Astartes of the Bear School

Chapter 1890, 1862: The Demigod Concubine's Illusion
“The current [Law of Death] is not held by any god, so it cannot exert its power and poses no threat,” Krep insisted. “Release it and use it to execute those rebellious demigods, then reorganize the Golden Law. That’s it.”

"'That's it'? Forgive my bluntness," even the usually deep and unassuming Sir Hundred-Mindedness shook his head this time, "you are not a theological scholar, nor do you have a profound understanding of the Golden Law, Krepp."

"The law operates on the great Elden Ring, and the process of collapse and reconstruction is not as simple as you make it out to be, like a matter of a few words. Even Queen Marika wouldn't dare to speak so lightly. No one can predict what the consequences would be if the Law of Death were reactivated now that the Golden Law is already in effect, and used to execute demigods."

“I’m just stating my resolve.” The assassin at the round table pulled up his black hood. “As I said, the final decision rests with the divine Two Fingers; we are merely offering suggestions.”

The cheerful and straightforward Dragonlance Knight shook his head repeatedly: "Even if it's just a suggestion... this suggestion is too extreme. And I think it's better to let the Queen make this decision."

In any case, the faded ones were already prepared to report to their superiors.

Furthermore, although there are only three Faded Ones remaining in the Round Table Hall, they all believe that no matter what plans the rebellious demigods make, there is no room for resistance.

Even as night falls, Rodel, beneath the golden tree, remains radiant and bright, its ceaseless falling leaves resembling a beautiful golden rain.

The people of the Golden Tree have a distorted sense of time, so the difference between day and night is naturally not significant.

After the meeting, Gideon Ofnir led the way in sending Lann's investigation results and evidence to the room at the deepest part of the Round Table. Meanwhile, another statement, following the direct contact route between the Faded Ones and the Golden Clan, was sent directly to Queen Marika.

As veterans under Gefuli's command and holding the title of direct subordinates of the Two Fingers, the Faded Ones possess the right to directly contact the gods.

The staff in the round table hall began to work in an orderly manner.

These men were swift and skilled, each a powerful Rhodel Knight. Furthermore, having lived in the royal city for a long time, they were intimately familiar with its procedures and rules.

They worked methodically and had no belief that this glorious Golden Age of Law, this age of eternal life, would be subject to any setbacks.

Meanwhile, just as the Round Table Hall began its operation, far away in the northwestern part of the Alpine Plateau, in the Gemir Volcano.

The Volcano Mansion, built on the volcano, is the residence and office of the demigod [Grand Justice] Lakad.

This building, which blends seamlessly with the volcano, exudes a luxurious yet...almost sinister aura.

Inside the tightly assembled, meticulously constructed building, the completely blood-red candlelight made the eerie atmosphere even more gloomy and ominous.

The Grand Justice's reputation in the borderlands is quite... intimidating. Perhaps it's also because the style of the Volcano Mansion is so different from the overall splendor of the Golden Dynasty.

Tonight, Raccard is handsome and dignified, with a judge's crown on his red hair and a meticulously combed beard.

He neither dealt with official documents nor attended to the criminals; he simply sat at the table beneath his self-portrait, stroking a silver cup with a snake relief in his hand.

His fingertips rubbed against the snake scales, as if waiting for something.

"Tanis".

He suddenly shouted, and then, in the blood-red candlelight, a tall woman wearing a mask and hood, but dressed in a noblewoman's long dress, pushed open the door and walked in.

"Has no one come yet?" the demigod asked his concubine, then added, "I mean... not counting the prison carts that brought in the prisoners, has no one else come tonight?"

The masks and hoods worn by women on their heads were symbols of their status as concubines in border areas.

But as a concubine, this woman named Tanis didn't seem very enthusiastic about her husband; she simply shook her head.

"Ding ding."

Lakad tapped his fingers lightly on the silver cup, a hint of gloom creeping onto his dignified face.

"Lani stood me up?" he muttered to himself. "No, she's not that stupid. She... should know that being isolated and helpless means certain death."

If it's not a breach of contract, then there must be an unexpected event.

Lakad pondered this in his mind, his brow relaxing slightly. Although an unexpected event was bad news, it was still better than being betrayed at this crucial moment.

An accident can still be salvaged, and that 'gift' may eventually be obtained. But betrayal means utter ruin.

Faced with the great things they are about to do tonight, the affection between relatives seems shallow, laughable, and unbelievable.

After all, to be honest, aren't their targets tonight relatives?
The fact that relatives are killing each other is already a reality. Once this precedent is set, who can still trust anyone based on blood ties?

Blood is thicker than water, that's true. But the lust for power... is thicker than blood!
Like Lani, Lakad, as the older brother, was also filled with tension, excitement, longing and other intense and complex emotions at this crucial moment tonight.

But she's different from Lani.

