◈ Episode 405. You Have Overturned the World
The War Emperor’s Archive.
The emperor read every revelation left by his predecessors.
They were prophecies bought, quite literally, with their lives.
Yet he no longer felt fear.…
Shock, perhaps.
──────When destruction arrives, dragons with black pupils shall burn the continent. Merciless murderous intent shall trample all things, yet this shall be nothing more than an omen.──────
Rumble.
A tremor shook the imperial palace.
‘This revelation, too, is coming to pass.’
The northern reaches of Antonium, as seen through the magic tool.
There, just as the revelation said, were dragons.
It was different from the time they had brought torrential rain upon the Arcana Continent while roaring the name of the Dark Dragon. Their pupils were as black as pitch. Instead of the Dark Dragon’s name, they unleashed Dragon Fear laced with murderous intent.
The emperor murmured.
“If destruction has truly begun……”
Was the Claudi in the revelation truly referring to Granfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo? At this moment, the emperor was wavering. The words the prodigal son of Claudi had spoken to him would not easily leave his mind.
—“Sericrose, do you not already know? Do not deny the truth.”
The emperor bit his lip.
‘This is a decision so that I will not waver.’
I will ask the War Emperor’s Archive.
Granfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo.
If only so that I need not doubt you.
The War Emperor’s Archive—the process of question and answer was something he knew well.
The rose that symbolized the imperial family, Sericrose.
One had to be pricked by a rose vine that had yet to bloom, one that possessed only thorns, and spill blood. When the thorns of the rose vine became soaked with Sericrose blood, the contract would be established.
“……”
Step, step.
It was the moment the emperor passed through the archive and approached the rose vine.
A brilliant light pierced through the War Emperor’s Archive.
It was a radiance so intense that he could not help but flinch.
“……!”
This was beneath the imperial palace.
No magic, no trickery should have been effective here.
And yet, in that instant.
The emperor felt as though his mind had cleared.
Vitality returned to the body that had gone days without food or drink.
Beyond that, even his weakened heart seemed to be healed.
“……
What in the world?”
Aloof and noble.
It was thanks to the silver flash that had crossed the War Emperor’s Archive.
But it did not end there.
The emperor’s pupils widened.
The archive, likewise, had been engulfed in silver light.
The parchments upon which the revelations of past kings were written.
Rustle.
The letters on the parchment were dancing on their own.
Changing their arrangement, they began to tangle and unravel.
The emperor was horrified.
The future of the empire that his predecessors, that his father, had glimpsed in exchange for their lives……!!
“Stop, I said stop th……?!”
But something was strange.
They were not being mixed together in chaos.
The emperor slowly opened his mouth.
“The revelation……?”
Its contents had been completely overturned.
Literally.
As though they had been “reversed.”
──────Even if they are stained by meticulously planned evil, dragons shall not submit. As the kings of all things upon the Arcana Continent, they shall gladly offer their eternal lives for the continent in peril and stand on the side of Arcana.──────
No.
It was not only the revelation concerning dragons.
The destruction of the Arcana Continent and the empire.
In other words, every line related to the ruin Claudi would bring had been revised. From the emperor’s trembling lips came a voice even more precarious than they were.
“……
Indeed. The ‘endlessly deep darkness’ shall undoubtedly drive the Arcana Continent toward destruction. Yet there shall be none who can condemn its steps. For the darkness merely returns what it has received. Therefore, be grateful……”
An entirely unexpected continuation followed.
“To the ‘single ray of light’ that guides that darkness……”
It did not take him long to understand the meaning.
“……
It was not a single ray of light within endlessly deep darkness.”
Endlessly deep darkness.
And a single ray of light.
They were referring to two different beings.
At that, a name flashed through his mind.
“Granfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo.”
And one other name.
“……
Lee Hoyeol.”
He had thought it was only the name used on the Arcana Continent, and a wholly different alias used in the world of adventurers.
The words he had spoken flashed through his mind.
—“He, too, is me.”
“……!”
Only then did a strange light appear in the emperor’s eyes.
From the very beginning, he had hidden nothing.
Had he not implicitly acknowledged that both Lee Hoyeol and Granfell were himself?
That was right.
Everything was entirely my fault for failing to trust him.
