Emperor of Steel [EN]: Chapter 188

9. Cornered Rats

1

The day after Shirley visited the remnants of the Imperial Army, the Imperial Army leaders, led by Count Jemo, sent a letter of surrender to the Continental Alliance Army’s 2nd Corps.

The remnants of the Imperial Army came under the control of the Continental Alliance Army, and all their weapons, including Gigants [large, humanoid war machines] and artillery, were confiscated.

Luke, upon hearing the news, wore a satisfied expression.

“I heard the commander-in-chief is Marquis Magreb. What happened to him?” Luke asked.

Rogers glanced at the report and replied, “It seems that a dispute broke out among the Imperial Army’s leadership right after Baroness Shirley visited as an envoy. They were divided into factions arguing for surrender and fighting to the end, and the faction that advocated for surrender eliminated him.”

“Tsk, the result is always similar,” Luke remarked.

It was the same when they occupied the Kingdom of Milton in the past. When it seemed they would lose the war, the nobles of the Kingdom of Milton killed King Myers and surrendered.

While the nobles of the Kingdom of Milton, including Leonard, said it was because the king had first betrayed the loyalty between lord and vassal, from Myers’ perspective, it was reasonable to think that the nobles had betrayed him to ensure their own lives and positions.

“It’s good that we’ve reduced the sacrifice of soldiers through unnecessary battles, but we can’t treat the surrendered military nobles favorably. Confiscate their territories and titles and banish them to the frontier,” Luke stated.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Marquis Rogers replied, bowing his head, then asked, “But what will you do with the surrendered Imperial soldiers?”

They had captured a considerable number of prisoners during the Northern Expedition. Although the exact count was not yet available, it was estimated to be at least over 200,000.

“Their treatment is being discussed with the allied nations. Surprisingly, there aren’t many who want to take them back to their own countries,” Luke said.

People are a good source of labor. They could be put to work in agriculture or used as slaves in production facilities like mines or workshops. Therefore, when wars broke out between nations, it was common to take prisoners from other countries back to one’s own. In the case of high-ranking prisoners, they were sometimes released after receiving compensation, but in the case of prisoners from a fallen nation like this, such cases could not be expected.

Nevertheless, each country tried to treat the prisoners leniently. Not only Symphonia and the Holy Empire, but also the Kingdoms of Castia and Irea, and even the Volga Republic, which often fought with the Baroque Empire, were the same.

“Although it’s not yet confirmed, I think the prisoners will be used to rebuild the territories devastated by Rudolf’s tyranny, including Nemesis,” Luke mused.

“Hmm, is that your intention to win the hearts of the Baroque people? Well, you’ll need to win their hearts to have an advantage in governing after the division of territories,” Rogers commented.

“That’s right. And such preliminary work is already progressing rapidly,” Luke confirmed.

After talking with Marquis Rogers for a while longer, Luke glanced at the time and said, “Oh, has it already gotten this late? I have to go meet Reina now, so I’ll leave the rest to you, Marquis.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please enjoy your punishment,” Rogers replied with a knowing smile.

“Hahaha, punishment…” Luke chuckled.

As a punishment for worrying her, Luke had promised to have tea time with her for two hours a day. Of course, it wasn’t just the two of them; Karen was also there. In addition, Reina had brought along Erewine and the other women who had become her new sworn sisters. Luke was not pleased with the somewhat intentional matchmaking, but he was in no position to avoid or refuse, so he had no choice but to accept the punishment.

Two days later, the main forces of the Continental Alliance Army’s 2nd and 3rd Corps entered Nemesis. The kings and leaders of each country also crossed over to Nemesis through the restored teleport gate. It was to settle the aftermath of the war and, above all, to discuss the division of territories.

Because of this, the flags of the countries belonging to the Continental Alliance Army, including Symphonia, the Holy Empire, Castia, Irea, and the Volga Republic, fluttered everywhere in the city of Nemesis. Song and Yemaek from the Southern Continent were no exception.

