A scouting team stayed beside Ether, who was gazing into the distance.
The 1st Princess, as usual, feared nothing but seemed curious about
something.
"Is there something bothering you?"
Ether's gaze turned to the Scouting Team Leader.
With her towering height of nearly two meters and golden eyes shining
beneath snow-white hair, the 1st Princess had such an overwhelming
presence that the Scouting Team Leader barely managed to stand firm.
Without making eye contact, the Scouting Team Leader asked.
"Are you worried about the match? The 1st Princess will surely win. What
is there to worry about?"
"Victory is, of course, a given for me."
Ether looked at the armband on her left arm.
The event for this match was stealing the armband.
However, it was very different from a regular armband-stealing match,
starting with the fact that they were positioned at a great distance from each
other.
"But it seems my opponent is not afraid of me."
"…What? Is that possible?"
Ether nodded silently.
From now on, they would launch long-range attacks at each other from
Cullinan Gorge and Dominon Gorge.
The victory conditions were also simple.
Destroy the opponent's armband or force them to surrender.
However, each location had its own unique characteristics.
"This Cullinan Gorge is a high ground. Do you know that?"
"Yes. It's much higher than Dominon Gorge."
"But Dominon Gorge is thick with fog."
Just as Cullinan Gorge, where Ether stood, had the advantage of being a
high ground, Dominon Gorge had the advantage of being shrouded in fog,
making it easier to evade.
"But the fog will be poison to him too."
That part bothered Ether.
Hiding in the fog would be good for concealing oneself, but it would also
obstruct one's own vision. It couldn't be seen as just an advantage.
This match, in fact, seemed to favor Ether more.
Like in chess, giving the first move to a beginner, as if implying that Ether
was the weaker one, and graciously conceding.
"He must know all of this, yet it's interesting."
"What?"
"He knows that I am his opponent and that he's at a disadvantage, yet he
still comes out for the match…"
"Maybe he's just incredibly reckless?"
The Scouting Team Leader furrowed his brow in disbelief.
The 1st Princess Ether had already achieved tremendous feats in
subjugation. A match against someone whose titles kept increasing day by
day?
"Coveting the royal elixirs means he's coveting my elixirs as well, which he
must know…"
The Scouting Team Leader made a disgusted expression.
"It must be one of two things. Either he doesn't know his place, or he's
desperate for the elixirs…"
"Well, it doesn't matter now."
"Huh?"
"As I said before, victory is naturally mine."
Ether assumed her stance.
The 1st Princess, who had nothing in her hands, suddenly gathered
powerful energy that formed into a bow.
The Scouting Team Leader stared blankly at the sight. The powerful energy
resonated with the surroundings, a force so immense that it was hard to
believe she was human.
Slowly, Ether nocked an arrow on the bowstring.
"I'll end this quickly with a single strike."
Fwoosh.
The thick cigar in the 1st Princess's mouth lit up.
"I'm a busy woman. I've received an important letter."
At Dominon Gorge, a mat was laid out, and they sat down.
Hedera and Solana were still clinging to Jaekiel's side, and the apple was
still suspended in mid-air. The Emperor seemed to be watching this sight
intently.
Jaekiel found the situation difficult.
Solana, sitting on his left, gently tapped Jaekiel's arm, unaware of his
feelings.
"Teacher, were you planning to eat it without peeling? I'll peel it for you.
Just eat."
Solana's skill in peeling the apple was exceptional. With just a few
movements of the paring knife, the apple was laid bare.
Hedera clicked her tongue.
"Showing off with such a trivial skill."
"Showing off? I just wanted the Teacher to enjoy it more. You seem rather
overly anxious… Ah, I think I know why."
Solana smiled brightly.
"Unpeeled fruit, undercooked meat, still raw bread… The 2nd Princess used
to eat anything she came across, right? Are you a dragon or a pig?"
"…When was that? I don't do that anymore."
Jaekiel quietly turned his head to the right.
The apple in the air was still unpeeled. At least, the Emperor ate it whole.
Crunch…
Soon, part of the apple's skin was peeled. He seemed to be pondering
whether to peel it or not.
"…"
Jaekiel quickly took action, snatching the apple from Solana's hand in one
swift motion.
"I prefer to eat it like this."
"Oh, is that so? I must respect your opinion, Teacher. Then I'll just cut it
into bite-sized pieces."
