21st Century Archmage

Editor/Proofreader: Enigami

“Your Majesty! We beseech thee to retract thy edict!”

“Your Majesty, we beseech thee!”

In the Grand Throne Room of the Bajran Imperial Palace, sat Emperor Poltviran atop a throne sculpted into a Black Wyvern holding a huge diamond in its mouth. Three nobles were begging him to retract his edict—Marquis Isevant, who was called the Empire’s Sage, and two old counts. Following the proclamation of the Emperor’s edict, they had left their territories post-haste to seek an audience with the Emperor.

“Why should I do such a thing?”

Despite being in a formal audience with high-ranking nobles of the empire, the newly crowned Emperor Poltviran was sitting in a slovenly manner. His legs were crossed and one hand was propping up his chin. He sneered as he addressed the old nobles with an air of annoyance.

“Your Majesty, unearthing talented commoners to form the pillar of this empire was the ideal Bajran has maintained since the time of the Founding Emperor, Emperor Alvatreon. That ideal has been maintained uninterrupted all this time, and as a result, our empire has become the strongest in the continent. But if Your Majesty were to abolish that institution overnight, such an action would soon bring enormous harm to the empire. Oh sagacious and merciful Emperor, your old vassal is speaking earnestly from the heart, so please reconsider the edict!”

Marquis Isevant was nearing 80 years of age, but he spoke out against the edict’s injustice with a voice no less powerful than that of a youth.

“Do you men think the same?” Poltviran directed a question at the two counts standing behind Marquis Isevant. They were both old nobles with a reputation in the empire for their loyalty.

“We are of the same opinion as the Marquis. Your Majesty, before it is too late, I beseech thee to withdraw thy edict!”

“I beseech thee!”

Repeated motions from senior noblemen was something even an emperor could not ignore.

“Kuhahahahahahahahahaha!!”

Emperor Poltviran’s laughter suddenly swept wildly through the expansive throne room. “I definitely made myself clear in the edict… Are you men resisting an imperial mandate right now?” asked Poltviran, his voice frosty. His body began to emit a dangerous aura.

“This humble one has one more piece of advice to offer.”

Emperor Poltviran’s violent temper had been a problem since his days as the Crown Prince. Marquis Isevant was aware of that, but he plowed on unintimidated with his advice.

“This empire… does not belong to Your Majesty alone.”

“Shut up!!!!!!!”

“From Your Majesty at the top to the slaves at the bottom, this empire belongs to everyone working hard for the empire. As long as Your Majesty keeps that in mind, Your Majesty will become a wise emperor on par with the late emperor.”

“YOUUUUUU!”

The Emperor jumped up from his throne. He rushed towards the nobles standing in the throne room.

Clang!

Then, the Emperor suddenly drew the sword of one of the Imperial Guard Knights protecting him by his side.

“!!”

“Y-Your Majesty…”

Behind the Marquis, the two counts paled in shock.

“May you become a wise emperor. Not a tyrant…”

Marquis Isevant gave his final advice to the emperor rushing towards him with a sword.

Schwiiiing.

The Emperor used the momentum of his charge to slash Marquis Isevant’s mouth.

Cruuuuunch.

The blow was so powerful that the chilling sound of the old Marquis’ teeth and jawbones being smashed rang throughout the throne room. Though his mouth was slashed, because it wasn’t a fatal injury, the old Marquis crumpled to the ground and thrashed in agony.

“Kukuku, you dare defy the Emperor’s command?”

His eyes glimmering with madness, Poltviran looked down on the Marquis as he bled heavily on the ground, his mouth and jawbones sliced.

Thud.

The two counts watching the violent scene fell to their knees. Nothing like this had ever happened in the history of the empire. Unless they were traitors, even the lowest-ranking noble wouldn’t be disposed of like this, without any trial. That was a form of respect to the nobles who managed the empire’s land in the emperor’s stead. But today, that respect was crushed into bloody pieces. To make things worse, it wasn’t even a baron, viscount, or count who was cruelly slashed by the Emperor, but a marquis.

“Keep this bastard alive! This man dared to defy an imperial mandate and insult the emperor. Sever all his tendons, slather his entire body with honey, and throw him into the ant pit!”

The Emperor gave a command so vicious one could hardly believe it. Even a noble guilty of treason was afforded the respect of a clean decapitation, but the Emperor passed down a violent command more fitting for a slave.

“Yes, siiiiiir!”

The loyal cry of the Knights of the Imperial Guard shook the throne room.