“Your Majesty, it is said that the flag of the Song Empire is quite a topic of conversation among the residents of Nemesis,” Marquis Rogers said, having come to his office.

Luke put down the documents he was looking at and replied, “It must be because it contains the double-headed lion emblem of the old Kingdom of Lybia, right?”

“Yes, that emblem was also on the chest of the small golems they call ‘Hobeop’ [small, animated constructs]. I wonder what the meaning of it is…” Rogers pondered.

Luke chuckled at the bewildered Rogers and answered, “When I went on an expedition to the Southern Continent, I saw a history book of the Song Empire. About 500 years ago, there was a civil war among the imperial family, and it was said that a fairy, or an angel, visited the person who later became the emperor.”

“An angel?” Rogers asked, surprised.

“Well, that’s what they seem to think… Looking at the appearance and clothing described in the history book, they seem to be people who came from the Rhodisia Continent,” Luke explained.

In fact, it was not written in such detail in the history book. However, Luke had seen a scene from the past when he escaped from the underground ruins of the old Baroque Imperial Palace, so he understood it at once.

“So, are you saying that the princess of the old Kingdom of Lybia, who disappeared about 500 years ago, went there?” Rogers asked.

“Isn’t it interesting? The bloodline left by the princess of a fallen nation eventually contributed to the destruction of the nation founded by the one who destroyed her country,” Luke mused.

“It’s a strange thing. Even before our army arrived, there were rumors in Nemesis that the old Lybian princess had returned to punish the Baroque Imperial Family… Did someone know and spread the rumors?” Rogers wondered.

“Who knows? Southern Continent merchants often traveled to and from Nemesis, so maybe the rumors spread in that process?” Luke suggested.

In any case, the rumor played a part in quickly turning the public sentiment in Nemesis towards the Continental Alliance Army. They believed that the fall of the Baroque Empire was the will of God.

“More importantly, what is the situation with the Baroque Empire’s nobles?” Luke asked.

A significant number of nobles in Nemesis died in the collapse and fire of the Imperial Palace. This was because the nobles’ mansions and government offices were concentrated near the Imperial Palace. However, there were still quite a few survivors, mainly those who had taken refuge in the vicinity of Nemesis, using seclusion and illness as excuses to avoid the war. Luke and the Continental Alliance Army were keeping a close eye on them.

“According to Count Philip’s report, who is in charge of security, they are all holed up in their villas or manors, or just gathering in groups and watching the situation,” Rogers reported.

“Is that so? I thought there would be some who would try to line up soon,” Luke said.

Several days had passed since Nemesis was occupied. He thought it was time for the nobles, who had been lying low, to start making moves. He turned his gaze to the wanted poster that Philip had submitted and continued, “Especially the cornered rats.”

In the picture he was looking at was the face of a man who was Rudolf’s closest aide, but whose whereabouts were still unknown.

2

Clack! Clack! Clack!

Boom. Boom boom.

Bbam bba bba bbam~!

In the middle of Nemesis, the Royal Knights of the Kingdom of Castia were marching with bright and cheerful music. The residents of Nemesis were staring blankly at their marching figures, complete with a military band.

“Are those guys marching again today?” one resident asked.

“I heard the Volga Republic guys passed by this morning,” another replied.

“I heard in the square earlier that the Irea Kingdom guys will be marching tomorrow?” a third added.

It wasn’t a grand victory parade, but all the countries of the Continental Alliance Army, except for Symphonia and the Holy Empire, were doing this kind of march. It was a victory celebration and a show of force. In particular, the Duchy of Navar was making a fuss about the march, perhaps due to the inferiority complex of being a former vassal state of the Baroque Empire.

“Damn it, can’t they stop now?” one resident complained.

“I know. I’m tired of hearing the drum and trumpet sounds now,” another agreed.

“What can we do? Our country has fallen,” a third sighed.

