320 - 326
Chapter 320: From Despair to Hope (3)
"What's he doing?"
"H-He's telling us to... leave?"
"Free?"
"What kind of game is he playing..."
Murmur murmur. The people of Esmeralda all seemed confused at Kang Chul-In's offer.
"W-What are...?" Mike Jackson shouted at Kang Chul-In."What kind of bullshit are you...?"
"Bullshit?"
"...?"
"Are you saying you don't want to go even when I'm letting you?" Kang Chul-In scoffed. "Or maybe you're used to your pathetic lives because you've been living like pigs."
"...!"
"It's not like all of you suddenly became masochists... if you're satisfied with being treated less than cattle all your lives, then fine. If you want to die in this cursed land, I won't stop you."
They were cruel words that dug into the hearts of the Esmeralda people.
"W-What did you say..."
"Did you think I would congratulate your reactions?"
"...!"
"What's the problem?"
"T-That's..."
"Moving..."
"...!"
"That's probably the best way for you to escape this hole of despair."
"Huk...!" Mike Jackson froze in surprise after hearing Kang Chul-In's answer.
"...!"
The same went for the rest of the people of Esmeralda.
"This is a strategic place in Pangaea where most battles will occur."
He was trying to explain it simply.
"It's true that I also don't have a way to prevent battles from occurring in this place. I haven't reached the peak of being able to stop wars completely."
It was a hint towards Kang Chul-In's final goal in life, the strength to stop wars. That was what he would be satisfied with. If he had the complete Trinity Impact set, the armor Ectoplasm Oversuit of the Emperor of Blood and Iron, and increased his level by about 100, it would be a realistic goal.
"Of course, I won't lose and allow the losers of the north to take Esmeralda."
"..."
"Why, you don't believe me?"
"That's..."
"I've never lost a single battle or any territory."
"...!"
"Am I wrong?"
"..."
"Has anyone here heard about me, Kang Chul-In, losing? If you have, raise your hand to speak!"
There were none. No one at all.
"I am undefeatable. Like I already said, I'm a victorious commander who has never experienced loss."
There wasn't a hint of arrogance in what he was saying because it was all true. It was the undeniable truth. Kang Chul-In was the strongest person in Pangaea after the Great Summoning. They said being humble was a virtue, but it was Kang Chul-In's style to show everything as it was.
"But none of you will believe me when I promise not to lose Esmeralda. Am I wrong, Mike Jackson?"
"Y-You're right..."
"No, aside from believing me or not, you must be sick of all the battles that occur here."
"That's also..."
"Then you can just leave."
"...!"
"Move."
"M-Move!?"
"You can find another place to live far away from this cursed land. To be honest, any land will be better than this warzone. How is it, am I wrong?"
"Y-You're correct...!"
"Then leave...!" Kang Chul-In shouted. "All of you!"
"...!"
"No one from the Valhalla kingdom will stop you from leaving! So leave at ease to find new land! Find your happiness away from this tunnel of darkness! That is how I plan on giving you salvation from all your suffering."
Thump!
That was the will of Kang Chul-In, and the simplest way to escape from the tunnel of despair. If this land was destined to be a warzone forever, it was a hundred times better to leave.
"A-Are you being serious?"
Mike Jackson asked Kang Chul-In.
"Will you really let us leave?"
"Of course."
Kang Chul-In nodded.
"B-But..."
"...?"
"Even though this land is cursed, it's still our home."
"Are you trying to teach me what I already know?"
"T-That's not it..."
"Why, is it because you don't have anywhere to go?"
"Yes, sir..."
"You don't have the money to go find new land, and you don't want to establish a new home for yourselves even if you do?"
"Yes..."
"And you don't think there will be a Lord who will accept 150,000 refugees?"
"Yes, sir..."
"Then..."
Kang Chul-In spoke the main point of his long speech.
"Go west."
"West...?"
"If you go to the Ishtar region in the west, there will be a kingdom called Valhalla."
"Y-Your Supreme Majesty...!"
"Their king will accept you with an open mind. No, he has already ordered the construction of a refugee camp to the ants and dwarves there. But, that's not the end of it."
"...!"
"He also convinced his picky financial manager and rich wife to provide funds for the next 2 years so you don't have to starve. Also, he is planning on setting up temporary residences for you throughout the kingdom instead of
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designating a specific spot for refugees."
"...!"
"If you head there, the king of the Valhalla Kingdom will help you settle. However!"
Kang Chul-In added on.
"This is a benefit only given to those who work to improve the society and culture of the Valhalla Kingdom."
"I-Is that so?"
"Merciless discipline awaits those who take goodwill for granted. If you can't assimilate and stubbornly insist on the ways of the Esmeralda Kingdom, and if there are any who try to attack the locals..."
Gulp!
Mike Jackson swallowed.
"It's annoying, but the King will visit the houses of those bastards and make them regret it."
"..."
"He promised to rip you apart himself if I'm being honest."
It was a scary threat, but a necessary one. Most immigrants had a hard time getting adjusted to where they moved, and people of the same origins gathered in slums. Kang Chul-In couldn't bear to see that over his dead body.
"How's that, Mike?"
"Pardon?"
"Would you like to leave this Esmeralda territory and settle in the kingdom that that King, or rather I, rule?"
"T-That's..." Mike Jackson couldn't say anything because he was so taken aback.
"Why, you don't want to? It still sounds like a lie, hm?"
"N-No!"
"Hm...?"
"I'll go! Of course I will!" Mike Jackson shouted frantically. "I will leave this place and move to the Valhalla Kingdom!"
"Really?"
"O-Of course!"
"You told me not to say bullshit just now, didn't you?"
"T-That's...!"
"It's a joke."
"..."
"I'll especially apologize to you this time."
"Your Supreme Majesty...!"
"I will give you a reward." Kang Chul-In opened his inventory and handed a pouch over to Mike.
"T-This is.."
"100 gold pieces."
"...!"
"Think of it as payment for your courage."
"Your Supreme Majesty... keuk...!" Mike burst out crying.
"How's that?" Kang Chul-In put Mike behind him and asked the people of Esmeralda. "Will you immigrate to the place I rule, Valhalla Kingdom? Or will you stay here? I've already given you the options. Choosing between them is up to you!"
The Esmeralda people answered...
"I-I'll go!"
"Going!"
"I would like to become a part of the Valhalla Kingdom!"
"If you accept me, I'll gladly go!"
They welcomed the offer. Unlike the other Lords who treated them like pigs, Kang Chul-In was like the symbol of benevolence to them.
"Hurrah for the Supreme King of the West!"
"Hurrah!"
"Hurrah for the Valhalla Kingdom!"
"Cheers!"
There were intense shouts of joy.
"Not yet."
That wasn't the end.
"Here, I have someone to introduce to you."
Kang Chul-In pulled the wrist of a woman who was wearing a purple hood.
"Y-Your Majesty...!"
Skadi resisted him.
"It's alright."
"B-But..."
"They're all your people."
"..."
"We can explain everything carefully. Then, they'll welcome our return."
"R-Really?"
"Of course."
"I'm scared..."
"But it's something that must be done. We can't hide the fact that you're my wife forever, right?"
"That's true but..."
"Also, we need to show them that I have the right to take over Esmeralda."
It was true. If it became known that Kang Chul-In accepted Skadi as his wife, the people of Esmeralda had to acknowledge him.
"Be brave, Skadi."
"Your Majesty..."
"You can do it."
"A-Alright...!"
Skadi took a step forward towards those who had once been her people. Finally! It was the moment for the woman who had sacrificed her life to reappear in front of her people.
Skadi, you are my wife. I trust that you're doing well, and you'll continue to do so in the future.
Kang Chul-In watched her proudly. It was a great accomplishment. He had provided salvation for the people of Esmeralda, something that no Lord had been able to do (although he had an intense fight of words against Timothy because of it).
The result of it was...
[Your [Charm] stats have reached S+ rank]
[Your [Politics] stats have reached S++ rank!]
[Your [Strategy] stats have reached S rank!]
[Your [Speech] stats have reached S+++ rank!]
An increase of his stats, and,
[You have been given bonus points!]
[You have increased a level!]
[You've reached level 100!]
Continued into a level up.
"...!"
The Epic item on the fourth finger of his left hand, the [Needle of the Empress], also started to shine in brilliant gold color.
....
Skadi's return caused a commotion. However, it was quickly settled. She explained why she had to leave the territory, and how she married Kang Chul-In to protect them any way she could.
The people of Esmeralda believed her, or rather they had to. The offers that Kang Chul-In made would've been impossible without Skadi's help.