“These two bastards are also guilty of resisting an imperial mandate. Their current peerages will be stripped and their fortunes seized. Their family members will all be turned into slaves. Deal with that old piece of shit’s family in the same way!”

“Yes, sir!”

“…”

Emperor Poltviran spat out one shocking command after another. The two counts merely came to offer a word of advice, but it seemed they would lose their lives and even their families would be wiped out. They stared with devastated eyes at Poltviran, the tyrant of the century.

“Our words are law! We are Bajran itself. Kuhahahahahahahaha!”

The tyrant’s cry went from the throne room to resound all throughout the palace. Everyone kept their heads low. Not an ounce of honor or respect could be found in the Emperor’s violent shout. All who heard his madness lowered their heads, not out of respect, but out of fear, all in order to survive until the day his tyranny ended…

* * *

Cla-cla-clang!

“Iya!”

Clang, clang!

‘Kiddo, you’re quite something.’

After going to the elves, I returned to the covert. It was cold, but Razcion was sparring with an Imperial Knight in a small drill hall made for training. Even though a heavy sword was likely still difficult for him to hold, the little Prince was using a longsword in the real sword spar. The plain training outfit he was wearing was dirty and torn in several places.

Claaang! Whoooosh, kchhk!

At some point, the kiddo’s longsword was caught by the Imperial Knight’s and tossed far away. Once his sword was stolen from him, Razcion sucked in ragged breaths.

“Your Highness, you have done more than enough today.”

“N-No. I can still go on.”

The Imperial Knight worriedly tried to stop the Prince, but the kiddo’s determination stayed strong.

‘Brat, you’re like a mirror of me when I was young.’

At his age, I also went to kumdo school. Back then, I endured bloody training with my wooden sword every day. Driven by my mother’s words to get the full worth out of whatever I learned, I swung the wooden sword like crazy back then. Impressed with my passion, the instructor taught me the sword art passed down among the Korean people for generations.

“As you should. Even I can see you have a long way to go.”

Once he realized I was there, the kiddo ran over to me, shouting, “H-Hyung!”

“You’re not tired with just this, right?”

“Of course not! Hehe, I’m still good to go.”

His training outfit was drenched with sweat, but Razcion denied his exhaustion. His bleeding palms were proof of how long he had wielded his sword.

“Cure.”

I lightly cast recovery magic on his body. Yellow light filled with life magic sparkled over him.

“Wow! Hyung, you’re really amazing. I can’t believe you’re a magic swordsman! I admire you! You’re the person I admire second in the world, next to my father!”

The plucky Razcion giddily acknowledged my skills. I patted his head roughly.

“But I noticed that your learning method is wrong.”

“…??”

The knight teaching him might be insulted, but I continued nevertheless. “At your age, it’s more important to build muscles that can handle a sword than swinging a real sword. Just as a big glass is necessary to hold a lot of water, in order to unleash powerful sword arts, a mana breathing technique and physical training method suitable for such arts are necessary.”

Just like how a molded habit was difficult to break and change, sword arts were the same—you had to start from the foundation. Actually, magic was the same as well, and that wisdom applied to most other things in the world.

“Then please teach me, Hyung!” said Razcion. His brown eyes, which looked like the emperor’s, were sparkling.

“Of course.”

“Yaaay! Thank you very much, Master!”

He was a good-natured kid. He was still at an age where he was ignorant of many things, but because he had grown up in the palace, I was sure he understood the gist of his current situation. Even so, he wasn’t depressed at all. He was real emperor material, worlds apart from that gangster piece of shit, Poltviran.

“Could you also teach me, as well?”

‘Eh?’ A woman’s voice as clear as a silver bell came from behind me. ‘Igis…’

The princess with an aura of dignity, Igis, had shed her dress and was wearing one of the airplates worn by knights. She was smiling at me, her white teeth gleaming.

“Haha, if Igis-nim is willing to learn, then I would be happy to do so.”

A woman this lovable and cute was saying she wanted to learn. If I refused her, I wouldn’t be a man.

“Thank you, Kyre…nim.”

Igis lowered her head, showing her thanks. I responded to the smooth and elegant bow of her head with a nod of my own.

* * *

‘He’s truly an amazing person.’

Until she came to Nerman, Igis didn’t quite believe it. Her father’s final request had been to seek asylum in Nerman. With the help of Duke Garvit, she and Razcion were assigned trustworthy Imperial Knights; with them, they were able to reach Nerman.

However, she doubted that Nerman would truly be able to overcome the threat of the Bajran Empire. Count Kyre, a man brimming with confidence, might be the lord, but she hadn’t thought that he would be able to do anything about the lump of trouble, Nerman, in just one year of time.

