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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Cyno
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The weather was clear. Across the wide plains, autumn wheat sprouted fresh green shoots, and farmers bustled between the rows, pulling weeds.
Shura and I—my hair now dyed red—walked along a rural path. The farmers glanced curiously at Shura’s appearance but didn’t seem wary. This was the southwestern region of the Kaligo Kingdom, a dark-aligned territory near Raven Castle, so a Moon Elf-like figure like Shura passing through wasn’t unusual.
“There are a lot of humans here too?”
“Yes. The western regions of the kingdom are primarily inhabited by humans.”
Though the Kaligo Kingdom was a nation led by Dark Elves, Werewolves, and the Blood Clan, many humans also lived there.
Originally, humans who followed the dark faith had settled here, but eighty years ago, after the Karl Kingdom fell to the Yosrahim Empire under Grand Duke Cloud, a significant number of nobles and commoners fled here to preserve their dark faith.
As a result, the once-barren western lands were developed, and now many humans called this place home.
“Hmm. I see.”
As Raven Castle came into view in the distance, Shura pointed.
“Master, that’s Raven Castle.”
“Oh? It’s smaller than I expected.”
Raven Castle was a major city with a population of 70,000. It was sizable by most standards, but to me, it seemed small. The Karl Castle I grew up in was the largest fortress in the northern Yosrahim Empire, and the imperial capital where I spent my school years was the empire’s grandest.
“Should we go somewhere else?”
“No, it’s fine. We’re just here to sell some things—no need to wander around.”
My final destination was Kara, a trade city in the Great Desert. The Kaligo Kingdom was just a stopover for a brief errand. There was no reason to waste time exploring.
Soon, we arrived at Raven Castle.
A long line of travelers stretched from the castle gates to the moat. The line moved sluggishly—apparently, security was tight here.
I scratched my chin, troubled. Without proper identification, strict inspections would be a problem.
But Shura was with me. She was originally from the Kaligo Kingdom, and crucially, she was also Dalahan’s wielder. As Dalahan’s master, she was treated with reverence akin to a saintess, so they likely wouldn’t treat her companion too harshly.
As we queued, I whispered to her:
“What should we do? I don’t have any ID.”
“If we say you’re from Aim Village, it should be fine.”
Not a bad idea.
Aim Village was where Shura had lived—a slash-and-burn settlement unaffiliated with any nation. Being from there meant lacking ID wouldn’t raise eyebrows, and my connection to Shura gave me credibility.
“So, we lived there together, and I followed you to the Kaligo Kingdom?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s settled. Now I just need a new name.”
“Right. You can’t use your real name.”
I had caused quite a stir at the Divine Sanctuary recently. Using my current name would instantly mark me as a sacrilegious villain. A name change was necessary.
But I couldn’t abandon “Yan”—my late mother had given me that name.
After much deliberation, I came up with something: a name obscure enough to avoid recognition yet still tied to my identity.
“Kao-Yan Anukin. Let’s go with this.”
“What does it mean?”
“In ancient runes, ‘Yan Returned from Hell.’”
Shura’s eyes rolled slightly. The syntax was off—strictly speaking, it should’ve been “Anu-Yan Kaokin.”
But what could I do? I’d flunked ancient runes in school. At least the words themselves weren’t wrong.
“Ah, nice.”
“Right? It’s good?”
Shura averted her gaze. Moon Elves were terrible liars.
Before long, the line dwindled. When our turn came, I strode confidently to the checkpoint.
A knight in black armor approached, exuding intimidation.
“Who are you, and where are you from?”
Shura went first.
“Shura Ides, from Aim Village.”
“Shura Ides…?”
The knight’s eyes widened as he recalled a missive from yesterday’s magical dispatch.
He immediately ordered a subordinate to fetch the recent circulars. After cross-checking the central registry, he spoke in a trembling voice:
“Are you… the Shura Ides who became Dalahan’s master at the Divine Sanctuary?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
As Shura nodded, the knight dropped to one knee in prostration.
“This lowly servant greets the master of Dalahan!”
“May the Great Saintess of Sun and Moon be blessed with divine glory!”
The soldiers followed suit, and soon even the lined-up travelers bowed deeply. Some even crawled forward on their knees, seeking blessings.
