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Chapter 261: Coronation Ceremony (3)

Snowflakes fluttered down in strands.

We entered a path of light made of ice mana. The cheers and applause of the citizens were clearly audible even inside the carriage.

The people of Düpfendorf all had fair and pale skin, seemingly due to the environment.

They had developed their own unique architectural style. A beautiful barrier covered the kingdom to protect it against the cold.

In the center of Lufenheim stood a tall castle. We naturally headed there.

"Isaac, aren\'t you happy? Everyone is welcoming you."

Dorothy said, watching out the window.

I didn\'t feel happy.

"It just feels unfamiliar."

The people and various ice magic beasts welcomed me.

It didn\'t really feel like I was being welcomed by them. But I felt a lot of emotions.

Upon reaching the grand palace, numerous servants who had been waiting greeted us. They were all dressed in navy-based clothing adorned with white fur.

"Welcome, my lord. You have traveled a long way and worked hard."

Following the words of a middle-aged butler with neatly groomed hair and beard, the servants echoed, “You have worked hard."

This is burdensome...

I pretended to be calm.

"I will guide you directly to your chamber."

"Not yet. First, call the Legion Commanders to the meeting room."

"The Legion Commanders, you say...? Yes, understood."

The servants took it upon themselves to handle the luggage.

Dorothy, Alice, and Hilde were told to rest in their rooms, while I entered the round table meeting room with the Ice Knight, Morcan. It was more luxurious than I had imagined.

Four beings were seated around the round table. As soon as they saw me, they stood up.

Except for one woman who was swaying drunkenly, the atmosphere was solemn.

"Welcome, my lord. We have been waiting for you."

A muscular, hulking white tiger demibeast walked up to me and saluted. This was the First Legion Commander, “Dorhan Versio”, a level 179 ice element powerhouse.

Dorhan Versio maintained a well-controlled expression, but it seemed he couldn\'t believe that someone as young as me was the Ice Sovereign.

Following his lead, the other commanders also saluted. The drunken female commander hiccupped once.

The commanders were not the strongest among Düpfendorf\'s soldiers. They were chosen for their leadership as well as their skill. The monstrous forces were separate.

Nevertheless, it was clear that they were the leaders of each Legion.

I hadn’t confirmed if the commanders, with the exception of Isabel, were on my side. I called this meeting for confirmation. Some things needed to be said without delay.

I went and sat in what was clearly the head seat.

"Please, sit down."

The commanders stopped saluting and took their seats.

The atmosphere was awkward. Everyone seemed to be waiting for me to speak.

I smiled gently.

"I called you here as soon as I arrived because I wanted to talk."

I took out the Blade of Frost Flowers and placed it on the table. It was a dagger entrusted to me by Frost Spirit Merphil.

The commanders\' attention was drawn to the blade.

"Isaac. That\'s my name. I received the Blade of Frost Flowers from Merphil and made a contract. I\'m sorry, but I have something important to say. I have to return immediately after the coronation ceremony."

"..."

"I plan to stay in the Zelver Empire at least until next year."

I had to assist Aria with her secret research, absorb White\'s mana to gain unique traits, ensure Ian\'s safety, protect the academy, and clear various scenarios.

Most importantly, I had to prevent the resurrection of the Evil God the next year. That was the main objective.

"We have already heard about this. However, we ask you to reconsider. Your absence after the coronation ceremony could cause confusion among the citizens."

Dorhan, the white tiger demibeast, appealed. He meant that I shouldn\'t leave after having just arrived.

"My stay in the Empire is crucial for the survival of Düpfendorf. I can\'t explain in detail yet, but I hope you trust me for now."

"How can we trust that?"

"...?"

Another commander asked in a challenging tone. The air grew heavy. The other three commanders and I turned our attention to the dissatisfied man.

Second Legion Commander, “Karius Alsav”. Level 177. Ice, water element.

A man with a solid black mask over his mouth, boasting a considerable build like the First Commander. His smooth, bald head reflected the bright lights.

Karius Alsav\'s voice sounded muffled by the steel mask as if he were wearing a gas mask.

He didn\'t seem pleased from the start that someone as young as me had become the next Ice Sovereign, and hearing my arbitrary statements had finally made him lose his temper.

"Hey, Karius. What kind of manners are those in front of our lord?"

Third Legion Commander, \'Isabel Silverwolf\', frowned as she rebuked the Second Legion Commander, Karius.

Isabel, a woman with light blue, short hair, and a long scar on her face, was level 178 and only had the ice element. She was also the first of the four commanders to trust me.

Karius didn\'t respond to Isabel\'s aggressive remarks.

"Hic... Hehe, Karius does have a point, doesn\'t he? How can we trust those words?"

"Hey, Erich."

The Fourth Legion Commander, “Erich Leverins”, agreed with a face full of laughter.

Her cheeks were flushed red from drinking, and her slurred voice was full of charm.

Compared to the other three commanders, she was smaller in stature, but still had the build of an average adult woman.

According to Morcan, the Fourth Legion Commander Erich was under some sort of curse. It seemed that the effects of the curse were less severe when she was drunk, so her condition was somewhat understandable.

She was level 176, with ice and lightning elements. Like the Second Legion Commander Karius, she was clearly dissatisfied with my role.

I asked the smooth-headed Second Legion Commander Karius.

"You\'re the Second Legion Commander, correct?"

"Yes, my lord."

"If you have any complaints, be honest. I won\'t hold it against you."

I spoke calmly. Since he was now my subordinate, I wanted to treat him well.

Even that seemed to irritate him, as Karius frowned.