‘Everyone is living to their fullest. From Kyre to the knights, the people, and even the wyverns.’

Only a few days had passed, but Igis had learned a lot of things about Nerman. Nerman’s knights were dramatically different from the Imperial Knights she saw in the palace, all of whom were fixated on formality and discipline. The knights here were always laughing brightly as they freely took action as they saw fit. They drank with the soldiers and sometimes taught them sword skills. Igis was able to find traces of Kyre’s usual freewheeling soul in them.

That wasn’t all. Even the soldiers didn’t have a reluctant attitude when standing guard and doing their work. They cleaned the covert and did guard duty with enthusiasm, as if it were their own house. Igis felt happy just watching them. On top of that, the residents came in and out of the covert without reserve. The covert was an important military defense facility, so in the empire, it would have been strictly off-limits, but regular people came freely into the covert. It might be because there was a temple serving the Goddess of Mercy, Neran, here, but the people were only able to come here because they were not afraid.

What kind of existences were nobles and knights? They were people who would behead someone for offending them if a commoner dared to look them straight in the eye. But it was different here. The people could only act this way because they trusted and followed the man smiling brightly in front of Igis right now.

“Before we get to learning, let us do so after eating dinner. Sir Derval, inform all the knights who have returned from patrols to gather in the dining hall. Let us have another drink today.”

“Understood, my liege!”

“It’s cold outside, so make sure that the soldiers are not lacking for anything as well.”

“As you command!”

As she watched the lord readily shooting off commands and the knight responding energetically to him, Igis could not help but grin.

A place with people who could make you happy just by being near. Nerman was that kind of place. It was a blessed land made by the gods where people could breathe freely and live freely.

* * *

Tzzzzzzzt.

“Owwww!”

I was using a mithril welder to repair the last of the broken dravits.

“Eurgh, there’s no worries about having nothing to do this winter.”

The dravits were lined up or laying on the ground inside the building we used as the covert’s warehouse. They were all second-hand dravits we had procured through the Rubis Merchants. The dwarves had too much to do to make them from scratch, and I also lacked the time. Buying second-hand ones and remodeling them was far easier.

“I’m the Lord of Nerman working pro bono~♬. A part-time lord who sews eyes onto dolls every night ♬. It’s fine if no one recognizes my efforts. I’m happy because I’ve got my territory, Nerman ♪♬. Lalala…”

I hummed as I moved to a dravit completely encrusted with rust. Once this relaxing winter ended, a hell-like spring would arrive. Before the enemies came rushing in, I had to increase the number of dravits we could use. It was possible we would lose everything if we were defeated in battle, but I had to think ahead with the attitude of planting an apple tree for the future. The planet wouldn’t crash and burn anytime soon anyway.

This was the land we earned by repelling hordes of monsters. This year, we had to reclaim more land and plant more crops. It was said that ‘Agriculture forms the basis of national existence.’. Without achieving independence in provisions, our dreams for tomorrow would be far away.

Whoooooosh. Shaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

I could hear the cold wind blowing outside the warehouse hangar, as well as the snow falling and accumulating.

“Lalala~♬♪”

An endless stream of humming came flowing from my mouth. It was hard work, but the effort was rewarded in full. My land was something that I, not anyone else, had to protect. Tonight as well, my soldiers and my knights were trusting me as they slept.

I was happy because they were here. They could be here because I was here, and I could be here because they were here. Each and every drop of sweat falling one by one from my brow was a jewel living and dying in an ephemeral moment.

* * *

“The imperial mandate has been decreed. The Third and Seventh Platoons within the Western Corps are to march at once. Their destination will be Nerman, the Bajran Empire territory past the Havis Kingdom!”

Duke Yanovis, one of the dukes of the Laviter Kingdom, had just come out of the Emperor’s office. Holding a document stamped with a golden seal, he shared the news with his adjutant, Count Davesyen.

“It’s finally starting.”

“Kuhaha, this has been the longest winter of my life.”

“What will be done about the Havis Kingdom? They recently sent an envoy to vow their unchanging loyalty to His Majesty…”

“Send an envoy. Inform them that we will cut through their kingdom’s territory to reach Nerman.”

“T-That is…”

“If they refuse, from that day onwards, the Havis Kingdom will disappear from this continent.”

“By your will, Your Excellency.”

At Duke Yanovis’ firm response, Count Davesyen bowed his head. What kingdom would willingly allow the soldiers of a different nation to traverse their lands for the sake of war? However, the Havis Kingdom would have to make a choice. They would either open the gates for Laviter’s advance, or protect their pride and disappear in disgrace.

