Side story episode 10
* * *
At that time, the imperial palace of the 9th Empire.
A man sat upon the pitch-black throne. He was the one who held the power of the ‘Shadow Lord’ in this age, in the conflict between gold and shadow, an ancient and unfathomable struggle.
And now the Emperor, who was shaking precariously like a candle in the wind, and the wind that was shaking the Emperor had a golden color.
History has always moved that way. Shadow wins, then gold wins, then shadow again… … .
There was only one being who once put an end to this tiresome conflict.
The Demon Emperor of the Fourth Empire, who has now disappeared into history and no longer exists.
A man who has obtained the power of both gold and shadow and is now called the Lord of Black Gold.
But after the man and his empire disappeared into history, nothing in the world changed.
Again, gold and shadow were torn apart, and as always, the endless conflict between gold and shadow continued.
Once the shadow triumphed, now the shadow faces defeat before gold.
More than 50% of the empire’s territory was lost, and all that could be heard from everywhere was defeat, defeat, defeat.
Moreover, in this world where magic is fading away, even the power of monarchs is no longer what it used to be.
Just then, news of the man was heard.
A certain unidentified black magician single-handedly wiped out the Iron Age’s magic armored soldiers, slaughtered those armed with the latest weapons, and turned the territory of the revolutionary army into a battlefield.
“Is that really true?”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Emperor. However, what concerns me is the power that the warlock possesses, which is undoubtedly the power of the ‘Shadow Lord’… … .”
Margrave Rosenheim added with concern, and the Emperor’s expression darkened at his words.
“Is there anyone foolish enough to dare call himself the ‘Shadow Lord’ besides me?”
“But, for now, that man’s actions will have a beneficial effect on our empire. Furthermore, he seems to have no interest in the empire or your Majesty’s position… … ”
“That can’t be happening!”
But before Margrave Rosenheim could finish speaking, the Shadow Lord raised his voice.
“Are you saying that the Duke really let go of someone who dares to use his power and fearlessly wields the power of shadows without any countermeasures?”
“However, Your Majesty, it is also his merit that he provided information about the revolutionary army’s weapons. Also, in my view, the man is a hermit who knows nothing about the state of affairs in the empire… … ”
The Shadow Lord, the Emperor of the Empire, raised his voice.
“Are you saying that you sent that man to the traitors for just that reason?”
“… … I’m sorry.”
“How foolish, how foolish! How is it that I have only such foolish people by my side!”
The Shadow Lord, the Emperor of the Empire, shouted.
Without even looking at the shadow cast at the feet of Margrave Rosenheim, he just acted unilaterally, like a child throwing a tantrum.
“I, the Emperor of the Empire, ‘Wilhelm of Brandenburg’, hereby declare! Gather your best troops and pursue him immediately! Never spare anyone who dares to use the name of Shadow!”
Hearing those words, Margrave Rosenheim could not help but laugh deep in his heart. He would not let him live? Who in the world could do anything to that wizard?
What good does this genius of defeat, who is not even worthy of the Emperor’s name, have to say?
History repeats itself, and nothing changes.
Still, the world had not changed at all, and was just repeating the same foolishness.
* * *
Neither gold nor shadow meant anything to Dale now. Not for the cause, not for the truth, and certainly not for revenge.
It was just a journey for myself.
To trace the past he remembers, the people he loves, the traces of the memories he loves. To witness what awaits at the end.
Towards the truth that even the Lord of Truth cannot easily handle.
And then, finally, his journey reached a clue.
The ruins of the Fourth Empire, witnessed through Yuris’ shadow, were guarded by an uncountable number of revolutionary soldiers.
It was as if Dale had been expected from the beginning. But it wasn’t really a surprise.
There was an army of soldiers, cannons, muskets, and the proud armor of the revolutionary army.
Despite this, Dale was not frightened. And behind Dale, Upi had no reason to be afraid either.
No one in the world can stop him, not even the army in front of him.
“Emperor or Revolution?”
Just then, Dale opened his mouth blandly. Not to anyone. Only then did Upi realize that he was asking her.
That’s why I answered.
“… … Neither.”
“It was the same with gold and shadow.”
Dale answered bitterly. Yuffie tilted her head, not understanding what he said, but Dale simply remained silent.
After a silence, Dale opened his mouth.
