A judge's fate was bleak.If the candidate he was evaluating learned who he was, they would try to win him over and use whatever resources they had to pay him off. In that instance, his task would be deemed a failure.And if a candidate other than the one he was judging discovered his identity, not even his family would be safe.The most obvious outcome would be blackmail.There was already a case of the family of a judge being slaughtered. It was said that the candidate’s family had captured the judge’s family and blackmailed the judge into giving a bad score to his candidate, to which the judge refused.And the price was the lives of his family members.Would the emperor seek justice for the judge? Nope. How can the already weak emperor seek justice against one of the ducal families?He was imprisoned because he was considered suspicious after the knight camp where he was resting was attacked by a beast wave.Something like this hadn't happened in years. And such a beast wave on
Richard went on to describe the fabled and miraculous healing concoction in more detail. He said that he had been requested to deploy a thousand knights by the baron of the Ice Demon City to assist in fending off the beastmen invasion.It was a strange request given that the First Fort hadn't yet been captured by the beastmen, as per the information his men had provided.The beastmen would not be able to enter the northern portion of the empire as long as Martin was still alive.Why then, instead of concentrating on First Fort, did those beastmen assault another city? It made no sense.For merchants like him, though, such justification was irrelevant. What was important was the profit. Furthermore, they would gain from it if the request's justification materialized.The soldiers could travel from Vermillion City to Ice Demon City on horses in no more than six hours, despite the fact that Ice Demon City was located in the far north.Only while using the sluggish carriages would it take
While sighing, Gord turned to face Laura.All of them had been poisoned, and it didn't make sense to keep running now because he, too, could become just like Laura at any time."Let's go over there to the woods and set up camp." Though his hopes weren't high, he made the decision to pause for the time being and search for any solutions."I'm unsure about the nature of this poison. Those filthy beings had to have invented it, as such creatures are expected to do.""This poison will most likely not kill us, but in our current situation, this is the worst-case scenario. Our mana and vitality are being eaten away by the poison, and as time passes, our body gets weaker."From the luggage on his mount, Gord removed a blue potion."That's the potion those damn humans use! Sir!" Croff, one of the remaining cyclops, exclaimed in surprise.It could be argued that one of the most despicable things the beastmen could do was use human products.Similar to betraying the Beast King, it was a seriou
"Did you really think you'd be able to walk away alive after jeopardizing the safety of my people?"Gord could sense that the voice was filled with intense malice. He could feel the invader's murderous intent seeping through his skin.Gord scanned the area with his enormous eyes in an effort to identify the speaker, but all they saw was the absence of light.Nonetheless, he had the distinct impression that the intruder was gazing at him down from somewhere."Human, show yourself!""Argh!"The response Gord received was a blow across the face. His head snapped back, and the impact was so strong that his body tumbled backwards before coming to rest on the earth.Drip.His right cheek had been broken open by just one attack, and blood was dripping from his face.Gord could detect that the assault wasn't even aura-enhanced and that it was just a straightforward strike, most likely with a sword's handle.However, the blow didn't feel like it came from a small sword handle, but rather from
From Vermillion City, the soldiers began to depart.The cavalry brigade that was leading the line of chariots and carts was in rows. The cavalry knights on the front and flanks and the archers from the back were defending Markov and Richard's cart, which was in the centre.A number of wagons that Richard had assembled with supplies for the battle were also present. Richard's commitment to his work was clear from his actions.His hunger for the famous potion had reached inconceivable proportions.Richard would say that the last time he had been that committed to something was when he had pursued his wife for three years before she finally said yes to being married.While Zikk and the coachmen were outside, Markov and Richard were seated inside the carriage.He obviously chose to sit outside because he wanted to. Both the troops and the preparations made were something he wanted to evaluate.Kriff was the name of this army's commander. Kriff's strength wasn't as great as knight commande
Ethan's reputation among the locals, particularly the commoners, surprised Zikk because he had not anticipated it.Ice Demon City only had Ethan's line of nobles, and there were no other such families.There was a story that Ice Demon City had two barons, although there hasn't been much discussion of them.Perhaps it was simply a rumour, or maybe the baron isn't one to appear in public very often.The only thing that stood out about the other baron of Ice Demon City that Zikk had heard was that he was an extremely powerful individual.That was the end of it.After evaluating Ethan, Zikk was only able to make an educated assessment on the other baron's strength from what he could grasp of this."Those strange-looking beastmen dared to infiltrate our city! That'll teach them!"Zikk stretched his ears wide."They seemed so ridiculous with that enormous eye on their heads, yet they really are much taller than us.""What difference does height make? Not more difficult than swatting a fly,
