You have to go big or go home with the betting.
Bir, who has been part of the Foreign Affairs Ministry for over a decade, figured out Lily’s tendencies after a brief observation and some digging into the data he had collected.
“There’s definitely a price. But there’s no way I’m accepting ridiculous requests, no matter how big the price is.”
He has no huge greed for wealth, but he’s not into the whole ‘minimalism’ vibe either.
Even if someone offered him a mountain of gold right now, he wouldn’t take demands like staying as the kingdom’s exclusive knight for eternity or getting married.
“But what if it’s just ‘helping out’?”
If it’s just helping with a task for the kingdom, he could easily get Lily, the sword, on board.
Even if it means giving up the Red Guide, a treasure of the kingdom.
“…Are you saying you’ll give me a masterpiece?”
“Yes.”
Unlike during the time of the Second Prince, Lily seems a bit hesitant now, her attitude shifting.
There’s no problem with justification or compensation.
Bir added a little nudge, almost like hammering the point in.
“Of course, I won’t ask for anything harmful or unreasonable from Lady Lily. This task is crucial for the kingdom, and once it’s done, you can leave anytime you like.”
“I see.”
“Yep.”
After a moment of hesitation, Lily nodded.
“Then, can you give it to me now?”
“…Now?”
Right now?
■
[World Quest – You can embark on the legend of the Talikal Kingdom.]
This quest appeared after obtaining the ‘Blue Guardian’ as a reward for winning the mock siege war.
The goal is to gather all seven scattered masterpieces.
What will happen once they’re collected is anyone’s guess, but one thing is certain: something extraordinary will emerge.
“Mythical Equipment, seven of them. Even set equipment.”
With that level, it wouldn’t be strange if powers comparable to upper Celestial Races and Demon Races were born.
If his power falls short, he could just fill it in himself.
“Right now.”
Above all, it seems like it would be fun.
[?]
[Ah lol give it to me]
[Why are you asking for a handout, Lily? lol]
[You have to give it first to make a contract, right? lol]
[Gi.ve.it.to.me]
[Is Lily really a psycho?]
[HAHAHAHAHAHAHA]
[I’ll consider it, so just give it to me lol]
[Look at how flustered you are lol]
[This is hilarious lol]
[Send it first]
Bir hesitated but unconsciously touched his waist.
Something that looked like a small leather bag.
He had received permission from the Minister of Finance to use the “Space Artifact,” which contained various treasures and resources.
The head of the Foreign Affairs Ministry might have a decent position, but the items in the Space Artifact are things he wouldn’t normally touch with his usual authority.
There are several items inside.
Among them, the one that is the most challenging to access is the masterpiece, ‘Red Guide’, which now leaves only two remaining.
In other words, Bir was able to retrieve that Red Guide.
“…Um. Let’s first hear your proposal and gradually go to the kingdom for additional contracts.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t just take and run. Of course, if we don’t make a contract, I’ll return it to you.”
I keep promises.
I have never betrayed a deal and I have no intention to do so.
“Lily, because I am that kind of person.”
While Bir was deep in thought, I took a moment to look around.
Regardless of where I was looking, there was a long line.
They probably came to make proposals too.
“It seems I’ve caused quite a stir.”
Let’s move the location a bit.
■
The banquet hall is divided into the largest main hall and a somewhat private sub-hall.
The sub-hall has a 2nd floor, a 3rd floor, and even a basement level. It’s not completely partitioned off, but compared to the entirely open main hall, it feels more closed off.
“…Ahem. You, you’re really coming to the kingdom?”
“Of course.”
In a secret room located in the corner of the 2nd floor where people rarely visit.
This place, which has now turned into a well-frequented room, is where I received something like red gloves.
Gloves with impressive ornate patterns.
Just like a ring, it fits perfectly.
[You’re really taking this, haha.]
[Lily getting a freebie…]
[Ah haha, it’s a fair trade.]
[Shocking! Someone’s getting a mythical item?!]
[Is it real that there’s a line behind that door?]
[Hahahahahaha]
[Now these gloves are mine. I can use them as I please.]
[Getting a mythical is so easy, lol.]
With the ring and gloves worn on the same left hand.
Their mana resonates as they slowly move.
[The Red Guide is startled to see you.]
[The Blue Guardian waves at the Red Guide.]
[The Red Guide turns its head.]
“?”
“What’s the matter?”
“It seems that the masterpieces are reacting to each other. They don’t look like soul weapons, though.”
Soul Weapon.
It’s a type of weapon imbued with a soul, the kind I typically crafted and used.
Like ‘Karabus’s Hammer’ or ‘Hydra’s Trident’.
I pride myself on my understanding of weapons as I have crafted and used them, but I did not feel any ‘life’ or ‘soul’ in these masterpieces.
