Chapter 297: Emperor

Volume 6 of the manga was released today, May 25th. It covers the events surrounding Eve and the entry of the Battle against Ashinto. The highlight of this volume would be the chapter at the White Coin. Other than that, as expected, the other highlight would be the design for the Human-Faced (It’s just the characters’ mental image though). It has a very nice design. Meanwhile, the cover depicts Touka, Eve and Lizbeth, and the way pale light is used is very beautiful.

I also wrote a short story at the end of Volume 6. It depicts Touka and Seras (plus Pigimaru), exchanging information about the masks of the Fly King and Fly Knights after he bought them. In that short story, Pigimaru carefully sniffs Seras’ body. Other than that…… Some information had also been written about the legend of the Fly King Belzegia in that world and how it ended. You might be able to imagine how Touka’s story may end…… or something like that.

The composition and artwork by Uchiuchi Keyaki-sama and Uyoshi Shou-sama made Volume 6 a volume filled with many charms. We would be very happy if you could pick up a copy.

Also, “Failure Frame” has sold more than 1.1 million copies in total. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have purchased (and continue to purchase) this series. Thank you very much. (I feel like I have written the same thing many times, but this is just something the author could never have achieved alone, and it’s the result of everyone’s support. Once again, thank you very much.)

Finally, I’ll also post the schedule for the next chapter here.

The next chapter is scheduled to be updated on June 1st (Wednesday).

The rain swept the Imperial Capital.

“The increase in the number of refugees from the northeast is slowing down.”

Or so, the reports state.

At the same time, the southward movement of the White Army in the northeast has also stopped.

Reports regarding the Drunken Sword Party have also ceased to come in.

Currently, the soldiers from the unraided fortresses were annihilating the White Army.

It seems that the Fly King has done it.

However————

[Your Majesty, I have come with a report. The refugees from the cities and towns in the northwestern part of the country have been received in the Second District. However…… Those white creatures are beginning to enter the First District.]

[Can you fight them off?]

[Those white creatures have begun to take over the outer walls, but under the lead of the Diaz family, their soldiers were managing to hold them off.]

[I understand. I will send some of the Imperial Guards to deal with those white creatures who have entered the wall.]

The same situation occurred in the northwest as in the northeast.

The White Army had appeared, and cities were attacked one after another as well.

I am currently looking over that report.

Before those white creatures appeared in the vicinity though, there had always been reports of a surge of Golden-eyed monsters.

Perhaps, the appearance of these white creatures were related to this.

[The power of a God huh.]

[……Your Majesty?]

[Just as Asagi said, unknown forces without a chain of reasoning were just being thrown about. That d*mned Vysis…… Until when is she going to underestimate humans———- Kaiser.]

[Yes.]

Kaiser Mira, my half-brother.

He is the eldest son of the former Emperor.

In other words, he was originally the first in line to the throne.

However, he currently serves as Mira’s Prime Minister and works for me, his younger brother.

[I leave dealing with the refugees to you. Also, the news of the attack on the Imperial City might cause agitation towards Wright and his group in the north and the army facing Urza in the east. Send a runner stating “The Mad Emperor is alive and well, and we already have a plan in place. Trust in the Emperor you believe in.”]

[Understood———, ……Is there really no problem?]

[We will take care of it so that it will not be a problem. However, tell Hawk and the others to call the Forbidden Race here. Vysis’ side may have detected her presence here. If possible, we would like to protect them.]

[Will they obediently follow though?]

Resting an elbow on my armrest, I rested my chin on my palm.

[Sounds like it will be difficult.]

[Can’t we force them to come here?]

[No…… If there’s a sign that they have prepared a means of escape, just let them go. Putting aside if it’s just any other fool, these people are Fly King’s people. He must have thought of an escape plan for them. The plan he had in place might be better than for us to protect them ourselves.]

[Well then, if that is your will.]

Saying this, Kaiser left.

After that, I summoned those outside back in.

Thereupon, the Imperial Guards and my retainers scurried in.

