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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Ruby
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Yuma opened his mouth.
“The White Night clan?”
“The White Night clan is a legendary clan that exists between the barbarian country and the border of the Holy Empire of Hailem. Their distinctive features are hair that’s close to sky blue and eyes that are nearly red. It’s said that the entire clan possesses exceptional talent in martial arts, especially swordsmanship.”
Princess Brigitte continued:
“They say the reason the barbarian country of Pineon can’t touch the White Night clan is because of their powerful strength. I thought they were a semi-fictional existence, but according to the oracle brought by the Holy Maiden, it seems to be true.”
“The oracle stated quite directly that there would be a blue-haired sword saint in the White Night between the barbarians and the holy.”
“I see.”
The White Night clan. Yuma slightly furrowed his brow.
He had never heard of such a clan in Loop Blood.
If the blue-haired sword saint was specified as belonging to a particular clan, it would certainly make things much easier.
“The problem is how to approach the White Night clan. The barbarian country is completely hostile to the Astes Empire. Even now, they’re picking all sorts of fights with the empire. However, in the end, to make contact with the White Night clan and find the blue-haired sword saint from the oracle, we have no choice but to infiltrate the barbarian country.”
Yuma had a hunch that the main point was about to come.
“Actually, a few days ago, we received a request for support from the elite forces guarding the southern border of the empire. They’re facing off against the barbarian country and are asking for reinforcements to be sent so they can gain the upper hand.”
This time, it seemed he would have to go to the battlefield.
Yuma already felt a heavy fatigue.
“Do you want me to go, Princess Brigitte?”
“…Yes, it may sound quite shameless, but I can’t think of anyone more suitable than you.”
Yuma’s deliberation wasn’t long.
After all, he had already decided to do this himself.
To find the blue-haired sword saint.
“Fine. I’ll go, so tell them to provoke properly. Make sure the enemy commander is on the front lines.”
After Yuma’s words, a very loud laugh from Princess Brigitte von Astes could be heard.
“So you’re saying you’ll cut off their heads without needing to deal with the small fry? You really don’t fear even the Conqueror King at all. Well, you did defeat a dragon after all…”
‘I just find it troublesome.’
Conqueror King or whatever.
He just thought that if he took down the enemy commander, it would greatly diminish the enemy’s fighting spirit.
“We’ve been continuing to provoke, but the chances of an immediate war breaking out seem low. So I was thinking, why don’t you return to the capital first and be formally appointed as the ‘Supreme Commander’ of the battlefield? If we secure victory in this war against the barbarian country, I plan to somehow get you the title of Grand Duke. What do you think, Grand Duke Yuma?”
“Will the imperial family and nobility acknowledge that?”
“Making them acknowledge it is my job. You’re doing everything else for us. If I can’t even manage that much, I wouldn’t be qualified to become Emperor.”
Quite an admirable thing to say.
Yuma twisted the corner of his mouth.
“Alright, then I’ll return to the capital for now. It seems my group might grow by one person.”
“Anyone you bring will always be welcome.”
The call ended like that.
“Kaisen.”
“Yes, Lord Yuma.”
Yuma opened the door and called for Kaisen, who was standing at a distance outside.
Kaisen would still have some business left regarding support requests and such.
Leaving Kaisen behind, Yuma came down from the communication tower.
As he descended, he organized his thoughts.
Break through the barbarian country.
Find the ‘blue-haired sword saint’ who would be one of the White Night clan members.
And make Princess Brigitte into Emperor Brigitte.
‘Somehow.’
Yuma intended to accomplish all these tasks somehow.
If he could succeed in that, he would be able to secure a peaceful daily life.
Of course, his ultimate goal was still to [Clear] this world.
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Count Rubelt dragged his aging body.
The demonic energy that had infiltrated his body wasn’t dissipating; rather, it was digging deeper into his body.
He could already feel that his spinal cord had been invaded by the magic.
The clergy had already declared that there was no way to save him.
He had been given a terminal diagnosis that he would only live for about a week.
He could no longer postpone the succession of his title.
“Thank you, Knight Commander Haiman.”
“It’s nothing, Count.”
Knight Commander Haiman supported Count Rubelt.
Rubelt painfully sat down in his seat.
On the left were the core vassals that made up the count’s house.
On the right stood his eldest son Kaisen and youngest daughter Luine.
The second son, who had been in the area just below the capital for his studies, was said to be hurrying back home, but it would be difficult for him to arrive today.
Count Rubelt’s dry lips opened.
“I can feel my body gradually dying. I can no longer postpone the succession of the title. Therefore, I intend to hold the succession ceremony now.”
Count Rubelt, seated in his chair, scanned the members of his household.
“Step forward, Kaisen fel Rubelt.”
The eldest son Kaisen, who had come to the center, knelt on his left knee.
Rubelt stood up.
Pain surged through his entire body.
Thud!
However, this time he refused the helping hand of Knight Commander Haiman.
Heavy footsteps echoed on the ground.
“I, Count Rubelt, hereby abdicate from this moment. From now on, the count of this land is…”
Rubelt slowly placed his hand on Kaisen’s shoulder.
“You. My son, Kaisen fel Rubelt.”
Thud!
Weight.
Kaisen felt the weight in his father’s hand.
“Yes, Father.”
Kaisen had become the count.
During the modest succession ceremony, Yuma’s group had already left the count’s castle.
And after the ceremony ended, Yuma’s group walked back into the tower.
