In Ark Simulator, why do I always get a tough start?

Chapter 81 The Scene More Than Ten Years Later

Two months after you went to the North, Fremont and Elchi, who had accompanied you, returned to the front lines against Ursus.

When they arrived, the steel trenches were nearing completion, thanks to the labor of hundreds of thousands of captured Ursus soldiers.

Meanwhile, Hildergard, who had been waiting anxiously, immediately went to find them upon learning of their return.

[And what the Black Queen received was only the "Breath of Kings" held by Fremont.]

Everything is self-evident.

On that day, Hildegard, who had never shed a tear even after witnessing her sisters' gruesome deaths, wept bitterly.

Similarly, witnessing the eternal loss of another friend, a heartbroken Fremont still managed to curse Hildergard.

"What are you howling about? Do you want everyone to know this kid is dead?"

"If you want this kid's current achievements and the entire empire to be destroyed, then go ahead and howl!"

"If that kid knew that he lost his life and nothing changed, even if he was bitten to dust by demons in the 'Wilderness,' he wouldn't be able to close his eyes!"

Clearly, Fremont's advice had been effective.

Hildergard controlled her emotions and did not let your death disturb the camp.

A month later, the steel trenches, powerful enough to withstand thousands of Ursus troops, were finally completed.

[Hildegard has just returned from the front lines to Trinity and informed Viviana and Vina of your death.]

The following day, all the citizens of the Holy Empire of Letania, and indeed the entire continent of Terra, learned news that astonished them.

[The Holy Emperor of the Great Empire of Letania, Qi, perished alongside the demons of the North in the battle against them.]

[Because you have driven all the demons from the continent of Terra, demons are no longer a secret on this land.]

In her address announcing your death, young Viviana, as the sole heir, displayed extraordinary rationality.

She not only calmly announced your death to the nation.

She even brought in many authoritative institutions in Colombia, as well as experts with sufficient knowledge of demons, to verify to the world that her claims about "demons" were not false.

However, the shock that the "demon" inflicted on the entire nation was far less than the news of your death.

In fact, while you were away in the North for two months without returning, some morale among the Letanian army at the front had already begun to waver.

In the eyes of the Letanian soldiers, you are an omnipotent "god," the strongest emperor of this land.

But months have passed since you left, and no news has come from you.

Even the aftershocks of any attack like your "divine strike" never reached the North.

At that time, some uneasy soldiers, as well as Ursus prisoners who had once guarded the northern border but were now forced to build steel trenches, were spreading rumors in private.

Have you already died at the hands of evil?

At that time, anyone who spread such news would only be met with a brutal beating from the enraged Leitanian soldiers.

But now, when the news of your death comes from the mouth of Viviana, the heir.

Whether it's ordinary citizens, soldiers, or even the highest echelons of the empire.

After a brief moment of disbelief, they were plunged into intense grief, bewilderment, and turmoil.

They refused to believe that their beloved emperor could be dead.

They couldn't believe what their future would hold after losing the emperor.

In your conquest of Terra, achieving feats surpassing those of any emperor, you have long since become a symbol of faith in the hearts of the army and even the people.

They have an excessive belief that you are omnipotent.

They blindly believe that you will live on forever with Letania.

However, excessive prestige can also bring severe backlash.

That is, the moment news of your death spreads, the nation you built with your own hands will inevitably tremble and collapse.

After the intense grief, everyone fell into a long period of bewilderment.

What will they do without you?

Without you, who can they trust?

A profound sense of bewilderment led to immense panic and turmoil.

Tens of thousands of fanatics, frantically using all sorts of methods, are pouring into the northern lands you once trod.

They are searching for any trace of your continued existence in the last place you set foot in.

And those who hate you are also trying to get in, hoping to find your body and prove your death.

Suddenly, the Sami people, a small country still on the periphery of a tribal system, became the focus of the world's attention.

Faced with the influx of outsiders, the Sami tribes, powerless to stop them, could only continuously send out their members to guide them through this snowy realm long since free of demons.

Meanwhile, because resources simply could not support such a large "tourist group," the Sami tribes had no choice but to communicate with the outside world and establish trade relations with Letania.

[And the hero of Sami, Ektilnir, the leader of the "Wood Crack Tribe," who attracted the attention of many demons.]

