The large column of light appearing from the depths of the Dwarven Mountain Compass and the aura of the red flame dragon alerted many powerful people in Aludia.
Some of them questioned the identity of the man who assimilated with the divine beast, while others banded together and sought to know the man behind this miraculous event.
…
Oriental Oceanic Empire, south of Dwarven Mountain Compass.
A scholar gazed at the northern direction with a pleasant expression.
"Divine assimilation. I wonder who that lucky person is…"
His gentle voice drifted on the air.
"Probably from the Luchador Household, right?"
…
Back at the border between the Morning Star Empire and the Volcanic Grassy Plains.
The draconic being constantly clashed against the undead, changing the once lustrous land into a battlefield. He was least interested in what was happening in the dwarven mountain compass.
"It's strange. Very strange indeed.", he flicked off the great sword to the sides, slashing past through the neck of a human undead trying to sneak attack him.
The undead fell on the ground, wriggling under his large and clawed draconic feet.
"They stopped their advance.", eyeing the valley full of undead loitering like mindless freaks, "Don't tell me the Morning Star Empire isn't the target of the caster behind this."
A swirling dark cloud suddenly formed in the center of the horde. It quickly spun in a counter-clockwise direction, becoming a thin human completely covered in ghastly dark robes, with only their jaw and dried-lipped mouth visible to the outside world.
"Miguel Luchador… you sure are one pesky insect in my plans."
The harrowing voice echoed in the entire valley. Miguel, however, remained composed in spite of how fearful the sound was.
"Dartex Deluminas, you're still alive after all this time?", he asked with a surprised look.
"You mortals could never match up to my power!", pinching his fingers, Dartex shouted disdainfully in a rapid manner, "How could your measly little tiny bit of strength affect me in any way!"
"More than enough to annoy your mad egotistic self.", Luchador harrumphed.
"Heh, is that so?! Annoy me? No one can annoy me!", Dartex exuded a dreading aura outward, forcing the undead beings to kneel under his presence, "No one can ever match up to me!"
"Look at how powerful my undead army is! If it wasn't for that mysterious robed person, I wouldn't have started this death march of mine!"
Miguel narrowed his eyes, 'Someone else was behind this? No, it seems like he is complimenting another person's work and is taking full credit for it himself.'
"Now, if you'll excuse me, Herald, I have a person to thank with!", Dartex shoved his thin arms to dismiss Miguel, "Off with your stanching draconic figure in front of me, or I might turn you into an undead being!"
Miguel was angered, "You wish!", charging towards Dartex.
The latter simply raised his hands and conjured 9 dark magic circles in front of him, "Deathly Wave!"
A black fog quickly spread out from his body into the entire legion of undead, covering them like a blanket and transformed everything into pure black air.
Miguel backed off, afraid to touch it, "What?! He's escaping?!"
The black air formed into a large skull in the sky, cackling at Miguel's stupefied face. Dartex re-shaped the air into a straight line and headed east.
The knight turned his head and realized Dartex's plan, "That direction, it's the eastern seaboard! Don't tell me he's targeting the ancient ruins where the entrance of the Heavenly Magic Academy is?!"
…
The next day, Alderian Terrestrial Sanctuary.
A flashing sunlight disturbed Eluard from his peaceful sleep.
"It's time to wake up, Mr. Kai.", a flirtatious feminine voice called out to him.
Eluard lazily got up and scratched his eyes, 'Oh yeah, I remember sleeping in her house instead. Why are those damnable elves so despising against us humans?'
He tried to rent a room inside Nirulva city but he was blatantly rejected by the locals, reasoning that he was a human.
Left with no choice, he gave up and followed Haera to her house here in the city.
"Do you really have to come in and wake me up?", Eluard was confused.
Haera left and didn't answer his question.
'What was that all about?', Eluard touched his chins.
Meanwhile, Haera felt smug after duping Eluard yesterday. She bribed the establishments to reject Eluard with absolute certainty.
It was important for her to not lose her trail of him because she wanted to investigate him as much as possible. She even set up sentries on Eluard's room to see if he would do something interesting.
She went to retrieve the information when she entered Eluard's room. After reviewing them, however, none of her expectations were met.