Crunch. Crunch.
Only then did the apple on the right side disappear completely.
'This is harder than the match.'
Could he win the Emperor's favor?
It would be good if he could. One drop of Sun Water might become two.
But he should be thankful if he didn't get on the Emperor's bad side.
He decided it would be better to send the princesses back. Being together
only caused unnecessary discomfort.
"Your Majesty, has the match already started?"
"It has already begun. Each has five attack opportunities. If the match isn't
decided within those, it's considered a draw, and neither side gets the
elixirs."
Jaekiel nodded.
"Then, it would be better for the princesses to step back. I intend to use the
entire gorge as a battlefield."
Then, the movement of eating the apple stopped abruptly.
'He doesn't want them to leave? What does he want?'
Jaekiel quickly added something at the end of his sentence.
"…Just moving a bit away from me is enough. Just the distance between
me and Your Majesty."
A subtle suggestion to go closer to the Emperor.
Crunch. Crunch.
The apple disappeared faster.
That was good up to that point, but then it got worse again.
"Is this distance enough?"
"I can pray from here."
The princesses had moved further away, but to the opposite side of the
Emperor. Jaekiel was standing in the middle between the Emperor and the
princesses.
"Hmm."
Jaekiel quietly wiped his face with his palm. It had been a long time since
he had sweated like this.
The apple stuck in mid-air.
The Emperor's uncomfortable mood.
"…"
Jaekiel soon came up with a clever idea.
"It's not often we gather like this."
He made an easel out of ice, took out a scroll from his pocket, and spread it
out on it, making a suggestion.
"I'll draw a portrait for you."
"…A portrait?"
"Yes. Please gather around."
A way to use his talent while getting the princesses closer to the Emperor.
Yes, this was the best he could think of for now.
The two princesses showed great interest first. They quickly moved and sat
next to the Emperor.
"A portrait? Oh my, I'll receive a gift more precious than anything. Does
this mean you can observe me cleanly, even in this thick fog?"
"It means your appearance is so insignificant that it doesn't need to be
observed to be drawn. And it's not 'cleanly', but 'clearly'."
"Clearly, clearly… That's what I said."
Solana responded with a kind smile.
"By the way, why are you subtly pushing with your butt? I always
wondered what use such large fat like a pig's would have, and now I see it's
for this."
Worried it might lead to a fight, Jaekiel had no choice but to intervene.
"Usually, the ones who stay still are drawn more beautifully."
The commotion stopped, as if time had frozen.
"…"
He could feel immense determination and will from the two women.
A strong determination to look prettier than the other.
Jaekiel glanced at the fruit basket.
Only three apples were left. Now, he could only gauge the Emperor's mood
in real time with just three.
Crunch. Crunch.
The Emperor, who seemed to be in a good mood, spoke.
"Are you sure it's okay? The match has already started. You might be
attacked while focusing on the painting."
"I'm fine, but the portrait might be left unfinished."
Crunch…
The speed of eating the apple slowed slightly.
"I'll work as quickly as possible."
Crunch. Crunch.
The Emperor, who was in a better mood, was now transparent, making it
crucial to know how to draw him. A rough drawing of his robe alone would
never satisfy him.
'It must be impressive. Definitely.'
Magic and art were what Jaekiel loved.
Therefore, Jaekiel didn't seek regular completion. If he could finish a
portrait that would capture the Emperor's interest, he would surely gain
something.
'At the same time, it might help in figuring out his identity.'
In short, he planned to make the most of this situation.
"Your Majesty, how would you like to be drawn?"
"What you see is all there is. Isn't that so?"
He didn't give an easy answer.
'He likes apples, so should I try this?'
Deformation. What is called exaggeration in art.
Jaekiel used that. On the robe adorned with ornate decorations, he drew the
head as an apple.
"What are you doing now?"
'He's seeing everything.'
He had felt it since entering the foggy gorge, but the Emperor's vision
seemed different from merely being wide.
"I was just loosening my hand."
He subtly moved the apple drawing. As if he had drawn the apple in the air
from the beginning.
5 minutes.
10 minutes.
30 minutes.
Then, time flowed like a river.
Surprisingly, the Emperor broke the silence first.
"It's not an unpleasant experience. Looking back, I've never had a group
portrait. Even the mothers of the princesses only left memorial portraits."
