Chapter 369: A Tale of the Past. The Fall of the Golden Empire
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 369: A Tale of the Past. The Fall of the Golden Empire
When there was too much gold, gold lost its value.
Until it happened, people didn't even know such a thing was possible. The old saying, "view gold as you would a stone," was a warning not to become consumed by its value, not a prediction that it would one day be worth no more than an actual stone.
Only after experiencing it did humans try to explain the phenomenon, giving it names like the "curse of gold" or "inflation." The Sanctum, grasping the situation, hastily consecrated "clean" gold to guarantee its value, and until alchemy spread and Alchemic Gold came into wide use, Holy Gold became the sole valued currency on the continent.
Other nations, watching the fall of the Golden Empire, revised their own systems and created countermeasures. Scholars who specialized in the field of economics began to appear. Through this, humanity learned one more thing that had not existed in the world before.
However, that entire foundation was built upon the ruins of the Golden Empire.
A few months after Demo was executed, the chaos in the Golden Empire spiraled out of control.
The artisans who had been pushed from power took up arms and rose up. They colluded with regional powers, providing them with high-quality weapons, and marched on the capital to reclaim their authority. They executed every alchemist they saw on their advance, and it seemed no one could stop them.
But after Demo's death, the alchemists were no longer passive.
The alchemists used their craft to create weapons that could kill people. They didn't have to be weapons like spears or swords. Poison, gunpowder, mechanical devices, traps—the alchemists evolved to survive and to kill their enemies.
War breeds technological advancement. Alchemy, which for the past few years had been used only to create gold, gradually broadened its scope. All sorts of bizarre and fantastical tools were invented, the majority of which were for killing humans. The alchemists, creating mechanical devices without forges or workshops, committed all manner of terrorist acts, plunging the Golden Empire into even deeper chaos.
The superiority of technology was clear. But how could the artisans ever accept alchemy? The artisans tried to kill the alchemists using traditional methods, while the comparatively weaker alchemists continued to resist, evading them in the most extraordinary ways.
Battle, destruction, death, chaos. It didn't take long for the Golden Empire to be covered in blood and flames.
The entire nation became the enemy of the alchemists, yet they tenaciously held on. This was partly due to their superior abilities, but more than anything, it was because of a certain specter that roamed the Golden Empire.
"O, Queen Elric! You must stop him!"
The artisans, who had driven out the alchemists and reclaimed power, no longer respected the queen as they once had. No matter how outstanding the queen's skills were, they paled in comparison to alchemy. To those who had witnessed a greater mystery, the pinnacle of craftsmanship was nothing to be impressed by.
Above all, this was now an age of power. The things Queen Elric made were exceptional, but not powerful. What good was the sharpest of swords if the one wielding it was weak? The warlords held the power, and the queen was treated as a mere puppet.
If not for her ability to comprehend complex mechanical devices made by alchemists with a single glance, the warlords wouldn't have even treated her like a queen.
"Did you not say the traitor Demo was dead! Yet he still roams the Golden Empire, using alchemy!"
Though it was hard to say they were treating her like a queen even now.
Elric, exhausted from another day of grueling work, rubbed her eyes and answered the general's demand.
"Is he not restoring collapsed buildings and healing the contaminated land? There are more pressing matters to deal with at the moment."
"Hah. The queen has lost her wits! Do you truly think so?"
She had no power to rebuke him for his insolence. The most powerful person in the Golden Empire at this point was the Grand General, and Queen Elric had been reduced to a crown on his head. With a weary face, Queen Elric waited for him to continue.
"It's alchemy. He is using alchemy! The ignorant commoners are thanking him for restoring their buildings. Some foolish ones even revere the alchemists and go so far as to help them! They praise him, believing only what they see with their own eyes, when this whole mess is his fault! They don't even know it's a cursed power!"
Of course they're grateful when he restores their buildings. If the people's cheers displease you so much, why don't you build the buildings for them instead?
Queen Elric swallowed her sarcasm and retorted.
"Then you go and stop Demo. Wouldn't that solve the problem?"
