Chapter 165: Genesis (2)

The sun sets and the day grows dark, but the lights illuminating the royal palace’s party venue do not go out.

Rather, as the giant full moon and countless stars filled the sky, the atmosphere was enhanced.

Splendidly arranged dishes and sweet liquor.

Nobles, gathered in a circle around a fountain spouting streams of water, enjoyed the banquet, swaying their bodies and laughing, intoxicated by the alcohol, the atmosphere, and the melody of the music.

“Haha!”

“Hohoho!”

It was a celebration for the 2nd Prince’s safe return.

For the nobles, high-ranking officials, and powerful figures who all had a foot in politics and vested interests, it was an essential venue for fellowship and, at the same time, a place of opportunity.

A hidden battlefield where they offered friendly smiles and greetings on the surface, but underneath lay advanced psychology and meticulous calculations.

While everyone tried to use this occasion to secure their own interests, only one person, Duke Caravan Zain, sat with a frozen expression.

‘How utterly pathetic.’

At the spectacle before him, Duke Zain inwardly clicked his tongue.

If it hadn’t been a banquet celebrating the 2nd Prince’s safe return, he wouldn’t have even participated in such a party filled with empty formalities.

In fact, he was extremely displeased with this situation of nobles gathering to drink, laugh, and chat.

It was natural.

It was only a week ago that the Empire had been attacked by an unidentified pseudo-religious cult.

The enemies had not yet been caught and nothing had been revealed about them other than that they served an evil god and were hostile to the Frey Empire.

It was a rather troublesome situation from the Empire’s perspective.

Because the enemies seemed to know quite a bit of deep information about this Frey Empire.

As proof of that, the capital’s security had been completely breached, so there was no telling when another terror attack might occur.

But look at these foolish vested interests, who wielded all sorts of power, claiming to move the heart of the Empire, but in reality were only preoccupied with lining their own pockets.

Nowhere in their forms, steeped in long-standing peace, could a sense of crisis be found.

With the arrogant words ‘Golden Empire’ on their lips, they deluded themselves into thinking their power, wealth, and honor would be eternal like gold, having long since cast aside the duties and responsibilities of a noble.

In reality, even though several days had passed, the people’s livelihood was still trembling in anxiety, and the chaos had not subsided.

‘Hahaha! You all worry too much. They attacked the Academy, not our Empire. Who in their right mind would dare draw their sword against us?’

‘The Empire’s walls are this intact. Such worries will only shorten your lifespan, so let’s have some constructive talks for the Empire. Isn’t that our job.’

‘Speaking of which, how about we use this attack as a pretext to file a petition to dismiss Dean Bell Toro? Honestly, we haven’t been able to develop that good land called the Academy because of that man, have we? So…….’

When he happened to overhear this conversation while passing by, Duke Zain’s anger flared to its peak, and he almost shattered the door, went in and tore the mouth of the noble who had spouted such nonsense.

But he stopped.

Because he knew it was not a problem that would disappear just by dealing with that one noble.

Stagnant water rots, and the Empire had been stagnant in the well of peace for too long.

And, his own Zain family had likewise been stagnant in that well for a long time.

Duke Zain had heard roughly what kind of atrocities the collateral blood relatives who inherited the Zain name were committing, scattered here and there throughout the Empire.

So he tried to change it but failed to change it completely. Because corruption still occurred in unseen places.

This was reality.

A reality that could never be changed by the power of an individual.

It didn’t matter how much he was called the master of the Magic Tower and the Empire’s greatest grand mage.

If even his family was this difficult, could he change the Empire?

‘You asked why I rejected all the policies beneficial to the nobles for the Academy? That’s because this Academy is the last beacon that will illuminate the chaos of the future.’

Duke Zain suddenly recalled the prophetic words Dean Bell Toro had told him during his time at the Academy.

‘If things continue like this, chaos is inevitable. Like the invasion of the Great Demon Angmar in the past, chaos will once again cover the entire continent. And at that time, the epicenter where the seeds of chaos will first sprout will be right here in the Frey Empire.’

‘…….’

‘That is why the Frey Heroes Academy must be noble. It is the last bastion that will prevent future chaos, inheriting the beliefs of the Great Hero Aidan Frey, so should it be used as a mere political object?’

At the time, he thought he had said such things merely to instill motivation in them, who were young.

But, now it was different.

‘You may be right, Dean.’

Looking at the current state of affairs, the realization of his prophecy did not seem far off.

No. Looking at recent events, the seeds may have already sprouted.

‘The Empire needs a hero, and I have no doubt that a second Aidan Frey will emerge from among you.’

There was a time when he had wished for chaos.

A dream of becoming a hero.

Because he had a grand dream and a burning passion to save the continent and change the Empire like the second Aidan Frey.

But not now.

Far from being a hero, he was too busy with the affairs of his family and the Magic Tower to even catch his breath.

You could say he had adapted to reality.

‘Rather than me, the next generation…… Ah, right. There was that kid.’

A cadet who, though in a different department, had for a moment reminded him of his own Academy days.

‘Come to think of it, I didn’t see that fellow’s name in this attack. He made a name for himself every time an incident occurred and was on the front page of the Royal Dream.’

He didn’t think it was particularly strange.

Since he was only human, he couldn’t perform such feats every time.

