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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: selkie
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In the novel ‘Empire of the Dead’, magical artifacts are classified into different grades.
Among them, the “Unique” grade is so valuable that it cannot even be compared to the high or rare grades.
As the glorious ancient era faded, many technologies were lost. Among them was the method of crafting “Unique” grade magical artifacts.
Although some techniques have been restored in the present day, creating a Unique-grade artifact is still possible. However, the process is incredibly complex and requires unimaginable amounts of time and effort.
Even within the Imperial Treasury of the Philios Empire, there are only a few Unique-grade magical artifacts. That alone shows how valuable they are.
“Are you sure it’s okay to give this to me?”
“Everyone agreed.”
Raymond briefly wondered who exactly “everyone” referred to, but he shook off his idle thoughts and calmly spoke.
“I trust Marquess Crayer fully understands the significance of a Unique-grade magical artifact.”
The implication was that this was too great a matter to decide on impulse. However, Marquess Crayer showed no hesitation.
“I understand very well. That’s precisely why I wish to give it to you, Your Highness.”
“Marquess Crayer…”
“They say that magical artifacts choose their own masters. I don’t believe any of this happened by chance. Please, accept it.”
Continuing to refuse would be rude. A formal rejection had already been made.
Raymond accepted the box containing the ring-shaped Guardian of Frozen Souls.
“Have you heard of the Guardian of Frozen Souls?”
“I believe it’s a piece of armor that protects the user at the final moment.”
“You’re well-informed. Do you also know the story behind it?”
Of course he did. He had read the author’s setting book.
But Marquess Crayer seemed eager to explain it himself. Seeing this, Raymond gave a small smile and shook his head as if he didn’t know.
“It’s not a grand tale. Our family’s history dates back to the ancient era. We raised soldiers to protect the civilians from the monsters of the Black Mountains. As a token of appreciation for defending the empire from those monsters, our ancestors received the Guardian of Frozen Souls from the previous emperor.”
So far, this was a well-known story.
“Our ancestors believed in the significance of protection. They made a promise—if anyone protected our family, we would repay them with the Guardian of Frozen Souls.”
That was something he didn’t know.
“Just as Your Highness saved my life, now the Guardian of Frozen Souls will protect you.”
Marquess Crayer beamed.
“That’s reassuring.”
Raymond nodded with a faint smile. He thought the rewards were finished, but Marquess Crayer had other ideas. He spoke again, now with a composed expression.
“Furthermore, if Your Highness ever has need of us, our family will gladly raise our banners and gather under your command.”
The Crayer family would now stand behind the Fifth Prince, Raymond.
He was no longer alone. With the prestigious knight family of the northeast declaring their support, the vassal families under their command would also follow.
By saving Marquess Crayer, he had gained the allegiance of half the northeastern region.
This was a satisfying result.
“Marquess Crayer, I will remember your loyalty.”
“When the time comes, call upon us. Our family and knights await Your Highness’s command.”
The day when he would need their strength was not far away. A great calamity was approaching. Raymond could only give a bitter smile.
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Cassias was both the commander of the Imperial Army and a high-ranking knight who had reached an advanced level of swordsmanship. He was one of the finest knights in the empire.
When he first received the news that he would be guarding the Fifth Prince, he was somewhat disappointed.
If he was to serve as an escort of the royal family, he would have preferred protecting the First Prince, who had the military’s support, rather than the Fifth Prince, who still carried a reputation as a rogue.
When he was assigned to serve the Fifth Prince, most people still believed Raymond had defeated the Black Wind Lion Knights purely by luck.
But that wasn’t the case. The moment Cassias met the Fifth Prince and embarked on their journey to the northeastern border, he had to completely change his thinking.
“If I stay in the carriage, our march will slow down. I’ll ride on horseback instead. We mustn’t waste time when loyal soldiers of the Philios Empire are dying at the northeastern border.”
The Fifth Prince, Raymond, stepped out of his comfortable carriage and rode on horseback instead.
His carriage was then repurposed for carrying supplies, and he never slowed down until they reached the northeast.
It was his first time leaving the capital for such a long journey. But he showed no signs of exhaustion and rode tirelessly.
Cassias had once served under the Third Prince in the past. Compared to Raymond, the Third Prince had been rather delicate.
Of course, he had been young at the time. But Raymond was only in his late teens himself.
‘At first, I was just a little surprised…’
When Raymond made a decisive move in the central city, Cassias was impressed. When he achieved his first victory in the Black Mountains, Cassias was thrilled.
And when he finally defeated the Ghost Unit and rescued Marquess Crayer, Cassias had already acknowledged Raymond and developed a deep sense of loyalty toward him.
‘He had no choice but to act like a rogue to survive!’
Cassias came to believe that the Fifth Prince’s years of reckless behavior had been nothing more than a survival tactic—a disguise he had to wear to endure the deadly struggles within the imperial palace.
Lost in thought, he walked briskly toward his destination. Before he knew it, he had arrived at the training grounds of the lord’s castle.
After rescuing Marquess Crayer, Raymond and his party had accepted the marquess’s hospitality and were resting at the castle for a few days.
The two Crayer family soldiers guarding the training grounds stepped aside silently when they saw Cassias’s Imperial Army mantle and commander’s badge.
“Is Sir Gestain inside?”
Cassias asked one of the soldiers. The reason he had come to the training grounds today was because of an appointment with Gestain.
“Yes, he is sparring with the Fifth Prince.”
