Chapter 78
“You’ll understand once you go. But you’ll have to sign a contract with me first.”
Elliot said confidently, seeing the puzzled expression on the Tower Master’s face. He was sure the Tower Master, like Raven, would be captivated by the ruins.
“What’s so monumental that I need to sign a contract? If you don’t tell me—”
“Don’t you already have a hunch?”
At Elliot’s meaningful smile, Gulp let out a low groan.
Of course he did.
“Let’s go to the drawing room first.”
Elliot guided Gulp to the drawing room.
“Please check everything thoroughly and sign here.”
There was no need to give him time to think. The moment they sat down, Elliot immediately handed over the papers.
“Hahaha. I’ve been caught, haven’t I? Did you lure Raven in the same way?”
He had sent Raven to investigate evidence related to the Evil God, so if Elliot had used that as bait, it would’ve worked perfectly.
Twitch.
No, if his hunch was right and the resurrection of the Evil God was imminent…
“Someone’s drawn the Holy Sword.”
Gulp’s body stiffened mid-laugh. The resurrection of the Evil God was a terrifying disaster—but humanity’s greatest hope also remained.
“Don’t tell me it’s—”
There was one person in the north who would easily fall for this kind of bait.
“Let’s get the contract done first.”
Gulp ground his teeth at the confident smile of the duke. How long had he been preparing this? And why was he telling him now?
His mind started spinning.
“Fine, fine. I suppose this means you want to cooperate with the Tower?”
“Cooperate? The Tower will be helping the North.”
Elliot scoffed. As if they could just coast off his efforts.
“How do you think Sir Raven reached the 7th Circle? The other Tower mages will also be able to advance their Circles soon.”
“What?!”
Gulp, who had been stalling, quickly signed the contract upon hearing that.
“I, Gulp Eddington, by this contract—”
A contract from an 8th Circle mage was unlike any other. Unlike other mages, Elliot recited his part as red flames of a binding oath flared between them.
“I swear upon my life.”
The same words came from both men’s mouths at once.
“As you’ve guessed, Evelyn has been chosen as the new Hero. And in the north, we’ve discovered ruins left by the previous Hero.”
Elliot briefly explained everything that had happened in the North so far.
“All this happened in just a few months?”
“Yes. Which is why I believe the resurrection of the Evil God is imminent.”
At Elliot’s words, Gulp stroked his long beard.
He wanted to deny it, but given the events, there wasn’t time to sit back idly.
“What about the Imperial Palace and the Temple?”
“Not yet. I’ll request the Temple to dispatch a priest. As for the Emperor, I’m sure he has a hunch already.”
Elliot recalled the spies sent into the North. With the strange happenings, they wouldn’t be able to avoid reporting it to the Emperor.
“Click. Of all times, why does it have to happen in our era?”
“This is also the time with the most Sword Masters and high-ranking mages.”
It almost felt like they had been waiting for this era. There were ten known Sword Masters in the Empire alone—twenty if you counted the whole continent.
The Tower had at least five mages above the 7th Circle, and too many over the 5th Circle to count.
An era of abundance.
Some even called the current time a golden age overflowing with geniuses and resources.
“When peace lasts too long, some part of it always starts to rot.”
Gulp clicked his tongue.
“Don’t drag it out too long.”
“I’ll extract just enough benefit.”
Hearing Elliot practically declare he’d squeeze both the Imperial family and the Tower for all they were worth left a bitter taste in Gulp’s mouth.
“The North can’t bear all the burden alone.”
“We’re aware. The noble families will soon begin sending their knight orders to the North.”
“So it’s happening, then?”
Elliot nodded. Thanks to Count Barrett’s outstanding efforts.
“The Imperial Knight Order and Barrett’s knights will be first.”
It was unexpected that the princess would come along with a Barrett heir, but Elliot didn’t reject her visit.
“Chaos is about to begin.”
“For this round of training, only Barrett’s knights will have access to the ruins. Of course, the Tower is an exception.”
