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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Ruby
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At the summit of the stairs.
Emperor Brigitte sat upon the imperial throne atop the platform.
The ceremony coordinator below the platform called out loudly:
“Everyone, please rise!”
The ceremony for Yuma’s ascension to Grand Duke had begun.
The platform they stood on now wasn’t the one in front of the Crossroads of Glory.
This was in the grand banquet hall in front of the imperial palace, which had now become Emperor Brigitte’s residence.
The nobles were lined up in formation.
All of them were high-ranking aristocrats.
On the left side, members of the imperial family were gathered together.
First Prince Schwarze now wore a very relaxed expression, as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
Though this time there were only nobles present without any commoners, this was an official ceremony being held after becoming emperor.
*Step—*
Yuma ascended the platform.
He stepped onto the stairs covered with a red carpet.
Emperor Brigitte, with snow-white hair, approached Yuma.
“As my close confidant, Yuma has performed numerous deeds that have benefited the empire.”
Brigitte continued speaking while looking at the nobles.
“He is the former Supreme Commander of the Battlefield who led us to victory in the battle against the Kingdom of Paineton, and the one who saved this empire by destroying the Black Dragon.”
Other achievements and the god-slaying feat were omitted.
The god-slaying achievement had to be omitted. It was still a secret known only to those who were present then.
Even if it leaked out, few would believe it anyway.
“I hereby appoint Yuma as Grand Duke of the Astes Empire.”
Yuma knelt on his left knee.
Even the Noble trait didn’t instinctively interfere this time.
As if knowing that kneeling was the more sublime action in this situation.
“I look forward to working with you, Yuma.”
After kneeling on his left knee for a while, Yuma slowly rose.
And facing Brigitte, he replied:
“Of course.”
Yuma turned forward.
His gaze fell upon the numerous nobles.
“I am Yuma, appointed as Grand Duke. I look forward to working with you all.”
This was the birth of the second most powerful figure in this vast Astes Empire, after the Emperor.
The nobles’ gazes all converged on Yuma.
Those gazes contained reverence.
And fear.
It was reverence for accomplishing feats impossible for humans.
And it was the fear felt by those who had originally supported First Prince Schwarze.
“I will do what I must do. And none of those things will harm the empire.”
That was all.
Making the preparations by the imperial palace side seem pointless, Yuma ended with this brief speech and descended from the platform, continuing forward.
In front of him, the empire’s knights stood in tight formation.
One thousand imperial knights.
*Kuuung!!*
All thousand knights knelt simultaneously to show respect to Yuma.
“Pay respects to the empire’s hero!”
“Pay respects to Grand Duke Yuma!!”
Yuma passed by the shouting knights and continued forward.
All the nobles bowed to Yuma who had newly ascended to the rank of Grand Duke.
And from a group at the far left, passionate cheering erupted.
“God of War Yuma! Long live God of War Yuma!”
It was Hestia, the cat clan swordswoman who now proudly displayed her scarlet ears, no longer needing to hide them as she was now part of Grand Duke Yuma’s retinue.
“Mu… mmph!”
And beside her were Cloney and Bell desperately trying to stop Hestia’s sudden outburst.
Though truthfully, Bell was also suppressing her own desire to cheer along.
Emperor Brigitte looked at Yuma and the knights behind him and slowly opened her mouth.
The verses of the Imperial Song began to flow from those elegant lips.
Yuma listened to the Imperial Song that highlighted Brigitte’s soft, beautiful voice.
“The light above the crown embraces the warriors below the crown.”
A gentle golden aura began to flow from Brigitte’s body.
“Warriors of the empire, may the light of Astes protect you.”
The nobles’ and knights’ eyes widened.
“—Take up your swords.”
The gentle aura suddenly spread to illuminate the entire banquet hall brightly.
“Take up your swords!!!”
All thousand imperial knights drew their swords in unison.
Yuma scanned several knights with his Search skill.
He focused mainly on the knights who seemed to be experiencing changes.
“Oh…! I feel power welling up!”
“It’s His Majesty the Emperor’s blessing!”
[Lv.72]
The level increased.
[Lv.73]
Though only by 1, it definitely increased.
‘For an imperial bloodline power, it can’t be considered weak.’
About 50 people felt the changes.
They all experienced slight increases in strength and agility.
‘If timed right, this could turn the tide of battle.’
Yuma opened his status window.
He could confirm that some of his stats had increased.
Strength increased from 90 to 95. Agility from 110 to 120.
‘It probably can’t affect skills like Absolute Counter.’
Though the increase was minimal for Yuma himself, it would be a clear buff for other knights and soldiers.
What Brigitte had awakened seemed to be literally a power to make her armies stronger.
The experiment with the [Imperial Song] concluded successfully.
“Indeed, His Majesty the Emperor is a chosen one!!”
“Great Astes!”
Yuma now examined Emperor Brigitte with his Search skill:–
The reason her level far exceeded her swordsman rank must be thanks to the powers gained from awakening the Imperial Blood of Astes.
It seemed to demonstrate just how difficult an achievement it was to alter the lines of fate and awaken Imperial Blood.
Yuma passed by the nobles and suddenly stopped in front of one man.
It was before First Prince Schwarze.
“Schwarze, didn’t you tell me before? That when I became Grand Duke, you would choose the land I would receive.”