[The masterpieces reacting to each other is adorable, haha.]
[They’re probably similar?]
[Isn’t this a soul weapon?]
[Nope.]
[?]
[No idea.]
[How cute.]
Bir stroked his chin and cautiously began to speak.
“Soul… It’s hard to call it a weapon, but it’s similar. All these masterpieces were born from the hands of the great blacksmith ‘Drak.’ If it’s him, it’s possible to breathe life into ‘will’…”
“Did you say there are a total of seven masterpieces?”
“Yes. Whenever the Talikal Kingdom is in danger, Drak always lifts his hammer. The masterpieces created that way are used to save the kingdom.”
In other words, it means that the Talikal Kingdom has faced seven crises.
Bir continued with a serious expression.
“The centuries-long conquest wars of the Empire. Their demon beasts have reached out to the Talikal Kingdom as well. The Talikal Kingdom is strong, but it cannot be compared to the Empire.”
“The Empire is indeed vast.”
“That’s right. More than half the continent belongs to the Empire.”
The great Golden Empire, the Imperium, reigns over the continent.
Seven-tenths of the continent is under the Empire’s control, excluding some regions yet to be occupied by humans.
It is a well-known fact that even dragons cannot conquer the Empire and are unable to venture outside their territory.
Is that all? The royal knights of the Empire are comparable to top-ten rankers.
Their swords and armor are legendary, mythical artifacts, truly an unparalleled force in every aspect.
“Moreover, the Empire possesses the ‘Eight Swords.’ They are the swords that follow only the Imperial family, and their prowess can defeat even ancient monsters…”
“The Eight Swords?”
In that moment, the closed room became frozen.
No, it was so sharp it felt like the air itself had turned cold.
Bir leaned back against the wall, startled by the sudden murderous intent.
Air felt suffocating.
His entire body trembled, and cold sweat dripped down.
[Lily?]
[?]
[Lady Lily?]
[Why are you suddenly angry?]
[???]
[Yes?]
As the head of the diplomatic department, Bir had faced countless people.
Among them were those who could stomp him like an ant, as well as powerful individuals on par with the royal knight commander of the kingdom, the Eagle Knight.
He had entered the Imperial palace as part of a diplomatic envoy and had even met one of the Eight Swords, albeit sitting in the Eighth seat.
But…
“Ugh…”
‘It’s different.’
The levels are different.
The power that could reduce the Eight Swords to mere trifles permeates the room.
Bir sweated coldly, feeling a strange ecstasy.
‘If I could wield a sword of this caliber…!’
I might be able to stand against the Empire, or perhaps even ‘face’ them.
Pssss…
“Ah.”
How long has it been?
My strength is fading. My will to live is diminishing.
Lily’s gaze returns to normal.
‘Ah…’
Broken drinks lie everywhere, and snacks are scattered about.
Expensive decorations are ripped to shreds, and the terrified Talikal’s head of diplomacy, Bir, is pressing his body against the wall, gulping down saliva.
The secret room is a mess.
I messed up.
I stood up and bowed my head.
“I’m sorry. I acted out.”
“Well, it’s okay… but I think my lifespan has decreased by about 10 years.”
Hahaha…
[Lily are you okay?]
[???]
[What happened?]
[What’s going on?]
[Lady Lily, is something wrong?]
[Huh?]
[Should I kill them, Master?]
[Who?! Who is bullying Lily?!]
[Crossing the line…]
[Isn’t it Lily who’s doing the bullying?]
[???: Why are you hurting from getting hit!]
[LOL]
I shook my head at the chaos in the chat window while looking at the camera.
“Ah, no. I’m fine. I just remembered a time when I got really angry.”
[?]
Eight Swords. The eight swords that protect the Empire.
Eight Seats. The eight pillars that support the Celestial Race.
It may seem like a coincidence, but something feels fundamentally off.
Humans in “that place,” which I’m almost certain pertains to Deoen’s past, were no different from other races.
“A large population, but not a particularly strong race.”
Humans could learn more diverse techniques and magic than any race except the Celestial and Demon races, and that characteristic allowed them to compensate for their lacking physical condition.
But that was all.
“Humans are not strong.”
Even if the Celestial and Demon races disappeared, the most they could muster would be a name-only Empire unified by a few medium or smaller kingdoms.
It means they can’t dominate the entire continent or surpass dragons or mysterious races.
Yet, humans have risen to become the strongest race on the continent, and the Empire has truly become the owner of the continent.
And their greatest strength, the “Eight Swords.”
It’s too coincidental to merely brush off as happenstance.
“When coincidences overlap, they cease to be coincidences.”
If the Empire is truly related to the Celestial race…
Creak…
“Then it seems worth checking out.”
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