The Era of the Magical Emperor
Floating War Palace
Chamber of the Emperor of Humanity and Father of Modern Magic
Thanks to the imperial cult of humanity, millions of people are familiar with the fables about the Emperor. Children sing his praises and listen to stories about his life. This is the Emperor that humanity knows: the Magical Emperor of the Imperial Cult. Such is the power of the cult, and so great is man's need to believe in his authenticity that no one questions his authority.
As for the Emperor, he hasn't spoken or moved in the past two hundred years, focusing solely on the war that still rages in the north.
"What are the results of the conquest?"
"We have eliminated over 450,000 demons in the recent wars we've won. We've exterminated their territories and completely dominated the zones, which are now being restored."
Damian had his eyes covered; in fact, he wasn't even present in this place but was developing the magical nuclear bomb he planned to use to eliminate the Demon King without lifting a finger.
"What are the naval battle statistics?"
"With this recent photo, we have fully conquered the seas and have faced demons invading from afar."
A hundred years ago, Damian was merely a magical king who unified the north and kept the demons out of the borders. At that time, Damian had a high status, but now he was the most important person humanity had ever dreamed of since the ancient human era.
Now, Damian was the Emperor of Humanity, acclaimed by all as the protector of the lands where his banner proudly flies in the wind.
As the Emperor of Humanity, Damian lived in the most dangerous territory in the north, where demons abounded. The external environment was relatively dangerous, and the territory was in crisis as they had just conquered this place.
Preparations were being made to exterminate the demons from the root for many reasons.
More than three hundred years had passed, and the power balance between Damian and the Demon King had shifted significantly.
Damian had become the Magical Emperor of Humanity, while the Demon King had remained hidden all this time. Since there was no need to let him live any longer, Damian would ensure he killed him.
The previous generation Damian relied on had died; today's war generals were extremely skilled, enhanced through alchemy, and had been winning many wars for him. Without the support of the nobility managing each of the less important fields, he had ascended to power with ease.
To maintain power where it should be, common businessmen do not have the support of nobles. The more they earn, the faster they die from taxes.
Companies with promising futures are bought or mysteriously disappear. Damian ensured no one rose to power if they weren't needed; many considerations had to be made before having a strong ally hungry for power.
When a common businessman is targeted by a noble under the crown's orders, the outcome is evident.
Damian had appointed six generals called warlords, who fought on the borders and defended humans from demon attacks all the time. Thanks to them, he had devoted enough time to creating an alchemy atomic bomb that fused destructive magic particles.
Throughout this time, Damian remained in power, not aging at all, but his magical aura was now as powerful as his master's. He had been using a method to control magic and enhance his physique, increasing his muscle mass.
His hair was short because Frieren preferred it that way, ensuring it was cut each year. Damian's appearance was more dominant, his white hair even glowing slightly to others.
Most notably, his magical eyes could read magic and neutralize magical circles before they were completed and cast against him. This made him very powerful—the strongest of Serie's students.
But there was a problem: in over two hundred years, he hadn't traveled, focusing so much on strengthening himself to keep his home safe and end the wars that he didn't bother to leave.
This didn't bother Frieren; she could spend decades studying magic without any problem. After all, she was a disinterested elf.
In fact, it had been two years since he last saw her because he was continuously modifying the famous alchemy atomic bomb.
Today, he was going to meet with an influential merchant family involved in slave smuggling in Damian's territory, practically the royal capital.
A man named Gabriel arrived early at Damian's palace, where one of his most powerful puppets, controlled mentally, moved his consciousness to that puppet.
With his current social status, if Damian showed a bit of malice, Gabriel's entire family would face catastrophe, including his newlywed wife and the children waiting to be fed. Damian didn't even need to speak; as long as the officials below knew he was guilty of his crimes, they would die.
Seeing Gabriel's fear-filled face, kneeling and repeatedly bowing to beg for his life, Damian waved his hand and said, "Your father died five years ago. You have three brothers besides you who control your father's trade, so tell me, who committed this crime?"
"Is there something special that the Emperor himself is asking me this question?" Gabriel asked.
Damian's eyes glowed as he removed the black band covering them and approached the man kneeling on the ground. "If I don't have all your brothers in front of me right now, it's because I don't want another controversy. There are rumors among certain groups that consider me a tyrant Emperor."
"Isn't it funny? After everything I've done for those wretches, they accuse me in this way... You're the most noble brother. If you tell me where they found that elf, then I won't kill them all."
"What elf?"
"There was an elf among the slaves. She possessed very ancient magic, so I would stop unnecessary killings if you told me now."
Gabriel didn't dare to look up and said, "My older brother knows where those slaves came from."
"Very well, your brothers will be killed, but I'll let you live."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Damian learned about an elf who spoke an unknown language and who came to this place because she had a dream about a war extending beyond the clouds, determining if humans live or die.
This was a trigger for Damian to personally exterminate the demons; his magical book no longer showed him his future, so he assumed he had reached his end. If he made a mistake, then he would most likely die.
Serie had told him that the future of humanity didn't depend on his hands, but now as Emperor, he had to take charge.