Chapter 237: The Start of the Invasion.

Chapter 237: The Start of the Invasion.

Individual [Sunfang Dragonewt, Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor] has switched her Main Job to [Incandescent Blaze]

Main Job benefits have been updated due to Job change

Incandescent Blaze Level: 0/30

Jeez, and just like that, thirty floors have been passed. Dungeons and subspaces, in general, are so interesting, arent they?

Correction, Princess. 38 floors. Those with the blood of Assurfel who chant the entry phrase are allowed up to floor 38 by the dungeon master, the Griffon King himself.

But, still, King Drangleic, Lady Hestia is not wrong with what she said. Large, established dungeons are most intriguing for any scholar. The floor count even increased after the esteemed Assurfel took over the dungeon; although, shouldnt he be able to increase the floors even more due to his power?

It was the day after the duel, and, as planned, I was meeting up with King Drangleic and Muraina inside the Griffonpeak dungeon. I was only accompanied by Saori and Tasianna.

Ellaine didnt want to meet the griffon king, as she thought she wasnt worthy. It was a momentous affair for Artorian nobility, since the only times you were allowed to meet the griffon king was when you were being knighted as a member of the Lionheart order or became a royal guard. As such, she didnt participate in this meeting, and went with her parents to the Greenveil manor to discuss the future of their business alliance.

Grimnir, on the other hand, didnt like these sorta events. He didnt participate at the ball and neither would he participate here. He explained that dwarves in general are content people when it comes to politics or official meetings. If they trusted their leaders, they would leave such business to them solely, believing in a too many chefs in one kitchen mentality.

He trusted me, hiehie.

In any case, he was currently working on Saoris weapon that she could use with her catalysts. He focused solely on my weapon for the duel, which meant that he still had to apply the finishing touches and the runes on hers.

After we met up at the royal palace, King Drangleic along with his two advisors Political Advisor Ulquint Myrrdin and Military Advisor Armado Lifcio guided my party and Muraina to the second entrance of Griffonpeak dungeon. The one used by the Lionheart knights and the royal family.

After we entered it, I was amazed by how the dungeon had shifted completely for the last set of ten floors. When I entered the dungeon through the front entrance, the whole place was just a prairie with a large mountain to scale, which acted as the floors from two to 29. Apparently, it was made to resemble the Kirkantos plains in the east of Griffonpeak, over the mountain.

The floors from 30 to 40, on the other hand, were created like an ecosystem similar to the bottom floors of the Cedaraille dungeon. A vast area of a mountain range, filled with flora and fauna, a haven for any griffon or hippogryph. It was the home of the A rank griffon king, Assurfel.

My ancestor said that this was enough for him. He could increase the floor count even more, but what kind of sane man would wish to challenge a level 57 A rank griffon? King Drangleic questioned rhetorically. Besides, floor forty is where my great-great-grandmother and great-grandfather were laid to rest. Our ancestor did not want to change nor open the graves of his lover or his daughters husband. After grandfather and father also passed into Goddess Ilsaphones realm, it suddenly became the royal familys graveyard.

Beastmen with the heritage of strong monsters also inherit some of that monsters extended lifespan. Neither the history books nor public knowledge spoke of this, but you are talking as if your great-grandmother is still alive, King Drangleic, Saori pointed out as we boarded a griffon carriage to the top of a mountain.

That is correct. Ancestor Assurfels only child with a human woman Liazehn var Artorias. Great-grandmother was raised as a humble child before she gave birth to grandfather, and while she did support his claim for the throne, she never really involved herself in anything you would expect from royalty after our kingdom was founded. As such, she secluded herself with our ancestor here in his dungeon, only coming out to meet with her family privately.

A father and daughter living together inside a dungeon, secluded from the world around them, only coming out to meet family. Sounds like the perfect setting for a sitcom.

The path to the top of the mountain was made only for arvisians and flying creatures in mind, making it impossible to get up here without wings, since even climbing was treacherous. While King Drangleic, Tasianna, and I could fly up, the remaining members of our group had to use a griffon carriage.

Once we arrived at the top, we were greeted by a beautiful grassland with plenty of flowers and a couple of fruit trees. A graveyard could be seen from the sky, surrounded by a wooden fence. The only other landmark was a small countryside house and its garden. Both points of interest were well-maintained.

After we landed, the king led us to the house, knocking on it before waiting politely for a man to answer back. As the door opened up, a towering man with a pair of white-blue wings and a feathery mane similar to King Drangleics appeared. His clothes, on the other hand, were simple and dirty like that of a farmer.

He gave us a welcoming smile as he spoke, Drangleic, you came earlier than expected. Lia, I must be off.