"Is that so? I'll put more effort into it."
First, Solana and Hedera were complete.
Even though he just drew them as they were, their beauty was comparable
to goddesses from myths, making it impossible to determine which was
superior.
Now, only one apple remained in the basket.
The only thing left to draw was the Emperor.
But then.
Kraaaaa!
A tremendous roar tore through the air, getting closer.
Jaekiel immediately assessed the direction, source, speed, and power of the
projectile. As expected, it was the 1st Princess.
Jaekiel bit down hard on the Sun Grass.
'It's Ether's strike.'
…The problem was the power.
The blow Ether had launched was powerful enough to wipe this place off
the map. Safety could not be guaranteed.
"It's unfortunate, Jaekiel."
The Emperor had somehow approached very close.
"I was really looking forward to the finished painting. It seems completing
it quickly was impossible."
Still holding the last apple, the Emperor asked as Ether's strike flew in.
"It's a power that makes it difficult for everyone to survive, right?"
Rumbleeeee!
A roar that shook the heavens.
A blow that would overturn the entire land was coming.
Yet the Emperor's voice was eerily clear.
"Indeed, what do you think of my daughters?"
Jaekiel's gaze turned to behind the Emperor.
The two princesses were sleeping soundly, the Emperor having put them to
sleep in an instant.
Rumbleee. Rumbleeeeeee!
A blow powerful enough to turn this place into scorched earth.
The Emperor had no intention of doing anything.
There was little time left. He could cast magic only once, and something
that took a long time to prepare was impossible.
"I really want to hear your answer."
Was that what the Emperor was curious about from the beginning?
In a brief moment, a flashing sense.
Jaekiel made a decision.
"The safety of the princesses is more important than my life."
And the next moment.
Kraaaaaa!
The entire area was annihilated.
The entire Dominon Gorge was overturned.
Crackle… Crackle…
In the shattered Dominon Gorge, the only sound was the brutal cracking of
rocks from the shock.
Verd, the Formless Emperor.
He calmly surveyed the surroundings.
With just one attack, she overturned the land and cleared all the fog in an
instant. The title of "Goddess of War," often attached to Ether, was not in
vain.
The Emperor quietly observed the 2nd and 3rd princesses.
"Oh, is this your answer?"
The two princesses were splendidly protected within an ice barrier. In the
brief moment when he could only cast one spell, Jaekiel chose to protect the
princesses.
"More important than your own life, you chose to protect the princesses.
That's commendable. But it's a bit disappointing this way."
The Emperor tossed and caught the apple.
"There are plenty who would risk their lives for the princesses. Protecting
the princesses while securing victory. That was your task, which you surely
knew."
The answer was good, but it seemed that was as far as it went.
Jaekiel was dead. Probably, for sure.
"Certainly, the princesses' lives are more important than mine."
However.
"But it doesn't mean I'd throw my life away."
It wasn't something he had said himself.
A voice that shouldn't be heard.
"…"
The Emperor slowly surveyed his surroundings again.
There was one thing that could be said to be surprising.
He was clearly detected to be dead, but the man was still alive and painting
in front of the easel.
It was a strange sight.
A face covered in blood flowing from his forehead, a body that looked
severely injured… A corpse that should have collapsed immediately, yet he
continued his work, smoking Sun Grass.
A skill that made his presence seem like that of a dead person.
Jaekiel had achieved that.
"A strange trick you've learned. When did you…?"
"Please stay still."
Daringly, Jaekiel interrupted the Emperor's words and actions.
"For the painting, you need to stay still to look good."
"Huh…"
The Emperor's breath was strange.
"Your Majesty."
Jaekiel called the highest being in the empire.
His gaze was still on the scroll on the easel.
"If I win, will you buy this painting?"
"How much do you want to sell it for?"
"I want Sun Water."
Whoosh!
The Emperor tossed and caught the apple in the air.
"Huh."
His breath became even more mysterious.
A brief silence.
In the center of the overturned gorge.
"The completion of the portrait… and victory in the match…"
The Emperor asked quietly.
"Are you saying you can not only protect the two princesses but also easily
achieve both of these?"
"Yes."
A mischievous smile on a face covered in blood.
"It's not difficult."
A smile that couldn't be hated.
Crunch!
A sound of biting the apple.
At the same time, it was the Emperor's answer.
The acceptance was given