"1v50... Looks like this kid really had some guts..." Viel Nas leaned lightly against the redwood railing on the second floor. Beneath the body of that beautiful young man lay a calculating soul. A locust blossom made of emerald was set in his long golden hair, and a pair of pink women's heels could vaguely be seen beneath his Victorian-style English gown. The gold on his collar and cuffs glimmered from time to time, flaunting its master's nobility and extravagance like a jester.
"How long would it take the two of you to deal with fifty Forest Elves?" Viel Nas aimed his heterochromatic eyes at 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?" Viel Nas asked with interest. "How long would it take you?"
"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 Viel Nas's face. "Then let us see how this man who wishes to become king will treat the people who want to kill him..."
The frenzied winter wind slithered like venomous snakes, and Yetara's Round Table Council was also nearing its end.
"The battle plan against the undead monsters is as follows—"
Yetara's butler, Ivena, read out the results of the five-person Round Table Council's discussion in full.
"The coven led by Miss Oyana will serve as the rear supply force in this operation, providing the front-line warriors with potions capable of driving back the undead..." Ivena announced to the many witches, martyrs, and thieves gathered downstairs.
"Next are the Ouston Church martyrs led by Mr. Abelato. Your primary task will be to purify the land contaminated by the undead monsters. Naturally, the purification work will begin only after the undead have been cleared out..."
During the brief pause Ivena took for breath, the many thieves of the Red Dagger Mountain Merchant Guild began voicing their objections.
"Why do witches and clergy who can use magic and miracles get to hide in the rear? Are you trying to send us ordinary people to our deaths?" said a one-eyed thief. "What kind of Round Table Council is this? Using your power to bully ordinary people like us!"
"Silence—" Ivena's voice was loud and forceful, instantly suppressing every thief from the Red Dagger Guild present. "The Red Dagger Guild, led by Molakasu, will be assigned the primary task in this monster-cleansing operation. The Red Dagger Guild will assess the damage caused by the monsters over the past few days and take responsibility for repairing and rebuilding some of the structures."
The moment Ivena finished speaking, the entire estate fell silent. Only after a while did someone ask:
"Witches, martyrs, and thieves are not going to drive back the monsters... Then who will? The ordinary residents of Canfor...?"
"Of course not—" Ivena straightened her back. "What comes next is the key to everything. 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 with all your strength until he returns victorious—"
"That bandit who is holed up outside Canfoer City... Hahaha—" The witches were the first to burst into laughter. "Those monsters emerged from his territory. If he could clear out the monsters, would those undead monsters really still be outside Canfor? What a joke—"
"Tiadam, that kid? Didn't he die... How did he show up again?"
"Bandits do not die that easily. Besides, I saw that guy today..." A bald man rubbed his bandaged head. "If he could drive back the monsters, he would not need to take refuge in the city. This damn Round Table Council is ridiculous..."
Faced with the crowd's criticism of Tiadam, Lord Yetara did not show much reaction. He merely glanced at the projection of Archmage Dilanna and said, "Do you truly believe a descendant of the Hero can... turn the tide? I... find that hard to believe..."
"Why not believe it? Back then, the Hero Okasht killed Rosa Kevin through his own strength alone. I believe Tiadam, who also possesses the Hero's Bloodline, can likewise drive back those undead monsters on his own."
"But Okasht had the Holy Sword back then. Tiadam does not—" Oyana struck straight at the heart of the matter. "A Hero is a Hero because he can wield the Holy Sword. Someone without the Holy Sword, someone unrecognized by it, is no different from an ordinary person."
"Even without the Holy Sword, the Hero's Bloodline still flows within him. That is beyond doubt, is it not?" Dilanna said. "A Hero is not a Hero solely because of the Holy Sword, but because he possesses the heart of one who wishes to become a hero. As long as he has that heart, the gods will surely protect his path. Even if the Holy Sword has sunk into the abyss, it will answer the Hero's call and come forth, bringing hope and a future to the people of Canfor—"
"Beautifully said—may the gods bless this young man—" Cardinal Labrador could not stop tears from streaming down his face. "I shall immediately lead all the monks, nuns, and martyrs in Canfoer City in praying for him through the night at the church, beseeching the gods for their protection..."