“Well, we should be grateful that we’re not suffering worse than this,” a fourth said.

Apart from this noisy march, the Continental Alliance Army was not causing any trouble. Rather, perhaps with the aim of winning public sentiment, they were actively engaged in reconstruction and relief efforts. Even Vladimir, the president of the Volga Republic, who visited to commend his own army, despite the rumors of being a devil in human skin or a human butcher, comforted the residents and said, “The fault lies with Rudolf, not with you, who were only exploited. In fact, our country had a secret agreement with the old Kingdom of Lybia to divide the Baroque Empire, but we do not intend to do so this time.”

He said that he had no intention of taking over the territory of the Baroque Empire and promised to actively cooperate so that the Baroque people could build a new country. The people were pleased with the Continental Alliance Army’s moderate stance, but there were also those who were uneasy. They were the nobles who had been the ruling class of the empire.

The nobles of the fallen nation who had survived under Rudolf gathered in small groups to discuss the future.

“What will happen to this country in the future?” one noble asked.

“What do you mean what will happen? It’s fallen. The Baroque Empire has now disappeared into history,” another replied.

“It would be a blessing if the Continental Alliance Army doesn’t tear the country apart,” a third said.

“Hey, I heard that President Vladimir said he would help us build a new country?” a fat noble asked.

At the question of the fat noble, the other nobles raised their voices. “You fool! Do you believe that? That guy is clearly trying to create a puppet state by putting forward the republican guys!”

“Damn it, if I had known this would happen, I should have done something to bring down Emperor Rudolf before the Continental Alliance Army invaded!” one noble exclaimed.

“How could you have done that? There was nothing we could do in the first place,” another retorted.

They, who had been just holding their breath under Rudolf’s tyranny, regretted it too late. Currently, the Continental Alliance Army was prioritizing reconstruction and relief, so they were not arresting or imprisoning nobles, especially those who were pro-emperor. However, they were marked as subjects of concern by the Continental Alliance Army headquarters, and their mansions and villas were being taken away or their food and supplies were being requisitioned under the pretext of accommodating and relieving refugees.

“If I had known this would happen, I should have gone into exile,” one noble lamented.

“Hoo, I know. I saw those who had fled and returned with Count Ferrero, and they were so smug…” another said.

“I almost died of envy,” a third added.

Just as the nobles were complaining, a young man suddenly rushed into the reception room in a flurry.

“Father, it’s a disaster!” he exclaimed.

The noble, who was the young man’s father, turned around and asked, “What’s wrong? Surely the Continental Alliance Army hasn’t come to arrest us?”

“No, it’s not that, but…” the young man said, catching his breath for a moment, then delivered shocking news. “Count Voltaire has gone to see Luke de Rakan!”

“What? That damned bastard is alive?” the nobles exclaimed, jumping up from their seats.

Voltaire was Rudolf’s right-hand man, and most of the nobles in this place had been pushed out of important positions in the past because they had been targeted by him. Therefore, their feelings were bound to be different. But now, there was a bigger problem than those feelings.

“He wasn’t captured, but went to see King Luke on his own… What on earth is his intention?” one noble wondered.

“Anyway, I don’t think we can just sit back and watch,” another said.

The nobles, who had been just complaining and lamenting, got up from their heavy seats. They didn’t know what Count Voltaire was up to, but they had no intention of just watching, as they had when the country fell.

While the nobles of the fallen nation were moving busily, Luke was meeting with Count Voltaire. After a brief exchange of greetings, Voltaire spoke calmly to Luke, who was wearing a dumbfounded expression. “You seem quite surprised.”

“Well, I thought you had died when the Imperial Palace exploded. If not, I thought you had run away somewhere and were hiding,” Luke admitted.

At Luke’s words, Voltaire gave a bitter smile. “When Rudolf activated the time travel device, I was also there.”

While Luke’s special forces and Rudolf’s Imperial Guard were fiercely battling, Rudolf slipped away, taking his daughter, the Empress, and hastily escaped the Imperial Palace.

