Chapter 20
Chapter 20
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Unprecedented
-----------------------------------------------------------------
For everyone who had returned from the watchtower, the days passed by in a busy rush.
Felicia and Daphne devoted themselves to investigating and researching the small temple, while Fierce Eye prepared to lead the warriors of the Raging Flames and three other tribes back north. Their goal was to mop up the Cassius remnants that had stayed behind on the Anger Plains instead of retreating beyond the northern border after Balkarova’s defeat.
In a way, the *real* Cassius cleanup mission was only just beginning.
Ingong headed north with Fierce Eye. There was no reason to waste such a rare opportunity for real combat.
And so, about half a month passed. When Ingong returned to the small temple after wiping out the Cassius horde, Felicia greeted him warmly.
“It feels a bit sudden to say, but... you’ve gotten stronger. Your growth rate is almost frightening.”
Felicia said with a slightly mischievous smile. He had felt it during the battle with the Skeleton King Balkarova, but Ingong was now overwhelmingly stronger than he had been during the fight with the Red Lightning tribe. It was a level of growth that couldn't be explained simply by his acquisition of the White Eagle.
Rather than making a big deal out of it with a lengthy explanation, Ingong replied playfully.
“I’m in my growth spurt years.”
It was true, after all. The mid-to-late teens were the perfect age for a rapid surge in skill. The other children of the Demon King had also shown explosive growth during their mid-to-late teens.
After completing the additional, more conventional Cassius subjugation, Ingong’s level had reached 20. His Protagonist Correction level had become 3, and the levels of Aura, Beast Fist, and Divine Beast Fist—skills he had invested points into—had also increased by one or two.
And, though it felt a bit odd to note, the repetitive grinding had also leveled up his various magic skills. His repeated use of Fire Arrow and Heal throughout the Cassius subjugation had paid off.
*‘Could I hold my own against Caitlin now?’*
Ingong had yet to see Chris and Caitlin’s true strength. Until now, his power had been too insignificant compared to theirs. But now, he felt he could have a proper sparring match with Caitlin, even if Chris was still out of his league.
Suppressing the excitement rising in his chest, Ingong gestured toward the center of the temple with his eyes and asked.
“How’s the investigation of the temple going?”
This time, Felicia’s face was a mixture of joy and mischief. She spoke to Ingong, her face brimming with excitement.
“We made progress. And we discovered something incredibly surprising. Do you know what it is? Huh?”
“What is it?”
Seeing Felicia so worked up, Ingong’s interest was piqued as well. As if satisfied with his reaction, Felicia nodded emphatically and then leaned in close. She whispered softly, as if sharing a secret.
“The magic cast on the temple was none other than that of the Watcher, Ainkel. Ainkel, one of the six Elder Dragons!”
What began as a whisper ended as a shout.
Felicia’s eyes sparkled as if to say, *Isn’t that amazing?* and Daphne and Delia, who were behind her, looked much the same.
To the three of them, it was truly astonishing news. They had no idea that Green Wind’s origin was a fragment of Ainkel, or that the White Eagle was one of Ainkel’s armaments.
For a moment, Ingong nearly blurted out, *What’s so great about that?* but he managed to hold his tongue. To meet the expectant gazes of the three women, he put on a bright smile and exclaimed in admiration.
“Wow! That’s incredible!”
*‘Master, that was awkward.’*
Ingong did his best to ignore Green Wind’s critique and asked in a slightly more natural tone than before.
“So it’s like the Anvil that Births Thunder?”
“That’s right, it’s similar. They’re both ruins of an Elder Dragon.”
Fortunately, to the excited Felicia, Ingong’s stiff, monotone delivery seemed to be a result of his shock and awe.
She quickly continued.
“We don’t know the relationship between the Guardian Spirit Green Wind and Ainkel, but in any case, it was Ainkel’s magic that summoned the Treants. Daphne and I have been analyzing the magic circle for the past few days, and we’ve made quite a bit of progress. It seems we might even be able to control the Treants to defend the temple and the Anger Plains.”
“That’s amazing, Sister Felicia.”
“Hmph, hmph. Well, of course.”
