"What did your instructor do when her prized student ended up that way? Why did she not protect her?
How could one call herself an Instructor when they couldn’t even protect her own Student?"
Selene spoke with a wide grin on her face, and Kael…
He could only stare at her with utter confusion.
After all, he didn’t know anything about the student she was talking about.
Yes, even now, he had to keep the act, or else Elira would be in even more trouble.
"You have no clue what I am talking about, do you?"
Seeing his reaction, Selene grinned even more.
It was finally her turn to get back at the disrespectful brat.
Petty?
Yes, she was.
Heck, the boy was lucky this wasn’t Xenthalor. Hero or not, he’d be long dead if he had talked to her that way in the Empire.
"Guess you cannot just focus on strength alone, can you?"
Then, the Tower Head assumed a noble, benevolent pose and,
"Take it as a lesson, Hero.
Strength alone will not help you. Try to dig things around you, doubt your friends and enemies alike, notice their behavior, perceive the changes, and learn to adapt and react accordingly.
Only then would you be able to survive.
You are in a Royal Palace, Hero.
While it may look stable and safe from the outside, there are a lot of secrets buried here. Secrets that sho-"
"I think you have said more than enough, Tower Head Selene."
Before Selene could complete, a voice was heard.
It was the Crown Prince.
Honestly, he wanted to stand up and stop the woman before, but she was a guest, and if he acted prematurely, Drakthar’s reputation might have been affected, especially since most of the major powers of the world were here.
However, while the Crown Prince was hesitant to act, this didn’t mean he was scared.
He was being respectful, but since the other person was continuously testing his boundaries, he had to act.
If he didn’t, the Kingdom would appear weak, and he could not allow that.
"Please take your seat."
Edric walked towards Selene and stood right in front of her.
"Oh? I expected this from the Hero since he is new to this world, but for even the Crown Prince to act so disrespectfully, do they not teach you how to act in front of your betters in the Drakthar Kingdom?"
Selene narrowed her eyes threateningly, trying to intimidate Edric, but,
The Crown Prince was used to this.
"We show adequate respect to all our guests, but that is till the guests respect the boundaries of being one.
If they cross it."
Edric looked right into Selene’s eyes and,
"We are not afraid to cross the boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed."
Heavy pressure descended onto the hall.
This was supposed to be a joyful gathering…
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"Can you take responsibility for your words, Crown Prince? Your position isn’t exactly stable yet."
Tower Head Selene questioned, and at those words, Edric just chuckled,
"I very well can.
After all, we weren’t in the wrong here, and we have all the witnesses we need to prove that.
Actually, I’ll ask the same question to you, Tower Head Selene.
Can you take responsibility for what is going to happen because of your arrogance?"
"…"
Selene turned silent at those words.
She could feel it too; she had gone too far.
The Hero’s words had affected her more than she thought...
Edric smiled at her silence,
"I suggest you go to your seat, Tower Head Selene.
You have already spent more time than what was allotted to you.
Pope Altheran must be waiting."
Selene stayed silent for a moment, and then…
She walked away.
"And Lady Selene."
Edric called out again.
Selene paused, turned towards him, and the prince continued,
"We are the Drakthar Kingdom.
We have no betters."
He declared with a confidence so strong that it was almost palpable.
"Is that so?"
At those words, Selene just chuckled, her disdain couldn’t be hidden, something that made Edric frown.
The Tower Head, however, didn’t say anything else and walked away, settling on the seats assigned to her and her people.
Edric stared at her for a while. Then, he turned towards Kael and Elira and nodded at them. The two nodded back, but their reactions were much more solemn than Edric had expected, especially the Hero’s.
Edric narrowed his eyes.
This… wasn’t good.
Selene had brought up the topic she shouldn’t have...
He... He didn’t know how the Hero would act now...
Right now, however, Edric had not choice but to continue the banquet.
He turned towards the herald and nodded.
Drums rolled again, and,
"Representing the Church of Feraos, Pope Altheran."
The party continued, but Kael’s table was oddly silent, with both Kael and Elira lost in their thoughts.
It was difficult to read Elira’s face.
Kael, however, was… glad.
It was a much more eventful day than he had expected. Yes, too many things happened, and Elira seemed a bit down, but…
It wasn’t all bad.
Selene made it easier for the Hero to learn about Princess Lavinia, and her actions also made the Crown Prince slip up.
All this while, the Crown Prince’s true face had been a mystery to him but now...
That man didn’t make a move when Elira was being ridiculed, but the instant Selene started the topic of the Princess, he stopped her. It was almost as if he didn’t want the Hero to know about the Princess.
As if… he was trying to hide something.
An action one would expect from the perpetrator.
Kael had his doubts before. His first interaction with the Crown Prince had confused him, but now, things were becoming much more… apparent.
The Crown Prince was looking a lot more like the hidden enemy he had been trying to find.
At the same time, his trust in Elira was rising.
Friends and Enemies—his choices were becoming clearer and clearer now.
And that wasn’t it.
The most valuable thing Kael saw today was… the world’s true strength.
A Ninth Circle Mage, a Powerhouse capable of creating calamities.
He saw her stats, and Selene wasn’t the only one he now had information on. When he was turning towards Elira, his gaze lingered on three other guests, and he used that opportunity to look at their status.
[Name: Cedric Vaelmont]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 75]
[Level: 88]
[Strength: 210]
[Agility: 165]
[Speed: 170]
[Stamina: 180]
[Defense: 195]
[Mana: 80]
[Intelligence: 145]
[Charisma: 180]
[Strengths: Supreme Combat Prowess, Unyielding Resilience, Overwhelming Power, Master of Battlefield, Tactical Genius, Commanding Aura]
[Weaknesses: -]
…
[Name: Aurelia Stormborn]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 56]
[Level: 82]
[Strength: 135]
[Agility: 200]
[Speed: 190]
[Stamina: 170]
[Defense: 140]
[Mana: 75]
[Intelligence: 140]
[Charisma: 170]
[Strengths: Supreme Combat Prowess, Untouchable, Precise Killer, Master of Battlefield, Tactical Genius, Commanding Aura]
[Weaknesses: -]
…
[Name: Dorian Voss]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 52]
[Level: 45]
[Strength: 35]
[Agility: 40]
[Speed: 38]
[Stamina: 50]
[Defense: 40]
[Mana: 120]
[Intelligence: 140]
[Charisma: 150]
[Strengths: Supreme Silver Tongued, Strong Magic, Master Negotiator]
[Weaknesses: Physically Weak, No Combat Ability]
…
Yes, he now had information on beings the people of this world call the strongest—a goal for him to follow and…
Surpass.
"That is a good look to have, Hero Kael."
While Kael was lost in his thoughts, another man appeared in front of him—someone he knew.
"Pope Altheran."
It was the first man he had met when he was summoned to this world.