Side story episode 27
* * *
One day, the Ninth Empire suddenly fell. It was an ending that could only be explained that way.
Even the once fierce confrontation between the emperor and the revolution became meaningless.
Yet the question itself remains valid.
Emperor or revolution.
Emperor William of Brandenburg voluntarily abdicated the throne, and the Imperialist nobles of the Empire bowed their heads to their new emperor.
In this way, nine empires were established and fell, and only then did the tenth empire emerge.
“Thank you again for answering the call.”
There was an ‘imperial tradition’ that had been going on since the Third Reich. Starting with the Emperor, the nobility, the clergy, and even the bourgeoisie of the free cities would gather in one place to decide the will of the empire.
Imperial Parliament (Reichstag).
In that solemn setting in the imperial city of Ingelheim, the black-gold monarch finally revealed himself.
But it was never just Dale.
The old powers that were said to have disappeared into history along with the Fourth Reich also showed up there.
The commotion that had been going on until just before suddenly stopped as if it were a lie.
“… … !”
“That, that is the northern part of the continent, the Fourth Empire… … ”
The Emperor’s wife, the Archduchess of Lancaster, who was once called the Divine Sword, and Charlotte of Saxony.
Alan of Saxony, the Emperor’s father and the greatest black magician on the continent, the master of death.
The proud Night Raven Knights of the House of Saxony and their leader, Sir Helmuth Blackbear, the Lightsword and the guardians of the tomb.
Furthermore, in this era where the magic tower has lost its color, there are also black magicians of the black magic tower who possess the unquestionable ‘black magic power’.
Phew!
The aurors of the Night Raven Knights were no different. And the nobles held their breath before the pitch-black auror blades that wrapped around their bodies, and even before the auror avatars.
“Oh, come on Avatar!”
But that wasn’t all. Following the Night Raven Knights, a pitch-black heavy armored infantry unit appeared, armed with the so-called ‘Magic Armor’, the secret weapon of the Revolutionary Army.
“Oh, no way!”
“The Revolutionary Army’s Magic Armor… … ?!”
The nobles gasped in bewilderment, but Dale said there was nothing to worry about.
“This armor was meant to be a weapon for our Empire’s soldiers from the beginning.”
As evidence, the black armor of the heavy infantry is engraved with the unmistakable mark of a night crow.
An ancient era where it was said that one strong man could overpower a thousand. Demons who proved their power by going through that era of Asura and piling up mountains of their enemies’ corpses.
To the people of that era, the appearance of those there must have seemed like nothing more than that.
There were ghosts of the past that you might only see in history. But they weren’t ghosts.
Only in the absolute zero where even time freezes, does the ice finally melt and reveal itself in history.
From Dale to the Saxons, and even one of the knights and wizards supporting them.
But these armies did not move. There was no need for them to. Across the Ninth Empire, all the way to the southernmost point, it took one man to subdue the fortresses and nobles that stood in his way.
The Great Demon Emperor.
It wasn’t some empty emperor or a sham empire. There was an absolute empire there that was truly worthy of their bowing down and loyalty.
“Once again, I would like to express my gratitude to the nobles, the clergy, and the urban bourgeoisie who have made the difficult journey to this place.”
And at the very front of the council, there was a throne for the Emperor they were supposed to serve. It was a throne cast in black gold.
Dale glanced at the throne there. Then he turned his head toward Charlotte.
“Charlotte, sit here.”
“Dale… …?”
Still, it was not Dale’s place to sit on the throne.
“For the sake of the child, please rest here.”
“Well, but… … . It’s not like there’s no other place. Calling people… … ”
Charlotte hesitated for a moment, but Dale shook his head.
“I want you and our child to sit here in front of everyone.”
“… … .”
Dale said, caressing his now swollen belly. Charlotte didn’t hesitate at his words either.
Charlotte sat on the black gold throne. And standing by her wife’s side, she asked her father.
“Shall I call someone and ask for a seat?”
“There is no need for that.”
“All right.”
“Allen answered blandly, and Dale nodded.
“Everyone, please sit down.”
Standing beside his wife Charlotte, the black-gold monarch spoke. There was a sudden murmur at those words. Could they sit even though the Emperor himself was not seated? However, Dale continued quietly.
“I want you to feel comfortable and just sit down.”
It was a soft, yet unobtrusive voice. Only then did everyone in the council sit down. Silence fell again, and in the silence, Dale turned his head.
“Thank you for your loyalty.”
In the silence, Dale opened his mouth. Across countless years, there were empires and nobles who were as unfamiliar as they were unfamiliar.
I turned my head briefly.
As always, there were the Saxons who stood by his side. Even though nine empires rose and fell, they were the family who stood by Dale without fail.
There is no grand idea of changing the world. There is no karma to atone for. Dale only hopes for one thing here.
