Chapter 453
Chapter 453
Chapter 453
When the Eastern warriors saw Raven, they immediately knelt down and began bowing with reverent postures.
Sitting on Zeke's shoulder, Raven lifted its head proudly and showed a haughty expression, unlike before, as the warriors gazed at it with awe and bowed.
Zeke looked at Raven with an incredulous expression.
'This one seems to be developing an increasingly strange personality.'
Zeke had completely forgotten the saying that divine beasts come to resemble their masters.
Zeke approached the bowing Eastern warriors.
Then he cleared his throat and spoke.
"Now do you believe my words?"
The Eastern warriors looked at Zeke with awe and said:
"Of course, Guide. Please forgive our rudeness."
Zeke nodded at the warriors' words.
"Good. My name is Zeke Draker, known as the Knight of Salvation in the Central Continent. Please guide me to the Sultan's palace. The Sultan must be waiting for this divine beast."
* * *
"Hmm?"
Hades, who was lying down watching a beautiful Eastern dancer perform while casually eating grapes fed to him by a maid, tilted his head.
'This energy feels very familiar.'
As Hades got up from his seat, Hamel, the captain of the Crow brigade who was standing behind him, approached.
"Lord Hades, is there anything you need?"
"Not really, but hmm... where is Yelin now?"
"The Young Master is training in the back garden."
Hearing Hamel's words, Hades clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"Good grief, training even after coming all the way here. Your Young Master is quite something."
But just then.
Trumpet sounds and cheers could be heard from outside.
Hades looked out the window wondering what was happening.
Warriors carrying the Sultan's flags were entering the palace, and something familiar caught his eye.
WOOOOOOSH!
The phoenix let out its cry, seemingly pleased as it flapped its wings at those cheering for it.
Seeing this, Hades's jaw dropped.
"Raven? If that one is here then...?"
Hades realized what the familiar energy he had felt from afar was.
He immediately ran out of the room.
* * *
'Impressive.'
Upon entering the imperial palace of the Muruk Empire, Zeke was first amazed by its massive scale, and second by the huge crowd welcoming him.
Everyone in the palace waved colorful flags and scattered flower petals towards Raven the divine beast, offering words of welcome.
Caught up in the atmosphere, Raven was busy showing off all sorts of tricks as it soared through the air with wings spread, letting out phoenix cries.
While Raven was basking in such popularity, Zeke was carefully examining the palace.
'How fascinating. The architectural style and design are completely different from the Central Continent.'
Even in his previous life, he had never been to the Eastern Continent, so this was his first time entering the Muruk Empire's palace.
Looking at Muruk's style, Zeke felt it resembled Carcosa that he had seen in the Fragment of Dimensions.
Though different from Carcosa, he could see that Muruk also decorated the exterior and interior of buildings using tiles.
Moreover, the Eastern people of the Muruk Empire wore clothes made of high-quality silk, and their weaving techniques seemed definitely more delicate than the Central Continent's.
'No wonder Muruk silk trades at such high prices.'
When diplomatic relations between continents were cut off due to the Muruk Empire's invasion 25 years ago, the price of Eastern Continent silk had skyrocketed.
At that time, one roll of silk was traded at the price of a thousand horses.
Though direct trade is still impossible, intermediary trade through the Dorta Republic is somewhat allowed, and it's said this is mainly to import Muruk Empire silk.
As Zeke was taking in the unfamiliar but mysterious sight of the palace, he saw a familiar face.
"Sir Zeke!"
It was Yelin, dressed in Eastern training clothes, appearing among the crowd.
Zeke called out happily upon seeing Yelin.
"Lady Yelin!"
He dismounted from Bucephalus and headed towards where Yelin was.
This was their first meeting since Zeke had spatial traveled to the Southern Continent while handling the situation when the Dorta Republic was invaded by the Monster Legion.
Yelin looked at Zeke with an expression of disbelief.
"Sir Zeke, how did you come here alone?"
Zeke responded to Yelin's words with a bitter smile.
"It's quite a long story to explain. More importantly, have you been well, Lady Yelin? I was worried."
Yelin's face reddened for a moment at Zeke's words.
'He was worried... Could Sir Zeke be thinking about me?'
Yelin had already confessed her feelings to Zeke when they were in the Dorta Republic.
However, she ended up running away in embarrassment without properly hearing Zeke's answer.
Things remained that way as the talks with Julius proceeded, and with the Monster Legion's invasion, the answer was ultimately left hanging.
She had the romantic thought that perhaps Zeke had come all the way to this distant Eastern Continent for her.
'Maybe Sir Zeke also...'
The fervor of cheers enveloping the palace gave Yelin courage.
Among the cheering people, she looked at Zeke and spoke.
"Sir Zeke, about what I asked you then..."
Just as Yelin gathered her courage to speak.
"You fool! Why did you come only now?!"
Hades suddenly appeared in mid-air, pointing and shouting at Zeke.
Zeke's gaze shifted from Yelin to Hades.
He bowed his head to the difficult and sensitive black dragon.
"Have you been well, Lord Hades?"
Hades barely acknowledged Zeke's greeting as he looked over the cheering crowd and muttered.
"Huh, I heard they considered the phoenix sacred, but to this extent? This is beyond expectations."
Zeke nodded at Hades's words.
"I feel the same. Raven is absolutely delighted."
Having missed her chance to confirm Zeke's feelings, Yelin looked at the floating Hades with resentful eyes.
Just then, the inner gates of the palace opened and eunuchs in elaborate dress appeared.
The highest-ranking among the eunuchs carefully approached Zeke with bowed head.