"Hurrah for Queen Skadi!"
"Hurrah!"
The hopeful people of Esmeralda greeted Skadi happily.
"Heuk...!"
Skadi began to cry tears of joy again. With that, another day passed.
"Hmm..."
Kang Chul-In spent some time looking over the Needle of the Empress.
[A quest has been created!]
A new quest. After reaching level 100, the quest of the Needle of the Empress was unlocked.
[Don't forget me.]
Quest details:
In the 'Cradle of Memories' in the underground of Styx, look for the old memories of the empress.
Difficulty: Low
Reward 1: All penalties related to marriage deleted (Slot for First Queen opened)
Reward 2: Wheel of Dimensions
※Warning: If the quest is cleared, the item [Needle of the Empress] will vanish.
"..."
The quest and the rewards were both ridiculous.
"The Wheel of Dimensions"
The only thing that was interesting was the item he had never heard about.
"K-Kang Chul-In!"
Just then, Dorian burst open the door and came running into his office.
"What is it?"
Kang Chul-In looked at Dorian with a frown.
"And why is your face like that."
"T-That...!"
"You looked like you got beat up."
"..."
"So you were beaten up."
"..."
"Who beat you up like this?"
Dorian's face was horrible. His black eye, running nose, ripped lips, and messed-up hair... If someone saw, they would think that he received mental training from Kang Chul-In.
"I sent you to look for the Emperor of Blood and Iron's grave but you came back beat up like this."
"No, that's not it..."
"Then what is it?"
"..."
"Hm... who was it? The one that beat you up like that? A 150-leveled monster?"
"No!" Dorian shouted.
"Then, who was it?" Kang Chul-In asked again. He was curious. Dorian was a pushover and a loser, but he was strong. Even Kang Chul-In felt like he could die if he was hit with the Shotgun Fist, so the one who beat up Dorian must've been...
"S-So..."
"...?"
"The Emperor of Blood and Iron wants to see you."
"..."
"He said to come to the sewers..."
Kang Chul-In's face crumpled.
"...Who?"
"He said he's the Emperor of Blood and Iron."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Kuk, kuk kuk kuk..." Kang Chul-In laughed.
"W-What's wrong..."
"Kuk kuk..."
"Hey... y-you're scaring me..."
"Kuk... so that's what happened... alright...!"
However, Kang Chul-In didn't answer Dorian and just muttered to himself.
Shiver!
Dorian trembled at the ominous feeling running down his back.
"The Emperor of Blood and Iron... explain what happened in detail."
"Hm?"
"Tell me what happened."
"T-That's..."
Dorian felt wronged at Kang Chul-In's sharp attitude but he didn't point it out. It was because he thought that there was a reason why Kang Chul-In was being like that.
"So..."
Dorian began to spill everything.
***
Heh.
Dorian was shocked when he saw Kang Chul-In's smile.
"W-What? Did you follow me here?"
Why was the person who ordered him to find the grave of the Emperor of Blood and Iron already here? Dorian thought he was tricked.
"Of course..." Kang Chul-In replied. "Not."
"What is it then? Kang Chul-In, you really..."
"No." Kang Chul-In shook his head.
"Huh...?"
"I'm not Kang Chul-In."
"What? Are you kidding me right now? I might be a pushover, but even I don't like these kinds of bad jokes."
Dorian seemed to be acknowledging that he was a pushover now.
"Huh? Since when has your hair been that long..."
There were a few things different about the Kang Chul-In in front of him. Something's strange. Something was definitely strange. The Kang Chul-In he knew didn't have long black hair like a rock star and didn't have the same red eyes that Arshelly did.
It was strange. The person in front of him looked extremely similar to the Kang Chul-In he knew, but the overall atmosphere around him was darker and foreign.
And his clothes... The man who looked similar to Kang Chul-In was obviously someone of a high position. They must've been made out of precious material. The iridescent red crown looked like it was made of material out of this world, and his clothes also showed that he was an important person.
"W-Who are you...?"
Click.
Dorian gripped the God Hand gauntlet in his fists after realizing that it wasn't Kang Chul-In.
"I..." However, the person ignored Dorian's powerful gesture and spoke. "Am Julius Berlineta Pon Aurangzeb."
"W-What?"
"The 27th emperor of the great Ancient empire and my nickname is the Emperor of Blood and Iron."
"Emperor of Blood and I-Iron...?"
Dorian had an astonished expression. The Emperor of Blood and Iron? This person was saying that he was the owner of the grave he had been raiding.
"W-What... you're really the Emperor of Blood and Iron?"
"I don't answer questions I've answered already."
"Hm?"
"You pushover."
"...!"
"Kang Chul-In, bring that guy here."
"P-Pushover?"
Tremble tremble...!
Dorian's body shook.
"Are... you... done... taking...? Huh?"
His anger was understandable. He was annoyed that everyone called him a pushover, and even this person calling himself the Emperor of Blood and Iron was calling him a pushover. Not to mention, this was the first time they were meeting.
"I'm just calling it as I see it."
"What?"
"Stop with the chit chat and bring Kang Chul-In to me."
"This bastard really...!"
The angry Dorian swung his fust.
Smack!
It was a loud sound.
"Ack!"
But the one who hunched over wasn't the man who called himself the Emperor of Blood and Iron.
"Aack..." Dorian groaned. "H-How...?"
"This won't do."
Smirk!
He wore a cold smile.
That meant...
"I guess you need some mental training?"
It was a merciless response.
"N-No!"
"Yes."
At the same time,
Pababababac!
The man who looked like Kang Chul-In began to punch Dorian's head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes...
Yep, his entire body.
"Aaaack!"
A scream exploded from Dorian's mouth.
***
"...So."
Kang Chul-In opened his mouth with a flabbergasted face.
"You were beaten up a bunch?"
"Yeah..."
"Without being able to get a single punch in?"
"He was stronger than you."
"..."
"I'm being serious... I couldn't
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hit him at all..."
A vein popped out of Kang Chul-In's forehead. A man's pride! Of course he would be upset that his best friend (?) Dorian said the Emperor of Blood and Iron was stronger than him.
"That's because you're weak." Kang Chul-In mocked Dorian. "How useless. You should've trained harder."
"W-What?"
"What if you met an illusion or a superior doppelganger that wasn't the Emperor of Blood and Iron? You're not actually believing that someone from a thousand years ago is still alive, right?"
"T-That's true, but he wasn't an illusion or a doppelganger!"
"What do you mean he wasn't?"
"Ugh... ugh...!"
"Tsk... what a pushover to come back after getting beat up..."
"That's not it!"
"Whatever, let's go." Kang Chul-In ignored Dorian's argument and began to move.
"W-Where?"
"He'll have to pay the price."
"...!"
"He dares to tell me to come and go?"
Crunch! Kang Chul-In grounded his teeth.
Seeing how he uses force... he won't be an illusion like last time... then that means I can hit him, right? Hehe... I'll show you this time, ghost of the Emperor of Blood and Iron.
It was a good chance to let him know his place.
***
In a secret lab 10 floors underground in the Pentagon...
Boil boil...!
In a large glass casket, blood-red liquid was boiling like crazy inside.
"Are you finally awake?" The one watching it, a member of the Agnaga, the Time Lord, Milenius, had a satisfied smile. "It's about time you did... I've been waiting a long time... a thousand years as a human is too long..."
A thousand years. Milenius was muttering that the man standing inside the glass casket was someone from a thousand years ago.
Flash!
"...!"
The man inside the glass casket opened his closed eyes and a bright light started to be emitted from then.
"Oho." Milenius smiled. "Finally?"
"..."
"Come out, emperor of the past. If you're up, you must escape that uncomfortable glass casket and walk your path of revenge, right?"
As soon as he finished.
Kwang!
The large man inside punched his head-sized fist at the glass.
Crack! Kwang!
Continued punches! Small fractures appeared on the surface of the glass like spiderwebs,
Kwang!
And on the third punch,
Clang!
The glass pattered down in pieces. The red liquid inside came spewing outside like a water fountain.
Thump!
A large man stepped out of the glass casket.
Ssss...!
Mist steamed from all over his body.
He had a large body of 2 meters, long black hair, and red eyes. The appearance of the man who woke up was as scary as a demon king.
"Whew."
The man sighed. It wasn't because he was exhausted, but because it was his first breath in a while.
"Not a bad function." Milenius had a satisfied smile and nodded. "Breaking the casket made of Divine Pieces with just three punches... definitely fitting of the man who was once called Demon Body."