[It also proved to the ever-growing number of people who came seeking you the existence of evil spirits, and your deeds in confronting them.]

However, no matter how many times Ektilniel explained, even after the demons vanished, the snowy realm remained fraught with danger.

[This still cannot stop wave after wave of fanatics from risking their lives to enter this snowy land.]

Until, at the edge of that snowy landscape, a Colombian exploration team...

[The Leitanian military flag, deeply embedded in the soil and fluttering in the wind, was found.]

[With the help of the Columbia expedition team and the accompanying sorcerers deciphering the Originium Arts runes remaining on the banner, your final deeds were finally revealed.]

[Now, your death has been definitively confirmed by the world.]

The Emperor of Letania has driven all the mysterious demons from the continent of Terra.

He, too, burned himself out in this battle, leaving not even a mangled body behind.

Ultimately, it was thanks to this legendary, heroic, and tragic story that...

The people of Letania gradually accepted the news that their god-like emperor was dead.

[Only those nations that know the fear of evil truly believe the news of your death.]

Your funeral was held in Trilintelme, the capital of Letania, three days after news of your death was confirmed.

Since your body was not found, Viviana had no choice but to place all your beloved belongings in the coffin, creating a cenotaph.

She buried you beneath your colossal statue in the heart of Trilintelme.

That's the statue the people spontaneously erected in your honor after you overthrew the Gemini Queen.

On that day, half the population of the Leitanian Empire flocked to Triinttelme.

Let us bid farewell to the emperor who brought them prosperity, dignity, and strength.

[Because the number of people seeing her off was so large, Viviana even had to call in the army to maintain order.]

The people who came to bid you farewell came in orderly waves to your statue to offer you flowers.

[During this process, countless people, overwhelmed with grief, knelt before your statue, unwilling to leave.]

Some people still cannot accept your passing, and in their grief, they rush towards your statue, intending to commit suicide to follow you to your last moment.

[And when Theresis, who fought alongside you, presents you with flowers on behalf of the Sarkaz race.]

He expressed the respect and sorrow that everyone present felt for you.

"...You are the greatest, most magnificent, and most regrettable emperor I have ever seen on this land."

“I think that even a thousand years from now, this land will never see a second great king who can be compared to you.”

The funeral lasted seven days, during which time an endless sorrow and gloom lingered over the country.

It was as if this empire was about to come to an end because of your departure.

The day after your funeral, Letania, shrouded in grief, received new news.

With the consent and support of Queen Vina, Marshal Hildergard, and the high-ranking officials of Letania.

[Viviana, the adopted daughter of the former emperor, has officially succeeded to the throne as Empress of the Holy Empire of Letania, with the title "Eternal Rose".]

[Viviana's first act upon assuming the throne was to reach a peace agreement with the crumbling Ursus Empire.]

She used the lives of the more than 100,000 Ursus people still being held captive as a bargaining chip, demanding that Ursus recognize its status as a defeated nation and submit to Letania.

Furthermore, Ursus must eliminate 80% of its military industry and 60% of its mineral resources; its army must not exceed 100,000 personnel, and it is prohibited from possessing heavy weapons of war.

Apart from this, Viviana did not demand any territory from Ursus.

This relatively lenient "unequal treaty" demonstrates a stark contrast between Empress Viviana and your ruthless, extermination policies.

However, this also proves that her gentleness is only relative to you.

Although she is still young, as the Empress, she has already learned from you what it means to be tough and how to fight for the interests of the empire.

The Ursus emperor, having exhausted all other options, had no choice but to accept it.

This diplomatic success solidified Viviana's position as Empress.

[She also began another reform of Letania, based on the advice of those around her.]

Many military factories began to be converted for civilian use, and the Leitanian army, which was no longer engaged in large-scale wars, was disbanded, freeing up a large workforce.

Viviana shifted the nation's development goal from territorial expansion to stability.

She hoped to stabilize the territories that Letania had conquered by force as quickly as possible, so that the people there could fully accept themselves as part of Letania.

She began large-scale development in Rembiton, focusing on two key areas: mining and agriculture, bringing jobs and benefits to the local people.

[In Vichy Gaul, Vivienne began to revitalize this land, which had been exploited beyond recognition by Victoria, through economic means, earning the love and respect of the remaining Gauls.]

