Volume 6 Chapter 15 Into The Capital
"Oh... hasn't changed much, has it?"
Horace's voice carried a low chuckle as he glanced over the familiar cityscape. Alongside him, Rangella, Ivan, Rivela, Sumeragi, and Cain moved steadily into the heart of the royal capital.
The group's presence was a storm in itself—knowing well that the atmosphere around them had shifted palpably since their arrival.
Horace spoke again, his tone laced with dry observation.
"The moment we stepped in, the air definitely got thicker."
Rangella nodded knowingly.
"That's to be expected. Having the Knight Order Commander walk through town draws tension like a magnet. And considering every single one of us is a contender for the Blood Duel Cup, the fact that things haven't spiraled completely out of control speaks volumes about the civility left in this place."
The truth was unmistakable: the capital was now a battleground of pride and power. Competitors for the notorious Blood Duel Cup had converged here.
The "Forest of Soul"—a spectral dungeon carved into reality—had been partially cleared to build the arena, and the closest kingdom to it was none other than the illustrious Diamante Kingdom.
This event was no mere festival. It gathered the fiercest warriors—people whose strength equated to immense wealth and influence in this world. The city's most luxurious inns were packed, their halls echoing with whispered deals and hushed bets.
Guards patrolled the streets, their eyes sharp. But rumors swirled—tales of contestants with tempers so volatile, even the soldiers wouldn't dare cross them. Monsters in human skin, ready to tear the city apart at the slightest provocation.
In fact, some had already gone on rampages, leaving behind debts easily settled with a pile of gold.
Under such volatile conditions, six competitors moving as one was a rare sight—and a sure spark for tension.
Sumeragi's bright smile cut through the heaviness of the moment.
"Good thing we stored the mobile base away in the Item Box. If we'd ridden it straight into the capital, who knows what kind of chaos we'd have stirred up."
He spoke cheerfully, as if oblivious to the danger their very presence invited.
Indeed, the six had abandoned both carriage and mobile base, opting to walk openly toward the city's core.
While using those vehicles could have hidden their identities, it would also have drawn unnecessary attention from the wrong kinds of eyes.
Curiosity, that dangerous beast, had a way of devouring even the wisest.
If anyone decided to challenge them, Horace and his comrades knew they had to defend their honor. But the trouble was... their "defense" tended to border on catastrophic.
Rivela's voice sliced through the quiet banter, sharp and unapologetic.
"Still... most eyes are on Rangella, aren't they?"
Cain scoffed with a sarcastic grin.
"Ms. Rivela might be cute, but let's be real—no chest, no competition."
Rivela grinned darkly.
"I'll slice you in half later, so be ready."
Cain's smirk didn't falter.
"That's exactly what I want."
Ivan's gaze flickered between the banter and a shadow creeping across the city.
"But that look Cain's giving Rangella... it's off. Familiar, even."
Horace tilted his head, frowning.
"Huh? Ivan, what do you mean?"
Ivan lowered his voice, cautious.
"Simple—there's a chance someone from the Luster Report is already here."
Rivela raised an eyebrow.
"Can they really move faster than our mobile base?"
Ivan shrugged, confidence in his words.
"They haven't taken wild detours, but Ramella worked on that base. She has got tech good enough to rival it. Maybe not quite my speed, but enough to come straight here without delay."
Sumeragi frowned deeper, a weight settling on his shoulders.
"The real question is why she's showing up now. Only Rangella got called to the Blood Duel Cup, after all."
He groaned softly, thinking hard.
"If we don't know why the Luster Report is here, there's one likely reason."
Ivan's voice dropped to a grim whisper.
"Lucia."
Rivela's lips curled in disdain.
"That damn princess."
Sumeragi gave a tired sigh.
"You know with Lucia, you never can tell what chaos she'll unleash. And Ellie tends to back her up no matter how wild the plan."
Rangella's voice grew sharper.
"So the skilled Luster Report mixing with Lucia's reckless whims? Trouble for sure."
Horace added with a sigh.
"Lucia might just show up here on a whim, no real plan behind it."
Sumeragi nodded reluctantly.
"It's just a guess, but a strong one."
The mystery of Lucia Chaos Stone—the wild card princess with a mind as unpredictable as a storm—hung heavy in the air.
And then there was Ellie, the so-called "miserable pervert," a notorious foot fetishist and lolicon who somehow ran the Luster Report with an iron fist disguised in awkward smiles.
When Lucia barked "Go!" Ellie answered "Yes!" without hesitation, and chaos followed.
Rangella muttered under her breath.
"If we head to the city's center, we might see something utterly incomprehensible."
Horace shivered slightly.
"I'm starting to not want to go..."
Lucia's intuition was uncanny—more like a survival instinct honed to avoid stepping on real landmines. She rarely acted without reason, even if her madness appeared random.
That made it impossible to preach caution to her.
Though everyone sensed it, this might only be feeding her inevitable rampage.
What exactly was stirring in the royal capital remained unknown, even to Horace and his trusted allies.
Horace took a breath and nodded.
"Well... shall we move? Not going isn't really an option."
Rangella agreed.
"Yeah. This is the Blood Duel Cup. The real action starts at the castle."
With time slipping, hesitation was a luxury they couldn't afford. The story was already unfolding, and if they delayed, it would pass them by.
Character Notes:
• Sumeragi - One of the Five Divine Gods, known as the 'God of Iron-Slicing.' He introduces himself with a pleasant smile and seems to have a purpose in meeting Horace.
• Rivela - Leader of 'Muspelheim' and wielder of the 'Great Flame Sword Surt.' She is 18 years old, energetic, and a participant in the Blood Duel Cup. She earned the nickname 'Unscalable' for creating a huge wall of flames during a monster rampage.
• Cain - A 14-year-old beautiful boy with short, light purple hair. Newly appointed Commander of the Diamante Kingdom Knight Order. Highly talented and efficient, tasked with managing the 'Forest of Souls' dungeon and participating in the Blood Duel Cup. Twin brother of Abel.
• Ran - A silver-haired, busty, and beautiful young girl with a dominating spirit. She is one of the 'Four Source Maidens' and is deeply affected by her mother's disappearance.
• Ramella - B-rank blacksmith from the hero community, known for advanced, dangerous creations requiring skilled magic manipulation. Her 'failed creations' carry significant meaning. Wears tank top, shorts, and sneakers, revealing yet energetic. Skilled in combat, trained by Horace, with enhanced physical abilities. Uses Smith hammer, refers to herself as 'me (ore)'. Strict about rules, refuses to sell special sword without certification. Dominates problematic adventurer with ease. Creations highly regarded, respected in hero community.
• Ellie - Black-haired beauty in a pantsuit, with a great figure and a blank expression, adding to her 'beautiful aura'. The one who like loli. Carries an attaché case, giving off strong career woman vibes. Speaks coldly and handles complex matters, as seen when she comments on Horace's tech.
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