Chapter 318 (Patreon)

Suri, of course, still had countless suspicions regarding Kana’s answer from the previous night.

I’d like to know as well

That explanation felt far too small for something so terrifying. Suri understood Kana better than most people. Kana rarely lied directly, but she often buried truths beneath uncertainty until even she herself no longer knew where the line between truth and fear existed. The problem was, Suri could not decide which possibility disturbed her more.

That Kana truly did not know why she could understand the dungeon boss. Or that she knew and simply feared the answer.

Still, Suri didn’t ask again.

Not after what happened from them under the sea.

The next morning, the five of them headed toward the royal castle together as a preparation for their journey tomorrow towards the empire.

Even thinking about it made the air feel strangely heavy.

The capital itself was unusually lively as their wagon rolled through the main roads. Merchants shouted across crowded streets while servants carrying bundles of cloth and polished equipment hurried toward the royal district. Soldiers marched in organized groups through intersections, their armor flashing beneath the bright morning sunlight.

As they approached the royal castle, the atmosphere changed entirely. Servants moved quickly through the massive courtyards carrying buckets of water, stacks of folded uniforms, crates of supplies, and polished weapons wrapped carefully in cloth. Stable workers brushed armored horses while several beast tamers struggled to calm large magical beasts chained beside the outer walls.

The royal castle itself towered above everything. Sturdy ancient walls stretched endlessly upward while enormous banners danced beneath the wind high above the towers. Even after visiting several times already, Kana still felt the same strange pressure whenever she entered the castle grounds.

One of the servants assigned to guide them, led the group through the outer grounds before stopping near a massive training area.

The place was already full of activity.

Several knights were warming up near the edges of the field, swinging heavy swords repeatedly while sweat dripped from their faces despite the cool morning breeze. Others practiced spear forms in perfect rhythm, their weapons slicing through the air with sharp whistles.

Further away, pairs of knights engaged in light sparring matches. Wooden practice swords collided loudly while instructors barked corrections from the sidelines.

“Too slow!”

“Watch your footing!”

One knight lost his balance after blocking a strike incorrectly and immediately got knocked flat onto the dirt while nearby soldiers burst into laughter.

The atmosphere strangely felt alive.

Then suddenly—

“Kana!”

A loud familiar voice echoed across the training grounds. Artin waved both hands enthusiastically before jogging toward them like an excited child rather than a royal knight.

Suri immediately looked exhausted.

“You again?” she asked flatly. “Don’t tell me you’re escorting us this time.”

Boris sighed beside her with genuine disappointment. “I thought the royal knights had other members,” he muttered. “Why are you always the one appearing?”

Artin stopped dramatically before placing one hand against his chest like a man struck by betrayal.

“You two are breaking my heart here.” Then he laughed loudly before abruptly straightening himself proudly.

“It simply happens,” he declared, “that I finish my assignments much faster than everyone else. Which naturally makes me the most available and reliable knight here.”

Kana noticed several nearby knights suddenly avoiding eye contact.

One knight in the distance actually covered his face. Another muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, “Because nobody wants his assignments.”

Chelle quickly stepped forward and bowed politely while Ryle followed half a second later.

“It’s an honor to meet you again, Sir Artin,” Chelle said respectfully.

Artin’s eyes immediately brightened.

 He clapped both hands loudly.

“Finally!” he shouted. “Young people capable of recognizing greatness!”

Suri crossed her arms. “I think she’s just being polite.”

“That still counts,” Artin replied instantly.

Ryle quickly turned his head away, shoulders shaking slightly as he tried not to laugh.

Meanwhile, Kana quietly observed the training grounds around them.

Knights sparred. Servants ran between buildings. Messengers hurried across courtyards carrying sealed documents. Preparations were happening everywhere. Not just for their small group. For something bigger.

After several minutes, the excitement caused by Artin gradually faded back into the usual rhythm of the royal castle grounds.

The thud of wooden practice swords returned. Knights resumed light sparring matches while others stretched near the edges of the training field. The scent of sweat, metal, and dust lingered heavily beneath the cool morning air.

Meanwhile, Thorne had already lost interest in humans entirely.

The small lizard darted curiously across the outer hall, climbing halfway up polished metal decorations before hopping down again. Every reflective surface seemed to fascinate her. At one point, she even stopped in front of a knight’s silver greaves, staring at her own reflection proudly before scampering away.

Boris yawned loudly while rolling his shoulders.

“So…” he muttered lazily. “Are we starting now?”

Artin shook his head,“We’re still waiting for our commander. She should arrive soon.”

“She?” Boris repeated instinctively.

Then he sighed dramatically. “Looks like this journey’s going to be long and painful.”

The moment the words escaped his mouth, several sharp gazes immediately struck him.

Suri glared first then Chelle. Even Kana slowly turned her head toward him with an expressionless stare that somehow felt worse than anger.

Boris gulped.

Artin snorted in amusement then suddenly, his posture straightened.

“The commander is here.”

The atmosphere changed instantly. Knights who had been casually sparring moments ago immediately stopped. Wooden swords lowered. Conversations vanished almost at once. The knights lined themselves into formation with precision, fists striking against their armored chests in salute.

Even the wind itself seemed quieter.

Kana noticed her the moment she entered the grounds.

Tall.

Taller than most men.

