Erilot ignored her and stepped down from the carriage.

The other Wonhwa did the same.

Silin, trembling all over, clenched her teeth.

‘Do you think I’ll let this slide?’

Clenching her fist tightly, Silin stepped out of the carriage.

The imperial palace was magnificent even at night.

It was to welcome those who had returned after completing the Wonhwa army’s mission—the highlight of the year-end festival.

The imperial chamberlain greeted the Wonhwa army.

“His Majesty awaits. Let us proceed together to the grand banquet hall with the Wonhwa and the top-ranked knights from each army—the ten finest per army.”

Erilot asked,

“What about the other soldiers? They all greatly contributed to the ghoul extermination as the Empire’s troops. Can they not share in the honor?”

Silin spoke with a feigned gentleness.

“These brave soldiers will be broadcast live across the empire through the magic realm until the festival ends.”

Now that she mentioned it, countless transmission magic tools were scattered even in the skies above the palace.

“Of course, the soldiers will be relocated to places with magic realms so they can watch the ranking ceremony as well.”

Erilot nodded.

The Northern Wonhwa glanced at Silin and whispered to the others.

“As soon as she arrives at the palace, her attitude changes completely.”

“It’s not the first time, is it? Everyone falls for that act.”

Sebastia lowered her voice and said,

“They’re broadcasting. Be careful.”

“Yes...”

“Indeed.”

The Wonhwa and the top-ranked knights from each army—fifty-five in total—moved toward the outer palace.

The grand banquet hall of the imperial palace, opened only during major national festivals.

A vast hall capable of holding 700 people, it was crowded.

The nobles watched the Wonhwa army carefully.

“Is that Iseze? The knight with tremendous sacred power?”

“Yes... In person, he’s quite the handsome youth.”

“That’s Jowick Châteaubriand, mother!”

“Yes, his martial skills were remarkable.”

“Sebastia Biferi! Wonhwa braver than any knight! Have you seen how many ghouls she felled despite being a girl?”

“Central army’s Dickfero supposedly subdued an ancient monster alone... Was that just boasting?”

“Kazin Ravio! There, Kazin Ravio! He took down a dozen ghouls on his own. Did you see that?!”

The nobles were very excited about this year-end festival challenge.

The boy soldiers who defeated the ancient monster-class Crimson Ghoul and succeeded in extermination!

They brilliantly proved the empire’s strength to foreign dignitaries and citizens despite the crisis.

The Wonhwa army knelt before the Emperor.

The Emperor nodded and spoke.

“You have overcome a difficult task well, Empire troops.”

Silin, at the front, smiled sweetly and shouted,

“All for the glory of the Empire!”

Then all the Wonhwa echoed,

“For the glory of the Empire!”

Behind the Emperor, Empress Ocelia smiled gently and spoke.

“You showed courage unmatched even against powerful monsters like the Crimson Ghoul. Please commend these soldiers of our beautiful sovereign.”

“Yes. Let the Grand General hear this. Lavish the Wonhwa army with food, have the priests heal them, and grant each soldier a magic crystal.”

Wah—!!

Cheers came from soldiers outside unable to enter.

They heard the Emperor’s words through the transmission magic tools inside the banquet hall.

Erilot smirked inwardly.

‘The Emperor’s really generous. Magic crystals, huh?’

Magic crystals were special resources obtained only from monster corpses.

They were like crystallized mana, and even a fingernail-sized piece was enormously expensive.

The Wonhwa exchanged smiles.

‘His Majesty the Emperor seems very pleased with these results.’

Northern Wonhwa:

‘After all, the Wonhwa are essentially candidates for the Emperor’s personal knights and they defeated the ghouls commanded by the Crimson Ghoul.’

Southern Wonhwa:

‘Grandfather seems pleased...’

Even Sebastia quietly chuckled.

Only Silin looked anxious, staring at the Emperor.

‘Losing first place in such a major task...’

If this continued, she could no longer guarantee the Central Wonhwa position next year.

She might have to go back down to the Southern army.

Rika, the current Southern Wonhwa, could be removed.

But...

‘Commanding the last-place Southern army? Absolutely not.’

Duke Ishiron laughed and said to the Emperor.

“If I may, Your Majesty, let the Wonhwa share their impressions of the mission. The nobles are eager to hear about the challenge firsthand.”

The Emperor nodded.

“Yes, I too find it most interesting.”

At that moment, the Central Wonhwa saw an opportunity and stepped forward.

“I, Silin Châteaubriand of the Central army Wonhwa, shall explain, Your Majesty.”

She quickly stood, looked around at the nobles, and bowed.

“As you know, there were dangerous moments, but thanks to the Wonhwa’s wit and the soldiers’ indomitable spirit, we overcame safely.”

She was confident explaining the battle details.

She had done this in previous years.

Always smartly explaining the situation and gracefully crediting the soldiers.

