Chapter 28: The Uncrowned Emperor

“Please, honored elders… we ask you to reconsider,” Raiden spoke.

“My name is Raiden Heart. It may be insolent of me… but I dare raise my voice before you in defense of my friend—not because of our bond, but because I believe we cannot afford to lose him.”

His words were supported by little Chai, who gathered every ounce of courage to speak.

“Big Brother Ethan may be Level 1… but he’s already stronger than me. I couldn’t accomplish what he did .. even at my level. I…”

Chai paused for a moment, glancing at his comrades, adjusting his words before continuing.

“We cannot hunt without him.”

All of them… stood behind him.

Even Alicia—who had never truly understood him—stepped forward for his sake.

Seeing them follow her lead, Moon offered them a faint smile before turning her gaze back to the elders.

“You may decide as you wish. But the truth is… the Third Squad would not exist without Ethan Heart.”

The entire squad stood as one .. firm, united, unyielding.

Their stance drew varied reactions.

Kevin’s deepening frown.

Vanessa’s quiet, amused chuckle.

And Ethan’s gratitude—tinged with turmoil—as he looked at them, once again astonished by how far they were willing to go for him.

He felt grateful.

Uneasy at the thought that he might never repay such a debt.

And burdened by the knowledge that those feelings… were meant for the former owner of this body, not for him.

’How far will you go for me… and how deep will you make me indebted to you?’

It was his weakness, plain and simple .. human bonds.

Something he had never truly learned how to handle.

Yet despite the Third Squad’s unified stand, it was not enough.

Kevin Heart was not a man who yielded easily.

“I see that the Third Squad stands united,” he said, his tone measured. “And I am pleased to witness such cohesion. It is one of the most vital factors for survival during a hunt. However…”

His expression darkened.

“You claim that Ethan Heart can benefit your squad despite his current level. I see the opposite.”

Pointing directly at Ethan, Kevin fired the argument that nearly shattered their case entirely.

“He bears the mark of the Blood Eclipse. Wherever night falls, every horror of darkness will hunt him. And since you stand beside him… the same will befall you.”

“Even during the day, the fiercest beasts and bosses will seek him out. He is nothing less than a ticking time bomb. And when he detonates—”

Kevin deliberately lowered his voice.

“He will not be the only one destroyed. His entire squad will follow. That is a risk I will not permit.”

The curse card was a powerful one.

Refuting it was no simple matter.

Yet Moon tried regardless.

“I am fully aware of the danger his curse poses—but! We possess great mages within our ranks. Chief among them is Lady Vanessa seated before you.”

She gestured toward her teacher among the elders.

“She can suppress his curse with her magic. That is not an impossible feat for someone of her level.”

She might not be able to free him from it—but suppression was possible.

Kevin knew that.

But it was not enough.

“We are speaking of the Blood Eclipse,” Kevin replied. “Even if suppressed, we cannot know when its power might exceed the magic restraining it. That does not change the fact that he is a ticking bomb.”

He slammed his fist against the platform, ending the exchange.

“I will not gamble the finest talents of the Hearts for a single individual .. even if he possesses a remarkable Blessing.”

“My decision is final.”

Kevin was resolute. His will did not bend.

That final declaration silenced Moon and the rest of the squad.

They had nothing left to offer.

Meanwhile, Ethan’s mind raced.

What card could overturn this desperate situation?

What could possibly sway the elders?

He evaluated several possibilities in rapid succession .. each one more unlikely than the last.

Still, he resolved to step forward and defend himself with everything he had.

Reigniting his determination, sharpening every ounce of resolve within him, he took a step forward…

But before he could utter a single word ..

The violent crash of the chamber doors slamming open silenced him.

His head snapped toward the entrance.

So did everyone else’s.

Within moments, their expressions shifted—surprise for some, shock for others.

Tension—most notably from Kevin Heart, who broke into a faint sweat the instant he saw him.

He entered the hall after kicking the doors open with force.

The knights stationed outside did not dare speak to him .. nor approach him.

All they could do was bow in deep respect.

“My, my… debating such a thorny matter without me? How rude.”

His voice was deep—aged, yes—but utterly undiminished in presence.

Ethan stared at him, more stunned than anyone else in the chamber.

This was not a stranger.

He was an old man with long, unruly red hair tucked beneath a worn black hat weathered by time.

Wrinkles traced his face, and a red beard—neither thick nor thin—framed his jaw.

His narrow eyes glowed crimson, and a peculiar smile never left his lips.

He wore a long black coat that reached below his knees .. dirty, slightly torn at the edges.

A red scarf concealed his neck, giving him the appearance of a poor but gentle elder.

Thick brown gloves hid hands calloused from years of wielding a blade.

Unlike the other elders—whose presence weighed heavily upon the hall—

This old man emitted nothing.

Ethan felt no pressure from him.

Nothing at all.

And yet ..

Kevin Heart swallowed hard the moment he laid eyes on him.

“Asterion…”

The moment the name was spoken, Ethan knew he had not been mistaken.

And Moon confirmed his suspicion when she called out to him unconsciously ..

“Grandfather…”

’It’s him… exactly as I saw him when I played Ordeal…’

’The man who stands at the top of the Hearts… the Uncrowned Emperor—Astreion Heart.’

Who would believe that this shabby old man was, in truth, the strongest living Heart?

The only one among them who had reached the rank of High King as a Knight.

It was even said he would have ascended to Emperor .. had his body not been saturated by the curse, forcing him into retirement for fear that he might one day transform into a monster none could restrain.

That was why he bore the title Uncrowned Emperor—the most prominent of his many epithets.

Was it because he was the strongest?

Or because he simply did not care?

Whatever the reason, Asterion was brazen enough to barge into the hall holding a half-empty bottle of liquor—its missing half already evident in the faint flush across his cheeks.

The strongest drunkard alive staggered forward, swaying slightly, utterly indifferent to the setting—much to Kevin’s visible irritation.

“Asterion… do try to remember your standing as one of the elders,” Kevin muttered sharply.

“Standing? What’s that? Is it a good drink? If not, I’m not interested.”

He waved dismissively .. then his eyes lit up when he noticed someone in particular.

“Oh? Isn’t that my adorable granddaughter? So you were here!”

Asterion skipped forward with ridiculous enthusiasm toward Moon Heart.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were back, my dear? I’ve missed you so much—urggh!”

He threw himself at her for an embrace.

Moon smacked him aside without hesitation.

“Grandfather… do you not see we are in the middle of something important?”

At her glare, Asterion slowly got back to his feet, dusting himself off with exaggerated sorrow.

“Children these days… no respect for the elderly. I might die at any moment, you know.”

“Who exactly is dying, damned old man?!”

Moon snapped.

Asterion Heart was a High King-rank Knight.

He would live far longer than ordinary humans .. his death was nowhere near.

He knew that perfectly well.

But teasing his granddaughter was far more entertaining.

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