The Rebirth Of The Hero’S Party’S Archmage [EN]: Chapter 134

134

The Holy Human Empire had five families that effectively governed each region:

Duhrren in the North.

Tissria in the East.

Arfen in the South.

Eigin in the West.

Saion in the Center.

Only these five families held the title of Archduke in the Empire. They were more often called Prince-Electors because they had the right to vote for the Emperor and were eligible to become Emperor themselves.

“Among these Prince-Electors, the Eigin Archduke family is the current one elected as Emperor. The West, which they govern, is a forest region where half of the continent is covered in forests.”

Leading Magic University, [the name of the university is missing in the original text].

To create true intellectuals, [the university] taught not only magic but also history and geography as liberal arts subjects.

“There are plenty of trees. You might think they would make a lot of money by selling all this timber, but the reality is not so, thanks to the whims of Mother Nature.”

In that university’s classroom, Krista Warden’s eyes were blankly fixed on her notebook.

The quill, seemingly moving busily, was actually just drawing meaningless squiggles on the notebook; she wasn’t taking notes at all.

As a scion of a magical lineage, Krista had mastered this kind of content since childhood, so was there no need to concentrate on the class?

‘That’s not it…….’

Gertrude Fanton, who was glancing at Krista from the next seat, sighed softly.

‘Has it already been over 100 days?

Since Rain Ludwig disappeared, she seems to have lost the will to do anything…… Could it be because the wall she had to overcome suddenly disappeared?’

“Why is that, I wonder? Hmm, I think Krista Warden, who seems to be preoccupied with something else, will answer that question?”

Krista Warden, who flinched and then sluggishly stood up, opened her mouth.

“Because the cold, dry wind of the Eleanor air mass from the north, the hot, humid wind of the Red Mountain air mass from the south, and the cold, humid wind of the Atlantic air mass are mixed together, the West is constantly plagued by humid, even damp winds.”

One could only suspect that she had put the textbook entirely into her head… Even the professor was taken aback.

“That’s right. Timber grown in such land is naturally of poor quality, and the Eigin family had no choice but to become the poorest Prince-Elector in the Empire.”

That is, if geographical characteristics were all there was to it. Instead, the West of the Empire was closest to Trident Point, the mecca of first-rate adventurers.

“I want you to study what this means on your own and submit it in the form of a detailed report. It will be graded as a performance evaluation assignment.”

The old professor, unconcerned with the sighs and frowns of the students, handed out handouts through the teaching assistant and left the classroom.

“There’s nothing to it. The young lady and I don’t need to study separately! An S grade is a sure thing, don’t you think?”

Gertrude smiled brightly to lighten the mood, but Krista only gave a hollow smile in return.

He disappeared.

He disappeared.

The wall she had decided to overcome for her entire life disappeared overnight…… Is this overwhelming sense of emptiness really only from that feeling?

– Aren’t you at a level where you can enjoy magic enough?

Bullshit, bullshit…… Krista, gritting her teeth, wrote on the handout with a trembling hand.

The fact that it is geographically close to Trident Point means that it is the land where first-rate adventurers stay the most.

[The name of the largest city is missing] is the largest city representing the West, [and] has flourished brilliantly due to such characteristics.

Merchants who specialize in buying and processing ancient artifacts and ruins brought from Trident Point, entertainers who provide entertainment to adventurers, and artisans who sell and repair equipment.

Since Trident Point is a land that only first-rate adventurers can enter, naturally, money from all over the Empire and people from all walks of life had no choice but to gather in the city.

For that reason, the Eigin Imperial family, which boasted wealth no less than other Prince-Electors—

Just as she was silently moving her pen like a person who had lost her mind, someone suddenly grabbed Krista’s wrist. It was Gertrude.

“You already took the top spot in the midterm exam three weeks ago, so how about visiting the Ludwig family next week during the holiday to pay your respects?”

“What?”

“I think you’re acting like this because you haven’t really accepted that Rain passed away…… Pay your respects, build friendship with the Ludwig family, and get your mind right.”

Pay respects?

Paying respects, you say……?

Oh, right. They said that guy died, not just disappeared somewhere…….

* * *

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”

[The name of the main castle is missing], the main castle of the Eigin Imperial family.

While the Emperor was discussing the future of the Empire with his ministers at the Imperial Council, a young civil official rushed in.

“What is it?”

The Emperor asked, stopping the guards who were reaching for their swords. The civil official bowed once and hurriedly presented a scroll.

“A rebellion has broken out at the Barrier [a fortified border region], and the Beastmen have crossed the Barrier!”

