Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Invitation to the Continental Summit
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The young man from Northplum, freshly arrived in the capital, could barely contain his pounding heart.
It had been a full fortnight since he'd left home, dreaming of becoming a palace scholar. At last, he'd made it to the capital.
"Wow..."
True to its reputation as the North's grandest city, Snowgarden was enormous in scale.
Of course, no one could overlook the stunning beauty that Northerners prized so highly.
A single flower blooming amid the snowfields.
The nickname fit it perfectly.
"Next!"
Even today, a long line of people and wagons waited at the capital's gates to enter.
And the young man in line underwent the standard inspection, just like everyone else.
"From Northplum?"
"Y-yes! That's right."
Perched at the kingdom's northernmost edge, Northplum was the North's top producer of timber and a hub for fine leather goods—a true forest city.
But it was even more famous as the site where the kingdom had first taken shape. To this day, the Knight King, who never forgot the village chief's devotion, sent a New Year's address every year.
It was a city favored by the king himself.
The guard stamped his clearance without hesitation and offered kind words of welcome.
"Welcome to the capital."
"Thank you!"
There was no prouder moment than this—thinking of his parents, who had fought for the Knight King.
With a beaming smile of pride, the young man passed through the massive gates into Snowgarden.
Come on over, cheap deals!
Check out the goods before you go!
Gyahahaha! Catch me if you can!
Mom! Mom, look at this!
Four years had passed since the Battle of the Plains, the final clash that ended the Dark Age.
And those four years of peace had ushered in prosperity across every sector.
Bumper crops, infrastructure booms, the spread of herbal medicine, plummeting infant mortality, explosive population growth, a revitalized economy from eastern trade.
So many changes had swept the North—it would take days to list them all.
Yet the wise king and his prime minister had guided the kingdom through it all with masterful development.
What would his parents, tilling the fields back home, say if they saw this?
Snowgarden had long shed its history of exploitation and oppression.
"H-hey! Hold on!"
Clop, clop, clop!
Neigh, neigh!
Distracted by the sights of the capital, he'd lost track of time.
Startled, the young man hurriedly hopped aboard a public carriage crossing the street.
It was headed for the Royal Grand Library. Today, it hosted a crucial exam to select officials who would serve the kingdom.
And this youth, who had trekked all the way from distant Northplum, was one of many talented applicants aspiring to become a fine kingdom official.
Wasn't it said that dreaming big was no crime?
Though born a humble commoner, he wanted a life as noble as his ambitions.
Thus, the young man with grand dreams in his heart leaned out from the carriage.
Snowflakes seemed to drift past, painting the majestic palace in pristine white.
Clang!
I twist the grip in reverse grip to hastily block the blade hurtling toward me at blinding speed.
But Snow-Covered doesn't stop there. She flows into a sword dance swift as the wind.
Ching! Clang!
Her strikes are lightning-fast yet carry crushing weight.
The endless variations built on flawless fundamentals are utterly disorienting.
Snow-Covered wields every technique and trick I've taught her with expert ease.
Even I, who spars with her every time, now have to stay constantly on edge—her skills have grown that much.
"- - - - - -!!"
Her eyes flash in that instant.
Sensing the shift, I read her next move through the flurry of changing stances and motions.
This is a feint, this one's invisible.
I sift the true attack from the sea of decoys.
Whoosh! Clang!
At the same moment, a blade aims for my throat.
Having anticipated her sword path, I barely dodge and counter with a heavy slash to her blade.
Clang!
Snow-Covered's grip slips.
Her sword spins through the air, completing two full turns before clattering onto the empty training ground.
"Ah..."
Crash!
A soft sigh marked the end of the spar.
But victory aside, my right sleeve was deeply slashed before I knew it.
I hadn't even noticed when.
Snow-Covered, who'd grown so much, had finally landed a move I couldn't read.
A bit deeper, and she might have gone for my arm—or even my neck.
Her growth defied imagination; I couldn't even guess her limits.
"B-blood! You're bleeding!"
Snow-Covered rushed over, face crumpled in worry.
She fussed dramatically, dabbing at the blood trickling from my sleeve with her handkerchief.
She clearly hadn't expected to actually cut me.
In the end, I gently stroked the head of the teary-eyed girl.
"It's fine."
The child who'd always seemed so young had blossomed into a lady, now nearly my height.
Her beauty was breathtaking—even compared to elves, without flaw.
And it wasn't just looks, of course.
Over four years of diligent study in scholarship, administration, arts, history, swordsmanship, aura, and more, Snow-Covered had become a perfect ruler, excelling in intellect, virtue, and physique.
Small wonder whispers among the people claimed she would surpass the previous king.