It was a judgment based on the increasingly ominous situation, and his prediction was spot on.

Subsequently, the Imperial Palace was obliterated without a trace, the Continental Alliance Army occupied Nemesis, and the Imperial military leaders surrendered.

Rudolf was completely adrift, like a kite with a severed string.

In that situation, he didn’t run and hide but came to find Luke.

“You’re quite fearless. Didn’t you think your head would be chopped off by my hand?” Luke glared at Voltaire with a cold gaze.

Before becoming king, Luke had faced many crises due to Voltaire’s interference under Rudolf’s orders.

Despite Luke’s hostile attitude, Voltaire calmly retorted, “Perhaps that would have been the case with ‘Lord Luke.’ But I thought it would be different with ‘King Luke.'”

“Different? Why?”

“Because I believe you know that a kingdom cannot be ruled or managed simply by emotions or personal whims.”

To Rudolf, Luke was nothing more than a rebel. And Voltaire, the Emperor’s right-hand man, had been constantly monitoring the rebel’s movements.

It was to exploit any opening that might arise.

However, Luke’s actions were more impressive than he had anticipated.

After establishing Symphonia, he appropriately embraced and absorbed the nobles of the Milton Kingdom, focusing on enriching the people and strengthening the foundation of the nation rather than prioritizing old family grudges.

“You are completely different from His Majesty the Emperor, or rather Rudolf, who wasted national power by engaging in emotional wars. I was impressed by how cold and patient you are despite your young age.”

“Hmph, are you flattering me?”

“Yes, it is flattery. But it is also sincere.”

At Voltaire’s words, a smile appeared on Luke’s lips.

However, his eyes still shone coldly.

Before such Luke, Voltaire continued to speak.

“As Your Majesty knows, I was Rudolf’s right-hand man. As such, I am well-versed in this country’s administrative information. I am confident that I can be of considerable help in managing the state affairs, regardless of how much territory the Symphonia Kingdom will receive in this war.”

“Hmm…”

“Furthermore, I know where Rudolf hid the treasures and legacies of the Baroque Imperial Family.”

“I suppose so. Since you were the Emperor’s father-in-law.”

Voltaire gave a bitter smile at Luke’s sarcastic remark.

However, he was confident.

He was certain that Luke would not recklessly dismiss him, given his crucial information about the Imperial Family’s assets and his administrative skills.

“If you accept me, I will do my utmost to quickly stabilize the new territories.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes, just accept me. I do not dare to desire any land or title.”

What Voltaire wanted was to become the real power behind the scenes in governing Symphonia’s new territories.

With power, he could obtain land and titles later.

At Voltaire’s proposal, Luke closed his eyes as if lost in thought.

But only for a moment, before he asked a question.

“You could have made such an offer to the kings of other countries, so why did you come to me? I could kill you, you know?”

“That is because I believe Your Majesty will become the future hegemon of the continent, the Emperor of a new empire.”

“Me?”

Luke looked surprised.

“Yes, Your Majesty, you became the king of a nation at a young age and brought down an empire that had lasted for over 500 years. I believe you have the ability to conquer the continent.”

This was not just flattery but a sincere assessment.

Moreover, he had heard that Luke was close to Veronica III, the Pope of the Holy Empire.

No, there was a rumor that Veronica III was Princess Reina, so it couldn’t be seen as a simple friendship.

‘Surely, Luke de Rakan will conquer the continent. If I am under him, my family and I can rise again!’

Voltaire was certain of this.

However, there was something he had not anticipated.

That Luke had a way to obtain all the information he possessed without having to take Voltaire as a subordinate.

“It is true that I need you.”

“I knew it.”

“Of course, shouldn’t we punish the war criminals who caused suffering to the people so that justice can prevail?”

Voltaire’s eyes widened as he had been wearing a pleased smile at Luke’s sarcasm.

Whisk!

