Ch.263The Place Where the Moon Rises. Lake Ceres (2)

“The Revival of the Nariakiran Empire.”

With a deliberately serious tone, I opened my mouth, fragrant with the aroma of apple brandy.

Simon arranged this meeting because this matter is extremely grave.

The revival of the Nariakiran Empire.

It means the resurrection of the unified political system that governed human civilization for 300,000 years.

And because that ‘unified political system’ was so despised, there was the Age of Solar Eclipse for 50,000 years, and after all the madness passed, the Era of Mortality began.

December 12, 1202.

At this moment where the number 12 repeats itself, if the revival of the Empire is being seriously discussed in this secluded room, the public might laugh it off. But Simon and I were serious.

Because I am the Terminal of the Sun.

“Not really. I don’t have such a grand goal as reviving the Empire. But considering that I am the Apostle of the Sun, and my dream is to be a lord or monarch with land to rule, I suppose I’m destined to establish a successor to the Empire.”

“…Then what will you do after completing the pilgrimage? You are… the only successor to the Empire. Your right of succession is even higher than the imperial descendants. Because humans cannot be closer to the Sun than an Apostle. Think about what happened at the ruins. You are the only one who can command those soldiers from the ruins who could overwhelmingly subdue the civilizations of the current era.”

“That’s right. If I wanted to, I could awaken the soldiers of the ruins right now. Even though they’re undead, their loyalty is practically guaranteed.”

“Then?”

“But… if everything could be solved through violence, the Nariakiran Empire wouldn’t have fallen. The Empire didn’t collapse because the Sun abandoned humanity, nor because humanity abandoned the Sun. It was because of the imperial family who, blinded by the Sun’s radiance, failed to share the light they received with the people, plunging the Empire into darkness.”

After hearing my story, Simon nodded heavily and refilled my glass.

Several drinks were exchanged, but we didn’t get drunk at all.

No, it would be more accurate to say we couldn’t get drunk.

“I want my own empire, Simon. The past is the past because it cannot return. If the Nariakiran Empire could have survived its downfall, it would still exist today. But it failed. Whether it was the karma accumulated over 300,000 years that obscured their chances, or simply that their wisdom and intellect were insufficient, trying to resurrect a fallen empire is the work of a necromancer.”

“Then… what kind of empire do you intend to establish?”

“The Victorian Empire. An empire named after myself, not after the name of the Sun. Even if I can’t claim even a single continent.”

“…I see. Then know this one thing.”

With a serious expression, Simon poured me the last of the alcohol.

The glass was filled less than halfway, and I downed the remaining drink while looking at Simon.

“There are two forces in the world. Those who want the revival of the Empire, and those who don’t… Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

I nodded heavily.

If I choose to restore the Nariakiran Empire, I could gain the support of underground forces who have secretly desired the restoration of the Nariakiran Empire, like those who are worshipping me at Lake Ceres now.

A powerful empire that unified 13 continents… Some might support me simply because they’re intoxicated by its grandeur and prestige. Like young men who fill out enlistment forms, captivated by military uniforms and martial music.

But if I declare the establishment of a new empire, I’ll make enemies of the imperial restorationists as well.

They will call me a traitor, considering me corrupted by desire, having received the Sun’s grace yet seeking to build my own empire instead of rebuilding the Sun’s empire.

And… they’re right.

I want my own empire, not the Sun’s empire.

Even though I wield tremendous power through the Sun’s strength, I want an empire that I rule.

“This world has been without an emperor for a very long time. Only nobles and royalty have ruled this fragmented world. But not anymore… On the day the pilgrimage ends. On the day I complete the final pilgrimage in Centrum, the last continent humanity has reached… I will establish the Empire of Victory, not of the Sun, at the birthplace of the Sun.”

“Even if that turns the whole world against you?”

“Yes…”

I know I’m being ungrateful.

But what can I do? The Nariakiran Empire has already fallen, and I want to be a monarch, not a pope or priest.

“But. Although I know it’s ungrateful, I believe the Sun will want this path.”

“…Why is that?”

“The imperial descendants still maintain their lineage. They survived steadfastly through the 50,000-year Age of Eclipse, being used as shuttles to create orichalcum. They had time to restore the Empire. For 1,202 years.”

“…”

“Moreover, they ultimately failed to reconcile, allowing the Age of Eclipse to continue for 50,000 years. The Sun showed me how terrible that time was. Destruction and regression so horrific that the moon, which normally shouldn’t meet the sun, had to cover it… annihilation and hatred… What did they do for the souls of humanity corrupted by fanaticism and blind faith during those 50,000 years?”

“…”

“They did nothing. It’s not that they couldn’t do anything. They knew their bloodline could end the long years of war… If they had just united, crowned the most worthy as emperor, and formally elevated the Four Great Gods to official faith with a ceremonial repentance for their past actions, the Nariakiran Empire would have lasted at least a million years!”

Simon listened to my words silently.

By now, even I couldn’t tell whether I was speaking or the Sun was speaking through me.

The terrible age of doom appearing in every dream. And the suffering of Emperor Saburo who had to witness all those atrocities without closing his eyes even once…

All of it was crushing me.

Am I still the orphan of Parcifal? A knight-errant of the Relief Order? Or the Apostle of the Sun?

“Divine nature and human nature are in conflict. Isn’t that so?”

“I… I… don’t know… I’m even afraid to dream now…”

“How terrible was it? You’re a strong person.”

“Arcologies towering higher than the sky, millions of stories tall, struck by lasers and collapsing in half… Hundreds of billions of people simultaneously turning into blood when hit by ultra-high frequency waves… And… and… that… that… that continued for 50,000 years… A strong person? In that era, humans couldn’t survive… In any sense.”

I poured out my emotions almost like a scream.

This is the unforgettable memory of that day.

The atrocities of those 50,000 years, so terrible that the moon had to block the sun, were all committed by humanity, so the sin should be borne by humans, not gods. That’s why I no longer want to borrow the Sun’s name, even if I still borrow its power.

It’s not something to be criticized that harshly. Even the Four Great Gods couldn’t overcome secular authority except in a few regions where religious authority was strong.

In the end, the corrupt imperial family, the Four Great Gods obsessed only with revenge, and 300,000 years of hatred and anger lost in anomie gave birth to the catastrophe known as the Age of Eclipse.

All the Four Great Gods brought was frenzied violence, uncritical blind faith, and irrational fanaticism.

In the end, all they accomplished was overthrowing the established powers, and during the Age of Eclipse, they failed to establish their own unified identity.

They merely scattered their faith among the city-states and territorial states that sprang up like mushrooms.

“…Yes. I was taught that era was terrible. But you’re directly seeing those memories… Naturally, your mind would be worn down beyond my ability to help.”

“There’s no turning back now. Even if the Sun’s power leaves me, my memories will remain. If that happens, the divine nature suppressing my madness will disappear, and I’ll instantly become a broken person.”

“Poison suppressing poison… The fate of all apostles. I had hoped you would be different… But it seems unavoidable.”

Simon grabbed my shoulder and hung his head.

This isn’t his fault, but I silently helped him alleviate his sense of helplessness that he could do nothing.

“You don’t need to suffer. I’m walking this path because I want to. If the Sun’s choice is a miracle, then I will carry this flag of miracles to the end.”

“Oh… Party Leader. When did you grow so much? The boy who whispered the desire for adventure to me is gone, and all I see now is a knight and a man forging through a thorny path. How regretful it is that this old man cannot guide the young man…”

We embraced each other.

O Simon, my sage.

Someday when my empire is established, your name shall be placed upon the rock.