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Exid was an extravagant magic armor unique to the Kingdom of Shimuin, crafted from orihalcon. Although Eugene had seen Dior and Princess Scalia wearing Exid in the snowfield, the one that the commander of the Violent Tide Knights adorned was truly befitting his status. Ortus’ Exid was quite different from the armor that the two had been wearing.
A large engraving caught Eugene's attention, situated in the center of Ortus' chest plate. The emblem symbolized the Violent Tide Knights, characterized by swirling waves and a whirlpool. Unlike Princess Scalia's armor, the royal family's symbol was not engraved on Ortus' armor. However, Eugene noticed something far more precious at the vortex's center — a red jewel the size of a thumb. But it wasn’t as if Eugene had recognized it because he was keen. Rather, the jewel's fame was undeniable, as well as Ortus’ armor.
The revelation that the jewel was, in fact, a Dragon Heart was nothing short of astounding. Despite not being fashioned from an entire Dragon Heart like the renowned artifacts Vladmir or Akasha, it still contained the essence of the legendary creature, making it an object of immense power and mythical significance. Naturally, Ortus cherished his Exid, recognizing it as an invaluable treasure.
Yet, he knew that it was not his to claim alone. Instead, it was one of the national treasures of Shimuin, a source of pride and strength for their people. In addition to the prized armor, there were numerous weapons and Exids crafted using parts of the Dragon Heart.
The Dragon Heart was a sacred artifact with a storied past. Its origins were tied to the Sea Dragon, the fabled protector of the South Sea and Shimuin. For many years, the Sea Dragon had kept watch over the nation and the sea, defending it against all manner of threats.
However, in the epic battle against the Demon Kings that had taken place three centuries ago, the creature had sustained mortal injuries. Despite his incredible power, the Sea Dragon had ultimately been unable to overcome the overwhelming forces arrayed against him. His last act had been to return to the sea he had guarded for so long before passing away. In his wake, he left behind his remains, including the precious Dragon Heart, as a gift to the royal family of Shimuin.
‘Dragon bones, scales, and heart, albeit only a fragment, were said to be used in crafting this armor. It was reputed to be the finest armor in the entire continent, and its looks certainly live up to its reputation,’ Eugene concluded.
Eugene was filled with awe as he gazed upon the armor up close for the first time. He couldn't help but imagine the immense strength a skilled knight would possess if they were to wear such a magnificent suit of armor.
Of course, that wasn’t to say that Ortus didn’t deserve such a magnificent suit of armor. Although Eugene couldn’t be entirely certain until they crossed blades, from the atmosphere he exuded, Ortus seemed strong enough to be called one of the best knights of the continent.
Ortus asked, "Are you attempting to gauge my abilities?"
Despite his tall height, Ortus had a lean build that exuded a sense of precision and sharpness, like a finely crafted blade. His hair was neatly parted down the middle, his complexion was fair, and there were noticeable dark circles under his eyes. Apart from his skills, he looked rather depressed.
Eugene quickly apologized, saying, "I'm sorry if I came across as disrespectful. It wasn't my intention. I suppose it was an instinctive reaction to being in the presence of the renowned Sir Ortus Hyman."
"Not at all. It's only natural for someone to be judged when they are well known. So, what is your opinion of me?" Ortus asked.
“I don’t know. I think I would have a better idea after crossing swords than from someone’s first impression,” said Eugene.
“That sounds like a provocation. Ah, don’t get me wrong. I’m not offended. I felt it yesterday too, but this just seems like your personality,” responded Ortus with a straight face.
Was he truly not offended? Eugene stared Ortus straight in the face.
“…Ah. You must have been surprised since I came so suddenly,” commented Ortus.
“Honestly, yes,” answered Eugene.
"I understand that my son and Princess Scalia were indebted to you."
Eugene remembered what he had learned from Cyan and Ciel. It was entirely due to the mischievous actions of the Queen of the Night Demons that Princess Scalia was in a confused state and rampaged. Unfortunately, they couldn't inform Scalia of this fact. Eugene knew he could let the matter slide, but it was a different matter for Scalia. As a princess of Shimuin, if she labeled Noir Giabella's prank as an ambush, it could become a major nuisance.