"That is..."
The general's words trailed off for a moment.
Nothing worked on Demo. No matter what weapon was swung, what poison was used, he would not die. He wouldn't even pretend to listen when spoken to, simply wandering the Golden Empire, constantly making something.
Once, one of his subordinate commanders had swung a sword at him. It was an attempt to kill Demo a second time and make an example of him.
But the sight that followed... was of the obstacle being 'dismantled.'
Recalling the memory, the general squeezed his eyes shut and answered.
"...He is beyond reason. He is possessed by a demon."
There was no other way to describe it. Blades that could be called masterpieces of the century had appeared in an instant and disassembled a human being. The sight of a renowned commander being shredded into pieces and scattered across the ground was beyond terrifying; it was enough to induce a seizure.
Even a priest from the Sanctum had muttered something about a Divine and retreated. For those who had to oppose alchemy, it was an incredible nuisance. That was why the general was making this demand of Queen Elric.
Of course, from Queen Elric's perspective, it was an absurd request. If she had any power, the first thing she would do is wipe out the power-hungry jackals.
And now he was suddenly telling her to go deal with a ghost. Cursing inwardly, she sighed.
"And how am I supposed to do that?"
"Isn't it the queen's job to solve such things? The monarchs have always possessed mysterious powers, have they not?"
He couldn't solve it himself, yet he showed a baseless faith that the queen could somehow manage it. Did he believe in the queen, or did he not?
Queen Elric gave a hollow laugh but decided to follow the general's wishes.
"I will go. Make the preparations."
Perhaps not expecting such a swift agreement, the general paused for a moment before shouting.
"Her Majesty is making a royal procession. Everyone, prepare!"
As she rode in the palanquin, Queen Elric was lost in thought.
Like everyone else, she, the Queen of the Golden Empire, had no way to deal with Demo. In the first place, she didn't even want to deal with Demo, who was trying to restore the Golden Empire even in death.
The country was filled with brutes who worked their queen to the bone while claiming loyalty, and destroyed the Golden Empire while claiming to protect it. The collapsed economy showed no signs of recovery, and what few artisans remained were too busy making weapons to do any productive work. Meanwhile, the alchemists, their leader dead and their hearts filled with malice, were launching indiscriminate attacks across the entire nation.
If Queen Elric were to deal with Demo in the midst of all this, the situation would only worsen.
Then why was she heading toward Demo? The reason was simple.
It was just that seeing Demo was more comfortable than seeing the general.
After a full day and night of searching, word came that he had been found in a secluded mountain village. As she went to find Demo, Queen Elric briefly chose her words.
Thinking that seeing Demo would be more comfortable than seeing the general was a terrible mistake. This was the disciple she had taught, she had raised, and she had killed. What could she possibly say to him, who had died under the stigma of a traitor, only to rise again and fix what was broken?
When he was alive, she had considered him hateful and the source of all her problems, but now, she missed him the most.
If it had been Demo, if he were still alive. Just as he had turned the bell to gold, he might have revived the Golden Empire in some fantastical way that no one could have imagined...
But that was all in the past. Demo was dead. Only a lingering will remained in his unburied corpse, wandering the Golden Empire. It was surprising that he was even using alchemy, but perhaps that too was a miracle born of Demo's obsession.
Queen Elric lowered her head. How could she face him again? She wished, if anything, that she would never arrive.
Her hopes were in vain. The palanquin carrying her came to a stop before Demo. Inside the halted carriage, Queen Elric took a deep breath and opened the door.
In the distance, she could see him, having just repaired a collapsed house. Yuria Elric swallowed her sorrow and longing and called his name.
"...Demo."
There was no answer. Demo did not react. With a face as pale as a corpse, he waved his hand. The crumbled roof pieced itself back together.
She thought she wouldn't have the nerve to face him, but seeing him again, all her worries vanished like a mirage. Yuria approached him with a welcoming air and spoke.
"Your master has come, yet you do not even greet me. I ought to have you punished."
Her voice did not reach him, a being moved by lingering will. Knowing it wouldn't, Yuria was not disappointed. Instead, she watched him intently.
