Woo-hoo! This feels great!
Who would have ever imagined we'd be flying someday?!
Well, the whole reason we can fly at all
is because Shin cast floating magic on us!
We're only controlling our wind magic to move us around.
Mm-hmm, they're really starting to shape up.
Shin, I'd like to hurry up and fly, too.
I'm even wearing these!
Hey, May! That's so unladylike!
Huh? But it's okay to show these, isn't it?
It's okay, in one sense, but still, no!
Hey! It's time to come back down!
Huh?
We were just hitting our stride, though.
It's time to switch out.
That magic gear looks like it'd be all kinds of useful.
We might be able to use it at Your Highness's investiture ceremony.
Now that you mention it, that's coming up soon, isn't it?
Yeah.
Everyone! Hurry up and trade off, please!
"Wise Man's Grandchild"
"Imperial Castle"
I see.
The last town has fallen.
Yes. Now every town and village within the empire's territory
has been done away with.
The demonoid squad led by Zest has attacked the caravans on the roads,
putting a stop to the supply of food.
As the nobility continue their lives of luxury,
it induces the resentment of the starving commoners to rise,
demonizing them. As the commoners become demonoids,
they slaughter the feudal lords to settle their scores,
and they lay waste to yet another town or village.
Master Schtrom hates the imperial nobility.
But by going about things this way, many commoners are being victimized, too.
Master Schtrom, why are you going to such lengths?
"Imperial Castle, throne room"
Thanks to all of your efforts,
we have been able to drive the empire to ruin.
This is a tremendously auspicious occasion.
Now, what should we do next?
Overthrowing the empire was my objective, you see.
There is nothing for me to do now.
What are you talking about?!
Right!
We should keep on going and conquer the neighboring lands
--and continue until we take over the world!
--And why should we have to do something so tiresome? --and continue until we take over the world!
--And why should we have to do something so tiresome?
With this many of us demonoids...
...we could form our own demonoid nation!
You are free to pursue whatever ambitions you have,
but would you mind not imposing them upon me? They are unwelcome.
Is that right? In that case, I'm going to do whatever I feel like.
Go ahead. In fact, you could have done that from the start.
Anyone else who feels as he does, please feel free to go with him, as well.
Are you sure about letting them go off on their own like this?
It doesn't matter.
I've already accomplished my goal of overthrowing the empire.
We can let them do as they like.
Um, why do you have such animosity for the empire?
I heard that you were once an imperial duke and were in line to be emperor.
Now that you mention it, I never told you, did I?
All right, would you like me to tell you the tale?
It started back when I was still known as Oliveira.
"Two years ago, Territory of Stradius"
Oh, Lord Oliveira!
Our lord need not concern himself with our labor!
"Oliveira von Stradius (later Oliver Schtrom)"
Oh, it's all right.
The soil is maintaining its richness, and the crops are growing well.
It looks like we can look forward to a good harvest this year.
Yes. There's a bumper crop in every field.
There are a lot more people around, huh?
Thanks to your agricultural reforms, the crop acreage has increased.
There wasn't enough manpower,
so we appear to have welcomed workers from other territories.
Oh, yeah? So, will we get even more?
Well, there are some industries in town that also have growing worker shortages.
Everywhere you go, we're shorthanded.
I've been meaning to ask you this for some time,
but Lord Oliveira, why do you treat the commoners so favorably?
When I was little, I accepted without question
a world where the nobility got preferential treatment.
But while traveling as a youngster, I received a shock in a foreign country.
Unlike the empire, this country had no system of slavery,
and even the commoners enjoyed a vibrant lifestyle.
When I discovered how different it was for the commoners the empire exploited,
it made me realize that this was how the future of the empire should be.
Which country was it?
The Kingdom of Earlsheid.
"Stradius Ducal Palace"
Dear, why don't you come to bed?
Oh, this district's yield is lower than the others.
I thought I might be able to do something.
It's nice of you to work for your people,
but I'm concerned about your health.
