Chapter: 29
A Call for Alliance
“The Penterin Imperial Family is under the protection of the divine beast brothers, Ganash and Anash. In the battle against the Dark Divine Beast, Anash sacrificed everything to defend this land. In her honor, the Penterin Imperial Family has upheld her will, using the power of her brother, Ganash, to protect and guide the beastmen.”
“I see.”
Archmage Noah, who had always been interested in beastmen despite not having studied the history of divine beasts in detail, nodded with fascination.
Ritain continued.
“Though a long time has passed, the warning to be wary of the Dark Divine Beast has remained. To the public, the story of Anash and the Dark Divine Beast has become little more than a folktale, but for our direct imperial line, it has been a long-standing duty.”
“What sort of warning, Your Majesty?”
“The divine beast Ganash delivered an oracle: that Anash, the White Tiger, must be born again. This prophecy has been passed down since the time of the fifth emperor.”
“Ah!”
A faint stir rippled through the room.
“Princess Jusielia.”
“The White Tiger Princess has been born. Finally!”
As the archmages let out gasps of realization, Ijeten’s expression darkened.
Ekiel, however, seemed lost in thought, his mind clearly elsewhere.
Ritain let out a sigh and motioned for Duke Atashix to bring the item.
As Duke Atashix spilled a cascade of black branches onto the table, Ekiel’s expression grew grim.
“Anash’s Birch.”
“…You knew?”
Ritain was surprised by the unexpected reaction.
“Please, continue. I will explain in a moment.”
“Very well.”
Ritain shot Ekiel a displeased look before picking up one of the blackened, withered birch branches.
“This is an Anash Birch, said to be an extension of the divine beast Anash herself. They are found all across the continent. But since the birth of my daughter, Jusi, they have been withering and turning black.”
“Withering and turning black…”
“It seems the Dark Divine Beast is deliberately seeking out traces of Anash to strike first.”
A chill fell over the room at Archmage Urna’s grave words.
“Next, the White Tiger Princess?”
“Since she is the reincarnation of Anash.”
The archmages swiftly and rationally reached a conclusion.
Ritain bit his lower lip and slammed his hand lightly on the table.
“Yes. My daughter is the reincarnation of Anash. But I refuse to place this entire burden on a mere child. Moreover, she is a beastman. She was born a beastman, not an absolute divine beast. Should this fight not be one that all life on this land faces together?”
Ritain’s powerful cry echoed through the conference room.
A heavy silence descended.
For a moment, they had believed that with the birth of Anash’s reincarnation, they could stand against the Dark Divine Beast.
Though still young, the princess’s supernatural ability, which they had witnessed at the banquet, was undeniably immense, and her future potential seemed limitless.
But to be blunt, the young Princess Jusi was a beastman, not a divine beast.
The Emperor had made a fair point.
Silence settled as they realized their own narrow-mindedness and complacency.
“You are correct.”
It was Emperor Ekiel who broke the silence.
For the first time, he offered Ritain a gentle smile.
“The White Tiger Princess must be protected, and her talents must be further awakened.”
“Talents?”
“Yes. Is that not why you, the Emperor of Penterin, invited us to the Rilberg Empire—to request our cooperation?”
“Is that why?”
The statement didn’t quite add up.
But Ritain realized Ekiel had deliberately changed the subject again, and his lips twisted into a smirk.
*Well, now.*
Sensing that Ekiel intended to discuss Jusielia separately, Ritain willingly went along with the change of topic.
“Indeed. When the Dark Divine Beast fully awakens, it will roam the continent, leaving devastation in its wake. I hope the Rilberg Empire will closely share information about this foe with us and enter into a military pact.”
“That will be a complicated affair.”
“But a necessary one.”
Archmage Urna was the first to sigh and grumble, but Marquis Skoten chimed in with a faint smile.
Just then, Ekiel looked forward and spoke decisively.
“Urna, you will engage in these negotiations with utmost diligence. This has already become a necessity for us as well.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor of Rilberg made his decision swiftly, and the archmages obeyed without any protest.
The Penterin nobles, as well as Ijeten and Ritain, were inwardly astonished.
The mages’ loyalty to the young emperor was truly remarkable.
While his magical abilities seemed exceptional, it was still strange to see people follow the words of one so young.
Emperor Ritain and Crown Prince Ijeten had also shown great promise from a young age thanks to the divine beast’s blessing, but Ekiel was even younger, ruling an entire nation as its emperor. It was astonishing.
“The tales of the Rilberg Empire, that they enthrone their most powerful mage as emperor, were true.”
Ritain remarked, propping his chin on his hand as he observed the scene. The Penterin nobles nodded in agreement.
“Indeed.”
“How powerful must he be…”
…for them to obey someone so young.
The Penterin nobles swallowed hard.
As they began to fill out some preliminary documents before formal exchanges, Duke Atashix asked cautiously.
“Forgive me if this is rude.”
Duke Atashix smiled.
“Compared to my own grandson, he is so composed. Hoho. Is the Emperor of Rilberg different because he is a special mage?”
How could he not compare him to his own grandson, who had blown up the estate gate just yesterday and then run away, afraid of being scolded by the adults?
Duke Atashix sighed as he looked at the Rilberg emperor, who sat with such poise and elegance.
Normal children his age.
It was strange to compare them to him.
But this was a common occurrence, so Ekiel offered a slight smile to Duke Atashix, who seemed to wish Ekiel were his own grandson, and delivered a sharp retort.
“The Duke’s grandson is merely acting his age.”
“Ahem. I-Is that so?”
Duke Atashix flinched, sensing a chill in Ekiel’s smile.
He then realized his mistake.
It was rude to compare the emperor of a nation to his own grandson.
But he couldn’t help feeling envious.
As Ekiel gazed at Duke Atashix, who was pressing his throbbing temples with a troubled expression, he continued.
“I hold the title of Emperor. I act accordingly.”
The Penterin nobles, including Duke Atashix, were impressed by the young emperor’s composed response.
Even with royal education, it wasn’t easy for a child to act with such calm and dignity.
Ekiel Isles Rilberg was certainly no ordinary child.
However, Archmage Urna, seated right next to Ekiel, leaned in and asked in a low, concerned voice.
“Are you alright, Your Majesty?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Don’t worry yourself over nothing, Urna.”
Ekiel replied calmly and took a sip of the drink from the cup before him.
He then let out a sigh-like smile toward the beastmen, who were still staring at him with curiosity.
“It seems my uniqueness is difficult for you to comprehend.”
The beastmen, embarrassed, quickly averted their gazes.
“No, it’s not that, it’s just…”
“I understand. You see it as a difference between beastmen and humans, do you not? But this is a matter of being a ‘mage’.”
Nodding as if he understood the flustered Duke Atashix, Ekiel turned his gaze to Urna and gave an order.
“It is said that the intellectual development of mages differs from that of ordinary people. This is a special trait of mages. Urna will explain the details.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
Urna bowed her head at Ekiel’s command and began to explain to the Penterin delegation.
“Just as beastmen have supernatural abilities, mages are born with mana. His Majesty the Emperor is even more exceptional than other mages.”
“More exceptional than other mages?”
Ritain propped his chin on his hand, his sharp gaze fixed on Ekiel with interest as he spoke.
“Is that so? Is that why he’s so knowledgeable about special formulas?”
He was recalling how Ekiel had instantly cured the ailing Jusi.
“Yes, that is correct.”
Urna answered in his stead, glancing furtively at Ekiel.
