The future has been decided.
Tearing through the heavens, Arrogance falls. An extraterrestrial stone from afar throws itself down, seeking to become one with this blue planet. The Earth Mother Goddess embraces even this with compassion, but for the insignificant creatures living upon it, it is no different from a disaster.
The Saint's prophecy belongs to the inside of the heavens. The extraterrestrial stone wandering the universe is outside her prophecy. She could not prophesy when Arrogance would fall, but now she has come to know.
Because the future has been confirmed.
In the most secluded space of the Holy Imperial Court, the Heavenly Saint opened her eyes. Even for her, who watched over all future times while asleep, the time to wake from her sweet slumber had come. Her sleepily opened eyes regained focus.
"Ah. First Saint who blessed me. Please, do not test us foolish ones. The world is far too frail to endure your trial."
The single stream of tears flowing from her transparent eyes, was it because she woke from a long sleep, or because of unavoidable sorrow? Even the Heavenly Saint who prophesied the future did not know this. Nor did she have the time to ponder it.
The Heavenly Saint, too, had to wake from her sleep and live in the present time.
The mightiest nation on the continent, the Empire.
The most exalted existence in the Empire, the Emperor.
In the Imperial Palace where that Emperor resided, a banquet was being held today as well, without fail.
The Emperor's latest interest was musicals. A musical was a performance combining singing, acting, and dancing, making it the greatest entertainment for the Emperor who loved all three. Initially, stern authoritarians sharply criticized the vulgar dancing and singing on stage, but after the Emperor gave a standing ovation, the authority vanished from the authoritarians. They were reduced to mere '-ists', unable to dare show their faces in the art world.
Today, too, beautiful music flowed from the Grand Theater of the Imperial Palace. The actors, facing the opportunity of a lifetime, performed with burning passion, and the musicians displayed near-miraculous skills as they played their scores. The flowers used as props were jewels carved and hung from the branches of the World Tree Metasequoia, and from the horns carved out of ivory, the majestic roar of primordial times seemed to resound.
Brilliant lighting enveloped the stage, and a subtle fragrance lingered in the theater. The art showcased on stage was truly the pinnacle of extravagance.
Ten million gold was spent for today's performance. Even the wealthiest Red Merchant Guild was paralyzed for about two days just to prepare for this single performance. Enormous administrative power was mobilized to bring this theater troupe to the Grand Theater, and royal promissory notes were issued for the expenses like autumn leaves.
But there was no problem at all.
The Empire holding the hegemony of the continent. The Emperor of that Empire. The performance that the Emperor loves.
That is all. To question further is treason, a challenge against the Empire.
No matter what happens outside, there is no interest. Even if the world collapses, the Imperial Palace will fall last.
This place is the pinnacle built by civilization, standing at its very peak.
Because it is the Empire.
"Taiuigong. A moment."
The sound paused briefly. Taiuigong Stormwell, the head of the Empire's Three Ministers, blocked the sound from the audience seats and turned his head.
He held a status equal to the kings of vassal states, but his practical power far surpassed them. He was not to be compared to mere kings of vassal states. Taiuigong, who oversaw military and foreign affairs, could subjugate an entire vassal state with his private army alone.
Even so, Taiuigong could not disrupt the performance the Emperor was watching with noise. Thus, he commanded his subordinate mage to block the sound and received a report.
"Has a war broken out somewhere?"
"It is not merely something of that degree."
The one who dismissed a war as 'mere' reported while panting heavily.
"Intelligence from the Chenweig Observatory. It is Scenario 1."
"Scenario 1..."
Taiuigong's expression stiffened.
The conclusion of the Witch Hunt that occurred in the past. It led a vassal state to ruin, and unable to bring themselves to finish the job, they left behind the trash called the Magic Federation. The Empire's polar region pioneering project was successful, but they missed the fruit.
Leaving behind a terrible aftereffect called 'Arrogance.'
"...So it has finally happened in my tenure."
