Gustav, Imperial Knight

A true soldier who puts the accomplishment of noble missions first—and is ruthless when it comes to achieving his goals.

When the military began testing new equipment developed by Iseria, he volunteered to be a test case. He achieved steady success in battle, along with musical weapon, String Blade.

His well trained physique and constantly improved equipment are an excellent match, and the military trusts him.

"Even if it’s for the sake of Emerg, isn’t there so much we stand to lose?"

In an effort to control it, the Imperial Army exterminates all natural sources of ether upon discovery.

However, the military indiscriminately destroys even ordinary cities in other countries. 

Gustav gradually begins to have doubts about the military’s actions.

Imperial Army registration number ZE0289, Gustav Valm.

That's me. I joined the army after turning 22, which is quite late for an Imperial soldier.

Although I’m now the captain of an elite unit, when I first joined I was simply one of the recruits randomly selected to fill in for troops lost in local conflicts after the last war.

I am fundamentally different from those who graduated from military academies and received education and training from childhood. Without even being taught how to properly hold a weapon, I went to the field to clean up after the main force's battles—collecting ammunition and disposing of corpses. 

Such work is common on the battlefield. Because I was new, I had no other skills, knowledge, or even physical strength. All I could do was complete my duties without question.

During a battle to wipe out a small local country, I accidentally came across an enemy officer hiding with his family in the ruins.

And so, I killed someone for the first time. And it became a great achievement.

That was when I knew what it meant to be a soldier.

I became a little well known among the new recruits, but I was still just a low ranking member of the dispatch unit.

I was only given menial, dirty work. 

But I believed that the Imperial Army had a just cause.

After the great war, the continent was in a state of chaos. Countries were falling apart, the natural environment was crumbling, and there was an anomaly in the ether... but the Empire was the only one that tried to stand up and face this crisis.

I wanted to work harder for the military and my country.

To do that, I needed more strength.

I'm small for a soldier, and I have a tendency to be too kind. I barely passed the aptitude test.

I had to train myself. To become a better soldier... I desperately devoted myself to training, frenzied and ready to die.

At first I was ridiculed, but soon my superior officer—unable to ignore seeing my desperate efforts, gave me a chance.

Engineer Iseria was young but extremely skilled. I volunteered to take part in a mock battle with her newly developed equipment, and I was accepted. 

With that equipment, I was born anew…

The EEF (Enchanted Ether Frame) equipment reshaped my weak body into a strong one—and even appealed to my spirit as well.

With this… I can fight even harder…!

With my String Blade developed to match the equipment, I take on the den of a giant beast—a mission that would normally require the deployment of an entire division. But I accomplish it alone.

This behemoth was a pest that ravaged nearby routes.

I finally had the power to contribute to the good of the people…

But what awaited me after I left the dispatch unit and joined Iseria’s EEF detachment was the reality of being a soldier.

A military mission requires no mercy for the enemy.

Anyone who gets in the way of our mission is a fearsome enemy—no matter how weak they may appear to be. How many of our comrades have been deceived and belittled by the enemy, losing their lives...?

So our unit will burn down a small, nameless village.

By wiping out the villagers, we recover the relic of an ancient civilization hidden deep within the village—parts of an ancient weapon. 

Weapons must not be given to those who are not of the righteous Empire.

After gaining a solid track record, I left the EEF forces and became the captain of the elite Crimson Spear unit. We discovered that the Excavation Brigade traveling the continent was secretly carrying ancient relics, and our main mission became to pursue them. We followed the Brigade and headed westward.

Having caught the Brigade's tail in Lent Village, we launched a surprise attack. I had heard that the Brigade was a peddling caravan that had gathered war victims from all over, and I had no intention of taking their lives. But if they resist, we would do our best.

And if you're hiding ancient weapons, hand them over. They belong to the Empire…!

...How is it that this boy is able to transform that gigantic Seele Tact into a longsword—and wield it with control!?

He is no ordinary person... His swordsmanship isn’t that of an amateur!

To think I would find a skilled swordsman somewhere so remote!! 

It seems we need to confirm young Shizuma's true identity. 

I informed the military that it will be difficult to capture Tact, but I let the Excavation Brigade go for a while and observe Shizuma and the others.

I arrived in Blue Country, but I was too late.

Damn Iseria… She's capable, but she's too hasty and involves too many people! And that Blue Reaper…

Young Shizuma, I'll lend you my aid!

I can't have you die here. I can't let you fall prey to the Blue Reaper. I have to see the mystery of you and Seele Tact through to the end!

Huh... Why is that? Unfortunately, I don't really know myself.

If I had to say, it's your swordsmanship, your ability to use Tact as your sword—that’s what interests me. Shizuma, if you fall, that will be lost... I can't let that happen!

