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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Ruby
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Yuma looked at all the members of the Dawn Revolution Group kneeling before him.
This was the moment Yuma was appointing all members of the Dawn Revolution Group as the Dawn Knights.
Revolution Group Leader Casiella had her red hair tied in a ponytail.
“Welcome as my first knight.”
Yuma appointed Casiella as a knight.
“I swear my loyalty, Lord Yuma.”
Just as she had until now.
And would continue to do so.
Yuma’s gaze moved past the leader Casiella to the revolution group members behind her.
“You are knights of the Grand Duke’s house, and knights of this nation.”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
“Here is your first order. Half of you will protect Emperor Brigitte’s safety at the imperial palace.
The other half will patrol all territories of the empire to check for corrupt nobles or officials. This has already been discussed with Emperor Brigitte.”
Yuma gave them the opportunity to build the empire’s integrity they had originally wanted to achieve with their own hands.
“Handle arrested criminals according to imperial law.”
The Dawn Knights’ eyes sharpened.
“You may use force without restraint against those who interfere with the execution of these official duties.”
“We receive your command! Your Grace!”
Casiella slowly raised her head.
“I heard you’re going somewhere again this time.”
Yuma met her gaze filled with warmth and loyalty.
“Yes, I have business in the southern sea. Guard the empire well while I’m gone.”
“I will carry out your orders at the cost of my life, Lord Yuma.”
Casiella wanted to follow Yuma.
But it wasn’t difficult to kill that desire.
Because she thought it was enough just to be near Yuma.
And because Yuma had just given her the power to purify the empire as she had wanted to all this time.
Casiella believed in the radiance that had emanated from Brigitte.
She believed in the power that radiance had given.
She had searched through history.
That radiance was the light that the first Emperor of Astes had emitted.
‘The empire will change. With Lord Yuma. With Emperor Brigitte.’
The blood of emperors had fully awakened.
And so the Dawn Revolution Group became Yuma’s first knights, the Dawn Knights.
After returning to the Imperial Princess Palace from appointing the entire Dawn Revolution Group as knights, someone stood before Yuma.
“My Lord, aren’t you going to make me a knight?”
It was Bell.
Yuma stroked Bell’s blue hair.
“You don’t need that to be my first sword. Why should you need restrictions on your movement when you’ve only recently broken free from your clan’s burden?”
Bell would never leave his side.
Having been appointed as Yuma’s own sword, she wouldn’t be disrespected by anyone.
There was no need to receive a knight’s appointment.
Bell’s pink eyes met Yuma’s blue ones.
“I don’t mind restrictions if they’re from you, my Lord.”
“Well…”
*Rustle…*
Yuma stroked Bell’s hair once more.
“After you see more of the world. If you still want to be my knight, then tell me again.”
“Yes, I understand, my Lord.”
Bell smiled gently.
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Divine Realm.
A pitch-black throne.
Red mist slowly gathered and took form above the throne.
It was a giant raven.
A raven with red and black feathers intermingled.
The head, wings, legs, and feet all maintained the form of a raven.
However, the upper body had the form of a black human.
The great raven god.
The evil god, Malphas, opened his eyes.
Black pupils gazed directly at the world.
*Crunch.*
Malphas was slowly chewing something.
It was human fingers.
Before the throne lay a naked corpse.
It was an offering brought to the divine realm after destroying its soul.
From those gathered who believed in him.
No, from those gathered who were made to believe in him—the cult [Figero].
An offering from that Figero.
Malphas pondered while savoring the human flesh.
He recalled the day he sent a nun from the cult to the one who killed Inclinue.
“On the surface, that young girl beside him seemed more bothersome…”
But it was clearly that man he met through the nun who had killed the god Inclinue.
“I should observe the situation for now.”
Malphas had no intention of approaching Yuma immediately, neither through descent nor divine possession.
He planned to watch his movements first.
“Rather than taking direct action myself… it’s better to incite others.”
The god who had been called overly cautious thousands of years ago was cautious this time as well.
*Crunch.*
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“Take care, Yuma.”
Brigitte bid Yuma farewell.
After greeting Yuma, Brigitte approached Cloney and Bell who were behind him.
“Thanks to you all, I was able to rise to this position. Return safely.”
Cloney and Bell could only widen their eyes at receiving an embrace from none other than Her Majesty the Emperor.
“Me too! Your Majesty!”
And they could only look at the feline clan swordswoman Hestia, who said that, as if she were crazy.
“Yes, yes. Hestia worked hard too.”
“Mm, hehe.”
The scarlet ears of the feline clan twitched at the imperial embrace.
“We’ll be going now.”
Cloney bowed demurely.
Bell bowed as well.
And so Yuma’s group left the imperial palace.
To save the fishfolk, the Mullen clan experiencing the crisis of their lives—a party of just 4 people.
But Yuma had no worries.
