Inheriting the Novel

Chapter 34 : Reunion with the Imperial Princess (2)

Reunion with the Imperial Princess (2)

The banquet hall of the Asktalin Empire, the 'Hall of the Gold Dragon'.

It was a lavish hall so massive that simply being called imperial didn't do justice to the mountain of money poured into it.

It was spacious enough to hold hundreds of people with room to spare.

During the Founding Festival, a banquet was to be held here every evening.

It was a gesture of hospitality from the Empire so that the young participants of the Imperial tournament could interact.

[Is this really a place for socializing?]

'I told you. The Imperial Tournament is basically a stand-in war between countries.'

Since the banquet was hosted by the Asktalin Empire, it seemed that all those participating in the tournament were present, but it didn't feel like anyone was there to enjoy themselves.

Far from making friends, everyone was on guard and wary of one another.

'I might as well just eat as much good food as I can.'

Knowing that the tournament could be cancelled soon due to an imminent catastrophe, their actions all seemed pointless to me.

I was leisurely sipping my drink, unconcerned about the others, when—

"So, there's no freak like last time, it seems."

"It's just an ordinary level this time. Nothing much to worry about."

I heard murmuring nearby.

Upon confirming that there was no one on Talua's team at Baian's level, they seemed relieved.

"Tch!"

Proud Alex Shane's face instantly turned red at their remarks.

And it wasn't just Alex. With the exception of Zelbin, the other faces looked much the same.

'It's true... Among these people, an intermediate Sword Expert is average at best.'

Aside from me, the representatives of the Talua Kingdom were all intermediate Sword Experts.

For their ages, their skills were impressive.

Yet, amid the skilled talents gathered in the Hall of the Gold Dragon, they weren't special at all.

It was only natural that they would be judged as ordinary.

'With these members, we're not even close to what Baian was four years ago.'

Thinking of Baian, I gave a bitter smile.

That annoying guy—I had to admit his skills.

Baian Deoric had reached the advance-rank Sword Expert at age nineteen, four years ago.

Even among advanced Sword Experts, his talent was extraordinary.

He had charged his way to the finals in the previous Imperial Tournament, and only lost narrowly to Reinhardt, deputy-commander of the empire's Fourth Knight Order.

Anyone who remembered that would see Talua's current representatives as laughable.

"This year, Talua Kingdom is really going to be boring."

A man strode up to us with a jeering tone. He was a huge man with dark skin.

"You're from Darsha, aren't you..."

Alex recognized him instantly and frowned.

The desert nation of Darsha.

Formed by the unification of twelve tribes, it's a warrior state whose people will risk their lives at a command from the Great Chief—the Khan.

'Arsabin Hozen.'

I narrowed my eyes as I glanced at his profile.

His manner was arrogant—but seeing his profile, I could understand why.

"Arsabin, don't you think that's a little presumptuous—even if you are the Great Chief's heir?"

Alex bristled at Arsabin's arrogance.

Speaking with the politeness befitting a duke's heir, but his spirit was cold as ice.

"Presumptuous? I'd call it confidence born from skill."

With a toothy, white smile, Arsabin's atmosphere changed. Aura began streaming out from his body, and his crimson eyes flashed.

'Advance-Rank Sword Expert, huh...'

Confronted with his aura, Alex and the others looked visibly unsettled.

Alex's eyes, in particular, were trembling.

"That's why I called it boring. If you want our respect, show us your strength."

"I swear... I'll make you regret those words."

Alex snapped sharply, but Arsabin just smirked.

"Regret? I'd like to see you try—with your level."

"Pfft!"

Those who watched the tense exchange between Alex and Arsabin broke into small bursts of laughter at Arsabin's words.

[Is it really okay for national representatives to act like this?]

'That's exactly why they do.'

Scenes like this were common in the Imperial Tournament.

Arsabin's comment could easily cause a diplomatic incident, but the convention of the Imperial Tournament allowed even this level of provocation.

So, a provocation had to be answered in kind.

"So, Darsha's warriors are this petty, huh? Was it really that humiliating to lose to Baian?"

Though I didn't speak very loudly, there wasn't a soul in the hall who didn't hear my words.

The laughter instantly faded, replaced by a chilly silence.

"... What?"

Arsabin's face froze as he turned toward me, having just been mocking Alex.

I smiled sweetly at him and continued.

"It was just bad luck. Of all people, the champion of the tribe lost to a younger knight in a single strike."

"You little..."

"Still, you're impressive. You must have been so frustrated that you poured every last drop of elixirs into shaping yourself into a warrior like this, right?"

Gnash!

Arsabin ground his teeth roughly at my words, a savage killing intent flashing in his eyes.

He couldn't respond, because everything I'd just said was the unvarnished truth.

Of course, no amount of rare elixirs would make you strong without the talent to use them.

Still, knowing that, I decided to provoke him as much as I could.

