Chapter 311

Extra 1. After the Great War (5)

Kim Seon-Hyeok quickly looked around the banquet hall.

I believe this negotiation will benefit everyone.

You mean this? I am truly amazed at the mercy the Empire shows

He saw delegates talking with the Imperial n.o.bles about the Empires negotiations over the foreigners. All of them were amongst the most powerful forces indispensable to each country.

I have heard that Lord Antoines castle was beautiful. One day, I hope to have the chance and see it.

No, no, Ive heard that the Borneo estate was the most beautiful on the continent. Ive even heard that if you dont see the Borneo Forest before you die, then you lived in vain

The young men, who were busy cultivating friends.h.i.+p with each other, were those who each shoulder the future of the Empire and their Grand Duchy.

Not one of them is unimportant. Stay alert and make sure that nothing unfortunate happens.

As you command, Your Grace.

The Imperial Guard Knights and mages looked intently around, prepared for any unexpected accident, but none of them looked at the strange woman.

Kim Seon-Hyeok was the only one who noticed the existence of the woman in this place where so many superhumans had gathered.

Edda.

Before he even finished speaking, the faint flapping of wings could be heard and the Dragons characteristic presence began to appear and spread out.

Edda had arrived in the sky right above the Imperial Palace.

Kim Seon-Hyeoks tense face loosened a bit at the appearance of his most powerful ally.

However, he knew that while Edda was definitely the strongest on the continent, her ma.s.sive body and destructive powers were not suitable for overcoming the current situation.

If a battle were to break out, only he and Edda would survive.

Kim Seon-Hyeok didnt take his eyes off her as he slowly moved. He stopped precisely in the middle of her and Ophelia.

Even in the worst case, he was determined to protect Ophelia and Victorius.

Ooh! Indomitable Grand Duke! The Iberian Grand Duke was just telling me about your legendary battle in the Central region. The Iberian Grand Duke is such a great storyteller that it felt like I was standing in the middle of the battlefield.

But it cant be more vivid than the story I hear from the person involved, right? How about it? Unless its too troublesome, why dont you tell it to us yourself, Indomitable Grand Duke?

When he appeared in the middle of the banquet hall, n.o.bles and envoys flocked over to him as if they had been waiting.

Grand Duke?

However, Kim Seon-Hyeok was focused on the woman and wasnt listening to them.

Where are you looking so intently

The people turned their heads to follow his gaze.

Which House is the young lady from? She must be from a famous family to be here, but I cant remember at all.

The n.o.bles all had a wide reach, but they tilted their heads when they saw the woman who didnt look particularly special.

Meanwhile, the mages of the Imperial Familys Guard noticed something unusual and stared at her before speaking to Marquis Reinhardt.

She is not on the list, sir.

Are you sure? Wouldnt it be impossible for an uninvited person to enter the main hall?

The number of people does not match, sir.

Marquis Reinhardts expression hardened at the mages words.

Escort the n.o.bles.

At the brief order, the knights of the Imperial Family Guard moved in unison and blocked Ophelia and the people in the banquet hall.

Why is the Imperial Guard?

Having noticed the unusual atmosphere belatedly, the n.o.bles and envoys murmured but no one gave them clear answers.

Grand Duke, can you explain this situation?

Marquis Reinhardt came up and questioned Kim Seon-Hyeok about the womans ident.i.ty. He had a hand on the sword at his waist so that he could draw it at any moment.

She is a guest from the north.

The peoples eyes widened at his answer. They instantly knew who he was talking about when he said it was a person from the north.

Despite the people all turning to look at her, the woman didnt blink an eye. She opened her mouth.

Theres no need to stare like that. Im here today because I have something to tell you.

They heard the womans voice for the first time. It was as harsh as the feral aura around her. The n.o.bles involuntarily trembled at her low and ferocious voice that was like a growling beast.

So it doesnt seem like youre here to simply congratulate us.

