"What's going on with your mouth? I want to hear some garbage today, so just keep talking."I smirked wickedly.Jackal was on the verge of tears. While he ventured to plot in secret, he would never risk doing so in front of the young master, who was also an A-rank expert.What's more, when did the young master show up?When did he arrive?The only thing he could do was hope that the expert hadn't already heard everything. If the expert heard everything, his life could be deemed over.Nobody would have known if I hadn't spoken."Since someone has talked so much about me today, I feel pretty happy. Why don't you go on?" I uttered in a hushed tone.Thud!Jackal lost his ability to hold on. He crumpled to the ground as his legs appeared to be boneless. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words came out.In the face of actual might, no strategies or cunning words could matter, no matter how crafty he believed he was."He was just talking nonsense, Y-young master. He means no
"I came to reward you."I eventually said something after biting into the Cloud Peach.[Mana increased by 1]That certainly took me by surprise.Everyone's face lit up when they heard what I had to say."We have disappointed the young master, and such rewards are not due to us." Rui spoke quietly.Others sighed in agreement. It was true, they had a traitor among them for so long and had no idea."It's all right. I will not retract my statements." I spoke while pulling a scroll out of my sleeves."Divine Iron Body, a powerful skill that trains a person's body to incredible heights."Everyone's eyes glowed. They awaited the following words while they listened.I grinned."It belongs to the Ancient Rank!"Thud!Several elders passed out with excitement!"Y-Young Master, this is far too valuable!" Rui cried out. Her words indicated rejection, but in reality, she was pinching the scroll with her hands.Rui coughed softly when she saw her hand almost contact the scroll. "I apologise for my
Flames could be seen in everyone's eyes. The depths of their animosity towards the Azure Dragon Family had been reached. Although I didn't fully understand their stories, I was aware that they involved the mistreatment or murder of their family members or acquaintances at the hands of the Azure Dragon Family.They had to admit that in the situation, that was all they could do, even though it was a shock and seemed somewhat harsh that their lives would be used to buy time.The Azure Dragons were certain to send at least ten A-ranks to battle, while they had none.Initially, I had intended to exterminate the family on my own, but doing so would have prompted the empire to launch an investigation.I could be charged with killing evil people, but I could also be held responsible for the deaths of thousands of people. Alternatively, I could kill the count, but it wouldn't accomplish anything. He'd be replaced, and their atrocities would go on.Moreover, their offences lacked any observable
Rui was unfazed. She was massaging the attractive young man whose head was resting on her thighs as she sat inside the carriage, one hand holding a comb.She softly rubbed diligently and joyfully, notwithstanding the flush that flowed down her face. Surprisingly, when they were by themselves, this young master wasn't so terrifying. He spoke softly and kindly, never displaying the frigid aura that he generally emitted.Rui was only 18 years old. The young master appeared to be younger than she was, but he exuded a sense of maturity. Her attraction to him was unavoidable.When she peeked out the window, she noticed numerous figures on warhorses galloping alongside the carriage. They appeared to blend in with the shadows thanks to their body-encasing jet-black armour, which enveloped both them and the warhorse they were riding.Even still, the pressure she felt from each of them was more than the pressure she experienced from her ancestor, who was at the pinnacle of the B-rank.That coul
[Main Quest Revised][Assassination][The Host has assumed the identity of Duke Ignis's waste son, Ethan Ignis. As a result, the host is vulnerable to intruders lurking on the road you must traverse. The host must defeat the attackers and discover who is behind them.][Reward - Deathwing Angel hatch time is decreased by 50%]I frown as I examine the system notice.My pupils constricted slightly. I was pleasantly surprised by this notification, which also validated my first thoughts.If the issue was something that could be resolved quickly, the system would never give me the main quest.It had already been established that those plotting an attack on me were A-ranks. I couldn't figure out why they were assaulting me, which was confusing.According to the quest log, they were after Duke Ignis's son. There were some hints there, then.It was most likely that other candidates for Emperor would favour my death. The two princes and the three dukes.Luke Brightwing, one of the princes, is s
"Remember, your tower master just attained the S-rank after years of hard labour, whereas our master has been in the S-rank for years!" stated another warrior, mockingly."You…" Alfred clenched his fists. He held the magic staff in his palm, the tip of the staff glowing with a red light from inside the jewel. It was like a burning inferno within it, ready to erupt with a scary blazing flame at any time.But eventually, he began to cool down. He would make amends afterwards.The embarrassing incident that occurred months ago would not be forgotten by him. He was harassed by a warhorse in front of a crowd!It could be argued that for a mage like him, it was worse than death. That a common baron had dared to harm a mage like him made him sick to his stomach.Alfred had lived in opulence and nobility ever since it was discovered that he had the potential to become a mage.Even pure-blood nobles would not dare to offend him, but a commoner blood baron dared to disgrace him.He'd never forg
