Prologue
✦ ✦ ✦
The Holy East Revlon Empire took up the eastern portion of what was once the Revlon Empire, consuming much of the northeast area of the northern continent. Habahren, this sprawling empire’s capital, was right in the center. It was one of the largest cities on the entire northern continent, with a population of around 80,000—a massive circle in the middle of a vast plain, radiating out from Siguenza’s impressive imperial palace.
Back in the days of the unified Revlon Empire, before the split between east and west, Siguenza had been built as a reinforced fortress. It was intended to support the empire’s efforts to annex more land to the east, which explained its rather ugly appearance. It was, however, sturdily built, and looked rather imposing on the horizon.
The emperor who ruled this massive eastern empire was sitting in one of his studies, deep within the confines of the palace. A glimmering—though not overly glamorous—chandelier hung from the ceiling, illuminating the room beneath, the gloomy light befitting the emperor’s work.
At the back of the room sat a large, well-polished desk, and a chair reserved for the emperor himself. The chair, like the rest of the room, was rather simple in design, although the intricate carvings etched into the wood betrayed its true value. A young man with deep-set gray eyes and a distinguished nose slouched in the chair, dressed in a well-tailored military uniform. He wore his untamed reddish-brown hair in a ponytail. The man’s name was Domitianus Revlon Valtiafelbe, emperor of the Holy East Revlon Empire, and rival to the Great West Revlon Empire in their struggle over the northern continent.
The young emperor had fixed his scrutinizing gaze on the man directly across from him, who was reading from a report.
“A large group of monsters without employ rings went on a rampage in the western Karyu fort that held them. They descended upon the town like an avalanche, resulting in significant casualties. Just before the monsters’ rampage got underway, the massive hydra Fumba captured earlier broke out of the fort and attacked the lord’s castle, killing him instantly. Fumba hasn’t been seen since, and rumors suggest that this may have been an act of rebellion on his part.”
In stark contrast to the gravity of this news, the man grinned as he looked up at the emperor. Domitianus furrowed his brow.
The man reading the report sported a large belly and a pathetic excuse for a mustache. His flashy clothes, even more ostentatious than those of the emperor himself, gave him the appearance of a well-to-do merchant. There was something altogether unlikable about him and his irritating grin.
The man’s name was Velmoas du Lyzehl. He served as the lord chancellor and administrator of the Holy East Revlon Empire’s political affairs.
Domitianus eyed Velmoas with suspicion as he mentally ran through the report he’d just heard. “A rebellion by Fumba? He’s nothing but a drunk and a womanizer. What would he have to gain by standing against me?”
Velmoas’ grin didn’t falter. He simply shook his head slightly, as if to say, “How should I know?”
Although a vein bulged in the young emperor’s forehead, Velmoas simply turned his gaze back to the report in his hand, and continued reading.
“It also says here that the rampaging hydra was killed by some…demon…that appeared out of nowhere. Witnesses described it as a half-human, half-monster covered in flames, resembling an old legend about a man sent to hell and consumed by fire. The townsfolk are rather shaken up about it.”
Domitianus pounded his fist on his chair’s armrest and fixed his lord chancellor with a steely glare. “That demon managed to tear apart my hydra?! Dammit! And we just made a special employ ring for it, too! Without Fumba, we’ll never be able to capture anything that size again.”
“Well, there’s no sense in getting mad at me. It’s not like I can do anything about it. Anyway, a Hilk church was destroyed in the battle, and the church officials are demanding money so they can rebuild it right away. Apparently, the locals are pretty upset by the idea of a demon from hell burning down their church.”
Velmoas looked back up from his report. Anger was no longer apparent on the emperor’s face; a sly grin replaced it. His expression clearly reflected his thoughts.
“Heh heh heh. So, that parasite religion that’s been such a pain in the empire’s ass was burned to ash by the fires of hell? The gods have a sense of humor, after all. What happened to the other monsters?”
“After the hydra died, the surviving soldiers conscripted some locals. They were somehow able to suppress the rest of the monsters roaming around town. Things are starting to settle down now, but it’s only a matter of time until the townsfolk express their anger over this whole situation.” Velmoas eyed the emperor curiously as he finished his report.
Domitianus’s sinister grin only widened. “Let’s drill it into the townsfolk that believing in Hilk did nothing to protect them, and that a cursed sinner destroyed the church itself. We can use that to breed resentment toward the church officials and decrease the number of believers in the area.”
“Are you sure? The church will surely fight back against any plan to wrest control from them.”
Domitianus snorted and leaned back in his chair. “This could be a great opportunity for us to rid ourselves of the mold growing in our great empire. All those scoundrels do is demand money under the table, in the form of alms, while preaching superficial platitudes of love and freedom. Luckily, the Karyu region borders our territory. The church officials probably think this will be a great opportunity to fill their coffers, but by the time they notice there’s no money forthcoming, it’ll be too late.”
Velmoas wrote a note along the margin of his report and bowed his head deeply. “As you wish. I will carry out your orders at once.”
“Continue the search for Fumba. Even if it turns out that he’s dead, the Runeology Cloister has finished making their employ rings. We might not be able to capture any large monsters without him, but we can at least drum up an ogre battalion or something.”
The emperor shifted in his chair and gazed out the window toward the Karyu region, a sly grin spreading across his face as he contemplated what the future might bring.