The courtiers, who had been relaxed, began to buzz with astonishment and bewilderment. Someone asked.

“Is that true? How on earth? What is the scale?”

“They are said to number as many as 200,000.”

“That’s absurd.”

“They are currently crossing Trident Point, so they will be able to enter the western part of the Empire in a month or two.”

While the civil official was explaining the situation to the officials, Emperor Eigin, who was personally reading the scroll from the backbone of [the castle], opened his mouth.

“It’s treason. The Minister of War shall immediately summon the Imperial Army.”

The Emperor was the supreme commander of the elite standing army called the Imperial Army.

As the Imperial Army was formed by collecting military expenses from all families for the unified order of the Empire, its size and power were on a different level from the private soldiers of other families.

The guards of ordinary families were not opponents they could dare to face.

“I accept your order, Your Majesty. To whom do you wish to entrust the command of the army?”

The Emperor stroked his chin for a moment, seemingly lost in thought, then his cold eyes turned to the jade throne below the imperial throne.

To where Raida Eigin, the sixteen-year-old Crown Prince of the Eigin family and the Crown Prince of the Empire, was.

Although a sudden chaotic political situation had begun, the Crown Prince’s expression was as calm as a summer lake.

“I would like to entrust the resolution of this matter to the Crown Prince. What are your thoughts?”

This was an opportunity to widely spread the Crown Prince’s capabilities, which everyone in the West acknowledged, to the world.

Suppressing the Beastmen’s invasion, if he did well, it would not be unreasonable for the Eigin Imperial family to continue to hold the throne.

After waiting for the sounds of the high-ranking officials admiring the Emperor’s insight to subside, the Emperor added these words.

“However, I am concerned about the Crown Prince’s safety, so I would like to attach the Stars as his escort.”

The high-ranking officials simultaneously closed their mouths in bewilderment and awe.

When it came to the Stars, there was no one else but ‘them’. The four warriors who were currently spreading their brilliant fame like stars in the Empire.

And the only one who could freely summon and command such individuals was the Emperor. Even the official title was like that. They were called the Four Martial Stars Under the Emperor.

“Your Majesty’s will is correct, but I am concerned that it may be too conspicuous and obscure the brilliance of His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Hmm…….”

“Therefore, please summon the Bow Star and the Magic Star. Due to the characteristics of archers and magicians, they will perfectly assist His Highness the Crown Prince from behind without obscuring his light.”

The Bow Star and the Magic Star…… Emperor Gregon Eigin finally nodded in satisfaction.

“The Grand Library shall immediately deliver my proclamation to the Magic Star Seigan Wolf Blado and the Bow Star Leoren.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The Crown Prince shall lead the Imperial Army across the sea and annihilate those cursed things before they set foot on my land. Can you do it?”

Crown Prince Raida, who had become even more mature since visiting [the university] as a judge for the final exam, gave a court bow with determined, shining eyes.

“Please leave it to me.”

* * *

“Currently, the adventurer groups that are wielding power in Trident Point are the seven guilds called the Seven Weapon Corps.”

Eldevih held up two fingers, adding that the most cautious one is the Mobidic Adventurer Group led by the Platinum-ranked adventurer ranked 3rd.

“Mobidic?”

At that name, I couldn’t help but twitch my eyebrows for a moment.

Where did I hear that?

I’m not very interested in adventurers, so unless something significant happened, the name of an adventurer group wouldn’t remain somewhere in my memory.

Wait a minute.

Mobidic, Mobidic, you say?

– The Mobidic Adventurer Group has nominated us. It’s a place where the adventurer group ranks as high as 3rd.

The faces of Bart, who had a more ferocious impression than any monster but was as kind as Rista, and Rem, who was full of playful smiles, suddenly flashed through my mind.

Are those guys still alive?

Are they still affiliated there?

It would be nice if I could meet them this time…… Just thinking about it made a smile appear on my face.

“You don’t know Mobidic? It’s the invincible adventurer group led by Blake Blackheart! The Emperor tried to pick him as a Sword Saint [a title of great honor] this time, but he refused! He said he likes freedom?”

“Is that so…….”

“I don’t know how these guys, who even refused the Emperor’s request, will react to this situation. It’s highly likely that they haven’t come out of the depths [referring to a dangerous dungeon or unexplored area].”

“What’s the other one?”

“Platinum 8th, the Ku-Ville Adventurer Group led by Lorentz Walschwitz. There’s no need to worry about this one in particular.”