"Well, but honestly, I doubt the outcome will be much different this time, either."

"Keh, heh heh. Listen to you—just a kid who's barely become a warrior."

In Darsha, those who reach Sword Expert are called 'warriors'.

A Swordmaster is a 'great warrior'. According to their terms, I was a low-rank warrior, and he was advanced.

"A kid? I suppose from your perspective, that's how it looks. It's not easy to recognize someone above your level, right?"

"Above... my level?"

"You don't believe me?"

I slowly extended my index finger and pointed it at him.

His expression twisted in confusion at my odd gesture.

"What are you—"

Pop!

With a small burst, something shot out.

It whipped past Arsabin's earlobe.

It left not a scratch, but he must have felt something whiz past, just beside his ear.

"Th-that was a energy blast!"

"No way—he shot a energy blast from his finger?!"

Murmurs exploded through the Hall of the Gold Dragon.

Arsabin's eyes shook.

The horror and disbelief in his eyes said it all. He'd mistaken my blood needle for a energy blast.

A energy blast was a technique that required Swordmaster-level magic power and control.

"D-don't tell me, a great warrior...? No, no way! At your age..."

I just smiled at the sputtering man.

The whispers in the hall were growing louder, chaos spreading.

Clunk!

The doors to the hall opened and five people entered.

The black dragon symbol of Asktalin.

The Imperial family's ceremonial clothes were always black for this reason.

Princess Riya Asktalin's dress was also deep, pitch-black.

Emblazoned in gold was the emblem of a dragon, and on her temple, hanging from a horn, was the black dragon seal.

Her presence was so overwhelming that the four men following her felt like mere shadows.

"Oh dear, it seems I've ruined the mood of your banquet."

The busy hall instantly became quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

All eyes turned to the princess.

There were no more gazes directed at me.

[She's overwhelming, isn't she.]

Grancesia spoke.

[If those are the empire's representatives behind her, the winner's basically already decided.]

'If the princess participates, it's basically over.'

[That lizard girl was already strong. But even if you leave her out, they're impossible to beat. Look behind her.]

Only then, following Grancesia's words, did I look past the princess to the person behind her.

And was left in shock.

'No way.'

==

〈Ian Sylvest〉

Age: 20

Gender: Male

Role: Fabian's first companion and sworn friend (main cast)

Skills: Dragon Peerless Sword (8-star)

Special trait: Fabian's first companion.

Son and disciple of the continental Seven Heroes' 'Ban Sylvest'. The youngest ever Swordmaster in the Asktalin Empire.

He is the protagonist Fabian's first companion, and before losing to Fabian, he had never lost to anyone his age.

He saves the Asktalin Empire, and after being defeated for the first time by Fabian, he is drawn to Fabian's strength and joins him on his journey.

==

'A Swordmaster?!'

Unlike me, who was merely acting, a real monster was standing right there.

And Fabian defeated that monster?

'No—what the hell?! Even if he's the protagonist, that's insane. Just how strong was he?'

The absurdity of the world had me swearing under my breath.

Grancesia sounded exasperated.

[If you're being picky, you've got some impossible abilities yourself, you know?]

I suppose that's true...

"So that's the Silver Wolf of the Empire?"

"The rumored genius..."

The knights murmured in hushed tones, looking at Ian Sylvest standing behind the princess.

Ian Sylvest.

Known as the Silver Wolf, there isn't anyone on the continent who doesn't know his name.

I, too, had heard the stories.

'But I didn't expect him to be a Swordmaster.'

No one would have expected anyone to reach the realm of Swordmaster by the age of 20.

Even the talents of Baian and Zelbin, who I'd thought amazing, paled in comparison.

'Well, the others seem normal, at least.'

Luckily, none of the other imperial representatives were as monstrous as Ian. They all seemed to be at the intermediate Sword Expert level.

"But the princess... I heard she's a formidable mage, yet I'm not seeing it."

"Shh! She might hear you. Though, it does seem the rumors were exaggerated."

"And what's with the horn on her head?"

"There were rumors she awakened the dragon's blood while she was away, but for that..."

I laughed quietly at their conversation.

No, none of these people could ever truly see the power of the princess. A dragon's power isn't something mere humans can perceive.

"Hmmm."

The princess surveyed the Hall of the Gold Dragon silently, as if searching for something.

Then her eyes met mine, curving into a gentle crescent moon. It was a beautiful smile—yet it sent a chill through me.

'It seems there wasn't a big issue after all, thank goodness...'

I had used the divine blood to cure her Curse of Dragonification, but honestly, it was not a perfect cure.

Although the problems caused by the curse vanished, I couldn't reverse the transformation itself once it had started.

So, the horn still lingered on Riya Asktalin's head.

I wasn't sure if the Empire would truly accept her again, but thankfully, it seemed all right.

'Still, I'm uneasy.'

Tap.

Just as I was feeling a chill, the princess strode towards me.