Cyan and Ciel had spent considerable time pondering how to explain the situation to Princess Scalia. However, to their relief, they didn't have to come up with an excuse. Upon waking up, Princess Scalia and Dior convinced themselves that they had been poisoned during their pursuit of the Black Dog Mercenaries. The poison had caused them to experience a temporary state of delirium and rage, likely of a magical nature. Luckily, their Exids had neutralized the poison after a while, but in the interim, they had briefly lost their minds and attacked Eugene's group. Ultimately, they were overpowered and lost consciousness.
The truth behind the incident with Princess Scalia and Dior was quite different from what they believed. In fact, their delusion was a trick of Noir Giabella, who had used her hypnosis to manipulate their memories. With her Demoneye of Fantasy, she could easily manipulate the human mind and make them believe anything she wanted. Thanks to her abilities, Princess Scalia and Dior didn't even remember meeting Eugene. Despite the strange turn of events, Eugene was relieved that he didn't have to devise an excuse for their behavior.
“I heard from the princess and my son that they were subdued without being injured whilst in their delirium thanks to your talents,” said Ortus.
Eugene quickly came up with an excuse. “Well… it could have been due to their confusion, but I don’t think they were able to display their true capabilities….”
Ortus didn't seem to buy Eugene's attempt to downplay his skills in subduing Princess Scalia and Dior. "You don't have to try to protect my son's pride," he said. "I saw the fight yesterday. Even if Dior was in his right mind and giving it his all, he wouldn't have been able to beat you, even if there were ten of him."
Ortus spoke swiftly. Eugene noticed a fleeting crease between Ortus' eyebrows when he mentioned his son’s name. Eugene was no strange to this expression.
‘I guess all extreme parents are similar.’
Tanis had worn a similar expression when she talked about Eward. Eugene had a rough idea of the situation with Dior, but he couldn't help feeling curious. Even if Ortus was talking about his own son, he seemed to extremely undervalue Dior. However, Eugene knew that Dior was no slouch — he had managed to receive Princess Scalia's sword and, while not on par with Eugene, was still a talented individual in his own right.
‘Or is his father’s standards just too high?’ Eugene couldn't help but wonder if Ortus had set the bar too high for his son. Dior was only two years older than Eugene, and while age didn't necessarily equate to strength, it was possible that Ortus had placed high expectations on his son to become a knight who could represent their country.
“Let’s stop talking about my lacking son,” said Ortus, even though he had been the one to bring up the topic. “Regarding the… accident with Princess Scalia and my son. I did not report it to His Majesty. Princess Scalia did not want it either.”
When Noir Giabella had possessed Princess Scalia, she had talked with Eugene using Scalia as a medium. Princess Scalia was the Vice-Commander of the Violent Tide Knights, known as the Princess Knight, and she was considered to be one of the symbols of Shimuin, the Kingdom of Knights.
Scalia had realized early on that her skills were inadequate to represent the Kingdom of Knights. Despite this realization, she pushed herself to the limits, training tirelessly and striving to meet the expectations of those around her. However, a sense of despair gradually crept into her heart when she failed to see any significant improvement. It was this weakness that Noir Giabella was able to exploit, and she easily gained control over Scalia.
That’s why Night Demons were so horrible. If one had darkness in their heart and wasn’t satisfied with their reality, they would naturally fall into a dream. Night Demons invaded their dreams and laced them with malice and greed.
Acting on her own accord, Princess Scalia had made the decision to eliminate the Black Dog Mercenaries, and Dior had no choice but to follow as her subordinate. Her brutal tactics in killing them had been a release for the anger and stress that had built up inside her over time. The cause of this stress was her fear of insomnia, which prevented her from getting any rest at night, leading to a natural inclination towards cruelty.
Everything had been fine until then. However, things took a different turn when Scalia's identity was brought into the mix. As the Vice-Commander of the Violent Tide Knights, an organization renowned as one of the strongest on the continent, how could it be that the Princess Knight had been poisoned during a mission to kill mercenaries, lost control of herself, and ended up indiscriminately swinging her sword?
If this incident was exposed to the public, it would bring immense shame to her, the knights, and the Kingdom of Shimuin. Therefore, it was natural for Princess Scalia to want to cover it up and Ortus to want to investigate the matter after allowing her unexpected actions.
“I understand what you are asking, Sir Ortus. However, I split up with Princess Scalia in the middle of our journey,” said Eugene.
“I heard from the Lionheart’s twins that the princess asked for their understanding already. And if I ask you once again, won’t you relay to them what I’ve told you as well?” responded Ortus before glancing outside the walls. A small army of monsters was persisting against a group of knights. Ortus clicked his tongue while looking at the scene with disapproving eyes. “Even if you gather a bunch of rabbits, they’ll still be rabbits.”