"Fine—take care, then—" Yetara said with his head tilted.
"In that case, why do we not accompany you, Cardinal Labrador?" Von Molakasu said with a smile.
"No need, no need..." Cardinal Labrador hurriedly left the Round Table Council.
"Ah~ Since the cardinal has left first..." Oyana slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke, and her body gradually disappeared into the magic circle formed by it. "Then I shall not linger either. Farewell, everyone..."
"Alright, since they have all left, Lord Yetara, I shall take my leave as well..." Von Molakasu bowed to Yetara, then departed the Round Table Council room with the projection gem.
"Damn it—damn it—" Once everyone had left, Yetara no longer concealed his anger. He hurled the wineglass in his hand to the ground and roared, "Those damned parasites! They strut around acting high and mighty normally, but the moment 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 bandit! Entrust the future of the entire city to a bandit? Have your brains flooded with water? Damn it—damn it—every last one of those bastards, from witches to martyrs to elves, is damned!!!"
"Cardinal... What was the result of the Round Table Council? Was what Yetara's butler said true? Are our Church martyrs really only responsible for purifying the outer-city land contaminated by the monsters?" The moment Cardinal Labrador emerged, Monk Abelato immediately approached him with a string of questions. "Which side will deal with the undead monsters outside the city?"
"Stop talking nonsense..." Cardinal Labrador instructed nervously. "Have the Church's monks and nuns spread word of Hero Tiadam. Whether he is a fraud, a bandit, a murderer, or anything else, portray him as a Hero like Okasht! No! A Hero even stronger than Okasht."
"But, Cardinal..."
"No buts..." Cardinal Labrador glared at Monk Abelato, then whispered in his ear, "Once the rumors of Hero Tiadam grow widespread, immediately sell all the fields, land deeds, and houses our Church purchased before... Sell whatever you can. This is an order—"
"Yes..." Abelato replied softly.
"Lastly, have the Church personnel prepare a teleportation array to leave Canfor. I intend to leave before the undead monsters enter Canfor! Understood?"
"Yes... Cardinal..."
At this moment, in the estate of Elf Grand Duke Viel Nas, Archmage Dilanna had finally finished the exhausting five-person Round Table Council.
She let out a soft breath. "May the gods protect us—"
"Teacher Dilanna—We found a suspicious person outside the grand duke's banquet hall..." The half-elf Deanna threw Denolan, bound tightly hand and foot, into Archmage Dilanna's room.
"Mage... We have met before! Do you not recognize me?" Dilanna's room was dimly lit, but Denolan's eyesight was decent. He recognized the mage sitting in the wheelchair at a glance.
The dim light flickered with a silvery-white glow. Beneath the aged features was a kind old man. The light-brown wheelchair was inlaid with runes, and Dilanna gestured for Deanna to push Denolan somewhere brighter.
"So it is you—the friend of Mr. Eliyi..." Dilanna's tone was fairly gentle, more mature and composed than Deanna's. "I greatly approve of the proposal you made earlier, and I also hope to cooperate with such an accomplished young man as yourself."
Deanna pushed Dilanna's wheelchair toward the door. "But compared to business, the safety of Canfor'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. Light appeared in the dim room, and dozens of mirrors stood before him.
"So many mirrors..." Denolan looked at his reflection in the mirrors, at a loss. "Um... Mage... How long should I stay here...?"
Denolan turned around, but Archmage Dilanna had vanished without a trace. Other than the mirrors, there was nothing in the room. Even the door had disappeared.
"Then... Mage..." Denolan stood alone beside the mirrors. "I hope you can come back soon..."
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