The nobles always watched Silin with satisfied expressions.

“You are probably curious about the situation when the Wonhwa were captured by the Crimson Ghoul, as it was not broadcast then.”

Silin continued confidently.

“The situation was urgent. The Crimson Ghoul was an enormous monster capable of human transformation. But I thought this was the moment to pull ourselves together.”

Silin glanced at Erilot.

‘Didn’t I say I wouldn’t let you off?’

She wore a brazen expression now, but just wait.

Soon she’d turn pale and panic.

“The only regret was that the Wonhwa did not unite properly contrary to my expectations...”

Silin sighed bitterly.

Now the nobles must be curious beyond words.

Silin looked around.

‘Huh?’

What’s this?

She expected curious looks but...

‘Wh-what is that gaze?’

The nobles’ stares were cold.

Some clicked their tongues.

One noble looked utterly displeased.

He was a count who had once served as a personal knight to the Emperor after being part of the Wonhwa army.

“So?”

‘He was from the Central army, wasn’t he? He must be upset that the Central army, usually first, placed only third.’

Silin forced a nonchalant answer.

“Yes, although I was flustered by a Wonhwa who disobeyed orders and dared to deal with monsters disregarding human dignity, I steadied my heart. To overcome the crisis...”

Ha.

The princes snickered.

Silin glanced nervously at them and continued.

“The soldiers outside must be waiting for us. With that thought alone, I overcame my fear...”

One noblewoman whispered something to another.

The other giggled.

“We no longer expect reinforcements from the palace. The Wonhwa’s duty is to overcome the army’s crisis, and I...”

A young noblewoman who often met Silin sighed.

Even the surrounding young ladies shook their heads.

Some boys snickered at Silin.

She felt mounting unease.

“So I...”

“To protect our noble lives, the deaths of the Wonhwa soldiers are glorious—so she said!”

The Duke and Marquess of Noklang could no longer contain themselves and shouted.

...What?

At that moment, words spoken in the Crimson Ghoul’s cave echoed in her mind.

“What do I care about those soldiers!! If I can die for my noble self, it’s glory—!!”

‘How... how did she know that...’

Silin quickly looked at her father and mother.

The Châteaubriand Duke couple had turned pale and frozen.

As if they had really heard Silin say those things.

‘No, no way.’

There were no transmission magic tools there.

So no one should have heard... unless—

‘There was a pile of broken transmission magic tools. Maybe some intact ones were mixed in?’

Erilot must have checked.

Could it be she used that knowledge to draw those words out of me?!

My whole body went numb.

My hands and feet grew cold instantly.

Silin, as pale as the Châteaubriand Duke couple, said,

“E-everyone, if you saw anything... no, you probably did, but it’s all a misunderstanding!”

“...”

“...”

Silin shouted desperately, but the people’s expressions remained icy.

“Erilot Astra, no, the Western Wonhwa staged it all! She pressured me deliberately...!”

“...”

“...”

“Think about it! She deliberately trapped me to make me say such things and didn’t tell me the transmission magic tool wasn’t broken!”

A knight guarding near the Emperor spoke.

Pierre.

A talented youth with black hair and a neat appearance, he gave off a strong presence.

Pierre had risen to the Emperor’s personal knights at the youngest age and took on the Emperor’s protection in record time.

‘Oh, Pierre who always politely called me Central Wonhwa...’

The Châteaubriand Duke hurried forward.

He couldn’t let his daughter’s disgrace continue. The family’s honor was at stake.

“Your M—”

Then, the Emperor’s guards simultaneously kneeled.

“Your Majesty, grant us the opportunity to question her!”

The knights from the Wonhwa army spoke in unison before the nobles and foreign dignitaries.

The Emperor could not refuse.

“Granted.”

The Emperor’s personal knights, the oldest among the Imperial Guards, gave Silin a cold stare.

Pierre asked,

“Central Wonhwa, do you treat knights differently when the broadcast is live and when it is not?”

“Is the role of the Wonhwa to protect and nurture the boy soldiers? Do you think the Central Wonhwa performed that role properly?”

“Have you always treated the soldiers with that mindset?”

Silin stammered in embarrassment.

‘Why, why are the White Knights (another name for the Emperor’s personal knights)...’

All the senior knights adored Silin.

They said she at least made the chaotic Wonhwa army look somewhat human and worked hard.

“I, I... I...”

Silin paled, hesitated, and muttered while backing away.

“Th-Think about it! This is all the Western Wonhwa’s trickery. Otherwise, why would she have tamed the Crimson Ghoul and dragged me to that deep cave?”

Silin grew desperate.

Her usual graceful act was nowhere to be found.

“Ah, yes! The best time to tame the Crimson Ghoul was when the Western Wonhwa defeated it. But she didn’t do it then—she insisted on going to the cave. Isn’t that strange?”

The nobles murmured.

“That’s... true.”

