Chapter 5: The Enemy of the Revolution
“The enemy of the revolution.”
The man replied calmly, and at his words, the cavalry of the Iron Brigade raised their voices in unison.
“Assume tactical positions!”
“Enemy of the revolution!”
The crowd around them scattered in chaos, screams echoing through the air.
Clank, clank!
The magical armor, emblematic of the Iron Brigade, writhed like a living creature, wrapping around the cavalrymen. The metallic exoskeleton encased them, channeling power into their bodies.
The soldiers of the Iron Brigade extended their arms in unison.
Simultaneously, the armor’s arms twisted, forming the shape of gun barrels. Black powder scattered along the barrels.
Yet, the black powder never reached the man. It was merely blocked by the curtain of cold air rising from beneath his feet.
“Vanguard, charge!”
The first line of the Iron Brigade spurred their horses forward, charging into the chaos where people screamed and panicked, yet the cavalry maintained their formation.
But nothing changed.
The man silently extended his arm toward them. At the same time, the black robe he wore began to writhe like a living creature.
The hem of the shadowy cloak transformed into a blade of darkness, surging forward like a spear against the charging cavalry.
Thud!
The shadowy blade rose like a phalanx, and the warhorses toppled one by one before it.
Yet, the knights of the Iron Brigade, undeterred by the shock of falling, quickly regained their stance and pressed on.
“Only death awaits the enemy of the revolution!”
”…”
The knights swung their magic-infused swords, but the man remained unmoved.
From the shadows at his feet, countless tendrils of darkness emerged.
Slash!
”…!”
The tendrils rose, binding and tearing the knights’ limbs. It was a one-sided massacre, hardly a battle.
“How, how is this possible…!”
Colonel Bourbon swallowed hard at the sight of the elite revolutionary forces being mercilessly slaughtered. It was unthinkable.
“Where did such a monster come from…?”
It was unbelievable.
In an age where magic was dying, a sorcerer with such power still existed.
“Aaaah, aaaaaah!”
Endless screams filled the air.
Their proud armor was crushed, torn, and burst apart. Flesh, blood, bones, and entrails spilled from the gaps.
The proud warriors of the revolution were being toyed with, as if by a malevolent god.
Seeing this, Colonel Bourbon did not hesitate.
“Retreat, everyone retreat!”
This was not a battle. There was no point in sending more troops. Preserving even a single soldier and escaping safely was crucial.
The remaining Iron Brigade turned their horses, and the man watched them flee without a word.
It would have been easy to chase them down and kill every last one. But he did not.
He simply turned his head. Toward the girl who watched his slaughter in terror.
“What do you think?”
The man asked. Despite the bright daylight, the shadow beneath his robe remained deep and dark.
As he approached, the girl, Yufi, collapsed as if her legs had given out.
“I, I…”
Yufi mumbled, looking at the scattered remains of the knights.
“Even with revenge, it doesn’t ease your heart as you thought, does it?”
”…”
Yufi remained silent, her slender shoulders trembling.
She remembered the power the man had shown her. But even what she thought she had seen was only the entrance to the abyss he possessed.
It wasn’t the man she feared.
“What have I done…”
“That’s enough.”
She feared and regretted having commanded such a horrific act using his power. The man neither blamed nor lectured her further, simply turning his head away.
After a moment of silence, the man spoke.
“My name is Dale.”
“What…?”
“My name.”
“D-Dale, sir…”
Yufi said, and a faint chuckle emerged from the shadows. It was the first time she heard him laugh.
“Why, why are you laughing?”
“It’s nothing.”
Dale shook his head quietly.
“Shall we go?”
“Wh-where to?”
When Yufi asked, Dale didn’t answer immediately. After a pause, he replied.
“Into the world.”
Dale procured a horse and left the city.
With him was Yufi, a girl who bore a striking resemblance to his late sister, Lize.
As night fell on their journey, Yufi lay asleep by the campfire. Dale looked up at the sky, leaving her to her rest.
Running away was never the answer. No matter how far he tried to flee, the world never let him go.
But even when he didn’t try to run,
He sensed a presence in the darkness. The sound of a twig snapping.
“Show yourself.”
Dale spoke without even turning his head.
“Ah, please don’t misunderstand, sir! I’m not a suspicious person!”