As if he finally felt the womans unusual spirit, Marquis Reinhardt raised his even more. The woman frowned as the aura around him seemed to turn into swords.

What terrible treatment of guests.

Kim Seon-Hyeok responded to the womans words

Uninvited guests are never treated well. Even more so if that uninvited guest didnt come with good intentions.

If I really came here with bad intentions, do you really think those people over there could be babbling?

The n.o.bles and envoys shouted in fury at the outright threat.

You, you! There are things you should and should not say! Yet, you do not care!

Youre a barbarian! How dare you! Where do you think this is?!

Her smile grew stronger at the n.o.bles words. The envoys and n.o.bles unintentionally took a step backward when they saw that ferocious smile. As she stared at them with s.h.i.+ny yellowish eyes, it seemed like she would bite the nape of their neck at any moment.

You have eyes, yet you do not see. Your eyes are useless.

This time, even the n.o.bles didnt dare to come forward and criticize her. Although she did not continue, everyone seemed to have an idea of what she meant.

Why did you come here?

Kim Seon-Hyeok took a step forward towards her, dissipating the womans ferocious momentum.

I told you. Im here to talk.

At her words, he looked back for a moment. He saw Ophelia giving him a slight nod.

This isnt a good place to talk, so lets go out for a while.

Theres no need for that. I also have something to say to the human lords.

Kim Seon-Hyeok frowned at her unexpected words.

Three months. After three months, I will go west with my followers. Do not block my way.

The woman didnt pay attention to his reaction and continued to talk.

If you dont block me first, I promise I wont harm you.

In other words, if they blocked her way, she would make them pay a corresponding price.

Why?

While the n.o.bles were causing a commotion at her sudden announcement, Kim Seon-Hyeok asked her for the reason.

Because there is a being that is too terrifying to have as a neighbor.

It was obvious who the terrifying being was.

Is it because of her?

He thought she would most definitely agree, but she shook her head.

No. Its because of you.

What?

She said the reason wasnt the powerful Dragon Lord, but the Dragons Companion.

The contractor of the entire dragon clan; I feel more burdened by you than her.

The Blue Wolf declared the Northern nomads Great Migration in front of the continents rulers and left. The remaining envoys and the Empires n.o.bles heatedly debated over it.

Some argued that the nomads of the North should be punished immediately, while others argued that there was no reason to stop the barbarians when they were saying they would leave for the West on their own.

However, no matter how much they talked about it, the Blue Wolf had already declared a Great Migration. Their only choice was whether they would fight and die, or quietly move out of the way.

Wait, its our land that theyll immediately pa.s.s through, and youre talking about whether to stop them or allow them?! Its us who will bleed if we block them, and its us who will have to allow them pa.s.sage!

In the end, it was the rulers of the Grand Duchys whose lands the nomads would pa.s.s through that would decide whether to allow them pa.s.sage or not.

To Kim Seon-Hyeok, it seemed like the envoys had already made up their minds to allow the nomads pa.s.sage.

It wasnt unreasonable. The Northern Cavalrys power was well known after several great wars. It would be stranger if the other countries wanted to wage an all-out war with the powerful cavalry that had crushed two Central kingdoms in an instant.

What do you think, Grand Duke?

Ophelia had been staring at the envoys and the Imperial n.o.bles who were ranting and raving, but now, she questioned Kim Seon-Hyeok.

The people shut their mouths as if they had previously made arrangements and all turned to look at him.

I promised the previous war chief, Darun, that a part of the Western territory would belong to the Northern nomads.

A couple of the envoys faces brightened at Seon-Hyeoks answer. They were the envoys of the Grand Duchys that were en route for the Great Migration.

They hadnt wanted to show fear of the barbarians, so Kim Seon-Hyeoks words were a good excuse for those who wanted to avoid an all-out war with the Northern nomads.