Before he could even step back, realizing the negotiation had gone wrong, Luke’s right hand moved first.

He had grabbed Voltaire’s head.

Luke intended to extract all of Voltaire’s memories using mental magic, just as he had done to Zehart, the descendant of Arsen, last time.

“Y-Your Majesty! Please don’t do th… Kuaaaak!”

A scream burst from Voltaire’s mouth.

Without any time to resist, all the important information he had stored in his mind was transferred to Luke.

Voltaire, whose brain had been overworked in a short time, became an idiot, his eyes glazed over, drooling.

“Your Majesty, what’s going on?” Hwang Bo-sung and the Royal Knights, who had been waiting outside the office while Luke was meeting with Voltaire, entered and asked.

Luke waved his hand as if it was nothing.

“It’s nothing. This guy tried to run away when he realized things weren’t going his way, so I just gave him a little lesson.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, take him away and lock him in the dungeon. He will be executed in the square tomorrow in front of the people.”

“Yes.”

The Royal Knights, bowing their heads, dragged Voltaire away.

Although he had become an idiot, perhaps sensing the instinctive danger, Voltaire burst into tears and wet himself.

The once powerful figure who had dominated the great empire thus made a miserable exit from the stage of history.

3

In the north of the Lybia Kingdom, there was a large mountain covered in perpetual snow.

It was called Blantes.

In the ancient language, this mountain, meaning ‘white head,’ had been frequented by unidentified humans and monsters for the past two years.

They had begun to dig holes in the mountain and build a massive base underground.

The base was completed six months ago, and as soon as it was, hundreds of black mages and undead moved in.

In a large cavity, over 10 meters high and 300 meters wide and long, hundreds of coffins were arranged in a row.

Inside the transparent coffins, naked people were submerged in a green liquid.

The bodies of the people, whose skin looked bluish and even blackish from being there for so long, emanated a terrible aura.

If an ordinary person were to come into contact with this aura, they would fall ill and die in less than an hour.

However, there was a figure who seemed to enjoy this aura with a relaxed face, as if they were in their hometown.

It was none other than the Lich King, Arsen.

‘Hehehe! The synthesis speed is faster than I thought. Finding the magic vein was truly a stroke of luck!’

To synthesize undead, special drugs and a vast amount of magical energy, the source of black magic, were needed.

However, there was a hole in the underground of Blantes where magical energy gushed out.

It was a junction where the middle realm and the demon realm met, and although it was too small for creatures from the demon realm to cross over, it was enough for magical energy to leak out.

Thanks to setting up a secret laboratory at this magic vein, the synthesis of undead was twice as fast.

Step, step!

Arsen, who had crossed the cavity, stood by one wall, and the wall split open, revealing an entrance.

Going through it, a small room appeared, unlike the previous one.

There were 10 coffins in that room, and the aura emanating from them was extraordinary.

Even Arsen’s skin tingled, and his gaze towards the undead was as if he were looking at his beloved children or disciples.

“The synthesis of high-level liches and death knights is also going smoothly.”

The 10 coffins contained high-level undead.

The high-level liches were comparable to 9th circle archmages, and the high-level death knights boasted the power of Sword Emperors.

They were comparable to his previous masterpieces, Hiros and Baymon, the two guardians.

However, there were not just one, but 10 of them being synthesized simultaneously.

The moment they all awakened, the continent would kneel at his feet.

‘Hehehe, even Luke won’t be able to handle three of them.’

It was when Arsen was inwardly smiling that.

Bzzzz!

The magic communication device in his pocket vibrated.

He took out the device and injected magic power, and a familiar face appeared.

It was the former elder, Jemerton.

“What is it? I told you not to contact me during synthesis!”

– I apologize, but I had urgent news to deliver, so I contacted you.

Jemerton, on behalf of Arsen, remained in Felipe, commanding the brainwashed leaders of the Lybia Kingdom.

It was to infect the people of the Lybia Kingdom with zombie poison and to brainwash the knights and soldiers of the Empire into loyal servants.

