The Chernium Purge
Joshua, the new imperial guard who had reached the 9th Circle, had nothing left to do. He could no longer grow, and magic training had lost its thrill. He chased after beautiful women, watched circuses, and forced death row inmates to fight until they dropped. But he was bored. No entertainment could shake off his ennui.
"This is what Father handled?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
One day, the emperor rummaged through records of his father's deeds. It was something to do in his idleness.
"Quite a lot, huh."
Amid them, he found an intriguing entry.
"Chernium subjugation operation? What's this?"
"It was a mission to eradicate a criminal organization worshiping demons. They even summoned a real devil back then."
The Guard Captain's explanation piqued the emperor's interest. With curiosity, he pulled out the compiled document and read it. The report was penned in the scribe's own words.
Chernium was a religious heretical group that had secretly spread across the eastern regions centered on Kiinira. They worshiped demons and performed unholy rituals through human sacrifices. The number of victims within the empire was approximately 2,000, and including foreigners from other nations (Aihenvalt, Britann, Espagna, etc.), the total exceeded 3,000.
The reason such large-scale damage remained hidden for so long was collusion with local powers. The mayor of Kiinira, the lord, and numerous nearby nobles had direct ties to Chernium, blocking information and cleverly evading the empire's investigations.
On August 21, 1719, His Divine Majesty the Emperor issued an unconditional subjugation order against the group. Ten knights, ten 4th Circle mages, and five imperial guards were deployed. This was an operation carried out under full authority delegation, with all participants granted immunity under imperial law.
Prior to the campaign, the subjugation force first purged local factions linked to Chernium. One mayor, one lord, three nobles, and numerous other political and commercial collaborators were summarily executed or detained under military tribunal.
On August 23, 1719, Chernium's stronghold was discovered in an underground cave in the eastern mountains of Kiinira. Upon entry, the subjugation force immediately engaged in combat. A total of 803 Chernium followers were confirmed, of whom about 400 were eliminated by a single rookie imperial guard in the initial skirmish.
Sensing the tide had turned completely, the Chernium followers used themselves as sacrifices to perform a demon descent ritual. The entity they summoned was a 2nd-grade demon, known as the "Demon of Claws." This demon possessed claws harder than mithril, along with extreme agility, regeneration, and magic resistance.
Immediately after the demon's appearance, eight of the ten knights and six of the ten mages perished. Three of the five imperial guards fell in battle. However, the demon was also subjugated on-site by the rookie imperial guard.
His Majesty the Emperor commended the rookie imperial guard for his exceptional performance in this operation.
"Guard Captain."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Killing a 2nd-grade demon with just 25 men? That should've been impossible. Is the record wrong?"
The emperor shook the document emphatically. He occasionally subjugated demons himself and knew full well the power of a 2nd-grade one. He couldn't believe 25 people had taken it down.
"It's because of that rookie imperial guard, Your Majesty."
"The one who was commended?"
"Yes, I was there on-site myself, so I know."
The Guard Captain had commanded the scene back then. He recalled the memory.
In the gloomy cave, that man slaughtered the worshipers like a madman. He wasn't an imperial guard. He was a butcher. One hand wreathed in black sword aura hacked limbs apart with wet, crunching sounds. The other unleashed lightning and flames, searing and burning the living. Screams, wails, and the stench of blood filled the cave. It was a hell created by one man.
There was no hesitation, no waste. Without a single inefficient spell, he massacred as naturally as breathing. Thus, half of the 800 fell to that rookie guard. Slaughtered, more like.
Drenched in blood and brains, as the worshipers finally cried out in trembling voices toward him:
Demon spawn.
In the end, the worshipers summoned the demon in desperation. Better to die together.
The 2nd-grade demon appeared, and the Guard Captain thought everyone was done for. Ten knights, ten mages, five guards. It was too few. Absurdly so for a 2nd-grade demon.
"The demon that appeared was the Demon of Claws. It had claws sharper than mithril."
"And?"
"Seventeen were shredded by those claws."
"Incompetent."
The emperor's words made the Guard Captain bristle inwardly. It was true they'd delayed, allowing the summoning, but insulting his men's deaths was hard to swallow. He continued in a low voice.
"...We were on the brink of annihilation, but that guard thrust his sword into the demon's throat and poured magic into it, succeeding in the subjugation."
"Ho, so he wields both sword and magic?"
"Sword realm: Sword Master. Magic realm: 6th Circle mage with Logos."
"Logos too, huh..."
The emperor's eyes gleamed. A world he himself hadn't attained. One's own world, unique individuality. In a one-eyed world, those with two eyes were mages with Logos. A power beyond mere talent. The emperor had challenged it countless times but ultimately given up.