Hearing that, a white-blue feathered arvisian woman came running out of a room, coming into view for me to see. Similar to the king and the man before us, she had wings on her back, bird talons on her hand, and lion-like legs and tail.

Unlike them, she did not have a feathered mane. Instead she had long white-blue feather strands running down her back, reminding me of King Drangleics daughters. Contrasting her middle-aged appearance, she had a few silver strands mixed in between her brown hair.

I should have our meal ready when you come back, father. Drangleic, sweety, dont take too long with him.

Of course, great-grandmother, I shall only take a short moment of Ancestors time. Oh, and mother told me to tell you that she and Filene will be meeting you next week with more of those pastries you liked.

So, these are the two huh? They honestly seemed pretty normal.Ñøv€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.

The arvisian man closed the door before moving his finger in a circle. Let me hurry this up, he said as wind began to circle around us, increasing in speed rapidly before we began to levitate. As my party started to get alarmed, King Drangleic told us to not worry.

The arvisian mans wings flapped, lifting him to the air. The moment the wind around us turned into a sphere, the man turned his head around and he blasted off, disappearing into the distance while only leaving behind a strong tailwind.

In the next second, the wind sphere shot forward with us inside. I looked around as the landscape changed from the grassland we were just in to the bottom of the mountains and then immediately into a forest before we finally ended up at the tallest mountain and most windiest in this area. All of this happened in what felt like five minutes.

He can fly faster than me!

This place was not small. It felt as if we began in a grassland, hopped into a military plane and flew through the grand canyon before ending up at our stopping point. I thought my flight service was fast, but this one was faster and more comfortable.

Next time I have to speed up like this, Ill copy this idea. Just surround the Engel wings with an air bubble and it should be more comfortable.

As we were landing, I was worried that the hurricane rampaging at the top of this place would blast us away. Seeing as how it was tearing cracks into the ground, I couldnt help but question the decision of that arvisian, but in the next moment, our wind sphere began to expand, pushing the twisters back.

As I was fascinated by this phenomenon, Saori tapped my shoulders and pointed my attention towards the sky, where a giant blue fog was growing and growing, before it shrank to reveal the giant entity underneath that cloak.

Four giant white wings flapped the remaining mana fog away, slowly being covered with wind like a cloak. The shrill Kyrouuuuh! erupted from an eagles head, fluttering its white blue feather mane as wind congregated around them and turned them into long locks with more than a bit like tendrils.

The monster that appeared before us was undoubtedly a griffon, but instead of making me feel intimidated by the sight, the aura it exuded instead calmed me like a cool breeze on a summer day. Once wind began to naturally surround it, the creature looked even more regal, as if it was the sovereign of this wind-covered place.

M-Mana Eyes.

Information blocked

It was like an instinct. I murmured the skill activation in my head as if I had to do it, only to come out empty-handed.

[I am the A rank [Tempestral Sky-Winged Griffon], Assurfel, princess of the Kargrxymor bloodline and scion of the Belzac bloodline. Drangleic had told me you children were with good manners, but such rudeness Then again, instincts rule us apex predators, correct?] A voice entered my head, heating up my cheeks in a manner of seconds.

Princess Hestia?! Miss Saori?! King Drangleic looked at us incredulously, but all I could do was facepalm myself.

I-I apologize. We didnt do it maliciously, I promise! Saori tried to defend us, but King Drangleic still frowned, massaging his head as if he had a headache.

I understand that, but I had warned you of how

But before King Drangleic could scold us, Muraina chimed in.

Enough, King Drangleic. Even I had to hold myself back from using my [Identify]. Strong beings are naturally wary of each other, and our griffon king here was not holding back with his boasting.

[The elf is correct, Drangleic. The throne has weakened your instincts more than you think, my descendant. Dragonkin and Gryphonkin have never gotten along since Kargryxmors time, and Belzac was known to protect his forest from even griffons. It is only natural for the young to be warier of the old and experienced.]

Never gotten along?

U-Uhm, I would like to sincerely apologize for our actions. Im pleased to make your acquaintance, my name is Hestia Atsuko Kargryxmor. B rank, I curtsied, trying to not seem like a ruffian of a teen.

As do I, Griffon King Assurfel. For coming into your territory and showing such discourtesy, that was horrible out of place for us, Saori followed up. It is a pleasure. My name is Saori Segawa.

In the Belzac forest, Saori and I learned that if we wandered into another monsters territory, fighting was pretty much an assured thing. Nobody liked intruders, especially aggressive monsters.

