Ch.216216. To the Next Generation

Northern Continent.

In a remote mountain range within the wasteland territory of the Dawn Empire.

In these mountains, once considered completely uninhabitable, stands a small log cabin.

Though somewhat crudely built, the cabin is perfectly livable. The door of this cabin slowly opened with a creaking sound—.

From inside emerged a man with an enormous frame, easily two meters tall.

His physique was unbelievably beautiful and massive for a human body.

The man, wrapped in animal hides, stepped out into the snow-covered yard.

“Nngh, uuuugh….”

As if his body was stiff, he loosened up with some light stretching movements.

Then he walked to one side of the yard and picked up several pieces of firewood.

And at that moment.

“…I see we have an esteemed visitor.”

As the man spoke in a deep, resonant voice, his eyes fell upon a wolf beastkin boy dressed in red priestly garments.

The boy, with artificially vivid red hair, appeared mysteriously in the middle of this snowy landscape, enhancing his mystical presence.

Without saying a word, he approached the man with steady steps.

Then, abruptly, he spoke words that would be incomprehensible to any ordinary listener.

“Are you satisfied?”

“Yes. It’s quite livable here.”

The man responded to this strange question naturally, stroking his beard with a bitter smile.

“That’s not what I mean. You know what I’m talking about, don’t you? The state of ‘that place’ since you disappeared.”

“Yes, of course I know. My disappearance has caused quite a bit of confusion.”

“Isn’t it more than just ‘quite a bit’? You know everything, don’t you?”

Despite the boy’s subtly reproachful questioning, the man merely chuckled, behaving like a monk who had transcended worldly concerns.

Seeing the boy’s displeased expression, the man—Bjorn Wolfson—opened his mouth again with a warm smile.

“Yes, indeed. The Dawn Empire is certainly in turmoil since my disappearance. But shouldn’t they be able to overcome such challenges? They’re not children who need constant supervision.”

Like a sage who had lived in nature for ages,

Bjorn explained proudly, stretching out his words.

The boy, who had been looking at him with a peculiar gaze, soon regarded Bjorn with eyes that seemed to embody exasperation—

“For someone who ran away to avoid work, you certainly have a way with words.”

Calmly, he exposed the real reason Bjorn had secluded himself in this remote place.

“If you disliked it so much, you could have just said so earlier. Was all this really necessary? If you had told us, we could have arranged something.”

“…What? What do you mean…?”

“Didn’t you know? If you wanted to retire, we could have created a suitable pretext. And you probably knew this already, so why not just be honest? Apostle Bjorn.”

After the boy delivered what seemed like a prepared speech, Bjorn finally revealed his true feelings about his sudden retreat.

“I believed that the Dawn Empire could truly become a great nation without me.”

“…Go on.”

“If I, a being with transcendent power, remained as Emperor, the Empire would stagnate. It is human nature to depend on transcendent beings—that’s why religion was born. So my disappearance would stimulate the Empire and become a catalyst for their growth. God of Vengeance.”

“…?”

The boy, who had been nodding and listening quietly, questioned the last phrase, then showed an expression of bewilderment—

《You’ve noticed, my child.》

“…My God.”

Like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, the God of Vengeance appeared from within the boy. Bjorn bowed his head and knelt, showing proper reverence to the deity.

《What of your duty?》

“If the Dawn Empire truly faces collapse, I will gladly help them, but that doesn’t mean I need to respond to every crisis. Great Bleeding God of Vengeance, the empire you established through your will cannot fall so easily.”

Bjorn spoke these words calmly yet sincerely. After silently staring down at Bjorn with a strange, oppressive gaze, the deity finally responded.

《I will trust you.》

And just as suddenly as it had appeared, it vanished from this world.

※ ※ ※

Dawn Empire Year 105.

The Empire’s lifetime Emperor, Bjorn “The Chosen” Wolfson, disappeared.

With the Emperor vanishing without any warning, the court fell into chaos, but the charisma of Ben Gaitenphang, who returned from Chancellor to Regent, managed to stabilize the situation.

Of course, there were those who tried to take advantage after hearing rumors of the transcendent one’s disappearance, but most such vermin could be dealt with by Helena.

Moreover, Saint Lisa, the second apostle of ‘Vengeance’ who had remained in the background, finally ended her long seclusion and stepped forward to stabilize the political situation.

Especially after declaring herself the daughter of the missing Emperor,

she was appointed as Imperial Regent in place of Ben Gaitenphang.

Of course, while called a regent, her role was merely symbolic—the final weapon without real authority—but that was precisely the duty given to the Dawn Empire’s Emperor anyway.

The malicious heretics trying to slither up through the military ranks were all weeded out by the Inquisition Director, Erik Bjornson.

Dawn Empire Year 145.

The Pope of the Vengeance Order, Gracchus I, approaching 200 years of age yet not aging, requested to step down from his position, but the Imperial Regent did not grant permission.

Dawn Empire Year 147.

Gracchus I resigned citing old age, but it was not approved.

Dawn Empire Year 148.

Tinel Segtus, the 2nd Commander of the Black Sun Legion, requested resignation and was granted permission.

Dawn Empire Year 153.

Pope Gracchus I submitted his resignation, but it was rejected.

Dawn Empire Year 154.

The first Chancellor of the Imperial University, Lunifer Paisentrius, died of old age.

Imperial Regent Lisa Raeldotir declared him a hero of the Empire and named him the patron saint of mages and scholars.

Dawn Empire Year 157.

Pope Gracchus I requested to resign, but it was not approved.

Dawn Empire Year 160.

Pope Gracchus I requested to resign. The next day, the Imperial Regent opposed the Pope’s resignation.

Dawn Empire Year 200.

Dawn Empire Regent Lisa Raeldotir received a divine oracle and was appointed as “Imperial Proxy.”

Dawn Empire Year 201.

Pope Gracchus I requested dismissal due to old age. The Imperial Proxy did not approve.

Dawn Empire Year 205.

The largest illegal cult in Imperial history was discovered.

The cult worshipping the evil god of pleasure, Sodomia Gomorio Blutas, had infiltrated the Empire’s underbelly,

cultivating over 3,000 followers and approximately 10,000 casual participants.

The Pope of the Vengeance Order requested their extermination in outrage, and the Imperial administration diligently complied.

During the suppression, 2,154 were killed, 6,612 were captured and executed, and the remaining 5,000 received “lawful punishment.”

Afterward, Pope Gracchus I requested resignation citing the emergence of heretics, but the Imperial Proxy did not approve.

Dawn Empire Year 216.

A heretic advocating the “Vengeance Futility Theory” attempted to incite rebellion within the Vengeance Order.

After the heretic was personally executed by the Inquisition Director, Pope Gracchus requested resignation, but it was not approved.

Dawn Empire Year 217.

As the Vengeance Futility Theory spread, a provincial city rebelled against the Dawn Empire.

Of course, this was actually permitted by the Inquisition to sweep away all subversive elements at once, and exactly 13 hours after the rebellion began, all participants were either dead or arrested.

Pope Gracchus I requested resignation citing his own incompetence, but it was not approved.

Dawn Empire Year 236.

After extensive research, the Imperial Magic University magically explained the existence of other dimensions, proving through several experiments that humanity’s origins were not simply as indigenous life forms.

Dawn Empire Year 249.

A madman claiming to be God’s apostle was giving a street speech in the capital square when he was instantly killed by red lightning that struck from the sky.

Using this as a reason, Pope Gracchus submitted his resignation, but it was rejected.

And in Dawn Empire Year 250.

The sky shattered, and through the cracks, demonic armies poured in like a flood.