She fulfilled your last wish, constructing a mobile city—a military fortress—behind the steel trenches defending Ursus, thus securing the northern front.

At the same time, she also opened trade routes with Colombia and the Sami people, gradually consolidating Letania's influence in the west.

As time passed, the people of Letania gradually recovered from their grief over your passing and began a new chapter in their lives. But Viviana is not you.

Your prestige is so high that your mere presence can nip countless minor issues and potential problems in the bud.

[And once you are gone, many conspiracies and schemes will resurface.]

[Three months after your death, the Lightbringer family rebelled and went to the half of Qazimir that Ursus had previously occupied, declaring the restoration of their kingdom.]

[And because of your passing, large numbers of Casimirians and War Knights began to revolt at the call of the Nearl family.]

Faced with this situation, Viviana, knowing that suppression would be ineffective, chose to compromise.

Thus, the Lightbringer family and a group of knightly nobles rebuilt Kazimir, on the half of the territory formerly occupied by Ursus.

Unlike the western half of Qazimir, Eastern Qazimir abhors knightly competitions and opposes all commercialization of knightly activities.

They uphold the ancient system of chivalry and nobility, seeking to restore the former glory of knights and rebuild their homeland.

Viviana permitted the Qazimirians, who refused to submit to Letanian rule, to migrate to Eastern Qazimir.

This upheaval, which should have escalated into a major conflict, was quelled by Viviana with minimal losses.

But this peace was soon shattered by the restoration movement of Victoria's four surviving dukes.

At this critical moment, Princess Vina stepped forward and went to Victoria to quell the unrest.

Viviana chose to believe the person she had called "Mom" a few times.

However, Vina, who had soon arrived in the Kingdom of Victoria with a guard, sent Viviana a notification a few days later regarding Victoria's independent autonomy.

Fortunately, Vina, having studied under you for some time, probably realizes she can't control these dukes.

Therefore, although she demanded that Victoria regain its independence, she still recognized Victoria's status as a vassal state of Letania.

Furthermore, she returned to Victoria not as "Queen".

Instead, he served as "Speaker" to oversee the situation in Victoria on behalf of Letania.

Having been deceived once, Viviana had no choice but to accept the demands of Vina and the four dukes.

Finally, after years of farce, Letania weathered the crisis, and the situation gradually calmed down.

[And thanks to Viviana's diligence and continuous growth, this stable situation has miraculously continued to this day.]

More than a decade has passed, and the people of Letania have fully recovered from the grief of your passing, healing the wounds of this nation.

But the legends about you are still talked about to this day in Letania, and even throughout the entire continent of Terra.

Countless bards sing tales and legends about you in taverns and squares.

Many young people, the elderly, history enthusiasts, and even those who experienced it firsthand are still debating your merits and demerits.

In Letania, countless people still firmly believe that you are the greatest emperor in Letanian history, unparalleled in your kind!

[However, some young people in Letania regret your choices during the Ursus War, believing that your "later years" had descended into senility and madness.]

For them, the timely death of your greatest emperor is the best possible outcome for Letania.

Some self-proclaimed "fair" Qazimirs believe that although you are cruel and ruthless, your governance of the country is still commendable, with both merits and demerits.

In the mouths of the Victorians and Ursusians, you are the most ferocious, despicable, and wicked emperor of this land.

The massacres and atrocities you committed on their land are etched deeply into their memories.

Your brutality and terror, in Ursus, have even become the subject of horror stories mothers use to frighten their children returning home late.

Your death is absolutely something for them to celebrate nationwide.

[At times like these, as long as there are a few Infected and Sarkaz in the tavern who have developed a favorable impression of you because of Letania's tolerant policies.]

They always cast disdainful and contemptuous glances at these Victorians and Ursusians.

"Yes, yes, yes, it was this insignificant emperor who destroyed your entire country!"

"Sigh, I wonder what kind of country it was that was destroyed by such an emperor? Probably not even worth as much as trash~"

Whenever such a sarcastic voice rang out, a large-scale brawl would inevitably break out in the tavern shortly afterward.

[And when some reporters posed this question to Vina, who was exhausted from serving as Speaker of Victoria and had dark circles under her eyes.]

They obtained a relatively fair assessment of you only from the words of this former princess.

"About my ex-husband?"

"...Although my marriage to him was a political one, I had no feelings for him."