* * *

“Run!”

Vroooooooom!

Clunk, clunk, clunk!

The dravit registered the command word and clomped off in a run.

Crrrrrrrrrrkkkkkk.

The improved plow with seven blades dragged by the dravit instantaneously upturned the ground that had been frozen all winter long.

“Wooooow!”

The residents who came to take a look cheered enthusiastically. The dravit’s blind strength was able to do one day’s work with horses in just a few minutes. To farmers, a dravit was undoubtedly a gift from the gods.

‘Spring has already come.’

It had really been a long, long winter. Up until just a few days ago, the ground had been frozen solid, but the warm sunlight and balmy wind over the past days had melted the snow and land. Winter seemed to disappear in a moment, replaced by the sudden arrival of spring. The spring haze was shimmering all over, dancing the waltz of spring.

“My lord, thank you for your hard work,” said Derval, who knew that I had run myself ragged without rest all winter.

“What hard work…”

I was proud. Throughout the entirety of the long, long winter, I had desperately clutched my mithril welder. Our arable land had expanded and we couldn’t leave them unused, so we needed many more dravits than last year.

‘You gotta admit, I’m a scary bastard. I can’t believe I repaired all 40 frickin’ dravits.’

That wasn’t all, either. Besides the dravits, I also produced Mark II Blessed Spears and went to the dwarves to improve other weapons. I seriously spent this winter as busy as a bee. Only the report that one of the female wyverns Bebeto had recently slept with had laid eggs woke me from my delirious rush.

‘You enviable bastard… To think you’re about to have kids.’

Time was in short supply, so even though there were so many lovable ladies around me, I didn’t have a single moment to kiss any of them. Spring arrived in such regrettable fashion. I choked up with emotion.

“My lord, I have an urgent report.”

“Hm? Urgent report?”

The communicator welded on the inside of my helmet suddenly buzzed, so I hurriedly put it on. I had installed a communicator to the airplate helmet made by the elves. Actually, I even did so for the helmets of my most important commanding Skyknights.

“A messenger lumikar has just come in from the Havis Kingdom. But…” the knight in charge of the communication line faltered.

“What did it relay?”

“The Laviter Kingdom is said to have moved their troops.”

“Mm…”

I’d predicted it from a mile away and was prepared, but actually hearing that they were coming gave me a pretty big shock.

“I believe that you will have to come personally for more details, my lord.”

“Well done.”

“Yes, sir!”

‘They’re finally coming!’ I thought. If the Laviter Empire was on the move, they would arrive at our borders in half a month, at the latest.

“Sir Derval, did you hear that?”

“Yes, my liege!”

“From this moment onwards, the entire army shall be going into emergency standby. In particular, besides when they are on patrols, all Skyknights are to standby in their assigned positions.”

“As you command!”

‘How are you planning on getting here, my enemies? Huhu…’

I might be surprised, but I wasn’t afraid. I was just curious as to how they would attack. If they crossed the Kovilan Mountains, wyverns could reach my territory in just a single day. But if they chose not to do that and decided to attack in coordination with ground troops, it would take them about half a month. No matter which method Laviter chose, I was prepared for them both.

‘You’ll realize later that this period, before we meet, is your happiest time…’

We had done our best to prepare for an attack, but our current situation meant we needed to lay low and wait. However, things wouldn’t end like this. The Kang family’s motto was to return goodwill and animosity ten-fold.

I clenched my fists. A battle had arrived on the heels of spring. The fateful moment that would decide Nerman’s future was fast approaching.

* * *

“I-It is a disgrace. How could they insult our kingdom like this…”

A terse meeting was underway in the royal councilroom of the Havis Kingdom.

Last winter, Havis was able to crush the Roen Principality Army with the help of the Lord of Nerman, Kyre, and all the rebel forces were subdued. After the Roen Principality’s army was wiped out, the Havis royal family received a supplement of wyverns, and the rebel forces either surrendered or fled to other kingdoms.

The Havis Kingdom had spent a rather tumultuous winter. Loyal knights were deployed to every territory with new peerages, achieving a certain level of stability with the territories, and new knights were recruited to recover the foundation of Havis’ military power.

But yesterday, a golden letter signifying an imperial mandate arrived from the Laviter Empire. The emperor’s letter said that Laviter would be attacking Nerman immediately and asked Havis to prepare their borders. It wasn’t a letter, but a directive.

