Empire.
Half of the continent. If you include the uncivilized areas, the only unique greatest collective of humanity that has devoured 70% of it.
In fact, even if you include all life forms, it’s still true.
Throughout all of history, there has never been a collective that controlled 70% of the world.
Not even those great Celestial and Demon Races.
“Of course, they didn’t ‘actually’ conquer it.”
Just like how there are hardly any humans who claim, “Now I am the king of the entire world!” after dominating an ant’s land.
The Celestial and Demon Races have their own realms, yet they don’t bother trying to conquer this lowly place.
This area was merely a prepared battlefield.
A valid reason and a fitting locale for the two races to fiercely clash.
“…They should fight on their own land.”
Why come into someone else’s territory and make a fuss?
Recalling countless atrocities I encountered while traveling the world, I shook my head and turned my body to look back.
A luxury apartment with a clear view of the Han River.
I gazed at the calm waters flowing, untouched by fire or stained with blood, for a moment.
Back in reality, I shifted my gaze back to the computer screen.
I am currently researching the Empire.
Normally, I would either go directly to the Empire to gather information or ask someone who knows the Empire well.
“There are people who know it better than I do.”
Those who possess greater knowledge about the Empire, the greatest collective intelligence created by humanity.
The internet.
[About the Imperial Empire.]
[27 Reasons Why the Empire Conquered the Continent.]
[Spec Overview of the Emperor’s Sword, the Eight Swords.]
[Why Leo and the Sword Saint Were Chosen by the Empire.]
[The World Was Surprised, and So Was the Empire?! Why Did the Empire Become a Great Power?]
When I first looked it up, I thought there would be quite a few, but this exceeded my imagination.
Tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of pieces of information.
Of course, 70… no, 80% of it was rather meaningless, but there were a few useful bits of information.
Most importantly, the “Eight Swords.”
The birth of the Eight Swords is equivalent to the birth of the Empire.
The Empire, which was simply an ordinary kingdom, received the choice of the gods one day and resolved to become the ruler of the continent, the Emperor.
Naturally, surrounding kingdoms and races other than humans opposed the Empire, but the Emperor had the Eight Swords.
In the future, all but the Saintess were granted noble titles, and each possessed power capable of toppling nations.
Ultimately, the first Emperor, ‘Imperium,’ using the swords, devoured three nations and declared the Imperial Empire, beginning centuries of “conquest wars.”
Through the conquest wars, kingdoms and other races helplessly succumbed, and in the end, the Empire became the victor of the continent…
The Empire has become…
[This is the Empire story I saw in the game. The only ones who probably progressed beyond me are Lord Leo and Lord Sword Saint, but since they don’t talk, I can’t know for sure.
+If any additional story comes out, please write…]
“…Umm.”
This is a post written by the ranker ‘Longsword King’ who was in the top 100 a year ago.
Since then, many posts related to the Empire have been uploaded, but as expected, the Empire doesn’t accept outsiders well, so there was no special information.
The most notable point is Duke Huangyeol and Robelian Chen Imperium.
Among the Eight Swords, he’s the most known figure representing ‘promotion’ and holds the strongest power as a royal bloodline.
There are only a few pictures and a video of his speech, but the moment I saw him, I was certain.
‘This is the person.’
This guy definitely used his hands.
“……”
I closed my eyes for a moment.
I recall the memories of that day.
As the magic spell activated, a small crack appeared in the seal, and something descended.
A massive something that is currently beyond my control.
The overwhelming power remained unshaken even in extreme cold and effortlessly took away the Glasses Saintess.
Certainly, it’s impossible for me at this moment.
“…Impossible?”
Did I really consider such a thing as impossible?
I closed my wide-open eyes once again.
I recall that day.
The conclusion that was a matter of course: Death.
The body was torn to shreds,
the mind was utterly exhausted, and
the soul was on the verge of extinction, worn and worn down.
At that moment when defeat was certain and the only option left was to follow those who had already departed, there were no other choices.
Compared to that moment…
Screech…
“Not a big deal.”
It really wasn’t a big deal.
■
I examined the cylinder I took from the Glasses Saintess.
It looked like an ordinary plastic tube, but in reality, it was a magical tool inscribed with advanced magic spells.
A staggering 27 layers.
At this level, it surpasses great mages, and it doesn’t seem likely that such a magical tool could be easily created.
By grade, it would be at least semi-mythical level.
If it’s capable of keeping up with the Saintess of the Empire’s setups, its worth is underestimated.
“Hmm…?”
While disassembling the magical tool, I noticed something strange.
Typically, magical tools are composed of magical stones, but this one was different.
“No magical stone…?”