Divine Pieces were extremely rare minerals in Pangaea. They were even better than dragon bones. His strength couldn't be described in words.
"How is the air of Pangaea after breathing it in for the first time in a while?"
"..."
"Isn't it new?"
"..."
"You've been resurrected after a thousand years, so it should be great."
The man didn't reply. He just observed Milenius silently. And after a while...
"Hmmm..."
The large man looked down at his hands and body with amusement.
"Resurrection... how fun."
That was it.
"Hell was fine, but I've been bored, so things turned out well."
He was speaking calmly about hell, something that all humans were afraid of... where was this man from?
"But... who are you?"
The large man spoke to Milenius. He acted as he had just seen him, so Milenius's pride was hurt.
"You dare?"
"...?"
"A mere creation doesn't recognize his owner? Heh... how amusing... your ego must be strong because you yourself are strong in the first place..."
"..."
"Well, I'll let you go this time."
"..."
"Kneel, creation."
Milenius ordered.
"You should be saluting me, but..."
It was then.
A cold smile spread on the man's face.
"Creator..."
"Of course..."
"What a funny thing that you, a parasite, are saying."
"...!"
"Why, did you think I wouldn't be able to see what you are because you have a mask on?"
At the same time, the large man grabbed Milenius's body.
"Kuk...!"
"Parasite."
"Kuk... kuk...!"
"Know your place."
"W-Wait... l-let me go...!"
"I..."
The large man spoke.
"Am the 26th emperor of the Ancient Empire. I am the great being ruling over all of this land and have the right to decide on whether one lives or dies."
"Kuk...!"
"But... a lower-level being like you dares to say he's my creator?"
"...!
"I'll show you who should be saluting who."
The man who called himself the Emperor of Blood and Iron's father tightened his hand. It was unbelievable strength.
W-What...!
Milenius was shocked.
I-I can't...
He couldn't resist. Milenius, who had once destroyed the titan of a Lord with one blow was powerless in front of Saturnus' strength.
Not to mention, his skill of controlling time wasn't activating.
"Die."
Dammit...!
Milenius shut his eyes. The 26th emperor of the Ancient Empire, Saturnus Berlineta Pon Aurangzeb, the tyrant of the century who pushed the empire into a hole of despair and caused an awful amount of carnage had resurrected.
The horrendous Emperor of Lunacy and Darkness.
"I'll beat him up." Kang Chul-In turned towards the sewers to punish the Emperor of Blood and Iron, putting Dorian in front of him.
"I'm being serious..."
"What are you talking about?"
"That Emperor of Blood and Iron guy is really strong."
"Stop pulling my leg."
"I'm being serious!"
"It's because you're weak." Dorian and Kang Chul-In grumbled with each other while heading towards the sewers.
"Fine." Dorian said, deciding to pull out his final card.
"What's fine?"
"Let's make a bet."
"Bet...?"
"Yeah." Dorian nodded.
"What kind of bet?"
"If I'm right or if you're right."
"You'll probably lose though."
"I'll win! The Emperor of Blood and Iron is stronger than you! I couldn't get a single punch in!"
Dorian's statement wasn't baseless. Even though Kang Chul-In was strong and Dorian was a pushover, when the two of them went at it, it was hard for the winning rate to be 100%.
It was about 9:1. Of course, Kang Chul-In was likely to win by about 90%, but the 10% wasn't something to look down on. To be honest, Kang Chul-In didn't think he could defeat Dorian in a fight without allowing a single punch from him. Of course, he wouldn't allow it to be a critical one.
There's some kind of trick to it.
However, Kang Chul-In didn't even consider that the Emperor of Blood and Iron was the real one. The Emperor of Blood and Iron died. A thousand years ago, at that. If he hadn't died, he wouldn't have called Kang Chul-In his reincarnation.
There were two possibilities.
An excellent shadow that can use force.
Or,
A doppelganger that can defeat even a loser.
That was as far as Kang Chul-In knew.
Well... that Emperor of Blood and Iron probably has some kind of temper... I wonder if he can use Oraclomind?
Also, Kang Chul-In was thinking with his smart brain that the Emperor of Blood and Iron could use the Oraclomind. It was a reasonable guess.
It'll still be a fake though.
Kang Chul-In was confident.
"Well, fine."Kang Chul-In accepted Dorian's offer. "Let's do it."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"You can't go back on your word."
"Don't make me repeat myself."
"O-Okay..."
"What will you bet?"
"Hmm... gold is the best, right?"
"Sure."
Yes, money. The best thing to raise the stakes was gold.
"How much are you gonna bet?"
"Hmmm... 50,000?"
"100,000."
"...!"
"Or 150,000?"
"H-Heek!?" Dorian gasped at the unbelievable amount. 150,000 gold wasn't an easy amount of money to attain, even if one was an Overlord.
"Why, are you scared because the money is too much?" That was how sure he was. He was planning on taking everything from Dorian that he could get. "Well, if you're scared we can stop."
"...!"
"On top of being a pushover, you're a scaredy-cat. Sounds about right."
His mocking continued.
Tremble, tremble...!
Dorian's body shook.
"I-It's true I'm a pushover but I'm not a scaredy-cat!"
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Then let's do the bet."
"T-That's..."
"So you were a scaredy-cat like I thought..."
"Let's do it!" Dorian shouted. "Let's do it! Do it! I have money too!"
"You're being serious?"
"Yeah!"
"Hmm... you're sure you won't regret it?"
"Yeah."
"Good." Kang Chul-In smirked. "You're pretty gutsy,"
"Humph!"
"Oh, and also."
"Hm?"
"Call Moth and tell her to get the money ready."
"What?"
"You're gonna lose."
Kang Chul-In put on his classic evil smile and walked past him.
"That...!" Dorian followed Kang Chul-In with an angry face. "Wait and see, Kang Chul-In... saying I'm a liar... humph...!"
Dorian was really angry this time. However, he was missing something important.
No one who told Kang Chul-In to "wait and see" had been able to smile at the end!
***
I-Is this death...!?
Milenius felt the fear of death for the first time while being gripped by Saturnus. He had never
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felt it before. Milenius always turned back time when he was in dangerous situations and extended his life. It was impossible for death to touch him, but it was different this time.
"Kuk... what a fun bastard..." Strangely, his skill wasn't working at the moment. "You dare to attempt to play with time under my territory?"
"...!"
"Very funny..."
Milenius wasn't able to say anything from the shock.
"But..." That is, until Saturus began to speak the "very shocking truth."
"You overlooked one thing, foreign being."
"K-Kuk..!"
"Maybe you can bring me back under another appearance, but resurrecting me?"
"...!"
"No matter how talented you are at playing with time, you didn't really think you could break the rules of the Underworld, hm?"
"W-What are you...!?"
"Foolish bastard." Saturnus scoffed at Milenius. "I am someone from the true hell, '■■■■■.'"
Beep...
Milenius couldn't hear the "■■■■■" that Saturnus was talking about. This was because what Saturnus was saying wasn't something beyond their planet but beyond their dimension.
W-What is this...!
However, he was sure of one thing. There was no doubt that he, an Agnaga, had summoned something that he shouldn't have.
"And..." Saturnus continued with a vicious smile. "You know that the moment you called me here, the time paradoxes you've been causing won't be happening anymore, right?"
"...!"
"Also..." What he said after was even scarier. "You will pay the price for that."
"W-What kind... kuk...!"
"Hell."
"...!"
"You'll be trapped in the true hell, ■■■■■, where those who broke the laws of dimensions go, and forever be in pain."
"...!"
"Foolish being, look into my eyes."
"Uk...!"
Milenius tried to avoid looking into Saturnus' eyes. He felt like he shouldn't look into them. However... Saturnus turned Milenius's head with his powerful grip.
"...!"
The surprised Milenius ended up looking into his eyes without even getting the chance to close them.
Shiver!
At that moment,
"H-Hik!?"
Milenius saw something in those eyes.
T-This is...!
It was most definitely an image of ■■■■■.
"Ack!"
"Kek, hahahaha..."
"Aaaaaaack!"
"Haha...!"
"Aaaaaaack...! S-Save meeeeeee!"
Just what had he seen? Milenius screamed like he was being tortured.
"Can you see hell? The ■■■■■?"
"Kuk... aaaaack!"
"Enjoy it all you want, you foolish being!"
"Kuk... huk... huuukk...!"
"It's where you'll go after you die so enjoying it before then will be a great experience."
"Huk...!"
After a while.
"H-Huk... huk...!"
Milenius panted after barely escaping from the fear.
