Empire

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Empire (帝国)
Alias(es)	Human Empire
Species/Race	Human nation
Occupation/Role	Core nation of the human lands; major belligerent in the Human-Dragon War 181
Status	The royal regime was overthrown; its administration was transferred to Lionheart Society members and formerly independent officials. Former royal remnants, including Lord Shadow and Queen Elizabeth, remain active. 431 490
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Background / History

The Empire is a vast, resource-rich human nation regarded as the core power of the human lands. Neighboring affiliated countries rely on it for commerce and protection, offering annual tribute in exchange for security from foreign races and invasions. 181

Its public prestige was closely tied to the Dragon Slayer Army. Leon Kasmod graduated from the Empire's Dragon Slaying Academy at the youngest age in its history, entered the battlefield at fifteen, and became a celebrated Dragon Slayer Hero after reclaiming territory for the Empire. 2

At the height of Leon's reputation, the Royal Family assigned him to the harsh Silver Dragon battlefield. He was betrayed during the final assault on the Silver Dragon Sanctuary, captured by Losweiser, and later branded a traitor by the Empire. 2 183

Manipulation of the Human-Dragon War

For at least thirty years, the Empire secretly cooperated with certain Dragon Kings to prolong the Human-Dragon War. The arrangement allowed the Empire to exploit its citizens' manpower and finances, while participating Dragon Kings used exhausted battlefields to seize territory and resources. 391 395

Leon’s survival threatened this arrangement. Constantine later revealed that Leon had become too powerful and had disrupted the Empire's plans, making him a target for betrayal and assassination. 392

Government and Society

The Empire was publicly ruled by King Cantor and Queen Elizabeth. Evidence later indicated that Cantor was a puppet ruler, while the former King continued directing the country from the shadows under the name Lord Shadow. 423 485 490

The Empire's cities were divided by wealth and privilege:

District	Relative status
Imperial City	Center of power and most resource-rich district
Upper City	Wealthy district beneath the Imperial City
Midtown	Commercial and middle-income district
Lower City	Poorer district
Slums	Lowest-income district

Wealth decreased from the Imperial City downward, reflecting a system in which each higher district exploited those below it. 412

The royal regime tolerated or protected corrupt interests while targeting people who refused to cooperate with its abuses. Its repression drove citizens from the lower, middle, and even upper classes to support the Lionheart Society. 410

Military and Secret Programs

Dragon Slayer Army

The Empire maintained the Dragon Slayer Army and Dragon Slaying Academy as central instruments of its war against dragons. Leon and Tiger were both trained within this military system. 2 337

• Leon's former squad made major contributions by reclaiming lost territory. 2
• Victor, Leon's deputy, acted as the mole who helped frame him and later admitted the Empire's collusion with the Dragon race. 191
• The Empire used dangerous species against targets within its own territory, despite the risk to civilians. 184

Heart-protecting Dragon Scale Collection

The Empire secretly accumulated Heart-protecting Dragon Scales for many years. 336

• Transplanting a scale could extend a human's lifespan, but prevented the recipient from condensing magic power. 485
• The former King was believed to have used a transplanted scale as part of his immortality plan. 490
• Leon detonated the Empire's stockpile during the conflict surrounding Constantine, destroying its accumulated scales. 336
• After losing the scales, the Empire began covertly transporting high-risk dangerous species in enchanted iron cages. 336 337

Fusion Technique Laboratory

The Empire's Royal Sorcerer's Guild created fusion creatures from dangerous species and dragon remains. 316

• Constantine was reconstructed as a super-chimera using the head of the Crimson Flame Dragon King and the traits of multiple dangerous species. 316
• The creature was intended as a final weapon designed specifically to hunt Leon Kasmod. 316
• After the first fusion body failed, the Empire used Primal Power to shape Constantine’s later body. 358

Sharp Blade Project

The Empire cultivated the Sharp Blade Trio—Gini, Gitei, and Gimei—as a new generation of dragon-slaying weapons. 266 337

• The trio was trained with resources exceeding those once invested in Leon and Tiger. 337
• Their power appeared abnormal even to Noa, who described it as borrowed rather than internally condensed magic. 266
• The Empire invested heavily in safeguards intended to ensure that its “sharp blades” would remain loyal to the regime. 337

Relationships

• Royal Family — Former ruling house that directed the war, framed Leon, and maintained secret arrangements with Dragon Kings. 183 391 485
• Leon Kasmod — Former national hero turned highest-priority fugitive and eventual leader of the movement that overthrew the royal regime. 2 181 422 430
• Tiger Lawrence — Former Dragon Slayer who became wanted after pressuring the Empire to clear Leon's name and targeting royal-connected criminal figures. 183 185
• Dragon Kings — Certain Dragon Kings secretly cooperated with the Empire for territorial gains during the war. 391 392
• Lionheart Society — Anti-Empire resistance organization named after Leon; it organized citizens and later took part in the post-regime administration. 359 431
• Lord Shadow — Identity adopted by the former King, who continued influencing the Empire from behind the scenes after formally disappearing. 475 490

Story Role / Major Arcs

Leon's Betrayal

The Empire sent Leon to the Silver Dragon battlefield when he had become an exceptionally popular war hero. His betrayal and presumed death removed a powerful, uncontrollable figure from the war effort while allowing the Empire to portray him as a traitor. 2 183 392

Investigation and Infiltration

After returning to the Empire, Leon discovered Tiger's highest-priority wanted poster and learned that the prosperous nation concealed severe political corruption. 181

Leon, Tiger, and Rebecca uncovered the Empire's connection to Dragon Kings, Victor's role in Leon's framing, and the Empire's attempts to eliminate Leon after his survival. 186 191 198

Dragon Scale Raid and Escalation

Leon and his daughters infiltrated the Imperial City to obtain Heart-protecting Dragon Scales. They recovered scales from an underground facility, escaped pursuing guards, and later destroyed the Empire's stored supply. 265 269 336

The destruction of the stockpile prompted the Empire to intensify its pursuit of Leon's allies and expand its dangerous-species operations. 337

Fall of the Royal Regime

Leon formally declared war on the Empire after obtaining an Imprint Stone containing evidence of its manipulation of the war. 401

During the Festival of a Thousand Lanterns, the Lionheart Society used paper lanterns and Imprint Stones to publicly broadcast Cantor and Elizabeth's corruption. Citizens turned against the royal family, while Leon and allied Dragon Kings confronted the Knife Trio and the Empire's fusion beasts. 422 423 424

Leon defeated the Knife Trio, Cantor was captured and handed to the citizens for judgment, and Scott was arrested. Elizabeth escaped. 430

Post-Regime Aftermath

Following the royal regime's fall, Lionheart Society members and officials who had refused to cooperate with the former rulers assumed responsibility for the Empire's internal operations. 431

The collapse did not end the threat posed by the former regime. Leon later connected Lord Shadow to the former King’s longevity scheme and continued investigating Elizabeth, Shadow, and their possible alliance with the Warhammer Dragon King Adam. 471 485 490