As I watched the carriage travel further into the dune, I collapsed onto a human pillow inside of it.The horses' hooves made a faint thud on the sand.Constantly moving ahead, the carriage drew nearer and nearer to the ravine under the assailants' eyes. Yet, the carriages continued to move forward as though they were on their usual route, seemingly unaware of any danger.The centaurs remained silent as they rode into the night. The shapes of many opponents were already visible in their eyes.All they had to do was wait for the opposition to act.The helmets they were wearing made it impossible to see their facial expressions. Only a small opening in the helmet, which displayed their eyes, and a breathing area around the nose were left.As they approached closer, they tightened their grip on their spears, ready to charge at any moment, or they could draw the sword and even the hammer from their belt and engage in a close battle.They had to take precautions to avoid upsetting the mona
"Don't play games with me, boss." As his eyes flared with lethal brilliance, the knight laughed.With regard to the baron and those two knights, his mask-covered eyes were filled with disdain and scorn. He had no idea that the two knights could harm him, despite the fact that they had materialised out of nowhere.His entire body suddenly burst into a roaring surge of a blazing blue aura. His pace accelerated rapidly. He appeared to avoid the two centaurs "with ease," demonstrating that he was even faster than a warhorse.Suddenly, he was reaching me from all angles.The knight's strategy was simple. To defeat an army, first, the commander must be defeated."Very fast." Amazed, I must say.The knight was a real A-rank knight with a great deal of combat experience, and he moved at an incredibly quick pace.He radiated a bluish aura that caused waves in the sand."Die! Trash!"The knight jumped to his feet and lunged at me with his sword.Despite this, his sword never reached its intende
"Hey! Why should we listen to a brat like you?" The interjection came from the back of the crowd, a young soldier, his face flushed with anger, his eyes blazing with defiance. The rest of the soldiers turned to stare, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.A genuine smile spread across my face. Finally, someone had the audacity to speak up. A flicker of satisfaction ignited within me. This was exactly what I had been hoping for, wasn't it? Didn't this feel like the natural order of things?I had anticipated this moment from the very beginning. There was no way these esteemed scions of nobility and battle-hardened knights would meekly submit to the commands of a mere child. The moment I was elected commander of one of the three mighty armies, I knew this tension would inevitably arise. After all, who among these talented warriors would willingly follow a teenager with little to boast of in terms of accomplishments? And let's not forget the shadow of my less-than-st
Ladia couldn't help but castigate herself for her lapse in judgment. How had she not seen it before? If the involvement of the magic towers would significantly aid the Empire, then the impact of the very person who had defeated the magicians of the tower participating would be monumental.The princess's heart thrummed with the realization, chiding herself for taking so long to come to this epiphany. Was Ethan's proposal the correct course of action or not? She no longer dwelled on the question.With a steely gaze, Ladia announced, "I have reached a verdict."The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the princess. The final decision lay in her hands, and she was ready to reveal it. The anticipation hung heavy in the air, and Ladia took a deep breath before continuing. "I have decided to accept Ethan's proposal."A murmur of surprise rippled through the room, but Ladia held up her hand for silence. "I believe that Ethan's plan, with a few modifications, is the best course of action for
My suggestion ignited a firestorm of debate among the upper echelons of the capital. The princess convened her officials in the grand throne room, where the air was thick with tension and uncertainty as they deliberated their next course of action. Ultimately, the march toward the City of Aran was postponed by a full day, a delay that weighed heavily on everyone present. The officials found themselves divided, caught between two stark choices: should they attempt to reclaim the nearby City of Aran from the Beast Kingdom, or should they focus their efforts on retaking the more strategically significant City of Northfall?"But, Your Majesty," one of the officials interjected, his voice rising above the murmurs of the assembly, "as we stand now, we cannot afford to risk an attack on the Northfall Fortress! I have heard reports that the beastmen have fortified their walls and laid even more traps to ensnare us! If we allow this farce to continue, we will be nothing more than lambs led to
A chill snaked down Ryle's spine. Ethan's suggestion hung in the air, heavy and suffocating, like a shroud woven from despair. To attack City of Aran, a fortress city now bristling with tens of thousands of Beast Kingdom soldiers, felt like a declaration of utter annihilation. Even Lance, their most valiant commander, had fallen captive within its walls.Ryle's brow creased into a deep furrow. He, too, was a commander of the Initiation Army, a man who had tasted the bitterness of defeat and the sting of loss. He couldn't fathom how Ethan, this newly appointed leader, could so blithely propose a course of action that reeked of self-destruction."I cannot, in good conscience, agree with your plan," Ryle stated, his voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and frustration. "As we stand now, attacking Northfall City is a fool's errand, a suicide mission. We are scattered, depleted, and outmatched. We must first rally our remaining forces, regroup along the borders, and then, and only then,
"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