“Ku-Ville? The Aein’s [a race or nationality] adventurer group, right?! But why?”

Eldevih pointed to the Frisia’s identification tag that Kasena had, as if Kasena’s question was absurd.

“What Aein would dare to draw a sword against a princess?”

“Princess?”

There, I couldn’t help but blink my eyes with Kasena.

A princess, you say?

That Frisia?

The three kingdoms of the Aein divided and ruled Kinderlanz Island, which protruded greatly above the Atlantic Ocean in the western part of the continent. The world called them the Three Kingdoms.

“I can’t say the details, but anyway, there’s nothing to worry about Lorentz. He’s not the type to listen to humans in the first place.”

“But it’s amazing. I thought all the famous adventurers would be here.”

“That’s all in the past. Now they’re exploring the ‘Flowing Desert’ in the South Pole or the ‘Steel Continent’ in the Far East, or they’re scattered in various places.”

Next mentioned was an adventurer group called Red Sun Crimson. Kasena’s eyes shone more brightly than ever.

“Red Sun Crimson! It’s a Gold-ranked adventurer group ranked 4th! It has a sad origin in that name!”

“What’s the origin?”

“There’s a leader who died protecting the members in their beginner days, early in the formation of the adventurer group, and all the members carry the flower that bloomed from his grave!”

As Kasena explained with a very excited expression, waving her hands around, Rain, who was nodding interestingly, suddenly pointed over Kasena’s shoulder.

“Like that?”

In that instant, an inexplicable tension swept through Kasena’s entire body.

Before she could even turn around, a beam of light, wielding a fierce heatwave, flew up to her eyes and exploded, turning her vision white.

A deafening explosion, and someone revealed their appearance in the smoke.

“Hmm~ A very good sound. The sound of flesh exploding. And it’s fragrant. The smell of flesh burning.”

It was a man with a white-painted face, who lowered his harp and made a theatrical greeting with exaggerated gestures.

“Hey, you idiot, what are you going to do if you burn them like this? How are we going to get the bounty that the imperial family offered?”

“There will be an identification tag. That’s enough.”

“How are you going to prove whether these guys are traitors or not with that!”

The man and woman who appeared behind him were each holding a curved sword and a spear, and all three had red flowers hanging sadly on their collars.

Red Sun Crimson.

It wasn’t just those three, but two more appeared from the opposite side. From the moment they captured the target, they quietly surrounded them, then attacked, aiming for an opening.

“Dooms.”

A brawny man with a heavy iron mallet on his back said that. He can’t say anything other than his name, Dooms.

“Don’t let your guard down. There was also a guy wearing something like mechanical armor. This can’t be the end.”

All of them had red and white petals hanging on their collars, and the adventurer identification tags jingling from their waists were pure gold.

4th among the Gold-ranked adventurer groups.

It is an adventurer group with top-ranked members even among the Gold-ranked adventurers, where only true experts gather.

“The fact that you attacked us first means that you guys are the bad guys, right?”

“Bad, bad, bad.”

The moment that voice was heard, the explosion was instantly sucked into a gap as if a dimension had been torn apart.

That was not a gap.

It was just a pair of eyes.

An silver-white flower that elegantly bloomed seven petals on a red burning circle…… It was Bell Curious.

“What……?!”

“Not a single scratch……?!”

As if pressing down on the atmosphere, the Red Sun Crimson members took a step back without even knowing that the cold sweat on their foreheads was flowing down due to an unknown absolute sense of oppression.

There was no way they could know that the soul of the boy had the lingering scent of the absolute life form, the True Dragon…….

At that time, someone with some magical skill carefully whispered.

“Isn’t that perhaps…… the Ludwig’s bloodline limit?”

“No way? What Ludwig is in this land?”

“But look! That black hair and red eyes…… He looks just like Scalzi, that old man.”

While the Red Sun Crimson members were whispering in confusion, Kasena’s eyes, who had retreated behind Rain, saw the situation.

‘There are five in total…….’

They were all holding their own weapons…… The number of people, the external characteristics, and the weapons were all exactly as I had seen in the book.

Chungwoon, Fren.

Ganiaksa, Billid.

Each of them ranked 3rd and 14th in Gold rank, and Dooms, Mornark, and the only woman, Skael…… It’s really Red Sun Crimson.

The famous adventurers I saw in the book were surrounding them, ready to fight, but Rain held up one finger to them.

“7 seconds.”

“?”

“The time it takes for that nuisance to cry when Aki is forcibly taken away from my body. I’ll finish all five of them within that time.”