Chapter 21: The Hunting Festival (3)

‘Quite the crowd has gathered.’

It wasn’t surprising to see the Crown Prince, who would follow Estelle around like a puppy at any banquet she attended. But even the Master of the Magic Tower—whose face was rarely seen—and the Captain of the Imperial Knights, practically treated as a strategic weapon, were here.

Anyone might think an invasion force from another kingdom had marched into the empire. The fact that their sole purpose for being here was to gain the favor of one noblewoman was somewhat amusing, to say the least.

‘The Hunting Festival, huh…’

If it were the original Abel, he wouldn’t have even glanced at such an event. In fact, in the original work, the hunting festival was merely mentioned in passing and glossed over. Yet, Abel had deliberately decided to participate because of an artifact the Emperor himself had offered as a prize.

‘The Price of the Scales.’

An artifact capable of achieving anything of equal value in exchange for a sacrifice—an utterly broken artifact. If my memory of the original is correct, the Master of the Magic Tower had won both the titles of King and Queen of the Hunt alongside Estelle, thus claiming the artifact.

Later, it was revealed that the Master of the Magic Tower was one of the Emperor’s swords, making “The Price of the Scales” an almost fraudulent item in its usefulness.

The gentle yet aloof demeanor he showed Estelle vanished completely as he mechanically executed traitors. That chilling portrayal of the Tower Master in the original story was nothing short of terrifying.

I didn’t count how many times Adele died during that part of the story, but it must have been in the triple digits. It was likely the final showdown with the Tower Master that led to Adele’s mental breakdown in the latter half of the novel.

Her transformation into a killing machine, willing to throw away her life without hesitation for the sole purpose of eliminating her opponent, was…

Truly grotesque.

‘But... is there something wrong?’

I noticed Adele next to me, her eyes darting around anxiously. She kept sighing and nervously biting her lip, as though something was troubling her. Following her gaze, I saw Estelle.

Ah, of course. She must be concerned about the original novel’s heroine. Well, to her, this world was just a romance fantasy novel, so it made sense that she’d be preoccupied with the protagonist.

I reached out slightly to ease her tension, but she didn’t even notice.

“You seem deep in thought,” I said.

Startled by my voice, Adele quickly turned her head.

“Ah, I’m sorry..”

“There’s nothing to apologize for.”

It was understandable for her to feel uneasy. In the story’s early stages, Adele had tried to befriend Estelle, only to face all sorts of humiliation. Her wariness was not without reason.

“But worrying over an unsolvable problem right now will only exhaust you,” I added.

She nodded at my words, placing a hand on her chest and taking deep breaths. After a few repetitions, her trembling hands and anxious gaze seemed to calm down.

“Thank you for the advice.”

“It’s nothing,” I replied with a smile.

I turned my attention back to the crowd, where several knights were moving with purpose. From afar, a golden carriage approached, its opulent decorations commanding the crowd’s attention.

“The imperial carriage?”

Its presence was overwhelming.

Having reached the level of Archmage, I could sense the powerful mana radiating from the carriage’s occupant. It was almost suffocating. Unlike me, the others seemed oblivious, merely murmuring among themselves. Even Adele didn’t seem to notice, tilting her head curiously.

The carriage stopped, and a golden-haired man slowly stepped out. Unlike the Crown Prince’s faint, laughable presence, this man exuded an aura so intense it could only be described as domineering.

Covered in scars visible even through his uniform, with a long sword wound running across his left eye, his presence alone was intimidating. His composed gaze and the suppressed killing intent he carried were enough to silence the crowd.

“The Emperor...”

Recognizing the man, the nobles hurriedly bowed. Following their lead, I inclined my head slightly. Adele, startled for a moment, quickly followed proper noble etiquette and greeted the Emperor.

“We greet the Sun of the Empire.”

Everyone, without exception, bowed deeply. Emperor Yude von Schufenheim stood before them, a serene smile on his face, and spoke in a calm voice.

“At such a joyous occasion, there’s no need for such formality. I’ve only come to enjoy myself.”

‘You say that as if it weren’t true. If anyone had dared to keep their head raised, you would have drawn your sword and struck them down.’

The Emperor’s sharp, quietly honed bloodlust was proof enough of that.

Ascending the prepared platform, the Emperor struck the ground with his staff, commanding silence before beginning his speech.

“The Hunting Festival was originally established to commemorate the first Emperor, Yuk von Schufenheim, who eradicated all monsters from the snowy mountains. Over the past thousand years, countless stars of the empire have proven their worth through this festival.”

He smiled warmly, as if benevolent.

“This year, for a few special guests who have graced us with their presence, I have prepared a most excellent gift,” he announced.

At his signal, an attendant emerged, carrying an iron box. Though rough in appearance, the powerful mana emanating from within hinted at the extraordinary nature of its contents.

“An artifact passed down through the imperial family—one of them will be awarded to the King and Queen of this year’s Hunting Festival.”

The crowd erupted into chatter. While the Hunting Festival was a cherished tradition, it was unprecedented for the Emperor to involve himself so deeply, let alone offer an artifact of such value.

“Is that... The Price of the Scales?”

To claim it, I would need to defeat the Master of the Magic Tower. For the original Abel, this might have been a daunting challenge, but for me, it’s entirely within reach.

The only issue is that I would need to reveal the strength I’ve kept hidden until now.

‘Then again, the imperial family already knows my capabilities to some extent.’

If my hand is as good as exposed, it might be better to lay it out openly. Defeating the Tower Master and claiming the title of King would send a clear message about my strength.

“Then, do your best,” the Emperor said as he took his seat on the prepared throne.

Bwoo-woo!

The horn signaled the start of the festival. Some participants scrambled in surprise, while others bolted straight into the snowy mountains without hesitation.

“...Abel. Are you sure about this?” Adele asked hesitantly, concern evident in her voice. Facing the vast snowy mountains, it was only natural to feel apprehension.

After all, even seasoned knights rarely lasted more than three days in those treacherous conditions.

“Of course,” I replied confidently.

To someone like me, such concerns were irrelevant. Adele had no idea how meaningless it was to worry about someone at the level of an Archmage. Then again, she had never seen my full strength.

As I thought about it, she reached into her coat and pulled something out—a handkerchief embroidered with a bold eagle. The quality of the embroidery was impressive, enough to make me momentarily admire her unexpected talent.

“Did you make this yourself, Adele?” I asked.

“...Yes. I made it while thinking of you,” she replied shyly, half-hiding her face, clearly embarrassed.

Her flustered expression amused me, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. Well, even if it’s all an act, playing the role of a loving partner requires some effort.

Kneeling on one knee, I gently took her hand and kissed it. Her face turned beet red, and she froze in surprise. I struggled to hold back my laughter at her reaction and spoke softly.

“I will return safely, so please, put your worries to rest, Adele.”

As expected, the noblewomen around us erupted in cheers. It was almost like background music at this point—wherever I went, similar reactions followed.

Not that I minded, as it left no room for doubt about my and Adele’s supposed love.

“...Alright. Please, be careful,” she said, covering her face entirely with her hands.

Feeling mischievous, I leaned closer and whispered in her ear.

“You’re as red as a carrot. If this keeps up, you might just explode.”

“You...!”

Too flustered to form a coherent reply, Adele glared at me as I laughed and strode into the snowy mountains.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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