Chapter: 14
An Alliance for the Princess
Ijeten glanced at Emperor Ritain.
‘So that’s why you were on inspection for so long.’
The Anash birch tree.
An exceptionally white birch, it was an ancient tree that had lived for ages.
Emperor Ritain had received a report that something was amiss with the thirty-six Anash birch trees scattered across the Eastern Continent exactly one month after Jusie was born.
At first, he hadn’t thought much of it.
But as more trees began to fall ill, Emperor Ritain, sensing the gravity of the situation, went to inspect the Anash birch trees himself.
Facing an Anash birch that was sickening and turning black, Emperor Ritain frowned.
From then on, he began a full-scale investigation into the Anash birch trees and searched for places where the Dark Divine Beast might be sealed.
Since ancient times, Anash had remained in the form of a birch tree, but the Dark Divine Beast’s true identity had never been confirmed, nor had its sealed location been revealed.
It was only surmised to be somewhere deep and dark.
So, he focused on looking for signs of the Dark Divine Beast awakening, investigating every corner.
This final inspection was to check the Anash birch tree in the west, adjacent to the Western Continent.
After crossing high mountain ranges, Ritain’s heart sank when he saw the state of the Anash birch tree right before the Rosart River with his own eyes.
The ancient Anash tree, rooted near the land where the fierce waters of the Rosart River flowed, was completely withered and dead.
The Rosart River was the most likely candidate for the Dark Divine Beast’s sealed location, which sent a further chill down his spine.
At that moment, Ritain saw an overlap between the Anash birch tree and the pure white Jusie.
Imagining his lovely child withering and dying, turning black like the tree, Ritain clenched his fists tightly.
For the first time, he felt the emotion of ‘fear’.
He declared resolutely to his subjects.
“Therefore, I intend to cooperate with the Western Continent to establish countermeasures against the Dark Divine Beast.”
“By the Western Continent, do you perhaps mean the Rilberg Empire?”
Ijeten, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
The Emperor, thinking that despite his irascible nature, the Crown Prince was indeed better than the nobles, slowly nodded and smiled.
“That is correct.”
Duke Atasix asked, aghast.
“Your Majesty! Why the Rilberg Empire, of all places?”
“Besides, would those prideful bastards ever cooperate? Will the ones who fled to the Western Continent because they despise Divine Beasts really help us?”
The Emperor let out a short laugh.
“It’s not about helping us. Is the Dark Divine Beast a fool? Do you think a being that appears on the surface will only attack the Eastern Continent?”
“Ah.”
“Still…!”
The Emperor, having made fools of the nobles who had asked such a question, continued.
“The Western Empire will surely accept our request. According to intelligence I gathered while at the western border, recent movements in the Rilberg Empire are unusual.”
“Has something happened?”
“They say the Rilberg Emperor was assassinated. A new emperor has already been enthroned.”
The shocked Beastmen unknowingly gaped.
They had heard that the emperor of the human empire was the strongest Archmage, possessing immense power.
There was no way he could lose in a fight.
The news that a neighboring emperor had been assassinated was a tremendous shock.
Ritain narrowed his eyes and spoke.
“It’s hard to be certain yet, but it’s clear that an incident related to the Dark Divine Beast is also occurring in the Rilberg Empire.”
“On what grounds do you base that judgment, Your Majesty?”
“They hold Archmages in high esteem. It’s unlikely they would try to assassinate one another. If so, it would have to be someone from outside the Rilberg Empire… But who would have the power to kill the emperor?”
Ritain continued cautiously, addressing the astonished nobles.
“And the timing of the Anash birch tree turning black coincides with the death of the previous emperor. For a coincidence, it’s quite ominous.”
“Good heavens. Then what kind of person is the current emperor of the Rilberg Empire?”
When Ijeten asked impatiently, Emperor Ritain gave a light shrug.
“It’s still under investigation. Perhaps because of how the previous emperor died, they’ve become even more secretive lately, giving our intelligence unit a hard time.”