"Is the Lord providing all of this food for free?" Zikk couldn't stop himself from raising his voice."Yes." Kelvin grinned as though he had anticipated Zikk's response."You are not the first person who was shocked by this uncle," he said.Zikk couldn't believe what he was hearing.The baron provided free food to all of his subjects. And it wasn't just one small dinner, but a meal with variety and cuisine that was truly wonderful.They were also given free food twice a day.If the emperor ordered him to find someone who would do such a thing, Zikk would have a difficult time finding anyone.“Sigh…What a challenging candidate." "Perhaps I would have had an easier time if he had been like what was said in the reports."Zikk mumbled, his mouth full.The cuisine was too excellent, and the herbal tea transported him to balmy heaven in the middle of a bitter winter.When their subjects were starving to death or succumbing to the bitter winter, such nobility wouldn't blink an eye.They did
The miner next to Zikk inquired, "You said you came from Vermillion City, right?""I lied," Zikk said genuinely."I've been kicked out of several cities before because I told them I was a refugee. So I pretended to be from Vermillion City because I was frightened of being expelled.""You only need to be a devoted subject to the young lord, so don't worry about anything." The miner dismissed it with laughter."You might not realize it, but refugees make up at least half of the population of Ice Demon City." There are many people like you; they are kicked out of every town and eventually end up here in this deserted metropolis.""But this city is about to undergo a shift. I can already see people swarming to Ice Demon City in the foreseeable future." The miner swung his pickaxe while grinning brightly."So, I have a question." Zikk took advantage of the opportunity while the miner was speaking with him."Ask away.""Is it true that Ice Demon City has two barons, as I've heard?""Of cour
"Ryle Green, step forward!" the Royal advisor said, seeing Ryle was in a daze.Ryle coughed and stepped forward, his heart pounding with excitement as he knelt before the Princess."Ryle Green, you are hereby granted authority over fifty thousand soldiers," the Princess said, her voice like a melody that soothed the soul. "You shall be the commander of the Vanguard Army!"With a snap of her fingers, the Princess bestowed an insignia upon Ryle's shoulder, its glow of light like a beacon of hope in the face of the looming threat of the Beast Kingdom."I will crush those beastmen for you, Your Highness!" Ryle said, his voice filled with determination and resolve.The Princess smiled, her eyes filled with pride and hope. "We have faith in you, Ryle," she said. "Together, we will defeat the Beast Kingdom and restore peace to our lands."Princess Ladia nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I expect a lot from the younger generation, Ryle," she said, her voice laced with both encou
The Dwarven Kingdom, a land renowned for its glittering wealth, held its breath. The Brightwing Empire’s meager offer, a desperate plea for aid, was all they had to entice the notoriously hard-drinking mercenaries. Even if their weapons were outdated, their reputation for unmatched effectiveness in battle preceded them. Surely, that would be enough.“Your Majesty,” a guard murmured, his voice barely a tremor in the air. “They have arrived.”Princess Ladia, lost in a labyrinth of thought, startled slightly. She had wrestled with the decision for what felt like an eternity, but finally, a solution had emerged. All that remained was to face them, to meet their gaze and offer her hand in this desperate alliance.Viscount Lamiel, a man whose arrogance was only surpassed by his thirst for gold, strode into the royal garden, flanked by a legion of equally boisterous mercenaries. Princess Ladia recognized most of them – the nobles summoned by the crown, their faces etched with a mixture of g
The scene unfolded with brutal efficiency. Several soldiers, their faces grim and resolute, descended upon Drew and the other soldier, their movements swift and decisive. There was no struggle, no desperate pleas for mercy. They walked away with heads bowed, accepting their fate with a stoic silence that spoke volumes of their resignation.Ryle, his expression a mixture of weariness and amusement, ran a hand through his hair, a sigh escaping his lips. "What a waste of a perfectly good sleep," he muttered, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation. "Young men like myself need our rest, yet everyone seems determined to disrupt my slumber over such trivial matters."His gaze shifted to me, and a playful smile curved his lips. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said, extending a hand towards me. "Ryle Green, third son of Count Green, and as you might be able to tell, the future commander of this very army." He spoke with an air of unwavering confidence, his words carrying the weight of