"Do you know your place now?"
"Huk... huk..."
"Kneel."
"...!"
"You've called me into this world, so you must become my servant, no?"
Their positions were changed. Saturnus' existence was greater and more evil than what Milenius had thought, and now he wasn't able to control his own creation. The cart was put before the horse.
"Kuk..."
"Why, you don't want to?" Saturnus pressured Milenius. "Guess you want to go to ■■■■■ now, hm?"
"T-That's...!"
"You've already broken the rules of dimensions, and the moment you die, you will be locked in ■■■■■."
"...!"
"Do you want to go there faster?"
"N-No, sir!"
"Then choose."
"...!"
"If you'll become my servant and postpone being locked in there, or..."
"I-I'll do it!" The fearful Milenius bowed at Saturnus's feet. "I-I will become your servant... y-your faithful servant...! Oh, master...!"
"Kuk..."
"Just not death...!"
"Fine." Saturnus nodded with a satisfied expression. "You should do that, you lowly being."
"Yes, sir..."
"But..."
"Please speak, master..."
"Where am I, and how much time has passed since I died?"
"That's..."
"Is my son, Julius, still alive?"
That was what he was most curious about. Whether his son, the 27th emperor of the Ancient Empire, was still alive.
"Master..." Milenius replied. "As I already said, it has been a thousand years..."
"Time has no meaning to my cute son."
Saturnus was right. Resurrection, reincarnation, and regression... to Julius, who had these three powers, a thousand years wasn't a big deal.
"That's..."
"...?"
"There is someone who's assumed to be the reincarnation of your son..."
Milenius began to speak about Kang Chul-In's tales.
***
In the Esmeralda territory, under the sewers, where the grave of the Emperor of Blood and Iron was thought to be...
"Have you come?"
The Emperor of Blood and Iron greeted Kang Chul-In.
"Coming all the way here, as expected of my reincarnation."
"..."
"Have you been well?"
He was speaking in a friendly tone.
"Shut up with the fake greetings."
However, Kang Chul-In rejected the Emperor of Blood and Iron's greetings.
"How sensitive."
"You're not even human, so why bother with greetings?"
"Not human?"
"A cyborg?"
"...!"
"No, you're not a cyborg either. I've never seen something that's made up like you are."
Kang Chul-In's insight was sharp. His Oraclomind allowed him to see the general identity of the Emperor of Blood and Iron.
"Well, anyway."
"..."
"It doesn't matter what you are."
"It doesn't matter?"
"Of course not."
Kang Chul-In nodded.
"Then what does?"
"Do I have to say it myself?"
"That's why I asked, reincarnation of mine."
It was then.
Kashing!
Kaiforce began to speed towards the Emperor of Blood and Iron. Fists over words. Kang Chul-In's dirty temperament had raised its head.
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A sudden fight!
"Whoa..." Dorian's mouth dropped as he watched the intense fight between Kang Chul-In and the Emperor of Blood and Iron.
"W-What the... both of them are... super strong..." He was the definition of surprised.
Kwang! Each attack that went back and forth was powerful enough to crush entire mountains. And their speed...
The heck... I can't even see it properly...!
Their movements seemed like ghosts; it was almost impossible to chase after them with his eyes. Each small movement was fast enough to break the sound barrier. If anyone normal decided to fight against them, they wouldn't even know what hit them.
Thanks to that...
Dammit... I can't light a single candle next to them... Dorian became depressed once again.
I don't understand...
Kang Chul-In was like a phantom. He was like that from their first meeting. At the beginning of the Great Summoning, Dorian was growing at a quick pace, but after meeting Kang Chul-In, he became a follower, not the one in the lead. He couldn't catch up. Kang Chul-In was always a step ahead.
Shit... it's hard to follow along... maybe I can catch up in about 50 years or so.
It was a mystery. Kang Chul-In was becoming stronger to no end. It was too bad that Dorian didn't know that Kang Chul-In was a regressor and had a different starting point than everyone else, or that he himself was also incredibly skilled.
"Let's stop."
It was then...
"It's only a waste of strength, reincarnation of mine."
The Emperor of Blood and Iron put his fists down.
"That's what you think."
"I lost."
"...?"
"So let's stop."
"Why should I?" Kang Chul-In was flabbergasted at the Emperor of Blood and Iron's sudden surrender. "It was just about to get fun."
He was feeling heated, but he wanted to quit now?
"It's impossible to win."
"Who? Me?"
"Me."
"Why do you think that?"
"I am an existence of the past; it's been a long while since my body and mind crumbled."
"So?"
"How could I, the remains of the Emperor of Blood and Iron inside of the Ectoplasm Oversuit, defeat a living being like you?"
"...!"
"A fight between you and me is useless."
Kang Chul-In didn't hear the part about it being useless.
"Ectoplasm Oversuit?" All his attention was on the Ectoplasm Oversuit. "Are you saying you're the Ectoplasm Oversuit?"
"Of course not."
"...?"
"How could plain armor be able to carry out a conversation with you?"
"Then?"
"Didn't I already say so?" The Emperor of Blood and Iron expressed his anger. "I used the Ectoplasm Oversuit as a vessel to contain a part of me."
"Hmm... is it a type of possession?"
"Well, it's similar, but I am a part of my memories from when I was alive."
"..."
"Let's stop with the complicated things here. Both of us will only just get headaches anyway."
"Fine, let's do that." Kang Chul-In nodded. "I don't like getting headaches either."
"How smart."
The expression of the two after they came to an agreement was similar.
Annoying things are the worst.
Dragging things out is annoying.
The two hated annoying things.
"Anyway." Kang Chul-In began to move towards the Emperor of Blood and Iron. "The fight isn't over."
"..."
"Come at me, you lower-level ghost."
Kang Chul-In clearly expressed his will to continue to fight. Why? It was because he wanted to teach the Emperor of Blood and Iron some manners (even though he wasn't his actual body).
"I already said it's useless."
"That's your problem."
"Will you stop only after this suit is destroyed?"
"...!"
"You must want it... the greatest armor."
"..." Kang Chul-In paused. "What kind of bullshit are you talking about?"
"It's not bullshit." The Emperor of Blood and Iron smirked. "I'm saying that there's nothing you'll get by beating me up."
"How come?"
"I'm only a memory, so how can I feel pain?"
"...!"
"And this Ectoplasm Oversuit is an item that feeds on the mana and mind of its user. It'll be destroyed after repetitive shock."
"T-That's...!"
"It hasn't been able to absorb mana for at least a thousand years, so it's in desperate need of some right now. Don't do anything weird and step back."
"Mm...!"
"No matter how much you fight, you'll gain nothing. You'll only lose this Ectoplasm Oversuit."
Crunch! Kang Chul-In ground his teeth.
However, he didn't attack the Emperor of Blood and Iron. It was because it was a waste.
***
"You never know."
"...?"
"You might find the Ectoplasm Oversuit that the Emperor of Blood and Iron wore when he was alive."
"Is
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that a good thing?"
"Of course! From what I know, there is no artifact greater than the Ectoplasm Oversuit in all of Pangaea."
"Even Kaiforce and Mitra?"
"I guarantee that it's superior to them."
"...!"
"I have no idea what it's made of although I once called myself the greatest blacksmith of all time."
***
His conversation with Vulkan flashed through his head.
"Luck..."
Kang Chul-In took Kaiforce back in.
"You were lucky, lower-level ghost."
"Right back at you."
"...?"
"If I were alive, you would be dead already."
"This bastard...?"
"Well, that won't happen so don't be too worried. I'm you and you're me. We share the same soul, so there's no way we'll meet as complete beings."
Shake, shake...!
Kang Chul-In held on tightly to his patience.
...Greed is the problem.
Normally, he would've attacked the Emperor of Blood and Iron regardless of whether he felt pain or not, but with the Ectoplasm Oversuit at stake, he couldn't do that.
"Whew..."
"Let's not cause a scene and do things smoothly."
The Emperor of Blood and Iron sighed, then spoke amicably to Kang Chul-In.
"Do what?"
"That..."
"No." Kang Chul-In cut him off. "Before that."
"...?"
"I think you said it earlier."
"What?"
"That you lost."
"Hmm... that's..."
He thought for a moment to himself, like his pride was hurt, and gave Kang Chul-In the reply he wanted.
"You're right."
"What?"
"..."
"Say it clearly."
"I..."
"Quickly."
The Emperor of Blood and Iron was a man of strong pride, like Kang Chul-In.
"...Lost."
"Who?"
"Me."
"Clearly?"