Just like that, we waited for the next report to come towards the imperial throne here in the imperial chamber.

The Elite Guards, selected among the Imperial Guards, were waiting by my side.

Meanwhile, the retainers were divided into two groups, standing in a line to my left and to my right.

Soon, the corridor leading here became noisy.

The Imperial Guards braced themselves, waiting for whatever was outside as they dutifully protected me, while the faces of the retainers were tense.

Finally, outside my imperial chamber———— just outside of this room rang about a series of screams.

Thereupon, a knight, with an unusual expression on his face, rushed in.

[R- Reporting! An unknown man had invaded the castle and demanded to see his Majesty……! My apologies! We were unable to stop him……! That’s even when we outnumber him! Even the Imperial Guards were easily————]

DOGAAAAAAAAN!

[Ghuaaak!?]

Blown away by the slamming of the door, the knight slammed against a pillar and fainted.

Seeing the entrance of this unknown man, my eyes squinted.

[Fo fo fou! Incompetent, truly incompetent. Ohh, I’m impressed you’re holding your ground here in the imperial chamber without running away. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me this opportunity to meet you like this, Falken Dotzine Mira Dia Ordzit…… also known as the Mad Emperor.]

Some of the retainers looked surprised upon his arrival.

I also had some vague recollections upon seeing his appearance and attire.

The old man stroked his long, corn-like beard.

[Fo fo fo, I see…… So your beauty really is as transient as the rumors say. That was indeed a maddening beauty…… I wonder if your two brothers, who I heard are obedient, have been seduced by this beauty?]

[…….Impudent old man. Is it not common sense to name yourself first?]

[Ohh, I beg your pardon. Well, some of you may have realized it already…… My name is Falken Dotzera Mira Dia Ordzit———- Or well, that was what my name used to be, fo fo fo.]

The words he said just now had clearly brough agitation among the retainers.

[The Exiled Emperor huh…… However, isn’t it unusual how you’re still alive? You should have already been dead, already having reached the end of your life span. I see——– The truth of one’s life has been handed over to the Gods huh. You are no longer human.]

The march to the cities and forts in the northwestern part of the country.

The attack on the Imperial Capital.

No wonder why the enemy looked so familiar with Mira.

Even if only temporarily, this was the territory of the country where he grew up and ruled.

That must be why he’s familiar with the geography here.

[Today, I have come to give a sermon to my descendants.]

[Fumu, you’ve come for revenge for Mira who exiled you huh?]

[Hmmm, you could say that. The “curse” of the First Emperor Falken and the next Emperor Dot…… However, that was a wish that can’t be fulfilled as long as that Goddess is there———– The unification of the continent.]

[You think that this world, having that Goddess, is right?]

[Fo fo fo, that’s right. Peace can be achieved if all nations give up their ambitions for a moment. With the Goddess, the continent is in balance. Peace is best for the people. The Root of All Evil is enough of a threat by itself.]

[You have a point———– but that is mere sophistry. True peace, as I see it———- as we see it, is achieved through the unification of this continent. And as long as the Goddess exists in this world, that will never happen.]

[For many years, this continent has practically been ruled by the Goddess. Is this not similar to the unification of the continent?]

[If it’s a Human or a Demi-Human who is doing it…… Yes, if it’s a person doing it, I will admit it. However, the Goddess doesn’t even think of humans as people. The present situation in which our world is entrusted to an ambiguous being beyond human knowledge…… I don’t think this situation is healthy. The peace we have now is only temporary.]

[Well, our Mira has had several past Emperors killed in a roundabout way because of the displeasure of the Goddess. I know that the Emperor’s family has always held a grudge against her…… No, that’s just how things would be. Fufu, in other words…… You are just another avenger for the Emperors who had been “disposed” by the Goddess in the past. Fo fo fo, even though I’m taking revenge for my own exilement…… vengeance is always a vulgar thing without a cause, based on temporary feelings. However, don’t you think it’s cowardly to say as if you are thinking of the whole world…… Mad Emperor! Fo fo fo! Indeed, you’re mad! You’re truly mad!]