His pale face was devoid of blood. His eyes had lost their former brilliance. He didn't react to any other stimuli, simply wandering in search of something broken. When he found something damaged, he would restore it with alchemy.
The village, once ruins, was gradually becoming like new. In a Golden Empire rife with destruction and death, how long had it been since she had witnessed such a productive sight? It was something he had always done, but seeing it again now, it felt new. After watching the process for a long while as if in a trance, Yuria suddenly spoke.
"What lingering regrets keep you from closing your eyes... Does the nation that killed you weigh so heavily on your mind?"
There was no need to say it. Even in death, he must have been more worried about the broken Golden Empire than he was hateful of his queen. Yuria suppressed the overwhelming emotions rising in her chest, grabbed Demo's shoulders, and sobbed quietly.
"It's only you. You are the only one who cares for the Golden Empire even in death. Everyone else... they only look after their own well-being, rather than thinking of fixing anything."
Then, something strange happened.
Demo didn't move. As if recognizing his queen, he stopped his movements and stared quietly at Yuria.
In truth, it was simply because the Golden Lord couldn't determine whether she was an obstacle or not, but Yuria didn't know that. Thinking that some small part of her feelings had gotten through, she only hugged him tighter.
"...We've come too far. How can I, no, how can I ever repay this debt to you..."
It was then, as she offered the apology she couldn't give when he was alive, her voice on the verge of breaking.
Slice. Something cut through Yuria's back. Her back flared with heat as if seared by fire, and her body staggered from the unexpected impact. A cold voice followed the blade.
"I knew it would come to this. The alchemists will never disappear as long as the queen is so lukewarm."
Behind her collapsing form, the general appeared, raising a blood-soaked sword. He stared at his dying queen with cold eyes and muttered.
"If Your Majesty is found here as a corpse, they will think you were killed in an attack by the alchemists. I'll be able to move those self-proclaimed loyalists who serve a queen in name only."
Only then did Yuria realize she had walked into a trap.
The general had intended to kill her from the start. Knowing Demo was in the borderlands, he had urged Elric to go find him. His plan was to kill her and pin the crime on the alchemists.
The power of Queen Elric was one passed down from ancient times. No matter how chaotic the Golden Empire became, no matter how incompetent the queen was revealed to be, there were many who paid respect to the continuing bloodline. The general intended to use them.
"To root out the alchemists hiding throughout the country, the nation must move as one. I will make good use of Your Majesty's life."
As the general coldly turned his back, Demo, who had been standing still, moved.
Death is the crumbling of the boundary between the world and the self. As Yuria died, she was becoming an object, and alchemy could now reach her body.
When humans die, they become objects. No, they are objects even when they are alive. It is only their resistance that makes it difficult for external forces to affect them.
Demo perceived the broken Yuria and began the process of fixing her.
Without any consideration, from a purely mechanical perspective.
"Ugh...!"
It was impossible. The parts of her body that had lost their life force became targets for alchemy, occupying her body as if they belonged, though they were no longer hers. Severed muscles were forcibly knotted together, and broken bones were joined as if plastered over. Every time she writhed in agony, the hastily constructed flesh sustained even greater damage.
With each of his attempts, Yuria experienced the pain of having a part of her body torn away whole.
Much later, the Golden Lord, who created crops with alchemy, would come to understand how it constituted a body. But the Golden Lord, his collection still incomplete, was not yet so omnipotent. Yuria Elric, the Queen of Steel, screamed in the agony of being dismantled alive.
And yet.
Amidst the horrific pain, Yuria felt a sense of release. Even this agony, which no one could possibly describe, felt like something she deserved. As his power kneaded every corner of her body, changing it at will, a depraved pleasure came before any feeling of rejection.
"...If this is how it is, then."
Rather than suffer as a queen in name only, perhaps it was better to become a part of him.
Her existence melted away. The Divine was taking her. The Queen of Steel, who had once mastered all skills, her very being was transformed into an alchemical substance... and became a material for the Golden Lord.