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Time flew by.
Under Mika, Airmid, and Mellie's rule, the once-declining Empire flourished, brimming with newfound vitality.
Thanks to Mellie's meticulous planning, the railway construction proceeded smoothly and was expected to reach Esdeath's northern territories soon.
Unlike Mika's previous world, this world possessed extraordinary powers. Influenced by this, the people were inherently stronger, and forging iron was a relatively simple task.
After all, they had already developed firearms.
Furthermore, with Dr. Stylish's scientific expertise, and the Empire's resources dedicated to this project, progress was rapid.
This was the legacy of a thousand-year-old empire.
"These are turbulent times," Mika mused, looking at the map spread before him. The routes marked in red indicated the path of Tatsumi's army, currently campaigning against the southern tribes.
Since Night Raid's departure, Tatsumi, Wave, and Run had rejoined the military, continuing their training in leadership and strategy.
After Esdeath's northern campaign concluded, and her troops returned to the capital for rest and reward, they had been dispatched south under Tatsumi's command.
"Thanks to Mellie's influence, the military commanders are united and respect Tatsumi despite his relative lack of experience."
"With their support, and Tatsumi's willingness to heed their advice, this campaign should proceed without a hitch."
"Moreover, the southern tribes don't possess any Teigu. Even if they encounter setbacks on the battlefield, our Teigu users can easily turn the tide."
Thinking of this, Mika rolled up the map and set it aside.
He had no concerns about Tatsumi's campaign. Both the northern and southern tribes had been weakened by Esdeath's previous conquests.
While ignoring them would allow them to recover, treating them as serious threats would be an overestimation. They couldn't muster any significant resistance.
"However, with so many large-scale projects underway, caution is still necessary."
The Empire's military was currently divided into four forces:
One, under Esdeath's command, securing the northern territories.
Another, led by Tatsumi, campaigning against the southern tribes.
A third, commanded by Airmid, stationed in the capital, ready to be deployed anywhere.
And the final force, secretly dispatched to the southern provinces to prevent the Revolutionary Army from gaining further ground.
Coupled with the ongoing railway construction, the Empire was indeed bustling with activity.
"But it will all be worth it." Mika smiled and returned to his official duties.
He soon came across a report on the Path of the Forge's development.
The new faith had spread throughout the Empire, particularly in the counties surrounding the capital, and had taken root in the villages and towns. These areas were now firmly under Mika's control.
"Excellent work." Satisfied with the progress, he finished reviewing the remaining documents. Thanks to Mellie, only the most important matters reached his desk.
In truth, Mika could easily delegate even these tasks to her. However, she insisted he fulfill his responsibilities as the Familia's leader.
"Now that official matters are concluded, what to do next?" he mused, leaning back in his chair.
The answer came quickly.
He swiftly departed from his study, traversing the palace until he reached a forge deep within its confines.
It was a forge he had built for himself.
On the workbench lay the prototype of a suit of armor – the Teigu he was crafting for himself, incorporating techniques from various worlds.
However, it was still in its initial stages. He had just completed the basic design and was currently processing the materials.
The Imperial treasury held a vast collection of materials from magical beasts, dragons, and Danger Beasts, accumulated over millennia.
These rare resources were now at Mika's disposal, serving as the foundation for crafting the ultimate Teigu.
He sat down at the workbench, examining the various components. A satisfied smile touched his lips.
"Excellent work, Tsukuyomi. These materials have been processed perfectly."
He turned to the beautiful woman who had appeared behind him. She was dressed in a maid's outfit.
"It was my pleasure, Master," she replied softly.
Mika was increasingly pleased with her elegant demeanor and flawless efficiency.
Tsukuyomi wasn't human. She was a Teigu he had crafted, based on the original Susanoo.
After defeating Susanoo, Mika had brought his core back to his workshop for further study. This forge also served as his research lab.
There, he and Gabriel had unravelled the secrets of biological-type Teigu.
To avoid wasting the core, they had modified Susanoo. The first modification was his appearance.
Susanoo's original purpose was to protect his master. Besides his formidable combat abilities, he also possessed exceptional domestic skills, capable of handling various chores and cooking over a thousand dishes.
To Mika, he was the perfect worker.
Therefore, they transformed him from a burly warrior into a beautiful young woman, even changing his name from the Japanese mythological figure Susanoo to Tsukuyomi.
Moreover, his combat abilities had been greatly enhanced. The modified Tsukuyomi could now utilize magic and magecraft from the Type-Moon World. Using magic instead of life force allowed her to enter Berserk Mode at will. After all, magic itself was derived from life force.
She had also been imbued with extensive knowledge of magecraft, allowing her to process materials while Mika attended to other matters.