“Yes, I also found that odd.”

As the mood began to shift, Silin pressed on quickly.

“Moreover, the Western Wonhwa tamed the Crimson Ghoul away from the other three Wonhwa. Isn’t that really suspicious?”

“Is that so...? Why?”

“Yes, it is strange.”

Silin smirked secretly and glanced at Erilot.

“Perhaps it was already tamed?”

The uproar began.

“What did you say?”

“No way...!”

Silin looked at the Emperor and said,

“Your Majesty! I was deeply terrified by the Western Wonhwa’s suspicious behavior. So, to inform that there is another Wonhwa army behind the others, I deliberately said things contrary to my true feelings—”

“Enough!”

The Southern Wonhwa suddenly stood up.

Silin flinched and looked at her.

“I, as the Central Wonhwa, represent the Wonhwa army to explain to Your Majesty. Control yourself.”

“The Central Wonhwa does not represent the Wonhwa army’s opinion.”

“Southern Wonhwa!”

“Your Majesty, the reason the Western Wonhwa had to tame the Crimson Ghoul in that cave lies with the Central Wonhwa.”

The Southern Wonhwa stepped forward and bowed.

Silin screamed,

“Can’t you stop?!”

“The Central Wonhwa lost the opportunity to deal with the Crimson Ghoul she barely created because of her pride.”

“Rika Delphre—!”

“She was proud even in that desperate situation, not thinking of the soldiers! In the end, it was the Western Wonhwa who saved the Central Wonhwa, who nearly got killed by the Crimson Ghoul!”

“Stop it already...!!”

“She has repeatedly received help from the Western Wonhwa, so it is clear why she falsely accuses her benefactor.”

The Southern Wonhwa glared at Silin.

“She told me, ‘Those who get more attention than me are annoying.’”

“...!”

The banquet hall erupted in chaos.

“Well, it’s true. The Western Wonhwa nearly defeated the Crimson Ghoul but dragged the Central army into danger.”

“Honestly, having watched the battle, I can’t trust what the Central Wonhwa says at all.”

“A powerful monster like the Crimson Ghoul is an incredible force to keep nearby; why would anyone expend it for this task?”

The Emperor pinched his forehead.

The foreign dignitaries watching the commotion smirked.

‘Now they’ve gone too far...’

Silin felt the Emperor’s gaze and flinched.

“Y-Your Majesty...!”

The Emperor’s eyes were cold.

“Father...!”

The Châteaubriand Duke hurriedly tried to help his daughter.

“Your Majesty, please hear my daughter’s words! You know how loyal she is...!”

“No need to hear more.”

“Y-Your Majesty...!”

“Let’s take a short break.”

The Emperor glared fiercely at the Duke and left.

Empress Ocelia looked at Silin with pity and approached Erilot.

“You did truly wonderful work.”

Silin clenched her fists, trembling.

‘Why! Why did this happen!’

Just this morning she had been praised as the best Wonhwa... so why was she...!?

Laughter came from nearby.

“Truly, it’s incredible.”

“The real surprise is that her true nature was hidden until now.”

Those who couldn’t even speak to her before now snickered and mocked her.

Silin ran away from the banquet hall.

She hid in a corner and slumped down.

“This is all Erilot Astra’s fault. That filthy blood ruined me...!”

Southern Wonhwa, that vile girl too!

Then—

The sound of boots approached nearby.

Silin snapped her head up.

Though her form was half blurred in the darkness, she was recognizable.

It was Erilot.

Silin shouted,

“Don’t think you’ve ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) won! It was all luck! You filthy girl!”

“Yes, I’m filthy.”

“You know damn well—”

“Why do you think the Southern Wonhwa said that?”

“...What?”

Erilot looked at the empty air and murmured in a sweet, singing voice.

“You do hold grudges, but you’re not the type to come forward to a place like this.”

“You—no way, it’s you!”

Silin jumped up and glared.

“You planned this?! What exactly were you going to trade?”

“I never said I would give anything. I just said one thing.”

“...What?”

Erilot whispered into Silin’s ear.

“Rika, what if the Central Wonhwa’s sharp tongue helps her get through this crisis?”

Of course, she would try to deal with Rika, who defied her.

Silin’s face turned bright red with rage.

“I won’t let this go!”

Just then—

“What’s going on!”

“Western Wonhwa, are you alright?”

The White Knights, the Emperor’s personal guards, hurried to Erilot.

“...!”

Silin was flustered.

Erilot staggered backward.

The White Knights quickly supported her.

“Taming a monster like the Crimson Ghoul must have drained your strength.”

“I’ll carry the Western Wonhwa over here.”

Silin’s face grew increasingly corpse-like.

‘Th-that... that is...!’

Erilot smiled at Silin without letting the White Knights notice.

‘Do you think I came alone, fool?’

I will repay the Ombre’s attack.

‘I’m someone who never forgets a debt.’