< 101. Gathering of Heroes >
*
At that moment, Kirhas was surrounded by Beastman warriors, enjoying a drinking party. The warriors were greatly impressed by her appearance, charm, and combat skills, and Kirhas thought that perhaps gaining their favor was what Fernandez desired.
“Kirhas, it seems we have a guest.”
One of the warriors, holding a bottle of alcohol with a drunken expression, pointed towards the plaza. In the distance, a human man wrapped in cloth and carrying a long pole, along with a slender woman, were walking towards them.
A human? Kirhas’s eyes sharpened. In the Federation of Nobles, humans, or at least those in human form, were only Abel and Fernandez.
And the stride and aura of that unfamiliar man were extraordinary. Kirhas, who had crossed countless battlefields since a young age, sensed danger.
“Greetings, heroes of the Beastman Nobility.”
The young man cheerfully approached the campfire. As the warriors showed discomfort, the young man spoke refreshingly.
“I am a guest of Tribal Chief Batras. Seeing young heroes gathered here, I couldn’t just pass by.”
“How did a human come this deep?”
“I came looking for someone.”
The young man chuckled. Meanwhile, the woman beside him looked around with uneasy eyes. The young man looked straight at Kirhas, who was sharing drinks among the warriors.
This young woman must be their leader. The young man thought as he approached her.
“Currently, in the Great Wilderness, rumors, truths, and legends are tangled together. If it’s not too rude, could you tell me your name?”
“Isn’t it proper to introduce yourself first, stranger?”
As the warrior growled, the young man waved his hand and said.
“My apologies. I am Daryan Schryke.”
*
Fernandez was quietly sitting cross-legged in a dark tent, observing the camp. [Proclamation of Kadia’s Territory]. It was a high-level spell he hadn’t used in a long time.
He was looking at the scene in the conference room, more precisely, at the honey-colored eyes staring straight at him.
Pieranel of Wisdom and Truth. One of the most dreadful angels in his past life. Fernandez recalled the battles with her. She crushed all the traps, plans, and schemes he had prepared.
‘Does she have memories of her past life?’
-Probably not. If she did, things wouldn’t have escalated this much.
‘Her abilities?’
-That needs to be checked.
‘Wait. What’s that…?’
Fernandez soon flinched and turned his gaze away from Piel. An unexpected figure caught his eye.
‘The Emperor’s…eyes!’
Daryan Schryke, the Emperor’s eyes. The knight of the Sun Spear! He had entered this camp. Moreover, he was approaching Kirhas directly.
He was a hero far from being rude or treacherous. Among the many twisted human heroes, he was uniquely upright and righteous. Unless he opposed the Emperor’s will.
But at the same time, like all young heroes, he was a man with a burning desire to challenge the strong. Fernandez watched as Kirhas and Daryan faced each other.
‘Legends facing each other.’
In their past lives, Kirhas and Daryan first encountered each other during their prime, in the Great Northern Campaign of Karadskar. Fernandez slowly unfolded his legs and twitched his fingers.
His body had stiffened from maintaining the spell for so long. But Kirhas and Daryan shouldn’t face each other yet. If they clashed, the incomplete Kirhas would surely lose.
Kirhas must not lose yet. She hasn’t yet established herself as the icon of the Beastman Nobility. The core of this plan was the title of ‘The Undefeated’ Kirhas.
-Is it okay for you to clash?
‘I kind of want to try.’
Could she really face the great hero who had defeated him countless times in their past lives? Fernandez smiled deeply.
‘This is the perspective of heroes.’
*
Piel felt the gaze on her disappear and broke into a cold sweat. The immense pressure, as if a god was watching, seemed to pierce through her very soul.
As she quietly panted, Batras carefully placed his hand on her crown.
“Are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?”
“I’m fine, Chief. But…”
“Ah, right. The meeting.”
Batras faced the elders who were awkwardly smiling at him.
“Running away in fear of a god doesn’t seem like a good excuse. Let’s hear a convincing story.”
“What can we do? The god has truly returned. The God of Hunting, Kadán, has returned to our side.”
“So where is this ‘god’ now?”
Partak flexed his arm muscles.
He looked at the aggressive tribal chief and laughed. Although their personalities were polar opposites, he and Batras belonged to the same faction—the Kirzat faction. And Batras’ tribe had exceptionally outstanding combat capabilities among them.
Recruiting him was somewhat of a later concern, but in any case, it was best for the plan to flow like water. Partak tapped the table and stood up.