Aria, you should be more concerned about your own health.
This is the treasure we've finally been blessed with.
"Richmond Ducal Palace"
I have a favor to ask of you.
"Herald von Richmond (later Emperor Blusfia)"
I'd like you to summon Oliveira to the imperial capital.
Duke Stradius, you mean?
Don't you find him to be a nuisance?
Well, of course!
More and more of our commoners are leaving our territories for his!
We are positively seething over this!
If he continues to contribute more money to the empire
and becomes its greatest underwriter,
he will end up acceding to the emperor's throne.
If he ends up as emperor, he will implement policies favoring commoners!
Heh, which is why you're going to call Stradius to the capital.
While he's there, I will undertake to bring about his downfall.
Do you really mean it?
Keep him in the capital for as long as you can.
It doesn't matter what reasons you give him.
We'll tell him it's a reception!
If we tell him we want to hear about preferential treatment of commoners...
...and then hold one study session after another...
Oliveira, you're finished.
Yes!
Yes, Aria!
The nobles! The other nobles say they're going to go along with my ideas!
Congratulations! But why, all of a sudden?
Lately, tax revenues haven't increased as they'd like.
If it keeps up, contributing to the empire could grow tougher.
Late contributions could get their titles stripped from them.
They probably intend to do whatever it takes to preserve their privilege.
It also says in the letter that they're meeting at the capital soon,
and they want me to instruct them in territorial management.
The capital? Are you sure this is safe?
I understand there are some noblemen who see you as having the upper hand
and may be plotting to do something bad to you.
Not to worry! You know how good I am with magic.
Well, you are said to be one of the most prominent magicians in the empire.
In my youth, I spent some time as a demon hunter.
I'm not going to be assassinated that easily.
But you were only a demon hunter for a month, right?
Well, that's kind of harsh, huh?
Please, don't let anything happen to him.
Gone missing?
That's the third one--all women and children.
From what I heard, the same thing is happening in other places, too.
Excuse me...
Yes, what is it?
I am with the military police detachment from the capital.
There have been a rash of kidnappings...
Kidnappings?!
Shh! Not so loud!
We also have information saying that the people kidnapped
have been sold off as slaves.
Slaves?
Would you happen to know anything about that?
Huh? The kidnappings are the doing of the feudal lord?
But the feudal lord has been so fair to us commoners!
According to what my wife heard, he gathers commoners to his territory,
and then sells them off as slaves!
Lord Oliveira does that?
Don't you think it's strange
for an imperial feudal lord to give such favorable treatment to commoners?
You have a point.
It sounds like it's going well.
They don't even realize we're fake police and are eating the story up.
Well, they are just feeble-minded commoners, after all.
Oliveira is returning to his land?
We tried everything from receptions to management training to keep him here,
but he said his wife will be delivering soon.
Hmm, it's been nearly two months since we lured him to the capital.
It's about time we brought this to a finish.
We've finally picked up the trail of the kidnapper.
We're going to need your cooperation to capture him.
Halt!
We're going to have to inspect your cargo.
This is the duke's wagon. Do you think I'm going to allow that?
This is a writ of examination that came from the emperor himself.
No more of your backtalk!
It's the girls who were abducted!
They were in the duke's wagon?
So the rumors about the feudal lord being the kidnapper were true?
Can't the police do anything about this?
We're talking about a nobleman.
They can't do anything until they have solid evidence.
We can't wait around for the police to deal with this!
We're going to bring down Oliveira ourselves!
There's some kind of commotion outside.
Aria, I'm sorry for leaving you on your own for so long at such a critical time.
I'll be with you again soon.
What is it?
Y-Your mansion!
When I saw the flames rising from the mansion, I hurried toward it,
but the mob had already laid waste to it.
By the time I reached the room my wife was in, it was too late.
Why...?
Why would you do such a horrible thing...?
Don't play dumb!
We know all about it!
About how you kidnapped those girls and sold them as slaves!