“Are you not enjoying the party?”

Just then, a voice that cut in from the side broke Duke Zain’s train of thought.

In his turned gaze, a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance came into view.

“…….”

However, while his appearance might be ordinary, his name was not ordinary at all.

Sigaro Isaac.

A Royal Knight who protects the Emperor and one of the 10 Masters.

And until recently, the one and only magic swordsman on the continent.

Duke Zain’s pupils widened for a moment, not expecting to meet him here.

But that was all.

Duke Zain returned to his expressionless face.

“You’ve worked hard looking after the young prince.”

“Fufu. It was no trouble. Isn’t it my job to assist the royal family? I just did what I had to do.”

“Is that so? I heard you have a lot of interest in other things besides escorting.”

For example, politics.

Duke Zain had already heard the news that he, who had silently shouldered his duties as a Royal Knight, had recently been meeting with various wealthy individuals and engaging in political conversations.

Sigaro, it was said, advocated for a meritocratic system where a person’s use is determined by their ability, not their origin.

Sigaro Isaac, being of commoner birth and neither a knight nor a mage, was also the epitome of an ambiguous position, welcomed by neither side.

“Do you have business with me?”

“I just came to greet you after a long time.”

So Duke Zain did not believe his words at face value.

If he had wanted to use him here, it seemed to be a success to some extent.

In fact, when Sigaro Isaac suddenly sat in the seat next to Duke Zain, which had been empty for a long time, the gazes of the nobles, who had been stealthily glancing at the Duke’s side, were instantly drawn here.

It meant that while he may not have gained Duke Zain’s favor, he had at least succeeded in drawing the nobles’ attention.

“Is a place like this, where people just boast about how great and amazing they are, really necessary? I’m not so sure.”

As Duke Zain was killing time at the banquet, letting his words go in one ear and out the other.

“……!”

Suddenly, his eyes shot wide open.

“Your Grace? This is……”

Sigaro, too, seemed to have felt something and looked at him, and that reaction gradually spread throughout the banquet hall.

Tadadak!

And as if to confirm that sense of unease, the footsteps of dozens of people rushed into the banquet hall.

They were the attendants of each noble who had been waiting outside.

Among them was Duke Zain’s attendant, the Magic Corps Commander, and as soon as he entered the banquet hall, he found Duke Zain and whispered in his ear with a serious face.

“……Your Grace. A terror attack has occurred. The location is the Ladrier Hotel, located outside the East Gate.”

It perfectly matched the direction from which the unsettling energy had been felt just a moment ago.

“What’s the situation?”

“We’ll have to get more reports for the details, but circumstantially, it seems to be the same group that invaded the Academy……”

As the judgment that it would be faster to see with his own eyes than to wait for a report crossed his mind, Duke Zain shot up from his seat and headed for the rear garden balcony connected to the banquet hall.

Sigaro and the Magic Corps Commander followed behind him, and the nobles who had heard the news brought by their attendants followed in a crowd.

“You’ve arrived.”

There was already a guest on the balcony.

Marquis Yamad Leonhardt, Commander of the Central Knights and the Best Sword in the Empire.

Duke Zain gave his greeting a brief glance before gripping the railing and casting his gaze far away.

Thanks to the royal palace being built at a higher altitude than the capital’s ground level, the entire view of the capital could be seen.

And behind it, smoke billowed up into the sky like clouds.

Gyaaaaah!

And a white giant, standing in stark contrast to the pitch-black night.

‘A Skeleton Lord……?’

There was no need to enhance his vision with magic or anything of the sort.

The imposing presence emanating from its overwhelming size was visible even from this far away.

“Tha, that……!”

“How. How could such a thing……”

The nobles were all thrown into a state of panic by the advent of an ancient undead they were encountering for the first time in their lives and the fact that it had taken place right in the capital of the Empire.

“Tha, that monster won’t come this far, will it……?”

“Hey. Su, surely it wouldn’t? Have you forgotten where this is?”

“Ri, right. Haha…… ha!”

“Marquis Leonhardt? What, what are you doing just standing there blankly? Hurry up and lead your men to dispose of that monster.”

“No, that’s not right. Sir Leonhardt should stay here with us!”

“Ahem. We, well, this is the safest place, right?”

The balcony was soon in a state of confusion.

Marquis Leonhardt watched the scene with a hardened face, then sighed and took a step.

“I’ll go with you.”

It was Duke Zain.

At his accompaniment, Marquis Leonhardt’s stiffly frozen expression relaxed considerably.

“I’ll be in your care, Your Grace.”

The strongest representatives of the Frey Empire’s sword and magic joined hands.

What being would dare stand in the way of that combination?

As if just seeing them together was reassuring, the nobles each let out a sigh of relief and regained their composure, as if they had never been scared.

“Phew. Then I guess we just have to wait for that monster to be annihilated.”

“Haha, that’s righ…… Hu, heok! What is that!?”

But.

Starting with a noble’s cry of astonishment, all eyes were once again drawn to the battlefield, and soon the crowd was completely buried in a vortex of shock and chaos.

The same went for Duke Zain and Marquis Leonhardt, who were just about to leave the balcony.

Kwaang! Kwang!

“What in the world is that……?”

Looking at that place, Duke Zain couldn’t help but mutter so.

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