A world where Dale and his loved ones can be happy.
But before that, he needed his empire.
To get what he wants.
“In return for your loyalty, your rule and regime will be guaranteed. I will also provide you with assistance in dealing with the immediate threat you face.”
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“Surely not the revolutionary army… …!”
“Emperor or Revolution?”
One of the nobles muttered, and Dale nodded in response.
“In that question, I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
“Can there be any doubt, Your Majesty the Emperor?”
The nobles all stood up and sang in unison.
“Is that really true?”
But they raised their voices, and Dale sneered coldly.
“You willingly knelt before me and offered handfuls of dirt. You betrayed the emperor to whom you had sworn to serve.”
“… … !”
There were gasps everywhere at those words. That was true. In a sense, the fall of the Ninth Reich was almost a ridiculous farce. The Emperor fled desperately out of fear of a mere man, and the nobles from the north to the south of the empire knelt down one after another. Because a few foolish people stood up to block a man for the Emperor Wilhelm, and I remember clearly what happened as a result.
I remember the endless stretch of lions beyond the horizon. I remember flesh and blood and bones, castles and cold weapons twisting and fusing strangely, and the rise of abominable giants.
Emperor of the Great Demon Empire, the Black Gold Monarch.
There was no such thing as grand loyalty to those here. They were just trembling with fear and desperately bowing their heads, as if they were submitting to an absolute being that they could not dare to go against.
“Oh, but don’t worry.”
In the chilling silence, Dale laughed quietly.
“Fear is the law of loyalty. And… … ”
After laughing, he continued speaking calmly.
“I can promise you that nothing in this world would be more terrifying than your betrayal of me. And now, I have the perfect opportunity to prove it.”
At the same time, the air in the area became chilly. At the end of the silence, Dale slowly stretched out his arm.
Choaack!
From the shadows that loomed over the Imperial Diet, pitch-black tentacles rose. Screams of shock and bewilderment echoed among the nobles, but at that very moment.
“Don’t move!”
The voice of Lord Helmut Blackbear rang out, and the bodies of those in the council froze. Then the tentacles snatched up several nobles and flung them in front of Dale.
“Hee, heek!”
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty! What, what on earth is going on!”
Just then, Charlotte stood up, blocking Dale’s path. Dale took a deep breath.
“shallot……?”
“We know that you are in collusion with the revolutionary army and are selling out my husband and the Empire’s movements.”
“… … !”
As Dale’s wife and the empress of the empire, Charlotte spoke with a dignity befitting her. There was a murmur from all around.
Nothing can hide the truth from the Shadow Lord. Nothing can deceive the blue web that surrounds them.
“But as long as you remain loyal to our empire, we will give you one last chance.”
“… … !”
“We will rule you with fear. But at the same time, we are not people who do not know mercy. So tell the truth and confess your sins even now.”
Charlotte said, looking straight at the man beside her, not the ones they were ruling over. As if speaking to Dale. Dale remained silent at Charlotte’s words.
“It’s exactly as she said.”
After a silence, Dale opened his mouth.
Those who had been kneeling belatedly began to bow their heads and confess one by one about their collusion with the revolutionary army. After confessing, they knelt before the emperor and began to beg for forgiveness. They finally understood that nothing could hide the truth hidden in the shadows from their monarch.
The pitch-black tentacles swarmed from all directions, writhing as if they would tear them apart at any moment. A gesture would suffice. Nevertheless, when Dale quietly waved his hand, the tentacles disappeared into the shadows beneath his feet.
And I looked at Charlotte. It wasn’t just Charlotte who was sleeping in the world of absolute zero. That’s why I could feel the life between the two people that was pulsating inside her stomach.
Dale and Charlotte’s baby, who is expected to be born soon.
“Thanks, Dale.”
Charlotte whispered softly. Dale smiled quietly at her words.
He smiled and turned his head. Towards those in the empire he was supposed to rule.
As if the smile just now was a lie, with an expression devoid of even a shred of emotion.
* * *
That night, in the bedroom of the Saxon Imperial Castle.
“A benevolent empire… … .”
Dale sat on the bed and smiled bitterly.
He didn’t want to repeat the foolishness of the past any longer. He didn’t want to become someone who would make even his loved ones fear and tremble in fear, and he didn’t want to turn away from everyone.
That’s why Dale turned his head.
To him, his people, and his beloved wife.
“There are no more duties or sacrifices you have to make for this world, Dale.”
“This is the world that we and our children will rule.”
“Neither I nor our child want our father to become a demon god. The same goes for father and mother.”
Charlotte answered bitterly.
And when he heard that, Dale shut his mouth in shock, as if he had been hit in the head with a hammer.
“……I see.”
“I no longer want the world to fear and revere you.”
“… … .”
“You’re a good guy, Dale.”
But Dale was left speechless by the words that followed.