“This world always demands the right answer. But from the beginning, neither one could be the right answer.”
“… … .”
“The reason the world thinks a decision is right is not because it is really right. It’s because they can’t survive without saying it is right.”
Dale said. Upi couldn’t say anything.
That’s exactly what he said.
When they first asked about the emperor and the revolution, there was no right answer among them. It was just a question that you couldn’t survive without saying one of them was the right answer.
Just because they answered the Emperor, Yupi’s family and the villagers died. But the revolution was not the answer. Just as the Emperor could not be the answer.
It was just a decision the world forced upon me.
The powerless have no choice but to submit to the decisions the world imposes on them.
Even if it is not the right answer, you have no choice but to bow your head and surrender, saying it is the right answer.
When I realized that, I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Can you deny the answer they believe…?”
“… … .”
That’s why Upi said.
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It was never an easy revenge or anything. It was just pure curiosity. No, because they knew that the answer they believed was never the right answer.
That’s why I wanted to let you know.
“It’s not up to me to decide that.”
Hearing that, the man quietly shook his head.
“It’s entirely their decision.”
After stirring, he asked.
“Get out.”
Through the power of magic, the voice was amplified and resonated loudly.
“All I want is to look into the legacy of the Fourth Reich.”
Dale said. It wasn’t a lie. But as a revolutionary, they would never be able to hand over the top secrets they were guarding.
Even if it means making some sacrifices.
At the same time, in the distance, a wick burned and a cannon roared.
thud!
Countless cannons and musketeers were aimed at a single man.
What’s more, there is an army of magic armored soldiers escorting them.
“Kill the enemies of the revolution!”
“Shoot!”
The revolutionary army shouted, “Killing the enemies of the revolution for the sake of the revolution.” To them, that was the right answer without a doubt.
Therefore, those who go against their correct answer should be killed as ‘enemies of the revolution’.
That fact was so funny.
In a world where there is no right answer, they believe without a doubt that they have found the right answer.
“I, too, have never doubted that my actions were the ‘right answer.’ No one dared to question ‘my right answer.’”
Cannons fired endlessly, and a barrage of fire erupted on a scale reminiscent of a siege.
A wall of shadows rose up in front of the pouring iron balls and black gunpowder. The pouring black gunpowder was swallowed up in the shadows.
“That was the beginning of the tragedy.”
At the same time, the sky was torn apart.
There were countless ‘eyes’ looking down at the revolutionary army through the cracks in the torn sky.
In the gap between the other worlds, right there, the gods were looking down at the earth, blinking.
He was a god who did not love humans.
“Sometimes people confuse power with right answer. Parents and children, teachers and students, kings and their subjects. As did my sister and I.”
“younger sister……?”
Uffi held her breath at the unexpected words. Little sister? It was a title that didn’t suit a man at all.
And just then, the ‘arms’ of the gods poured down through a rift in the sky.
Towards the revolutionary army filling the area.
He was a god who did not love humans. However, that did not mean that he hated humans.
Rather, the gods loved humans very much.
Because countless tentacles poured down toward the ground, carefully playing with each and every human there.
But just because they were being careful by their standards, that didn’t mean they were being careful from a human standpoint.
Crunch, crunch.
As the tentacle inadvertently exerted its force, the human’s flesh burst, and one of the gods bit the tentacle in surprise. It was too late. It was like a child accidentally breaking a toy.
And then the god blinked his eyes a few times and then moved his tentacles.
Because there were still countless numbers of people there.
Just as an ant’s bones burst with the slightest effort from a human, the gods who tore through the cracks in the sky and looked down upon the earth were no exception.
“Power is power. It can never be the answer.”
The man said calmly.
“But I thought that the ‘right answer’ would be an overwhelming force that no one could resist. My right answer was no different from the revolution they were calling for.”
“… … .”
As for Uffie, she couldn’t say anything. She couldn’t even understand what he was saying.
I was just so scared of the bottomless pit this man had.
After I felt fear, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him, which was funny.
It was a feeling that even he couldn’t explain.
“Uncle Dale… … .”
She silently walked behind the man and wrapped both arms around his neck.
Dale took a deep breath, then reached out and took Yuffie’s hand.
In the midst of the play of gods who do not love humans, leaving behind the endless screams that echo.
