Chapter 195
Chapter 195
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 195
Chapter Title: Request (2)
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The official name of the empire was the Helios Empire.
But the vast majority of people simply called it the Empire. And yet, not a single person ever got confused.
That was because the Helios Empire was the only empire that had been born since humanity began recording its history.
It was the first empire in human history and the one with the most vast territory.
If it so desired, it could easily unify all nations and make the continent one.
Even the immensely powerful Holy Order paled in comparison to the Empire in many ways.
‘Even Dorgo feared the Empire.’
The biggest reason Dorgo had hidden his existence for thousands of years was the Empire.
An Archlich called the teacher of all black mages, Dorgo was no more than a candle in the wind before the Empire.
“Why the Empire all of a sudden?”
At Demian’s question, Liam Bluegreen scratched his forehead and said,
“You must not have heard. The Helian Tournament is coming up soon.”
“Already?”
The Helian Tournament was a knightly competition held every four years by the Empire to honor its founding emperor.
Knights from not only the Empire but also other nations could participate in the Helian Tournament.
Even non-humans of other races could compete as much as they wanted.
That was why the Helian Tournament was seen as a grand event transcending nations and races.
“As you know… the Helian Tournament stakes a nation’s pride.”
Even if they didn’t win, how well a nation’s knights performed and how far they advanced determined the nation’s prestige.
That was why many nations staked their lives on the Helian Tournament.
“Our Apple Kingdom has never achieved good results in the Helian Tournament. That has been a great regret for all past kings.”
Liam Bluegreen wore a troubled expression.
In an era where knights symbolized national power, for a nation’s knights to fail to shine in such an important event as the Helian Tournament?
Though he hadn’t seen it himself, they must have been looked down on, subtly or not, by other nations.
“That’s why His Highness hopes you’ll participate in the Helian Tournament and bring glory to the Apple Kingdom.”
Demian fell into thought.
The distance from the Apple Kingdom to the Empire was quite far. It was inevitably a burdensome request.
Moreover, Demian had things he needed to do right now. He had to train his body as quickly as possible and reach the Master Class.
‘But… the champion of the Helian Tournament receives a title directly from the Emperor.’
Demian hadn’t obtained a title yet.
Connoisseurs called him by various nicknames, but because he had become famous too quickly, none had stuck.
The origin of a title—who bestowed it and how one became famous—was extremely important.
For the Emperor himself to grant a title at a continental event like the Helian Tournament?
As a knight himself, Demian couldn’t help but be intrigued.
‘Well, I can train on the way to the Empire.’
Having made up his mind, Demian said to Liam Bluegreen,
“I’ll participate.”
“Really? Haha! Thank you. Now I can face His Highness without shame!”
Liam Bluegreen was overjoyed and grabbed Demian’s hand.
“By any chance, are there others participating besides me?”
The Helian Tournament was divided into categories by knightly realm.
From squire to Low Class, Middle Class, High Class, and Master Class.
Naturally, a High Class knight couldn’t compete in other categories.
“Michael Ryanbloom has decided to participate in the Middle Class division.”
Demian nodded at Liam Bluegreen’s words.
With Michael Ryanbloom’s talent, he could certainly win the Middle Class division.
“Anyone else?”
“No one else has been decided. More precisely, there’s no one worthy of it.”
Saying that, Liam Bluegreen added with a regretful expression,
“There are many who want to participate… but sending out someone unqualified and suffering humiliation would be disastrous.”
“You’re right.”
It was then, as Demian agreed with Liam Bluegreen.
Suddenly, a shadow appeared on the parlor window. Soon after, someone shattered the window and burst in.
The intruder was a woman with red hair.
Her hair was disheveled as if she hadn’t washed it in a long time, her clothes were little more than rags, and a foul odor wafted from her body.
Demian and Liam Bluegreen looked at the woman with bewildered faces.
“Demian Haksen!”
The woman shouted at Demian.
“You moved, so you should’ve told me! I’ve been searching forever!”
The woman drew the twin swords from her waist. A chilling killing intent spread in all directions.
“I’ve come to kill you, as promised!”
Veronica Sanchez.
The woman once called the Soulreaver in his previous life smiled broadly as she shouted.
* * *
“…….”
