Chapter 25

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 25

Chapter Title: Frenzy in the North

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Same time.

The North.

Valentine territory.

It was snowing. As always. The northern sky was forever ashen, and the wind forever sharp as a blade.

The training grounds.

"............"

They were completely empty.

No knights.

No clash of swords.

No shouts.

Only the training dummies staked into the ground swayed in the wind.

Creeeak—

Creeeak—

Normally, this was a place where blood flew from dawn until dusk.

The Northern Iron-Blood Knights.

The empire's most stoic, sternest, and most fearsome bunch.

Men who had forgotten how to smile.

Men who buried their emotions beneath ice.

That was the Northern Knights.

But right now.

"............"

Behind a storage shed in the corner of the training grounds.

A narrow space shielded from the wind.

Fifteen knights were huddled together.

Still clad in their armor.

Still with swords at their sides.

Peering into a crystal orb.

Hardly breathing.

Eyes sparkling.

"Hey."

One knight whispered.

"Shh."

Another pressed a finger to his lips.

"They say the Young Master took an elixir."

"What?!"

"Quiet down, you idiot! They'll hear us!"

"Millennium Spirit Herb Essence. The 300-gold-coin kind."

"............"

The knights' eyes widened.

"300 gold coins?"

"Gold coins?"

"Yeah. 300 gold coins."

"Insane..."

One knight scratched his head.

"How many years of our pay is that?"

"Don't calculate it. You'll just get depressed."

"But who sent it?"

"Goldwin Merchant Guild."

"............"

Silence fell.

Only the wind howled.

Whiiish.

"Goldwin..."

"Isn't that the southern trading company?"

"Yeah. That massive one."

"............"

One knight's eyes narrowed.

"Another southern bitch throwing herself at the Young Master?!"

"Keep your voice down!!"

"No, but!! Our Young Master!!"

"I know!! I'm pissed too!!"

"A southern wench dares!!"

"Calm down! Just calm down first!!"

Same time.

Magic Tower communication control room.

It was a vast room. High ceilings, walls lined with dozens of crystal orbs.

Each orb displayed numbers.

Logged-in users.

Traffic status.

Regional distribution.

Staff bustled about.

Normally, it was a quiet place.

But not today.

"Producer!!"

One staffer came running.

Panting hard.

Face pale as a ghost.

"What is it!"

The Producer shot up from his chair.

A middle-aged man. Bushy beard, deep dark circles under his eyes. A 20-year veteran of the industry.

"Northern logins..."

The staffer stammered.

"Have exceeded 80% of total!!"

"What?!"

The Producer checked the crystal orb dashboard.

Numbers skyrocketing like mad.

100k.

120k.

150k.

180k.

200k.

"This is insane..."

The Producer muttered.

His hands trembled.

"Is this even possible?"

"The communication magic arrays can't handle it!"

Another staffer yelled.

"Crystal orbs are overheating!"

It was true.

The wall-mounted orbs were glowing red-hot.

Hot to the touch.

"Relay Tower 3 overload!!"

"Relay Tower 5 warning alarm!!"

"No response from Relay Tower 7!!"

"Damn it!!"

The control room was chaos.

Staff running everywhere.

Sweat pouring.

Shouts nonstop.

"Cycle the magic array coolant!!"

"Can't!! It's already maxed out!!"

"Then activate the auxiliary arrays!!"

"Those are at limit too!!"

The Producer looked at the crystal orb.

Kasian was on screen.

Drinking the elixir.

Golden light rippling.

Face in close-up.

Silver hair.

Languid eyes.

Red vial to his lips.

"............"

The Producer's lips curved up.

Slowly.

"Perfect."

"Huh?"

The staffer froze.

"Now."

The Producer bellowed.

Loud enough for the whole room.

"Push the Kasian close-up!!"

"R-Right now?!"

The staffer freaked.

"The servers are gonna blow!"

"Push it before they do!!"

"............"

"Hurry!!"

The staffer hit the button with shaking hands.

The close-up went live.

Kasian's face filled the screen.