“What?” said Eugene.
"You should already know. The knights fighting over there are the Guardian Knights of the Anti-Demon Alliance. They’re a group made up of knights who have earned some reputation in their respective small countries. Though they may number many, only a handful are truly skilled,” said Ortus before pointing his finger at one of the knights. “Do you see that man standing over there? Regilas, the Commander of the Guardian Knights. What do you think about his skills? I assure you that he couldn’t be confident in overwhelming any of the knights belonging to the White Lion Knights.”
“Well….”
"Honestly, I don't see why you're hesitant. The White Lion Knights are a prestigious group that's recognized all across the continent. Skilled knights from every corner of the world aspire to join our ranks. But what about the Guardian Knights? Their skills are meager at best. They may seem impressive in their small nations, but they're nothing more than a hodgepodge of mediocre knights." Ortus' disdainful words hung in the air, and Eugene remained silent, taking in his words. After a moment, Ortus cleared his throat and continued, his expression softening slightly. “I’ve shown you a disgraceful appearance. I hope you understand. It’s not like I dislike them as knights. However, I am annoyed by their crudity.”
“What do you mean by crudity?” asked Eugene.
Ortus asked a question in response. “What is the reason to hold this Knight March? Why did I come to this northernmost land from the warm south with the Violent Tide Knights and His Majesty the King? Is it not because the Anti-Demon Alliance tried to show off what little power it had at Helmuth’s border?”
Indeed. Eugene nodded. Ortus wasn’t wrong at all, and the Demon King of Incarceration had also warned about this very thing. However, the responsibility could not be placed entirely on the Anti-Demon Alliance.
The Anti-Demon Alliance had acted so boldly because the Paladins of Yuras had always acted with the Guardian Knights. For a long time, they remained stationed near Helmuth’s border, calling for the conquest of Helmuth and the death of the Demon Kings.
“What makes me dislike them even more is that even though we’ve gone through the trouble of gathering here because of them… they aren’t showing any remorse at all. They are weak but shameless as well. I despise that. And once the Knight March ends, they will bite back the troops stationed near the border as if nothing ever happened, hiding behind the Holy Empire. I understand the reason since the Anti-Demon Alliance is practically a tributary to the Holy Empire, but that doesn’t change my contempt for them,” explained Ortus.
“Is that so?” Eugene played along. Ortus seemed incredibly proud, perhaps because he was the representative figure from the Kingdom of Knights.
‘I don’t like these types.’ Eugene clicked his tongue mentally.
Since his past life, Eugene had never harbored any fondness for those knights who acted condescendingly. So he took on a crooked tone in his next question. “Did you come to me to talk about strong and excellent knights?”
Ortus stared at Eugene in silence for a moment, then shook his head. “I came here to make a proposal.”
“What is it?” asked Eugene.
“I’m sure you know this already, but the participants of the Knight March are concealing various goals derived from self-interest apart from its original purpose. Of course, I don’t mean to disparage the original goal of the Knight March. The Demon King of Incarceration came for a visit, and Sir Molon Ruhr, the great hero, is currently staying in this fortress,” said Ortus while turning his gaze toward the castle. “Sir Molon is currently speaking with the Knights of the Lionheart family, but during the Knight March, knights from other nations will also have their chances. The leaders of the continent will also discuss the future of the world with Sir Molon as well. I believe the training will be fruitless, but there is value in discovering the will of the Demon King of Incarceration and conversing with Sir Molon.”
Ortus paused for a moment, then continued. “Let me cut to the chase. My goal here was to propose that you come to Shimuin.”
“You don’t seem to have any intention of doing so now,” responded Eugene.
“If you had not been chosen by the Holy Sword, I would have promised you many things as the envoy of His Majesty the King. No, even without me having to do so, His Majesty would have stepped up personally,” said Ortus.
This was nothing new for Eugene. During his time in Aroth, Eugene had received a similar proposal from Honein Abram, the crown prince of Aroth, and Trempel Vizardo, Commander of Aroth’s court wizards.
As the adopted son of the head of the Lionheart family, it was impossible for Eugene to succeed as the next head, especially in a family that placed great emphasis on legitimacy. Nevertheless, Eugene had all the qualities and abilities necessary to lead the family with distinction. Because of this, some who were unfamiliar with him assumed that he was unhappy with his current position and offered him attractive incentives to renounce his affiliation with the Lionheart family.
