Chapter 174: Having a Teacher Is Enough!
A breeze swept up dust, sending it swirling through the air.
The air between the 2 of them seed to cool by a few degrees as well, as though it had partially solidified.
The Adventurers watching from all sides couldn't help but hold their breath, not daring to exhale a single sound.
The First Prince's brow furrowed slightly, his gaze seeming to chill a few degrees as well.
But almost imdiately, Auréliane—having sensed the tension in the atmosphere—was the first to speak, breaking the silence here.
"Imperial Elder Brother, what my teacher ans is that I can no longer always do as you all say."
"After all, I've grown up, haven't I?"
She broke into a most amiable smile, one that conjured faint illusions before the First Prince's eyes.
It was as though before him, Auréliane was still that obedient little sister—deferential and respectful toward them all, utterly compliant.
Her face brimming with a smile, as innocent and guileless as a child.
And yet, her words.
That was not the tone of soone who would simply obey.
At so point unnoticed, sothing like a seed had been buried in the soil, had sprouted tender green shoots, and was still growing without cease.
She had beco—independent. She possessed thoughts of her own.
This wasn't supposed to happen...
The First Prince's hand, suspended in midair, was withdrawn awkwardly.
"You're right—Auréliane has reached that age as well."
"After all, you've co here to gain real-world experience."
He wore a most genial smile, and not a trace of the awkwardness of having been refused showed anywhere on his face.
"If there is anything you need, feel free to ntion it—your Imperial elder brother will provide you with every support."
"My deepest gratitude, elder brother."
Auréliane smiled, placed both hands at her waist, and bowed gracefully toward him.
After that, Auréliane fixed her gaze directly on the First Prince's eyes and spoke with gravity:
"All I need is for you to open the front lines for us—so we may travel unimpeded all the way to the boundary."
Watching Auréliane's solemn expression and hearing her request, the First Prince felt a flicker of surprise.
"You intend to venture deep into the Magical Creature Rift? But it's far too dangerous..."
"Elder brother."
Auréliane smiled as she cut the First Prince off.
Carrying a tone of utmost confidence, she spoke slowly:
"I have my teacher."
4 short words were enough to bring the First Prince to a standstill on the spot.
But he quickly recovered himself, smiling politely.
"I see."
He raised a hand and beckoned one of his officers standing nearby to co forward.
"Notify the warriors on the front lines—upon encountering the Princess's unit, grant them passage imdiately without requiring proof of credentials."
The officer brought both fists together before the First Prince and shouted at once:
"Yes, sir!"
The First Prince gave a slight nod, and the officer turned and hurried off.
"Auréliane, you've grown up."
The First Prince looked at Auréliane, and in his gaze there seed to be a asure of gratified warmth.
"As have you, elder brother."
Auréliane still wore her smile, and beneath that smile, even the sky seed to grow a shade more bright and clear.
"You grow more and more like Imperial Father with each passing day."
As her words fell, the First Prince brought his legs together, stood at attention, and raised his right fist to his chest in a military salute toward Auréliane.
"May you return in triumph."
The wind gradually picked up, and the heavy clouds in the sky were blown apart as well—breaking into pieces that rolled off toward the horizon, leaving the deep blue sky exposed above the heads of the crowd.
The dust on the ground rose with the steady march of footsteps, as though reaching upward to et the white clouds drifting above.
The Demi-human unit advanced with uniform steps, moving further into the distance. Their silver bone-and-iron armor, uniform to a one, radiated a formidable pressure—like a procession of resolute emissaries of nature.
The Adventurers watching from all sides, seeing the scene of courteous exchange between the siblings, felt sothing stir within their hearts as well.
Who ever said the Imperial family was without affection?
If anything, it was that man in the black Coat who looked like trouble at first glance.
As Auréliane departed, the First Prince watched the Demi-human unit slowly recede into the distance—then turned around.
With his army in tow, he likewise departed.
***
The Empire's southern front line lay at the far edge of the nation's territory, and it comprised 3 lines in total.
1 was situated in the vicinity of the city.
Beyond the city, an exceptionally sturdy wall had been erected to fend off unrelenting enemy harassnt.
Stationed along the edge of the city's front line were many formidable Knights, keeping watch at every mont for any potential Magical Creature incursion.
Should this line of defense be breached, the entire south's cities would be plunged into a state of extre peril.
The 2nd front line was the primary battlefield on which the Magical Creatures and the Imperial Army engaged in combat.
The army's soldiers fought without pause against the Magical Creatures spilling out from the Magical Creature Rift.
Naturally, this was also the most terrifying of the front lines.
But the last front line...
That was already positioned at the Empire's most extre edge.
Strictly speaking, it had even moved beyond the Empire's territory.
There, a Magical Creature Rift existed—flickering with a purple radiance and pulsing with a strange energy, as though the void itself flowed within it.
This Magical Creature Rift had appeared over a decade ago. It grew without cease, and without pause it continued to pour forth Magical Creatures that the world had never seen before.
Even now, the Magical Creature Rift persisted—even larger, in fact, than it had been more than 10 years ago.
The rate at which Magical Creatures erged was faster. That eerie void-like energy had grown to the point of making one's courage falter.
As though so imnsely powerful entity existed on the other side of the Rift, sleeping.