Bell alone could exert power exceeding that of an entire army corps.
And before saying farewell to Brigitte, he had given orders to his first knight Casiella.
To go to the Information Guild and contact [Torch], Pineon’s information guild, to ask the White Night Clan contact officer stationed there to send 10 elite members to the northern sea where the Mullen clan ruled.
From Yuma’s perspective, it was a force that couldn’t possibly fail.
Though from the perspective of the Mullen clan who requested help, it might seem bewildering.
In the empire’s north.
And to the east of that north.
A port developed for sea routes was established in Baron Amon’s territory, just below Duke Balzac’s domain.
Baron Amon bowed to Yuma.
“I greet Grand Duke Yuma.”
Baron Amon, notable for his brownish-yellow hair, was a relatively young noble in his mid-30s.
“Good to meet you.”
Yuma didn’t plan to stay long in Baron Amon’s territory.
It had already taken a day and a half just to get to Baron Amon’s territory.
However, since night had fallen, they needed to rest here.
After sleeping, Yuma’s group was guided to the baron’s dining hall.
Bell, Cloney, and Hestia’s eyes sparkled at the table laden with abundant food.
“Wow, fish dishes!”
Bell, who rarely had fish dishes in her life, heartily devoured the grilled flounder.
And beside her was Hestia, who had already neatly lined up four stripped fish bones.
“Would you… like more?”
The baron’s chef asked while bowing.
How could they treat the companions of the empire’s most influential Grand Duke carelessly?
“Mm! More! It’s delicious!”
The chef’s face bloomed into a smile at Hestia’s bright response.
In the midst of this chaos, Yuma quietly savored the grilled flounder and duck meat.
At the table next to where Yuma’s group sat, there were people staring intently at them.
They were the baron’s children.
“So noble…”
Two blonde girls conversed while looking at Yuma alone.
“Those noble movements, the way he pierces the duck meat with his fork… so ethereal.”
Round brown eyes were fixed on Yuma.
Cloney, who had stayed at the Imperial Princess Palace for quite a while and conversed with Chief attendant Royan, had heard how Yuma was being called among noble ladies.
The gray-haired God of War who saved the empire.
They called him God of War and literally revered him, she heard.
‘…It’s not wrong, but I heard romance novel-like stories linking him with Emperor Brigitte were also circulating among the ladies.’
Emperor Brigitte’s Sword.
Rumors were rampant about novels and illustrations circulating that brought that phrase to life.
‘Now that Lady Brigitte has become Emperor, surely no one would dare write such novels… ah, or would they?’
Supreme loyalty bearing fruit.
Surely it wouldn’t be circulating even more than before with that kind of content?
Cloney was somehow gripped by an uneasy feeling that her thoughts might be right.
Then, a few more words from the girls were heard.
“But he’s already sworn loyalty to the great Emperor…”
“Yes, we can’t dare to be greedy. We’ll just have to enjoy those features.”
Cloney’s golden eyes turned cold for a moment.
Perhaps because she became certain that her hypotheses just now were correct.
Cloney realized anew that the world was wide and full of strange people.
‘The abnormal one… wasn’t just Sister Hestia.’
Cloney found herself looking with newfound warmth at the green-eyed feline clan member beside her who was devouring her 8th grilled fish.
The gazes directed at Yuma weren’t just from the two sisters with their bizarre affection.
A blonde young man was somehow looking at Yuma with fighting spirit in his eyes.
Strong admiration.
Baron Amon didn’t want to ignore the fighting spirit flowing in his eldest son Aros’s eyes.
So he approached Yuma, who had just finished his meal and was wiping his mouth with a napkin.
“Your Grace.”
Yuma nodded.
“Do you have business, Baron?”
“Though this may be extremely rude and presumptuous, could you teach my child a sword technique? If- if possible, a sparring match would be fine too.”
Yuma looked at Baron Amon with disinterested eyes.
There was someone beside him who showed an even more intense reaction.
‘They’re bothering Yuma… trying to make him use his strength unnecessarily.’
Bell stood up.
Pink eyes stared at Baron Amon.
“I’ll spar instead. I am Lord Yuma’s sword after all.”
Bell still didn’t fully believe Yuma’s words.
Even though he no longer coughed up blood at all.
So she didn’t want Yuma to waste even a little energy unnecessarily.
And truthfully, there was an even bigger reason.
It was that the baron dared to mention sparring.
That he casually spoke words that Bell herself hadn’t dared to utter due to the overwhelming difference in skill.
That made her a little angry.
Yuma nodded toward Baron Amon who looked at him in confusion.
“That’s right. Bell is my sword. Since there doesn’t seem to be much age difference between them, it should be very helpful.”
Someone stood up from their seat.
It was Aros, Baron Amon’s eldest son.
“I will spar. Thank you for giving me this valuable experience.”
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