"But I still admit that he was the greatest emperor I have ever seen, and the one who lived the most spectacular life."

"His ruthlessness was real, but his love for his people was also real... This is the most authentic version of him."

"We should not use stereotypical labels to summarize such a great emperor as him."

Finally, the former princess managed a weary smile, a rare display of joking humor.

“Thanks to him, as a Victorian, I should hate him.”

"But I must also admit that I probably will never meet another man as outstanding as him."

[The news that Vina, the former princess and now Speaker of the House of Commons, was supposedly going to remain a widow for the rest of her life as the former emperor caused quite a stir once again.]

But just as time washes away memories, and your face in the hearts of the people gradually becomes blurred...

In what was once a slum in Viseheim, now the lower city, a seemingly insignificant incident occurred.

Everyone in Viseheim knows that their great former emperor took his first steps from this city.

[And the beer hall you once owned in Viseheim, because of your legendary life, has become a sacred place in the hearts of the locals and is no longer open to the public.]

However, thanks to Queen Viviana's benevolent new policies, these former territories of yours have been able to be utilized and valued once again.

[And your beer hall soon welcomed its first tenant.]

She was a beautiful woman with no name or surname, and possessed long, golden hair. She claimed to be from the Sarkaz tribe.

No one knows her past, nor why this mysterious Sarkaz woman rented this place.

The common people of Viseheim's lower town only saw this Sarkaz proprietress; they did not transform this historic bar into a club for the nobility.

This bar, under her management, remains open to the general public, and even the drinks are very affordable.

Soon, the bar that once belonged to you was occupied by a large number of ordinary workers, laborers, and even infected people.

[Every night they sing loudly, make a ruckus, and discuss current affairs here.]

[There are even occasional people who, just to attract attention, impersonate you here, recreating your charisma from your slum speeches back in the day.]

The aloof and stern-faced female boss never interfered with these busybodies.

She simply gazed silently at everyone who was impersonating you, or trying to emulate you, as they talked animatedly in the tavern.

Smile often, shake your head often.

The only thing that remained unchanged was the undisguised reminiscence and longing that shone in her deep eyes.

What's less known is that this female owner also runs a small clinic in the backyard of this bar.

However, compared to when running a tavern, he was much more agile.

The female boss, dressed in a white coat as a doctor, actually looked somewhat clumsy.

As a doctor, she initially lacked experience and could only handle superficial wounds.

She was powerless to help with any illness requiring surgery or medication.

However, many regulars at the bar still noticed it.

[During her free time, the female owner sat quietly at the bar, flipping through a medical book she had somehow acquired, which bore the characters for "Great Yan" (大炎).]

Occasionally, some bold patrons would ask the female owner why she needed to open a clinic when the bar was doing so well.

[But whenever this topic came up, the female boss would pause briefly before giving a curt reply.]

"...because there was someone who was very important to me, and he told me that back then."

"When everything is over, all he wants to do is be a doctor and heal the sick."

"It's a pity that the fool didn't live to see that day, he left us first."

"Now, I want to fulfill this dream for him."

No one knows who the "fool" the female boss was referring to is.

But everyone could see that this usually aloof female boss changed her tune the moment she mentioned this "fool."

The smile that bloomed on her face was as captivating as an iceberg melting.

This also made many men who secretly admired the female boss's beauty silently give up their ideas.

[Years have passed, and the female owner's bar business remains booming every day.]

[And with each year of improvement, her medical skills gradually gained the trust of the common people in the lower district, making her a locally renowned doctor.]

In the eyes of the common people in the lower city, this female boss was almost excessively diligent.

More than a decade has passed, and she remains as beautiful as ever, yet there has never been a rumor about her being involved with any man.

She manages a bar at night and runs a clinic during the day, leaving herself very little time to rest each day.

However, even though she spends each day so busy and fulfilled.

[According to some of her close neighbors, this mysterious Sarkaz businesswoman was still not happy every day.]

People often saw her alone in the tavern, a bucket of the cheapest beer at her feet.

She would sometimes tilt her head back and drink heartily, and sometimes raise her glass high.

Her eyes, always gazing blankly at the beer hall ceiling, always held a captivating, sparkling light...

[It was as if she were mourning a beloved soul she would never see again.]

(End of this chapter)