Our survival instincts made us act on what we had learned there, and gathering information was usually the first thing we did. Just like when I first met the leviathans tentacle or those wyverns. I had to force that habit out of myself when we came to Firwood, but if you had been there, if you had seen a monster in the form of a typhoon appear before you, you would have done the same.

Muraina bowed. Griffon king Assurfel, as the representative of the Saelari for Artorias, I am honored to finally be able to meet the former ruler of Avitor peaks. I am Muraina Yvette Groveshield, a Haireti general of Saelariel.

When Assurfel landed on the ground, the whirlwind around him ripped through rock and any vegetation around him. It looked like nothing could enter his zone of influence. Upon getting a better look at him, I saw that he was even larger than my dragon form. If he had transformed back at his home, the wind around him would have definitely destroyed all the grass and flowers.

How thoughtful.

[Good to meet all of you, my guests. Now, with the introductions over, let us speak about the rats sneaking around inside the kingdom. Drangleic, begin,] Assurfel ordered.

Yes, Ancestor, Drangleic bowed, gesturing to Ulquint and Armado to start. The griffon king orders his descendant to do something and he delegates that job to his advisors. Sure enough, thats ruling for you.

Princess Hestia, after we received information from you that the demonkin were responsible for the sabotage, we increased our search to the point that we rooted out several conspirators of the accidents around the kingdom. Most of them had relationships in some way with a certain person from the Empire, Armado explained.

However, as you might have heard, all the dukes, aside from Duke Greenveil, had to promptly return to their duchies last night. This might be the worry of an old man, but I dont think this is a coincidence, Ulquint stated, something I nodded too. Something is happening, my ladies, your Majesties. And aside from Duke Greenveil, whose most worrisome problems were solved by you, Griffonpeak had to wish six of our seven dukes a safe trip.

That is more than a coincidence, really. Have you heard anything about the Lycerepth, Lord Ulquint? Saori asked in my stead.

Yes. In fact, after they routinely went to Shaturein to gather information on this Hamil, we found out that some of them have been meeting up with Cardinal Bennard. In particular, Judge Pestrodus and a few of his assistants.

Pestrodus? Then again, he is the leader of the whole group. But was he really the person? He seemed too loyal to the Empire to be a demonkin, although, KleaHatma had warned me demonic mana was around him.

I concur, but I presume you havent been able to find any evidence on him? Muraina assumed. Saori had already told her about KleaHatmas information after the Shaturein trip. My trip to Shaturein was slightly more fruitful. Hamil Czecsics born and raised as a merchants son in Giernichs capital Zharlgharlein. Since it bordered the Folschreck Empire while the empire was still expanding its borders, it was one of the first countries to be conquered. Shatureins pillars had done their research, you see.

Muraina explained that the possible reason why Hamil came to Artorias was to flee his parents enemies, who conspired and killed his parents using the influence of a few aristocrats. Artorias was the perfect place for him to hide, since not only was the Empires influence weak in the kingdom but there was also a vast undercity in Shaturein a haven for a refugee like him, and a brilliant location to begin his revenge.

After joining the former pillars guild and rebrand it into International Desires, not only did the former guild master die but his business boomed into a huge success through his Empire-based connections, though they were mostly shady ones. However, what was interesting was the fact the pillars death coincided with a visit of the lycerepth.

Oh, I remember that one, King Drangleic interjected. The Empire was launching a campaign to retake the forts taken over by the Beastmen Alliance. It was during my fathers rule. They requested that we donate recruits to the cause. Since we were vassals, under heavy scrutiny too, there was never an option to refuse.

Ulquint nodded. The lycerepth and a representative were sent to speak with us about the details. Many young men and women never returned from that campaign, and those who did come back, told us of how they were sent in like fodder. I regret to this day how I urged King Vendrick to accept those demands.

Weakening us by eliminating our younger soldiers and mages. Dishonorable methods, but it reminded our Kingdom that we had to push the alliances with the dwarves and elves, Armado explained.

If they hadnt accepted the terms, their disloyalty would have been proven and they would have been persecuted. However, when they accepted it, they lost many lives as a result. This whole situation was just despicable.

Muraina continued, My information broker assumes Hamil had been in contact with a lycerepth agent since then. Do you remember the agents sent during that time, Lord Ulquint?

Pestrodus and his team were the ones who came at that time, Lady Muraina. I cannot forget that day, and I cannot forget the faces of the Empire representatives sent to give us that ultimatum.

Hmm, coincidences are funny, huh? Muraina then pulled out a parchment from her satchel. Saori, here is a list of residences Hamil could be in. His public and hidden ones. We will strike at them to extract the worm. Lord Ulquint, here is a list of people Hamil has been conspiring with, including a very important person Cardinal Bennard.