"...Excuse me. This is our first time meeting you, our new Ice Sovereign. We have no idea what kind of person you are, and the fact that you plan to return to the Empire and stay there until next year right after the coronation ceremony is something I cannot understand. How is that for the survival of Düpfendorf, and why is it difficult to explain?"

"Exactly! Our new lord looks so cute, it\'s even harder to believe..!"

The Fourth Legion Commander Erich agreed, seemingly having lost all self-control due to the alcohol.

I haven\'t even built any trust yet, so how can I mention the resurrection of the Evil God?

Once information leaves my control, it becomes impossible to manage. I had to be cautious.

Isabel, the Third Legion Commander, bared her teeth and growled at the bald Karius and the drunken Erich, who were expressing their displeasure with me. A cross-shaped vein was clearly visible on her forehead.

Muttering, "How dare you speak such nonsense to our newly arrived lord...?" her display of anger was quite reassuring.

"I have my reasons. It may be frustrating for now, but trust me."

"In that case, I must make a request, despite the impropriety."

The Second Legion Commander, Karius, stood up and approached me. Then he knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

I squinted because the light reflecting off his smooth, bald head was blinding.

"Please duel me, my lord."

Everyone watching us was visibly shocked.

"My lord is the Ice Sovereign. You must know that your power derives from your strength. Allow me the opportunity to experience your strength firsthand. If you do, I will follow your will without further question."

Karius felt a strong aversion to the idea of someone who appeared weaker and younger than him acting as the Ice Sovereign.

Even if he couldn\'t hear news from the outside world due to the nation\'s environment, he should have heard my story from the Ice Knight, Morcan.

So he only believes what he sees with his own eyes.

In Düpfendor, it was not the commanders who first realized the emergence of the Ice Sovereign, but the Religious Authority known as the Ice Dragon Maiden. It was more likely that the commander hadn\'t realized who they were dealing with.

The First Legion Commander, Dorhan, quietly observed the situation.

The Third Legion Commander, Isabel, growled, "Are you doubting our lord?"

The Fourth Legion Commander, Erich, giggled, "Hehe, that sounds good."

"If that\'s the case, well... I’ll allow it."

I adjusted my glasses and smiled slightly.

He was asking me to prove my qualifications as the Ice Sovereign through strength.

It was a simple and straightforward test, which I liked.

***Isaac, the Ice Knight Morcan, and the commanders arrived at the dueling ground within the Imperial Palace. It was decorated with beautiful ice ornaments.

Isaac and the Second Legion Commander Karius stood apart, facing each other, while the First Legion Commander Dorhan took the referee\'s position.

The other commanders stood at a distance, watching the scene unfold.

Erich still had a smiling face, while Isabel stood against the wall, leaning her silver double-headed axe, Farahon, on her shoulder.

"What\'s with your tone towards our lord, Erich? It\'s a good thing our lord is lenient; otherwise, I would have smacked you."

"Hehe. Isabel, aren\'t you looking forward to seeing our lord\'s skills?"

To Isabel, Isaac was a figure she admired immensely. Just hearing his story gave her chills.

"...I admit, I\'m curious."

She wouldn\'t be able to see Isaac\'s full power here.

At the very least, Isabel wanted to see Isaac fight with her own eyes.

"The duel will continue until one side declares surrender or is knocked out."

The white tiger demibeast Dorhan explained solemnly.

"Are you both ready?"

"I\'m ready."

Isaac, having fully stretched, responded.

"My lord."

Karius called out.

"Are you going to face me barehanded? Without any magic weapons?"

"And if so?"

"No matter how great you are, you\'ve underestimated me..."

Karius planted his long spear into the ground. The light reflected off the spear blade and Karius\'s bald head.

"You might regret this."

"I\'ve felt it since earlier, you know."

Isaac removed his glasses with a smile.

"Why are you so unaware of your place?"

"..."

"Come at me with all your strength. Don\'t disappoint me further."

"...Understood."

With a thud, Karius halted his spear and assumed a combat stance.

"Both of you. If you\'re ready, I will announce the start. Duel, begin!"

Dorhan stepped back and declared the start of the Duel.

At that moment, Karius pushed off the ground.

His movements were swift, not befitting his large frame. The frost-covered spear drew countless circles, spinning brilliantly and rapidly, leaving an afterimage of ice mana behind.

At the same time, Karius deployed an ice shield around his body that froze anything it touched.

Anyone who got close would have their ankles trapped and be unable to avoid critical injuries. This was Karius\'s combat style.

However, Isaac leisurely tracked Karius\'s movements with his eyes, not even releasing a hint of his own mana.

"Aren\'t you being too relaxed?!"

Whoosh!

Clang!!

Karius swung his spear.

With the tremendous speed of the spear strike, a powerful chill was unleashed towards Isaac.

However, the attack passed right through Isaac\'s body.

"What...?"

Isabel was shocked, Erich\'s smiling face took on a hint of seriousness, and Dorhan calmly assessed the situation.

In the blink of an eye, Isaac\'s figure disappeared.

"Where are you looking?"

"...!"

Isaac\'s calm voice came from behind Karius\'s head. Karius\'s eyes widened in surprise.

In the blink of an eye, Isaac had appeared behind Karius.

Dorhan, Isabel, and Erich couldn\'t read Isaac\'s movements at all.

Shadow Step.

With his abilities enhanced by [vs. Human Combat Power], Isaac could use the technique he learned from Gerald even more effectively.

In an instant, powerful mana enveloped Karius\'s entire body.

"That\'s just my afterimage."

As Karius quickly turned to counterattack.

The ice mana condensed in Isaac\'s right hand exploded.

Kwaaah!!

5-star ice spell, [Frost Explosion].

The explosion of mana and the overflowing ice mercilessly engulfed Karius.