Top-secret intelligence passed only to the Three Ministers and their direct intelligence agency. Empire Threat Scenario 1, 'Arrogance'.
This was undoubtedly a matter of grave importance. No matter how prosperous the Empire might be, a star of destruction falling from space would trample even it effortlessly.
"Rather, it is good. I will not pass this aftereffect onto my successor. The glory of the Empire will continue after me."
"First, we must inform His Majesty to take shelter."
"That is impermissible."
However.
Even so, the performance must continue.
Because this performance will declare that the Empire still stands.
"Even if the continent perishes, the Imperial Palace is safe. Report to His Majesty the Emperor after the performance ends. I will take the lead in responding first. Military Lord. Open the Uigongbu and convene the Seven Armies. Magic Lord. Deliver this jade token to the Magic Tower and have them activate the Empire's Grand Magic Circle. Divine Lord. Bring the court priests to my side. I must hear the words of the Saint."
At Taiuigong's command, the ministers moved in perfect unison. Under the Emperor of the Empire, there is not a single incompetent person. Such a person would not dare even set foot in the Imperial Palace. The administrators, though unaware of 'Arrogance', faithfully followed the scenario. They would all go to their respective positions and move this Empire as if it were a single body.
However, that alone is not enough. This is, after all, the realm of administration.
To stop the destruction falling from the sky, a mystery that transcends it is needed.
Lastly, Taiuigong called a waiting page boy. The page boy, who had been fanning and was called over, waited for the order in extreme tension. After choosing his words for a moment, Taiuigong opened his mouth with difficulty, feeling a due sense of duty.
"And you, at once... report to the Sword Saint."
Sword Saint.
The moment that title was spoken, the world seemed to pull taut. Even though there was no way the Sword Saint had heard this voice, everyone shrank back as if gauging someone's reaction.
Sword Saint (劍聖). A sage of the sword. An existence that reached the realm of mystery solely through martial artistry.
If the Empire is the extreme of human civilization, the Sword Saint is the extreme of humanity. If all the humans in this world were lined up, he would stand alone at the far edge of that cliff.
Since the Sword Saint's appearance, countless poets tried to praise him with flowery words. But no word could satisfactorily explain the Sword Saint. It is a waste to needlessly lavish modifiers. To explain him, just two characters are enough.
The Strongest.
The page boy swallowed hard, realizing the heavy mission he had taken on. Taiuigong felt a slight sense of self-deprecation looking at the page boy who seemed both tense and excited.
The reason Taiuigong entrusted this task to an ordinary page boy was none other than this: no matter who it was, it was meaningless to the Sword Saint.
Whether it was delivered by a page boy, by Taiuigong, or personally commanded by His Majesty the Emperor.
To the Sword Saint, they were all merely frail beings he must protect.
"What should I say to him?"
He is a civilized man. He understands the value of order. He acknowledges the hegemony of the Empire. That is why he follows the Emperor's commands.
If the Sword Saint were to reconsider even a single one of those principles.
The order of the Empire would face the greatest crisis in history.
"Ask him to cut down whatever falls from the sky."
Fortunately, the Sword Saint's blade still points toward those who destroy order. 'Arrogance' would be no different.
***
And, somewhere on the Enger Plains.
The 'King of Humans' raised her head.
Thousands of years had passed since she fell asleep, but neither the sky nor the earth had changed. The wide expanse of the sky was not much different from back then, but to her eyes, something sparkled distinctly.
What reason would a beast have to look up at the sky on a moonlit night? After silently gazing at the sky for a long time, the 'King of Humans' suddenly asked the empty air.
"Why are you doing that, little brother? You don't have the strength to bear that."
He is not here. He probably won't even hear this question. But the 'King of Humans' murmured as if she had heard an answer.
"Are you trying to take that away from me?"
Again, there was no answer. However, the 'King of Humans' nodded and stopped walking. She turned around and waved her arm grandly.