Felicia tilted her chin up, basking in Ingong’s praise. In some ways, Felicia was quite similar to Green Wind.
Karak, who had been quietly watching Felicia and Ingong, asked no one in particular.
“Uh, so does this mean both the Prince and the Princess are done with their business on the Anger Plains?”
Ingong had subjugated the Cassius horde, and Felicia had more or less wrapped up her investigation of the temple.
Felicia nodded.
“For now, yes. There’s still more to research, but I plan to put it off for later. We need to return to the Demon King’s Castle to report our findings.”
This year’s Cassius subjugation was completely different from previous years. Moreover, with the discovery of an Elder Dragon’s ruins, their achievements were truly great.
“People are going to be quite surprised this time, too. Let’s show everyone that it wasn’t a coincidence or a miracle that Father called your name that day.”
Felicia spoke like Chris as she patted Ingong’s shoulder. It was a gesture full of affection.
And the next morning.
Having finished his preparations to return to the Demon King’s Castle, Ingong faced Fierce Eye and the other centaurs.
Fierce Eye looked straight at Ingong and said.
“Ninth Prince, agent of the Guardian Spirit Green Wind and successor to the Great Warrior. When you have need of us, we shall be your hands and feet.”
His eyes were still fierce, but Ingong could now read the affection within them. Ingong, mounted on his draco, offered Fierce Eye a handshake and said.
“The same goes for me. Thank you for everything, Fierce Eye.”
Fierce Eye grasped Ingong’s hand with his own large, rough one. The man who had always been an enemy in *Knight Saga* was now Ingong’s trustworthy ally.
Sent off by the enthusiastic farewells of the centaurs, Ingong left the Raging Flames tribe’s encampment and headed for the stone tower that housed the transfer gate, his original arrival point. His traveling companions included Felicia, Delia, Daphne, and Karak, as well as Karma and Green Wind.
Karma, who had become Ingong’s subordinate number two after Karak, approached every task with a seriousness so intense one might wonder if she would ever tire.
Green Wind, on the other hand, displayed a different kind of tireless energy that was almost concerning.
*‘Master, I’m getting so nervous.’*
*‘Master, my heart is pounding.’*
*‘Master, is it really all right to leave the Anger Plains like this?’*
*‘Master, please answer me.’*
It was Green Wind’s first time leaving the Anger Plains in her entire life. Tension, impatience, and anxiety, mixed with the thrill of heading to an unfamiliar place for the first time, had her in a state of utter excitement.
After two days of travel, humoring Green Wind along the way, once they reached the stone tower, things moved very quickly. He stepped onto the transfer gate, closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them, he was in the Demon King’s Castle.
“Lady Felicia.”
“Your Highness, the Sixth Princess.”
“Sister Felicia!”
A scene similar to his last visit unfolded before his eyes. Felicia’s people, who had received word in advance and were waiting, swarmed forward to welcome her.
As always, Felicia greeted the children of the concubines and their subordinates flocking to her with an elegant smile.
Up to this point, it wasn’t just similar to last time; it was identical. But what came next was different.
“Greetings, Your Highness, the Ninth Prince.”
“We pay our respects to Your Highness, the Ninth Prince.”
“We heard you achieved another great accomplishment.”
The very people who had treated Ingong as if he were invisible last time were now the first to show their respects.
*‘Ooh...’*
He could feel the immediate shift in his status. Whether their greetings were sincere or reluctant, it meant they could no longer ignore him.
Felicia gave Ingong a small wink, as if to say, *See?*
And Daphne was there as well. The girl who was originally supposed to become a follower of Zephyr was now enthusiastically recounting Ingong’s exploits to the other children of the concubines. Naturally, the attitude of Felicia’s people toward Ingong became even more polite and friendly.
“Prince.”
Karak whispered softly, gesturing with his eyes. Ingong quickly understood what Karak was pointing at.
Not everyone was welcoming him. Some watched him with jealousy or discomfort, while others seemed to be spying on him.
He thought he understood why Felicia had volunteered to come to the Anger Plains. The effect of Demon King Mitra calling his name was palpable.
