Episode 454
Boom!
Beyond the grand curtain sat the Sultan, ruler of the largest territory across all continents.
As Zeke approached, the warriors guarding the Sultan tensed, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons.
Hades, hovering in the air, frowned at their reaction.
“Is this how you treat a guest you’ve invited?” he chided, his voice carrying the authority of a dragon.
Despite the intimidating presence of Hades, the warriors of Murk stood their ground, unwavering.
Zeke couldn’t help but admire their resolve.
‘Their training differs from the knights of the Central Continent, yet they withstand Hades’ aura. Impressive. They must be at least on par with blue knights.’
In the Eastern Empire, dragons still roamed, allowing Hades to openly exude his draconic presence.
Amidst the rising tension, a sharp voice cut through from behind the curtain.
“What are you doing in front of our esteemed guests? Stand down!”
A eunuch, his face painted, stepped forward to reprimand the warriors.
At his command, the warriors finally retreated, returning to their original positions.
Zeke observed, trying to discern the Sultan’s intentions.
‘Without the Sultan’s orders, they wouldn’t have shown such hostility. Is he testing the relationship between me, Yelin, and Hades?’
Though Yelin and Hades had been invited as honored guests, they had yet to meet the Sultan in person.
This was their first official audience, a subtle dance of observation and assessment.
Just then, a familiar face emerged from behind the curtain.
It was Omar Hidayat, the elf who had come as the Sultan’s envoy to find Zeke.
Omar approached Zeke with a respectful demeanor.
“It’s been a while, Sir Zeke. The last time we met was after the Battle of Dortha.”
Omar had been an ally in the fight against the monster legion at Dortha, alongside Luther.
Zeke returned the gesture with equal respect.
“It’s been too long, Lord Omar.”
Omar beamed, welcoming Zeke and his companions warmly.
“Please, follow me. His Majesty awaits.”
Guided by Omar, Zeke, Yelin, and Hades ascended the platform.
Behind the curtain, a dozen eunuchs sat, their faces painted, heads bowed. Upon Zeke’s arrival, they began to chant in their distinctive voices.
“It is an honor to meet the Guide of the Divine Beast.”
“We’ve heard of the blessing from the Fairy King. Please, share that tale with us.”
“We wish to hear the legend of the Savior Knight who shook the Central Continent.”
Omar gently ushered them aside, leading Zeke’s group further in.
At the innermost part, a lavishly decorated space for the Sultan was revealed.
Plush silk cushions embroidered with gold thread covered the floor, and colorful, soft fabrics swayed gently from the ceiling.
As Zeke took in the surroundings, something caught his eye.
A white tiger with striking blue eyes was watching him intently.
With the titles of Guide of the Divine Beast and Companion of the Forest, Zeke immediately recognized the creature.
‘A spirit beast?’
The tiger, larger than any ordinary one, rose and approached Zeke, circling him before rubbing its face against his leg.
Yelin’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the spirit beast.
As a high elf descendant, she had a deep affection for animals.
Seeing the tiger’s reaction to Zeke, she slowly extended her hand, but the spirit beast turned its head away, choosing to stay by Zeke’s side, leaving Yelin slightly flustered.
Zeke, too, found the spirit beast’s behavior intriguing.
‘Is it the effect of my title?’
He reached out to stroke the tiger’s neck, and it closed its eyes, clearly enjoying the attention.
Hades, observing from above, spoke in disbelief.
“How did you tame that proud spirit beast so quickly?”
Zeke shook his head.
“I didn’t tame it. The spirit beast simply allowed me to touch it.”
Though Zeke spoke nonchalantly, the white tiger seemed so pleased with his touch that it rolled over, playfully extending its paws in front of him.
Just then, a voice rang out.
“That shameless creature is embarrassing all the spirit beasts of our continent.”
Zeke and Yelin looked up to see female warriors in armor emerging from behind the curtain, forming a line.
Slowly, the curtain was drawn back.
Finally, the silhouette of the Sultan was revealed.
To their surprise, it wasn’t a person sitting on the cushion.
A deep growl resonated.
A majestic black lion, its body entirely dark, sat with a regal posture, its yellow eyes fixed on Zeke and his companions.
Zeke immediately recognized the black lion as another spirit beast.
As their eyes met, the black lion suddenly sprang up.
With a swift, powerful leap, it bounded towards Zeke.
Yelin, startled, prepared to defend, but Zeke raised a hand to stop her.
While Yelin hesitated, the black lion reached Zeke, joining the white tiger in rolling over and playfully extending its paws.
In an instant, it had been charmed by Zeke.
Hades, resting his chin on his hand, clicked his tongue at the sight of the two spirit beasts fawning over Zeke.
“What a spectacle.”
At that moment, a voice echoed.
“You’ve spoken my thoughts, divine one.”
Turning towards the voice, they saw a woman seated on the back of a nine-tailed fox with golden fur.
She wore the distinctive silk garments and ornate jewelry of the Murk Empire.
With her brown skin, deep eyes, and strong physique, the Sultan exuded both elegance and a wild allure.
Her appearance was enigmatic, blending traits of the East, Central Continent, and even the North and South.
