My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 225

225. Xian Rubhen

The venue was packed with tens of thousands of people.

Even the smallest noise, amplified by the sheer number of attendees, created a constant, murmuring commotion.

“The Emperor and the Crown Prince are entering!”

The announcement echoed throughout the entire venue.

At that pronouncement, the murmuring ceased almost instantly.

Every head turned toward the entrance.

The focus of their attention was the venue’s main doors.

Before long, the massive doors swung open, revealing two figures.

An aura of dignity and grace radiated from them.

They possessed an imposing presence that instinctively commanded respect, even without any overt display of power.

The Emperor, Baluaga von Charlotte.

And the Crown Prince, Konrad von Charlotte.

Everyone in the venue rose from their seats.

Durak, too, turned his gaze away from Xian and stood.

Xian likewise shifted his attention from Durak and rose to his feet.

“We greet His Imperial Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

“We greet His Imperial Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

“We greet His Imperial Majesty and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

The voices of tens of thousands thundered in unison.

Cutting through the sound, Baluaga and Konrad ascended to the platform at the front of the venue.

“All of you, raise your heads.”

The deep, resonant voice echoed.

Only then did the people raise their heads. Baluaga surveyed the crowd before slowly speaking.

“As you all know, we gather today to celebrate the creation of a new noble within the Empire.”

Baluaga’s gaze then fell directly below the platform, toward Xian’s location.

“Count Xian, step forward.”

Xian slowly rose and walked toward the platform.

He ascended and stood before Baluaga.

Baluaga’s gaze held a strange intensity as he looked at Xian.

Why?

The look in Baluaga’s eyes was far from ordinary.

It wasn’t the look of an emperor celebrating the investiture of a noble.

It felt more like, ‘You little punk, I’ve finally got you where I want you,’ with a hint of, ‘Just you wait.’

Xian wondered what was going on, but he couldn’t very well ask in this setting.

Xian knelt on one knee before Baluaga.

Only then did Baluaga turn his gaze away.

At Baluaga’s signal, a man stepped forward from the side of the platform—a neatly dressed scribe from the Imperial Palace.

The scribe unfurled a long piece of parchment and shouted loudly.

“Today, we celebrate the birth of a new noble, and nobility, by its very definition, means protecting the weak…”

And, as was customary, he began to deliver a tedious speech.

A true noble is one who, in accordance with their wealth and power… blah blah blah.

Must fulfill their proper responsibilities and duties… grumble grumble.

Must set an example befitting their dignity and grace… yada yada.

Words that lulled one into drowsiness.

It was, quite literally, a tedious recitation.

Still, formality was formality, and the scribe shouted with veins bulging in his neck.

Xian let the scribe’s words flow in one ear and out the other.

Meanwhile, he expanded his senses to locate Durak within the venue.

And, perhaps because of the 100% completion rate of the Mahon Jebeop [a technique or skill], he found Durak at once, even among the tens of thousands.

‘He’s not doing anything out of the ordinary… yet.’

Durak wasn’t showing any unusual behavior.

Like the others, he quietly watched Xian and the investiture ceremony.

‘Hmm…’

Durak’s intentions remained completely unknown.

Xian expanded his senses a little more and carefully examined Durak.

And, as expected.

There was a faint trace of Rushuria’s energy lingering.

‘It’s definitely stronger than it was at the banquet.’

If he had thought it was a mistake at the banquet, now it was strong enough to warrant serious concern.

Of course, it was still residual energy.

An energy he wouldn’t have detected if the Mahon Jebeop’s completion rate wasn’t 100%.

However, the energy was strong enough to confidently confirm its presence.

‘It suddenly got stronger after he disappeared from the banquet…’

This change occurred after Durak left the banquet.

That meant two possibilities.

First, Durak possesses Rushuria’s power.

Second, Durak contacted Rushuria in that short amount of time.

‘First of all… the first one is unlikely.’

The first possibility seemed improbable.

There was no way Durak would have Rushuria’s power.

Even if he did, Xian would have noticed it by now.

‘Then Durak contacted Rushuria?’

But this also seemed unlikely.

That meant Rushuria was here, in the capital, Darkhan.

But why would Rushuria be in Darkhan?

In the first place, Xian had annihilated Rushuria.

Contacting the annihilated Rushuria?

‘Was Rushuria really not completely annihilated?’

This was one possibility.

‘Or is Durak trying to revive Rushuria?’

He could even consider this extreme.

Both were absurd.

The idea that Rushuria wasn’t completely annihilated was just Xian’s speculation.

It wasn’t certain.