She wore black armor unlike the polished silver carried by ordinary knights. The dark metal hugged her slender figure without looking heavy, every movement carrying a smoothness that reminded Kana of a predator walking through tall grass. Long black hair rested behind her back like flowing ink, contrasting sharply against the pale scars faintly visible near her jawline.

A longsword leaned against her back. No decorations. No jewels. But the leather wrapped around its hilt was worn thin in several places, the kind of wear only countless battles could create.

Yet none of that was what silenced the courtyard.

It was her presence.

Very sharp. Kana could not think of another word. Standing near the woman felt like standing beside a drawn blade.

Beautiful enough to admire. Dangerous enough to kill carelessly. Even Boris unconsciously straightened his back.

The woman climbed the elevated stone platform overlooking the training grounds before finally stopping at its center. Her expression remained completely emotionless as her gaze slowly swept across the gathered knights.

Then she said nothing for several long seconds.

The silence itself became pressure. Kana could feel it pressing against the crowd, tightening the atmosphere little by little until even breathing felt too loud.

Finally, the woman spoke.

“I am Rose Light. [Master Duelist]. Member of the Royal Knight Order.”

Her voice was calm and deep, yet it carried across the entire training ground effortlessly. “I will serve as the leader of the group attending the King of Kings Festival within the empire.”

Kana noticed several knights subtly lowering their gazes further. Not fear but respect. The kind earned through blood and survival.

Rose Light slowly looked around the gathered soldiers once more before asking plainly,

“Raise your hand if you disagree with the king’s decision.”

Silence answered her. Not a single hand moved.

Rose waited anyway. Her sharp eyes studied the formation carefully, as though daring someone to hesitate.

Nobody did.

After several moments, she nodded once. “I will now explain our mission.”

“Our objective is simple,” she continued. “Escort these children safely to the empire. Ensure their attendance at the festival. Return them safely to the kingdom.”

Then she raised one hand toward Kana and the other students standing beside her.

“Remember their faces well.”

Only then did the students fully realize why they had been asked to stand beside her earlier. More than fifty royal knights focused their attention toward them simultaneously. The pressure was overwhelming.

Ryle visibly stiffened. Chelle maintained composure, though Kana noticed her fingers subtly tightening against her sleeves.

Boris tried to appear relaxed and failed miserably. Suri though seemed didn’t mind them at all. She was probably thinking other things as she stood.

Rose paused once more then her voice became colder.

“We will protect them.Even at the cost of our lives.”

No dramatic tone.

That somehow made the words feel far heavier.

Kana slowly looked around afterward.

Not one knight protested and not one looked surprised.

As though every single person standing there had already accepted death long before this mission ever began.

..

The meeting with Commander Rose ended shortly afterward, though the royal knights themselves remained behind in the training grounds, continuing their preparations late into the afternoon.

Kana noticed maps spread across long tables while several captains discussed routes and fallback positions. Others debated possible ambush locations near the borders while messengers constantly moved in and out of the courtyard carrying sealed documents.

The atmosphere no longer felt like preparation for a festival.

It felt like preparation for war.

The students, meanwhile, were mostly dismissed afterward.

Not because they were unimportant. But because the adults around them clearly understood this journey far better than they did. Kana, Suri, Boris, and Chelle spent the remaining afternoon making their own final preparations throughout the capital city.

Kana purchased several additional [Teleportation] scrolls despite their absurdly inflated prices. She also stocked extra mana potions, antidotes, and emergency supplies until even Boris complained that their wagon would collapse from the weight.

By the time they finally finished, the sun had already begun descending behind the capital walls. Golden light stretched across the streets while merchants slowly closed their stalls one by one.

The four of them walked quietly back toward the academy afterward while Ryle already left all by his own as soon as they left the royal castle. Chelle had received permission from the principal to remain within the academy grounds until the day of departure, so she naturally followed them.

For a while, nobody spoke.

The exhaustion from the day slowly settled over them while the distant sounds of the capital softened into evening calm.

Then Chelle suddenly broke the silence.

“Kana,” she asked quietly, “what do you think about the commander?”

Suri immediately glanced toward Kana as well.

Even Boris looked mildly curious.

Kana remained silent for several steps. Of course, she had observed Rose Light carefully earlier. Far more carefully than most people realized.

What unsettled Kana most was not Rose’s reputation.

Not her evolved class. Not even the way the royal knights respected her.

It was her presence.

Or rather…

The strangeness of it.

Kana frowned slightly as they continued walking beneath the dimming sky. Rose Light felt strangely ordinary like a common person. Like someone fragile enough to break with a single strike.

If Kana closed her eyes and relied purely on instinct alone, Rose barely felt dangerous at all.

And that was precisely what terrified her. Because evolved classes should never feel like that. 

Rose Light reminded her of a blade hidden inside silk.

Beautiful and calm yet deadly enough that careless people would only realize the truth after losing their heads.

Kana slowly lifted her gaze toward the evening sky before finally answering. “She’s probably stronger than the guildmaster.”

The group immediately fell silent.

Even Boris stopped walking briefly.

Chelle’s eyes widened slightly beneath the fading sunlight.

Suri frowned. “That strong?”

Kana nodded once.

“The guildmaster feels heavy,” she explained quietly. “Like standing in front of a mountain.”

Then her eyes narrowed slightly as Rose’s image resurfaced in her thoughts.

“But Commander Rose…”

Kana paused.

Choosing the words carefully.

“She feels weaker than most people.”

Post note:Empire Capital Arc starts!2nd chap of the week.

Hope you enjoy the chap! 🙂

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