Roselle

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Transmigration and the Son of Steam

Huang Tao became Roselle Gustav after arriving in the world through circumstances connected to a silver medallion. Early diary entries describe homesickness, boredom, failed inventions, and his desire for supernatural powers. His attempt to invent a flush toilet began after he nearly fell into a cesspit 51 528 539.

Roselle and Dubois came from impoverished minor noble families and reached Trier together. Roselle’s inventions subsequently brought him wealth, aristocratic connections, and the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery’s favor. By 1160, he was widely known as the Son of Steam, though he had not yet entered politics or the military 500 505 532 533.

Dubois noticed that his childhood friend’s personality had changed profoundly. When confronted, Huang Tao insisted that he was genuinely Roselle and described the change as an awakening of memories from a past life 675 676.

Meeting Edward in 1160

Edward traveled into Roselle’s youth and initially approached his household through Dubois, using the identity Klein Sparrow. Roselle independently reached Sefirah Castle after repeatedly activating a replica silver medallion; Edward’s response to the resulting disturbance brought him inside 500 528 536.

Roselle initially treated the mysterious being above the gray fog as a dangerous “evil god,” while befriending Edward’s identity in Trier. After Edward rescued Bernadette during a murder at Roselle’s banquet, Roselle asked Zaratul to investigate the apparent coincidence before accepting that the rescue had been genuine 533 536 567.

Edward warned him that the Hidden Sage had targeted his family because Roselle could help Stiano stabilize his divine position. Roselle took Matilda and Bernadette to Trier Cathedral for protection, then sought Edward’s aid. Edward offered protection in exchange for taking a Sealed Artifact from Stiano’s Church 553 555.

Voyage of the Black Throne

Roselle repeatedly postponed his long-planned voyage because he was reluctant to leave his family. He eventually sailed aboard the Black Throne, hoping to obtain Solomon-era treasure, discover the Western Continent, and circumnavigate the world 546 566 577.

After a storm carried the ship off course, his expedition reached the Primitive Island. Finding dead Beyonder creatures arranged as though worshipping a god, Roselle ordered an immediate retreat rather than collecting the exposed characteristics. Edward later confirmed that Roselle had left this encounter without being corrupted 615 639.

The expedition subsequently approached the Abyss under an influence Roselle could recognize but could not resist. Realizing that he was about to make an irrational decision, he prayed to Edward for help. Edward reached the Black Throne and investigated the power drawing it onward 635 637.

Roselle hurried home after learning that his future included madness and estrangement from Bernadette. His reunion with her was briefly derailed when she failed to recognize his changed appearance and ran to Edward instead, before recognizing her father and embracing him 591 654.

Political Rise and Preparations for Resurrection

After returning, Roselle secured an army officer position through the king. He also stole the Antigonus Family Notebook, partly because he believed it could help avert the future in which Bernadette hated him. At Edward’s direction, he delivered it to Zaratul 658 669 675.

His later career included becoming consul, establishing the Intis Empire, and taking the title Emperor Caesar. His achievements made his name inseparable from the idea of an emperor, a significant advantage for the Black Emperor ritual 500 711.

Roselle eventually worked with Edward’s avatar to preserve the outward course of recorded history while secretly preparing for resurrection. He knowingly followed the destined course into the Mother Goddess of Depravity’s corruption, partly to maintain appearances before Adam. After his assassination at White Maple Palace, Edward helped remove that corruption gradually over nearly a century 744.

Green, Edwards, Weiliam, and Polly devoted their remaining lives to building a town whose inhabitants would remain the Black Emperor’s subjects across generations. None advanced to demigod, and all died before Roselle could return 744.

Return of the Black Emperor

Roselle resurrected at the critical moment of George III’s advancement. He reclaimed the Black Emperor’s characteristics and Uniqueness, killed George III, and announced his return throughout Intis. He then rescued Bernadette from William Augustus I, killed the Sequence 1 Hand of Order, and reunited with his daughter 737 738.

