episode_0177

CLXIX.

A tremendous explosion was heard near the palace where the emperor resided. This explosion was not only loud but also so shocking that everyone inside the palace fell to the floor.

Accordingly, all of the proud Blue Dragon Knights who protect the Emperor and the Imperial Tower Magicians mobilized to suppress the rioters.

― Excerpt from the Annals of the Clitenese Empire, The Dark Lord, Santiago de Clitene, Year 17, Part 2.

◈

The Clytonic Empire is also known as the Magic Empire.

To someone who doesn’t know the situation on the continent in detail, it might seem puzzling.

There are no superhumans in Circle 9, and there are fewer magicians in Circle 8 than in the Philosopher’s Tower, so why is the name ‘Magic Way’ given to the empire?

There are several theories as to why this is, and it’s a bit of a funny situation.

When Clifton became an empire, the first emperor was said to have been a superhuman from Circle 9, according to the Annals of Clifton.

If we look at it up to this point, there doesn’t seem to be any problem, but this historical record of the emperor’s life in Clifton is actually exaggerated.

The Annals of the Clitenese Empire are not records of the king’s every move as factually as possible like the chronicles of a certain kingdom, but rather records for external use written with an eye on the emperor’s mood.

There are also some who claim that the first emperor of the Clitenese Empire was a dragon’s plaything.

Because the fact that the first emperor suddenly disappeared without dying and did not leave any Circle 9 magic for his descendants was also decisive evidence supporting the theory that he was a dragon.

No matter how superhuman a parent may be, wouldn’t they pass on at least one virtue to their children?

But whether this was Clifton’s lie or a manipulation of public opinion, it became known to the world that the first emperor was a great magician.

But more than these, the reason why the Empire called Clyton was given the title of Magician was because the first emperor installed the first warp gates on the continent throughout the Empire.

Warp gate.

Although it was powered by an auxiliary device called a magic circle, the appearance of this special device that could instantly move people and objects long distances played a significant role in Clyton’s rise to power as an empire.

It was a revolution in the most important supply tactics in warfare, and it also increased the movement speed of units to absurd levels.

In fact, the first emperor ascended the throne and gathered all troops to the capital, where he directly managed them. When war or rebellion broke out, he immediately moved large-scale troops through the warp gate to suppress them.

If you only listen up to this point, the hypothesis that the first emperor was a dragon might sound closer to the truth.

But ironically, the very same warp gate that led people to assume he was a dragon also supports the claim that the first emperor was human.

The warp gates built by the first emperor of the Clytonic Empire were so crude that they could almost be described as primitive compared to those of today.

To borrow what Dean Hu once said,

– An ignorant technique of pushing and moving objects or people by hitting them with mana.

He said.

Since technology develops over time and improves over time, there is no need to be so sarcastic about previous methods of use.

The warp gates that were built at that time and were only used within the Clytonic Empire were crude and unsophisticated.

To the extent that it would require several days of recuperation for an untrained person.

Even so, the modifier ‘first’ and the existence of warp gates installed not just in a few armies but throughout the entire empire were more than enough to attach the modifier ‘Magic Empire’ to the Clayton Empire.

In fact, the reason why the Dean mentioned earlier gave such a harsh evaluation of the early warp gates of the Clayton Empire is not without a sense that it was all brought on by the Clayton Empire. Also, the beginning of the ill-fated relationship between the Dean and the Clayton Empire is related to this first warp gate.

The Clytonic Empire preserved the original warp gate built in their capital as if they were preserving a historical site, even though improved warp gates were developed later.

Of course, it actually works.

After Dean Hu ascended to the rank of Circle 7 Master and was active for a long time, he headed to the Clyton Empire to see traces of the past.

And after studying the ignorant warp gate created by the early emperor, which was still preserved in its original form, the Dean was able to ascend to Circle 8.

If the story had progressed to this point, it could have ended on a warm note.

But the royal family of the Clifton Empire was not happy.

No, to be honest, my stomach hurt.

They were always by my side, and even though they were dying, they couldn’t even reach Circle 8, let alone Circle 7. But then some mercenary wizard bastard saw my legacy and climbed to Circle 8, and it made my stomach hurt.

A lot.

At first, he told the Dean to tell him what he had learned.

Rationalizing that since the legacy was from the Cliteron Empire, they had the right to claim it.

Will you give it to me?

Even the most skilled swordsmen can wield a sword with just one sword, so what about a wizard who is even more skilled?

Of course I won’t give it to you.

So the empire is trying to arrest the new soldier this time.

But Circle 8.

When you reach this lofty state, you will naturally gain an understanding of space. How can you possibly grasp it?

Moreover, at that time, Nitas, who was still a dragon and had been following the Dean around, was by his side.

Next to him was Vice-Principal Fletcher, who had reached the rank of Master.

It’s a composition of people that you can’t catch even if you want to.

So, there is no way that good things can come out of Dean Hu’s mouth. Moreover, Dean Hu reached the rank of Circle 8 Master at an unprecedented speed.

Immediately after that, Dean Hu used the money he had saved up to develop a much safer and more mana-efficient warp gate and released it onto the continent.

Of course, they were sold for a considerable amount of money, but for the nobles, matters related to their own safety were something they had to have no matter how much money they had to pay, so they sold like hotcakes.

Where did the Dean get the money to set up the upper level, build the cradle for the unmanned, build the Evergreen Academy, and support the Tower of the Sage?

The wealth started from here.

The problem was that the quality of the warp gates created by the Dean was too different from the warp gates that the Clayton Empire was exporting and using as diplomatic weapons.

So, the royal family of the Clitean Empire is even more upset and wants to beat the Dean to death.

