117. Clues to the final seal (1)

After a storm-like time had passed, a man standing on the terrace was lost in thought, gazing up at the deep dark sky.

After taking a bottle of the delicious dark beer he received as a gift from visitors and taking a sip, the complaint that came out of his mouth was too simple for an emperor who conquered the continent.

“I never thought it would be this hard to be a wealthy and comfortable unemployed… … .”

My previous name was Jiyeon, and my current name is Kailov, the Conqueror Emperor of the Continent.

He dreamed of the same future as any king who was born with a similar fate and conquered not only the continent but the world itself.

However, the information conveyed by visitors who were familiar with him, but now unfamiliar, caused great concern even to those who were no longer human players but emperors in distant lands.

“It’s a war against the devil… … .”

The emperor, who had swallowed the rich and smooth beer, suddenly looked back.

On the table with empty tea cups scattered here and there, it seemed that traces of the power left by those who boasted of their terrifying force could still be felt.

‘The Lord of Destruction, whom the demons worshiped, has appeared in the world. It’s the darkness that was manipulating the Demon God from behind.’

‘That madman is trying to kill all the gods and devour this world. He’s the one who can summon demon kings into the world. Right now, it’s blocked by the Legion, so we can’t hit it, but if he makes a proper counterattack, it’ll be difficult for us to protect him this far.’

Seeing the true face of the enemy that the ‘ruler of the corps’ had shown him, the emperor could only tremble and break out in a cold sweat at their strength.

‘Such infected demon slaves and mutts are not proper devils. This is the real devil they brag about.’

‘They are… … ?’

‘They’re the subordinates of the Demon Commander.’

He thought he was a worthy opponent, defeating the invaders who had recently invaded the empire on his own, but it seems that he was mistaken.

The Demon Commander’s stronghold and the well-armed demons he led were monsters that the Empire could never face.

‘If such people invade the empire… … ?’

There was no need to think too deeply.

What the Emperor has now is not a powerful weapon like the legion, but rather a slow-firing old-fashioned musket that must be loaded with gunpowder and ammunition one by one, and sloppy line infantry to handle it.

The moment the ‘real devil’ level enemy shown by the visitors directly attacked, the empire could not even resist properly and would be ruined that day.

‘This place is too far from the Legion and humanity. Of course, there is a way to station legion troops here, but that’s a bit problematic.’

‘… … What’s the problem?’

In addition, listening to the manager, it was difficult for the empire to receive direct help from the corps because of the circumstances of the high-ranking people.

‘If you’re sensible, you’ll know, but this area is ruled by a coalition of temples, a faction different from ours. Thanks to that, all sorts of spam messages are pouring in on me now.’

‘What do they say?’

‘The apostles appointed by them will take care of things here, so you guys are told to go back to the original world quickly?’

‘… … .’

‘You don’t think those incompetent nobles will keep your country intact, do you?’

Even the emperor knew and knew to a certain extent that the gods were not people with a normal way of thinking in the first place.

But even in the face of a powerful enemy who wants to destroy the world, I didn’t know that we wouldn’t bend each other’s pride to this extent.

“Really, they don’t have the slightest bit of flexibility.”

The emperor knew he had to defend his empire on his own, rather than relying on an untrustworthy messenger of the gods against the devil.

‘Cooperate with us.’

In this situation, the ruler of the corps, who is winning amazing victories every time against the demons, and his immediate superior from the scary previous life, have offered him a very attractive deal.

In exchange for borrowing some of the Empire’s priests, I will give you a powerful weapon that can withstand those demons, and let’s fight together against the public enemy with this.

“The devil is a strong enemy. However, if the empire’s divine power buff to mankind’s modern weapons… … !”

The rulers and administrators of the corps have asked the emperor for ‘alliance’ and ‘participation in the war’.

Of course, from the point of view of the Empire, which had already begun to be invaded by enemies, there was no reason not to join the alliance against the Lord of Destruction.

However, the emperor was worried.

“How many more sacrifices will be made because of the war… … .”

Players in their previous lives who still remember the terrible war they fought against the demons actually didn’t like war. No, strictly speaking, he was a person who hated war very terribly, beyond the level of not liking it.

However, on this continent where he gained a new life, it was a place where meaningless wars broke out every single day.

Only a handful of talented people, those who belonged to the church, and those who were born with good blood were able to manipulate the world as they pleased, and those who had territory called themselves kings and tried to dominate other lords.

It was a cruel world where ordinary people who were not born with anything were subjugated to these people and consumed like pieces on a chessboard.

Those who had already experienced the destruction of their hometown while fighting the demons wanted to stop this meaningless vicious cycle.

“I thought it was over… … .”

Fortunately, he was reincarnated as an aristocrat of a small estate, and he turned those who were treated as expendables into well-trained and powerful soldiers.

By digging up saltpeter mines in the back mountains to make gunpowder, and giving them hammered-iron muskets, they brought mighty line infantry to a world where cavalry and knights were little more than invincible chariots.

With the power of a small lead bullet that received a buff and pierced even the armor of knights, he earned the name of emperor, and unified the entire continent so that war would never occur while he was there.

