Chapter 136: Festival
Chapter 136: Festival
The festival began with a brief speech from Erdia, the Lady of the castle.
"Today’s festival marks the end of a long winter and the arrival of a new spring. It is a celebration held together with all those of the New Religion who have joined us. I pray that this will be a happy year for everyone, and I offer my deepest gratitude to the many distinguished guests who have graced us with their presence."
After her short but impactful speech, Erdia descended from the podium amidst a round of applause. The heavyweights of the Royalist Faction sat in their seats, watching her.
"We are truly fortunate to have Lady Erdia with us."
"Indeed. I was quite worried when the former Lord passed away, but it seems my fears were groundless."
"I wonder which sect those people from the New Religion belong to?"
"Their attire is quite revealing. It’s unsightly. But well, there doesn't seem to be any trouble, so..."
Leaving the seat of honor at the very top vacant, they conversed among themselves on various topics.
In the current state of near-civil war, they had wondered what was going on when Erdia first proposed the festival. However, they now felt it was a highly effective move in terms of providing a much-needed breathing room.
Above all, gaining the New Religion as a reliable backer held great significance.
"Everyone, thank you for coming all this way. Thanks to you, we were able to hold a festival far grander than I deserve."
"Lady Erdia, your speech was wonderful. It’s only natural that we should come. After all, are you not the one who achieved a great feat!"
"Indeed. How on earth did you manage to secure the support of that Elf Archmage? It truly was remarkable."
The New Religion was a force whose power grew as one moved toward the center of the continent, so it did not possess the same influence in the United Kingdom located in the north.
However, there was one place where the New Religion flourished greatly: the branch led by an Elf Bishop in Lakeside.
The Elf Archmage, famous for living in seclusion within the city and avoiding external activities, had sent an official letter declaring her support. This event had effectively redefined the balance of power within Anzence.
"I simply happened to have a connection through an acquaintance. I was lucky."
"They say luck is a skill in itself, do they not? Haha."
"Lady Erdia is so humble. I wish the people of the Noble Faction would take a page out of her book."
The conversation gradually shifted from Erdia and the festival to the detestable Noble Faction, who had dared to betray His Highness and turn their backs on him.
They burned with envy as they discussed the mining rights the nobles had seized and the profits from the gateway cities connecting the borders. The conversation eventually turned to the House of Myers, which had become remarkably quiet lately.
They likely had no idea. They didn't know that Walter Myers was being 'managed' every other day by the New Religion's branch leader, who stood right next to the podium, nor that his daughter, Hilda Myers, had become a Lust Demon.
These people—composed of high-ranking officials, lords from near the capital, and wealthy merchants who had bet on the King—only used loyalty as a pretext. In truth, they were no different from the Noble Faction they criticized.
If anything, their failure to suppress the Noble Faction despite having the mandate of legitimacy was largely due to their own incompetence, coupled with the eunuch who refused to step down from his regency.
If one were to trace the root cause, it would be the fault of the former King, who had empowered the eunuch while indulging in his male concubines before dying of illness.
Erdia sighed inwardly as she watched them busy blaming the Noble Faction without ever reflecting on such wrongs.
Was there anything that gnawed away at a country more than continuing a meaningless conflict? Such disputes would do nothing to help the lives of the people.
While Erdia worried about the future of this country, she also felt a growing conviction that the nation falling into Jaejin’s hands would be a good thing for the common folk.
"Ah, have you heard? The Hero’s party that was staying in Idie has gone missing!"
"I just heard the news yesterday as well. I heard they went to wipe out the nearby demons... I hope it’s not news that they’ve been defeated..."
"That’s unlikely. The demons are even more divided than our own country. The powerful ones are likely living in hiding. There must be some circumstance we aren't aware of."
Was this how it felt to watch tiny ants playing on the palm of one's hand? Erdia had to suppress a laugh as she watched them pivot the conversation with groundless speculations.
She was curious to see their expressions when they found out the current state of the Hero they trusted so much, but she decided to postpone that amusement for a moment.
Enjoying the banquet with the guests on the terrace, Erdia looked down at the members of the Demon God Cult who were searching for partners among the crowd. With the influx of outsiders, the number of people intoxicated by the festival atmosphere had increased significantly.
This was because tourists had flocked to the city after she released castle funds to temporarily lower prices during the festival period. Thanks to that, the cultists, who needed to find partners before Walpurgisnacht, were each able to pick a target to their liking.
"His Highness arrives!"
As she was admiring the street scenery, a knight who had come up from below announced the arrival of the King, the main event of this festival.
The bustling terrace was instantly enveloped in silence, and all eyes focused on the three figures who appeared.
The first to step forward was a long-haired man wearing makeup to look pretty. Though tall, he had a delicate frame—this was the eunuch Bagoas. He was the primary reason the Royalist Faction couldn't exert their power despite holding the mandate of legitimacy.
Following behind him was Lugins VI. His real name was Epen Lugins. He was a few years younger than Jaejin, and as expected of his age, he was larger in stature than Jaejin.
However, the way he fidgeted while clutching the eunuch’s sleeve gave off no impression of being the King of a nation.
Nevertheless, Erdia maintained her composure, as she couldn't show a face that ignored the head of the Royalist Faction and the King of the country. Then, a middle-aged man entered behind them.
Tall with sturdy muscles, he exuded the powerful aura of a master martial artist that leaked out despite his neat clothing. His presence alone had the power to overwhelm the crowd.