"I... lost."
A smile grew on Kang Chul-In's face. Now they were tied. Even though the Ectoplasm Oversuit was being held on the other side, Kang Chul-In had gained "victory." Neither of them liked uncomfortable endings like this, but one thing was for sure...
"N-No!" It was that Dorian Explorer was fucked. "T-This is a scam! A scam!" Dorian shouted.
"Ke...!"
This was what Kang Chul-In was after. The bet. With the declaration of loss by the Emperor of Blood and Iron, Kang Chul-In would earn 150,000 gold!
"Pushover?"
"..."
"Hand the money over."
"..."
"Ah, there's no way you'd carry around that much money so give it to me as soon as we return."
"..."
"I'll use it well."
"..."
"There was a lot of money going out because of the refugees. Things worked out well. Hehehe...!" Kang Chul-In laughed
"Ugh...!" And Dorian pulled at his hair. "Ugggghhh...!"
"Hm? Pushover?"
"...What."
"Where are you going?"
"To find some water."
"...?"
"So I can drown and die! Why, do you have a problem with that?"
Dorian began to head back down on the path they took. It seemed like he was going to look for some money.
"How fun." The Emperor of Blood and Iron snorted. "Never a boring day?"
"Of course not." Kang Chul-nodded. "That guy is fun to play with."
"He's skilled?"
"The best."
"Hm?"
"He's skilled and loyal. Although it's a problem that he's a bit of a pushover." That was Kang Chul-In's true review of Dorian. "Anyway." He then turned to the Emperor of Blood and Iron. "Why did you call me here?"
"I wanted to give you a gift."
"A gift? What kind of gift?"
"The Ectoplasm Oversuit."
"...!"
"It's a keepsake. I thought I should give a present to my reincarnation when he was able to take over Esmeralda."
"What in the world..."
"It's true."
"..."
"Take it, I'll give you the greatest artifact in Pangaea."
"Just what..."
"And of course, it's free."
And with that, the illusion of the Emperor of Blood and Iron began to fade away...
"..." The speechless Kang Chul-In watched the scene. "This bastard really..."
The guy was spiteful. He had used the fact that he was dead and didn't allow Kang Chul-In to say anything. Just then, iridescent silk clothing rolled on the floor. It was a stroke of luck that he hadn't imagined.
***
"Oho." Saturnus smiled amusedly at Milenius' report. "So my son reincarnated as a guy named Kang Chul-In and is fighting for control of this land against you?"
"Yes, master..."
"Ke...! As expected of my son."
"...?"
"Since he has my blood, he shouldn't do anything less than that." Even though the Emperor of Blood and Iron had caused him to be locked in ■■■■■, that was what he thought. "He must be having fun... creating his own kingdom, living his best life as a king."
"M-Master..."
"Then I will..."
"...!"
"I should crack his fun to pieces, hm? Shouldn't I? My servant?"
"Y-Yes, sir...!"
"Keuk, keuk, keuk...!" Saturnus let out a spine-chilling laugh. "My lovable son... just wait a bit... I'll rip your limbs to pieces, take your wives, and boil your children...!"
"...!"
"Hahahaha!" There was an air of lunacy around him. "Okay, my servant."
"Please speak, sir..."
"Tell me. Where is my son? Where can I find my cute and lovable son?"
"Yes, master. Your son, the Emperor of Blood and Iron, is getting ready to attack in Esmeralda..."
"Esmeralda... Styx?" Saturnus pointed out the battlefield exactly, having been the emperor in the past.
"Yes, master. If you wait in Styx, your son will bring his army."
"Good." He nodded. "Let's go, lead the way."
"Yes, master."
"Keuk...!" Saturnus stepped forward with his vicious smile.
The Emperor of Lunacy and Night was about to stain Pangaea with carnage again.
***
After the Emperor of Blood and Iron disappeared, Kang Chul-In stood there, looking at the Ectoplasm Oversuit.
"Hmm..."
He didn't trust what the Emperor of Blood and Iron said.
"There's probably some kind of trick..." He examined the Ectoplasm Oversuit for some time, even using his Oraclomind, and soon enough...
"...!"
He saw something strange. The fabric of the silk was becoming faint.
***
"And this Ectoplasm Oversuit is an item that feeds on the mana and mind of its user. It'll be destroyed after repetitive shock."
"It hasn't been able to absorb mana for at least a thousand years, so it's in desperate need of some right now. Don't do anything weird and step back."
***
The words of the Emperor of Blood and Iron flashed through his head.
The battery's dead!
"That won't do."
He quickly wore the Ectoplasm Oversuit.
-Keuk...!
It was then.
-You're hooked only after I go this far, reincarnation.
The Emperor of Blood and Iron's playful voice dug into his eardrums.
"Dammit...!" Realizing that something was wrong, Kang Chul-In's face crumpled like a demon.
With that...
Chrwak!
The Ectoplasm Oversuit wrapped around his entire body.
Chapter 324: The Emperor of Blood and Iron's Perspective (1)
Of course he's fucking around...!
Kang Chul-In realized that he had fallen into a trap when the Ectoplasm Oversuit enveloped his body. He tried to gather all his mana to resist.
You bastard...!
...?
The pot was calling the kettle black. Who was telling Kang Chul-In that his personality is atrocious?
Crazy bastard... you think I will buy that?
...?
What a joke.
You taking over my body? That's the shittiest thing I've ever heard.
The Emperor of Blood and Iron blurred his sentence, as if he was too tired to respond.
Shut the fuck up!
That was the end. The Emperor of Blood and Iron's voice could no longer be heard.
This is...!
Kang Chul-In could feel some sort of 'memory' flowing into his brain. The emperor's memories... pieces of archaic information from a thousand years ago were being delivered to him.
***
"Kya~!" Arshelly, my daughter, smiled at me.
Cute.
I finally realized what 'happiness' was, as I observed my daughter. What is it about this small being, this infant, that makes me so happy? Is it just because she is my blood-kin? No, that's not it. The blood that runs in my veins is that of the Aurangzeb family, the most notorious and contaminated family on this continent.
That was the reality for royals. It was the destiny of an Aurangzeb to deem even his parents, spouse and children as political enemies and cut their heads off. I was no exception. I rose to the throne by killing my father, Saturnus, the Emperor of Lunacy and Darkness.
I could be seen as a traitor... scum who murdered his father. That was my very nature. No euphemism, such as restoring the order, could mask it.
Of course, I have no regrets. Saturnus is the enemy who killed my mothers, brothers and my one true mother. How could I regret killing such a man? I dreamt of being such scum since young, and I am proud to have brought it to fruition.
However...
"Kyaaa...!"
To be honest, I'm afraid. In the future, if I become corrupted with power, or if I can't suppress my surging lunacy... If such a day comes... will I point my sword at this baby who is smiling so brightly at me – my daughter, Arshelly? Just like how my ancestors did?
"Phew." I couldn't hold back my sigh. Humans are bound to be corrupted, and I'm no exception. This throne, this power that rules over this vast continent, may corrupt me one day. No, even if I remain uncorrupted, a power struggle between me and my children can happen at any time.
This baby, Arshelly, may challenge me for the throne in the future.
"...Damn it." I bit my lower lip in frustration, and a bloody scent filled my nose. That brought me back to reality somewhat. Why am I worrying about a power struggle with my own baby daughter, which may or may not even happen in the distant future?
To feel threatened by a baby girl... Is that the lunacy of the imperial throne? O possibly the instinct of an Aurangzeb, the inheritor of dirty blood?
"No." I turned around in response to a voice from behind my back. "You will never do that. Neither will my daughter."
There... my most beloved woman was smiling at me. The Empress and the mother to my daughter, as well as my wife, 'Brynhildr Freyja Norn Arondight'.
"It's a pointless worry."
"..."
"Although it's an inevitable thought."
"Inevitable?"
"Because that has been the history of the Aurangzeb family."
"...!"
"So you did harbor such bad thoughts."
I had the chills. I felt naked and exposed.
"That's not it."
"What's not?"
"..."
"You were thinking that you could become corrupt and that our daughter would point her sword at you in the future, weren't you?"
I had nothing to say.
What even...
I feared nothing but my wife. My wife always read my mind, and I lied whenever she did to evade the situation.
As a result...
"Dear, you need some scolding." I always lost. "How could you harbor such bad thoughts?"
"That's not it..."
"Oh really?"
"..."
"Of course, I don't believe that you truly feared you and our daughter's corruption."
"Honestly..."
"No." Brynhildr shook his head. "You grew up listening to your ancestors' wrongdoings, so it's not surprising for you to think that way."