Also, even if Durak was trying to revive Rushuria, how would he know how?

The demons disappeared over a thousand years ago.

Related knowledge had also been buried and lost over a millennium.

Therefore, he couldn’t be sure which it was.

But either way, one thing was clear.

‘Durak is related to the Seven Demon Lords.’

He didn’t know how that could be.

But if that were the case, Durak leaving Xian and Rubhen alone, and not rashly attacking Rubhen even though Elan Dur should be drawing his sword…

Durak’s hidden scheme might be related to the Seven Demon Lords.

‘Hmm…’

His thoughts grew deeper and deeper.

“Therefore! We newly bestow the name Rubhen upon Count Xian!”

In an instant, a loud voice broke Xian’s reverie.

It seemed the boring speech was finally over.

The scribe took a step back after finishing his pronouncements.

Konrad, who had been standing in the back, strode forward to Xian.

In Konrad’s hand was a cloak with a golden border and dazzling decorations.

The emblem at the center of the cloak depicted a black lion roaring fiercely forward.

“I had a little trouble getting it made so quickly,” Konrad whispered.

It seemed he had started working on it right after Xian handed over the emblem.

Xian accepted the cloak.

It was made to match the uniform Xian was wearing, fitting perfectly.

Above all, the quality was remarkable, considering the limited time.

It seemed all the tailors of the Imperial Palace had rushed to complete it.

“Wow…!”

“Wow…!”

As Xian put on the cloak, exclamations rippled through the venue.

Xian let out a hollow laugh and whispered to Konrad, “You’ve prepared quite a lot.”

“Whose investiture ceremony would I prepare carelessly?” Konrad replied with a sly smile.

As if this wasn’t the end, Konrad’s gaze turned to Xian’s back.

Following Konrad’s line of sight, Xian turned around.

He saw a long path stretching out below the platform.

A woman was walking gracefully down that path.

A woman with radiant platinum blonde hair that harmonized with a pure white dress.

A possessor of transcendent beauty that seemed almost inhuman.

“Aria?”

Aria was walking towards the center of the venue along the unfolded path.

She stopped in the middle of the venue.

Aria’s gaze turned to Xian.

A brief moment of eye contact.

For some reason… Aria looked sulky.

As expected, Aria quickly averted her gaze from Xian.

Then, Aria gently closed her eyes.

At the same time, she clasped her slender hands together and slowly began to speak.

“On this sacred day, I humbly pray on behalf of the lambs who have received God’s love.”

Aria’s clear voice echoed.

Could it be that her voice itself contained divine power?

Aria’s voice, resonating throughout the venue, was beautiful in itself.

“May God watch over and guide one of his lambs as they embark on a new calling into another world.”

Aria continued her prayer.

“Even in a world as dark as pitch, may they boldly shine the light of truth.”

“May their hearts and minds be renewed, leading them to a life that pleases others, and may they be guided to be salt and light, fulfilling their role.” [A reference to Matthew 5:13-16 in the Bible, signifying guidance and positive influence.]

“May they not turn away from those in the lowest places, even when in the highest.”

“In word and deed, in life and existence, may they always live as enlightened beings, abandoning the corrupt customs and thoughts of the world, exalting God’s will, and living a holy and pure life.”

Supaahhhhhh!!!

In an instant, pure white light burst forth from Aria’s entire body.

The pure white divine power that purifies everything.

The divine power erupted as if facing the sun head-on.

It was a light that seemed to blind anyone who looked at it.

Yet, among the tens of thousands of people watching the light, no one frowned.

Rather, they felt a cozy and warm energy.

Like the touch of a mother’s hand in the cold winter.

Only that faint yet warm energy was felt.

“In the face of crises beyond strength and ability, may they always have an unwavering and steadfast heart. Thus, may God’s blessings and mercy always be with them.”

Aria’s closed eyes slowly opened.

The appearance of a pure and noble saintess.

“I, Aria Linu Sapphire, God’s first child, bless you.”

Aria spread out her clasped hands.

At the same time, the light that filled the venue soared high into the sky.

Thus, the pure white light shone down from the heavens.

It seemed like a light of brilliant radiance.

The possessor of the most powerful divine power in history.

Aria, the first child of God, called the reincarnation of Muriel.

All her sacred and noble blessings were shining solely towards Xian.

A majestic sight as if even God was blessing Xian’s investiture ceremony.

“Ah…!”

“Ah…!”

People couldn’t help but marvel at the splendor.

The heads of the tens of thousands of people gathered at the venue bowed involuntarily.

At the same time, Baluaga stepped forward and approached Xian.