“Since you were chosen by the Holy Sword, I don't think the riches we can offer you would interest you greatly. So I want to make another proposal. No, rather, I think it would be more appropriate to call it a request instead,” asked Ortus.
“And what would that be?” said Eugene.
“The Abyssal Princess, Iris,” answered Ortus with a frown. “I think this name should be familiar.”
"You're not suggesting that Iris turned to piracy because Lady Carmen and I failed to eliminate her back then, are you?" retorted Eugene, his expression turning into a scowl. Eugene had respected Ortus thus far, but if he continued to spout such nonsense, he would quickly lose any shred of respect he had left.
“Would I say such a shameless thing?” said Ortus. Fortunately, he wasn’t a shameless bastard. He shook his head violently, genuinely flustered by Eugene’s accusation. “It is no one’s responsibility that the Abyssal Princess escaped from Kiehl. Although she doesn’t compare to the likes of the Blade of Incarceration, the Queen of the Night Demons, or the Black Dragon, she is still one of the monsters who survived the war from three hundred years ago.”
“Well, yes, even though she’s resorted to shabby pirating now,” said Eugene.
“It’s not… shabby.” Ortus’ frown deepened a notch. “She’s a powerful monster. The sea is wide, and there are many pirates, but she managed to gain control over most of the pirates in the South Sea in just one year. At first, she only had a single, shabby pirate ship, but now, she has dozens of pirate organizations under her wing. They call themselves the Pirates of Fury.”
Was it really to that extent? Eugene was left in a state of bewilderment as he gazed at Ortus.
Ortus went on to explain, "As she gained more power, the Abyssal Princess became more daring in her piracy. She began to target larger merchant groups and took over numerous trade ships. It's become a significant problem. We've tried sending multiple expeditions to stop her, but it's been futile. Her Demoneye allows her to easily evade us."
“As someone who’s faced her before, I can tell you she’s running away when she doesn’t need to. If the Rakshasa Princess decided to face off against the expedition, the entire fleet would have been buried at the bottom of the ocean,” said Eugene.
“I think so too. I don’t think the Abyssal Princess wants to openly become hostile with the Kingdom of Shimuin.”
“Has she not already done that by attacking the merchants and the trading ships?” asked Eugene.
Ortus replied with a contemplative expression, "Not necessarily. The Abyssal Princess has shown… flexibility in her actions. While she does attack and occupy ships, she doesn't plunder everything. She takes a hefty toll and often lets the ships go. Only in the case of elves being transported as slaves would she rob them. This kind of behavior is not uncommon among powerful pirates in the South Sea. It's considered customary."
“I know a bit. They take tolls and offer some of it as bribes. Isn’t that right? To be honest, the royal family must also be receiving the Rakshasa Princess’ bribes,” said Eugene.
Ortus was speechless. After glaring at Eugene for a moment, he nodded with a long sigh. “You are right. Even before she became as powerful as she is now, she bribed the higher-ups of the Navy. Of course, even greater riches ended up in the hands of the royal family.”
In addition to imposing taxes and tariffs on the goods transported by the trade ships, they took bribes as well. It was a cruel and heart-wrenching reality for the victims of these attacks, but those accepting the bribes turned a blind eye to their suffering.
“But the Abyssal Princess wasn’t left unattended just for the sake of the bribes. She is strong, and there’s nothing we can do about her with the forces of Shimuin. Moreover, the sea is wide, and there are many pirates. We thought that she might be able to maintain control of the pirates if she succeeded in uniting them,” explained Ortus.
Was that truly the whole story? Eugene didn’t buy it. He wasn't naive and could see the possibility that Shimuin may have wanted to harness the power of the Abyssal Princess for their own gain. It was possible that they had allowed her piracy and bribery as a means of indirect power and to establish a trading relationship with her.
Iris, the Rakshasa Princess, also known as the Abyssal Princess, was certainly a power to be greedy for. She had already turned her back on Helmuth after losing her territory to Noir Giabella. So Shimuin would have wanted to coax the Abyssal Princess into fostering a relationship with them so the royal family could have her act on their requests.
‘It must not have worked out. Well, of course. That madwoman is hoping for the revival of the dark elves and the resurrection of the Demon King of Fury.’