Unlike the two who headed for the center of the terrace, he gave a slight bow and moved toward an inconspicuous corner. He was Amir Werner, the Captain of the Anzence Royal Guard.
As Amir failed to hide his discomfort, Bagoas, who had entered before him, spoke up to mock him.
"It seems the Captain of the Guard doesn't find this place to his liking. Right, Your Highness?"
"I-is that so, Captain Amir? Perhaps I shouldn't have come to a place like this..."
"No, Your Majesty. I merely frowned because I saw an unsightly insect."
In contrast to King Epen, who finally felt at ease and relaxed at the Captain's words, Bagoas’s expression distorted for a moment. He then returned to his unpleasant smirk and redirected his arrow.
"This certainly seems like a place where many insects would appear. To host Your Majesty in such a humble place... I wonder since when our Anzence became such a harsh and impolite country."
"I recall we agreed to reduce extravagance today and focus on the essence of the festival rather than highlighting the royalty and nobility?"
When Bagoas openly sneered at Erdia for setting up the venue on the terrace instead of the hall, she suppressed her emotions and gave a principled response. As a eunuch, he was known for lashing out at anyone recklessly like this.
He was able to do so because the King protected him like a child wrapped in a mother's skirt, and the kingdom's strongest military force was always on standby by the King's side.
Even now, while Amir was the only one out in the open, there would be others hiding and watching for any signs, as well as those surrounding and monitoring the castle. If it weren't for that, the young King would have been dethroned long ago.
And because he knew that much, that cunning, self-centered eunuch had been able to remain at the center of power until now through his existing connections and sheer political maneuvering.
Once the brief battle of nerves ended and the tension on the terrace subsided, people stepped forward one by one to greet His Highness.
Though King Epen didn't seem to enjoy it, he reluctantly accepted the greetings of the people one by one at Bagoas’s request.
"By the way, Lady Erdia, there is something I wish to ask."
"Yes, please speak, Captain Amir."
And finally, immediately after Erdia’s turn was over, the moment of fate arrived. It was impossible for the supreme commander protecting a nation not to notice the anomalies occurring in Capia Castle.
"I inspected various places on my way here. Florence, who arrived first, sent word saying, 'There are ominous traces, but their true nature is difficult to grasp.' Having come here and checked for myself, I see her words were true."
King Epen was receiving greetings from other nobles, and only Bagoas was listening in on their conversation with his ears perked up.
"It is true that a group suspected to be Lust Demons is operating in the red-light district within the castle. However, those with connections to them include not only the Noble Faction but also some of the people gathered here, making it difficult to intervene."
"The red-light district... It’s similar to what I felt, yet different. The energy I sense is certainly that of demons—likely Lust Demons—but this isn't an energy that could come simply from a brothel."
As the Captain of the Royal Guard, he had felt this sensation somewhere before. It was three years ago when the Human-Demon War reached its peak, and one year ago when the Demon Lord died.
Why was the ominous aura of a battlefield filled with death wafting through this place? And in the very heart of the castle where all sorts of crowds were gathered?
Amir glared at Erdia. Such an anomaly could never occur naturally. With many knights and mages stationed for the castle's defense, they might miss one or two slipping in, but there was no way such an aura would be left neglected.
If someone from the inside had helped, the person who organized the festival at such a somewhat random time would be the culprit.
"Have you betrayed His Highness and us? No, let me rephrase that. Have you, as a human, sold out your own kind?"
By the time he realized this aura was dense Magi, it was already too late. Since they had already reached the center of the city under the cover of the festival's commotion, Amir intended to walk straight into the tiger's den.
And he gained confirmation from the opponent's lukewarm reaction. He didn't want to believe it, but the very person who had arranged this festival was the culprit trying to harm His Highness.
"Betrayal... It’s a bit disappointing to hear you say that. From the beginning until now, I have only wished for the people of Anzence to live well."
"How shameless for someone who sold out her country...!"
Amir immediately unleashed his Fighting Spirit. All eyes were drawn to his overwhelming presence, and soon, the hidden members of the Royal Guard revealed themselves.
He knew from reports that each of them was a powerhouse like Hilda, but it was too much for Erdia’s delicate body to withstand the intense hostility they radiated.
"I don't know how well you planned this, but your thinking was naive. Those gathered here are the elite of the elite. Even if a demon elder were to come, we have the strength to repel them...!"
Even in a crisis where the plan was exposed before it could properly begin and she was surrounded by elite knights, Erdia smiled.
She smiled because everything was proceeding exactly according to the planned operation, and because they were acting so arrogant, not knowing who was actually surrounding whom.
"Ooh, so you're saying you fight that well? That’s great. I was getting bored waiting anyway♡"
Amir, who had raised his sword, looked toward the source of the voice. A purple figure looking down at the terrace from the top of the building leaped down as light as a feather.
The figure, who descended as if flying, stomped on the ground with explosive force just before landing. The entire building shook violently from the impact.
"Aaaah...!"
"H-help me!!"
"Silence. As long as I am here, there is no problem!"
Amir, who suppressed the panicked crowd with his characteristic charisma, slightly regretted coming here with such a light heart. He thought he should have waited for the capital's knights to arrive.
Brushing herself off amidst the thick smoke was a demon with purple skin—the former Demon Lord candidate, Veled.
"No problem? Haha, how amusing. Then show me what you've got, Mr. Knight of Anzence. Come at me!!"
She declared war, emitting an aura that completely overwhelmed Amir’s Fighting Spirit.