Then, with a clang! Baluaga drew a sword.

The symbol of the Emperor and the sword once used by Charlotte, the Zodiac Sword.

Baluaga lifted the Zodiac Sword and tapped Xian’s shoulders.

“I bestow upon Xian Ruben the title of Count of the Charlotte Empire.”

And then came Baluaga’s voice.

Soon, Aria’s blessing shone even more brilliantly and permeated into Xian.

Along with that, the Zodiac Sword emitted light.

It was truly a sight to behold.

An investiture ceremony unprecedented in the history of the Empire.

An investiture ceremony that no one could help but admire.

But only one person.

“S, stop…!!”

Only Xian felt like he was dying.

#

Thus, Xian’s investiture ceremony was successfully concluded.

And the investiture ceremony was recorded as an unprecedented event in the history of the Empire.

Even now, after the investiture ceremony, the capital, Darkan, was bustling.

It was as if a goddess had descended.

That even God blessed Count Xian’s investiture.

Those who saw the investiture ceremony directly raved about it until their mouths were dry.

Those who did not see it directly swallowed their disappointment while listening to the story.

It was truly a great investiture ceremony.

“Ugh…!”

But for Xian, it was great in a different sense!

Xian forcibly grabbed his staggering body.

It had been quite a while since the investiture ceremony ended.

Yet, the mana was still raging wildly inside.

Even with the 100% Mana Control Technique, it was not easy to suppress.

He even suspected that his insides had been turned upside down.

It seemed to be because Aria had given her blessing with all her might….

‘I think she did it on purpose.’

That sulky expression of Aria that he glimpsed.

That pouting face.

“Ugh…!”

Yes, she seemed to have done it on purpose.

“Are you… alright?”

Konrad asked with a worried expression at Xian’s appearance.

Xian nodded lightly.

He still felt dizzy.

He still suspected that his insides had been turned upside down.

He thought that Kyle must have hated Muriel a lot a thousand years ago!

But still, the 100% Mana Control Technique was not going anywhere.

More than anything.

“I didn’t know you could make such an expression.”

He couldn’t show such a disgraceful appearance in front of the Emperor, Baluaga.

Xian suppressed the surging mana and slowly raised his head.

Then, Baluaga’s face, looking at Xian with a strange expression, came into view.

A moment of silence.

“You don’t look well, so let’s get straight to the point.”

Soon, Baluaga slowly opened his mouth.

“You can restore the swordsmanship of Charlotte the Great.”

At those words, Xian’s eyes widened.

The mana that he had barely calmed down raged at the sudden movement, but he didn’t care.

‘200 million gold!’

He didn’t care if his insides were turned upside down!

“Y, yes, Your Majesty.”

Xian gritted his teeth and answered.

Then, as if waiting for it, Baluaga’s voice was heard.

“Charlotte the Great’s swordsmanship was lost hundreds of years ago. But you can restore it?”

“That is correct.”

“And that restoration requires 150 million gold?”

At Baluaga’s question, Xian paused for a moment.

Because it was actually 200 million gold, not 150 million.

150 million gold was needed to open . [Likely referring to a specific skill or technique]

And 50 million gold was spent on the construction of the hall.

A total of 200 million gold.

Originally, he should have received 50,000 more gold, but….

“I am sorry to say, but that is also correct, Your Majesty.”

Now was not the time.

Xian lowered his gaze and nodded.

“I will say it without dragging it out.”

Baluaga continued in a firm voice.

“Charlotte the Great’s swordsmanship is the severed lifeline of the Imperial Family. If you can reconnect it, I am willing to pay 150 million gold.”

Xian raised his head without realizing it.

Because Baluaga’s reaction was unexpected.

Konrad also seemed to be quite surprised, widening his eyes.

But that was only for a moment.

“However. Prove the two questions I raise first.”

First.

“How do you know about the lost swordsmanship of Charlotte the Great from hundreds of years ago?”

And second.

“How can you be sure that the swordsmanship you restored is the lost swordsmanship of Charlotte the Great, the Zodiac Sword?”

Baluaga looked at Xian with determined eyes.

“Prove these two questions.”

With those words, Baluaga said no more.

As if telling Xian to prove the two questions.

He was just looking at Xian with calm eyes.

Therefore, Xian could not open his mouth rashly.

Because Baluaga’s questions were valid.

Also, it was a question that Xian should prove.

So, Xian had prepared an answer for this in advance.

“I am sorry to say….”

Xian looked at Baluaga and slowly opened his mouth.

“I cannot prove Your Majesty’s questions.”