'Did he really admit he was related to the Heavenly Magic Academy?'
She felt that Eluard was the one who duped her instead.
"Miss Haera…", a soft elderly voice called from the side.
"Uncle Vermon.", Haera replied.
He bowed, "Breakfast is ready and the carriage is also set to go to the emporium right after.", with light shining on his head.
"Thank you, uncle."
Uncle Vermon eyed Haera with worry, "Miss Haera, that human. I'm not saying that accompanying him is against the rules, but…"
Haera waved him off, "Uncle Vermon, Kai isn't any simple human. Besides, if those people think that way, then they have proven how low-class they are."
She rolled her eyes, "Getting jealous against Kai…", she chuckled, mocking her ex-suitors of how ridiculous they would look like should they confront Eluard in her plain sight.
Uncle Vermon noticed how Haera called the human by his name.
'I am not talking about how special he is!'
Rather, Uncle Vermon wanted to talk about the authenticity of Eluard's identity.
Eluard got out of his bedroom and saw Haera and Uncle Vermon in the hallway. Haera noticed his presence, "Mr. Kai, you're finally awake. Come, join me in breakfast."
Haera lead the way, with Uncle Vermon bowing at Eluard, gesturing him to go first. As they made way to the dining table, Uncle Vermon mused at Haera's peculiar behavior.
'That lass, calling him Kai when he's not around. Is something other than her mission is going around here?'
…
"So Mr. Kai, what do you want to do here in Nirulva City after selling your demon beast materials?", Haera asked.
"Obviously buy something good in return. In the emporium, hopefully.", Eluard absent-mindedly answered.
The food served here put him in a trance after taking a single bite.
"Then maybe I could help Mr. Kai around? I have a lot of friends in the emporium.", Haera fluttered her eyes, "I can introduce them to you and you could buy from them instead."
Eluard nodded.
They went off after breakfast and arrived at the Elven Emporium.
Eluard marveled at the sight of a 200-meter-wide tree whose height reached to the top of the heavens.
There were various man-sized holes in the sturdy bark of the tree where people come in and out occasionally. The traffic here was incomparable to the rest of the city.
It was packed with merchant caravans, mercenary bands, and other groups of people. The number of guards stationed here were miniscule compared to the visitors.
"If you haven't known yet, Mr. Kai, the Elven Emporium is a market hub for trading goods inside the Alderian Terrestrial Sanctuary."
"Each huge city has their own branch of the Elven Emporium, and teleportation magic circles are set up on each branch for a smooth flowing of goods in between. Of course, if you want to use them, they come up with a fee. Ten blue magic crystals each trip."
Eluard understood and asked, "Is there an entrance fee?"
Haera shook her head, "There isn't, but if you have a prestigious background, you can avail the special goods and services that the Elven Emporium offers to their distinguished guests."
'Don't tell me I'm going to avail this special stuff because of her distinguished family background…', Eluard's lips twitched.
He then noticed that the people stopped on the sides and made way for Haera's carriage to go through, 'Is this what she meant by that…'
The gossips, however, alerted him.
"Hey, isn't that Goddess Haera's carriage? Why is she suddenly here in the Elven Emporium of Nirulva City?"
"Did you know? There's some rumor that Miss Haera was after a young human male back at Jurken Town yesterday. Do you think that…"
"Shut it! Do you want to die?! Miss Haera has a lot of suitors from various noble households both in the Sanctuary and the Morning Star Empire!"
"Right, right! We should keep this to ourselves… go… away now…"
…
Eluard became gloomy, 'I came here to buy goods, not to be an assassination target!'
Knowing how the 'rivals' would behave once their dream girl is with another man, Eluard upped his guard and cursed at Haera for being too careless.
She noticed the change in Eluard's mood, but she flashed an innocent smile.
"Mr. Kai, is something the matter?"
'Everything!', he shouted in his mind, 'Dear lord, let me go through this peacefully. I want to return to the academy in one piece…'
"Uh, no, no. Everything is fine, Miss Haera. Th-thank you for your concern."
Haera raised her eyebrows.
The carriage stopped and Uncle Vermon opened the window on the side.
"Miss Haera, we're here."