Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Chapter 32: Tripartite Alliance (2)
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"Who would've thought I'd end up crossing the Black Mountains..."
The high-ranking diplomat in charge of the envoy, Pultson Baronet, muttered to himself as he gazed at the entrance to the Black Mountains looming before him. Though he was an elite assassin affiliated with the Dark Nobility Council from the Edriger Kingdom, the thought of traversing the Black Mountains filled him with worry.
"There won't be any issues, Your Excellency the Baronet."
A subordinate diplomat from the Allied Foreign Affairs Ministry spoke with a smile playing on his lips.
Tomorrow, they would enter the infamous Black Mountains, yet this subordinate seemed far more relaxed than expected.
"No need to worry, Your Excellency. The Hashashin and the Free Isiria Royal Army are escorting the envoy, aren't they?"
When the envoy was formed, the Free Isiria Kingdom had provided five hundred royal troops for protection, while the Edriger Kingdom had assembled an escort of numerous Hashashin and sent them to the Allied Foreign Affairs Ministry.
With the Hashashin as guides and the royal army handling the main protection, they had the strength to cross the Black Mountains by force.
Of course, attempting a forced crossing—even without intervention from the Philius Empire's forces—would still result in significant casualties from the monsters.
"It's not the monsters I'm afraid of. It's the hardship we'll endure while crossing them that's got me concerned."
Pultson Baronet voiced his honest feelings. The monsters of the Black Mountains knew no day or night. Even with a sturdy escort, constant attacks day and night were inevitable. The path of suffering already seemed clearly laid out before him.
"No need to worry about that either, Your Excellency."
But the subordinate diplomat smiled confidently, as if he had some ace up his sleeve.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes. I can assure you—no Philius Empire forces or monsters will stand in the envoy's way through the Black Mountains."
The subordinate diplomat's words proved true.
The next day, despite entering the Black Mountains with their escorts, the envoy encountered not a single monster horde all the way to the Philius Empire's border.
"How is this even possible..."
Just one day before reaching the Philius border after exiting the Black Mountains.
Pultson Baronet, the high-ranking diplomat responsible for the envoy, felt not relief at their safe passage, but suspicion.
The Black Mountains were the monsters' domain, even with forces from the Philius Empire and the Tripartite Alliance stationed there.
Across this vast range lived unimaginably powerful beings, and the number of active monster tribes and packs was beyond counting.
"We crossed the Black Mountains just like that?"
At the time of entry, the staff had predicted over a hundred casualties, factoring in the Free Isiria Kingdom's boasted royal army and the additional Hashashin from Edriger. Yet they had traversed without a single engagement.
"What in the world is going on?!"
"No need to be so surprised, Your Excellency Pultson."
"Do you know something?"
Pultson Baronet's eyes gleamed as he questioned the subordinate diplomat, who smirked as if privy to a secret.
"I don't know the details, but it seems His Majesty the King secretly mobilized some people."
Neither Pultson Baronet nor the subordinate knew it, but among those secretly mobilized was Elpis.
She was a user of forbidden magic that controlled monsters, and her mastery had been growing lately. Clearing a path for the envoy through the Black Mountains was no challenge for her.
The Apocalypse Society had anticipated that once her skill reached a certain level, she could even open paths for large armies.
"Hmm, mind if I ask who they are?"
"I'm sorry, Your Excellency. I don't know the exact details, so you won't get the answer you're looking for from me."
"Very well, then."
Pultson Baronet nodded with a regretful expression but dismissed his doubts and curiosity about the matter.
He knew well that excessive curiosity was unwise for survival in this brutal world.
"The Philius Empire will soon send an escort unit. I wonder who it'll be."
The subordinate diplomat broke the brief silence. Pultson Baronet nodded and replied.
"It'll probably be the Northern Central Army, no?"
As a high-ranking diplomat in the Tripartite Alliance's Allied Foreign Affairs Ministry, Pultson constantly monitored foreign affairs, especially those of the Philius Empire.
He was confident he knew a fair bit about the empire's situation.
He even had some knowledge of their military structure. Though the Tripartite Alliance and Philius Empire were practically at war, sending their strongest forces to escort the envoy could be a show of power—but Pultson thought otherwise.
'They don't have the capacity for that.'
The Philius Empire's elites were limited to the Imperial Army and Knight Orders, but the Imperial Army wasn't suited for envoy escort, and the Knight Orders hadn't even joined the civil war against the Mountain Duke.
Pultson was firmly convinced no Knight Order banners would appear in this escort.
"Philius Empire flags are in sight!"
The scout's voice rang out. Pultson Baronet and the diplomats naturally turned their gazes forward.
"Those are Philius Empire flags."
"I see Knight Order banners too."
"Wait, Knight Orders?"
Pultson Baronet's eyes widened at the conversation behind him as he scrutinized the Philius flags.
Sure enough, Knight Order banners began appearing one by one, just as the subordinates said.
"Knight Orders for real?"
Pultson Baronet's pupils trembled.
'Has the current Emperor already seized control of the Knight Orders?'
Recent reports stated the Philius military was fractured, and unifying them under the Emperor would take considerable time. Yet here, Knight Order banners fluttered in the wind before his eyes.
'Maybe just a portion of them?'
With even spy reports from within the Philius Empire proving inaccurate, nothing was certain—but one thing was clear.
'The current Emperor is no pushover.'
