect, and Margrave Rosenheim nodded without saying anything.
“But lastly, can I ask you one more favor?”
“Please speak!”
“Where should I go to find the leader of the revolutionary army?”
In the face of Dale’s subsequent questions, Margrave Rosenheim had no reason to hesitate.
It was pointless to even suggest that they fight alongside the Empire right now.
No one can stand in this man’s way. However, the revolutionary army will never be able to stop this man. For them, the excavation of the Fourth Empire’s legacy is a top secret that they must protect with their lives, and they will not tolerate anyone who tries to uncover that secret.
And what that fact meant was one thing.
“Then shall we go, Miss Yuffie?”
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“Yes, Mr. Dale!”
It is unknown whether this man is really the Black Gold Emperor who reigns over the Fourth Empire or not.
However, the power this man displayed was truly awe-inspiring, worthy of the name of the ‘Demon Emperor’.
The outcome of the confrontation between the Empire and the Revolutionary Army will be a truly absurd farce.
And when you see that comedy up close, it becomes a tragedy beyond compare.
All Margrave Rosenheim could do was pray that he and the Empire would not become parties to that tragedy.
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Yuffie’s journey did not end in the Margrave of Rosenheim. She was still crossing the continent with Dale, and Dale’s next words were even more surprising.
“We are planning to head towards the territory of the revolutionary army.”
“… … !”
“Don’t worry, as long as I’m by your side, nothing will harm you, Miss Yuffie.”
“No, don’t worry!”
Yuffie shook her head and said. That’s right. Even if I were under a great noble, I wouldn’t be more at ease than with this man.
Even if it was a battlefield raging with gunfire, it was no exception.
Some time after that.
As Dale strode across the torn continent into the territory of the ‘Revolutionary Army’, there were those who greeted him at the entrance to the city.
“Stop!”
There was a weapon they were aiming at Dale. It wasn’t a relic of the old empire, nor was it a cold weapon like a sword or a spear.
It was a musket, a literally new weapon that used black gunpowder as an explosive.
“Emperor or Revolution?”
The revolutionaries aimed their muskets and asked back.
It wasn’t that I was asking because I was suspicious of Dale’s identity. It was just a question to acknowledge the fact that this area was the territory of the revolutionary army.
Every time he passed by, he was terrified by the muzzle of a musket and escaped, shouting for revolution, and Dale was next.
But at that question, Yupi bit her lip.
That day, that question changed Yuffie’s life forever. One answer took away her beloved family and village people.
“Revolution… … this is it.”
I didn’t want to make that mistake again.
“Why did you say that?”
But Dale didn’t do that. Instead, he just asked back as if he didn’t understand.
At those words, Upi swallowed her breath in bewilderment, and Dale turned his head away.
Towards the revolutionaries who were pointing their guns at him.
“What is the revolution for?”
“… … Are you trying to doubt the revolution?”
“I am not well-versed in worldly affairs. But when I came into the world, everyone in the world was calling for revolution.”
Dale continued calmly.
“Furthermore, this girl’s family and the entire village were killed just because they did not call for your revolution.”
“… … !”
“That’s why I ask: Was it worth it?”
In a voice devoid of even a shred of emotion.
“You bastard!”
Upon hearing that, the revolutionary army, armed with muskets, also did not hesitate.
“Kill them! Enemies of the revolution!”
Taang!
The trigger was pulled, and black powder sprayed out. It was not an arquebus, an early form of musket.
It was undoubtedly a full-length firearm, a wheel-lock musket.
But it wouldn’t make any difference either way. Even if it was a gun from the ‘First Empire’, it wouldn’t make any difference.
A shadow rose before the hail of bullets.
Faster than a bullet, the pitch-black shield swallowed the black gunpowder and seeped into Dale’s feet once again.
“Is the revolution you speak of a purging of all those who doubt and resist?”
Dale spoke to the shocked revolutionaries, gathering their shadows.
“Then I too will choose revolution.”
“… … !”
“I, too, have no reason to show mercy to the enemies who block my path and resist me.”
At the same time, a shadow rose from beneath my feet like a living creature.
Pitch-black thorn tentacles scattered and screams echoed.
Looking at that sight, however, Yupi never turned her head or closed her eyes.
I thought revenge was pointless. And it was.
But there was no reason to sympathize with them in the face of the evil deeds they were shouting about in the name of revolution.
That’s why, in front of the horrific scene of endless screams and bones being torn apart, Yupi didn’t turn her head.
Until the very end.
