“Seems like all the competent ones have gathered here.”
The Crown Prince tagging along like a puppy whenever she’s present isn’t all that surprising, but to see the High Mage, who’s usually impossible to catch a glimpse of, here as well—and the Imperial Knight Commander, who’s more or less treated as a strategic weapon—is quite something.
Anyone watching might think they’ve gathered to sweep away an invading kingdom army.
And yet, the purpose of their presence is merely to gain the attention of a young noblewoman. Though it does sound a bit ridiculous when you think about it…
“Hunting Festival…”
If it were the original Abel, he wouldn’t have given such an event a second glance. In fact, in Axidor, the original work, the Hunting Festival is only briefly mentioned, never explored in any real depth before being glossed over.
And yet, the reason for participating in this year’s festival was the artifact that the Emperor himself had proclaimed as a prize.
“The Great Scale.”
An artifact so absurdly powerful that it allows you to sacrifice one thing in exchange for something else of equal value—your wish granted in a truly equitable fashion.
If my memory of the original story holds true, the High Mage swept up both the Titles of Queen and King during the Hunting Festival, alongside Estelle.
And, as far as I recall, as a reward, he obtained the artifact.
It was later revealed that the High Mage was one of the Emperor’s Swords, and from then on, the Great Scale practically became an overpowered item.
The meticulous, almost pedantic kindness he displayed to Estelle vanished entirely when it came to mercilessly eliminating叛徒. It was disturbingly depicted in the original.
At the time, I never counted exactly how many times Adelle died in the original, but it was certainly in the triple digits at the very least.
It was probably also due to her final battle with the High Mage that Adelle’s mental state became unhinged later in the story.
Transformed into a machine solely driven by the desire to kill, her unhesitant willingness to sacrifice her life left an eerie impression.
“Still… is there something wrong?”
I noticed that Adelle, standing right next to me, kept shifting her gaze. She let out anxious sighs from time to time and nervously bit her lip, clearly restless.
Following her gaze, I saw Estelle.
Ah, so she was concerned about the protagonist of the original story, wasn’t she?
Well, in her view, this world is merely a low-grade novel, so it’s natural for her to focus on its protagonist.
Attempting to ease her tension, I reached out a hand, but Adelle didn’t seem to notice.
“You seem to have a lot on your mind.”
She turned her head slightly, startled at my voice.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for.”
Of course, she has reasons to feel uneasy. In the early parts of the story, Adelle tried to befriend Estelle and ended up suffering greatly as a result. It’s understandable for her to be cautious.
“Still, worrying about problems that can’t be solved immediately is exhausting.”
She nodded in agreement with my words, placing her hand on her chest and taking deep breaths repeatedly. After a few cycles, the slight trembling of her hands and eyes began to settle.
“Thanks for the advice.”
“It’s nothing.”
With a warm smile, I nodded and turned my head.
In the midst of the murmuring crowd, a few knights began to move toward somewhere.
At the same time, a golden chariot could be seen approaching from afar.
The carriage, adorned extravagantly, drew everyone’s attention as it was fit to be called magnificent.
“The royal carriage, perhaps.”
I could immediately sense the identity of the person inside. Having reached the level of a great mage, I could instantly detect the strong mana emanating from the carriage—so intense it almost felt oppressive.
In contrast, the people around me seemed completely unaware, continuing their meaningless murmurs.
Adelle, standing by me, didn’t seem to notice either, merely tilting her head slightly.
The carriage came to a halt, and slowly, a blond man began to step out.
Completely different from the Crown Prince’s almost non-existent aura, this man exuded an overwhelming presence that could almost be called an aura. His entire body was covered in countless scars, visible even beneath his uniform, and a long sword slash across his left eye added to the intimidating air he projected.
His demeanor radiated a calm, yet contained murderous intent that spoke of his seasoned authority.
“Emperor…”
The nobles who recognized him quickly bowed low.
I, too, bowed slightly, causing Adelle to hesitate for a moment before delivering her formal greeting in accordance with noble etiquette.
“To the sun of the empire.”
The nobles, one after another, lowered their heads. Meanwhile, Emperor Jude von Schpenheim stood before them with a relaxed smile.
“There’s no need for such formality. I’m here simply to enjoy the occasion.”
Good lines, especially considering he’d probably have drawn his sword and cut off the head of anyone who dared not bow.
That sharpened, subtle killing intent emanating from him was proof.
Climbing onto the prepared podium, the Emperor tapped the ground with his cane and began to speak slowly.
“The Hunting Festival was originally established to commemorate the first emperor, Juke von Schpenheim, defeating all the monsters in the Snow Mountain.”
“Over the past thousand years, countless stars of the empire have proven their worth during these festivals.”
With that, he put on an amiable smile.
“To honor the distinguished guests participating in this festival, I have prepared a fine gift.”
At his signal, an attendant appeared from behind and handed him a simple iron box.
The coarse appearance of the box belied the intense mana pulsing from within, hinting at the extraordinary contents inside.
“One of the Imperial Artifacts passed down through generations will be awarded to this year’s King and Queen of the Hunting Festival.”
At this announcement, the crowd’s murmurs quickly grew louder.
While the Hunting Festival was a time-honored tradition, it was unprecedented for the Emperor himself to be so deeply involved.
And the fact that he was offering up a royal artifact for an ordinary event was unheard of.
“Is this the Great Scale?”
In order to claim this, I’ll have to defeat the High Mage. In the original, Abel might have struggled, but now, with my capabilities, it seems attainable.
The only hitch is that I’ll have to expose the hidden strength I’ve concealed up until now here.
“Still, the royal family already knows to some extent how strong I am.”
If the cards are already on the table, it might be better to reveal them fully for personal gain.
Using this opportunity to claim the title of King from the High Mage during the festival would also serve as an effective way to demonstrate my strength.
“Then, do your best.”
With those parting words, the Emperor slouched into his prepared throne-like chair. Simultaneously, the horn signaling the start of the festival sounded.
The abrupt start surprised some, who fumbled around, while others wasted no time diving straight into the Snow Mountain.
“Abel, are you going to be alright?”
Adelle asked, her voice laced with worry. Indeed, facing the vast and perilous Snow Mountain could easily cause concern.
After all, even a seasoned mid-level knight would struggle to survive more than three days alone here.
“Of course.”
It’s irrelevant to me, of course. She probably doesn’t realize how meaningless it is to worry about someone at the level of a great mage.
Then again, Adelle has never directly witnessed my true strength.
As I thought this, she pulled something out from her pocket. A handkerchief embroidered with a fierce eagle caught my eye.
The quality of the eagle embroidery was surprisingly high, eliciting a slight gasp of admiration. I hadn’t expected her to possess such hidden talents.
“Did you make this yourself?”
“Yes… I made it thinking of you.”
She seemed slightly embarrassed by her own words and partially covered her face. Watching this, I couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
Even if it’s an act, we are supposed to love each other, so it’s only fitting that I play along.
Gently kneeling on one knee, I took her hand in mine and placed a kiss on it. Her face flushed red at the unexpected gesture, and she froze temporarily.
I resisted the urge to laugh as she stood there dumbfounded.
“I’ll definitely return safely. So Adelle, please stop worrying.”
On cue, the squeals of the young noblewomen erupted again in the background. This sound effect follows us everywhere.
But on the bright side, our relationship should no longer be questioned, so it’s not all bad.
“Okay… please be careful.”
With that, she covered her entire face completely, hiding her embarrassment. The urge to tease her rose, and I leaned in close, whispering.
“Such a red radish. You might explode if you keep this up.”
“K- you…”
Before she could respond further, I smiled faintly and entered the Snow Mountain.
