Translator: Cinder Translations
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"Lord McDonald, as a human, you must have heard of the widely circulated legend among human nations," Aldridge said, his voice dropping to a serious tone, a level of gravity on his face that McDonald had never seen in their decades of acquaintance.
McDonald turned to Alvey, who wore a similarly serious expression.
"There are many myths widely circulated among human nations," McDonald replied, waiting for their further clarification.
This time, it was Alvey who spoke: "The war between humans and demons!"
"The ancient myth of the war between humans and demons?" McDonald asked, surprised.
"Yes, that's the myth," Alvey confirmed with a nod.
"What special significance does this myth hold for you scholars?" McDonald inquired.
"It is of great significance, not only for our Academy but also for the Gabella Empire and all of humanity. Frankly speaking, this myth… relates to the survival of our race, that is, humanity."
"This… this… what do you mean?" McDonald stammered.
Aldridge emphasized, "The demon race—our greatest enemies, the threat they pose still exists!"
"Demons?"
McDonald stood up. "Is this ancient evil race that seems almost mythical truly real?"
Wait a minute, McDonald realized. They were already discussing myths.
He slowly sat back down, momentarily feeling a sense of absurdity; what demons, what race's survival—wasn't this the stuff of adventurer novels?
Regarding the myth of the war between humans and demons, the various versions from human nations were mostly similar:
In ancient times, the terrifying demon race invaded this continent through a sealed gateway in the far north.
Demons were a truly dreadful race; they enslaved humans, harmed humans, and even consumed them. They were absolutely incapable of reasoning or coexisting peacefully, being an evil existence, and their combat abilities were formidable, possessing many incredible powers.
Faced with such a colossal threat, humans across the continent finally set aside their conflicts and united to resist the demon invasion. After decades of arduous struggle, they finally drove the demons from the continent back to the other side of the sealed gateway—a terrifying region known to humans as the Endless Abyss.
The so-called sealed gateway was a later term; this "gateway" was the passage through which demons entered the continent, and after being expelled back to the Endless Abyss, the Lord of Light revealed His holiness at the fervent prayers of humanity. The Heavenly Father displayed His great power, sinking both the passage between the human continent and the Endless Abyss into the sea, while the far north was covered in thick snow and ice, remaining unthawed for years, becoming a realm devoid of life—even for demons. Thus, the passage that could no longer be found was referred to as the sealed gateway.
The war between humans and demons is an enduring topic in the human world.
Stories of heroes defeating demon lords to save the world—many such tales are created based on the myth of the ancient war between humans and demons.
Many enduring epics also stem from this war, which has no clear historical records.
But reason told him that the two esteemed scholars before him did not summon a high-ranking imperial general merely to discuss novels or poetic themes.
Alvey's next words surprised him even more. "Not only do demons truly exist, but so do magic and witches."
Alvey paused briefly, lowering his voice. "For example, His Highness Antonio's mother."
McDonald's eyelids twitched. "The prince's mother… is really a witch?"
He had always thought this was a rumor concocted by others—such as the D'Arshi family—to tarnish Prince Antonio's reputation.
Magic and witches truly exist, and the object of his loyalty is the son of a witch.
McDonald's hand holding the teacup froze in mid-air, and he became completely stiff.
Aldridge and Alvey did not continue speaking; they knew this information was quite shocking for McDonald, so they waited for the old Marshal to process it.
To their surprise, McDonald digested this information in just a few seconds. He exhaled softly and took a sip of tea.
Alvey asked, "What do you think, Lord McDonald? When myth becomes reality, how do you feel?"
McDonald responded with his usual tone, "There is still much I do not know. What I want to know most right now is—what connection exists among demons, humans, His Highness Antonio, and his witch mother? Oh, rest assured, though I am surprised, my loyalty to His Highness has not diminished in the slightest."
Aldridge and Alvey silently admired him. Indeed, he was an old general who had fought on the battlefield for half his life, with a strong mental fortitude. They had originally wanted to see the old Marshal's embarrassment, but now it was in vain.
Aldridge looked at McDonald and said, "Lord McDonald, our scholars at the Academy generally believe that myths are a collective memory of a people. Myths are unlikely to arise from thin air; during their long transmission, they may have been polished, exaggerated, or significantly altered from their original versions. However, if one traces back through the threads of these stories, there must exist a historical event that actually happened, which is the source of the myth."
Alvey explained, "It's like a grand river that receives many tributaries as it flows through various places. Yet, even the largest rivers always have a source, even if that source is just a small lake."
McDonald nodded lightly, indicating he understood the scholars' points.
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Harper wore a reluctant expression as he led his men southward.
His face was still swollen from injuries, and nearly the entire thing was smeared with ointment.
Having such a face crammed into an iron helmet in this tropical climate was undeniably uncomfortable.
After the last retreat, his superior, Semyon Fedotov, replenished his troops and immediately ordered him to continue leading the vanguard for the army.
"You've lost your honor by your own hand; it's up to you to regain it," Fedotov admonished Harper. Harper felt fortunate to be born into his current family; otherwise, he would have lost his head long ago at Fedotov's hands.
This time, the vanguard remained close to the main force commanded by Fedotov. If the vanguard encountered any issues, the main force could immediately rush to support them.
Even so, Harper still felt a sense of trepidation.
The reason was simple; the psychological shadow left by the last battle was too great.
(End of the Chapter)
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