Chapter 27: The Dream of Stars (3)

Chapter 27: The Dream of Stars (3)

"What's happening?"

Within the magic-fueled carriage speeding towards the royal palace, a stern-faced wizard turned to the knight piloting the vehicle.

"It looks like an intrusion at the main gate. The knights are trying to stop it."

"An intrusion? Right through the main gate?"

Surprise flashed in the wizard's eyes.

This was a first. Who dared to barge in so openly?

"Yes."

"How many intruders are there?"

"...Just one."

The knight's response deepened the wizard's bewilderment.

The palace knights were stronger than ordinary ones.

Why hadn't they stopped one intruder despite their superior numbers?

"She's a red-eyed woman in her twenties, and surprisingly skilled. They're struggling."

"A red-eyed woman... Anything else unusual?"

"Oddly, no one's been killed. And... she uses a unique magic."

"What's unique about it?"

"I didn't see it personally, but it involves blood and beast-like figures..."

"...Blood magic!"

The wizard's eyes sparkled at the knight's words.

"Tell me more... no, I'll see for myself."

"Understood. We'll head for the main gate."

Heeding the wizard's orders, the knight steered the magic-fueled carriage.

"Blood magic users are rare in the capital... If we play this right, we might get a lead on the Night of Rest."

In the carriage speeding towards the royal palace's main gate, the wizard mumbled to himself.

His name was Lergan Urschler, a trusted ally of the third prince, the master of the Sacred Palace.

---

Raei Translations

---

After the succession ceremony, a royal family member must complete two tasks in the People's Palace before starting official duties.

One, which Zion had just completed, was an audience with the Emperor.

The other was visiting the 'Starry Dream.'

Starry Dream.

The name alone gives no clue as to what this place is. It's a hidden treasury built at the same time as the royal palace.

It houses only the most precious treasures collected by the royal family over hundreds of years, from the first emperor to the present.

It's said to be located somewhere underground in the People's Palace, accessible only to those of Agnes' direct lineage.

A direct descendant who completes the succession ceremony earns the right to select one item from the 'Starry Dream.'

Zion was now headed to the 'Starry Dream' to claim his choice.

"Beyond this point, you must proceed alone. I hope you choose wisely."

Knight Ronier, who had guided Zion to the doorway leading underground, bowed respectfully and stepped away.

Zion nodded at him and pushed the door open.

Clang.

Unlike the Emperor's room, there were no guards at this door to the basement.

No, there weren't any needed.

"After all, unless you're from the Agnes line, you can't enter the People's Palace basement."

As Zion stepped through the door and into the basement, he found himself shrouded in a dense mist.

This wasn't ordinary mist; it was a magical fog created through high-level magic and spells.

The fog had a paralyzing effect on a person's senses.

So even someone with keen senses wouldn't be able to see what was right in front of them, without the blood of Agnes.

'Is this it?'

A few steps into the fog, Zion spotted faint stars twinkling overhead.

A lengthy trail of stars stretched out like a galaxy.

Presumably, following these stars would lead to the 'Starry Dream.'

'...I'll deal with that later.'

Zion, mulling over a future event in the royal palace, glanced in a direction opposite to where the star trail led, then started to move slowly.

How long had he walked down the path?

Soon, a giant stone door barring the way came into Zion's view.

It was a door adorned with engravings of the sun, the moon, and countless orbiting stars.

Drip.

Without any hesitation, Zion let a drop of his blood fall onto the stone door.

In that moment.

Disregarding Vela's admonitions, Zion's eyes sparkled as he surveyed the interior of the vault.

Among the many displayed weapons, three mounted at the very top stood apart.

The Timeless Bow, Hypnos.

The Gravity Spear, Agnus.

And... the Heavenly Fall Sword, Rigveda.

They were of mythic-grade.

Zion moved toward the Rigveda, which was suspended centrally amongst them.

Wooong!

Could it sense his intention to choose it?

The Heavenly Fall Sword's blade, as blue as a pristine sky, began to tremble slightly.

"Eh? Why is Rigveda..."

Vela was muttering, her gaze fixed on Rigveda, her sentence left unfinished at the sight she had never witnessed before.

Meanwhile, Zion, who had approached the Heavenly Fall Sword, extended his hand towards the hilt.

Woong!

The vibration intensified, as if welcoming him.

Just then.

He stopped.

Zion's hand, about to grasp the hilt of Rigveda, froze in mid-air.

"......Huh?"

A puzzled utterance slipped from Zion's lips.

His gaze was not fixed on the Heavenly Fall Sword, but on something located behind it.

A sword.

It was indeed a sword.

A blade partially cloaked in shadows, so ensnared in profound darkness that one wouldn't notice it unless up close.

From blade to hilt.

The ebony sword, entirely formed of pitch-black, was ominously thrust into the ground, seemingly devouring all surrounding light.

Zion recognized this sword.

No, he couldn't possibly not recognize it.

The Light Extinguishing Sword, Eclaxia.

It was the weapon wielded by him, the emperor in his original world, not this one.

"How can this be..."

Half-hidden, half-revealed, yet it was unquestionably Eclaxia.

How did his weapon cross over into the world of this tale?

Trudge, trudge.

Zion, seemingly spellbound, approached Eclaxia.

"No, that sword! Don't, Your Highness! That sword belonged to the Eternal Emperor, the first emperor of the Empire! It's not available for the taking, it isn't!"

In Vela's eyes swirled a mix of fear and desperation as she shifted her gaze between Zion and the Light Extinguishing Sword.

Why was that sword embedded there?

Surely, it was a historic blade, wielded by the first emperor, and it wasn't meant to be claimed by another.

The very existence of that black sword was dangerous.

Over the centuries, various royals who had ventured here had been drawn to that sword. As soon as they laid their hands on it, they vanished on the spot.

If they were fortunate, only a part of their body would remain.

If not, their entire being would.

The sword that had chosen no owner since the reign of the first emperor.

So, she had obscured it to keep it from sight, but she could not fathom how it had revealed itself now.

"Why..."

Meanwhile, Zion, who had approached Eclaxia, was extending his hand towards the hilt of the sword.

"It's, it's dangerous!"

At that point, Vela broke the code of never laying hands on a member of the Agnes bloodline, reaching out for Zion in sheer desperation.

The next moment.

It happened.

The ethereal black light emanating from the Light Extinguishing Sword, Eclaxia.

-------------!

The spectacle of the light engulfing Prince Zion's entire form in an instant.

***

Thanks for reading! Consider supporting on kofi!

Please give the book a rating and a review on NovelUpdates.

It helps the website and helps people find this novel!

If you'd like to make a one-time donation to support our translations or subscribe to read up to 15 chapters or more (depending on the novel) ahead, you can do so via Ko-fi.

Click here!