Chapter 140 : Chapter 140
Chapter 140
Heading to the underground waterway, fully prepared, someone awaited.
“Come.”
Adela.
The Golden Princess, asserting her presence even in the dark, dreary waterway.
“I came to fetch you.”
“No need, Your Highness.”
“I do it because I want to.”
“If you insist.”
I climbed into the golden carriage, the door closed, and it started moving.
Where to?
The imperial palace, of course.
Outside the window, the gloomy waterway matched my mood, passing by.
“You look troubled.”
“…Is it obvious?”
“There’s only one reason you’d be so shaken.”
Her golden eyes stared at me.
“Lilac. That maid girl.”
“….”
“Got it right.”
Smirking, Adela leaned forward, her delicate hand touching her chin.
“What happened?”
Before I could speak.
“Asking would be rude.”
Never thought I’d hear that from Adela.
“…I don’t have much to say. If it was about wealth or glory, you’d have asked for help already. Those are the lightest things in the world. If the maid had a fatal illness? I’d have taken her to the grand temple, not be here…”
Right.
Wealth and glory were trivial.
Health was important, but not the answer.
Muttering to herself, Adela continued.
“Anyway, Martin. You’re my Black Knight. I’m your Princess.”
Meeting my eyes clearly, she said:
“So, if you need my help, whatever it is, ask. I’ll grant it generously.”
I realized then.
This was… Adela’s way of comforting me.
‘Is it that obvious?’
The golden carriage stopped.
Stepping out, it was a dark room.
Unusual, since we usually disembarked at the palace entrance and walked in.
“The protagonist arrives last.”
Adela, stepping down, clarified my confusion.
“Today, we’re the protagonists.”
Spreading her arms, the waiting room’s lights flickered on, revealing the scene.
Mirrors, clothes, mirrors, clothes.
And Luri.
“Ta-da! Martin! Hi!”
“Greetings, Cadet Luri.”
Luri waved a men’s uniform in both hands.
“Figured you wouldn’t prepare something like this, so I got it ready!”
“I helped too. Shall we start?”
It became a full-on dress-up game.
“Ta-da! A classic Imperium capital men’s party suit!”
“Hm, white fabric with gold thread embroidery. What do you think?”
“Limited edition from the capital’s top menswear brand, Eshwaltje. How is it?!”
“This is a matter of taste, but an all-black party outfit with small gems for charm.”
I tried on several outfits in no time, but they weren’t satisfied, deliberating endlessly.
Fed up, I pulled a set from my magic pouch.
“I’ll wear this.”
Luri and Adela looked at me, surprised.
“You prepared that, Martin?”
“Huh… you?”
It was a deep green uniform, perfectly fitted, adorned with gold cords and an emblem.
A cloak resembling a robe and black leather gloves completed it.
“Oh…”
“This is…”
Both gasped, then exhaled slowly.
“It works.”
“Splendid. My aesthetic sense approves.”
I thought that was it, but.
“Come on!”
Luri dragged me to a vanity and sat me down.
“What’s this…!”
She immediately applied powder, styled my hair, and adjusted my clothes.
“…Isn’t this usually a maid’s job?”
“Eh, Luri doesn’t know about that.”
Finishing, she smiled brightly.
“Eek, Martin, you look cool!”
“Thanks.”
Standing before the mirror, I was shocked… my face looked unchanged.
“…?”
“Hm? What? You look great! Even you think you’re handsome, right?!”
“Indeed, my aesthetic sense finds you sufficiently handsome.”
Was I the only one not getting it?
Was this an insult?
A compliment?
Know-It-All (Lv 4) says it’s definitely an insult, so hug them and say thanks!
Wild Instinct (Lv 4) insists it’s a compliment, so hug them and say thanks!
‘Both of you, stop!’
Soon, they changed too—Luri in a pink dress, Adela in a golden one, matching their hair.
We began moving.
Passing a terrace overlooking the grand banquet hall’s entrance.
‘Impressive.’
The crowd below looked like sprouts in a steamer, so many gathered.
It seemed every notable figure worldwide was there.
Melodies of knowledge and culture burst forth.
The grandest, most splendid stage at the world’s center, drawing global luminaries.
Past that, a special waiting room appeared—for the banquet’s protagonists.
Inside…
“Hey, Martin!”
“Wow…!”
The protagonist party, Kazaks’ faction, and Anette were all there.
I half-heartedly returned their greetings and sat in a corner.
“Mar…”
Gilbert tried to greet me but was stopped by Bord and Elisha.