A voice, trying to mask its surprise, called out. Dale closed his mouth in disbelief, and a shadow emerged. Yufi, realizing the presence, jolted awake.
“I’m just a mere rat.”
The shadow revealed itself, and Dale immediately knew who it was.
“I saw what happened in the city today. I couldn’t forget the sight of you defeating the revolutionaries!”
“You’ve been following me since then.”
“Hehe, you knew from the start, didn’t you?”
“Do you have business with me?”
Dale asked without a word.
“Are you headed somewhere, sir?”
“I’m looking for a place where this girl can be safe.”
”…!”
At Dale’s words, Yufi held her breath, and the man who called himself a rat spoke.
“Ah, then I know just the place! It’s probably the safest place for the lady in this country!”
“Where is that?”
“The estate of Marquis Rosenheim, a loyal servant of His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Do you work for him?”
“Yes. Since you defeated the notorious Iron Brigade, I’m sure the Marquis will reward you generously! What do you think?”
The world never lets you go. It was indeed as they said.
So Dale nodded.
“I’ll accept your offer.”
After about a week on horseback, Dale arrived at the estate of Marquis Rosenheim, who welcomed him.
“Oh, welcome! We’ve been expecting you!”
Yufi, surprised by the noble’s hospitality, held her breath. Dale raised his head calmly.
The noble before him was not someone Dale knew.
The events unfolding in this land, known as the ‘Ninth Empire,’ were also unknown to Dale. Nor did he care.
When he was thawed from the ice and cast into the world, it was no longer the world Dale remembered.
He had been left alone through countless ages, and that was all.
In a world without Saxon or loved ones, he was utterly alone.
Moreover, the Blue Tower of deceit and intrigue, the blue curtain, would leave no record in history. Thus, he had no way of knowing what Lize had hoped for or attempted, or how it had ended.
So, in the solitude left behind, he could only continue his futile struggle.
An endless wandering followed. That was all.
Wandering upon wandering, and at the end, wandering again. Like someone lost in a maze, endlessly circling the same spot.
“I heard you’re a powerful sorcerer, strong enough to wipe out the Iron Brigade!”
Marquis Rosenheim spoke, unable to hide his amazement.
“My subordinate said your power is unbelievable in this age where magic is fading!”
”…”
Dale didn’t answer immediately, remaining silent. It was true. The power of sorcerers and the prestige of the towers were not what they once were. The same went for aura and swordsmanship.
In this world, technology replaced the decline and absence of mana. Just as the armor of the Iron Brigade demonstrated.
“For your achievement in repelling the Iron Brigade in Leven City, our empire will not forget to reward you. What do you desire? Please, speak freely.”
At Marquis Rosenheim’s words, Dale glanced sideways. Yufi was cautiously watching him.
“Her…”
But as he began to speak, Dale fell silent.
“No, nothing. Allow us to stay at this estate for a while, and that will suffice.”
“Very well. What are you all doing? Prepare to welcome our esteemed guests!”
“Dale, sir…”
At Dale’s words, Yufi held her breath for a moment. Then, feeling a sense of relief, she smiled.
“I’ve never seen a sorcerer with such power before!”
Colonel Bourbon, leader of the Iron Brigade, spoke, unable to hide his astonishment.
“At least from what I know, he was a force from the Empire that no one could ever hope to rival.”
In an era where magic was fading, the days when a single powerful individual could dominate a hundred were long gone. Nowadays, the outcome of wars was determined not by the presence of an overwhelming powerhouse, but by strategy and coordinated efforts.
Yet, that man, that monster, defied such logic.
“If someone of that caliber from the Empire were involved, we would have heard about it by now.”
After listening to Colonel Bourbon’s report, the silhouette nodded calmly.
“Even if he claims to be an enemy of the revolution, there’s no evidence he’s fighting for the Empire. There’s still room for negotiation. Pursuing him further would only provoke unnecessary conflict.”
“Understood.”
“Our goal is to dismantle the rotten old regime. That is our revolution, our mission. For now, focus on destabilizing the core of the imperialist nobles.”
Colonel Bourbon nodded in agreement.
“Coincidentally, the Iron Brigade, equipped with Type-2 armor, is set to be deployed for their first mission in the Marquess of Rosenheim’s territory.”