Then, in a voice that could belong to either a man or woman, they spoke.
"His Majesty wishes to personally hold a banquet and requests the presence of Sir Zeke Draker, the renowned Guide of the Sacred Divine Beast and Knight of Salvation."
A banquet personally hosted by the Sultan of the Muruk Empire.
That alone was extraordinary, but moreover, it wasn't an order to attend but a request for attendance.
In truth, the influence of the Muruk Empire, which occupied most of the Eastern Continent, was tremendous.
The power of the Sultan at the empire's apex went without saying.
For the Sultan to invite Zeke and ask for his consent was showing him the highest courtesy.
Zeke spoke to the eunuch sent by the Sultan.
"Tell the Sultan I gladly accept his invitation."
The eunuch bowed their head so low it nearly touched the ground in respect to Zeke's words.
They guided Zeke into the inner palace and led him to the finest room given to honored guests in the palace.
Entering the room, Zeke expressed amazement at the unique Eastern architectural style decorating the Muruk palace and the impressive level of pottery and metalwork.
Soon, beautiful maids entered Zeke's room.
"We will guide you to the bath."
The bathing culture of the Muruk Empire was widely known even in the Central Continent.
While the Roman Empire, which couldn't resist bathing, developed a public bath-centered culture, the Muruk Empire seemed to have developed a luxurious aristocratic culture.
Following the maid's guidance to the bath, Zeke's jaw dropped.
'This is a private bath?'
There was a massive natural hot spring made of precious lapis lazuli in the center, surrounded by wooden tubs filled with various herbs.
Then the maids approached Zeke.
"We will assist you with your bath."
The maids attended to Zeke, guiding him to the lapis lazuli bath and carefully pouring scented water over his body.
Then they skillfully massaged his arms and shoulders as he reclined in the bath.
The bathing culture was certainly different from the Central Continent.
After receiving a massage and enjoying a cool drink, Zeke emerged from the bath radiating with a glow he himself didn't notice.
It felt like long-accumulated fatigue had completely melted away.
Returning to his room in such good spirits, he found attendants had prepared Muruk-style banquet clothes for him.
Precious silk and metalwork filled Zeke's room.
The tailor sent by the Sultan bowed before Zeke.
"It is an honor to make clothes for the Sacred Guide."
The tailor immediately measured Zeke and right there tailored clothes to fit his body.
It was an elaborate outfit of black silk matching Zeke's hair and eyes, with a golden phoenix embroidered on it.
They adorned him with various accessories, which matched Zeke surprisingly well.
The maids in the back and even the seamstress burst into admiration at the sight of Zeke dressed in a Murukian formal attire.
At that moment, someone entered Zeke's room.
"Are you ready?"
Hades, also dressed in Murukian formal wear, floated into Zeke's room.
He was startled to see Zeke's figure, which looked like a protagonist from a story.
"Oh, the Eastern style clothes suit you quite well."
Zeke spoke to Hades who had come to his side.
"By the way, I have something to give you, Lord Hades."
"Hmm? What is it?"
Before answering, Zeke took out 'Hyperion's Book' from his inventory, which he had received from Hyperion, who was the Lord of the Silver clan, and handed it over.
"I met Lord Hyperion's spirit. When I told him about your story, he was delighted and asked me to tell you that all the time spent together was enjoyable."
Hades seemed completely unprepared for anything related to Hyperion and couldn't continue speaking.
"Lord Hyperion..."
Hades accepted Hyperion's book from Zeke with slightly trembling hands.
He slowly examined Hyperion's final legacy.
Then he closed his eyes firmly and nodded.
"As expected, Lord Hyperion was remarkable. With this, there should be more progress in reinforcement suit research."
Hades was conducting research on mass-producing Dragon Slayer exclusive equipment as reinforcement suits.
If the research succeeded, it seemed it could be useful in the war against the Demon King's army.
Just then.
"Lady Yelin Ishtar has arrived."
Soon the door opened and Yelin slowly entered.
Wearing thin silk on her head and elegant clothing made of silk with delicate embroidery, Yelin looked like a goddess of beauty.
As Yelin approached Zeke, she made a slightly embarrassed expression.
"Is... is this alright? They said it was a traditional High Elf dress, so I tried it on..."
"You look truly beautiful, Lady Yelin."
It was Zeke's sincere words without a trace of lie.
Yelin blushed at his words.
Zeke extended his hand toward Yelin in Central Continent etiquette.
Following his escort, Yelin lightly placed her hand on his arm.
Thus, Zeke, Yelin, and Hades all headed together to the banquet hall hosted by the Sultan.
Following the attendant, Zeke's group arriving at the banquet location in the inner castle couldn't help but be overwhelmed by its enormous scale.
A massive banquet hall that could easily fit thousands of people.
It was filled with hundreds of dancers, large orchestras, and delicacies made from ingredients from various regions of the Eastern Continent.
As the three entered with surprised faces, the nobles invited by the Sultan and the palace officials saw Zeke's group and cheered with smiles.
"The Divine Beast Guide!"
"Welcome! To the Muruk Empire!"
Many people made way for Zeke's group to pass through.
At the same time, they took off their hats and bowed their heads to show respect to Zeke.
Zeke walked straight ahead following the path they made.
And he discovered something at the end of it.
Another space created inside the banquet hall.
On a high platform, elaborate curtains were hung, and beneath them, warriors with solid builds stood with sharp eyes gleaming.
Beautiful attendants were fanning inside the curtains.
Zeke could tell who was inside the curtains without seeing them.
'The Sultan of the Muruk Empire.'
The ruler of the Eastern Continent and the master of the Muruk Empire was here.