When Arsen’s expression seemed somewhat better, Jemerton quickly stated the matter.

“What? The zombie virus deployment in the Baroque Empire failed?”

– Yes, progenitor. Although the zombie virus was spread, it was completely suppressed in four days.

After a moment of silence, Arsen burst out.

“Damn it! What the hell were the black mages who went with the support troops doing! They only had to spread the zombie virus from behind, how could they fail at such an easy task!”

– Th-that is, the Pope of the Holy Empire appeared and purified all the soldiers who had turned into zombies.

“What? The Pope of the Holy Empire appeared?”

– Yes, according to the subordinates who observed the situation from afar, the zombie virus could not spread due to the quick actions of the Continental Alliance Army and the Pope’s immense divine power.

Thud!

Arsen stomped his foot after hearing Jemerton’s explanation.

Perhaps he had failed to control his power due to anger, as the floor of the underground chamber cracked and split.

“Tch! Why did that damn Pope appear there of all places… !”

Veronica III rarely left the Holy Palace of Bless.

But what wind had blown her to the Baroque Empire?

However, it seemed that the report was not over.

Jemerton continued to speak in a trembling voice.

– A-and progenitor, Nemesis was occupied by the Continental Alliance Army in less than a day.

At his subordinate’s words, Arsen looked momentarily confused.

“Rudolf? There’s no way it could be easily occupied as long as he’s holding out?”

No matter how strong the Continental Alliance Army was, he had heard that the core forces of the Baroque Empire were all gathered in Nemesis.

Moreover, Rudolf was a strongman who had reached the level of Sword Emperor.

He thought that if such a guy fought to the death with his Imperial Guard, even the alliance army of six countries would have a hard time.

– According to the informant’s report, before Nemesis fell, the Baroque Imperial Palace suddenly collapsed with an earthquake, and a fire swept through the nearby residential area. Something unusual seems to have happened in the Imperial Palace, and after that, Emperor Rudolf has not shown himself at all.

If Rudolf did not appear even when the enemy occupied Nemesis, it was clear that something serious had happened to him.

“Is he perhaps dead?”

– There are such rumors, and according to the intelligence department’s separate investigation, it’s highly likely he is dead.

“Ugh, what’s going on here…”

The situation was unfolding in a way that was not favorable to them at all.

It was good that Rudolf, an enemy they would have to deal with eventually, was dead.

However, the problem was that if he fell, Luke’s next target would be them.

If the Continental Alliance Army, which had reorganized its forces, pushed in immediately, the Kingdom of Livia would never be able to stop them with its own power!

‘Damn it, Luke! You’re always getting in my way.’

It was Luke who had blocked his plan to use Cho Won-gyun’s faction to make the Southern Continent a base for undead production, and it was also him who destroyed the Hell Islands, which he had been using as a base for a long time.

As if that wasn’t enough, now he was even targeting the Kingdom of Livia, which he had seized.

Arsen, who had been pacing back and forth in the secret room with a frown, made a decision.

“It seems there’s no other way. We must activate the zombie virus injected into the people’s bodies right away!”

– But we have only injected the zombie virus into 60 percent of the people so far?

“This is not the time to be picky. We have no choice but to buy time with that and then deploy the undead that have finished their synthesis.”

The incomplete undead only exert half the power of the completed undead.

That was certainly powerful enough, but the problem was the strong people of the continent, including Luke.

To deal with them, they needed high-level undead, and even then, 100 percent completed undead.

However, they couldn’t just wait until they were completed. It was clear that Luke would soon invade the Kingdom of Livia.

“Execute ‘Dawn of Darkness’ operation immediately!”

– Understood, Lord Founder!

Jemerton, who received Arsen’s instructions, ended the magic communication and disappeared from the crystal ball.

‘I need to hurry as much as possible.’

Thinking so, Arsen decided to devise a special method to speed up the undead synthesis as much as possible.