There isn’t a single magical stone anywhere.
The cylinder is just a shell, and only the magic spells with no material substance are revolving around the central magical power.
It’s powered by magical energy.
The magical power is significantly more concentrated and emits a greater quantity than ordinary magic.
Typically, without a focal point, no matter how strong the magic is, it should disperse with time.
‘Is there a mage among the Eight Swords?’
In Deoen, mages are so common that it seems natural, but if there’s a mage of this caliber, it changes the narrative.
Demon races are born with the abilities of a grand mage.
And even a mid-level demon surpasses the realm of grand mages and develops unique magic that no one else can create.
In other words, there are mages of ‘mid-level demon’ status within the Empire.
This is a level that ordinary humans could never reach.
Not to mention that even a renowned grand mage couldn’t fully demonstrate grand mage-level abilities.
But the Empire has achieved it, though it’s unclear just how far that power extends.
‘Glasses… Ah. A healer. I don’t know. She was a user I met a month ago, and aside from her quirky personality, she was alright.’
‘An NPC can pretend to be a user… that’s a bit creepy…’
‘High title? It was received from a baron originally.’
I asked the glasses saintess about the whereabouts of the mage who was physically blasted away by the illegal overlord, but the information wasn’t particularly crucial.
Just that I was dragged into a play, so to speak.
As the information collected, a degree of conviction settled in.
Three weeks after Sugarado’s affair.
‘I’m going to the Empire.’
■
Three weeks flew by quickly.
During that time, many hunting parties, kingdoms, and mercenaries attempted to tackle Sugarado, but all resulted in total failure.
No one could manage even a scratch on Sugarado, and no one could stand firmly before him.
It wasn’t just because the so-called ‘challengers’ were weak.
‘Sugarado’s seal’
For the synchronization mentioned by Lily and the hatchling’s synchronization, major forces had not intervened.
Now that three weeks have passed, once the complete synchronization is finished, the waiting forces will all rush into the snowy mountains.
“After that day, nothing significant happened.”
“Fortunately.”
On the last day of the three weeks.
I faced Dria while sipping tea in Talikal’s audience room.
The tea was incredibly sweet and fragrant.
While I savored the tea, Dria did not drink any.
The story that the glasses saintess and the Eight Swords broke into Talikal had not widely spread, except among a few.
What people knew was that users who received the Empire ‘quest’ had broken in, and that I had thwarted it.
Just the content that was judged.
The reason is to prevent chaos.
With complaints and confusion already overflowing from the three-week wait due to the war, if they knew the Empire had entered, the Kingdom Alliance and the raid itself could fall apart.
After all, it was an event that only happened within the sealed snowy mountains, and as long as I kept the witness, the mage, and the archer quiet, it could be treated as if it never happened.
The two swordsmen were taken down before they even got a chance to look, so there was no need to keep them quiet anyway.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the Empire had shown no movement for two weeks.
“The Empire hasn’t moved so far, but once the hunt begins, it will be different. There must be a reason why they revealed themselves two weeks ago.”
“That may be true. Still, you shouldn’t worry too much.”
Whether it’s the Glasses Saintess or the Eight Swords, it doesn’t matter even if Duke Huangyeol himself comes.
Because I’m here with Talikal.
“…Have you not met Drak?”
“Yeah.”
In the end, I couldn’t find Drak. As long as I’m here, there’s no way Drak would show up, and nor would I pretend to be ignorant of destruction just to call him.
Above all, right now, Drak is not the priority.
“I have business with the Empire.”
Thanak.
“It might actually be a good thing. Drak only shows up during a crisis of destruction.”
“No news is good news… that’s true. But Duke Huangyeol…”
Duke Huangyeol.
The brightest sword of the Empire and a great sword.
To simply think, ‘Drak hasn’t shown up, so I guess there won’t be any destruction’ is too naive when facing such a strong opponent.
I would prefer if Dria would show up instead.
I know Lily is strong, but I hope she becomes just a little bit stronger.
To put it bluntly, even if Lily manages to stop him when Duke Huangyeol appears, everyone except Lily would get swept away.
The Eight Swords have that capability.
“Anyway, after the hunt is over, we need to get more support and somehow find Drak…”
“Your Majesty!”
“…What is it, Shadow Sword? I told you not to come in.”
Dria reprimanded the Shadow Sword who appeared from the shadows.
However, despite that, the Shadow Sword, contrary to his demeanor, gasped for breath and firmly stated his purpose.
“The Grim Reaper… the Empire’s Grim Reaper has crossed the border.”
“…What?”
“And one of them…”
The Shadow Sword’s gaze turned toward me.
No way…
“It seems to be the Outsider, Leo.”
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