"I-Is that so?"
"It'd be weirder if you weren't worried."
"... I see."
"But don't worry."
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"...?"
"You are stronger than any of the previous emperors who ruled this empire. And so is your wife."
"...!"
"If you become corrupt, then I will teach you a good lesson. If our daughter becomes corrupt, then we can guide her to the correct path together, couldn't we?"
"Ah?" What she said made sense. "T-That's true..."
"Also."
"...?"
"Are you that weak to fear your wife and daughter?"
"Weak?"
"If you can't even look after your own family, then you should stop being the emperor and go fish some Leviathan in the northern archipelago. Don't you think so?"
She was right. I didn't even realize that this primitive emotion known as fear was inducing my defense instincts and bloodthirst. In the end, my ancestors (including my father) might have been weaklings, as aptly termed by my wife...
"Also, you are..."
"...?"
"An extremely lazy person."
"..."
"I know that the only reason you remain on the throne is because you don't have an heir. Aren't you thinking that being an emperor is cumbersome and tiring?"
What insight. Yes, I found being an emperor quite troublesome... all the time. I just wanted to be a retiree.
"Don't be worried because of your ancestors' past wrongdoings, which you are not obliged to follow. That's hardly like you. My husband – my daughter's father – is totally different from those foolish men."
"Of course I am." I nodded to support her statement. That's right. I was totally different from my ancestors. I was supposed to be eliminated, but I died once and instead revived through the Wheel of Resurrection. The reason why I could rise to become the emperor was because of my thirst for revenge on that 'damn bastard' and a sense of rebellion to escape from my dirty descent.
There was a difference in 'purpose' between me and my ancestors. They aimed to claim power from the very start, but I didn't. I just wanted to take revenge on my father, and somehow became the emperor during that process.
I'm someone who became the emperor by chance. Therefore, I would never aim my sword at my family out of fear that they might steal this power.
"Kyaa...!"
That lovely child... my precious daughter would never threaten me to relinquish my throne. And so what if she did? I could just slap her buttocks or simply give her the throne. My daughter... was that precious to me.
After struggling through mountains of bodies and rivers of blood, my soul tired from such relentless chaos was gently caressed by this child.
"Dumbo." My wife smiled at me. It was a beautiful and blinding smile.
"Brynhildr." I wanted to hug her.
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty?"
"Come here." I pulled her closer to me so I could embrace her.
"Your Imperial Majesty!" At that moment, an unwelcome guest arrived. "E-Emergency!"
An elderly magician hurriedly rushed in with a blushed face and kneeled in front of me. It was Nilus, an arch mage who synthesized a level 10 spell. He had the power to become a duke or even a king anywhere on this continent. It's delightful to have such a talent as my loyal subject, but...
"What is it?" I could only respond curtly. After becoming the emperor, I indulged myself in a gigantic pile of work (I often stack up the paperwork for fun, trying to reach the 10 metres high mark) all the time. Naturally, quality time with my wife was extremely important and I didn't want it to be interrupted.
"That is..."
"...?"
"A mysterious disease has emerged in Nosferatu!"
Nosferatu. It was located in the northern tundra region.
"A disease?"
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty."
"Can't you just send the medical knights and supplies?"
"B-But...!"
"...?"
"The victims are transforming into monsters and are attacking our soldiers indiscriminately."
"Hmm..." It was an interesting report. "A mysterious disease... transformation... hmm..."
There had to be a catch.
"A dark magician? Or a necromancer?"
They were all of the same kind.
"I think so too."
"Right?"
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty."
"Then..." I immediately pictured the perfect individual who could resolve this situation.
"Send Count Hector Evans, together with the antimagic knights."
"Kueh... that's a great decision, Your Imperial Majesty!"
Nilus bowed at me.
What's great? It's obvious.
However, I didn't appreciate his praise. Hector Evans, also named the Spell Thirster, was a knight with a unique spell called 'Spellthirst', which allowed him to absorb any magic below level 10. In other words, he was a natural counter to magicians. Even a child could think of sending Hector Evans to subjugate a dark magician or a necromancer. Thus, there wasn't a tiny bit of reason to receive praise.
But I didn't reprimand Nilus. This old geezer had always been like this. It wasn't flattery. I know how loyal he is.
"Send a message to Hector Evans."
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty."
"Tell him to punish that daring bastard on behalf of me and my empire."
"Certainly, Your Imperial Majesty!"
"Ah, and also..." I added. "Tell Hector Evans that..."
"...?"
"If the enemy turns out to be stronger than expected, or if there is a risk of casualty amongst the antimagic knights..."
"Your Imperial Majesty..."
"Tell him not to overdo himself, and report immediately to me."
"..."
"The antimagic knights are valuable human resources. I can't just let them be sacrificed in vain."
I couldn't look Nilus in the eye.
"Haha... Your Imperial Majesty..." He seemed to have read my mind and let out a hearty laughter.
"Hmph!" And so did my wife.
"..."
I remained quiet to play dumb.
"Hohoho... w-what are the chances?" Nilus spoke with cold sweat.
That sly old geezer! He was definitely conscious of my wife's mood.
"There shouldn't be a need for Your Imperial Majesty to personally join the conquest!"
"..."
"Unless there is a demon king – no, a great demon king – what are the chances?"
"I-Is that so...?"
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty!"
With that, my escape plan was brought to naught. What a pity. I desperately wanted to escape the dreadful paperwork... To be honest, I even wished for a great demon king to appear.
Rummaging through the paperwork was just that agonizing.
"T-Then I shall excuse myself. Hohoho..." Nilus hurriedly left the scene.
"Dear." Immediately, I could hear my wife's furious voice.
"W-Well then, see ya..."
I tried to leave but,
"Where do you think you are going!"
It was futile.
But what I didn't know was that this eccentric phenomenon at Nosferatu would eventually lead to an apocalypse.
Two months later, I received an interesting report.
"Your Imperial Majesty..." An elderly subject, Alfred Northlord De Saedius, the great Vampire lord, reported to me. "C-Count Hector Evans...!"
"...?"
"He returned without a single remaining antimagic knight."
"He lost all of them? Annihilation?"
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty. Also..." What Alfred reported afterwards was even more shocking. "Count Hector Evans..."
"...?"
"... Lost both of his arms...!"
At that instant, I realized that something extraordinary was happening in Nosferatu.
Chapter 325: The Emperor of Blood and Iron's Perspective (2)
Since that event, two years have slowly passed by.
"Y-Your Imperial Majesty..." Alfred Northlord De Saedius spoke. "Count Cyclone and Count David, they...!"
"Stop." I cut him off because it was obvious what he was about to say. They had lost. In fact, they had lost a strategic location.
Grit...!
A fresh scent of blood filled my nose. I could feel pain from my lower lip. I can't even fathom how many times I've bit my lower lip.
Grip!
I tightened my fist.
Crack...!
The throne's armrest shattered just like my heart; into a million pieces.
... Just like this, so easily, both gone.
Count Cyclone and David had both been my loyal subordinates since my rebel days, but now they were dead. Even I, a cold-blooded emperor, could hardly digest this news.
But I couldn't show it. I resisted the urge to destroy everything around me and scream my lungs out.
I was the emperor, a father to all my people, and a barrier who should protect the empire from the northern evil. I wasn't allowed to falter. This was just work. Simply work. Merely... the death of two precious subordinates.
"Your Imperial Majesty..." Alfred continued with his report. "T-That's... not the end... your Imperial Majesty..."
"..."
"I'm sorry to report, but, even the temporary base at Dhaulagiri..."
Suddenly, I could feel my ice-cold façade collapse.
"All 150,000 soldiers..."
"..."
"N-None of them survived..."
The Dhaulagiri temporary base was the most important strategic location of all.
"Your Imperial Majesty... the enemy..."
"Stop."
"Y-Your Imperial Majesty..."
"I said stop."
"However..."
"Stop!"
I blasted a roar in the tent that was so great that the whole camp shook from the echo.
...Damn it.
"Excuse yourself for now." I told Alfred. "I don't want to hear it anymore."
"Your Imperial Majesty..."
"I want to rest, Alfred."
"...!"
"It's a tiring night."
Defeat, defeat, death, and more defeat. Bad news back to back took a toll on my mental strength.
"Yes, your Imperial Majesty..." Alfred bowed. "Then I shall excuse myself. Please... even just for today... rest well..."
I did not reply to him.
After he had left,
"There's no... solution..." I pondered deep into the night. "Nothing..."