Her eyes, slightly upturned, gave her a fierce look, yet it only enhanced her regal and graceful aura.
Zeke immediately recognized her identity.
‘The Sultan of the Murk Empire. Serazade Anatolia Shilait the Great.’
Traditionally, the Sultan of the Murk Empire had always been male.
Serazade was the first female Sultan in the empire’s history, holding the title of the Great.
She had subdued the rebellious nobles of the Murk Empire, establishing a powerful centralized rule, and had led the legendary campaign to conquer the Central Continent.
Even 25 years after the invasion, Serazade had only taken five consorts and had yet to name an official heir or produce an offspring.
Seeing the Sultan seated atop the golden fox, Zeke thought he understood why.
‘She looks almost my age.’
In her seemingly timeless youth, she radiated a mysterious, captivating presence.
The Sultan descended from the fox, addressing the white tiger and black lion still playing before Zeke.
“You two, enough. Come here.”
Reluctantly, the white tiger and black lion rubbed their faces against Zeke one last time before returning to the golden fox’s side.
The fox, too, regarded Zeke with curiosity but, fortunately, did not rush towards him like the others.
The Sultan shook her head, speaking with a sigh.
“I had hoped to make a grand impression before the Guide of the Divine Beast, but those creatures ruined it.”
Her captivating brown eyes sparkled as she approached Zeke.
With each step, the golden earrings she wore chimed softly.
Standing before Zeke, she smiled.
“Guide of the Divine Beast, Zeke Draker. Do you know how long I’ve waited to meet you?”
In response to Serazade’s confident words, Zeke bowed his head calmly.
“Lord Omar conveyed your message. It is an honor to meet you in person, Your Majesty.”
Serazade’s eyes widened in surprise at Zeke’s respectful Eastern-style greeting.
“Oh, you feel different from the Western knights I’m familiar with. The ones I remember are more… boorish.”
“Most knights spend their youth wielding swords and charging into battle, so they tend to lack a bit of refinement.”
At Zeke’s words, Serazade clapped her hands, laughing heartily.
“Haha! You’re the most amusing Westerner I’ve met. I do enjoy a person with a sense of humor.”
After her laughter subsided, she turned her gaze to Yelin.
“Descendant of the high elves, I hope your stay in my palace has been comfortable.”
When the Sultan unexpectedly addressed her, Yellin was caught off guard but quickly composed herself, responding in a respectful tone.
“I’ve been quite comfortable, Your Majesty. The food was delicious, and the accommodations were excellent.”
Noticing Yellin’s nervousness, Serazad waved a hand dismissively.
“Oh, there’s no need to be tense. You are a descendant of the High Elves, and though distant, we share the same bloodline.”
Yellin was taken aback and asked, “Your Majesty, are you of Elven descent as well?”
Serazad chuckled. “Not purely Elven, no. My ancestors were a mix of many races—High Elves, Night Elves, Druids, and even the now-extinct Unicorns. There are traces of many unknown races in my lineage.”
Hades, who had been hovering nearby, was equally surprised and interjected, “Really? Is it possible for so many different bloodlines to mix?”
Serazad turned to Hades with a smile. “Oh divine one, the royal family of the Murk Empire possesses a unique bloodline ability. We can blend with any race.”
Hades looked impressed. “Fascinating. There have been studies showing that half-elves tend to lose fertility over generations. But if you can interbreed without such limitations, your descendants could grow stronger with each generation.”
Hades seemed eager to delve into Serazad’s genealogy, but Zeke, sensing his enthusiasm might get out of hand, telepathically calmed him and shifted the conversation back to Serazad.
“It seems your ability to command beasts is part of that unique heritage.”
Serazad nodded. “Indeed, it’s a talent I was born with, likely inherited from my ancestors. Animals have always been drawn to me since I was a child. Speaking of which, could I see the divine beast you brought?”
Zeke knew that his warm reception was largely thanks to Raven. He called for Raven, who was outside impressing the nobles of Murk with his majestic presence.
With a flourish, Raven emerged from a dimensional rift, perching on Zeke’s shoulder, his vibrant feathers gleaming as he let out a phoenix’s cry. Serazad was visibly awestruck.
“A true phoenix! How extraordinary!”
Raven, basking in Serazad’s admiration, shot Zeke a look as if to say, “See, now they recognize my worth.”
‘Show-off,’ Zeke thought, still seeing Raven as little more than a large, flamboyant bird. But to Serazad, he was as precious as the rarest gem.
She turned to Zeke with a cautious request. “Might I hold the divine beast on my arm?”
Zeke nodded. “He has a fondness for beautiful women, so I’m sure he’ll prefer your company over mine.”
With a graceful leap, Raven soared and settled elegantly on Serazad’s arm.
Raven seemed to relish the attention, puffing up his feathers even more than he did with Zeke, who found the display rather ridiculous.
‘Enjoy it while it lasts, Raven. You won’t get this kind of treatment often.’
Serazad gazed at Raven as if she had the world in her hands. After a moment of contemplation, she turned to Zeke with a serious expression.
“I have made an important decision today.”
She looked intently at Zeke. “Sir Zeke Draker, guide of the divine beast, how would you like to become my envoy?”