He began preparing to reclaim Intis, recruiting Earl Hall to help manage its affairs. Bernadette explained that a Black Emperor generally needs a nation to remain in optimal condition. Roselle also learned that Matilda had survived by transferring her soul and consciousness into an alchemical doll, prompting him and Bernadette to seek her in Feynapotter 743.

Tarot Club and the Barrier Crisis

Roselle joined the Tarot Club as Mr. Emperor after meeting Klein personally. At his first formal gathering, he supported Klein’s standing by presenting himself as the Fool’s earliest member and Blessed. Klein subsequently revealed his true identity, leaving the members horrified that they had offered Roselle’s private diary pages in front of him 748 760 761.

During the later crisis, Stiano fought Roselle to prevent him from interfering with a planned Red Priest apotheosis. Roselle subsequently fought Cheek with Stiano’s assistance when she attacked the world’s barrier from within. After Cheek opened another breach, Roselle reported it to Edward 764 774.

Appearance

• Hair and facial hair: Blond hair, normally slicked back, and a carefully groomed handlebar mustache 528 654.
• After his voyage: Darker skin, a stronger physique, and initially an unkempt beard that made him look markedly different from his usual aristocratic self 653 654.
• Formal clothing: Wears elaborate aristocratic suits during his youth in Trier 532.
• Black Emperor attire: Black armor and cloak, a gemstone-set black crown, and a scepter—the same appearance depicted on the Black Emperor Card 183 737 747.

Personality

Roselle is flamboyant, proud, sociable, and fond of presenting himself as the world’s protagonist. In his youth, he approaches invention, exploration, and advancement with a gamer’s confidence. Despite his underlying pride, he generally responds warmly to people who show him goodwill 500 516 546.

His confidence coexists with persistent loneliness. Matilda recognizes that his success has not made him happy, while Bernadette’s birth gives him a sense of belonging and helps him stop treating the people around him as mere game characters. The prospect of losing her affection frightens him more than becoming notorious or being hated by the wider world 530 591.

He is promiscuous and records intimate escapades in his diary, but becomes increasingly embarrassed when Bernadette learns about them. His affection for his family is sincere, although he rationalizes his infidelity by insisting that he keeps it outside the household 553 560 741.

Roselle can recognize when bravado is dangerous. He retreats from the Primitive Island’s disturbing scene and seeks help when he realizes an external power is overriding his judgment. After resurrection, he sheds much of his later-life madness and irritability, recovering his youthful exuberance and taste for elaborate pranks 615 635 747 749.

Abilities & Skills

Savant Pathway Craftsmanship

Roselle combines technical knowledge with Beyonder craftsmanship, making intricate devices by hand 516 668.

• Reproduces the silver medallion associated with his transmigration 516 528.
• Constructs a working camera and photographs Bernadette’s birthday celebration 668 675.
• Skillfully uses tools and follows detailed component blueprints 668.
• Dreams of eventually building fighter planes and Gundams; these are ambitions, not demonstrated creations 668.

Black Emperor: Distortion of Rules and Order

As Black Emperor, Roselle manipulates the rules governing space, attacks, and physical effects 737 738 774.

• Alters spatial rules while destroying George III’s remains 737.
• Distorts rules and order to separate William Augustus I’s Sequence 1 characteristic from his remains 738.
• Redirects Cheek’s attack back toward her 774.
• Attempts to peel Cheek’s surroundings out of the Astral World; her Apocalypse Chaos destroys the isolated region 774.

Bribery

• Repeatedly uses Bribery to weaken and confuse Cheek during their battle 774.

Black Emperor Resurrection

Roselle can return through the Black Emperor’s resurrection mechanism rather than ordinary survival 715 717 737.

• His nine ritual mausoleums provide the basis for a possible return; one surviving mausoleum preserves that opportunity 715 717.
• Another person successfully becoming Black Emperor would end his remaining chance of resurrection 715 717.
• During his actual return, he automatically reclaims the Uniqueness and three Sequence 1 characteristics before George III finishes advancing 737.
• Outer Deity corruption initially makes resurrection unacceptable to him because returning would risk becoming a controlled puppet 744.

