CH 624

Somewhere on the continent, a city had turned to ruins.

On a street in the desolate city that had become a no man's land, a few figures wearing robes gathered.

"The Immortal has already finished deploying the frontlines. The Allied Forces will move again, and we'll all head to the frontlines as well."

Christina, wearing a robe, spoke to the others who, like her, were dressed in black robes.

"Is the reverse summoning device functioning properly?"

"We've already confirmed its functionality in several preliminary tests. Even with a high failure rate, it won't be a major issue."

"Excellent."

The people in black robes nodded their heads in agreement with Christina.

"We didn't have much time, but you've done well so far."

At the compliment-like remark from the black-robed figures, Christina nodded her head.

"What's next?"

"The next step..."

The black-robed figures fell silent at Christina's question.

"It's absurd to discuss this before the Gate incident has ended, but isn't it time to talk about it?"

The black-robed figures remained silent at Christina's question.

What should be done after the Gate incident?

One of the black-robed figures spoke up.

"The Empire has reached its end."

The Empire, which committed numerous atrocities for survival, had lost its justification and legitimacy.

Although it was being maintained due to its current cause, once the Gate incident was resolved, people would demand accountability from the Empire.

"To survive, the Empire must find its next cause."

"The Demon King?"

"Yes."

If the Empire was being maintained by the absolute cause of the Gate incident, it would need to find the next cause after that cause had disappeared.

The cause of killing the Demon King, the root of all evil.

"That was the cause the Empire used to unify all of humanity. It wouldn't be impossible to reuse it."

Long ago, the Empire had been able to unify all of humanity because of the existence of the Darklands and the Demon King.

There was no cause greater than this: with the Demon King still alive, why should we fight among ourselves? This cause had prevented attempts at division and the rise of discordant forces.

The establishment and maintenance of the Empire had been possible because of the Demon King's existence.

So once the Gate incident had ended, all they had to do was return to the cause of the past.

"But the owner of the Empire doesn't have to be the Gardias royal family. We can erase the past mistakes of the Empire along with the Gardias royal family and give birth to a new Empire."

The Empire must exist for the unification of humanity, but its ruler could change.

At the words of the black-robed figure, Christina silently looked at him.

"If the Demon King is used as the cause to maintain the Empire, I assume the Demon King is not among the candidates for the next ruler?"

The story was about uniting humanity against an enemy, and that enemy was the Demon King.

So the black-robed figure had not considered the possibility of the Demon King becoming the ruler of the next Empire at all.

"Of course. The majority of people would find it unacceptable to be ruled by the Demon King. The chaos that would ensue would be incomparable to what's happening with the current Empire."

"Hmm... Right. The problem isn't so much what the Demon King has actually done wrong, but how people perceive him..."

Christina slowly nodded her head, wearing a meaningful smile.

"So, who should be the next ruler of the empire? Surely not you guys?"

"…Of course not. Our principle is to not step forward."

Despite their dwindling numbers, the individuals in black robes seemed resolute, as if they had no intention of abandoning their principle.

"Yeah, I'm curious about that. Although your Order is now in decline, your knowledge and magic remain intact. That's why you were able to create the Immortal. So, why do you need to only work from behind the scenes?"

"Because there are tasks that can only be done from behind, and we are a group created to handle those tasks."

The principle of working for the sake of humanity.

The Black Order would even betray humanity if it was for that principle.

The moment they stepped forward, the meaning of the group would fade. Therefore, they worked on tasks that only they could perform from the shadows of history.

"There are many who could potentially become the next ruler of the empire. First, they must be somewhat distant from the empire, have made significant contributions in resolving the Gate incident, and be a person with a proper disposition as a leader of humanity."

"Louise von Schwarz of Kernstadt might be a possibility. Simultaneously being the second most powerful force after the empire and possessing a character and disposition that isn't too extreme or overly compromising, she has the proper qualities of a leader. Her contributions are also impeccable. However, it's almost certain that she killed her own siblings with her own hands, which could become a weakness someday."

"Archduke Raphael de Saint-Owan cannot be ruled out either. His contributions alone, in creating the Titan, are incomparable to anyone else. Furthermore, he has been faithful to the longstanding principle of the Saint-Owan family, which is to walk the path of righteousness. Although it is the opposite of our position, which allows us to use even the power of the apostles if it helps, the attitude of the Saint-Owan family and the current Archduke deserve people's respect and admiration. However, in this case, his daughter is too great a risk. Despite his contributions, he hasn't received proper recognition from the people."