“Hey, buddy. Read the room.”
“Gilbert, not today.”
“Um, Cadet Martin doesn’t seem in a good mood…”
Even Mary pleaded for him to stay quiet.
They began chatting about conquering Fog Island’s Time Chaos Dungeon and the rewards.
Soon, orchestral music flowed.
The grand banquet had begun.
***
How long does a World Tree’s growth take?
No statistics or data exist, naturally.
Only one World Tree had existed in this world.
This was the second.
Normally, it took a year to sprout and ten years to awaken into the 5-meter tree seen in the Time Chaos Dungeon.
In the original story, the protagonist party used spiritual items to drastically shorten it, but it still took decades, centuries, or millennia.
But.
Look at the vibrant threads.
The lush greenery.
The pillar upholding the world.
The World Tree, nearly fully grown, overlooked the world.
Vitality gathered, birthing fairies, who gained physical bodies from the World Tree, reborn as Elves.
“Oh, Mother.”
“Mother of Life.”
Each Elf and Fairy had unique personalities, appearances, and inclinations.
But, originating from the World Tree, they shared thoughts and emotions through it.
“As you will.”
“We shall go.”
The World Tree yearned for one person, eagerly awaiting them.
Elves and Fairies bowed, echoing the great being’s will.
“Go.”
“We shall bring them.”
***
Knock, knock.
The waiting room doors opened, and a neatly dressed imperial butler appeared.
“Pride of the Empire, the time has come. All preparations are ready at the grand banquet hall. Today, even His Majesty the Emperor is not the protagonist—only the heroes who achieved great feats.”
Endless praise.
“Allow this humble imperial butler the honor of escorting the heroes to the banquet hall.”
Bowing deeply, he requested, and we stood as if on cue.
It was time for the protagonists to take the stage.
Following the butler, we reached a door made entirely of gold—the Emperor’s Door, usable only by one person in the Empire.
“Who will take the stage first?”
He asked us to decide the order, but traditionally, nobler figures entered later.
As I stepped forward.
“I’ll go first.”
It was Gilbert, with Lina beside him.
The butler nodded, relaying instructions to the attendants.
It made sense.
I might’ve left my family, but I couldn’t deny my noble blood.
Gilbert, though royal, was disguised as a commoner.
“Go ahead.”
The protagonist arrived last, but sometimes, being the protagonist meant leading the charge.
The butler announced loudly:
“Academy Cadet, Sir Gilbert!”
Sir.
A title for honorable knights.
Gilbert Cosmos strode confidently through the Emperor’s Door.
Beyond lay the Emperor and luminaries from across the world, mere spectators today.
“Woooo!”
Ear-splitting cheers erupted.
Who’d have thought the Super Rookie, praised for heaven-sent talent at the Cadet Assessment, would cause such a stir so soon?
Like a novel, wasn’t it?
Gilbert sat at the round table before the Emperor’s throne.
Befitting his royal blood, he showed no nerves.
“Academy Cadet, Sir Lina!”
Lina passed through the Emperor’s Door next.
The stoic swordswoman was surprisingly popular.
Her perfect physique and striking looks helped, but her unwavering posture was the epitome of a proud knight.
She sat at the round table.
“Academy Cadet, Sir Anette, a high noble of a foreign land!”
Anette’s entrance drew gasps.
Her jet-black hair, red eyes, and regal aura as a princess and empress captivated onlookers.
As Anette sat…
My turn.
“Academy Cadet, Sir Martin von Targon Ulvhadin!”
As I passed through the Emperor’s Door, the banquet hall fell silent as if by magic.
“…Martin?”
“The Ulvhadin scoundrel?”
“That… trash Martin?”
The mastermind behind school violence at Imperium Academy, where only the continent’s best gathered.
A disgrace to nobility, expelled from his family.
The culprit who assaulted the underground waterway guards during the Helaine incident.
“The Black Knight of the Princess.”
“That guy…?”
The foremost knight of the brutal Golden Princess, said to have killed dozens of nobles.
“….”
“….”
“….”
The hall was filled with silence.
Young lords and ladies, new to society, glanced around awkwardly.
Some Academy peers were there, eyeing me cautiously.
My reputation had improved within the Academy.
But the old titans of society sent cold glares at the Hound approaching the Emperor’s round table.
‘I knew.’
The air was different.
I walked as if on icy ground, lonely and cold.
Fine.
I’d accepted this as my fate long ago.
That they wouldn’t welcome me was something I knew better than anyone…
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
Two small, delicate palms met, echoing through the vast banquet hall.