Leadership and Connections

• Commands the Black Throne calmly even while the ship approaches the Abyss 637.
• Uses his standing among Trier’s nobles to help Edward enter their social circles 533.
• Transmits his declaration of return to everyone in Intis 737.
• Recruits Earl Hall to assist his intended return to power 743.

Inventions & Written Works

Roselle’s Diary

• Edward translates diary pages for Audrey and later for Bernadette, whose wish to understand her father makes the pages valuable bargaining material 51 181 325.
• Klein relies on the diary for mystical knowledge, including information about the Miracle Invoker ritual, the Twilight Hermit Order, and Mr. Door 403 460 539 716.
• Roselle himself benefits from an earlier transmigrator’s diary, using its knowledge at secret gatherings 325.
• The surviving record is incomplete: some pages are lost, and one continuation of his Abyss account is forged 325 403.
• Klein ends the Tarot Club’s diary-collection requests once Roselle can answer questions directly 760 761.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Mysterious Silver Medallion — A reproduction of the object linked to his transmigration. Functions as a key or password for Sefirah Castle, though later entry still requires its master’s response 528 537.
• Black Throne — His expedition ship, commanded during the treasure voyage and the approach to the Abyss 615 637.
• Antigonus Family Notebook — Stolen from among ordinary books and delivered to Zaratul at Edward’s direction; Zaratul later returns it 669 675.
• Black crown, armor, cloak, and scepter — His recognizable imperial ensemble after resurrection 737.
• Tape recorder — Used to record Klein’s embarrassing answers during Roselle and Edward’s mock interrogation 747.

Relationships

• Bernadette Gustav — His daughter and emotional anchor. She searches for him long after his apparent death, helps protect his chance of resurrection, and finally reunites with him after he saves her from William Augustus I 408 591 715 738.
• Matilda — His wife, who recognizes his loneliness and tries to repair his friendship with Dubois. He later learns that she survives in an alchemical doll 530 743.
• Bornova Gustav — His youngest son and an angel of the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery. Roselle’s diary expresses concern for Bornova’s humanity and records signs of its recovery 325.
• Edward — Initially encountered separately as Klein Sparrow and the mysterious master above the gray fog. Becomes his friend, protector, and collaborator in the century-long preparations that free him from corruption and enable his return 528 536 744.
• Klein / Zhou Mingrui — Fellow transmigrator and eventual Tarot Club leader. Roselle teases him mercilessly but joins the club to support his standing 747 748 761.
• Dubois — Childhood friend whose suspicion that Roselle has been replaced causes their estrangement. Their exchanges remain caustic, but they eventually discuss the identity change openly 530 533 675 676.
• Green, Edwards, Weiliam, and Polly — His four knights and expedition companions. All four later dedicate their lives to preparations for his resurrection 615 744.
• Zaratul — A source of divination and mystical knowledge. Roselle questions him about Edward’s identity and gives him the Antigonus Family Notebook 536 675.
• Stiano — Divine patron behind his rise as Son of Steam. Their later relationship includes both conflict and cooperation: Stiano obstructs him during the apotheosis crisis, then assists him against Cheek 555 764 774.
• Mother Goddess of Depravity — The Outer Deity whose corruption confines him to his mausoleum until Edward gradually removes it 744.
• Hidden Sage — Threatens Roselle and his family during his youth. After returning, Roselle intends to take revenge 553 761.
• Earl Hall — An admirer whom Roselle recruits to help with his intended restoration in Intis 743.

Notable Quotes

“I am Roselle Gustav, but something unexpected did happen to me. You could think of it as... me awakening some memories from a past life.” 676

“Intis, your emperor has returned!” 737

“I've wanted to experience showing off in the beginner village with a max-level character for ages.” 748