Yuma spoke to Kaisen, who stood before him.
“Congratulations on becoming count, Kaisen.”
Kaisen nodded deeply at Yuma’s words.
“Thank you, Lord Yuma.”
The Rubelt county, which had been devastated by the appearance of the Black Dragon Akreon, was being restored very slowly.
“I will be heading to the capital tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, Lord Yuma. We will never forget the grace with which you saved the county.”
Yuma twisted the corner of his mouth.
“It’s fine if you forget.”
At Yuma’s joke, a dignified voice was heard from beside them.
“We cannot forget.”
It was Count Rubelt. Who had now declared his abdication.
“The House of Rubelt… does not forget its debts. The debt we owe to you, Yuma, as a person, beyond being the proxy of Princess Brigitte. The House of Rubelt will not forget.”
At Rubelt’s words, Kaisen opened his mouth.
“Father’s words are correct. So, if there ever comes a time when you need the strength of Rubelt, please let us know.”
“I understand.”
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In front of Hestia, the swordswoman with crimson hair, stood Haruk, a brown-haired boy.
The boy who had been traveling with the feline swordswoman.
The boy who had been saved by Yuma’s group.
“Sister, you want to follow that person, don’t you?”
Haruk, with a bored expression, gazed at Yuma who was walking near the count’s castle with Cloney.
And that was the scene Hestia had been looking at first.
“Follow him. If only I had the strength to follow, the ability, some talent in something, I’d want to follow someone like that. But sister, you have that ability.”
Haruk’s eyes gazed into Hestia’s green eyes.
“Sister Hestia, you can ignite beautiful flames on your sword.”
Only those who are extraordinary themselves can walk in the shadow of an extraordinary person.
Haruk had thought this way since he was very young.
So when Hestia saved him from the bandits and they fled together, he thought she was someone who would eventually have to leave him.
Being a non-human race didn’t matter.
He thought she was a genius who should play in a much bigger world.
Hestia sensed sincerity in Haruk’s words.
“Then will you settle down in this county?”
“Yeah, I will! Thanks to you, I’ve already become friends with Kaisen bro- I mean, Count Kaisen!”
“That’s good.”
Haruk looked at the scene where soldiers and knights were clearing debris together.
“I should go help them. I’ll make sure to settle in well here. So if you ever pass through the county, make sure to stop by, okay, sis?”
Hestia nodded her head vigorously.
“Of course, definitely!”
And so Yuma’s group was decided to be a total of three people.
The next day came.
Yuma’s group left the county, receiving a passionate send-off from the count’s family.
They took a carriage and arrived at the transit city [Arkan].
At the Arkan station of the magic train [Halo].
They immediately bought direct tickets to the capital.
“Sister, it’s called red bean bread. It’s delicious.”
Cloney, the black-haired golden-eyed mage girl, bought red bean bread and placed it in both of Hestia’s hands.
Hestia’s nose twitched under the robe that covered her face.
As Yuma was the princess’s proxy, there was no one in this empire who could suppress Hestia’s identity if it were revealed.
Unless the bedridden Emperor suddenly woke up.
But Hestia didn’t like the attention itself that would be drawn to her.
It was only natural that the ears of a feline race, now an extremely rare non-human race, would attract people’s attention.
“Phew! W-what is this violent smell…!”
Hestia opened her mouth wide and bit into the red bean bread.
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The tavern in the transit city of Arkan was packed with people.
The second most renowned commercial city in the empire.
The nights in such a place were always bound to be bustling with people.
The drug dealers and addicts who had once operated in the shadows and then openly were now nowhere to be seen in this city.
Under the thorough reform of Arkan’s mayor Gelmore, the city had taken another step forward as a pure commercial city.
“Have you heard the rumor? They say a huge dragon appeared right below Arkan, in Rubelt!”
“They’re saying it was a Black Dragon.”
The topic of conversation among people was uniformly similar.
The black dragon, the black dragon that appeared in Rubelt territory.
“And they say a flash redder than the sun burst out, and it annihilated that Black Dragon in mid-air?”
“I heard it wasn’t a flash, but a red sword energy. Anyway, they say it was a human who accomplished this. A dragon slayer has appeared in the empire.”
And stories about the dragon slayer who killed that dragon.
“Isn’t it a lie? Both the sudden appearance of such a dragon, and the existence of someone who could defeat such a dragon!”
Someone expressed doubt.
About the credibility of the story.
But that doubt was quickly silenced.
“I saw the dragon myself.”
“I saw it too.”
“There was definitely a huge dragon soaring through the sky, and after a red light spread across the entire sky, that dragon had disappeared.”
There wasn’t just one or two people who had directly seen the dragon.
And then, the mouth of a man drinking alone opened.
“I came from Rubelt County.”
The attention of all 50 or so people gathered in the tavern focused on that man.
“The Dragon Slayer does indeed exist. I saw that person directly, though from a distance. It was a huge black dragon.”
The man swallowed hard.
“The black dragon attacked first. It was a terrifying dragon breath… The dragon slayer blocked it effortlessly and fired back an even more powerful attack. Didn’t you hear a sound more powerful than thunder striking across the empire?”
Starting from the transit city of Arkan, stories about the dragon slayer began to spread rapidly.
Clank─ Clank─
And the person in question was now on the magic train.
Along with a black-haired, golden-eyed girl nodding off, and a cat- girl fast asleep with her robe pulled low over her face and her head tilted back.
It was a magic train heading to the capital.
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