“…”

Every noble gathered in the councilroom clenched their fists as they trembled in rage. However, that was all they could do. Besides Duke Safidian, not a single one of them was able to speak up. What other choice could a weak and minor nation make right now? They could only do as the empire wished.

Rosiathe gave a command with a trembling voice. “Withdraw the troops stationed at the border. Also, evacuate the people living along the path the imperial troops will be traveling.”

‘I’m sorry… there’s nothing I can do for you.’

Rosiathe struggled to hold back her tears. The Havis Kingdom had no choice but to obey the empire’s orders, but she felt anguish. That man had done his absolute best for her and the kingdom… Yet, she was unable to repay his kindness.

“Argh…”

Suppressed groans could be heard from the clenched teeth of the nobles.

“Everyone, remember this day. The humiliation we have suffered today… shall be avenged in full. That shall be the goal we will live towards,” said Rosiathe in a quiet voice.

“Yes, siiir!”

The loyal knights of the Havis Kingdom who were now nobles responded to her words with reddened eyes. On this day, the core of the reborn Havis Kingdom vowed that they would show the world. They would show that the Havis Kingdom that had once dominated the continent was not dead yet…

* * *

“Have the new spears been distributed?”

“We were not able to get enough of them, but they have been distributed, with the Skyknights of the Third and Seventh Platoons receiving top priority.”

“They’re impressive bastards. How could a place without a magic tower possess spears even we do not have…”

A war was not decided by commands alone. Be it military power, tactics, or even supplies, not a single one could be missing, especially when facing an enemy like Nerman, a place capable of annihilating enemies many times their number. Duke Yanovis was well aware that Nerman possessed Blessed Spears and new weapons no other empire or kingdom on the continent had.

“The new spears produced by the Imperial Magic Tower this time have an effective range of 2.5 km. Though the spears of the enemy have a range of 3 km, we should be able to defend a difference of that degree with our force in numbers.”

“Huhuhu, naturally. No matter how new and fancy their spears are, it’ll be insignificant in front of sheer numbers.”

“Yes. According to our information, they have recently increased their wyvern numbers to around 100, but our Imperial Army has invested around 500 wyverns in this battle. Unlike those rubbish Havis troops, all 500 of our men are elite Skyknights.”

“When did you say His Highness will be coming?”

“He will be coming soon. He has waited with bated breath for this day, so he will not tarry in the least.”

Duke Yanovis, the Commander appointed for this war, was waiting for Prince Alskane in the Imperial Covert located in the Laviter capital. 200,000 imperial ground troops were already traveling through the Havis Kingdom. In fact, with the first subjugation war in a while on the horizon, Duke Yanovis could feel his heart racing. He had felt the same excitement when he crossed the Bertz Mountains 30 years ago and subjugated the Perkan Kingdom. He was old and didn’t have many years left to live, so this could be his final deployment.

‘Alskane will definitely sit on the throne. And then, Laviter will make Yukane, and later Baerkain, Havis, and Nerman all into imperial territory!’

Despite his advanced age, Duke Yanovis wasn’t able to discard his dreams as a knight of the empire. His ambitions blazed brightly in his heart as he longed for the upcoming subjugation war.

Cla-cla-clank.

“Sir, they’re here.”

Ten Skyknights could be seen at the entrance of the Imperial Covert. Among them was Prince Alskane, wearing an airplate made of gold and mithril alloy and a red cloak that fluttered behind him. His gait was as dashing as his attire.

“Your Highness, welcome.”

“Haha, what fine weather we have today.”

Alskane had spent the entire winter in a state of hysteria, but now, he was smiling brightly as if nothing had ever happened.

“It is a fine day for flying, Your Highness. Please go aloft at once. 200,000 imperial troops are waiting for Your Highness.”

“I understand. Let us set off immediately.”

When he was raging, Prince Alskane hadn’t thought twice before speaking rudely to a duke of the empire and his grandfather, but he was completely different now.

Whumpf.

The Prince leapt onto his newly assigned Gold Wyvern. Following his lead, the Imperial Skyknights jumped onto their Gold Wyverns, the symbol of the Laviter Empire.

Flap, flap, flap flap flap flap. Kuaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

The Prince’s Gold Wyvern released a long cry as it flapped its wings. A moment later, it lightly pushed off the ground and surged into the air.

Kiooooooo! Kyaaaaaaaaaa!

The Imperial Skyknight and Duke Yanovis’ wyvern went aloft a beat later. They soon began to fly westward, heading towards the fearless enemy responsible for injuring their pride, an enemy with whom the Laviter Empire could not coexist under the same sky…