The enemy was too strong. No matter if it was my army or my subordinates, absolutely nobody survived the encounter with the enemy.
"God damn it... I should have realised it then..."
Two years ago, when the mysterious disease that swept over the whole of the Nosferatu region appeared, I did not expect it to be a foreshadowing for worse things to come.
Even I could not fight against the five Agnagas, the enemies, who were beings from another world.
These aliens suddenly made their appearances one day and demanded all living things bow before them.
There was no exception. Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and even dragons... they wanted all to submit to them.
Of course, nobody took the five Agnagas seriously at first, including myself. Such a lame threat could not affect me, who ruled the entire continent. Humans were strong. Ever since the dragons taught us how to use mana, a few humans, including myself, had long since surpassed the limits of our species.
Magic-engineering was also extremely significant. The invention of magic-engineered cannons and engines was as groundbreaking as the discovery of mana.
Therefore, the five Agnagas' threat was nothing but bullshit to me and the human race, that is until they managed to hunt down the ancient green dragon, Theseus.
"Phew."
I let out a long sigh as I recalled Theseus' corpse hung up at the Agnaga army's frontlines. Even I couldn't guarantee a win against a 6000-year-old monster like an ancient dragon. The Agnagas hunted it down to warn and display their might in front of all living organisms in Pangaea.
"We are this strong. Surrender. You don't stand a chance."
It was like they were voicing this with that action.
"Is suicide my only option?"
Out of frustration, a ridiculous remark slipped out of my mouth. I still had two more lives because of the Wheel of Three Lives.
I had already used the Wheel of Resurrection in my battle with Aventador, the Knight of the Crimson
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Flames. The Wheels of Reincarnation and Return were still available.
But... even those could not resolve this bleak situation.
If I still had the Wheel of Resurrection, maybe I could have brought one Agnaga down with me. Unfortunately, that was impossible with only the Wheels of Reincarnation and Return. Even if I activated the Wheel of Reincarnation, the continent would have fallen in the Agnagas' hands before my reincarnation could regain sufficient strength.
It was even worse for the Wheel of Return, because the Wheel of Three Lives had to be used in sequence: Resurrection, Reincarnation and Return. To use the Wheel of Return, I would have to wait at least 15 to 30 years for my reincarnation's past-self to awaken his powers. The whole continent would already be destroyed by the Agnagas, so what use was there to try to change the past?
"Hu..."
Devoid of solutions, all I could do was sigh. Of course, I knew that I wasn't being myself – Julius Berlineta Pon Aurangzeb. However... the accumulating defeats, repeated retreats, deaths of my loyal subjects, and the miniscule chance of winning were all shaking me to the core.
If only I could charge into the enemy base and kill those damn Agnagas myself... but I couldn't afford to act so flippantly, since my death would have a huge impact on this continent. Being an emperor is no easy task. As the leader of the entire human race, even my smallest actions carried an immense weight.
"By hook or by crook..." I clenched my teeth. "Never... huehue...!"
The situation was gloomy, but strangely enough I let out a laugh.
"I will never succumb to you bastards...! Even if the human race goes extinct... I... will destroy you by any means...! To the very last moment... kek..."
"Impressive."
Suddenly, I could hear a woman's voice.
When did she come? I had greatly heightened senses thanks to Oraclomind. There weren't many individuals who could hide their presence and approach me.
In other words...
An assassin.
A skilled one had come!
Swish! I whipped out both Kaiforce and Mitra and turned around.
"You are fast."
"..."
"That speed... my head would be cut off in the blink of an eye."
The enemy did not resist. Instead, she evaluated my speed astonishingly while...
"...!"
-Blocking a fully swung Kaiforce with one finger.
"Hello?"
"..."
"It's a great evening."
It was a young lady, an extremely beautiful one. She also seemed somewhat special. Her long, black hair flowed down her shoulders. Even I could not appraise the depths of her wisdom, which seemed to originate from years of experience.
"A dragon, huh." I could roughly identify the stranger. "Black hair... a black dragon?"
"Yes. [1] " She replied. "I'm a dragon."
"Not a tone befitting of a dragon."
"Not all dragons are rude. But I do know where you are coming from. The way my fellow dragons treat other living things... it embarrasses me."
"Ancient?"
I realized that she was much wiser than a typical dragon. If not, there was no way a dragon would speak formally to a human.
"Yes, I'm an ancient dragon."
"I see."
"To be exact..." She spoke. "I'm Emilia, the ancient black dragon."
"...!"
"You know me?"
Why wouldn't I? Emilia was the perpetrator who led to the downfall of the Sharada Empire.
"Ah, that's right. I once erased an entire empire off the map. The humans might have recorded my name down in their history books."
"Well, I don't blame you."
I hadn't had the slightest intention to criticize her horrible misdeed in the past.I would have done the same. In fact, I could have been worse than her. If someone kidnapped my daughter, I would destroy not only an empire but the whole world.
"Anyways." I asked Emilia. "Why are you here?"
"To form an alliance."
"Alliance?"
I was surprised. Since when did a dragon request to form an alliance with a human? It was almost unbelievable.
"Yes, that's right." Emilia replied. "What we need is an alliance transcending species. Those Agnagas... we dragons can't stop them by ourselves."
"...!"
"Are you shocked?"
"I can't say I'm not."
I acknowledged Emilia's words without question. I never thought I could hear such a humble remark from an arrogant species.
"Sad, but it's true."
"Is that the consensus amongst the dragons?"
"No."
"...?"
"This is my personal judgment."
"..."
"I, Emilia, the ancient black dragon, believe that those Agnagas are difficult to fend off, even if all the species in Pangaea combine their strengths."
"That's why you requested an alliance from me – the emperor?"
"Yes."
"What do the other dragons think?"
"Actually... most of them do not recognize the severity of the situation. Many dragons believe that Theseus, the ancient green dragon, was killed due to his negligence and overly gentle character. In fact, some dragons even wish for the Agnagas to downsize the human population."
"..."
"It's a pity..."
"I see... to request for an alliance despite such circumstances... then you would have to persuade the other stubborn dragons. I assume that's not going to be easy, even as an ancient dragon."
I had a point. Dragons were stubborn and arrogant creatures. Emilia, who visited me personally to have a tranquil conversation, was an exception.
"That's not necessary."
"Not necessary? What do you..."
"I only need to give a command."
"...!"
"I don't need to persuade anyone."
Immediately, I could deduce Emilia's true identity.
"Yes, that's right." She seemed to have read my mind. "I am the current Dragon Lord."
"Dragon Lord...!"
"Yes. I, Emilia, the ancient black dragon, came to visit the leader of the human race to officially propose an alliance."
"...!"
"Also..." Emilia added. "I would also like to make a personal request."
"A personal request...?"
Something was strange. I was beginning to feel uneasy.
"Yes."
"What kind of personal request would the Dragon Lord make..."
"In the future..."
"...?"
"In the distant future..."
"Yes?"
"Please... take care of my daughter, Desdemona, the black dragon."
"What do you mean by take care of? Isn't Desdemona already a fully-grown dragon? Why would I..."
"I'm not asking you to be her guardian."
"...?"
"Please be my son-in-law."
"S-Son-in-law? What are you..."
"In other words, be my daughter's husband."
Bam! For a moment, I thought I was hit by a blunt weapon on the head. I stood there dumbfounded.
What kind of bullshit was she spouting?
[1] She is speaking in a formal tone.
Chapter 326: For the Future!
"..." I was too shocked to even say a word. Marriage? Me? With a dragon?
"Erm... excuse me but." I tried my best to avoid hurting Emilia's feelings. "Let me ask you something."
"Sure."
"By any chance..."
"...?"
"Have you gone senile?"
"..."
"I knew it..."
"..."
"I should have known when someone like the Dragon Lord proposed an alliance between dragons and humans..."
I dared to say that Emilia had definitely gone senile.
"It seems old age affects everyone, regardless of your species."
"..."
"Do dragons have old folks' homes..."
"No!" Seemingly disturbed by my crude remark, Emilia shouted. "Nobody's senile."
"O-Oh, is that so?"
"Of course."
"..."
"A dragon's mental stability is permanent. Diseases like dementia do not exist in our dictionary."
"Then why did you spout such rubbish..."
"Rubbish?"
"W-Were you being serious?"
"You thought I was joking? Me, the Dragon Lord?"
I could not rebut her statement, but her request for me to marry her daughter still sounded absurd.
"You don't believe me, do you?"
"Of course not."
"But I'm being serious."
Serious? I began to fear Emilia.
