[Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]

    Chapter 149

    “Ederna, what on earth are you thinking?!”

    The Imperial Palace of Geysir.

    Emperor Caius, seated on the throne, could not contain his anger and hurled the goblet in his hand.

    Hiss...!

    The black liquid inside the golden goblet splashed onto the floor and instantly melted through it.

    Judging by the multiple indentations in the floor beneath the throne, this was not the first time such an incident had occurred.

    — I told him to change the name.

    Taking this opportunity to wipe out the troublesome Kingdom of Meier had been the plan.

    Yet, despite lacking real authority, Ederna, a Marquess of the Demon Realm, had interfered and prevented it.

    It was an incomprehensible act.

    ‘The King of Meier... he is becoming more of a nuisance.’

    At first, Caius had dismissed him as an arrogant descendant.

    After all, he had dared to establish a kingdom using the name "Meier."

    ‘Since it was far away, I initially planned to just issue a warning.’

    So, he had sent an envoy with a final ultimatum.

    If the kingdom changed its name, he would have let it go.

    ‘But... that time has passed.’

    When they had gathered their forces to invade the Kingdom of Meier...

    An unexpected surprise attack had struck.

    Even Melvria, the fourth-ranked member of Helmeier’s hierarchy, had been on standby to block the enemy''s assault unit—yet she had failed to even catch a glimpse of the enemy’s face before being defeated.

    Of all times, the attack had happened precisely when they were about to strike the Kingdom of Meier.

    Could this truly be a coincidence?

    ‘And then, even the Head of the Observatory stepped in to protect him... as if it was all planned.’

    The Kingdom of Meier and its king.

    There was no direct evidence that he was working with the Head of the Observatory, but suspicion was growing.

    ‘I need to investigate.’

    Invading the Kingdom of Meier had become impossible because of Ederna.

    But conducting an investigation—now that was still an option.

    “Your Majesty, you summoned me?”

    Step. Step.

    From the empty audience chamber of the Imperial Palace, Duke Melvria approached.

    Since her recent defeat, her face had been shadowed with unease.

    Caius observed her and thought,

    ‘There are unresolved questions about the last incident...’

    Still, she was a trustworthy "blood relative" with whom he had resurrected his father.

    Caius decided to give her another chance.

    “I need you to investigate the Kingdom of Meier.”

    “...The Kingdom of Meier?”

    “Yes. I intended to wipe them out in one blow, but the Head of the Observatory has taken it upon himself to protect them.”

    “The Head of the Observatory... you mean the previous Demon King’s child?”

    “That’s right. He claims the Kingdom of Meier as his personal domain. It’s undeniably suspicious, but given his lineage, I had no choice but to step back.”@@@@

    Even within the Helmeier lineage, the head of the family held the title of Marquess.

    As for Caius, the deputy head, he was only a Count. Their house was the most prominent among the rising noble families of the Demon Realm—but they still could not compare to Ederna’s family, which had produced the previous Demon King.

    “But an investigation should still be possible.”

    ### “So, you’re telling me to investigate?”

    “Yes. Report immediately if you find anything unusual. That unidentified enemy who defeated you may be connected to him.”

    Caius assigned the investigation to Melvria, never even considering the possibility that the unidentified enemy could be Kaylen.

    ‘He’s telling me to investigate... my father—no, that man.’

    Melvria found Caius’s order displeasing.

    Every time she saw Kaylen, her heart wavered too easily.

    She always addressed her great father, Ernstine, properly as "Father."

    But when it came to Kaylen, a word she had long forgotten...

    ‘Dad’ would slip out.

    ‘And I heard Eldir is there too.’

    It wasn’t just Kaylen.

    Eldir, who had once been her partner, was also in the Kingdom of Meier.

    If she went there to investigate, she feared that the emotions she had barely managed to suppress would resurface.

    Violet sighed as she watched.

    ‘No wonder the officials are fleeing. The man who used to handle the work of a hundred people suddenly stopped doing anything.’

    At least this time, he was taking care of it himself. She could finally breathe a little.

    “But, Your Highness. When you say S-Class Mana Suit... are you talking about the Stormwind you mentioned in the last meeting?”

    “That’s right. Sanctuary provided its location.”

    The World Tree’s fruit—needed to complete the Shadow Sword—was already secured. The only remaining issue was the Wind Mana required to complete the Wind Sword.

    Right on time, the Holy See had revealed Stormwind’s whereabouts.

    “It’s in the sacred mountain of the Icelos Mountain Range, in the eastern continent. I searched the place thoroughly yesterday and the day before, but I couldn’t find it.”

    “Even after Your Highness personally looked?”

    “Yes. I combed through every inch of it.”

    Violet watched as Kaylen processed dozens of documents at once, feeling a sense of unease.

    The sacred mountain of the Icelos Range was known for its vastness and towering peaks.

    But if someone like Kaylen had searched it, he should have at least found some kind of lead.

    “If the Holy See hadn’t said anything, that would be one thing. But there’s no way he’d deliberately feed us false information. It must be hidden somewhere... yet even my senses can’t detect it.”

    “Which is why you need me?”

    “I’ve heard that S-Class Mana Suits resonate with each other.”

    “That’s just a rumor.”

    There was a common belief that S-Class Mana Suits would resonate when brought close together, amplifying their magical power.

    But it was nothing more than a baseless myth.

    Violet tapped Glacia a few times and spoke.

    “Wouldn’t I just be a burden if I come along? I feel like I’ll only slow down the search...”

    “It’s fine. Even if you are a burden, I’ll just carry you around anyway.”

    “...What?”

    The sacred mountain of Icelos.

    One of the tallest mountains on the Averia continent and an object of faith for the people of the Icelos region.

    In the past, countless pilgrims traveled there.

    But ever since dungeon portals began to appear, monsters infested the area, and the mountain had long been abandoned by humans.

    It was in this dangerous place that Kaylen and Violet were conducting their search together.

    ‘When he said he’d carry me, I thought he meant literally, like luggage.’

    Whoosh. Whoosh.

    Violet looked down at her feet in fascination as her body soared through the air.

    Beneath her was an ordinary iron sword, the kind used by common soldiers.

    She was flying through the sky, standing atop a sword alongside Kaylen.

    “How does it feel to fly on a sword?”

    “It’s a little scary, but...”

    She was zipping through the sky with only a small blade supporting both feet.

    Even though Violet could activate Glacia at any moment, she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

    “But more than that, it feels amazing to be free from paperwork.”

    “Haha. My apologies. I’ve had a lot to think about.”

    “Does it have to do with changing the country’s name?”

    “Yes. The Geysir Empire is stronger than I expected. Their magic, in particular, is a serious threat.”

    “Magic...? The idea of magic posing a threat to Your Highness is hard to imagine.”

    “It’s not ordinary magic. It operates on an entirely different level. Even I had my eyes opened this time.”

    Just how powerful was it for Kaylen to speak of it in such a way?

    Violet was curious, but for now, she focused on her own task.

    “Glacia. Synchronize.”

    Whoooosh.

    Violet’s entire body transformed as if made of ice.

    She had entered a spirit state, sharpening her senses.

    ‘Will S-Class Mana Suits really react to each other?’

    Standing on Kaylen’s sword, Violet attempted to stir the mana of water in different ways.

    But she couldn’t detect anything unusual.

    ‘As expected, it’s just a legend.’

    As they ascended toward the summit with no reaction, that’s what she thought.

    “Oh...”

    But Kaylen was different.

    ‘I can feel something distinct from before.’

    At the mountain’s peak—

    There was a reaction unlike anything from the day before.

    [Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]