Overgeared

The emperor had negative feelings about the war against the Overgeared Kingdom. Was it because he hoped that Piaro wouldn’t be swept up in the war? No. The emperor wasn’t foolish enough to allow private feelings to affect the nation. There were several reasonable factors that caused him to have a negative view of the war.

Firstly, he appreciated the value of Overgeared King Grid, who was Pagma's Descendant and had received the title of Hero King. He was a means to help the emperor fulfill his ancestors’ desires to enter the East Continent. Additionally, he found out that Grid had gained Piaro. The emperor acknowledged Grid’s power in many ways and wanted to treat him magnanimously rather than be enemies.

Secondly, there was the fact that 3rd Imperial Prince Benoit was a variable. He couldn’t tell the Seven Dukes that he was worried about his son’s well-being, but Prince Benoit was currently wandering the continent while conducting suspicious rituals. At first, the emperor didn’t know what the rituals were. Then he realized that Belial’s summoning had a direct connection with Benoit. Why was this child so obsessed with summoning the great demons? They were a big threat to the entire continent.

The previously summoned Belial had been relatively low in rank and easily stopped by the Overgeared members. However, if Benoit summoned a high ranking great demon, then it was highly likely some parts of the continent would be destroyed and there was no guarantee the empire would be safe from the threat. He wanted to avoid a depletion of power just in case.

Mercedes in the Overgeared Kingdom wasn’t easy to deal with either.

‘Chensler needs to bring Benoit back quickly.’

Thirdly, he didn’t want to provide an opportunity for 4th Imperial Prince Edan’s magic machines army to be active. Thanks to successfully mining the magic machines, Edan’s faction was growing and the emperor couldn’t leave him unchecked. It was a fact that Edan would make a great achievement if his magic machines army participated in the war. With his birth trauma, it would be the worst if Edan gained a higher position. There was room for him to start a revolt if he became the crown prince.

Fourthly, there was the problem of finances. The empire had many borders because it had territories all over the continent. Many large nations were still loyal to the empire, but the ethnic minorities were rebelling across the continent. Just as the Nero had greatly damaged the empire in the past, the ethnic minorities that survived decades after the empire’s subjugation policy have grown tough. They were like weeds that wouldn’t die. Too many resources would be consumed to ignore them and concentrate on the war with the Overgeared Kingdom. In particular, the giants were a problem.

“...I have a headache.”

The emperor wondered since when the dream of conquering the continent had become so distant. Was it due to the Overgeared Kingdom suddenly being founded one day? Or was it because the empire relied on the existing power structure and failed to respond to the sudden changes? No. Was it because of the indifferent grandmaster? Was it due to the flimsy Five Pillars? Was it because of the boredom of the Seven Dukes?

That also wasn’t it either. It wasn’t something that could be blamed on anyone else.

‘It is all my fault.’

The emperor had been shocked and disheartened by the death of Empress Aria and Piaro’s betrayal occurring in succession, so he hid in the skirts of Empress Marie and turned away from the painful reality. He left behind all of the emperor’s responsibilities. Thus, the empire lost decades.

“I’m not qualified.”

He wasn’t emperor material. He was guilty of betraying the family members who had believed in him and made him the heir. How much would the first emperor lament if he saw the present empire? The emperor rebuked himself and opened the map of the West Continent, which was supposed to be painted in one color by now.

“A carrier pigeon has arrived from Duke Grenhal.”

“A carrier pigeon?”

It was an age where communication with magic was possible. What was the meaning of using a carrier pigeon? Was there an area on the battlefield where magic power was blocked? The emperor admired the magical skills and thorough readiness of the Overgeared Kingdom and confirmed the contents of the carrier pigeon.

war god’s ruins in the Red Sea. The writer argued that the value of the site was

with the Overgeared Kingdom. By the way, it was a bit absurd. Why was Duke Grenhal in the Red Sea instead of on the

‘...Even Duke Grenhal.’

was a person who had helped to reduce the excessive expansion of the empress’ faction. Yet he wasn’t aware of

“Aish.”

The emperor crumpled the letter in an annoyed manner and ordered Bain, “Bring back the advance troops who marched on the Overgeared Kingdom and prepare for the exploration of

of the war god’s ruins, as well as more dangers lurking. Yet there was no

***

was a voyage that could be described with several

‘Extremely lucky.’

empire had a great interest in him, but he never imagined the dukes would personally participate in the voyage. Moreover, they willingly gave him the best ships. He read the route with the help of the Compass of Truth, got

found the Ruins of

that will remain in

[The achievement rewards...]

believed and followed him along with the

the War God and planted a seedling. It would grow into a tree in one year

sand shone. They based it on the premise of exploring the ruins with the empire. Skunk’s expedition group wasn’t strong enough to explore the site, and it was likely that all

woman with a small crown on her head. The mysterious beauty called Basara, who always had her eyes closed, nodded. “Sir Skunk is

Grenhal. The three of us

nodded. “Duke Morse is right. There is danger in the ruins of the war god, but we can overcome

was that these were relics of the war god, not an ordinary god. War God Zeratul, the sword and shield of Goddess Rebecca, was regarded as the only one capable of dealing with the absolute power of Evil God Yatan. His transcendent power which was given to his ‘followers’

the Seven Malignant Saints were the followers of

Seven Malignant Saints. Of course, there were many exaggerations in myths, but it was still great. Grenhal and Morse

the grandmaster in check if

even the Seven Dukes couldn’t grasp—the grandmaster was believed to have lived for hundreds of years without dying and that he had stood by emperors of successive generations, making him a threatening existence. The empire might exist now because of his many accomplishments, but his recent activities were far

problem when a monster with other interests

no meaning in it if a monster was the one holding the national flag. The existence of

I will protect the emperor fully.’ Duke Grenhal was determined and vowed this. It was different from when he dealt with

Grenhal. “Okay. We will explore it. Still, let’s look slowly from the outskirts. It will be harder the deeper

a

“...”

dukes only consulted each other and decided on their own. Dog Woman whispered to Skunk, who didn’t dare intervene in the conversation, “Isn’t this good? They are the Seven Dukes. We

not someone else.” Skunk’s face was pale as he recalled the war god follower who had learned two secret techniques from the Galgunos Temple. “If there are three or four... Perhaps even a duke won’t be able to cope