The Emperor who made the barbarians kneel! The Emperor who crushed the heretics! The Emperor who defeated the heathens! The great Defender of our Messiah Faith! The Hegemon who crossed seas, mountains and deserts to conquer three continents!
His honourable name is Hercule!
Emperor Hercule I the Great!
Hegemon of the three continents, "Divine Light Emperor" Hercule I!
The Lemurian Empire, once renowned for being the world's greatest military, economic and cultural superpower, with territories spreading across three continents. The Empire was built by the Elves, said to be the most gorgeous, powerful and long-lived among all races.
But any country would eventually perish.
A thousand year after its foundation, the Lemurian Empire was split into western and eastern halves, and several hundred years after that, the western half fell. The Eastern Lemurian Empire also continually lost its territories to the invasions of other races.
Yet God had not forsaken the Lemurian Empire.
A baby was born into the imperial family of the declining empire. He was the third son of the reigning emperor, Hadrianus III.
Although Hadrianus was blessed with many children, his first and second sons could not be described as brilliant. Thus Hadrianus placed hope in his third son, naming him "Hercule" after an ancient hero.
That baby would later become Emperor Hercule the Great, known by many titles such as "Hegemon of Three Continents", "Great Hero", "Ten-finger General, Five-finger Ruler" and "Divine Light Emperor".
It's said that Hercule learned how to read when he was merely two year old.
To be clear, from the beginning Hercule had expressed a desire to learn how to read and write letters.
As a parent, Hadrianus was surprised. It was rare to see a child wanting to study on his own accord. Hadrianus was delighted, he called for a tutor to teach Hercule letters.
Hercule quickly memorised enough letters to read simple books, in one year he learned how to write the essential letters, and in another year his reading and writing skills had become comparable to… no, had exceeded those of an adult.
After becoming four year old, Hercule would seclude himself in the library almost everyday. He devoured books like a hungry beast.
It made Hadrianus somewhat concerned. A four year old child was reading books that he himself found dizzy to look at at a tremendous pace, and Hercule's constant inquiry meant he actually understood their content.
Of course, it was best for the heir to the throne to have abundant knowledge. But there was also a need for Hercule to train his body.
So Hadrianus called for instructors to teach Hercule five martial arts: swordsmanship, spearmanship, archery, unarmed combat and horsemanship.
He's smart, but perhaps he is not good at exercising his body…
However, Hercule broke all expectations.
"His Highness Hercule is an exceptional student," the martial art instructors said in unison.
That said, it seems heaven did not grant Hercule two gifts after all. He was good at martial arts, but not to the extent that he could be called a genius.
Still, Hercule obediently listened to the instructors and even enjoyed exercising his body.
Hadrianus was very fond of Hercule.
Hadrianus was already 160 year old. In terms of human years, that would be the equivalent of 60 year old. To him, Hercule was both like his son and his grandson. Hadrianus would take Hercule out with him at every opportunity since he adored his son so much.
One day, Hadrianus III and Hercule went to inspect the farms on the outskirt of the imperial capital. Seeing farmers using two sticks to thresh wheat, Hercule murmured.
"They don't use the senbakoki…"
"The what?"
When asked by Hadrianus, Hercule described the threshing apparatus called the senbakoki while stumbling on his words. Hadrianus immediately returned to the capital and ordered craftsmen to make the senbakoki.
The apparatus spreaded all over the country in a flash. By shortening the troublesome process of threshing grain, more labour was available for growing cash crops.
Hadrianus showered Hercule with praise.
Motivated by the compliments, Hercule proposed another apparatus called the winnower, an agricultural tool that separates wheat using wind power. It had a rather complicated structure.
Hadrianus blurted out a question.
"How do you know all this?"
Hercule thought for short while and replied.
"Actually, the Angel taught me."
Hadrianus was astonished. But he soon became convinced and rejoiced.
My Hercule is also loved by God. He is truly the greatest. That must be the case.
At this point, it was pretty much settled that Hercule would succeed Hadrianus III as the next emperor.
However, Hadrianus was not simply an over-doting father. He knew that declaring that Hercule could hear the voice of God would be a little troubling.
"Listen, Hercule. Never say that anywhere else, especially in the presence of bishops, okay?"
"I understand, father."
And just as he promised, Hercule never spoke a word about God and continued to be obedient until the day Hadrianus III passed away.
Now then…
From what has been told so far, Hercule was clearly loved by God no matter how you see it.
But that was not the truth.
Hearing the words of God?
That was an utter lie.
Hercule simply…
Had knowledge from his previous life.
That is, the past life when he was a Japanese man, born and raised in Japan on planet Earth.
… Although, you could say that he was loved by God in the sense that he was reincarnated into another life.