Silver hair fluttering. Golden aura enveloping. Eyes staring straight at the camera.

As if piercing right through the viewer.

"............"

The numbers exploded.

250k.

280k.

300k.

330k.

350k.

"Raaah!!"

The Producer cheered.

Arms thrown high.

"This isn't just any post!!"

"Producer?!"

Staff stared in confusion.

The Producer lifted his crystal orb.

Eyes gleaming wildly.

Madness in them.

His 20-year instincts screamed.

This.

Was a jackpot.

Magic Tower front courtyard.

The sun was setting. Dusk painting the sky.

But the front was rowdy.

"Kasian!!"

"Kasian!!"

"Kasian!!"

Chants echoed.

Loud enough to reach the tower spire.

Northern exchange students.

Northern mages studying at the tower.

Over a hundred gathered.

Crystal orbs in hand, watching the live feed, chanting his name.

"Young Master!!"

"Get well soon!!"

"Kasian Young Master!!"

One student wiped tears.

"Young Master... fought with a chair leg..."

"Pride of the North!!"

"Our Young Master!!"

The chants grew louder.

"Kasian!!"

"Kasian!!"

"Ka-si-an!!"

Even clapping in rhythm.

Tower researchers opened windows.

Looked down.

Covered their ears.

"What the hell..."

"Aren't those northerners?"

"Were they always this loud?"

"Aren't they supposed to be stoic..."

"Silent types..."

One researcher shook his head.

"Feels like we got scammed."

The chants continued.

Growing bigger.

More people gathering.

Not just northern students—spectators too.

"What's that?"

"Whose fan club?"

"Who's Kasian?"

"Northern Grand Duke's second son."

"Oh, the chair leg guy?"

"Yeah."

"............"

Spectators joined the chant.

Swept up in the vibe.

"Kasian!!"

The courtyard turning into a concert venue.

One researcher muttered while closing the window.

"It's a full-on idol concert out there..."

Control room.

Night deepening.

Stars visible outside.

The Producer leaned back in his chair.

Watching the crystal orb.

Numbers stabilizing.

400k.

Fluctuating around there.

"............"

One staffer approached.

Coffee in hand.

"Producer. Coffee."

"Thanks."

The Producer took it.

Sipped.

Bitter taste on his tongue.

"............"

"Producer."

"Yeah?"

"This one's... historic."

"I know."

The Producer nodded.

"But why did it blow up like this?"

The staffer tilted his head.

"Just the face?"

"............"

The Producer picked up the orb.

Kasian on screen.

Silver hair.

Golden aura.

Languid gaze.

"Not just the face."

"Huh?"

"Think about it."

The Producer set down his coffee.

Started counting on fingers.

"First."

Index finger up.

"'The wastrel second son of the Northern Grand Duke's family' storyline."

"Plays the playboy normally, but reveals his true worth in crisis. Classic reversal charm."

"Second."

Middle finger up.

"'Taking down a 4-meter beast with a chair leg' madness."

"Reckless, dangerous, insane. But cool as hell."

"Third."

Ring finger up.

"'Goldwin lady's 300-gold-coin elixir' love triangle drama."

"The guild's lady rushed overnight with a 300-gold elixir. Rumors say the Tower Lord's daughter brought it herself."

"Women lining up for him. And he's the Northern Grand Duke's second son."

The Producer smirked.

Folded his fingers.

"This is a 10-million-view scenario."

"............"

The staffer stood dazed.

The Producer stood.

Looked out the window.

Front courtyard.

Chants had died down, but.

A few students lingered.

Orbs in hand.

Watching live.

"............"

The Producer muttered.

"Survival's gonna be fun."

The staffer approached.

"Producer. In two days, right?"

"Yeah."

"All prepped?"

"............"

The Producer turned.

Smiling.

Eyes sparkling.

"Add three more cameras."

"Huh?"

"Kasian exclusive."

"............Got it."

The staffer left.

The Producer looked out again.

Stars shining.

"............"

Two days later.

Survival.

"This ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is gonna be good."

The Producer laughed.