"So, where's that guy now? Feels like I've never seen him."
"That... rookie imperial guard was Gert."
"..."
The emperor's face twisted. Gert. The guard with his sister. No way he didn't know the name.
"...Tch, Father sure had a knack for gathering talent."
Leo didn't move. Ironically, stillness itself was part of the motion. He hadn't drawn his sword or made any threatening gesture. Yet in an instant, his fingers and shoulders twitched ever so slightly. A split-second flinch, slicing the air—too fast for the eye to catch.
One motion. That single motion tricked the opponent's nervous system into thinking its throat was slit. Skin reacted first, then instinct screamed warning. Killing intent. Easier said than done; only those who'd killed enough to sicken themselves could wield it.
And not all Sword Masters were equal. The experience Leo had amassed was beyond the deputy commander's wildest imagination.
"There are things you can say and things you can't, guardsman."
"Uh, uh..."
Leo spoke. His eyes had returned to blue. The deputy commander facing him gaped like a mute patient, unable to form words.
"Watch your tongue, yeah?"
"Y-yes, yes. R-right. Yes, you're right."
The deputy commander nodded, trembling. The shock of his severed neck reattaching. His mind couldn't stay intact.
'Why's the deputy commander suddenly...?'
Felix, witnessing it all, was baffled beyond confusion. He doubted if it was real. To him, Leo had done nothing. It looked like the deputy had just snapped into madness.
'No way Valentine did something?'
Felix glanced at Leo. Blue eyes. Perfectly ordinary. But those eyes had driven the deputy mad. Had he done something? It was the only explanation. No reason for the deputy to fear otherwise.
'But the deputy's a Sword Master. No trick should work on him.'
Yet it didn't add up. The deputy had swung his sword in the king's shadow for decades. He'd even subjugated a 5th-grade demon. A veteran among veterans. It made no sense for him to cower before an ordinary dad.
"Headmaster."
Felix met Leo's eyes. He swallowed hard, the sound faint.
"I believe you're a good man."
"..."
"That interview day, you could've just brushed us off. But you didn't. Probably because you're kind."
"..."
"This situation wasn't your doing. It was His Highness's will."
Felix bowed his head quietly. He didn't know what else to say.
"I understand your position. But I can't stake my daughter on it. So please, understand our choice."
*
"Hoo..."
Leo sighed deeply as he left the principal's office and walked the corridor.
'Been a while, but it still works.'
Eight years since he'd set down the sword, yet his body remembered.
'Talk about trouble.'
He'd barely held back from killing at the end, but the root problem remained. The king was after Elizabeth. He'd dealt with the steward and that shady guard, but unless the king backed off, the conflict wouldn't end. This wasn't over. There'd be a next time.
'Next time, it might not be words.'
If he ever threatened Elizabeth directly—
Crack.
Leo clenched his fist. Veins bulged.
'Then I'll have to kill him.'
King or whatever.
"Dad?"
As his thoughts deepened, a familiar voice blocked his path. Elizabeth. Her neatly tied golden hair swaying as she ran up.
Leo asked in surprise.
"Huh? Why're you here?"
"What do you mean? This is my school, and I'm a student."
"Ah."
Leo scratched his head, embarrassed even at himself. The man pondering regicide moments ago felt alien in this everyday chat.
"Why'd you come to school?"
"Just a quick consultation."
"Consultation?"
"Our daughter's too outstanding. Got a ton on my plate."
Not entirely a lie. With all her wins and first places, her guardian Leo was swamped. Business proposals from companies, nobles' marriage offers, and now the king's schemes.
"Should I slack off then? So you're not tired."
Her eyes were sincere.
"Nah. I'm fine, so you keep shining."
"Okay."
"But why're you all sweaty? Practice?"
He gently wiped the sweat from her neck and shoulders with a handkerchief.
"Look at that flushed skin. How hard did you go?"
At his tender touch, her cheeks reddened further.
"J-just practice. At the debutante, I have to lead you, right, Dad?"
"Still no partner?"
Debutantes usually danced with lovers or fiancés. Unpaired ladies danced with family like brothers or fathers.
"Why find one when I have you?"
"Still, your friends all have partners."
"Doesn't matter. I want you. For my first dance."
Elizabeth hooked her pinky with his and leaned her head on his shoulder. Her faint scent and hand's warmth seeped in. He gazed quietly down at his daughter.
She shared not a drop of his blood. It started half-forced, perhaps from duty alone. But now it was different. No matter what anyone said, she was his daughter. The most precious child in the world.
And in that moment, he realized it clearly.
To protect this one child, he'd turn the whole world against him.