Demian quietly stared at the broken window. Memories flashed of his mother, who had poured all her love into decorating the castle.
“Why are you spacing out!”
Oblivious to Demian’s thoughts, Veronica Sanchez shouted again. Enduring his throbbing headache, Demian said,
“You idiot… what are you going to do about that.”
“I’ll pay for it!”
Veronica Sanchez opened the leather pouch slung over her back. It was filled with jewels and gold coins.
“I got these on my travels! Take them all!”
Veronica Sanchez unhesitatingly tossed the leather pouch to Demian.
Demian caught it with a reluctant face. It was overly generous compensation for just a window.
“I paid, so we’re good? Now, let’s keep the promise?”
Veronica Sanchez gathered her mana. A blood-red aura enveloped her twin swords.
In that moment, the entire room filled with a chilling energy. It felt like a razor blade scraping across skin.
‘Her aura is sharply unpleasant.’
Not all auras had the same intensity. Their strength and sharpness varied by the knight’s skill and level.
In that sense, Veronica Sanchez’s aura had reached an extraordinary level.
Her realm was Middle Class, but in terms of aura sharpness alone, it rivaled High Class.
‘But there’s no stench of blood.’
When he first met Veronica Sanchez, her mana and aura reeked of blood.
But now, there was no such smell at all. It meant she hadn’t killed anyone, as per her promise to Demian.
‘I was right to spare her.’
Veronica Sanchez was a madwoman who had become a Master Class by reveling in murder in the future.
She wasn’t on the side of black mages, nor on the side of humans. She was simply a horrific villain.
That was why, when he met Veronica Sanchez, he had agonized over whether to kill her.
She was dangerous, so it would be best to eliminate her early.
But her talent was too precious to cut down. Moreover, at that time, she hadn’t yet harmed the innocent.
In the end, Demian decided to spare Veronica Sanchez and try to reform her.
The lack of blood stench in her aura showed his efforts hadn’t been in vain.
“Good. You’re coming with me.”
Her head was a bit off, but Veronica Sanchez was an exceptionally talented swordswoman.
She was only slightly inferior to Michael Ryanbloom, whom Demian acknowledged as a genius among geniuses.
Participating in the Helian Tournament would be a good experience for Veronica herself.
“Huh? Go where?”
“You’ve heard of the Helian Tournament?”
“Nope?”
Her brazen attitude left Demian speechless for a moment.
“The Helios Tournament is…”
Demian explained in detail to Veronica. Midway through, she scowled.
“Go to the Empire? No way! Why would I go there!”
As expected, Veronica Sanchez rejected Demian’s proposal.
“If you don’t want to, no choice.”
Since it was the anticipated reaction, Demian calmly moved to the next step. He opened his subspace and pulled out a hexagonal club.
The moment she saw the club, Veronica Sanchez flinched and backed away.
“You… why’d you bring that out.”
“Why? To ‘convince’ you, of course.”
“You! You’re gonna hit me again!”
“Hey now, hit? I said convince.”
“Shut up! How is that convincing!”
“I don’t care if you don’t understand now. I’ll ‘convince’ you until you do.”
Demian said, tapping the club against his palm.
“You think I’ll take it lying down again? Dream on! This time my blades will slice you!”
Veronica Sanchez swung her twin swords at Demian.
Killing intent-condensed auras attacked Demian from all directions.
But all the auras missed Demian.
“……Huh?”
Veronica Sanchez’s face went blank at the sight. Demian raised the club and said,
“First, the head.”
The club struck Veronica Sanchez’s crown.
“Next, the side, now the shin, then the shoulder.”
Demian swung the club relentlessly.
Veronica Sanchez resisted at first but soon was helplessly battered.
“Will you go? Or not?”
“……I’ll go.”
“Can’t hear you.”
“I said I’ll go!”
Only after getting confirmation did Demian store the club back in his subspace.
“I’m warning you ahead of time. If you run, I’ll really kill you.”
At Demian’s warning, Veronica Sanchez’s body trembled. It seemed she had indeed been thinking of fleeing.
“Sir Liam, we’ve recruited one more participant.”
“Y-Yeah… g-good job.”
Liam Bluegreen replied to Demian with a reluctant expression.