Whisk—
The emperor turned around at once.
There was no longer any reason to ask the 『War Emperor’s Archive』 a question.
Because he had realized it.
Yes, even if Granfell Claudi Arpheus Romeo was the Claudi in the revelation who would drive the empire and the Arcana Continent to destruction.
Was the changed revelation not showing the future?
‘He has a single ray of light.’
A being who would guide that darkness onto the proper path.
Then what he needed to confirm was not inside the War Emperor’s Archive.
It lay beyond sealed Antonium.
‘Surely, there must have been a change in the dragons as well.’
At some point.
The Dragon Fear had stopped being heard.
Even without confirming it, that was enough to guess the situation.
The emperor hastened his steps.
As much as he had wasted time on useless worries.
‘I must hurry and lift the order sealing Antonium.’
He had to move quickly.
Step, step……
But soon, the emperor’s steps came to a halt.
“Young Sericrose.”
The War Emperor’s Archive.
Blocking its entrance stood a silver-haired man.
Visible between the long strands of silver hair were haggard eyes.
The emperor opened his mouth.
“Will you step aside, Pride?”
Pride Claudi.
That was how the prodigal son of Claudi had introduced himself.
Even at the imperial command, Pride did not budge.
Rather, he raised the corner of his mouth and took one step toward the emperor.
“Trying to run? That is not what you resolved to do, is it?”
“What resolve? What do you……”
“You must offer up your life here, boy.”
“……!”
One step.
For every step Pride took closer, the emperor stepped back.
“Because that is what I decided.”
The killing intent he exuded was so blatant it could not be contained. The emperor understood instinctively. I see. So from the beginning, he had been after my life. He recalled the means and methods available to him.
‘This is bad.’
Trapped inside the War Emperor’s Archive, he was a rat in a jar.
The imperial mage who would normally have accompanied him, Nash William, had been driven out of Antonium by his own order. The conclusion was clear. The emperor swallowed a bitter smile.
‘……
So this is the end of a foolish emperor.’
I cannot flee from that man, Pride.
Even if he drew the sword at his waist, he had no confidence.
How could he?
My sword was never some lump of metal hanging at my waist.
It was you, Harkon.
‘I thought the day we would meet again was not far off.’
I truly regret this, Harkon.
One step, two steps, three steps.
“……!”
What entered the emperor’s eyes as he stepped backward was.
The revelations of the archive.
Pride already knew the contents of the revelations.
‘But just now, those revelations changed.’
Along with the single ray of light that had pierced through the War Emperor’s Archive.
The emperor made his decision.
‘He must not learn of it.’
What he could do with his meager mana.
Was to conceal the altered revelations from him.
The emperor drew up his mana and hurled flames.
“Get away from me.”
He deliberately threw off his aim, spreading the flames through the archive.
Fwoosh!
Pride laughed grotesquely.
“Did your hand tremble? You are shaking with fear, Sericrose.”
“Yes. Perhaps I am.”
Fwoooosh!
The altered revelations burned away and vanished.
So that Pride would never learn of them.
It was the moment the emperor stepped back, hiding his satisfaction.
Pierce—
His skin stung.
“……!”
When he turned his head, the rose vine had, at some point, touched his skin.
The thorns of the vine pierced his skin and drank in his blood.
Only then did Pride’s steps stop.
He let out a grotesque laugh.
Then he barked.
“Good. The contract has been established! Now ask your question! It does not matter what it is. Did I not tell you? The truth does not change. All you can do is confirm that truth, feel utterly wretched, and die!”
The War Emperor’s Archive.
An established contract could not be undone.
The emperor knew that better than anyone.
‘A question, a question.’
Whether I ask one or not.
The moment the rose vine drank my blood, I will wither away and die.
Just as Father did.
‘However, there is nothing left to doubt.’
Was the Claudi in the revelation Granfell?
That question had long since been answered.
Even if the endlessly deep darkness that would lead the Arcana Continent to destruction.
Was indeed Granfell.
I will not worry.
‘For at your side is a single ray of light.’
Lee Hoyeol.
So long as he exists.
Granfell, you will not drive the Arcana Continent and the empire.
Into destruction.
That faith required no confirmation.
And so the emperor thought.