"Why...?"
"My daughter..."
"...?"
"The last dragon... she is destined to live alone as the sole survivor of the species..."
"What does that...!"
"This war." Emilia placed emphasis in her words. "As we strive to protect Pangaea from the Agnagas, there is a very low chance of survival for us dragons."
"...!"
"Currently... there's only 25 dragons left, including me and my daughter. We are strong, but there's only a few of us."
"I see..."
"The Agnagas are stronger. To protect Pangaea in this battle... the extinction of our species seems inevitable."
"...Is the situation that dire?"
I couldn't believe Emilia's words. Dragons were the strongest of all creatures, but even 25 of them couldn't promise a victory in this war against the Agnagas?
So it's impossible to win this battle after all.
I finally realized that the despair that I had tasted for the past two years was not unfounded. I had been fighting an unwinnable battle since the very start.
"In any case." Emilia added. "There's not a chance that the current you and my daughter will get married."
"What do you mean?" I couldn't comprehend her words. "Didn't you just ask me to marry your daughter?"
"I did."
"Then what nonsense are you..."
"You will die."
"...!"
"You are strong. I know that you are the greatest amongst the human race, with power even comparable to an ancient dragon."
"..."
"As such, you will have to join this battle to save the world, which may lead to your demise."
"I don't quite get you."
"However..."
"However...?"
"Your reincarnation."
"...!"
"I plan to leave my daughter to your reincarnation's care."
It gradually began to make sense.
"You... knew?"
My eyes met Emilia's. Her dragon eyes gleamed with an immeasurable wisdom accumulated over countless number of years.
"The Wheel of Three Lives..." Emilia began to speak about my greatest secret. "It's an ability created by Murciélago, the first Dragon Lord, to prepare against the end of the world."
"...!"
"The dungeon that you had discovered coincidentally happened to be Murciélago's grave."
"I see..."
"As long as you have the Wheel of Three Lives, you are destined to become the messiah who can save the world."
"..."
"Also..." Emilia continued her speech. "The reconstruction and revival of this world."
"...!"
"That's right. You are responsible for not only the world's present, but also its future, not to forget my daughter as well."
Shiver...! A chill ran down my spine. I hadn't the slightest clue about the meaning behind the Wheel of Three Lives. "Messiah," she says. "Save the world," she says. "Responsible for this world's reconstruction," she says. I didn't know that my life had to shoulder such a huge responsibility.
"Don't worry, leader of the human race." Emilia spoke. "You only have to focus on the present."
"The present...?"
"Your reincarnation can be responsible for the world's reconstruction and my daughter."
"...!"
"You and your reincarnation will share the same soul, but you two are distinct identities. Your traits may be similar, but your background can be totally different."
"Ah?" I could follow Emilia's explanation. "So it's none of my business?"
"That's right."
"Then I..."
"You just have to leave it to your reincarnation. Buck-passing... there's nothing more attractive than this concept for leaders like you."
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She was right. I often resisted the urge to dump all my paperwork on my underlings and just vanish.
"Reconstruction of this world? What do you mean?"
I noticed a strange assumption in Emilia's speech.
"You make it sound like this world is eventually going to be destroyed."
"Not totally."
"Then?"
"It'll be a lose-lose situation."
"...!"
"But even that may be too idealistic."
My heart sank.
"Even if we win this battle, we won't be able to eradicate the Agnagas completely."
"Why?" I inquired.
"They..."
"..."
"... Have someone who can control time and space."
"W-What...!?"
"Time Lord Milenius... as long as he exists, the Agnagas will return even if we win the battle. It will definitely happen, be it 500 or 1000 years later."
"God damn it...!"
Today's victory might not promise a bright future. That meant that this devastating battle could be nothing but futile. Were my soldiers and subordinates at the frontlines dying in vain?
"That won't do. "
It was a difficult truth to swallow. I refused to let any sacrifice go to waste. Millions of people have been killed. I had to win this battle on their behalf, and also prevent this damn Milenius from turning the table.
"That's why I wish to make a proposal."
"What proposal?"
"An arrangement for the future generation."
"...!"
"Time Lord Milenius is undoubtedly going to try to exert its evil influence on this continent again. That's why we have to start preparing from now. We have to devise plans to protect this world's future – to not let our victory go to waste."
I agreed wholeheartedly to her idea.
"Count me in."
As the leader of the human race, I could not afford to reject Emilia's proposition.
"Good." Emilia seemed satisfied by my decision. "Then let's begin immediately. Time's not on our side. We have to move quickly. Not only do we have to win the war, but we also have to carry on with the project."
"Project?"
"I'm referring to the plan for the future generation."
"So fast? What's the solution..."
"I'm the Dragon Lord, remember?"
"You already have a plan in mind?"
"Yes." Emilia nodded. "It's called 'Project Erinyes.'"
"...!"
"This is the project that will be responsible for this world's future."
At that moment, I could not fully understand what the [Project Erinyes] was about. However, I instinctively knew that only this could save the world from the Agnagas...
3 years passed since that eventful day. While battling against the Agnagas, I roamed around the whole continent to carry out Project Erinyes. My role was to empower my reincarnation with great strength to protect the world from the second coming of the Agnagas.
I left no stones unturned. Through Agrippa, the Archwitch, I learned more about my reincarnation and prepared countless obstacles and challenges on his path to stimulate his growth. In addition, I did not forget to pass on the lovers whom I failed to take responsibility for.
He was going to be tremendously misfortunate with women, but I didn't care... as long as it wasn't me. So what if my reincarnation is nagged to death by his many 'wives' or dies from too much sexual intercourse? That was none of my business.
To be honest...
Eat this, you bastard.
I also wanted my reincarnation to suffer tremendously like I had with women.
However, this didn't seem enough. The main theme of System Erinyes entailed summoning 300 lords and 297,700 warriors from a different world who can rescue and reconstruct this world. My reincarnation would be one of the 300 lords.
He will go on a rampage.
I believed that my reincarnation, who would have been living an ordinary life previously, would gain strength exponentially and eventually go insane.
"Your Imperial Majesty... your reincarnation... will be consumed by his overwhelming power... become a notorious tyrant... and eventually meet his demise..."
Agrippa agreed with me.
"No choice then."
As a result, I added in the Wheel of Return to [Project Erinyes], disguised as an ability called [Soul Backup]. This would allow my reincarnation to live a second life. After an initial round of failure, my reincarnation would hopefully realize his mistakes, develop into a true sovereign and claim victory over the Agnagas...
Another year passed by as I prepared everything.
"It's complete."
When the war between the alliance (led by me and Emilia) and the Agnagas was coming to an end, Emilia finally succeeded in completing [Project Erinyes].
"With this, our plan is finished."
"Good work."
"Yes, it was not easy..."
Emilia's face was full of fine wrinkles.
This was surprising. A polymorphed ancient dragon – the Dragon Lord, in fact – had new wrinkles on her face. It was an indication of the effort she had put in to finish [Project Erinyes]...
"Now..." Emilia spoke. "We're only left with the selection process."
"Right."
"You can take care of the human candidates. I can take care of the remaining species."
"Will do."
The selection process aimed to choose living organisms that would be part of the system. [System Erinyes] was akin to Noah's Ark. Knowledge, intelligence and all living organisms except for dragons were to be stored in Erinyes. In the distant future, this would allow the 300 Lords from the other world called Earth to reconstruct this world.
"Ah, and also."
Moreover...
"Let's incorporate a ranking system."
"A ranking system?"
"Is there a hard and fast rule that my reincarnation must be the one to save the world?"
I despised the stubborn way of thinking that 'it has to be me'. The messiah didn't have to be me. Right, anyone would do. As long as the new hero can protect this world from the second coming of the Agnagas and make our sacrifices worthwhile, nobody would care who he or she was.
"Let's make the 300 Lords compete against each other. The strongest individual who rises to the imperial throne shall save and reconstruct the world. It doesn't have to be my reincarnation."
"Julius...!"
"Let's do it."
I refused to compromise.
"... Alright then."
Emilia could not persuade me otherwise and incorporated the ranking system into Erinyes in the end.
***
What the fuck...!?
Kang Chul-In, who stood in the Emperor of Blood and Iron's shoes, could finally realize the truth about the mechanism behind the 'Great Summoning'!
At that moment, the Emperor of Blood and Iron spoke to Kang Chul-In.
...!
Accept what?
...!
Information superiority...!
The Emperor of Blood and Iron added.
With that,
...!
All the data from the Emperor of Blood and Iron's life experience flowed into Kang Chul-In's mind.