Therefore, Mika was incredibly satisfied with her.
…
"Finally finished!" Mika's face lit up with a triumphant grin as he gazed at the magnificent suit of armor.
After months of meticulous work, the Teigu (or rather, Mystic Code) that combined forging techniques from multiple worlds was finally complete.
He reached out to touch it, and the armor dissolved into particles, converging on his finger to form an exquisite ring.
Then, as the gem on the ring glowed, the armor materialized once more, this time, on Mika's body.
He clenched his fists, feeling the surge of power coursing through him.
"Even the strongest Teigu crafted by the Empire's first Emperor pales in comparison."
"This is the true ultimate Teigu!"
"In that case, I shall name you the Supreme Teigu: God Emperor's Might!" He declared, gazing at his reflection.
As both the Emperor of the Empire and the deity of the Path of the Forge, he was now a true God Emperor.
"God Emperor's, huh? Mika, you're not hiding your ambitions anymore," Gabriel chuckled, overhearing his declaration.
"I've never bothered hiding them. I will become a hero, and I will surpass the gods!"
"Otherwise, wouldn't Yahweh be trapped in Orario forever?"
Surpassing the gods wasn't just Mika's ambition, but Yahweh's as well.
After all, to travel between worlds with his companions, he needed to be stronger than the deities of those worlds. He couldn't take anyone stronger than himself.
Therefore, Gabriel continuously sought knowledge from various worlds, searching for a way for Mika to achieve godhood and surpass her. Otherwise, she would be forever bound to the world of Danmachi.
"Indeed, that is our shared desire," Gabriel said with a smile. She knew that many Gods in Orario could become their allies in the future.
But to utilize their power, Mika had to surpass them all. He had to become the king of the gods. This was the path Yahweh had set him upon.
As the armor dissolved back into the ring on his finger, Mika said, "With this newfound power, I'm eager to test it out."
"I wonder if I'll get the chance."
…
"An opportunity has presented itself." Mika's eyes lit up as he listened to Mellie's report.
"With the railway construction complete, our forces stationed in the north and south are returning to the capital."
"According to the reports, both General Tatsumi and General Esdeath will arrive within a week."
"Now that the external threats have been dealt with, it's time to address our internal issues."
"Following our plan, our next target should be the Revolutionary Army."
"Leave the Revolutionary Army to me," Mika declared suddenly.
"Huh?" Mellie, who had been engrossed in her report, was taken aback. But she quickly composed herself, a wry smile touching her lips.
"I knew this would happen."
Ever since completing his Teigu, Mika had been eager to test its power. Mellie had anticipated this.
"After all, the Revolutionary Army is the last real challenge remaining in this world."
"Once they're dealt with, those local powerhouses and noble families aren't worth my time."
Mika knew that only Teigu users posed a true threat. Those without Teigu were insignificant.
"I understand. I'll handle the arrangements," Mellie said with a sigh.
…
"So, it has finally come to this." Najenda stared at the intelligence report from the capital.
The Empire had declared war on the Revolutionary Army.
However, they weren't deploying a large army, only ten thousand elite soldiers, unlike their campaigns against the foreign tribes, which involved hundreds of thousands.
"Apparently, they're gathering Teigu users from all over the Empire. This suggests they intend to rely on Teigu users as their core fighting force," Lubbock explained.
"A wise decision, considering the number of Teigu users within the Revolutionary Army."
"If only we had acted when the foreign tribes were attacked…" Najenda sighed. Akame and the others frowned; they knew she had proposed such a plan, but it hadn't been accepted in time. Even when they realized their mistake, the opportunity had been lost.
"It couldn't be helped. The Revolutionary Army had become…impure."
During their rise, they had accepted support from various sources—supplies, food, manpower—from all over the country. While this aid had fueled their rapid growth, it had also complicated their leadership.
Najenda's earlier proposal, upon reaching the higher-ups, had sparked heated debate. The Empire, far from collapsing, was thriving under the new leadership.
This had alarmed many within the Revolutionary Army, who were hesitant to openly challenge the Empire.
After all, they had been preparing for revolution, not actively engaging in warfare. Once they committed to open rebellion, there would be no turning back.
Ultimately, though the Revolutionary Army's leader had agreed with Najenda's plan, it was too late. Mellie, anticipating their move, had already dispatched troops to the south, thwarting their plans.
This setback had exposed a weakness in the Revolutionary Army's leadership. They began restructuring, consolidating power and strengthening the leader's authority.
Najenda agreed with this reform, but the lost opportunity wouldn't return. The revolution had yet to begin.
"In that case, our hopes for victory rest on your shoulders," she said, looking at her comrades. "Let the revolution begin! Let us forge our own path!"
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