At his command, the black mages in the secret base gathered in the central square.

“The Lord Founder has summoned us, what’s going on?”

“Well, I heard that the Continental Alliance Army invaded the Baroque Empire a while ago. Is the situation getting urgent?”

“Haa, more than that, I’m really tired of synthesizing undead with only two hours of sleep a day.”

“I know. I’m afraid that not only my magic power but also my life force will be sucked out, and I’ll become a mummy.”

“Hehehe, the dark circles under my eyes are about to reach my chin.”

The relatively young black mages, who were talking among themselves, shut their mouths when the elders glared at them with wide eyes.

Shortly after, when Arsen appeared in the central square, they all knelt on one knee and greeted him with the utmost respect.

“We greet the Lord Founder!”

“Yes, you have all worked hard.”

Arsen, who barely acknowledged his disciples’ greetings, went up to the platform and opened his mouth with a truly pitiful expression.

“You don’t have to suffer anymore.”

“Yes? What do you mean by that?”

The two former elders, who had been pouring their hearts into undead synthesis to help Arsen, asked with puzzled faces.

“Hehe, what do I mean? It means that your sacrifice is needed to speed up the undead synthesis.”

The central square was filled with silence at Arsen’s words.

“Hahaha, your jokes are too much, Lord Founder.”

Tellion, the former elder who had a handsome appearance unlike most of the gloomy-looking black mages, asked with a smile.

“Do my words sound like a joke? If you don’t believe me, I’ll have to show you.”

Snap!

The moment Arsen snapped his fingers, black plants sprouted from the floor of the central square and wrapped around the body of former elder Tellion.

Then, they began to suck his magic power with a gurgling sound.

“Ugh!”

Tellion, who was startled, tried to escape, but in an instant, he was drained of his magic power and life force and turned into a mummy.

The black mages in the central square were greatly shocked by the futile death of the former elder, who had reached the 8th circle [a high level of magic proficiency].

Some of them even had expressions that showed they didn’t understand what they had just seen.

“L, Lord Founder! Why are you doing this?”

“Didn’t I tell you a while ago? That your sacrifice is needed to speed up the undead synthesis.”

Only then did the black mages realize that Arsen’s words were not a joke, but the truth, and they screamed and ran in all directions.

“L, Lord Founder has gone mad!”

“Everyone, run away!”

“Hehehehe, do you think you can escape my grasp by running away!”

Arsen, who laughed grimly, activated Black Bind to the maximum.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Hundreds, thousands of plant stems shot up as if they would cover the square and began to snatch the legs and bodies of the black mages who were running away in all directions.

“N, no! Get away!”

“Aaaagh!”

The black mages protected their bodies with defensive magic or attacked the plant stems with offensive magic.

However, there was no black mage in this underground base who could avoid the Black Bind that had been deployed to the 9th circle [the highest level of magic proficiency].

In the end, one by one, they were wrapped in plant stems and began to be drained of their magic power and life force, turning into mummies.

The magic power and life force absorbed by the plants flowed into the coffins containing the undead along the black magic circle drawn on the floor.

Then, an amazing thing happened.

Whoosh!

Light emanated from the bodies of the undead, and they began to absorb the various medicinal properties contained in the green liquid at a terrifying speed.

“Rise quickly, my children! Become the vanguard of the dark legion and slaughter all the strong people of the middle world! Kaha ha ha ha!”

Arsen’s mad laughter, his eyes filled with madness, echoed loudly throughout the underground base for a long time.

4

The process of the leaders of each country gathering to handle the aftermath of the war was not as simple as expected.

The Baroque Empire was so large, and the interests of each country were so different that it took several days to coordinate them.

However, with Reina’s help, Luke concluded that the Baroque Empire would be divided and ruled appropriately.

Having solved the most important problem, Luke left Nemesis to enjoy the moment he had been putting off, or rather, the moment he had been most looking forward to in his past and present lives.

