The Five of the Round Table Council (Part 1)

"1v50... Looks like the kid had guts after all..." Veil Nas leaned lightly against the redwood railing on the second floor. Within the body of this beautiful young man lay a calculating soul. A locust blossom fashioned from emeralds adorned his long golden hair, while a pair of pink women's high heels could vaguely be seen beneath his Victorian-style English gown. The gold at his collar and cuffs glinted from time to time, flaunting its owner's nobility and extravagance like a jester.

"How long would it take the two of you to deal with fifty Forest Elves?" Veil Nas turned his heterochromatic eyes toward his maids.

"If there is no magical interference—" The first maid's knotted muscles were as hard as granite. "About five minutes."

"And if they are allowed to use magic?" Veil Nas asked with interest. "How long would you need then?"

"Two to three days—" The second maid's rough voice exposed the abilities they had kept hidden. "To kill them all."

"As expected of the monster hunters who worked with Okasht to slay the Mad King, Tarsim..." A strange delight appeared on Veil Nas's face. "Then let us see how this man who wishes to become king will treat the people who wish to kill him..."

The frenzied winter wind slithered like venomous snakes, and Yetara's Round Table Council was nearly at an end.

"The battle plan against the undead monsters is as follows—"

Yetara's butler, Ivena, fully recorded and announced the conclusions reached by the five-person Round Table Council.

"The witches led by Lady Oyana will serve as suppliers in the rear during this operation, responsible for providing the warriors at the front with potions capable of repelling the undead..." Ivena announced to the many witches, martyrs, and thieves gathered downstairs.

"Next are the Ouston Church martyrs led by Sir Abelato. Your primary duty will be to purify land contaminated by the undead monsters. Naturally, purification will begin only after the undead have been eliminated..."

During the brief moment Ivena paused to catch her breath, many thieves from the Red Dagger Mountain Merchant Guild voiced their objections.

"Why do the witches and clergy who can use magic and miracles get to hide in the rear? Are you trying to send us mortals to our deaths?" said a one-eyed thief. "What kind of Round Table Council is this? You're just using your power and influence to bully ordinary people like us!"

"Silence—" Ivena's voice was loud and forceful, instantly suppressing every thief from the Red Dagger Mountain Merchant Guild present. "Next, the Red Dagger Mountain Merchant Guild led by Molakasu. Your main task in this monster-cleansing operation will be to assess the damage caused by the monsters over the past few days and take charge of repairing and rebuilding some of the structures."

The moment Ivena finished speaking, the entire manor fell silent. Only after a while did someone ask:

"Witches, martyrs, and thieves will not be driving back the monsters... Then who will? Canfor's ordinary residents...?"

"Of course not—" Ivena straightened her back. "What comes next is the heart of it all. After unanimous deliberation by the Round Table Council, Tiadam Qi Yadala, descendant of the Hero, will be responsible for eliminating the monsters. Please assist him wholeheartedly until he returns victorious—"

"That... bandit holed up outside Canfoer City? Hahaha—" The witches were the first to erupt in laughter. "Those monsters appeared from his territory. If he could eliminate monsters, would these undead monsters really still be outside Canfor? Don't make me laugh—"

"That kid Tiadam? Didn't he die? How did he show up again?"

"Bandits do not die that easily. Besides, I saw him today..." A bald man rubbed his bandaged head. "If he could repel the monsters, he would not have needed to seek refuge in the city. This XXXing Round Table Council is ridiculous..."

Faced with the crowd's criticism of Tiadam, Lord Yetara did not seem particularly affected. He merely glanced at the phantom image of Archmage Dilanna. "Do you really think a Hero's descendant can... turn the tide? I... find that hard to believe..."

"Why not believe it? Back then, the Hero Okasht slew Rosa Kevin through his own strength alone. I believe Tiadam, who also carries the Hero's bloodline, can likewise repel those undead monsters by himself."

"But Okasht had the Holy Sword back then. Tiadam does not—" Oyana hit the nail on the head. "A Hero is a Hero because he can wield the Holy Sword. Someone without the Holy Sword, someone not acknowledged by it, is no different from an ordinary person."