As he had hoped, since the continent was now in his hands, meaningless wars had completely disappeared.

In the empire, no one was now exploited like consumables by becoming serfs and soldiers in the territory, and a peaceful world unfolded where anyone could get the opportunity to learn and earn money as much as they worked.

“I thought there would be no war before I died… … .”

However, now an opponent appeared that he could not control with his own power.

The peace was short-lived, and the Emperor was now forced to prepare for another terrible war he thought would never happen again.

“Is a normal life a bad life after all? … .”

I said this, but I laughed to myself at the thought that I was already far from a normal life.

In the first place, starting with being reborn with memories of previous lives using strange powers, and having unified the continent in just a few years, he knew very well that he was not an ordinary being at all.

“For those who are not ordinary, the world is… … How cruel.”

After all, even if you try to avoid this fate, is it unavoidable?

It was when the emperor muttered such complicated thoughts and emptied a bottle of beer neatly without any snacks.

“Your Majesty, the priests have arrived.”

“… … I am sending them to a dangerous battlefield again.”

Priests to send to the Legion Alliance have arrived.

“Come in.”

The one who appeared with 30 elite priests was a girl with beautiful silver hair that could not be hidden even under dim lighting.

The emperor smiled bitterly when he saw the priest who was about to embark on an arduous journey, a thin and young woman.

“Your Majesty, preparations are complete.”

“after… … Forgive the emperor for sending a young high priest who has not yet had a coming-of-age ceremony to the battlefield.”

“no. Don’t talk like that.”

Although not yet twenty years old, the most powerful priest in the church stood in front of the emperor with a determined expression.

“High Priestess of Luna.”

“Speak, Your Majesty.”

“… … going to a dangerous place. Please take care of yourself.”

“Do not worry. As long as we are present, no one will threaten the safety of Your Majesty and the Empire.”

The young priest named Luna reassured the emperor with calm but powerful words.

“okay… … I believe in you.”

The emperor began handing out to Luna and other priests one by one the items that the visitors had handed over, namely the bracelets that could make [gates] that could cross dimensions.

“Go away.”

“Just leave it to me.”

Just in time, the Legion’s allies were busy preparing the goods for the trade.

* * *

On the sea full of salty smell, the sight of large boats huddled together was a very beautiful sight that set fire to the heart of ‘Milduk’.

“Jiwoo, the preparations are complete. Both materials and fuel are in good condition.”

“Are you that excited?”

“Sure. When am I going to direct a flyer like this myself?”

The manager’s successor, Jeong Seong-cheol, who wears a beret so tightly that he can’t see his head, seems to have completely shaken off his depression as if he’s excited about this mission.

Befitting his powers, our greatest machinist took on the task of leading this steel army alone to the continent, teaching the locals how to use them and equipping them with a production base.

“Assault landing ship, Aegis destroyer, nuclear submarine and nuclear-powered aircraft carrier… … .”

“thank you. Thank you very much.”

“… … Yes?”

“My long-time dream has been to become an admiral of such an aircraft carrier fleet. We are really excited to be able to present cutting-edge modern weapons to those who use things like muskets.”

“… … .”

Of course, I looked at him and shook my head.

“So Apostle, where have you been in the army?”

“ah… … that’s it, you know? I’m the only man in my family for generations… … .”

“So, you’re not perfect?”

Yes.

I’ve never been in the military, so I’m having such a futile dream.

“… … This is Admiral Mipil’s first time again.”

“ha ha ha… … . Still, I handle stuff like that better than anyone else. Leave your worries behind.”

Well… … .

Can I just let this guy go?

Oh, for reference, among the players who went through [Infinite Regression], there are friends who went to the army three times because the timing was not very good.

I wonder if it would be more efficient to send an army of such skilled players four times instead of sending them alone… … .

“They will hate it.”

“If I’m black, I have to. When sending secondary items, those friends are dispatched.”

“… … hahahaha, I see.”

Apostle Jeong Seong-chul thought of something in his mind, and then quickly shook his head, realizing that I could read my thoughts freely.

Of course, you have already revealed your inner feelings to me.

‘This kind of Satan will also make you unemployed… … .’

Sir, thank you for such a compliment.

―Lord, those you spoke of have just arrived.

Anyway, the friend called the emperor seemed to have a lot of worries, but in the end he kept his promise to us.

Through the [Gate] opened in the air, the priests of the other world appeared, although they looked exhausted, and the young woman leading them greeted me with courtesy.

“Meet the lord of the alliance.”

“Well?”

But something is strange.

“hey.”

“I am Luna, a high-ranking priest of the Empire and leading the contingent.”

“No, your name is not very important right now.”

Boy, I had something very important that I need right now.

“Well… … Maybe you are.”

I quickly took out the object in question, the ‘sealing crystal whose power was not yet charged’, that began to vibrate as if I had received a bomb message from my bosom.

The object, which emits intense light, created a harsher vibration the closer I got to the priest.

Apparently, I think I found the last piece of the seal.

“Do you have some strange pebbles or something?”