Journey to the Ancient Kingdom
After receiving his orders from Emperor Tenma through Commander Takeru, Roku set off with his deputy Seiji toward the Ancient Kingdom.
Seiji was only one year older than Roku, so there was hardly any difference between them, and when Roku was promoted to become a commander, he did not hesitate to choose Seiji as his deputy. Their relationship wasn't just that of a commander and his second-in-command; they were like brothers.
Their path led through a vast forest, its trees towering like the Imperial Palace, and their interwoven leaves formed a thick canopy that made the forest dark.
On their way to the Ancient Kingdom, Roku drifted into his thoughts, as if his mind was trapped by something specific.
Before their departure, he had stood before a massive stone statue of a man wearing a "ronin" hat, raising his sword in a battle stance, radiating awe even though it was carved from stone.
Roku stood silently, gazing at its details, his eyes filled with confusion, when a man appeared in front of him and said:
"It seems you're looking at the statue of the Samurai Ruler."
Roku turned slowly, his eyes still focused on the statue's details, then spoke casually, with a puzzled look on his face:
"And who is this person?"
The mysterious man looked at him and answered kindly:
"The Samurai Ruler was the one who founded this path, known as the first samurai in history. He wasn't just a warrior, but a living legend. It's said that in his era, there were no powers or magic... until he appeared. With his appearance, strength was born and magic spread in this world. He was known for his wisdom as well as his strength, and he was beloved by all, not just for his presence, but for what he did for his people... and this statue wasn't sculpted without reason—it was a tribute to him and a glorification of his legend."
Roku came back to his senses and said to Seiji:
"Don't you think the story of the Samurai Ruler is a bit exaggerated?"
"Honestly, I agree with you, because when you examine the story closely, you find it fictional, not related to reality—just a tale told by the elders."
"Now stop thinking about the Samurai Ruler, and let's focus on the mission."
"Oh come on, Seiji, you always ruin the fun."
Seiji replied seriously:
"When I think about the fall of the Ancient Kingdom, I feel something suspicious. The Ancient Kingdom was the oldest kingdom in this world, and it was so powerful that no one dared to fight it. Even the yokai didn't come near its borders. It was similar to our Empire in terms of philosophy, but different in battle, as it followed the way of the knight. It was also known for its strong economy, as it overlooked the sea. It seems that its destruction was caused by a terrifying entity."
Seiji turned to Roku, who minutes ago was laughing and carefree, but now was terrified, as if he had seen death itself.
I came to take a look, only to find that the Ancient Kingdom was completely destroyed. The ruins of buildings were scattered everywhere, knights' corpses pierced with spears, and the bodies of civilians hung over their homes.
Roku said, terrified:
"What the hell is this..."
End chapter
I apologize if the number of words of the chapter is few, it was just an introductory chapter for the upcoming events.