[“Curses are, in other words, weaved thoughts.”]

[ ? ]

[That’s what my father…… the former Emperor said.]

Former Emperor Zera takes a step forward, heading towards the throne.

In his hand, he holds a one-handed sword with a rather long blade.

[Fo fo fo, good…… Goooooood. This is also good. I may have said I’ve come here to preach, but I have lived long enough to know the way of the world. It’s not often that two people who disagree with each other can completely settle their differences. That is how the world of man works. Therefore———– I have no choice but to crush them. Through fear and violence…… exterminate everything on my path. The only way to resolve any conflict is to bind them with fear and eradicate them with violence. Men can never escape the fate of being an animal driven by emotions———– Never. Thus, if you want to get through me, O Mad Emperor…… The weapons you wield shouldn’t be words, but power! Do you understand!? Well then, let’s go…… My descendant, Mad Emperor! Fo fo fo! Ahh, now this is just enjoyable! For some reason, I feel very happy! I really feel like thanking the world for everything it has blessed me with!]

Seeing that this can’t be settled easily, I stood up and drew the sword from the scabbard hanging at my waist.

The Sacred Sword, Exbringer.

[Foolish…… is what I’d like to say, but what you said this time can’t be easily dismissed as mere sophistry. Indeed…… In the end, it’s violence——— destruction that decides the change in this world.]

[So be it, my lovable descendant! Good gracious, today is a great day! Let your power overpower this vengeance-driven Exiled Emperor———— Emperor of Ideals Zine! Fo fo fo fo!]

The emperor’s chamber is long and narrow.

Thick pillars stand at equal intervals on either side of the carpet leading up to my imperial throne.

The more one approaches my imperial throne from the entrance, the more luxurious the pillars become.

The closer one gets to my imperial throne, the more magnificent the sculptures become.

The ornaments were also more extravagant.

With each step closer one gets to their Emperor———- the more they feel a certain emotion.

Longing……

“I want to be closer to he who I admire.”

Most of the people feel that way.

“I want to be as close as possible to he who sits on the throne of the Emperor.”

Such emotions would be in their mind.

However, the former Emperor Zera approaches me with a gait that doesn’t show such emotions.

For those who once sat on that throne, I suppose it’s a meaningless trick.

[P- Protect his Majesty!]

The Knights, who were shocked upon learning his identity, simultaneously leaped towards the Emperor’s back.

However…….

[Kuwaaaahhhh!]

Sword Pressure huh.

As if caught by some kind of whirlwind, the Knights were blown away with a single swipe.

Most of their bodies were torn to pieces.

With that single exchange, many lost their lives, or at best, disabled.

Meanwhile, the retainers began to flee behind the pillars.

However, that isn’t something the Imperial Guards can do.

Even though I could feel their fear———– They took up battle positions, intending to protect me.

However……

[It’s alright…… You lot, stay back.]

[H- However, your Majesty……!]

[You are my valuable war potential for me, needed for the future. Above all, I am the only one here who can decently take him on…… Don’t worry. I will win this battle.]

[Y- Your Majesty———–]

Not waiting for former Emperor Zera to reach me, I myself took a step forward.

[Fo fo fo, so you’re approaching me, Zine…… As a member of the family, I’m proud of you.]

The blade of my sacred sword emits a greenish-white light.

With each swing of my sword, an afterimage of the blade’s trajectory remained in the air, looking as if they were blades piling up each other with a slight shift between them.

These translucent Phantom Blades, thought to be afterimage, have mass.

I can use them either as a shield or a blade to strike the enemy.

[How astounding. You’ve gone senile. You’re the only one in this world who still thinks you’re a member of my family…… It’s beyond stupidity that it’s just pathetic.]

Accompanied by the Phantom Blades surrounding me, with dignity and poise, I held up my sword.

[You are now but an outcast———- Know your place, Zera.]

[Fo fo fo! Truly adequate you are, child! The vessel! Splendid! You hold the vessel worthy of an Emperor!]