“I see.”
“It doesn’t matter who it is. In any case, following their tradition, the strongest Archmage would have become emperor. I will request a formal exchange.”
At the Emperor’s decision, the nobles murmured, showing their disapproval.
The Penterin Empire had not formally met or had dealings with the Rilberg Empire for a long time.
The perception was ingrained that they were contemptible people who had ostracized Beastmen and left to build a world of their own.
Once again, Duke Atasix stepped forward cautiously.
“Your Majesty. I am concerned about the backlash from our citizens. Furthermore, if we are the first to request an exchange and are refused, the prestige of the Penterin Empire is also a concern…”
“I do not sit on this throne to protect my pride. I am here to protect the Penterin Empire and its people.”
Contrary to his calm, even-toned voice, his golden eyes blazed like a roaring flame.
“For the responsibilities that come with my station, I will do anything.”
At the Emperor’s solemn declaration, the nobles pressed their lips shut.
“For now, I will send a letter to formally request an exchange, so be advised.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. We will prepare accordingly.”
At the Emperor’s command, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was busy planning for the future.
Furthermore, Ritain decided during this meeting to create a dedicated organization to find and pursue the Dark Divine Beast, placing it directly under the Emperor’s command.
And the Penterin military was to have its formations further detailed, its weapons and soldiers increased, and its training intensified.
After the meeting that lasted late into the night, Ritain returned to his room and thought deeply.
‘Cooperation with the mages is essential. I must convince the Rilberg Empire to engage with us.’
Ritain had long been interested in magic.
Mages, a power Beastmen did not possess.
He believed they would undoubtedly play a significant role in the future battle against the Dark Divine Beast.
***
“I wish to see His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Please wait a moment.”
The next afternoon.
Ijeten went to see Ritain.
No matter how much he thought about it, he felt doubt and opposition.
Unaware of how strong mages were, he believed that the monstrous strength and supernatural abilities of the Beastmen alone were sufficient to face the Dark Divine Beast.
Ijeten, who had gone to see Ritain without an appointment, got straight to the point after a greeting.
“Your Majesty. Are you truly certain it’s alright to engage with the mages?”
Since being invested as the Crown Prince at the age of eight, Ijeten had called Ritain “Your Majesty” instead of “Father.”
It was to fulfill his responsibilities as the Crown Prince.
Ritain, sitting in his office, glanced at the mature Ijeten presenting his opinion and replied lightly.
“What are you worried about? Your father will take care of everything.”
“I am simply… concerned about potential disputes.”
“Disputes?”
“Beastmen and humans have not spoken to each other for a long time. Even if we approach them with goodwill, they might ignore us or make blatantly unreasonable demands. Wouldn’t that lead to a fight? We are, after all, distinctly different species.”
Ritain chuckled briefly and replied at a leisurely pace.
“It’s not that I don’t understand your concerns.”
Hearing the sharp point, Ritain thought that Ijeten had grown up a lot and continued.
“It might be just as you say.”
“Your Majesty.”
“But I will willingly consider it and make concessions. Because it’s for Jusie.”
“Ah.”
His eyes widening at the calm reply, Ijeten easily accepted it and nodded.
“Yes.”
If Jusie was the reincarnation of Anash, they had to be of help when the real fight against the Dark Divine Beast began.
He hadn’t the slightest intention of sending Jusie into battle alone.
‘That’s right. I don’t want Jusie to step into a dangerous place. We’ll end it before that happens.’
To do that, it would be much faster and more advantageous for both Beastmen and humans to join forces.
After his audience with his father, Ijeten strengthened his resolve.
But the next day.
“Kyahang, keuhahang? Gyareureureung? Kyang kyang kyang kyang!”
“…What? You can’t use your supernatural ability?”
“Keuheong!”
He was flustered as he watched Jusie explain with gestures that she couldn’t use her supernatural ability.