I leaned in and whispered to Shura:
“Hey, isn’t the Sun and Moon God a neutral deity?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Then why are these dark-aligned folks acting like this?”
“Well… maybe because it’s a Creator God?”
The Sun and Moon God, Rumenox, was one of the supreme Creator Gods. Even if light-aligned, the dark forces couldn’t ignore Rumenox—after all, he was the father who created Nox, the God of Darkness.
Either way, this wasn’t bad. Thanks to this, I entered the castle without ID issues.
In fact, the moment they learned I lacked identification, they swiftly issued me one—a top-tier pass granting unrestricted travel across the kingdom.
Ah, this is why you should always treat your woman well. Though at this rate, I might just become a kept man.
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“This way—the shopping district.”
Under a knight’s escort, we were guided to the marketplace. When we mentioned having goods to sell to the lord, he’d kindly assigned us an escort. But the route felt circular—I swore we’d passed that right-side alley earlier, yet now we were heading the opposite way.
“Didn’t we see that alley earlier?”
The knight averted his eyes awkwardly at my complaint.
“The buildings all look similar. Newcomers often get confused.”
“Really?”
The knight then cautiously probed Shura:
“Great Saintess, must you leave today?”
“Yes. We must hurry to reach Kara.”
Kara was a desert trade city between the Procia Continent and the Oriental Continent. While not a formal nation, it was decidedly unaffiliated with the Kaligo Kingdom or dark forces.
“Kara… That’s far. Will you be staying long?”
“Yes, likely so.”
“Ah, I see… Well, the lord’s manor is preparing a farewell banquet. Would you honor us with your presence?”
When Shura glanced at me for input, I shook my head. We had no reason to linger.
“No need. With a portal, it’s a quick trip anyway.”
Shura turned back to the knight.
“We appreciate the offer, but we’re in a hurry.”
The knight shot me a sharp glare—clearly, he held some grudge against me.
‘I ought to pluck those eyes out… No. Stay calm. It’s barely been days since the last incident… Breathe.’
I distracted myself by observing the marketplace. Restaurants sold exotic delicacies, while fruit stalls and general stores lined the streets.
I paused at an elderly vendor’s stall, where wooden carvings and masks were displayed. A white half-mask caught my eye—its sharply defined nose bridge was striking. I tried it on; it fit perfectly, as if made for me.
“Old man, how much for this?”
“Five copper leafs.”
Cheap. That was the price of a meal at a low-end eatery.
I glanced meaningfully at our escort. After a silent standoff, the knight sighed and handed the vendor a silver leaf (worth 1,000 copper).
“Oh my, such a large sum—”
The old man floundered—a day’s earnings wouldn’t cover the change.
As he panicked, I waved magnanimously.
“Keep the rest.”
The knight scowled, and the vendor eyed him nervously. But the matter resolved itself when I walked off wearing the mask, Shura following, and the knight scrambling after us without retrieving his change.
—
“Here we are.”
Our destination was “Bouton’s Garments,” a sizable shop displaying high-end clothing—perfect for selling my items.
We entered, and a middle-aged man rubbed his hands warmly.
“Welcome!”
Bouton, the shop’s owner.
“I’d like to sell some clothes. How much can you offer?”
“Hahaha. What kind of clothes?”
“Very expensive ones.”
Bouton chuckled—how expensive could they be?
“Show me. I’ll appraise them.”
I unpacked a formal suit I’d worn when fleeing—a graduation gift from my uncle. Crafted by Sir Rolfline, the Yosrahim Empire’s premier tailor and imperial seamster, it was worth a fortune.
“Here.”
As I unfolded it, Bouton’s pupils trembled.
Gold-thread lightning motifs, gemstone embellishments, an essence-infused button on the breast pocket, and the finest silk dyed with rare crimson pigment. The materials alone were worth more than Bouton’s entire estate.
Gulping, Bouton examined the seams—nearly invisible, each stitch bearing the mark of a master.
Then he spotted the swan-shaped maker’s mark and the imperial crest—and nearly dropped the garment.
This was a piece by Sir Rolfline, tailor to the Yosrahim Emperor.
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