Chapter 624

A city in ruins somewhere on the continent. In a deserted street of the desolate city, a few people wearing robes gathered. "Immortal has already completed the front line deployment. Now the Allied Forces will move again, and we will all go to the front line." Christina, who was also wearing a black robe, spoke to those who were wearing their robes inside out. "Is the reverse summoning device working well?" "We confirmed that it works in several initial movements. Even if the loss rate is high, there should be no big problem." "Good. That's perfect." The people in black robes nodded their heads at Christina's words. "It was not a situation where we could say that we had a lot of time, but you did well so far." In response to the praising words of the people in black robes, Christina nodded her head. "What's next?" "Next is..." The people in black robes were silent for a moment at Christina's question. "It's ridiculous to talk about this before the Gate incident is over, but isn't it time to talk about it now?" The people in black robes were silent at Christina's question. The Empire has fulfilled its lifespan. The Empire, which committed too many atrocities to survive, has lost its legitimacy and justification. It can be maintained thanks to the pretext, but once the Gate incident is over, people will try to hold the Empire accountable. "If we want to survive, the Empire must find the next pretext." "Is it the Demon King?" "Yes." If the Empire is maintained by the absolute pretext of the Gate incident, it must find the next pretext after that pretext disappears. The pretext of killing the mastermind of all this. "That was the pretext for the Empire to unify all mankind. There is nothing that cannot be used again." The reason why the Empire was able to unify all mankind in the past was because of the existence of Dark Land and the Demon King. There was no pretext that preceded the pretext of the Demon King, which caused all attempts at division and discord to fail. The establishment and maintenance of the Empire were impossible without the existence of the Demon King. So after the Gate incident is over, it will eventually return to the pretext of the past. "But the owner of the Empire doesn't have to be the Gradiaus royal family. They can make the mistakes of the past Empire disappear with the Gradiaus royal family and create a new Empire." The Empire must exist for the unification of mankind. Only the owner can change. Christina looked at the person in the black robe quietly. "If the Empire is maintained by the pretext of the Demon King, is the Demon King not a candidate?" The story was about unifying humanity with an enemy, and that enemy was the Demon King. So the person in the black robe was not considering the possibility of the Demon King becoming the ruler of the next Empire. "It's a natural thing to say. The rule of the Demon King would be unacceptable to most people. There would be much greater confusion than the current maintenance of the Empire." "Hmm... Yes. As we said, it's not about what the Demon King actually did wrong, but how people perceive it...."

Christina slowly tilted her head with a meaningful smile.

"Then, who should be the next owner of the Empire? Could it be you guys?"

"...Of course not. It's our principle not to come forward."

Despite their dwindling numbers, those in black robes were firm in their attitude of not abandoning their principles.

"Well, I'm curious about that. Even though we've declined to this point, the knowledge of the Order and the magic are still intact. That's why we were able to create the Immortals. Why do we have to move only from behind?"

"There are things that can only be done from behind, and we are a group created to handle such things for the sake of humanity."

The motto of serving humanity.

For the sake of that motto, the Black Order would even betray humanity.

The meaning of this group would fade away if they came forward. Therefore, they do what only they can do behind the scenes of history without coming forward.

"There are many who have the potential to become the next owner of the Empire. They must be somewhat distant from the Empire, have enough expertise to settle the Gate incident, and be a suitable figure as a leader of humanity."

"Louise von Schwarzkopf of Kernstadt would be a possibility. She is the second largest force after the Empire and her own character and expertise are not too extreme, nor too compromising. She has the qualities of a leader. Her expertise is also impeccable. However, it seems almost certain that she killed her own younger siblings with her own hands, which could be a weakness someday."

"Rafael de Sanguine, Duke of Sangju, cannot be ruled out as a possibility either. His expertise is unparalleled, just by creating the Titans. In addition, he has faithfully followed the principles of the Sanguine family, which has a long tradition of walking the right path. Although his attitude is completely opposite to our position, which is that we can use the power of the Apostles if it can be a strength, such an attitude of the Sanguine family and the current Duke of Sangju is worthy of people's respect and admiration. But in this case, it is ultimately too risky, as his daughter is a huge threat. No matter how much expertise he has, he is not receiving proper recognition from the people."

"There are a few other candidates, but ultimately they have less power, less expertise, or lack the ability to absorb other major forces."

"That's why."

"In the end."

"Elen Artois."