Should it wake, it could burst out from within—and tear the world completely apart.
And so, a portion of fearless warriors were needed, conducting investigations and clearing operations deep within the Magical Creature Rift at every mont.
They were Adventurers.
Those Adventurers gathered a few miles away from the Magical Creature Rift.
Towers of distinctly peculiar design rose from the rocky walls, their walls glowing with strange hues, containing the Rift within a stretch of barren, withered land.
The deeper one ventured into the cluster of structures, the more keenly one could feel the Magical Creature aura pressing forward—growing heavier with every step.
Adventurers would receive missions from certain guilds within the city, and with credentials issued to them, cross the front line before being permitted to enter the Rift.
And now, the Adventurers who planned to head to the Rift for investigation today had already gathered outside the towers.
The leader of one Adventurer group shouldered a great axe and asked a fellow Adventurer nearby with a grin:
"Hey! Isn't that Captain Hansen? What are you planning to take down today?"
"Hmm... Rift Demon Rabbits—and they want us to collect 50 of their eyes."
"A mission that dangerous, and you all actually dared to take it?"
Hansen shook his head and let out a sigh:
"Can't be helped. After all, there are over a dozen people in the group who need to eat—what else can you do but push hard?"
The 2 chatted idly back and forth while waiting for the Rift to open.
Then suddenly, from behind them ca an extrely powerful aura.
A unit composed of Demi-humans was slowly approaching from behind.
That intensely powerful pressure made both captains shudder from head to toe. In unison, they exclaid in disbelief:
"What an overwhelming presence!"
"Could it be that the First Prince's own army has arrived in person!?"
But when they made out the distinctive bone-and-silver armor worn by the unit's mbers, they dismissed the thought.
"Demi-humans?"
"A unit made up of Demi-humans? Interesting."
Many Adventurers crossed their arms, equally drawn in by this remarkably distinctive unit.
The powerful presence emanating from this unit was like a wild leopard waiting to hunt—every Adventurer felt that faint, creeping sense of unease.
Yet there were always those Adventurers with particularly bold personalities who wanted to provoke unfamiliar arrivals.
One such person was a blond warrior with a remarkably handso face. His flowing long hair only served to accentuate his good looks further.
He leaned toward an Adventurer standing nearby and said:
"I'm actually curious about that human Knight at the very front."
Watching as the Knight gradually drew closer, he couldn't help but let out a whistle toward her.
But the very instant his sound rang out—
A chill crept up his spine and flooded his mind, leaving him utterly breathless.
Despite standing beneath the blazing sun, he still felt goosebumps rise across his entire body.
He couldn't even tell where that terrifying aura was coming from, yet his body trembled uncontrollably.
Not even when facing the powerful Magical Creatures within the Rift had he ever felt afraid the way he did now.
At last, the Demi-human unit passed in front of him.
The Gwen leading them didn't even spare him a single glance.
She rely walked past him—and that glacial aura alone was already enough to leave his limbs feeling numb with cold.
This Knight was formidable.
What he sensed was not limited to her own power alone.
There was also the strangely shaped equipnt worn across her body.
If it ca to a 1-on-1 fight with this Knight, he might not necessarily win.
This unit was no ordinary one.
But what struck him as strange was this: the crushing pressure that had made him tremble just now—it had not co from this Knight.
Then just who was it...
In an instant, his heart gave a violent lurch.
As though a pair of dark, hollow eyes had appeared directly behind him.
A profoundly terrifying gaze had locked on to him, unyielding.
The blond Adventurer was instantly drenched in cold sweat, and gulped down several deep breaths.
The teammate standing nearby noticed his discomfort and patted him on the shoulder with a laugh.
"Pia, first ti I've ever seen you like this."
"Frightened?"
"No... I..."
He gave a bitter smile, slowly raised his head—and at the very tail end of the unit, he caught sight of an extraordinarily magnificent figure.
It was a girl wearing a crown of noble distinction.
Her silver armor seed to radiate like a sudden burst of light descending from the sky itself, her graceful bearing emanating a most warm and benevolent air.
It struck the Adventurers' hearts with an instant jolt.
Behind that noble figure, what appeared to be a pristine white cloud seed to follow close in her wake.
Sothing appeared to be lying on top of it—they couldn't quite make it out.
The Demi-human unit made straight for the great gates guarding the Rift, advancing slowly forward.
The gate's guard looked up, and at once gave a deep bow toward the magnificent figure at the center of the unit.
The heavy gates pushed through the sand and gravel as they slowly swung open, granting the entire unit passage.
But the Adventurers waiting outside were instantly left in a daze.
They had been waiting outside for so long, and still hadn't had their applications processed for the day.
What gave that unit the right?
What gave them the right to have the gate opened for them without the guard so much as thinking twice?
Just because they were all won?
"Because she is the Imperial Princess."
A cold voice rang out beside Pia.
He startled suddenly, utterly baffled in his heart.
Just a mont ago, there had been absolutely no one behind him.
So how had this voice co from behind him?
Pia spun his head around sharply—and ca face to face with Viktor's calm, impassive gaze.
In an instant, he felt it.
That terrifying pressure from before.
It had co from this person.
"One more thing."
The cold voice did not stop, but continued:
"Today, we've reserved the whole place."
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