Chapter 69

Time flowed aimlessly even after the visit of the Human-Beast Union.

Preparations on a national scale were complete. The atmosphere of the capital swelled with anticipation for the upcoming festival, and this was clearly visible on the faces of the residents beyond the Outer Wall.

Although the official opening had not been announced, the residents of the capital were already half-engrossed in celebrating.

Workers, having finished their grueling tasks, returned early to their families, and the lights of the streets illuminated the capital late into the night.

The capital’s usually dark panorama was as bright as midday, and thus, the residents jubilantly enjoyed the nights.

Taverns were always fully packed.

Not only was every indoor space occupied, but tables set up outdoors and even on the streets were bustling with activity.

Residents toasted each other, using the hardships of the day and their cherished memories as snacks alongside their drinks.

Whether day or night, the fervor was palpable—what else could this be but a festival?

And the inns, too, were overwhelmed with delight from the sudden influx of travelers, ranging from mercenaries wandering on assignments to merchants traversing the empire.

People from all walks of life gathered for the festival.

Disputes naturally arose where people congregated, but the festivity lightened everyone’s hearts.

Even if there was a brief tension from minor conflicts, such as accidental bumpings, smiles soon returned, leading them towards the taverns.

Such a gentle atmosphere permeated the entirety of the capital.

As usual, I patrolled the Outer Wall for rehearsals and inspections, and the incredibly heated scene of the capital was unmistakable.

It was the first Grand Festival I’d experienced in the capital, so I asked Alberto whether this was how the capital’s atmosphere usually was.

He shook his head, saying he’d never encountered such a situation.

“Perhaps the reason is the double celebration of a wedding, but I believe the more significant factor is a sense of longing.”

“Longing?”

“There have been years of famine and harsh winters.”

Alberto picked up a document to elaborate on his response.

“Though the nobility and upper classes might not feel it, it’s clear that it’s been a challenging period for the empire’s citizens. So, they are wholeheartedly throwing themselves into dispelling difficult memories and dreaming of a peaceful future. That’s how I see it.”

The document in his hand recorded the food supply and population change rates from various fiefs. The contents were far from positive.

Alberto briefly looked out the window and turned back.

“Which is why I am grateful. Slow as it may be, things are changing.”

At the respectful bow of his head, I waved my hand dismissively.

“It’s the result of everyone’s hard work, Lord Alberto.”

“Ha ha. Is that so?”

“Yes. Therefore, both you and I should continue to work hard in the future.”

After this casual conversation with the chamberlain, time continued to swiftly pass.

Before I knew it, it was just five days before the festival’s start.

In stark contrast to the bustling capital, the Imperial Palace was serene.

The reason for the subdued atmosphere within the palace was simple.

Sylvester.

A delegation from that desert empire was soon arriving at the capital. This news put everyone in the palace on high alert.

One might think, why all the fuss just because a delegation is coming?

However, Iris, mirroring my own feelings, couldn’t concentrate on her work, anxiously tapping her feather pen.

The composition of this delegation was enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine in the empire.

According to information from the border guard three days prior,

the delegation was on a different scale compared to any other nation they had passed through so far.

The leader of this entourage was said to be a black-furred feline Human-Beast.

There is only one black-furred feline Human-Beast in Sylvester’s high ranks.

“URGENT! Sylvester has arrived at the Western Gate!”

“…They’ve finally come.”

At the herald’s call as he bustled through the palace, I ascended to the upper floors.

The terrace where one could overlook the entire capital.

The same place where Milene and I once scouted Kalheigh; from here, the faces of Sylvester’s delegation entering through the Western Gate would be clearly visible.

‘Hard to believe they’ve actually come.’

Let’s see what they bring.

*

Sylvester is an empire occupying the west of the Western Continent.

Its most notable characteristic is twofold.

Firstly, it is a desert nation blanketed in sand.

Secondly, it is a multi-race nation where various species coexist.

Though it’s mostly humans and Human-Beasts,

Sylvester can be described as a nation born from the desert natives and Human-Beasts who resisted the Altain-controlled Human-Beast Union and chose to unite.

Due to the blazing sun that relentlessly beats down the desert,

its residents have dark skin, and their attire usually consists of long, thin fabrics that cover their bodies completely or, conversely, minimal wear.

One can also find unique features in their architecture.

When you look down from a high ground at Sylvester’s territory, the first thing you’ll notice are pointed structures. These structures are located at the center of each city, where the local rulers reside.

A shape akin to a horn piercing the sky—called the Celestial Horn.

There exist a total of 13 Celestial Horns.

The main Celestial Horn, numbered as the 1st Horn, is where the emperor, Regen Myers, resides. After that, the sequence continues down to the 13th Horn.

The closer one gets to the outermost 13th Horn, the more the landscape shifts from desert terrain to lush forests. As such, residents near the 13th Horn tend to have lighter skin compared to typical Sylvesterites.

The fallen Panray Bisuman, by my hand, was from the 13th Horn, hence his pale complexion.

To the uninformed, he might seem no different from an Altain resident, but this was likely one of the reasons my subordinates naturally regarded him as a southern orphan.

And Panray…

Technically, he was one of the countless disciples of Helsia Asraf.

She lost her disciple to me.

‘Could she have come for revenge…? Or for some other purpose?’

She wouldn’t have paid enough attention to Panray to warrant such a journey.

This is a voyage from one end of the continent to the other.

Even if it wasn’t her, an appropriately dignified high-ranking official could have been sent.