Grand Duke, if its exactly as you say, then theres no reason to stop their migration. Although the promise wasnt made with the current war chief, the merits they made at that time have not disappeared, and the promise must be fulfilled.

Ophelia also sided with those who wanted peace.

But since it is a serious matter that would change the course of the continent, you should all inform the Grand Dukes about this matter in detail so they may answer.

Of course, her words gave them some leeway, there wasnt a single envoy or n.o.ble who didnt know what the Empress intentions were.

***

Is she one of the proxies you spoke of, Grand Duke?

Ophelia asked once the envoys and Imperial n.o.bles left and the two of them were alone. Perhaps because she was usually very intuitive, but she seemed to have an inkling of what the womans true ident.i.ty was.

She is not a proxy.

Kim Seon-Hyeok shook his head and immediately revealed the womans ident.i.ty.

She is the great wolf that appeared on the battlefield.

It didnt look like Ophelia had thought that the woman was a Transcendental Being because she had a rare look of surprise on her face.

Although she seemed unusual, she certainly looked human.

He didnt have any answers to give her. He had also been surprised that Voltecino had appeared in a human sh.e.l.l.

[She is not the only one. Any of the Transcendental Beings could a.s.sume the human form at any moment, any time that they desire.]

Fortunately, there was someone nearby who could answer her question.

But you never did.

After asking Ophelia for a moment of understanding, Kim Seon-Hyeok asked Edda.

[Because I never felt the need to do so.]

Then are you saying that you could turn into a human as many times as you want to?]

[I guarantee that you will never see it in the future.]

While he nodded in response to her firm answer, Ophelia, who had kept her mouth closed, spoke up.

Amongst the powers that the Transcendentals hold, is one of them to a.s.sume the human form?

Kim Seon-Hyeok nodded his head without thinking.

Hm?

But it was strange. For some reason, Ophelias expression seemed to have gotten colder than before.

Then your Dragon could do it as well.

Yes.

Now, Ophelias face was ice cold. He tilted his head as he looked at her.

[Her tolerance is because I am a distinctly different species from you. You have dug your own grave with your own hands.]

Kim Seon-Hyeok understood the situation only after listening to Edda, but the gates of h.e.l.l were already wide open.

Ophelia didnt get angry or deliberately accuse him, but she didnt hide her displeasure either.

Even worse was that even in this situation, she still didnt neglect her duties as an Empress. He was only able to escape after telling her everything he knew.

It was truly a painful and torturous time. It was difficult for even a strong Dragon Knight to talk while facing the cold gaze that he had never seen from his wife before in his life.

Ugh.

After pouting for a moment, he fixed his expression and summoned Edda before getting on her.

Lets go.

As he left the Imperial Capital and made his way northward with her, a familiar woman was waiting for him.

It was the Blue Wolf Voltecino.

You took longer than I expected. Seems like it was quite difficult to convince the human lords.

Truthfully, it hadnt been difficult to convince those who had withdrawn in the face of the Northern Cavalrys prestige. Instead, a problem came up in a random place. But, Kim Seon-Hyeok had no intention of telling her about the marital feud(?) and immediately brought up the main point.

Why are you making things troublesome by asking me for a favor?

I told you. Youre burdensome. Its not my wish for my relations.h.i.+p with you to go awry for something random.

They might be called Grand Duchys, but in the end, they were a part of the Empire, and the Blue Wolf seemed to fear that the Dragon and her contractor might intervene militantly if the Northern nomads were to pa.s.s through.

Not too long ago, you seemed like you would wage war. I cant understand why your att.i.tude suddenly changed.

He couldnt understand why Voltecino, a being who had led the Northern cavalry south, was so concerned with her relations.h.i.+p with him now.

Circ.u.mstances changed.

The Blue Wolf grimaced and looked north for a moment before opening her mouth.

The other Transcendentals have begun to move.

Her voice, which had gotten even lower, grew unhappier as if dissatisfied with something.

No, to be precise, the puppets they set up have started moving.