"It looks like it will rain soon. Let us stop here for a moment, Nebida. When a shower falls, we must take shelter from the rain under the shade of a tree."
"Yes, my Lord. I shall obey your command."
Nebida groaned as she lifted a staff that was far too large for her current form. When she plunged the small World Tree into the earth overflowing with vitality, the tree grew rapidly, creating a large hut.
The 'King of Humans', who was about to casually enter the hut, paused and looked back, calling out to someone.
"You come inside too, Aji. I have allowed you a place under the roof."
"...Woof."
However, Aji only barked shortly and did not follow her in. The 'King of Humans' tilted her head and approached Aji.
"You look low on energy. What's wrong?"
Aji looked behind. At the edge of the Enger Plains they had passed. There lies the Mountain of Sankun. The domain where Sankun, the King of Tigers, resided, which was akin to a boundary line for humans.
Far across the Enger Plains, the Mountain of Sankun, which stood like a wall blocking humanity.
"Is it because I killed the tiger?"
Now, its shape was grotesquely distorted.
The lush green trees had burned away. A corner of the mountain had been torn and collapsed. The landslide of earth and sand was visible to the naked eye.
There are excuses to make. Perhaps a forest fire spread. Perhaps a landslide occurred. Maybe a flood broke out. One could dismiss it as such with clouded eyes.
But that.
The colossal iron stake, as if it had pierced straight through the mountain range, was hard to explain with anything.
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It was an act of destruction against the very concept of a mountain. It seemed the leyline of the mountain range had been severed by that stake. Until the stake is pulled out, the Mountain of Sankun will never regain its original form.
Moreover, if one had directly seen the corpse impaled on that stake... If one had seen the sight of the most brutal beast on earth being hunted so miserably. No beast would be able to smile for a while.
The 'King of Humans' squatted down, stroking Aji's head, and said.
"You are different from a tiger. Tigers are scary and fierce, but you are cute and good."
"Woof... But."
Aji drooped and turned her head away.
"Tigers aren't always fierce, either. Woof. The tiger I saw last time was nice when its belly was full."
"That's right. A full tiger would be less fierce. If tamed with food, it might even become good."
Dogs are humans' friends. Therefore, humans are dogs' friends. Humans raise various livestock and bond with them, but they share a much deeper bond with dogs.
Thus, the 'King of Humans' also takes the 'King of Dogs' as her friend. In Aji's current state, a conceptual separation has occurred, making her closer to the 'King of Kindness', but that wasn't much of a problem.
After all, do humans not only treat tamed beasts as friends?
The 'King of Humans' was as natural as the king of all beasts. And because of that, she was all the more ruthless.
"But a tiger that isn't like that will try to harm me. It is scary because it has the power to harm me. Therefore, they all must die."
The 'King of Humans' is the king of beasts ruling the earth. A tyrant more brutal than any beast in this world.
Humans have hunted countless wild beasts. They set traps to catch rabbits that stole crops, used spears and nets to kill wild boars that ravaged fields, and formed larger groups to hunt packs of wolves.
Sankun. The tiger called the king of a mountain was no different. Even if they mobilized thousands and sacrificed hundreds, they made sure to kill a single tiger and skin it.
That was barbarism. Even if it bore the justification of eradicating harmful beasts, even if it was called a struggle for survival, there was no denying it was an order founded on power.
Barbarism veiled by civilization, chaos hidden within order, brutality disguised as morality, violence cloaked in language.
The King of Humans was a king in the most primitive way.
Cheers erupted. It was because the pack following the king had conveyed the king's words to the people. The king's subjects were enamored by the power that pierced and killed Sankun, cheering and singing for their mighty and great king.
Aji looked at the friend who was so different from the friend back then, and pondered. The two are the same. Both are human. But they are so different. What on earth made the two different?
She didn't know. Aji lacked the intelligence to concretize such metaphysical concepts. She could only watch from beside her.