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
Morning came.Zikk didn't have a mining shift today.Zikk didn't have to worry about anything because everything in Ice Demon City had a timetable and was so well-organized.The time for the daily supper had come, and since he wasn't going to the mine today, Kelvin wouldn't be able to deliver it to him.The regular dinners were always served immediately outside the baron's residence.According to the inhabitants, there was just one queue and one table where food could be placed a month ago.Today, the space was occupied by a building half the height of the mansion, and there were many lines with one attendant at the counter.When it came to the daily meals, the folks were always on time.They all arrived at just the right time.They would take a metal plate with multiple compartments on it, which was used to hold various dishes, and a metal cup for water.And Zikk noted that something seemed off about the atmosphere today.So he approached the nearest person to him and inquired, "Did
"A-rank beastmen," I elaborated.I didn't mention he was in the sixth circle since that would lead everyone to believe I was lying.Someone above the third circle of A-rank in this section of the empire had the same existence as God.Who would have guessed that the head I was holding belonged to a beastman from the sixth circle?"How long has it been since you came to Ice Demon City?" I inquired."Four days ago." Commander Kriff replied with a scowl on his face.He was trying his best to maintain his composure and not flinch in order to appear unaffected by the odor emanating from the heads, which was stinging his nose."Four days... If I and my men had not killed this gang of beastmen at the moment, this city would have already been in the hands of the beastmen.""If you fight this group of beastmen with only a thousand five hundred men, your casualties will undoubtedly exceed fifty per cent."Commander Kriff was already irritated, saying, "Don't act wise after one achievement, child
Kriff had never encountered anyone who could hide his aura so well, and another explanation could be that Ethan was just a regular guy.That was, however, impossible.It is impossible for the son of the Mighty Duke Ifrit to be an ordinary person.So, what exactly was going on?Zikk, on the other side of the iron platform, was thinking the same thing.'How come I can't pick up even a speck of aura from him?' Zikk frowned.Zikk approached Grandpa Stone and gently said, "Grandpa Stone, have you seen the baron use any magic?"Zikk hoped that this question would not raise suspicions about him. But he absolutely needed to know right away why Ethan Ifrit appeared to be just like any other regular person—neither a hint of mana nor an aura could be seen emanating from him.Even the weakest F-rank warrior would still have some aura, and even the most powerless mage would have some mana."Oh, Young Lord, is a powerful mage." Since I haven't seen much, all I can say is that the young Lord is resp
"Commander, let me take care of this." Chronos pointed his sword at Roland."You talk a little too much."For a brief while, Roland's gaze became gloomy. Do you genuinely believe you could defeat me in a head-to-head conflict? Have you taken a look in the mirror?"It made sense what Roland said.He was more than double Chronos's size, and it was only due to Chronos's armour that it appeared they were of similar stature.Roland's muscles were identical in size to those massive, hefty iron plates and guards."Sure, funny. I am pretty well known among women, unlike you." Chronos grinned before his smile changed to a smirk."It was quite presumptuous of you to demand a battle with the ten of us. What do you believe yourself to be?"Roland moved forward before coming to a stop directly in front of Chronos. He towered over Chronos by one-half of a head.Even though they weren't as big and bulky as Roland, Chronos and the other knights surprised everyone by standing rather tall."You will li
"The real battle starts now," Kriff growled.Kriff's body radiated an ominous atmosphere. This ability was a type of aura modification.Kriff had changed his common, unimpressive blue aura into a ghastly aura, boosting his power and speed while also bestowing himself with a unique characteristic—the ghost attribute, often known as the shadow attribute.For a brief minute, I was speechless.Kriff was undoubtedly looking amazing and menacing at the time. Given the atmosphere of grey that was all around him, he appeared to be a knight who had emerged from a grave.'Can you tell me what grade the shadow element is?'[The shadow element is a Grade IV Element.]My eyes widened when I heard the system's response. This shadow element or property that Kriff was employing was a Grade IV element, which was equivalent to my Death Element.How astounding is that?When Kriff was a B-rank, he was unbeatable against anyone of his rank as long as he had this skill, which gave him the ability to tempor
"You are so frail, yet so full of pride... Who do you believe you are?""I… It's all my fault." Kriff expressed regret.He was unable to rebut anything said.Being weak in this world is a mistake in and of itself.The knights in their immediate vicinity shamefully bowed their heads. They had no idea that a knight from a little, barren city would defeat their captain with such a crushing defeat.They were knights who originated in Vermillion City, one of the largest trading centres in the empire despite the fact that it was just a commercial centre and not a military one.Since they were from Vermillion City, where the people had previously respected and honoured them, they anticipated a similar response from Ice Demon City.But that rapidly went wrong.The baron of this city seems to be unconcerned with their reputation. He was also not worried about developing a negative relationship with Count Rakan of Vermillion City.Now that Baron Ethan had won the wager, his word was law.I app
The masters of ship warfare, the sea bandits, invariably vanquished the knights schooled in several prestigious academies.However, according to sources, Gislain had particularly invented a technique for sea combat and designed an entirely new ship design.Wasn't this fantastic news?Duke Ifrit's luck was so exceptional that Ladia found it hard to believe.The son he adopted from elsewhere had such talent, yet his own son was a violent brat with spoilt habits.Gislain must be around 28 years old, she reasoned, and wouldn't he make the ideal husband for her younger sister?Perhaps Duke Ifrit would even propose to her as his son's marriage instead, Ladia giggled at the idea.That would be disastrous, as Ladia had no intention of marrying.Also complimentary of Gislain was Saintess Rose, who was standing nearby. In her memory, this person had genuine affection for the empire. She was aware from her recollections that Gislain fought valiantly against the Second Prince and the demons.Howe
"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