His steps led him to the cemetery located west of Nemesis, where the tombs of the successive Baroque emperors were located.

Originally, he wanted to visit it first after occupying Nemesis, but he had been postponing his visit because there were too many eyes watching.

Whoosh!

The cemetery, which had been decorated with various flowers and gifts in the past, was now tragically dug up in many places.

This was because Rudolf had taken all the valuable burial goods and decorations to raise war funds.

In addition, the caretaker had run away during the war, and the place was completely unmanaged, with weeds growing everywhere.

Among the dozens of tombs, Luke stood in front of the largest one.

It was the tomb of the first emperor, Carno de Baroque, and as the founder of the empire, it was as large and magnificent as a small hill.

Around the tomb, there were also a dozen dwarf statues made of granite, each several meters tall.

They were the founding fathers of the empire, and they were familiar to Luke as well.

Luke, who was looking around the statues with cold eyes, stared coldly at the marble coffin in the dug-up tomb and opened his mouth.

“I thought it would be very satisfying to take revenge, but it’s more indifferent than I thought.”

Carno de Baroque was the culprit who caused the death of Katarina, his lover in his previous life.

If he hadn’t coveted her beauty and tried to make her his concubine, she wouldn’t have committed suicide.

Seymon, who was blinded by the death of his beloved lover, learned black magic and started a war for revenge.

Carno, who knew that he was the target, made Seymon a public enemy of the continent with all sorts of slanders and false rumors.

The scale of the war grew as several countries, including the Holy Empire, joined the war.

In the end, he was branded as the ‘Demon King’ and was defeated by the hero Rakan without avenging Katarina.

He was a man who deserved to be chewed to the bone, but strangely, he didn’t feel any satisfaction.

Was it because so much time had passed? Or was it because he had gained a beloved lover and family in his new life?

Or was it because Carno had died and his descendants had suffered a terrible fate?

“Well, that doesn’t mean I’m going to forgive him.”

Shuuk!

The moment Luke drew his holy sword Valiant and swung it, the statues that had been standing guard around the tomb were split into dozens of pieces.

Carno’s marble coffin was also split, and the head of a skinny mummy was cut off.

Posthumous execution.

Luke, who crushed the severed head of Carno de Baroque by stepping on it, called out to Marquis Rogers, who was watching from behind.

“Rogers!”

“Yes, Your Majesty, what is your command?”

“Level this cemetery and build a park to commemorate the soldiers and people who sacrificed themselves in this war.”

“A park, you say?”

“Yes, the Baroque Empire is no more.”

Marquis Rogers did not answer immediately at his declaration.

He was not happy with the act of defiling the rest of the dead.

However, his hesitation did not last long. The Baroque imperial family was the sworn enemy of the Rakan family.

That was true not only for the founder Carno de Baroque, but also for the successive emperors who had tormented the family heads.

“I understand. I will do as you command, Your Majesty.”

In any case, the Baroque imperial family had completely lost the trust of the people due to Rudolf’s tyranny.

Even if the tombs of the emperors were swept away, no one would object except for some nobles.

As Rogers was about to carry out his orders, a man came running from below the cemetery in a hurry.

It was Count Philip, and for some reason, his face was very stiff.

“Something terrible has happened, Your Majesty!”

“What is it?”

Marquis Rogers stepped forward and asked first.

“T, that is… countless undead are crossing the border from the Kingdom of Livia!”

“What!”

Philip’s explanation was as follows.

A wave of undead was surging from all directions in the Kingdom of Livia, and the number was not just a few tens of thousands.

“Currently, undead are flocking to all the kingdoms bordering Livia, and the number is said to exceed ten million.”

“T, ten million!”

Rogers was shocked.

The Holy Empire was almost destroyed because it could not stop a few hundred thousand undead.

But now, they were saying that the number would easily exceed ten million!

Luke’s expression changed drastically at the unprecedented situation.

(To be continued in Steel Emperor Volume 21)

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