Thinking so, Eugene asked, “So, what happened that ruined the friendly relationship between Shimuin and the Rakshasa Princess?”
“That monster has grown out of proportion,” responded Ortus.
“She must have started to cut down on the bribes,” said Eugene.
“Let’s stop talking about the bribes. It won’t do any good for anyone else to hear about it,” said Ortus.
“So why are you telling me all this?” asked Eugene.
“Didn’t I tell you already? I want to ask you for a favor.” Ortus started to become a little irritated, with Eugene continuing to tease him. “You are the Hero who has been chosen by the Holy Sword. Also, isn’t the Abyssal Princess your enemy? So I would like to ask for your help until we take down the Abyssal Princess.”
“The Hero is not a volunteer,” stated Eugene.
“What do you mean?” asked Ortus.
“It is entirely in your liberty to ask me for help. However, I am saying that there is no reason for me to agree to your request unconditionally, all but for the sake of burning justice,” responded Eugene.
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“Even at this moment, the Abyssal Princess is performing evil deeds while throwing the sea into chaos,” said Ortus.
“Wasn’t it Shimuin that allowed the crazy woman to roam free without attempting to catch her earlier?” asked Eugene.
“I know that we have a responsibility. So I will be joining the conquest for the Abyssal Princess. His Majesty has also expressed his intention of bringing the elite of the Violent Tide Knights and the proud Navy of Shimuin will—”
“We won’t need an entire fleet for this operation. If need be, I could cross the ocean with a single small boat. If I had the power, I could kill the Abyssal Princess alone without being accompanied by the Violent Tide Knights,” Eugene cut in.
Ortus’ lips twitched upon hearing Eugene’s answer. “Are you saying that you possess such power? Even I am not confident that I could face the Abyssal Princess.”
“That’s not necessarily what I’m getting at, but anyways, I understand what you wanted to say,” said Eugene.
“Then….”
“I understand, but that doesn’t mean I will do it. I told you, didn’t I? The Hero doesn't volunteer,” said Eugene, punctuating his words by raising his finger in front of his chest. He formed a circle by joining his index finger and thumb, causing Ortus to feel a shiver down his spine. What was that vulgar and materialistic gesture? Then it dawned on him that Eugene was the same person who had flipped off the Demon King of Incarceration just yesterday.
“That…. Well…. Um…. Exactly how much would you like?” asked Ortus.
“I know I made a coin with my fingers, but I already have a lot of money, so I have no need for more. What about an Exid?” said Eugene.
“That, we can—”
“One with a Dragon Heart. As far as I know, there are two more Exids embedded with the Dragon Heart in the treasury of Shimuin,” Eugene interrupted.
“That’s…!” cried Ortus. Then he took a look around before composing himself. “Is the national treasure of Shimuim. We cannot hand it out to a foreigner.”
“Then I’ll just borrow it for about fifty years and return it afterward. If you decline, then there’s no helping it. If the Rakshasa Princess brings her fleet and ends up attacking Shimuin…. Maybe, just maybe, she will take down the capital and the castle, open up the treasury, and claim the precious treasures as her own. I’m very worried indeed,” teased Eugene with a look of sincere regret. Ortus ground his teeth without realizing it.
Even a toddler could know that Eugene was mocking him. The valley between Ortus’ eyebrows deepened, and his clenched fists started to tremble. He had many things he wanted to say, but he couldn’t possibly allow them to escape through his lips.
Ortus couldn't deny that he needed Eugene's help. The Abyssal Princess, Iris, was a formidable opponent, a hybrid with a direct lineage to the Demon King of Fury and a pure-blooded dark elf. He knew he would require the Holy Sword to stand a chance against such a monster. Additionally, if he managed to convince Eugene to join him, Kristina Rogeris would follow suit. It was a gamble, but Ortus had no other choice. He took a deep breath and tried to compose himself.
“I understand… your request… very well. I will discuss it with His Majesty,” said Ortus.
“If fifty years is too long, I’m willing to go for half. Let’s say twenty-five years.”
“Let me…! S-speak with His Majesty. We can negotiate afterward,” spat Ortus.
“I don’t intend to go for anything less than twenty-five years, so there won’t be a need for a negotiation,” said Eugene.
Ortus could no longer stand it. He jerked around, then jumped down from the wall without saying anything.
“Oh, this feels so good.” Eugene smiled in satisfaction.
He waved at Ortus as he grew farther and farther away, emitting a fierce momentum.