A spear of lightning infused with blue mana hurtled forward with the momentum to pierce all in its path. It was unmistakably advanced magic at a glance.
Raymond poured energy into the Soul Sword. As the white mana blade sharpened further, he swung it.
The lightning spear split in two.
"Already an advanced mage? You've grown a lot, Desia."
He shifted his gaze forward with a grin. Though the residual hostile mana clinging to his limbs caused enough pain to furrow his brow after cleaving the advanced spell, his smile remained.
"Isn't Your Majesty the Emperor destroying my advanced magic a bit too easily?"
As the mana mist faded, Desia emerged—her blonde hair and striking blue eyes captivating.
"To be honest, I thought this time I'd finally surpass Your Majesty."
"Desia, you're doing plenty well. No need to rush."
Raymond gently admonished her in a calm voice, noting her somewhat impatient demeanor. This mage before him had reached the lofty heights of advanced mage in under three years of study.
Even with the suitable grimoires and training methods Raymond provided, and arranging for the Azure Tower Lord to impart the tower's secrets, none of it would have mattered without Desia's own talent.
There was a madman nearby who had absorbed every opportunity, learned magic in less than a year, and reached advanced magic swordsman—but Desia apparently felt inadequate by comparison.
Unlike Raymond, she didn't know the novel's plot, and having a monstrously talented person beside her made her feel diminished.
"Your Majesty the Emperor..."
Desia's eyes reddened at the warmth in the young Emperor's voice.
Raymond, Emperor of the Philius Empire, was a cold-blooded killer on the battlefield but often showed a gentle side to his subordinates.
Desia, in particular, felt inferior to Raymond's superior talent yet relied on him for his endless advice and comfort—a peculiar dynamic.
"Are you getting used to advanced magic now?"
"Yes, thanks to Your Majesty."
Desia replied with a bright smile. Since arriving in the capital, they sparred whenever time allowed, honing their combat prowess and familiarizing themselves with high-level techniques.
It was only natural to grow accustomed through repeated practice, even without the world's lore. Sparring, though not true combat, greatly aided proficiency with repetition.
"Shall we start the fourth round, then?"
As Raymond raised the Soul Sword, Desia grinned and drew up her mana. They had been sparring almost nonstop for three hours.
The intensity neared real battle, leaving the watching Royal Guards in awe.
In the brief tension, they focused on each other. Just before clash in this hair-trigger moment, a Royal Guard in a golden cloak rushed into the training grounds, accompanied by the Minister of the Interior.
"Your Majesty the Emperor! Urgent news!"
The intrusion broke the tension. Raymond sheathed the Soul Sword and spoke.
"Looks like we should take a break."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After three straight hours of sparring, Desia showed no regret at the sudden halt—perhaps relieved inwardly to end the grueling session.
She enjoyed sparring with Raymond, but enduring high-intensity bouts nonstop was another matter.
"Report at once."
Wiping sweat with a towel Alex the chamberlain had brought, Raymond instructed. The Royal Guard lifted his head.
"The envoy from the Tripartite Alliance's Allied Foreign Affairs Ministry has just arrived at the capital!"
It was about time.
"Where is the envoy now?"
"They've just passed the outer city's gates."
"Then we can continue sparring."
As he casually turned to leave, the Minister of the Interior stepped forward.
"Your Majesty! The envoy has passed the outer gates! It's time to go greet them!"
"Is that necessary?"
A chilling gaze fell on the minister.
"The Emperor of the Philius Empire bows to no one—least of all an enemy nation's envoy!"
"However, Your Majesty..."
"Still, we must show the envoy proper courtesy. Marquis Tempest!"
"Yes! Your Majesty!"
Marquis Tempest, waiting beside Marquis Blizzard, approached with firm steps.
"I'll leave the envoy's guidance to you. Escort them to the guest quarters prepared by the Interior Ministry."
"I shall obey your command!"
Marquis Tempest headed straight for the audience chamber. The Tripartite Alliance envoy arriving in the capital was no different.
"The Philius Emperor is quite young, isn't he?"
"Yes. Apparently in his early twenties."
The subordinate diplomat answered Pultson Baronet's question. As they conversed, they arrived at the imperial palace amid bustling steps.
"Will the Emperor be waiting in the audience chamber?"
"He might come out to greet us. We come bearing the Tripartite Alliance's name, after all."
"Even the Philius Emperor can't ignore the Tripartite Alliance."
But contrary to the diplomats' expectations, no Emperor awaited in the audience chamber. Only a single Royal Guard in a golden mask and uniform stood in the empty hall.
"Welcome, envoys of the Tripartite Alliance!"
The diplomats were taken aback. Given the weight of the Tripartite Alliance's name, they had assumed the Emperor would be there.
In the end, Pultson Baronet stepped forward.
"Where is the Emperor?"
Anger omitted honorifics—a mistake. Through the mask's slit, Marquis Tempest's eyes gleamed coldly.
"Address His Majesty the Emperor properly!"
"Hngh!"
"Urk!"
As Marquis Tempest unleashed sharp pressure, the diplomats groaned in pain.
"That's enough. This is no way to treat an envoy."
Rakis Baronet, from the Dark Nobility Council and responsible for the envoy's protection, spread his aura to block Marquis Tempest's pressure.
"Don't forget—this is the capital of the Philius Empire."
Marquis Tempest replied coldly.