MY RULES FOR THIS RUN:

1. Select-Cancel is allowed for two reasons: One, it doesn't actually change the route that much. I'd just attack dead PCs or high defense enemies instead (and even get some free Evasion levels from it). Much slower, but still faster than any other alternative.

2. I didn't use step manipulations, as I believe dealing with random encounters made for more interesting routing. Some of the randos are tough!

3. Blood Swords & Ancient Swords are allowed (the Emperor would have just been Hermes Sandal + RUSE tome from Guy & Maria + Leon casting Berserk 3 anyway; Not much more interesting, and way more RNG-dependent. You wouldn't even get the Masamune).

4. Technically, leaving Firion alive is...somewhat of a glitch, due to bad programming. Enemey magic attacks are SUPPOSED to increase a person's magic defense whenever they're targetted...but due to bad programming, this only works if it's a single target spell (and no, it doesn't count when your characters do it to themselves). If the enemies use a multi-target spell instead, then the game will incorrectly reward Firion with a single point in Soul, instead of giving ALL the characters additional points in "Magic Defense".

I can't begin to explain how THAT happened, but...the point is, one can go even further with this and just outright ban Firion from being alive. I don't choose to do so, since I consider that to be an overly literal interpretation of "glitchless", and because Firion's Evade determines your chances of getting Ambushed or First Strikes...but speed runners may wish to consider this when trying to define this category.