"Even without the Holy Sword, he still bears the Hero's bloodline. That is beyond doubt, is it not?" Dilanna said. "A Hero is not a Hero merely because of the Holy Sword, but because he possesses the heart to become a hero. As long as he has that heart, the gods will surely bless his path forward. Even if the Holy Sword has sunk into the abyss, it will answer the Hero's call and come to bring hope and a future to the people of Canfoer—"

"Wonderfully said—may the High God bless this young man—" Cardinal Labrador could not stop tears from streaming down his face. "I shall now lead every monk, nun, and martyr in Canfoer City to pray for him through the night in the church, beseeching the High God's protection..."

"Fine—see yourselves out—" Yetara said, tilting his head.

"In that case, why do we not accompany you, Your Eminence Cardinal Labrador?" Von Molakasu said with a smile.

"No, no..." Cardinal Labrador hurriedly left the Round Table Council.

"Ah~ Since His Eminence the Cardinal has left first..." Oyana slowly exhaled a stream of smoke, and her body gradually sank into the magic circle formed by it. "Then I shall not linger either. Farewell, everyone..."

"Very well, since they have all left, Lord Yetara, I shall take my leave as well..." Von Molakasu bowed to Yetara, then left the Round Table Council chamber with the phantom-image gem.

"Damn it—damn it—" Once everyone had gone, Yetara no longer concealed his fury. He hurled his wineglass to the floor and cursed fiercely, "Those damned parasites! They throw their weight around all the time, but when I need them, they pull this kind of stunt! Even if he carries the Hero's bloodline, without the Holy Sword he is nothing but a mere bandit! Entrust the future of the entire city to a bandit? Are your brains full of water?! Damn it—damn it—from witches to martyrs to elves, they are all XXXing bastards!!!"

"Your Eminence... What was the result of the Round Table Council? Was what Yetara's butler said true? Are our Church's martyrs really only responsible for purifying the outer-city land contaminated by the monsters?" As soon as Cardinal Labrador emerged, the monk Abelato immediately approached him with a string of questions. "Which side will deal with the undead monsters outside the city?"

"Enough nonsense..." Cardinal Labrador instructed tensely. "Have the Church's monks and nuns spread word of the Hero Tiadam. Whether he is a fraud, a bandit, a murderer, or anyone else, portray him as a Hero like Okasht! No! A Hero even stronger than Okasht."

"But, Your Eminence..."

"No buts..." Cardinal Labrador glared at Abelato, then whispered into his ear, "Once the rumors of Hero Tiadam grow more and more fervent, immediately sell all the fields, land deeds, and houses our Church previously purchased... Sell as much as possible. That is an order—"

"Yes..." Abelato replied softly.

"Lastly, have the Church personnel prepare a teleportation array to leave Canfoer. I intend to leave before the undead monsters enter Canfoer! Understood?"

"Yes... Your Eminence..."

At this moment, in the mansion of the elf grand duke Veil Nas, Archmage Dilanna finally concluded the exhausting five-person Round Table Council.

She let out a soft breath. "May the gods bless us—"

"Teacher Dilanna—We found a suspicious person outside the grand duke's banquet hall..." The half-elf Deanna threw Denolan, bound tightly, into Archmage Dilanna's room.

"Archmage... We have met before! Do you not remember me?" Dilanna's room was dimly lit, but Denolan's eyesight was good enough for him to recognize the mage seated in the wheelchair at a glance.

Dim light flickered with a silvery-white glow. Beneath an aged face was a kindly elder, and the light-brown wheelchair was embedded with runes. Dilanna gestured for Deanna to push Denolan somewhere slightly brighter.

"So it is you—the friend of Sir Eliyi..." Dilanna's tone was fairly gentle, far more mature and composed than Deanna's. "I greatly approve of the proposal you made earlier, and I also hope to cooperate with a young man as successful as yourself."

Deanna pushed Dilanna's wheelchair toward the door. "But compared to business, the safety of Canfoer's residents concerns me more. I sincerely hope you will rest here for a while..."

Dilanna clapped her hands, and the light shackles binding Denolan vanished instantly. The dim room brightened, revealing dozens of mirrors placed before him.

"So many mirrors..." Denolan stared at his reflection, at a loss. "Um... Archmage... How long should I... stay here...?"

Denolan turned around. Archmage Dilanna had already vanished without a trace. The entire room contained nothing but mirrors; even the door had disappeared.

"Then... Archmage..." Denolan stood alone beside the mirrors. "I hope you can come back soon..."

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