Yet her leading the envoy herself suggests some other ulterior motive…

With those thoughts in mind, I scanned the streets of the western district.

‘They sure do look grand.’

The long procession passing through the Western Gate.

In stark contrast to the capital residents admiring the entourage, the differences in attire stood out.

The first to enter, guarding the convoy, were Sylvester’s escort guards.

Their heavy armors protect only the vital areas, leaving the rest covered with cloth. Their heads were wrapped in circular cloth, showing only their faces, with helmets placed atop.

Behind the guards came figures adorned in luxurious fabrics and dazzling jewelry, revealing their dark complexions. They leisurely observed the capital with relaxed expressions.

And then, there were the muscular giants, bare-chested and wearing their helmets askew, effortlessly carrying open palanquins on their shoulders as they passed through the Western Gate.

The moment they did…

A fierce gust of wind shook the capital.

“Hooowww!”

“What… is this…?”

A sensation as if cold water had been poured down my back.

The harsh wind that violently tousled clothes and hair blew straight up to the terrace, but there was no time to dwell on this sudden phenomenon.

“Khh…”

“What… what is it!”

Keen senses detected the unrest that rippled through the palace.

Quickly shifting my gaze, I saw superior knights collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily.

It wasn’t just the Royal Knights.

Random mana awoken individuals passing by were also there, wide-eyed with blood trickling from the corners of their lips.

“Boom! Boom!”

Turning my head at another heavy sound.

There stood the two Supreme Warriors, their fur bristling, gazing fiercely into the western district sky. The eyes of the tiger and wolf Human-Beasts held traces of slight fear.

‘Fear?’

It was understandable that such an expression would manifest on the grand warriors of the Human-Beast race.

A fact I came to understand when I gained the ability to see mana:

Everyone harbors mana within.

For ordinary people, it manifests as a small light.

For those unawakened to mana, it’s a faint spark.

And for those who have reached the superhuman realm, it’s a roaring flame.

Mana awoken individuals judge the strength and state of others by observing the nature and size of the mana directly. The presence of mana was similarly identified this way.

Aidan, who fought in the main plaza, had a flame that engulfed his entire body. However…

“…Swordmaster.”

All of the capital seemed to be covered in an intense blue flame in an instant.

It’s truly absurd in scale.

The mana practitioners likely trembled upon witnessing this storm of mana. Lower-tier individuals couldn’t bear the gap and spat blood.

As the saying goes, knowledge begets vision. The common populace merely felt a sense of discomfort, wearing expressions of indifference.

“…”

Turning my gaze back to the leisurely-moving palanquin at the tail of the convoy.

Drastically different from Altain’s modest dressing, this one revealed more white fabric. The smooth cocoa-toned skin of legs, thighs, abdomen, and arms was completely exposed.

A black head of hair like a night brought to life, cat ears, and dazzling golden eyes that emitted a lustrous glow.

Reclining on the palanquin with a leisurely wagging tail— a feline Human-Beast.

The Dragon-Slayer, Helsia Asraf.

A transcendent from the desert had arrived.

In the Western Continent, dragons generally symbolize calamities.

Long ago, before the dragons of the world entirely disappeared,

occasionally seen dragons were harbingers of extreme heat and cold, thunderstorms, and earthquakes. Hence, when natural disasters occurred, people called it the appearance of a dragon.

Helsia is said to have slashed through the worst sandstorm Sylvester had ever witnessed.

Because that one strike against the calamity of the sandstorm transcended human limits,

the emperor of Sylvester granted her the title Dragon-Slayer, and bestowed her with the name Helsia Asraf. Instantly, her reputation as the third Swordmaster rippled across the continent.

A transcendence worthy of respect and adoration. Yet…

‘This woman is insane.’

Numerous flows of energy created by the Human-Beast grand warriors interweave into one massive storm.

Currently, the storm is being maintained as intangible energy. However, if Helsia harbors murderous intent and expresses such will, the storm of mana will manifest in reality, releasing its power.

The capital would be halved in one blow.

One could hypothesize that it might be a natural phenomenon if she has reached the transcendent realm. But that doesn’t make sense.

My teacher, recuperating in Ruben, controls his mana to the point where his very existence is practically erased, appearing like an ordinary person.

The fact that such a phenomenon occurred immediately after passing through the Western Gate signifies Helsia’s provocation.

Either she looked down on Altain

or she’s causing a commotion in order to summon my teacher.

‘Testing whether my teacher is well must be the purpose.’

Then as her disciple, it’s my duty to respond to Helsia’s provocation.

Swooshing—

The firm grip on my palm. The Grand Duke’s ceremonial sword gleamed as it was drawn from its sheath.

I don’t need Calion. After all, a direct confrontation isn’t necessary.

I lowered the sword into a ready stance and firmly grasped the handle. My target is the flow constituting the storm, cutting through the center of the massive flow unleashed by Helsia.

‘It’s doable.’

As mana was absorbed, I approached the mysterious realm. Is that the reason?

The absorbed mana stabilized with Nia’s help, and the balance between my soul and body was restored, enhancing my intervention powers.

The fact that I struck Nia’s core at the workshop

and tapped the flow of the Human-Beast grand warrior in the throne room

were all byproducts of my elevation.

Even though mana doesn’t yet burst from my sword in its usual form, it’s irrelevant.

Although it’s not in a typical form,

it’s clear that I too am nearing the transcendent realm.

“…”

After taking a calm breath,

I swung the sword at the center of the storm.