There is no way I would ever do such a thing.
Don't try to play innocent!
We saw it for ourselves!
The wagon with your ducal crest on it! Along with the military police!
The military police would never let civilians accompany them.
And carrying kidnapped people in a wagon that has my crest on it?
Do you think I would transport illegal slaves in such a foolish manner?
I figured it out.
They used noblemen to keep me in the capital
while at the same time spreading rumors to discredit me.
Who was it that could pull off something on a scale this large?
And who had the most to gain by putting me in this situation?
L-Lord Oliveira...?
Ah, what a fool I've been.
To have worked so hard for cretins who return such evil for good,
and for the empire, who gives free rein to the nobility who would scheme
to do something as low as this.
M-My lord, please forgive us!
Forgive you? Forgive the fools who would do something like this?
What exactly is this nonsense you're speaking?
There is no way I can forgive this.
You...
...the nobles who put you up to this...
...and the empire that allows them to get away with it...
...will all, all, all pay for this!
Just you wait, Blusfia Empire. Everything...
...from the emperor, to the nobility, down to the commoners...
I will destroy everything.
Lawrence, after hearing Master Schtrom's story, what do you think?
What do I think? I think I can understand wanting to destroy the empire,
both the nobility and the commoners, after what was done to him.
But Master Schtrom has accomplished his goal now.
Now Master Schtrom needs a new objective, don't you think?
Well, sure. Better than not having one.
And there we go. I want you to mix in with the demonoids who left
and get them to launch an attack on the Kingdom of Sweed.
The Kingdom of Sweed is a small land that borders the Kingdom of Earlsheid.
If a band of demonoids appears there, he is sure to come running.
Who is "he"?
Shin Wolford.
You mean, the one who drove away Master Schtrom?!
That's right. Which is what makes him the perfect next objective for Schtrom.
Very well. When the day comes,
you want to be ready for him by determining his strength.
Heh, you catch on quickly.
Lawrence, I'm trusting you to do this. I have high hopes for you.
Whoa, Aug looks like a prince.
He is a prince.
August von Earlsheid, dost thou swear to become the crown prince,
and to strive with all thy strength to serve this land?
I swear to devote my life to this nation and to its people.
Well spoken. August, I hereby recognize thee as crown prince.
I expect thee to commit thyself in service to the people.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I have an urgent message!
A number of demonoids have appeared in the Kingdom of Sweed!
They are engaged in combat!
You fool! What do you think you're doing, reporting something like that
during this important ceremony?!
It's all right. Do not rebuke that man.
--Your Highness... --Your Highness...
Thank you for informing us.
Reports of demonoids appearing take top priority.
D-Did he just say that demonoids have appeared?
O-Oh, no. Is everything all right?
Everyone, please calm down. We just received a report
that demonoids have appeared in the neighboring Kingdom of Sweed.
But do not worry. We already have a group in place
to resist these demonoids.
Shin!
This is Shin Wolford, grandson of the hero Merlin Wolford,
and the new hero who put down the demonoid who appeared some time ago.
I...
...no, we have continually improved ourselves together with Shin,
and gained the strength we need to oppose the demonoids!
We are now heading to the Kingdom of Sweed to take down these demonoids!
Huh? They're taking them off?
Shin, say something, will you?
M-Me, too?
This is a performance to put the people's minds at ease. Make it good.
Also, think up a name for our team.
Calling us a study group makes us sound like students and lacks any punch.
Huh? You mean, right now?!
Ladies and gentlemen, please do not worry.
Everyone here has the strength it will take to oppose the demonoids.
We...
Let's see, what should it be?
We're the Ultimate Magic Study Group, so... ultimate... magic...
We promise you, we will put down the demonoids!
The Ultimate Magicians!
"Ultimate Magicians"?!
Sorry, I've done it again.
I kind of like it.
Okay, let's go out with a bang. To give the people hope.
Yeah, all right.
And if we want a bang, I know what that calls for.
Ultimate Magicians, move out!