Side story episode 16
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It was around this time that the imperial envoy arrived in the northern lands.
“Pay respect to His Majesty the Emperor’s representative!”
To find out the truth about the ‘Great Magic Empire’ that is said to have been resurrected in the northern lands by order of Emperor Wilhelm, and to obtain what is rightfully due to them as the ruler of this continent.
The Fourth Empire, once said to be the most powerful on this continent and one day disappeared into history, was revived. It didn’t take long for the news to spread from person to person all the way to the southernmost part of the continent.
In a situation where the emperor and the revolution are clashing, it is impossible not to know the significance of the existence of the Great Demon Empire.
“Behold, His Majesty the Great Kaiser Wilhelm of the Ninth Reich, and the envoy who carries out His Majesty’s will!”
Knowing that fact, he shouted. With an extremely firm attitude, saying that he would never give up their position easily.
“Welcome.”
And it was he who welcomed the Emperor’s ambassadors, along with the night-raven knights of the House of Saxony who greeted them.
Instead of wearing shabby rags, he wore a robe embroidered with the Saxon night raven. He bowed his head respectfully before the envoys of the Ninth Empire.
The man turned his back and walked towards the castle that symbolized the empire’s grandeur.
The envoys of the Ninth Empire held their breath before the structure that was once the castle of the Dukes of Saxony and later the imperial palace of the empire.
“… … !”
Furthermore, there were beings that looked down on them oppressively from the castle.
The Grave Guard, consisting of Sir Helmut Blackbear, the Lightsword, and his knights, as well as the highest-ranking Night Raven Knights. Even at first glance, it was not difficult to tell that the power embedded in their swords was extraordinary.
Assuming their words are true, there were once a single strong man who defeated a hundred strong men.
That wasn’t all.
There were wizards who held an extremely sinister power within their robes. In an era where the Magic Tower had disappeared and colors had been lost, they were wizards who still scattered an undeniable ‘blackness’.
Could it be the magicians of the Black Tower, who were once the pillars that supported the Great Magic Empire?
Further on, the man crossed the Great Hall, turned his back, and sat down on the black-and-gold throne that had been prepared for him.
Black Gold, the Black Gold Monarch who is said to have put an end to the conflict between gold and shadow.
They weren’t the only ones there. The Grave Walkers, Dale’s own secret organization and nameless assassins who once carried out the Shadow Lord’s orders from the shadows, were no exception.
In an age where magic was dying and tales of one-on-one combat had become the stuff of legend, there was no need to even think deeply about their presence.
But they can never be intimidated, for they too are here to carry out the will of the Emperor of the Empire, the Shadow Lord.
Their insults are soon the insults of the Emperor, and their voices are soon the voices of the Emperor.
“I heard that one day, your land and castle rose above the North Sea.”
As far as the people of the Ninth Empire remember, there was no land here. There was only a vacant, rippling sea.
And the man, Dale, asked, from the black-gold throne that existed for him.
“What do you wish for?”
“Reveal your identity! Where you come from, what you are, and what you desire!”
One of the messengers raised his voice.
“And kneel down.”
“… … .”
“Kneel before His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire and swear allegiance to Him.”
“Did you tell me to get on my knees?”
At those words, the air in the area froze. Even the envoys felt as if they were holding their breath from an inexplicable sensation. Without even realizing it, their hands were trembling.
However, he could not back down. His mouth was the mouth of the emperor, and it was absolutely unforgivable for the emperor’s mouth to bow down before them.
“I swear allegiance to His Majesty Wilhelm, and I will not choose the folly of opposing the Empire and His Majesty!”
“I don’t kneel before anyone.”
At that, Dale replied with a cold sneer. The envoys held their breath. Then Dale asked back.
“Will you kneel before me?”
“… … !”
At the same time, the Night Raven Knights lined up in the area raised their hands on the hilts of their swords. An indescribable killing spirit exploded out of that action, and several of the envoys unconsciously fell to their knees in fear.
“Your Majesty, have you forgotten your role as an agent of His Majesty? What dare you do!”
“But, but Prince Ludwig! But, please, for now, the situation… …!”
The leader of the envoys shouted, but he was no exception. His two legs were shaking as if they would collapse at any moment.
“I can make you kneel without difficulty.”
Just then, a man rose from the black and gold throne.
“Furthermore, it would not be so difficult to bring your empire and emperor to their knees.”
“How dare you… … !”
“You don’t believe me?”
Dale asked back.
“Would you be willing to prove this to your emperor, so that he would believe me?”
At the same time, the night crow robe he was wearing began to squirm and scatter shadows like a living creature.
The entire Great Hall was enveloped in darkness. Some of the envoys began to kneel desperately, almost fainting in fear.