*‘Are those mostly Anastasia’s people?’*
Fourth Princess Anastasia Necrion. Her faction, known to *Knight Saga* enthusiasts as the ‘female Zephyr,’ boasted the largest scale among the three major factions.
Ingong wanted to form friendly relationships with all the Demon King’s children except for Zephyr, but not everything in life went according to plan.
The children of the Demon King he had befriended so far were all individuals with no particular interest in the throne. Felicia and Caitlin had no thought of becoming the Demon King at all, and while Chris was ambitious, his path was set on becoming the king of the Lycanthropes, so he only acted for the well-being of himself, Caitlin, and his people.
Because of this, the three of them didn't envy or guard against Ingong’s rise to prominence; they simply welcomed it and were happy for him.
But Anastasia was different. She was the leader of one of the three major factions. To her, Ingong was an unexpected newcomer. If he had distinguished himself under her command and for her sake, that would be one thing, but a child of the Demon King who began to shine independently was nothing but an object of caution.
*‘It’s clear now. Felicia isn’t one of Anastasia’s people yet.’*
In *Knight Saga*, during the Day of Slaughter event, Felicia and her twin brother, Silvan, both belonged to Anastasia’s faction. However, the exact timing of when they joined was unknown.
The current year was 512. It was obvious that at this point in time, Felicia was not yet one of Anastasia’s people.
Felicia rarely spoke of Anastasia, and Anastasia was wary of Ingong, who was close to Felicia. These were things that would be impossible if Felicia were part of Anastasia’s faction.
After sorting through the various gazes, Ingong turned his attention back to Felicia’s group. Counting the children of the concubines and their subordinates, along with those who had come from Felicia’s mansion to greet her, there were a little over ten people. It felt less like a faction and more like a social club centered around Felicia.
*‘That one’s an artist, so he’s not much help. That one might be useful depending on how she’s raised?’*
There were three children of concubines belonging to the Felicia Family(?).
Bering, from the Fallen Angel race, who was definitely older than Felicia, though his exact age was forgotten.
Karapapa, from the Yaksha race, who looked to be in his twenties by his build but was actually in his mid-teens.
And Anneloje, daughter of the Fairy Queen, who looked to be in her early teens, just as she was.
True to the Fallen Angel race, said to originate from fallen angels, Bering had pale skin and black wings on his back. He was a talented artist with a gift for music and art, but since neither was particularly useful in battle, he was treated as a useless character by *Knight Saga* enthusiasts.
Karapapa, from the Yaksha race, possessed a build and muscles that rivaled Karak’s, but his red skin gave him a much more intense impression. Karapapa’s strengths were, as he appeared, his immense physical power and durability, but his complete lack of magical ability was a crippling weakness.
The youngest, Anneloje, had great potential, but her age was a problem. She was only about eleven, so she couldn't be of much help for now.
*‘Still, it’s better than nothing. And I’ve forged a solid bond with Daphne.’*
Taking a more positive outlook, Ingong regarded the Felicia Family with a rather generous eye. Whether they knew his inner thoughts or not, the Felicia Family chattered on, sharing tidbits of what had happened in the Demon King’s Castle while Felicia was away.
“Sister Felicia, did you hear? They say there’s going to be another audience.”
said Anneloje, the owner of colorful hair, fluttering the butterfly wings on her back. Felicia’s eyes widened.
“Hm? Another one?”
Ingong’s achievements were incomparably greater than a typical Cassius subjugation mission, but they weren't significant enough to warrant a solo audience.
Could the rumors that the Demon King favored Ingong actually be true?
Bering explained with a smile.
“In addition to Your Highness the Sixth Princess and Your Highness the Ninth Prince, there is another Prince who will be attending the audience. This audience is to commend the achievements of all three.”
That made more sense. Another prince could have accomplished something great as well.
Felicia asked again.
“Which other prince are you talking about?”
It was the very question Ingong wanted to ask. Bering answered, once again with a gentle smile.
“His Highness the Second Prince has returned.”
The Second Prince, Zephyr Ragnarok.
Ingong unknowingly swallowed a dry gulp.