At that, Gulp smiled brightly.
“Let’s start with the ruins. There’s much to do.”
Without even time to sit down and rest, Gulp followed the Duke toward the ruins.
***
‘This is exhausting.’
Lionel hid his fatigue and gave a gentle smile to the person speaking to him.
It had already been months of going from party to party after being dragged around by the princess, buried in documents during the day.
Thankfully, his physical training from early mornings gave him enough stamina—otherwise, he might’ve collapsed long ago.
“You’re going to the North for training?”
“Yes. At the last meeting, all the houses agreed to send knight orders to the North. I volunteered first—I miss my sister.”
At Lionel’s words, the others sighed in admiration.
“That couldn’t have been an easy decision. You must truly love the Duchess.”
“Haha. Fortunately, the Duke has shown affection for her beyond our imagination.”
Money was pouring into the Barrett estate every month.
So much so that retainers came to his office daily seeking financial support.
Lionel carefully reviewed every document to avoid spending recklessly, rejecting most of the requests.
That money was the price of Evelyn’s sacrifice—he wouldn’t let anyone take it lightly.
He used the past to weed out disloyal retainers, and the estate grew even richer and stronger.
Especially with the new training equipment Evelyn had sent, morale was high in the knight order.
“I didn’t know the young lady was so talented.”
It wasn’t that they hadn’t known—it was that they hadn’t cared. Lionel swallowed the frustration and irritation that bubbled up inside him ever since waking up.
“I’m just grateful that she grew up so well in my place.”
“Young lord, may I ask you for a dance?”
Just as the conversation was heating up, a noble young lady shyly held out her hand.
Which family was she from again?
Lionel’s mind worked quickly. He was now building ties with families that could benefit Evelyn.
If it could help his sister, he’d do anything—and, to his surprise, he’d begun to enjoy getting closer to people.
Just as he remembered her family operated a famous merchant group and was about to take her hand—
Slap.
“Huh?”
Someone smacked the young lady’s hand away without hesitation.
“You’ve only danced with me once.”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
Tears welled up in the young lady’s eyes.
“My apologies, milady. I promised the princess a dance.”
Lionel awkwardly lifted the corners of his mouth to ease the atmosphere.
“I’ll make sure to ask you again later.”
“Th-thank you.”
Blushing at his smile, the young lady scurried away with her friends.
“Are you flirting with others besides me?”
“Pardon?”
“You’re walking around with me—you should behave.”
Lionel stared at the constant saboteur of his social interactions in disbelief.
Princess Isabel.
Whatever she was thinking, she’d been clinging to him as her partner ever since his sister’s wedding.
Because of that, strange rumors spread through the social circles—like the princess bullying the Duchess for stealing the Duke, or that she had set her eyes on the newly awakened handsome young lord.
But in truth, the princess only acted familiar when others were watching—she had no interest in him otherwise.
Lionel secretly pouted. While he had quickly grown close to the young lords, the princess’s constant interference had left him subtly isolated among the young ladies.
“I heard Your Highness will also be joining the expedition?”
“Yes. Since it’s a matter for the Empire, the Imperial family should take initiative.”
“With Sir Lionel accompanying you, it must be reassuring.”
One of the noble ladies who often walked with the princess chimed in, full of anticipation. She clearly supported the match between Lionel and the princess.
“Well, having someone trustworthy around puts one at ease, doesn’t it?”
He meant the Imperial Knight Order, but others interpreted it as the princess trusting Lionel.
Ah! The princess got her heart broken but is overcoming it with new love!
The nobles’ eyes sparkled.
“I’d like to go too—would that be possible?”
“Isn’t your house also sending knights soon?”
Lionel tilted his head at the young lord’s request.
“Haha. Wouldn’t it benefit my house if I familiarize myself with the North in advance?”
In truth, he probably just wanted to confirm the relationship between the princess, Lionel, and the ducal couple.
These days, all of high society’s attention was focused on the North.