…The Blue Reaper is gone?

Then you and I are enemies once again. I fight for what I want—and for the Empire.

My fate is different from yours… Farewell.

It seems I still have a soft spot. A warrior must be ruthless... For the sake of the continent's future, I must remain ruthless.

My equipment aches... Craving more fighting power.

Is that why I didn't take Seele tact and continue to let Shizuma use it? No... that's not it.

My wish is to face Shizuma and Seele Tact head on and defeat them. If I can defeat him, I will be able to reach the heights of ultimate swordsmanship.

Shizuma, wielding his blade, doesn't just cut things with his swordwork. He also seems to cut away doubts and cleanse impurities.

It is a sword of salvation that cuts in half monsters that cannot speak, but even those monsters are purified with a smile.

How can he wield a sword like that?

There are ancient myths and legends all over the continent, and the Empire has its own—A legendary being called the Conductor.

A Conductor is a singularity that is free from interference from the gods, and is said to be able to tame and command those gods.

I imagine that the legends became more and more exaggerated as time went on... But what if they actually existed?

A hero who can subdue the gods should surpass even the ultimate.

After investigating, we found out that Shizuma had lost his memory. 

Despite that, he continues to wield his sword to protect others. 

He has nowhere to go, and no place to return to. So why does he fight? What does he want? 

As a soldier, I have continued to work for the Empire.

After securing the Machine God's cocoon, we needed to connect energy to the cocoon using a dimensional gate. This would give the Machine God the opportunity to awaken. I headed for the dimensional gate near the new capital of the Empire, and I attacked the refugees who had made it their home.

We crush the defenseless people with excessive force.

But anyone who gets in the way of our mission is an enemy.

The gate was secured and the cocoon was charged with energy.

The Empire is trying to save the continent from an unprecedented crisis in the future…

If it's for a just cause, I will be cruel and ruthless. I don't care what kind of abuse I receive or resentment others have for me.

However... I want to find out what the Machine God will bring to the Empire...

My doubts and fears about the Machine God's use grew. 

What is the military's true purpose in using Thor? 

I requested an internal investigation from the military, and I also gathered information about the Machine God myself. 

I suddenly think back to the Blue Reaper I had seen in the Blue Country. Wasn’t that also one of the ancient gods?

The immense power of the Machine God had been directed towards the wrong target.

Wasn't it precisely because of this danger that it was sealed away so tightly underground?

Before long, the information turned suspicion into certainty. The estimated output of the Machine God Thor was excessive, enough to burn down the surrounding area—but the military was planning to use that destructive power not only to manipulate natural ether, but also in combat with the Mythos church.

Furthermore, in the various places where the Empire has seized ancient relics, the loss of those relics has caused the environmental balance to collapse. Desertification and decay of the land is accelerating... 

What on earth was the purpose of the mission I have been working on up until now?!

The Excavation Brigade is hostile to the Imperial Army, and even the Blue Prince and the saint of Sanctuary are among them. As the siege continues, I hear what they have to say. 

"The Machine God is being urged to awaken for the wrong purpose. Even if it awakens, it will not act according to the Empire's will. We must do whatever it takes to prevent a repeat of the tragedy of the past..."

I... agreed with this argument.

The Imperial Army has shown no consideration for the situation around them, and while keeping their true objectives secret, they have incited their ignorant soldiers to commit acts of destruction and looting across the continent.

The Empire was supposed to uphold the noble cause of protecting the future of the land.

In the past, the military certainly pursued that ideal.

But the current reality is far removed from that sense of justice…

So who is my true enemy?

Do not mistake who you are fighting against and who are your comrades…

I am a warrior, I am a knight... I am someone who will give my all and do my best for what I believe in... Even if I am called a traitor, I will stick to my beliefs.

Anger. 

I was burning with rage. First of all, anger at myself. At my own foolishness for believing that all I had to do was coldly carry out my mission as others told me to.

Second, the anger of those I killed in the course of my missions—and who needlessly died... I had to bear this responsibility.

And then, the current Imperial Army trying to forcefully hold back and oppress all those who resist—their unreasonable violence and lack of deference... Everyone, myself included, feel intense anger towards this.

Ironically, the EEF, a product of the Imperial Engineers and equipment covering my body, is transforming that rage into fighting strength...!

Shizuma! You must continue onward! Forward, forward!

Don't waver, and don't stop! Follow your own path!

You are the only one… who can take on Thor!

Imperial forces... don't get in my way!

If you still don't realize your mistake... No, if you know it's a mistake and still stand in my way, then I will strike you all down!

That is what I truly want—what I really want!!

If I can accomplish my true goal, I won't regret my life!!