"She's suitable."

"All her power, symbolism, and people's support point to her."

"If she can establish the cornerstone of the next Empire, it will be the best result."

The weight of the name "hero."

Now that the Empire has lost its legitimacy and there is a suitable enemy to be destroyed.

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

After the Gate incident is over, for the unity and prosperity of humanity and a unified will, the old Empire must be destroyed and a new Empire must emerge.

Elen Artois becoming the owner of the new Empire. Translation: According to the Black Order, this is the best outcome in the current situation. Christina listened silently as the man leaned against the wall spoke up, questioning their decision to make Elen Artois the next emperor. Ludwig, with bandages on his arm, stared at them with deep eyes and asked what qualifications they had to make such a decision. He called their reasoning an excuse for their own benefit and accused them of wanting to control the world. The Black Order asked if he had a better solution for who should be the next ruler and how to achieve peace. Ludwig questioned whether making Elen the emperor would solve all the world's problems and pointed out that even the church had sided with the demon king. "It's just one of the methods you suggest. Even if the empire continues to exist, the world falls to the demon king, or Elen becomes the emperor, there will still be problems and someone will die somewhere. "

"I used to think there was a correct answer and that I was too stupid to reach it. That's what I thought."

"But now I know."

"The fact that there is no correct answer was the only correct answer."

"If everyone has some degree of correctness and some degree of incorrectness, whoever becomes the next ruler of the continent will also have some degree of correctness and some degree of incorrectness."

"So there is no perfect answer."

"So even without you, the world will find another answer that is a little wrong but a little right."

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

"It's not the correct answer, it's punishment."

"You guys who are trying to evaluate the intention, not the result, of the subject who caused all this. You guys who keep pushing your own correct answer with the words 'for everyone'."

"Erasing guys like you from the world."

"That's what I have to do."

There is no correct answer.

It doesn't even exist.

But there are those who keep trying to manipulate the world with incorrect answers and claim to have found the correct answer this time.

Those who try to sacrifice someone while moving the world with the excuse that they have good intentions, even though they have not paid the price for the incorrect answer.

Ludwig believes that such people should disappear from the world.

The order's words that Elen should become the emperor.

It could lead to a good ending.

But the fact that there are those who try to manipulate the world with such words behind the scenes is already disgusting.

As Ludwig's threatening attitude, the wizards began to stand up one by one from their seats.

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

When asked if bringing Ludwig to the Order's meeting place was intentional from the beginning, Christina shrugged her shoulders.

"There are some differences in the details, but in a way, yes."

Christina sent a cold gaze towards the robed ones.

Something starts to creak.

In fact, it was a planned event.

Christina returns to the words that the emperor was going to say someday to these foolish people.

"As you say, it's too disgusting for the world to roll like that."

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

Similar to Ludwig, but a little different.

It was revenge.

Those who should take responsibility survive for the sake of the world.

She couldn't bear it.

"So now, you guys are not needed."

"It's not just something you can say."

Each other's usefulness.

It was a fact that they had used each other from the beginning.

The Black Order's wizards are preparing something.

"Why, are you trying to summon Immortal?"

"......!"

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

"Didn't you know that you told us without any safety measures in the first place?" There is no change in the fact that they only temporarily cooperated under the pretext of the Gate incident. Ludwig believes that if he were to betray them, they would try to take control of the Immortals. Christina reveals that they intentionally brought Ludwig to the Order's meeting place and seeks revenge against those responsible for the world's problems. The wizards of the Black Order are preparing to summon Immortal, but Christina reveals that they did not provide any safety measures. Christina mocks the Order's wizards, saying that it is too optimistic to think they made the Immortal as they were told. The Black Order's knowledge is vast, but finding and modifying the magic formula they hid is impossible. The leaders of the Black Order predicted that someone's genius would surpass their expectations. The Black Order has declined, and even the remaining skilled members were killed in battle with the Demon King. The only thing left is the remnants of the Black Order, who are not as talented as their former leaders. The only thing they can do now is to approach the geniuses of the Empire and the Temple who can use the Empire's power. However, in the end, they ended up joining hands with those who hate them.

It's a simple story.

They tried to use each other, but in the end, the weaker side was the one being used.

"Ludwig."

At Christina's urgent call, a surge of dark energy emanates from Ludwig's right hand.

Black magic is emitted, taking the form of a sword.

Ludwig slowly walks towards the wizards who await their death.