Chapter 228 – Raising Talent 7 (1/2)
“If you don’t want to be thrown into the lake again, stay quiet in the prison.”
Woohyuk sent her to Heidelberg, the capital of the Rhine Kingdom.
Afterward, he called upon his personnel, who had been scattered around the area and taking a break, to gather together.
“Asura~! It’s been a long time!” Aris, who was researching various things in Inotia, happily greeted.
“How far have you progressed on the Qliphoth Fruit research?”
“It’s almost done. Only the last hurdle remains.”
The research was able to proceed relatively quickly thanks to the Fruit of the Living Water that Woohyuk had given Aris.
In the first place, the Qliphoth Fruit was the result of imitating the Fruit of Living Water’s principle but reversing it.
Woohyuk nodded and looked at the people gathered around him.
‘Fortunately, no one is missing.’
The attack on the Great Sage Arcane’s Tower was not mandatory.
Since the main purpose of this gathering itself was focused on nurturing talent, the mental condition and will of his talents were important.
Possibly because everyone felt the chaos of these times, everyone responded to Woohyuk’s call.
“I wonder what will be in the Great Sage Arcane’s Tower. Will a legendary artifact come out?” Sieg excitedly said aloud.
Some of those who were gathered weren’t included in his original plan and weren’t privy to the knowledge of possibly obtaining a legendary artifact.
Woohyuk turned his head and stared at the excited Sieg.
“What do you plan to do if we find it?”
“Oh, well… in principle, the person who found it first is the owner, but it should be handed over to the person who needs it the most. Since Brynhildr and I are joining to keep Tinia and Silvia safe, we have no intention of taking the spoils.”
With the participation of Sieg and Brynhildr, the tactical force of the raid was further strengthened.
Thanks to this, Woohyuk was glad that he didn’t have to worry about an unexpected emergency.
Losing so many talents at once would inevitably hurt Woohyuk’s efforts.
“Hmm… it’s going to be a fun adventure. I’m also lucky to be able to follow in the footsteps of Great Sage Arcane,” Allen said aloud.
“I don’t really care, to be honest. I just want to gather things to exchange for money. Then, I can enjoy lemon jelly and black tea anytime,” Reina followed up.
When the story of the tower came out, Allen and Reina, from the Principality of Croix [sic Croa], each said a few words.
Woohyuk first asked Allen,
“Is your physical change tolerable? I hope it was a decision you made without regrets,” Woohyuk asked with bated breath. For a male to lose his precious…
Previously, Woohyuk handed Allen the Spirit of Immortality.
It was a hidden reward received from Nakron in Dreadlore.
If one drank the Spirit of Immortality, one would enjoy eternal life and greatly enhanced magical powers. However, one would also have to give up one’s sexual reproductive capabilities.
Reina, who overheard their conversation, looked at Allen in amazement.
“What? Then you can’t make a second-generation!?”
“I am interested in the path of a lonely sage rather than building a harmonious family. Just as some clergymen turn their backs to the world and practice their faith with their mind and body.”
Allen was truly a natural eunuch.
As Reina made an exasperated expression, someone hugged Woohyuk’s arm.
“Ho, ho, ho! It’s been a long time, my Lord. I’ve heard you’ve been fighting again recently. Is your body okay?”
The identity of the speaker was Tinia, who was wearing plate armor.
Woohyuk shook her off with an annoyed expression.
“I just briefly lost consciousness. I’m okay now.”
“But I heard that you recently became engaged to a beautiful princess? Didn’t you say you wouldn’t hug a girl until the turbulence was over…”
“Of course. Thus, I plan to only be engaged and not actually wed. Even if I just hold them to an engagement, I’ll be able to control the Holy Aperia Empire.”
However, in order to make things easier, it was necessary to bring down Tiberius, the current Emperor, and put Eleonora, whom he had nurtured, onto the throne.
While Woohyuk was thinking of an appropriate method to achieve this end, a gray-haired old man approached them on horseback and came right up to their side.
‘He came a little later than the agreed-upon time.’
The newest arrival was the Empire’s Swordmaster Granver.
Woohyuk greeted Granver with an appropriate level of respect,
“You’ve come a long way, Swordmaster Granver.”
“On the way, I kept seeing crowds of Awakeners, so I was delayed.”
Recently, as the Qliphoth Fruits’ side effects kept popping up, the Holy Aperia Empire had been experiencing internal chaos and challenges.
The same went for other kingdoms.
As the demonic camp calmed down, new problems arose, causing trouble to continue throughout the continent.
At Granver’s worrisome words, Woohyuk nodded, as if sympathetic to the Empire’s concerns,
“Nothing is too strange in the end times. Everyone must be strong and remain vigilant in order to regain the peaceful days. This excursion schedule was also prepared in that sense.”
“It is only a great general, who is fondly referred to as the Hero King, who can say such magnanimous words with ease. The rulers of other small kingdoms are interested only in keeping their place.”
Granver’s praise was filled with a tinge of truthful regret.
It was because Emperor Tiberius, whom he currently served, was also passive in working for the universal cause.
Thus, he believed that Woohyuk would be the perfect spouse for the Empire’s next successor, Princess Eleonora.
As Granver stared at him with a friendly glance, Woohyuk looked satisfied.
‘It seems he hasn’t noticed that I’m using Eleanora.’
Woohyuk wasn’t like Rasputin of Russia. He was the official fianc of the princess, so it would have been rather strange for anyone to notice his true intentions.
Anyway, Granver was the best swordsman in the West.
The best results would come out if he entrusted Granver with talented knights.
After having a moderately social conversation with Granver, Woohyuk called Aris, who was waiting nearby,
“Aris, take us to the shuttle.”
“Oh! Okay!”