In the past, calling the Clytonic Empire the Magic Empire was a kind of identity, but now it has a strong sarcastic meaning.

Anyway, no matter what, the Clytonic Empire was given the nickname of the Magic Empire.

And the warp gate used by the first emperor mentioned earlier was changed from being open to everyone after the incident with the former dean to being open only to magicians belonging to the Imperial Tower of the Clyton Empire.

Naturally, since it was the property of the Imperial Tower, the building built to block this warp gate from the outside was managed by the Imperial Tower.

The place where Gray’s party safely escaped from the scene of the collapse of the space rift was right above the first warp gate that the Dean had gained insight into.

To be more precise, this building was the place where Daedalus laughed, cried, and got upset by himself, with no doors or entrances, and walls built around all sides.

Naturally, the Clitean Empire could not just sit by and let those who had destroyed the building managed by the Imperial Palace Tower collapse.

Not only did it destroy the building, but with such a loud explosion, the first warp gate would have disappeared as well.

So, the entire Blue Dragon Knights, the second of the three knight orders protecting the Emperor, and the 2nd Magic Squadron of the Imperial Tower arrived at the scene.

And when they arrived at the scene, they realized too late that something completely different from what they had expected was happening.

It wasn’t just a building that collapsed.

An area several tens of meters in radius around where the building once stood was completely destroyed.

Destroyed houses and roads.

Even though there was a wall of innards on one side, part of that wall was gone, as if it had been erased.

The walls surrounding the inner city of the capital were covered in all sorts of defensive magic, no, they were covered in a thick layer of it.

But that disappeared without a moment to occur.

After confirming this and realizing the seriousness of the situation, the commander of the Blue Dragon Knights and the commander of the Magic Flying Squad headed towards the building at the heart of the incident with serious faces.

The knights first surrounded them closely, and the magic squad prepared their magic.

A thick, black mass of darkness.

At the center of it all was that.

How ominous is this?

Whatever’s inside there must be something sinister and eerie.

Could it be that they are a demon tribe or something?

Is that scary upper-level demon inside there?

The commander of the 2nd Magic Fleet injected mana into the communication crystal with ominous thoughts and entered the emergency support code.

and,

“As of now, we are entering wartime operational mode. Blue Dragon Knights, Magic Flying Squadron. Prepare for battle.”

He gave an order to the knights and magicians who arrived at the scene to display their skills.

In the Clitean Empire, when knights and magicians of the same rank conduct operations together, the magicians have the operational control.

It’s called the Magic Empire for nothing.

Anyway, the order was given.

The Knights prepared to attack by drawing up the Force, and the wizards quickly completed their spellcasting.

also,

[Check emergency support code.]

We have received a report from the rooftop that his request for assistance has been received safely.

The second magic squadron leader waited for the darkness to clear.

How much time has passed since then, filled with tension?

After a moment of silence so thick that the sound of someone swallowing could be heard by everyone, the darkness finally disappeared.

In a split second.

As if trying to claim innocence that there was never a lump of darkness there in the first place.

“All public… … ?”

He gave the order to attack.

No, I was going to get off.

But the moment he saw one, no, two faces among the crowd, his quick reflexes as a Circle 7 member allowed him to close his mouth before he could shout the last word, ‘격’.

A young face. A childlike figure. And above all, a pure white robe symbolizing the Pope of the Temple of Caligula, the first religious order of the Holy Empire.

The moment you become the leader of the Magic Faction, one of the people you should naturally keep in mind is Pope Caligo, Judas.

furthermore!

Black bars and red windows.

Distinctive gray-white hair.

A being escorted by women so beautiful that it is doubtful whether they are the real women of the world.

That’s definitely the one who’s ranked highest among the people of interest recently.

Candidate Gray is a sure thing.

“No, why are you guys coming out of there… … ?”

The 2nd Squadron Commander used all his might to stop the attack order, but the tension was already tense like a fully drawn bowstring, and it was not a matter of stopping or stopping the attack order in the first place.

Stopping magic just before it manifests is like pulling back the bowstring and holding on.

At the same time that he muttered, “Why are you coming out of there?” as if grumbling, the magician’s tension was released and he flew towards the target.

“What?”

Kwaaang―!

It was refreshing. The sight of the Circle 5 magic fire cannon flying away, leaving behind a red tail, was greatly enlarged in the eyes of the 2nd division commander.

He thought.

That fleeting moment.

The magical afterimage flying across the blue sky, leaving a red tail, seemed to hint at the red line that would be drawn in his life.

Moreover,

Bam!

Pachichichik!

Let’s go, let’s go!

Whether it was someone’s mistake or not, once the magic was activated, the magic began to fly towards the people who appeared in the center one after another and hit them.

The first time was a mistake, the next time I was like ‘Huh!?’ and blew it, but from the third time onwards I was intentionally using magic.

Flames blaze, lightning crackles, cold air swirls, and blades of wind dance.

but,

“Failed… Uh.”

Viscount Laid Listoa, the commander of the Second Magical Squadron of Clyton, dropped the staff he was holding on the floor in despair.

Maybe it would have been good to have some expectations.

Because this was a surprise attack, the other side was defenseless, and there were more than one or two spells that had just flown out.

“… is your fucking ass! I knew it!!”

The sight that was revealed after the magical baptism was the same as when it first appeared, without even a drop of sweat being shed.

The only difference was that Pope Judas had a very angry look on his face.

Gray, who was a person of interest and was called ‘the beginning, the human disaster’ in the Clayton Empire, had a face like that.

“This is ridiculous.”

The feeling of absurdity was clearly revealed.