“Oh? A sparring match…”
There was no doubt that Gestain had a prior engagement. He might find this unpleasant, but for Cassias, a commander of the Imperial Army, the person he was about to meet was royalty, as high as the heavens.
More than anything, he was curious. The Fifth Prince had suddenly displayed a mana sword not long ago, and Cassias wanted to see just how skilled he was with a blade.
“Is the training grounds restricted right now?”
At his question, the soldier shook his head.
“His Highness the Fifth Prince has not placed any restrictions on the training grounds.”
Some members of the royal family or high-ranking nobles sometimes restricted access to the training grounds to keep their training private.
However, from what Cassias had observed of the Fifth Prince’s personality, that didn’t seem like something he would do. His guess was correct.
The moment he heard the soldier’s answer, he hurried toward the training grounds where the Fifth Prince and Gestain were sparring.
Excitement quickened his pace. The thought of seeing the Fifth Prince, who was talented in both magic and swordsmanship, in training made him move faster and faster until he was nearly running.
It wasn’t long before he arrived. There, he saw the Fifth Prince and Gestain exchanging blows. A significant number of knights had already gathered to watch.
The spar was nearing its end, but for an elite knight like Cassias, there was still enough time to get a sense of the Fifth Prince’s level.
“Well done, Gestain.”
“You worked hard, my lord.”
It was hard to believe that, before coming to the Black Mountains, he had no real combat experience. His swordsmanship was nothing short of spectacular.
The knights, including Cassias, applauded silently.
“I should go rest now. You mentioned you had an appointment? Apologies for the interruption.”
“Not at all, my lord. This was a good opportunity for me to see the progress of your swordsmanship.”
Gestain gave a slight bow. There was not a trace of falsehood in his words.
How deep was his despair when he lost his left arm and could no longer wield a sword? And yet, here he was now, able to spar and even instruct someone else. The joy he felt was beyond words.
“I’ll be going now.”
Raymond wiped his sweat with a towel and left the training grounds with Desia. The knights dispersed as well, returning to their own training.
“Sir Cassias, have you been waiting long?”
As the gathered knights moved away, Gestain spotted Cassias and greeted him warmly.
“Not at all. I just arrived.”
“Let’s move over there. I’ll rest for ten minutes, then I’ll oversee your swordsmanship.”
“Thank you.”
High-ranking knights were rare. Receiving instruction from one was a great fortune. The ten-minute break passed quickly, and the training began.
Since Gestain had to return to his duties as the commander of the Fifth Prince’s elite guards and Cassias had responsibilities maintaining the Imperial Army, the lesson did not last long.
“Let’s stop here for today.”
Gestain placed his wooden sword on the rack. Cassias nodded. Both had their own duties to attend to.
“Sir Gestain, may I ask you something?”
Cassias removed his training gear and wiped the sweat from his face. Once he had donned his cloak again, he hesitated for a moment before stepping closer and asking carefully.
“If it’s something I can answer.”
“Is His Highness the Fifth Prince truly a mage?”
Cassias’ tone was respectful yet cautious. It was a sensitive topic, but his curiosity had gotten the better of him.
Rumors from the banquet claimed the Fifth Prince had repelled the Shadow Emperor with magic. Yet, in the Black Mountains, Cassias had seen him wield a mana sword.
Until then, he had believed the Fifth Prince to be a pure mage. Seeing him wield a mana sword had been a shocking revelation.
“What do you think?”
Instead of a direct answer, Gestain posed another question. Cassias felt a slight sense of frustration but did his best not to show it.
“From a knight’s perspective, the swordsmanship His Highness displayed in the Black Mountains was not that of a novice. It was on par with that of an experienced knight. It did not match his young age.”
Cassias spoke honestly, without a trace of falsehood.
Even a skilled swordsman would make mistakes in real combat if they lacked experience.
Yet in the Black Mountains, the Fifth Prince had remained composed, even against seasoned enemies.
It was almost as if he had secretly gained actual battle experience somewhere.
‘Or perhaps he was simply born with extraordinary talent…’
Cassias swallowed hard. Gestain did not answer immediately. He adjusted his cloak before finally speaking.
“His Highness the Fifth Prince is, without a doubt, a mage.”
“I saw the mana sword with my own eyes. I may not be a mage, but I do know that magic and swordsmanship cannot coexist.”
After the glorious age of antiquity ended, the bloodline of magic swordsmen was lost.
Since then, not only Philios but also the Tri-Nation Alliance, the Free Isiria Kingdom, and even the Helix Empire had tried to revive the bloodline of magic swordsmen. All had failed.
Cassias held the Fifth Prince in high regard and was fond of him. But even he did not believe that the revival of magic swordsmen, something everyone else had failed to achieve, would happen now.
“Yet you saw it with your own eyes, did you not? His Highness is struggling, but he is indeed wielding both sword and magic at the same time.”
Gestain’s words left Cassias speechless.
“The return of a magic swordsman? I do not think it is impossible. His Highness has shown me the potential.”
In truth, Raymond was still closer to being a mage than a magic swordsman.
The mana sword, his talent in swordsmanship, and his combat experience were all possible because of the thousand-year-old knight within the Soul Sword.
But the fundamental issue—the clash between magic and swordsmanship—still prevented him from achieving mastery in both.
That would change once he reached the level of a high-ranking mage and received the blessing of both sword and magic.
“I have not served His Highness for long, but I can say this. He is different from the others.”
Gestain’s voice was steady. Cassias listened in silence.
“I believe in His Highness. If he sets his mind to it, he will achieve great things.”
For some reason, the one-armed knight’s praise felt particularly generous today.
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