I pitied her hard work over these four years, yet felt deep pride too.
"Let's go."
The careful bandaging finished.
Glancing at the handkerchief tied around my arm, I stepped out of the training ground with the sullen Snow-Covered.
"An urgent council meeting?"
"The Gray Wolf returned early this morning. Probably related."
The state council was scheduled for tomorrow.
But the prime minister's rushed request for audience meant something was up.
Snow-Covered and I hurried down the corridors faster than usual, heading for the palace audience chamber where everyone awaited.
We rarely gathered like this, each buried in our duties.
So the council was our one chance to see familiar faces.
"- - - - - - -."
But today's council, usually warm and lively, felt as cold as if doused in ice water.
All because of two pieces of news from the Gray Wolf, guardian of the White Gate.
"The Second Prince's head rolled."
After his defeat at the Plains Battle, the already beleaguered Second Prince had been cornered.
To add insult, the First Prince exploited the gap and breached his lines.
Yet with his stockpile of talent and prowess, he'd held out another four years in dire straits.
A boon for us, naturally.
Ironically, the weakened Second Prince had served as a bulwark against other foes.
Knowing this would happen, we should've smuggled him some spare supplies and grain.
We mourned his death in our own way, praying he'd drag his enemies to hell.
The real issue: after years of civil war, the First Prince had finally devoured the Second's faction.
Maps would redraw. Our border now faced the First Prince, not the Second.
"Their next target is us."
"...Probably."
Invasion loomed likely.
Not welcome news for the North, which had enjoyed four years of peace.
"Let them come if they dare."
But Knight King Snow-Covered showed no worry—only fighting spirit.
The North and East were no longer the weaklings cowering before orcs.
"Prime Minister?"
"Quite sufficient, Your Majesty."
In four years of domestic focus, the Northern Kingdom had advanced brilliantly across fields.
Military spending drew criticism for excess, but quality upgrades were the goal.
No unskilled Northern soldier existed.
Commanders and officers were all top talent, supplies and arms stockpiled to rot.
The East was no pushover either.
Richard had ordered a gate to seal Wailing Gorge from day one of his reign; it had stood a full year now, reinforced.
Could the First Prince truly conquer two gates just hours away?
Like his arrogant father, he'd have to stake the Orc Empire's fate.
"That's not all."
But there was more news.
The Gray Wolf, face stiff, drew a golden letter from his robes.
"The First Prince sent diplomats to the gates. Same for the East."
Not heralds of war, but actual diplomatic envoys bearing letters.
The prime minister hurriedly delivered the First Prince's golden missive to the king on her throne.
Snow-Covered read it through, then spoke in disbelief.
"A continental council for peace?"
"Insane ravings."
Who ruined the continent, yet dares speak of peace so shamelessly?
The group openly scowled, cursing the First Prince's odd-numbered parentage.
"But the contents are a bit unusual."
"...Your Majesty, may I read it too?"
"Of course."
Yet the terms were odd.
The prime minister—Memorizing Bird—took the letter politely and scanned it quickly.
"All kings must attend. The Elf Queen and Third Prince have already stamped theirs..."
"Forgery possible?"
"Hard to believe, but genuine. He brought two sets of matching seals."
While the North enjoyed peace, the western continent roiled with wars between the Elf Kingdom and the Third Prince.
The Third Prince, mad with ear obsession, had even touched the elves' ultimate reverse scale: noble elves.
Yet those two agreed to join?
It was bizarre enough to suspect forged seals.
Too many angles to consider.
After a long silence, Snow-Covered spoke amid our pondering.
"We should refuse for now. Tell King Richard the same."
The obvious call. What faith could we have to discuss continental peace with them?
Snow-Covered rose from her throne, flatly rejecting.
"War will come soon. I miss our four years of peace, but I'm ready to fight for my people anytime."
"Your command, Your Majesty!"
"Gray Wolf, maintain utmost alert from today. Prime Minister, assess the situation with my mentor."
Wise judgment, swift action.
The heroes and I bowed gladly, receiving the Knight King's stern orders.
The decision spread beyond the gates to the Eastern Kingdom; Richard sent firm support and enacted near-wartime status.
But exactly fifteen days later, a delegation arrived at the White Gate with vast treasures.
The First Prince's envoys bore a revised proposal.
'The Northern Kingdom alone decides the summit site and escort size.'
'All kingdoms sign a one-year non-aggression pact with North and East, regardless of resolutions.'
'We earnestly hope the Knight King and Eastern King choose peace.'
Everything rewritten.
The Gray Wolf dismissed them and raced back to the capital. The prime minister and I dropped our intel gathering and headed to the palace.