Two soldiers from a rival camp, their boots crunching on the gravel path, happened upon the conversation. One soldier, his face contorting with barely suppressed mirth, clamped a hand over his mouth, desperately trying to stifle a chuckle. His companion, sensing the impending eruption, jabbed him in the ribs with an elbow, a silent plea for decorum. But the laughter, like a trapped spring, was too powerful to contain. Tears welled in the soldier's eyes, threatening to spill over as his shoulders shook with silent mirth. Finally, with a strangled cry, he burst into a full-blown guffaw. "Hahahaha! If it's the Young Master leading us! Hahaha! We'll be able to… Pft! Hahaha!"The sound of his uncontrolled laughter echoed through the camp, drawing curious glances from nearby soldiers. Gaston, his face a mask of confusion and irritation, turned to the source of the amusement. "Excuse me, but what's so funny?" he demanded, his voice laced with displeasure.The soldier, still gasping for br
The unyielding army of the Ice Demon City had been journeying for a considerable number of weeks, traversing a multitude of cities and towns along the way. During our sojourns, we would occasionally restock our supplies, find respite in taverns, and often in the great outdoors, before resuming our arduous trek.Given the unfortunate circumstances, we were informed that the Ice Demon City was the most distant of all cities from the capital. This reality meant that we were among the last to receive the urgent message, compelling us to join the ranks of the other nobles and their armies in the capital.It was in the fourth week of our relentless march that we finally arrived in the grand and magnificent Capital city. The journey had been long and arduous, but our determination never wavered, as we knew our presence was required in these critical times. I had already surmised that the majority of the other nobles and their forces would have already amassed in the capital, readying themse
As the first light of dawn broke through the windows of the guest house, Miron found himself indulging in a breakfast that was nothing short of exquisite. The flavours were so delightful that he couldn't help but admit to himself that it had been a long time since he had enjoyed a meal as delicious as this one.Before long, Miron was summoned by the lord of the Ice Demon City. With a gracious wave of his hand, the lord invited Miron to take a seat on the soft and ornate sofa in the grand hall. Miron, still feeling a bit tense and on edge, quickly obliged and sat down.Despite the gravity of the situation and the impending battle that lay ahead, the lord of the Ice Demon City seemed completely at ease. He sat on his throne, casually eating his food and even humming a tune that was both strange and captivating. Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Miron finally mustered up the courage to ask, "My lord, how can you remain so calm and untroubled? Surely you must feel some fear or
"You won't find Baron Ethan in the mansion," Zikk stated, his hand resting lightly on Miron's shoulder. "He should be in the Endless Forest, training his soldiers."The gesture, though seemingly warm and reassuring, sent a chill down Miron's spine. He sensed a veiled warning in Zikk's words, a subtle reminder of the stakes involved. This was no ordinary mission; it was a delicate dance, a test of Miron's competence and discretion."I am busy," Zikk continued, his tone shifting to one of finality. "I'll get going."Miron, still reeling from the weight of Zikk's revelation, blurted out, "Sir, you're working in this city?" The thought that the Grand Knight, a legendary warrior, would be toiling away in the mundane tasks of everyday life seemed utterly incongruous.Zikk chuckled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Of course, I need to feed myself, right?" He winked, a playful glint in his gaze. "See you around."With that, Zikk turned and strode away, disappearing into the labyrinthine all
The whispers and hearsay suggesting that Ethan Slayer was the individual responsible for instigating a full-scale conflict between the formidable Beast Kingdom and the vast Empire were, in the opinion of Miron, nothing more than baseless conjecture. He was firmly convinced that these rumors were merely the result of devious political machinations being orchestrated by a select group of nobles within the Empire, who were cunningly manipulating the situation to their own advantage.Such tales of intrigue and deception were likely to be believed only by the most gullible of commoners and the lowest-ranking of nobles, who were easily swayed by sensationalist stories and exaggerated claims.Furthermore, there was another outlandish rumor circulating, which held that Ethan Slayer had single-handedly defeated an entire legion of the Beast Kingdom's most formidable warriors, and had compelled a daunting elite force of ten thousand beastmen to retreat in disgrace, with their tails tucked meek
Miron approached the city with a sense of trepidation, expecting the usual lax security measures that were common in many of the smaller territories. However, he was pleasantly surprised to find that the checkpoint at the gate was both rigid and strict, a testament to the city's strong defenses.As he entered the city, he was immediately struck by the vibrant atmosphere that pervaded the streets. The residents of Ice Demon City went about their daily lives with genuine smiles on their faces, as though the war that was raging in the north was of little concern to them. Children played and laughed on the streets, while adults busied themselves with their work.Miron's eyes widened in astonishment as he realized that the roads within the city were all paved, a luxury that was rarely found in such remote territories. He shook his head in disbelief, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him."I must be seeing things," he muttered to himself, unable to comprehend the level of develop