‘……
However, one thing.’
There was still one question left.
Perhaps because he no longer had any attachment to life.
An extremely trivial curiosity came to mind.
‘Though I will have no face to meet them if I do this.’
To think he would ask such a question. Even if the emperors of old scolded him, saying that the War Emperor’s Archive had not been passed down to be used in such a way, he would likely have nothing to say.
And also.
‘Even if they call me irreverent, I will have nothing to say.’
But the emperor made up his mind.
So that Pride could not overhear.
He asked the War Emperor’s Archive within his heart.
‘War Emperor’s Archive, I ask you.’
Endlessly deep darkness.
And a single ray of light.
Granfell and Lee Hoyeol.
‘What fate lies between those two?’
It was a question that had arisen from the moment he learned they were different beings.
How could two people exist within a single body?
And on top of that, the Arcana Continent and the world of adventurers.
‘What current of fate brought those two together?’
At last, the War Emperor’s Archive gave its answer.
“……!”
Naturally, that answer was conveyed only within the emperor’s heart.
Pride, who had stopped laughing, studied the emperor’s face and opened his mouth.
“It seems you find something amusing, foolish Sericrose.”
Well, what question he had asked did not matter.
From the beginning, his objective had been to supply nutrients to the rose vine on the verge of blooming. Since the blood of the young Sericrose had become its nourishment, he was satisfied.
And yet, he did not feel particularly good.
“And a pleased smile at that.”
On the verge of blooming.
The final nourishment.
Was it intending to absorb him to the very end?
Unlike with the former emperors, the rose vine bound the emperor even more tightly. The emperor’s body began to gradually sink into the tangled vines. It must have been unbearably painful.
Even so.
A faint smile hung on the emperor’s lips.
The emperor quietly opened his mouth.
“I see.”
Lee Hoyeol and Granfell.
So that was how it was.
So that was the fate between you two.
A fate no one could ever understand.
A fate of storm and strife.
Smiling, the emperor added his final words.
“……
Indeed, it was something you had every reason to hide so thoroughly.”
*
Snap.
Lionheart Knights’ commander, Harkon.
“Good grief.”
Harkon fiddled with the leather strap that had fallen off.
He had thought he was fully prepared.
Who would have thought the leather strap fixing his equipment to his waist would snap?
“A bolt from the blue when I am already busy.”
At last, he would set foot on the Arcana Continent.
He would return to Antonium.
He would meet His Majesty.
Suddenly, his gaze reached the window.
Harkon took in the sight of Frost, where he and the Lionheart Knights had been stationed. Once he crossed over to Arcana……. He would likely never have a chance to visit this peaceful Frost again.
Harkon summed up his complicated feelings in a single sentence.
“When the holy war is over, I will return with news of victory.”
With this, his preparations were complete.
All that remained was to receive the approval of the commander-in-chief, Sir Hoyeol.
Harkon headed for the Yusra Kingdom through the portal.
At this time of day, Hoyeol should be in his office in the Yusra Kingdom.
As he hurried his steps, Harkon gave a small laugh.
“He may be quite surprised.”
His two clanking legs.
What expression would His Majesty make upon seeing that he had lost his legs? If he said that injury was a medal he had earned while facing a dragon. If he said the prosthetic legs he wore were crafted by dwarven hands?
“Well, perhaps it is fortunate.”
Harkon swallowed a sigh of relief.
Though it would be their first reunion in a long while, there would be no time for awkwardness.
Because it seemed their stories would not run dry.
Soon, he arrived at Hoyeol’s office.
Knock, knock—
When Harkon knocked on the door, a reply came.
“You may enter, Harkon.”
As always, the calm voice settled his excited heart.
Harkon steadied his breath and opened the office door.
And there, he faced it.
“……
Huh?”
On the desk in the office.
In front of Hoyeol, putting on an adorable little act.
Some tiny, bright-yellow ball of fluff.
“Commander-in-chief, that is……?”
Before Hoyeol’s answer could come.
The bright-yellow downy fluff.
The chick opened its beak first.
Peep—
It was not a sound.
From that dainty little body.
Came a threat that did not suit it at all.
“How insolent, human.”
“……?”
“Bow your head before the great Ice Dragon.”
“?!”