Northern Empire, Imperial Capital.
On the old, dilapidated city walls, a fully armed young soldier leaned his hands against the battlements, yawning lazily.
"It sure is peaceful."
"Yeah... it's been a long time since we've seen the Demon Race."
Watching the vines climbing in the shadows of the city wall, an old soldier standing straight with a spear in hand sighed.
"Senior, why so serious? The Demon Emperor was killed by the great Hero years ago. The Hero comes to the Northern Lands every few years to sweep away the Demon Race; there won't be any more danger. We city guards just need to put on a show," the young soldier said.
There was a moment of silence.
"You, when did you join the army?" The old soldier's weathered voice sounded.
"About three years ago?" the young soldier replied.
"I've been here for thirty years... This city wall has collapsed five times. The Demon Emperor's Army has breached the city before. Many people died, but the Empire has stood until now. I was just lucky, always managing to scrape by and survive. And so, I have witnessed everything."
"Although I haven't experienced it, isn't it fine now?"
"Then you tell me, what about the corpses of Mages thrown out of the Royal Palace every day?!"
The old soldier looked out toward the wilderness outside the city, the shadows of the once-dense Demon Race armies surfacing before his eyes.
At the outbreak of the great war between the Demon Race and Humans, the Northern Empire was the first to be surrounded by the Demon Emperor's Army, losing contact with those kingdoms in the Central and Southern Lands.
A saying had been passed down from the old soldier's grandfather's grandfather: the Empire was originally the descendant of that great empire which unified the world hundreds of years ago.
But that was all a past the old soldier had never seen.
What the old soldier had experienced and seen was the Demon Race conquering cities, the Royal Family leading the masses in a desperate resistance, and through countless sacrifices, the Empire holding the Imperial Capital, eventually even counterattacking the Demon Race and reclaiming territory.
Many who called themselves warriors of the Hero's Party and Mages fought on the front lines.
And most of those heroes and martyrs who emerged at that time were no longer of this world.
In the old soldier's heart, the Empire had always been great.
But now, the old soldier felt extremely conflicted.
"The martyrs were great... but that respected Emperor has changed. Those Mages who established merit in the war against the Demon Race shouldn't be treated like this." The old soldier's tone was full of gloom.
"Shh, Senior, watch your words... Nobles insulting the Royal Family get the death penalty, let alone us small city guards. I didn't hear anything." The young soldier jumped in fright, covering his ears in a feigned manner.
"Heh, sorry, but speaking it out makes my heart feel a bit lighter. Yes, I am old, I can't do anything anymore. Or rather, I never could do anything. I just got lucky and scraped by until now."
The old soldier sighed. Aside from having richer experiences, he was still just a lowly soldier.
*
Inside the Imperial Palace.
The sounds of singing and dancing were incessant. Women in revealing attire danced lightly, while jade fingers plucked zither strings to play joyous tunes.
On the majestic and tall throne sat a white-haired old man.
A crown inlaid with red gems sat upon his head, and in his hand, he leaned on a scepter topped with a cone of various colored gems. Clad in a bright red velvet imperial robe, putting aside that aged and withered face, he fully displayed the authoritative appearance of an emperor.
This Emperor, who had unified the Empire for over fifty years, was already at an age where he had one foot in the grave.
Suddenly, footsteps were heard in the great hall. The surrounding music stopped, and the dancers paused their steps, walking to the sides to stand still.
The Emperor frowned, and his aged, hoarse voice sounded.
"Continue..."
"Your Majesty, your subject has come to see you." The footsteps stopped, and a voice rang out within this magnificent palace.
"Oh, it's Sir Wolf—what happened to your face?"
The Emperor's furrowed brows relaxed; the one who had come was his favored minister.
"On the way back a few days ago, some accidents occurred. I was attacked by magic beasts and my face was injured. I was afraid of frightening Your Majesty."
Wolf wore a white mask on his face as he bowed respectfully.
"Those border nobles... even you couldn't handle them?" The Emperor's words revealed an absolute authority and majesty, seemingly questioning him.
"I am very sorry, Your Majesty... the assassins I sent out failed. Please punish me."
Wolf knelt on one knee. Different from his madness in Gaderia, at this moment he was a cunning Duke who looked the part.
"Hmph, let it be. I'll let this pass for now. I've decided to leave them be for a while longer. When the training of my great army is complete, that will be the day of their death."
The Emperor had been secretly training an army for conquering and punishing other nations. After the scourge of the Demon Race was removed, he harbored the ambition to unify the world.
He had thought to first operate on those disobedient non-kin nobles at the border, but accidents had happened one after another.
"Your Majesty is wise," Wolf flattered excitedly on the surface.
"Mm... regarding that plan you gave me before, I think it is very good. In the years since the Demon Emperor was eliminated, the Demon Race no longer constitutes a threat. It is time to get rid of those Mages who threaten Imperial power. Recently, there were even Mages suppressed by me who attempted to assassinate me. truly presumptuous. I plan to cultivate another unit specifically for assassinating Mages; this way, we can also secretly eliminate Mages from other countries."
"Hehe, Your Majesty, I said it long ago. Existences as powerful and uncontrollable as Mages are just like the Demon Race; they are a threat to absolute Imperial power."
Under the mask, the corners of Wolf's mouth curled up.
"Alright, if there is nothing else, withdraw for now. I still want to listen to the music."
The Emperor waved his hand somewhat impatiently.
"Then your subject will withdraw first. In a few days, I will present even better singers and dancers for Your Majesty."
"You are thoughtful. Sir Wolf has been running around tirelessly on this journey. How about this? Go to my treasury and pick an item you like."
"Many thanks, Your Majesty..."
Wolf bowed again, turned to leave, and walked for a while. Behind him, the sounds of singing and dancing resumed.
"Truly interesting... decades ago he had great talent and bold vision, but now he is in this state," Wolf muttered softly, his tone mocking.
When he reached the palace entrance, he saw an acquaintance.
"Your Highness the Imperial Prince, long time no see."
The young Prince wore a white robe with gold trim. His short golden hair shone in the sunlight. Aside from that blonde hair representative of the Royal Family, his face was merely of a somewhat handsome, average style.
"Hello, Sir Wolf..."
The Prince released his clenched fist and squeezed out a smile. Wolf was, after all, a favorite of the Emperor.
"I want to ask you a question..." Wolf suddenly leaned into the Prince's ear.
"What question..." The Prince jumped in fright.
"I can see it in your eyes. Are you dissatisfied with your father... and want to..."
Immediately, the Prince was even more frightened, retreating several steps in succession.
"Wolf, don't speak non..."
"I can help you!"
Under the mask, Wolf grinned wide. He loved betrayal the most.
For some reason, the Prince only felt that the existence before him was shudderingly terrifying.
____
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