The blonde prince nodded while breaking into a cold sweat, clearly flustered.
“Yes, I did.”
“Choose one now.”
Schwarze stared at Yuma with a blank expression.
“…Alright, I will.”
After deep contemplation, Schwarze continued:
“Wilbeserk. It’s the territory next to the Astes Temple. Since it’s attached to the temple, it’s been considered sacred ground where no one has ruled, but it would suit you.”
I see.
Yuma could understand what Schwarze was trying to say.
Since it was certain the Astes Temple had become useless, why not take over the temple as well?
Schwarze spoke very indirectly to hide his true intentions.
After all, the other nobles didn’t even dream that Yuma had killed the god Inclinue.
Yuma slowly returned to the platform.
And approached Brigitte, who was resting at the back of the platform.
“Good work, Brigitte.”
“…I need to build up my physical and spiritual strength.”
Mental strength.
Brigitte now realized that it wasn’t just about reciting a few verses.
The awakening of Imperial Blood.
That awakening gave Brigitte mental strength far exceeding her physical achievements.
But she realized that physical achievements had to support it to maintain the Imperial Song for as long as possible.
“No matter how hard I try, I don’t think I can exceed 30 minutes.”
“That’s enough.”
Enhancing the physical and mental abilities of certain troops for 30 minutes?
This would have a dramatic effect in battle scenarios even excluding knights.
An effect worthy of delivering overwhelming victory.
And that 30-minute duration could probably be gradually increased with Brigitte’s efforts.
“Try various experiments. See if you can only support those who stand under your light, or if you can select three or four, or one or two individuals. Though the numbers would be limited, you might be able to give them more concentrated buffs.”
Brigitte’s eyes widened.
There were parallels between what was written in the royal blood texts that only emperors could read and what Yuma had just said.
“You truly know everything.”
Yuma slowly shook his head.
“After seeing the ability you displayed, it was within a predictable range.”
Yuma turned around. It was time to return to the Imperial Princess Palace.
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“Are you thinking of going to find those non-human sea races you mentioned before?”
Yuma slowly nodded at Brigitte’s words.
“I must.”
The Demon Realm Legion.
They had to keep searching for ways to deal with them.
Brigitte now had to reside in the Imperial Palace rather than the Imperial Princess Palace.
But she set a one-week grace period.
It was to prepare perfect supplies for Yuma’s group’s journey.
Chief attendant Royan approached Brigitte sitting in the Imperial Princess Palace office.
Royan bowed deeply to Brigitte.
“Your Majesty Emperor Brigitte, I have a message to deliver.”
“What is it?”
Royan held out a piece of paper.
“It’s an urgent message delivered through the Imperial Information Guild.”
Brigitte read aloud the paper written in the continental language.
“…A great crisis has befallen our fishfolk, the Mullen. Having heard that someone called Supreme Commander Yuma defeated the Black Dragon, we are requesting help. Please save our clan. A crisis unlike any we’ve faced before has come upon us.”
Brigitte continued reading the paper with a hardened expression.
“It’s a war between races. These are races we’ve never seen before—”
Brigitte had to pause momentarily.
Because there were words written that were quite sensitive to both Yuma and herself.
“They are races that possess an ominousness as if they were the offspring of an evil god. If you save our race from this crisis, we will grant any one request you make.”
Brigitte stared at Yuma.
“It seems they have more urgent business than our business with them.”
“Is that so.”
Yuma calculated in his head.
‘Experience.’
Though numerical, mathematical experience wouldn’t enter his companions’ bodies, combat experience would translate into physical and mental experience leading to level increases.
And actual combat was an unmatched stage for growth.
Yuma thought it wasn’t a bad opportunity for Cloney and Bell’s growth.
‘If it’s about saving an entire race.’
They could gain much by providing great help this one time.
If magic civilization was this advanced here, underwater civilization likely had significant development as well.
It would be of great help in many ways for the battle against the Demon Realm Legion.
“The northern sea. The fishfolk, Mullen rule the sea with Atlantis as their center point.”
Brigitte held out a continental map to Yuma.
“Though it seems they’re being invaded for that hegemony now.”
“I’ll go.”
Yuma decided to accept the fishfolk’s request.
It was a journey he had originally planned to make.
From Yuma’s perspective, only the quite concerning keyword ‘evil god’ had been added.
“What forces do you need for the journey?”
Brigitte asked.
“No additional forces needed.”
Most enemies could be handled at Bell’s level.
And Cloney was making rapid growth too.
If they needed other forces, it seemed better to borrow the power of the White Night clan.
“We’ll depart in two days.”
“Alright, understood.”
Brigitte accepted Yuma’s words without any particular reaction.
“I’m sorry. I won’t be of much help this time either.”
Brigitte added with a self-reproaching tone.
Yuma slowly shook his head.
“You are the representative of this Astes Empire. Having such a person share my intentions is help enough. When we save Mullen, forming a national alliance will be your role.”
The more Yuma spoke words for her sake, Brigitte felt somewhat more miserable instead.
‘I will succeed.’
She had to use this current misery as a stepping stone.
Brigitte approached Yuma.
“Be careful, Yuma.”
“Yes, if anything happens to the kingdom, send the Dawn Revolution Group to notify me immediately.”
Yuma’s group began preparing to head to the northern sea.
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