"There are a few other candidates, but ultimately they lack power, contributions, or the capacity to embrace other major forces."

"Therefore."

"In the end."

"Ellen Artorius."

"She's the right choice."

"Her power, symbolism, and the support of the people all point to her."

"If she can lay the cornerstone of the next empire, it would be the best outcome."

The enormous weight of the title "Hero."

At a time when the empire has lost its legitimacy, and the enemy that should be exterminated is apparent.

The hero becomes a more significant name and symbol than any noble or king.

After the resolution of the Gate incident, for the unity and prosperity of humanity and a united will, the old empire must fall, and a new one must emerge.

Ellen Artorius becoming the ruler of the new empire.

The Black Order's judgment was that it was the best conclusion in the current situation.

Christina silently listened to the story.

The one who broke the silence was a man who had been leaning against the wall on the edge of the assembly hall, silent all this time.

"In the end... is it coercion again?"

At the sudden remark, the gazes of those in black robes turned in that direction.

"You intend to tell Ellen, who is struggling just to bear the title of Hero, that she must now become an emperor."

His unkempt black hair hung raggedly down to his neck, and a bandage was wrapped around his exposed arm beneath the cloak.

"What I'm curious about is..."

Between the tangled strands of hair, his deep, abyss-like eyes stared at those in robes.

"What qualifications do you guys have to make such decisions?"

At his words, silence enveloped the room.

"What are you guys, that you can talk about how the world should be and have the confidence to insist on it?"

Ludwig, the man with the bandaged right arm, seemed to pierce through everyone with his hollow, deep eyes.

"Because it's the path for everyone."

At that, the corner of Ludwig's mouth curled up roughly.

"Right... That's the most magnificent justification."

"The one and only absolute justification to escape all misdeeds, sins, and responsibilities."

"That disgusting claim, that it's the path for everyone, was the driving force that brought you here, and it was the words you used to rationalize yourselves."

"For everyone?"

"No... No."

"That phrase exists for you."

"That phrase is for those who serve it."

"Only for you, and your excuses."

"Aren't you guys also accomplices in the Gate Incident? Right?"

"You just want to manipulate the world as you please."

"When the outcome goes wrong, do you plan to say, like anyone else in the world, that you never actually wanted this?"

"In front of this miserable result, do you plan to say that you never actually wanted this?"

"Then again, without facing the problems you got wrong this time, do you intend to control the world as you please?"

For the world.

For humanity.

For everyone.

Those words were nothing more than excuses prepared for those who wanted to do such things.

"So, what do you propose?"

The ones in black robes asked.

"Do you have the best answer? Who should be the next ruler of this world, and what needs to happen to completely eradicate the seeds of conflict and slaughter, and achieve peace?"

At that question, Ludwig shook his head.

"Is your statement that everything will be solved if Ellen becomes the emperor the right answer?"

"..."

"The Holy Knight Order has already sided with the Demon King, so if Ellen becomes the emperor, will they just support the Hero-turned-emperor and call it a day?"

"...There will be some interference, of course."

At that, Ludwig chuckled.

"What you're proposing is just one of the many methods. Whether the empire continues to exist, the world falls to the Demon King, or Ellen becomes the emperor, problems will arise somewhere, and someone will die somewhere."

"I used to think there was a right answer while living. That I was too stupid to reach that answer. That's what I thought."

"But now I know."

"That there's no such thing as a right answer - that was the only right answer."

"Didn't you guys each bear a little responsibility for all this?"

"No matter who became the next ruler of the continent, everyone would have a bit of the right answer, and a bit of the wrong answer."

"In other words, there's no such thing as a perfect answer."

"Even without you, the world will move on with slightly incorrect yet slightly correct other answers."

"I don't care about that."

"I don't need to think about the right answer."

"It's not about the answer, but the punishment."

"You who caused all this trouble, trying to be judged for your intentions rather than the outcome. People like you, who constantly push your own answers by claiming it's for the greater good."

"Removing people like you from the world."

"That's my job."

I don't know the answer.

It doesn't even exist.

But those who keep trying to control the world by claiming they've found the right answer after writing the wrong one.