“You should see it too. The chieftain unanimously elected by the current council.”
“Look at the number of seats in the council, Partak Blackfang. Is this how you handle the chieftain? A civil war will break out immediately. I didn’t know you preferred such methods.”
“Turning your blade against us? At this time? Unless you’re desperate to die, it’s impossible.”
The map hanging behind Partak flickered ominously under the torchlight. The severely shrunken borders of Kirzat and the borders of the three pharaohs were visible. Far beyond, the frontlines of the Empire and the Eastern Kingdom Federation could be seen.
Among them, scattered here and there, were the emblems of beastman tribes. Batras bared his teeth and growled.
“Don’t do anything crazy, Partak Blackfang. If we split now, only destruction awaits us.”
“Honestly, isn’t it too much?”
“What?”
Partak pointed at the map of the Great Wilderness and laughed darkly.
“The Federation of Nobles has as many as twenty tribes. When the Emperor and the Sultan divided the wilderness amicably, it was one thing, but now the wilderness is split into five, six, no—dozens of pieces. Do you think there’s not a single tribal chief with different intentions? Not a single ambitious chief who sees this as an opportunity?”
“…”
As Batras fell silent, Partak chuckled.
“Those who were going to leave have already left, Batras Goldenclock. They would’ve left regardless of our stance. It’s actually for the best. Now we know exactly who our enemies are.”
“You and this damned council are the ones who provoked them.”
“We have the divine envoy and the ancient gods with us. The authority of the gods, you see. Did you say you couldn’t recognize the council? Then call us priests. Batras. Priests of the God of the Hunt.”
Partak slammed the table as he spoke.
“From this moment on, the council no longer exists, Batras Goldenclock. We are the priesthood following the God of the Hunt!”
“Madmen.”
“Come along. Let me introduce you to the divine envoy.”
Partak and the elders stepped out of the tent. Batras approached Piel, who was quietly bowing her head, and asked,
“Do you see anything?”
“Even if not all of their words are true, the divine presence is real, Chieftain. And if we’re not to rely on the Empire or the doves, this is our only alternative.”
“I don’t like it. Who knows what these fanatical shamans will do? The Federation of Nobles is finished. We’re about to bare our fangs at each other.”
“As they said, it was bound to happen someday, Chieftain. You must judge wisely. Now is the time to yield.”
Batras groaned and left the tent.
*
“Seiri, what’s wrong with you?”
“There’s an incredible mage here, Captain.”
Seiri kept glancing around nervously from behind Daryan. It was the first time she had been this tense. She, who had always charged into the thick of battle alongside Daryan, was a remarkably bold mage, even if she often grumbled.
But now, she was glaring around, visibly tense.
“I didn’t even want to enter this camp. Walking unarmed into the workshop of a grand magician with all preparations complete isn’t wise.”
“Unarmed?”
As Daryan casually shook his spear, Seiri shook her head.
“Not that kind of physical armament. Captain, you need to be careful.”
“This isn’t where we’re meant to die, Seiri. If you’re that worried, stick close behind me.”
Daryan laughed heartily and patted her shoulder. He then turned to Kirhas and said,
“I want to challenge you. How about it? Don’t you feel the same?”
Kirhas paused, scanning Daryan’s spear and his body. Could she win? Unlike the tribal warriors, this man exuded the aura of a strong fighter.
Her lord had given her only one command: never lose. That was what bound her. But, but what did it matter?
Her blood was boiling with the desire to compete. She wanted to cross blades with a strong opponent like him.
“Of course! I’m all for it!”
“Before that.”
Then, a low voice echoed from behind Daryan. Seiri hiccuped softly. She quickly grabbed Daryan’s sleeve.
Daryan slowly turned his head toward the young man approaching from behind.
“Try me first. Eyes of the Emperor.”
-Clomp.
Not far away, Fernandez was walking straight toward him. A human youth. Black curly hair, blue eyes. He looked familiar somehow… Daryan narrowed his eyes as he observed him.
A strong one. Daryan instinctively gauged Fernandez’s stride and aura. He might even be better than Kirhas. And he’s figured out my identity.
“Captain, that’s him.”
“…Huh?”
“The grand magician.”
Seiri looked at Fernandez with terrified eyes. Daryan was bewildered by her words.
‘A warrior carrying two greatswords, with a physique like that, is a mage who can scare Seiri?’
Is that even possible? Daryan slowly unwrapped the cloth from his spear and said,
“Are you human?”
“Fortunately, for now.”
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