Translator: Pai_

The recent situation of the Great Noble House Carmine, which once ruled the North Sea, was hard to call favorable.

Losing their capital, Avacha, to the sudden attack of the Great Sea Serpent Mermaids and retreating to an inland temporary capital needed no further elaboration.

Even more terrible was the fact that, amidst all this, they attacked House Parsha, another human power with whom they had no significant grudge, by cooperating with the very mermaids who had invaded and crushed their own capital, and failed miserably.

“Please tell us! Was this attack really the will of the family head!?”

“How dare you raise your voice without knowing who you're speaking to? Such insolent youngsters...”

“This isn't a situation that can be resolved just by pulling rank based on age!”

“My friend also died in this expedition. Are you saying you really took him along voluntarily and without coercion?”

“Why would you do such a thing in this situation...!”

No matter how vertical the structure of a wizard family, with the family head at the apex, such actions were bound to be criticized.

Even more so because the reason for the attack itself was difficult to disclose with pride in front of others.

Had the attack at least succeeded, they might have used the excuse of preemptively crushing a Great Noble House that could become a future threat, but since they failed, even that was difficult.

In other words, the reason they were being criticized was not for immorality, but for incompetence.

While House Carmine was embroiled in internal conflict, someone came from House Parsha.

They hadn’t announced their arrival in advance from afar but had instead suddenly popped up like an eruption from the outskirts of the city.

“Why did they come?”

“No idea. They said they must speak directly to the family head.”

“Damn it, they win one battle and now they think they’re overlords.”

Despite grinding their teeth at the arrogant attitude of the messenger, the nobles of Carmine could not simply tell them to get lost.

Having lost their capital and many high-ranking nobles including Jemel Carmine, their power was not what it once was.

Thanks to that, the messenger from House Parsha, who had arrived so abruptly, succeeded in trampling the meeting hall where the family head had personally come, with dirt-covered feet without even revealing the purpose of his visit.

“Notification to House Carmine’s family head, Rodor Carmine. Turan Parsha, family head of House Parsha, requests a meeting. If you agree, come to the summit of Mount Agran by sunset on the 12th, the day you receive this letter. Number of companions allowed: four.”

Mount Agran was a mountain to the south of their current temporary capital, connected on a larger scale to the mountain range extending into the Gray Zone below.

And since the current time was already well past noon, telling them to come by sunset literally meant to start running the moment they received the message.

Even more so, considering that Mount Agran was part of Carmine’s hilly territory, it implied that the family head of a rival house had trespassed without permission.

“Has the family head of House Parsha gone mad!”

“What does he think of our House Carmine...!”

“This rudeness is unacceptable!”

Even the young nobles who had been criticizing the family head and upper ranks of the house could not help but be enraged by such a blatantly outrageous declaration.

At that moment, Rodor, the head of House Carmine, raised his hand with an expressionless face and calmed everyone.

“Is that all? It feels like there should be something more.”

“Family head...”

“I haven’t met him in person, but the Turan Parsha I know wouldn't have sent just that and nothing more."

As everyone calmed at the family head’s words, the messenger from Parsha swallowed once and continued speaking.

In truth, he too wanted to read the following part right away, but not only was it hard to understand its meaning, it also came with the family head’s note saying “pause here once” so he had no choice.

“...The topic of the meeting is the price of the ‘King of Calamity’, and the way to return to the homeland.”

Few among them understood what the messenger continued to say.

Only a very small number within Carmine knew that the head of House Nagin from the far west had instigated Turan’s assault, and that in return, an ancient Sacred Relic of the gods had been promised.

As for the part about “the way to return to the homeland” even among the god's possessed, there were those who couldn’t comprehend it.

For some, who were not so quick-witted, the idea of returning to their own world was completely implausible and unrealistic.

But among them, the relatively sharp-minded Lawyer, Rodor, understood the meaning.

After hesitating briefly, he nodded and asked.

“Is it also four attendants for the head of House Parsha?”

“No. He has decided to step onto Carmine territory alone.”

Upon hearing the messenger's words, Rodor lightly projected his magic power.

The force that came back from the sweating man, who seemed to feel pressured, was of an ordinary noble’s level.

He wasn’t someone who could pose any significant threat.

“Fine. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to arrive a little early if we want to make it on time.”

“He said the sooner you arrive, the better.”

“Family head! Are you really planning to respond to such an insolent invitation?”

“The dignity of our house-”

“Isn’t it worth at least hearing him out? The meeting location is in our territory anyway.”

Those who had been about to argue passionately at Rodor’s words fell silent.

After all, if the person in question, the family head, said it was fine, them getting angry would only seem ridiculous.

Then, one of the other nobles raised a practical concern.

“They might’ve set a trap. House Parsha’s head possesses the power to manipulate space, so it’s possible an enemy army could pour out from the meeting site...”

“Then we’ll take our army up to the base of the mountain. That much should be acceptable, right?”

“Yes.”

Rodor’s eyes gleamed with a hint of interest at the unexpectedly immediate response.

“Does a mere messenger have the authority to decide such things?”

“The family head gave prior instructions.”

Which meant the idea that had occurred to him had already been anticipated by Turan.

This was somewhat displeasing for Rodor, who had confidence in his own intellect and enjoyed strategic thinking, but he simply clicked his tongue and brushed the emotion away.

“Well, fine. Then let’s depart immediately. Make the preparations.”

***