Are you serious, Lady Muraina?! King Drangleic exclaimed.

Hamil burned most of his documents, but before he could burn everything, Mister Blackreachs executives broke into his house with multiple enforcers. My information broker charged me a high price for all of this information. Here, use it well, and take it as a sign of my goodwill, King Drangleic.

Haha, King Drangleic laughed. I will, may the Goddesss light bless you, Lady Muraina. Lord Ulquint, there are a significant number of nobles on the list. This Hamil has also noted the people the cardinal has been interacting with. This will be problematic, but I presume you can handle this?

Nobles? I guess Charleslyt would count, too, huh? I mean, the whole situation at the arena was because of those two.

After the stress they are facing in their own territories right now, the dukes will surely aid us. It shall be done, My King. Ulquint bowed.

I didnt know what was going on with Amelia, but from the look of it, it was likely that she was worried about me. Me? The one who abandoned her because of my own low self-esteem? I didnt think I deserved it anymore due to how bad of a friend I was, but if she was worrying about me, then I couldnt let that continue.

Amelia, do you remember what I told you when we were small? That I wanted to become a knight just like my father? I reminded her of how I admitted that to her. Although Father did stop training me, I didnt want to give up that dream. I did some training by myself afterwards, trying to copy the moves that Father taught to Brother, but when I didnt show any real progress, I gave up. When I joined up with Lady Hestia, you could say that I was trying to prove my self-worth. But

But what?

But I eventually learned that all I was doing was tormenting myself. I was so caught up in an endless cycle of self-hate that I wasnt able to move on. I still think I am trying to prove that point to myself, to prove my dream of a knight could still happen. Maybe my sense of justice is just that, but to find that out, I need time. I need time to figure it out.

And thats why youre jumping into this fight, knowing it might kill you, Ellaine?

I was a bad friend once, I wont do it again, Amelia. I betrayed you, I dont want to commit that same sin once again with Lady Hestia and the others of Aurora. Besides, I have the strength now to protect father and mother of course, you too, Amelia.

E-Ellaine Amelia closed her eyes, breathing in deeply before opening them up again. Ellaine, I need to tell you something before you go. Your brother, Jonathan. He and I

But in that single second, two voices blocked me from hearing the rest.

[Ellaine watch out! Behind you! Use [Musclemass] now!]

Sorry, kid, your head is the only thing not protected.

My skills activated, warning me to respond right now. But when I tried to turn my head around, something heavy pushed against the back of my head. A headache erupted and I noticed the ground coming closer and closer.

Bam!

Grugak!

The headache intensified. Red fluids shot out of my nose and mouth blood, my blood. It streamed out of my nose like a river, creating a red puddle where bits of my teeth got washed away by it.

Kyyyyyyaaaaaaah! Ellaine! A scream. I moved my eyes.

[Ellaine, stay still! I protected your head from the impact, but you need to stay still! Regena Dammit, Aurena! Released that power, already! The girl needs that power right now! She needs to regenerate! Aurena!]

Hyuk! W-Who are you?! Answer me! Amelia was flustered. She trembled as she saw a man approach her. Somehow, this man looked familiar to me despite how wobbly my vision was.

Who is? Shaturein? Who is he?

A matchmaker, apparently. Sorry, kid, the man answered. His voice too was familiar.

Wha Ghagk! No A swift punch to her stomach, knocking Amelia unconscious. The man picked Amelia up effortlessly with one hand before turning back to me.

Move. Move. Why cant I move myself? Move, please!

Sorry, a job is a job, kid. Even if this one sucks, haa. Sorry.

And with a swift stomp, darkness came for me.

A note from AbyssRaven

Oh oh. Oh no! A cliffhanger!

If you guys want to support me, Hestia and "A Dragon Idol's Reincarnation Tale" (or just read up to 17 advance chapters + any Patreon-only chapters) please check out my Patreon: Rawr!

If you guys enjoyed this chapter then, please follow the story. If you guys want the story to grow, then giving it a rating or a favorite will do wonders: Rawr

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Saturday, December 4, 2021 4:01:27 AM Germany [Member of Zard Skwad]

Bio: Hey there, AbyssRaven here. I'm just an avid Light Novel and Fantasy story reader who randomly thought of a story and began writing about it.

I eventually found out that I've been spending a bit too much time with building, planning, and researching for the story, that I've decided to just share it with others.

Writing is mostly a hobby for me, but I would still love any kind of criticism to improve on it.

I'm also german, so please excuse anything that sounds a bit weird...I wouldn't mind you pointing it out though.

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