It was literally overwhelming.
The presence before him, his power, none of it was a lie.
The Black Gold Monarch, the Magic Emperor, even his true identity is uncertain, and it is believed without a doubt that he is merely an exaggeration from an exaggerated history.
I could intuitively realize that the darkness that this being possessed was as immense as the pit of darkness, greater than all the countless powerful beings that existed in this northern castle combined.
“I remember what the people of this era called me and my empire.”
“I, really, really thought that story was true… … ?”
“I had many names. But they don’t mean anything to me now.”
Just then, Dale continued.
“I will say this one last time. Please kneel.”
The final warning. The envoys who had been supporting the two legs that were trembling until the end at those words, collapsed.
The Emperor of the Ninth Empire, the one who should be revered and looked up to as the Emperor’s representative, was kneeling miserably.
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“Kneeling doesn’t feel so good, does it?”
Dale looked at them and said mockingly.
“And yet you told me to kneel before my people. Was it your wish to offend me so much?”
“This, this is purely in accordance with the traditions of the Empire… …!”
“I and my people here are all just strangers.”
Dale answered.
“Do not force your traditions on me and my people.”
The envoys held their breath at that emotionless voice. An indescribable, cold fear gripped the back of their necks.
“And when my empire disappeared into history, these northern lands disappeared with it. So strictly speaking, these northern lands are not even the territory that your Ninth Empire should rule over. Is that right?”
“But, aren’t the serfs of the northern lords running away one by one to this place you rule over?”
When the Empire of Dale melted into this world, there were no people to rule over or nobles to subordinate to. Even so, the lands in the north, formerly known as the Duchy of Saxony, and the lands of the Fourth Empire, did not disappear entirely.
Therefore, there was no reason to refuse those who would work the fields and plant crops in the uninhabited territory.
“They imposed such harsh taxes on those who were barely making a living. I gave them my land and received a small amount in return.”
Dale answered.
“I am truly sorry, but my people and I also need food to eat. We need people to sell the castle’s treasures and cultivate the empty land. Since the people happened to be coming, I accepted them.”
Strictly speaking, that act was not much different from insulting the Ninth Empire and invading its territory. And it did not stop in the North. When the word of that act spread through the mouths of the people, it was obvious that the Ninth Empire’s system would collapse from the roots.
“At that news, aren’t the serfs of the empire running away here every day?”
“Don’t worry. This land is not large enough to accommodate all the people on this continent.”
And the thing itself had already happened and was still happening, so Dale laughed.
“Isn’t it also the excessive greed of your empire that has caused countless serfs to rise up and join the ‘revolutionary army’?”
As soon as the name was mentioned, the envoy’s expression turned pale and frozen.
“Rather than worrying about a few raindrops leaking from this land, wouldn’t it be more important to clean up the spilled water right now?”
“… … !”
“But don’t worry. I don’t work for the Emperor or the Revolution. And I promise that I will try to negotiate with you to reach an agreement with you, the Northern Lords of the Empire, regarding the damage you will suffer because of us.”
“Can you really promise me that you won’t fight for the revolutionaries?”
“Why should I do that?”
Dale asked back.
“The Fourth Empire, the Lord of Black Gold, no longer exist in this world. There are only ‘outsiders’ in the literal sense. That is why I have no interest in the strife of this era, the meaningless wars that continue, the conflict between gold and shadow.”
“Are you really saying that you will remain neutral in the affairs of our empire?”
The envoy desperately tried to maintain his dignity, using all his strength until the last moment, and asked again, amidst the shameful sight of his trembling legs and his leaking urine between them.
“Neutrality? What are you mistaken about?”
Dale, the Black Gold Lord, answered.
“I have no interest in you. You are not even worth being interested in. So please, I will warn you one last time.”
Finally, with a voice devoid of any emotion.
With a cold expression, as if a human were looking down on an insect, or a god was looking down on humans.
“Leave me alone. Don’t do anything foolish enough to pique my interest. If you follow the rules, we promise to be courteous to you.”
That was the end of the story.
Without even the proper courtesy or treatment that should be shown to the emperor’s envoys, the envoys fled as if they were nothing.
After that, day after day, the serfs of the Ninth Empire fled to the land of Dale, the true North, and began to settle there one by one and establish their bases.
A third way that can be newly chosen amidst revolution and the emperor.
So, to prevent further desertion of the serfs and to set an ‘example’, the cavalry of the northern nobles went on a campaign.
They raided and massacred the lands of runaway serfs, and the lands of the north were burned under the trampling of cavalry hooves.
Regardless of Dale’s will, he and his empire were no longer strangers to the outside world.