Those who keep moving the world, claiming they have good intentions and trying to sacrifice someone without ever facing the consequences of their wrong answers.

Ludwig believed that such people must disappear from the world.

The words of the Black Order claiming that Ellen should become the emperor.

That could lead to a good ending.

However, the very existence of those who try to manipulate the world with such words from behind the scenes is disgusting.

Threatened by Ludwig's intimidating attitude, the others began to rise from their seats one by one.

"Christina, was this your purpose from the start?"

In response to the question of whether she had intended to bring Ludwig to the Order's gathering place from the beginning, Christina shrugged her shoulders.

"Although there are differences in the details, you could say that."

Christina sent a cold gaze towards those wearing robes.

Something began to creak.

Actually, it was planned.

Christina returned the words the emperor once wanted to say to these completely wrong people.

"If the world rolls on as you say, it's too disgusting."

In Christina's eyes, filled with hatred and anger, madness swirled.

Similar to Ludwig, but slightly different.

It was vengeance.

The ones who should be held responsible survive by claiming it's for the greater good.

As if she couldn't bear it any longer.

"So, you're no longer needed."

"You should know it's not just something you can say."

Their usefulness to each other.

From the beginning, the fact that they were using each other was a known truth.

The Black Order's mages prepared for something.

"Why, to summon the Immortals?"

"…!"

The moment her intention was read, Christina shrugged her shoulders while sitting.

"Didn't you know that you gave me the knowledge without any safety measures?"

There was no change in the fact that they had cooperated only temporarily under the pretext of the Gate Incident.

"Well, it's obvious. If I try to betray, you'd try to seize control of the Immortals. You would have already prepared for that."

"…"

"It would be strange if you didn't do such a thing."

At Christina's words, the mages fell silent.

The Immortals were controlled by magic. Therefore, it was inevitable that they would have such a means while entrusting the related technology to Christina's hands and completing it through the resources of the Empire.

In the absolutely necessary moment, the Immortals would inevitably become the Black Order's property.

Just as the emperor had permitted it while sensing the events that would occur when the Immortals were created, Christina had not thought they would be without such intentions.

Christina laughed.

She scoffed at the Order's mages.

"Do you really think it's too optimistic to assume that we followed your instructions exactly when creating the Immortals?"

"Do you think we could not tamper with the magic you provided?"

The knowledge the Black Order provided was vast and incalculable.

Merely implementing the method to create Immortals was already the realm of geniuses far beyond ordinary ones.

However, finding and modifying the hidden magical formulas within the Black Order's knowledge was impossible.

The Black Order had naturally anticipated their opponents' attempts.

They had provided the knowledge as if to say, "Try it if you can."

"You secret society people didn't anticipate how many unreasonable geniuses there are in the world, huh?"

This was a gathering of the continent's greatest geniuses.

Only those with talent knew just how unreasonable talent could be.

"…What, not working well?"

"…"

From their expressions, Christina could tell that her own schemes had worked, and she flashed a bitter smile.

The Black Order was not foolish.

It was simply that someone's genius had overwhelmingly surpassed someone else's expectations.

The Black Order had declined.

Their leaders had all died.

Even the last of their talented members had perished in the battle against the Demon King, turning to ashes.

What remained were the less remarkable members of the Black Order.

Sadly.

Just remnants.

They had a wealth of magic, visions, and secrets built up by their great leaders, but they could not even properly assimilate them.

The leftovers.

It was inevitable that they would be ignorant of the thought processes and dangers of geniuses.

All they could do with their remaining sense of mission was approach the geniuses of the empire and the Temple who wielded the empire's power.

That was their last option.

Those with power and talent had already died fighting the monsters of the Gate or the Demon King.

This was the limit of those who remained.

"In the end, this is how it turns out…"

One of the Order's mages finally lowered his head.

Who wouldn't have known that the situation would turn out like this?

They had tried to do something despite the premonition that everything would not go their way.

Those who had tried to manage the world from behind the scenes had become too weak to do so.

Still, they reached out to those who despised them and ended up joining hands.

It was a simple story.

They had tried to exploit each other, but in the end, the weaker side was exploited.

"Ludwig."

At Christina's soft call, a dark energy surged from Ludwig's right hand.

The black magic burst forth, taking the shape of a sword.

Ludwig slowly approached the mages awaiting their deaths.