Princess Moon is like the cold, dark moon in the sky. She observes the surging emotions within her own heart, which makes her mind even more cold and clear.

What about Laqad?

These emotions swayed in his heart, like the bubbling lava churning in a volcano! And in the midst of this churning, these emotions all mingled into a desire—a greedy desire.

With a sharp 'squeak', Lacard, who was about the same height as Lani, stood up from his chair.

He approached his concubine with eyes blazing with anger and picked her up with one arm.

He kissed and licked the cold mask as if he wanted to devour the beauty inside!
"Tanis, after tonight you will witness a great achievement! Or a crushing defeat! Come with me!"

Clothes were torn, bodies were manipulated, and Laqad unleashed his greedy love on his concubine.

But he didn't see that the eyes beneath the concubine's mask held no love in return. Even though Tanis's body responded to him with unwavering obedience and passion, there was no affection in her eyes.

In the crimson candlelight, in this eerie and terrifying building, she simply said calmly, "Of course, sir. I will accompany you."
-
The plush ball sat on the unicorn's back, and the two of them strolled together along the avenue of Rodel at night.

A kitten as tall as a person's thigh, riding on such a magnificent horse, is quite an eye-catching sight. However, in this prosperous divine dynasty at the border, strange and unusual things are commonplace. On the main road, people often show delight and respect when they see the velvet ball dressed in neat little armor and the kitten sighing.

This is the respect they receive as wise creatures in border areas. They are also considered symbols of wisdom and power, hence the folk custom of 'being pleased to see them'.

The Qilin's passage did not cause much traffic congestion, after all, the roads in Rodelne took into account large creatures, and even mountain trolls could pull carts on the city roads.

Not to mention the towering trees that guard it.

"Salute to you!"

"Hello to you too, meow!"

Occasionally, passersby would take off their hats and wave at the velvet ball on the horse's back, seemingly wanting to absorb some of the wise beast's aura.

The plush ball also politely waved in response to others.

The two of them went out shopping mainly because the task Lan En had given them was completed too easily.

The velvet ball quickly conveyed the situation they had investigated to Gideon Ofnir. This was primarily due to Sir Hundred's Wisdom and the Hall of the Round Table, who already possessed ample intelligence.

Finally, the whole thing was completed in one go.

Then the two of them wondered if Lan En would need help. If they called Qilin over, it would be easier to start from outside.

Only then did he step out of the round table hall and wander outside.

In the royal city of Rodel, there were actually very few normal amenities for daily life.

There were no vendors, no commercial activities, and no handicraft workshops.

After all, the physiological needs of the people of the Golden Tree are not essential, and this era is rich in resources.

In the royal city of Rodel, besides military personnel, the majority of people were from various powerful and noble families.

Although there is little commercial activity in the city, there is plenty of political activity. Rodel is the political center of the Golden Dynasty.

The Golden Tree, Queen Marika, and King Elden are all here, and most of the Golden Royal Family members also gather here.

Countless officials were dispatched from here to various parts of the border region, and countless nobles from various parts of the border region came to Rodel to report on their duties.

In addition, many others wanted to cultivate connections, build relationships, and secure positions in this royal city teeming with powerful and wealthy families…

Unlike typical cities where prosperity is primarily driven by commercial activity, the most thriving social activity in Rodel was the social gatherings among nobles and lords.

The velvet ball didn't understand any of this; it just felt that although Rodel was lively, it seemed quite different from the lively cities it knew.

Just then, two seemingly timid girls on the street were whispering to each other while looking at the velvet ball and the unicorn.

The girls wore conservative long dresses adorned with intricate gold embroidery.

Although she was a noblewoman and did not wear any shackles or similar objects to demonstrate her faith, the images of the golden tree and the emblem of the Golden Law were frequently seen in the embroidery on her body.

After whispering for a while, seemingly having finally mustered their courage, the two girls, along with the two soldiers following behind them, approached the velvet ball and the Qilin.

May the golden tree protect you.

They greeted the velvet ball with curiosity.

The kitten was already quite adept at it.

It nodded and gestured, touching its little helmet, saying, "You ladies too, meow!"

After saying that, it nodded again, as if affirming that it had improved a lot in its interpersonal skills after following Lan En for so long.

But then...

"Huff?!"

The Qilin, which had been standing steadily accepting the caresses of the two girls, suddenly twisted its long, strong neck sharply to the side.

"Ugh!"

The velvet ball wobbled precariously, startling the two girls who took two steps back.

'What's going on, meow? A Qilin?'

The Palico and the ancient dragon of the New World communicated using Guardian Spirits.

"I don't know," Qilin replied, shaking his head. "It felt like something brushed past me. I thought it was a big mosquito! But... I turned around and didn't see anything."

Rongbuqiu thought about it, and the Qilin's actions just now did look quite like being startled by a mosquito suddenly flying into your face.

But it also stood up and looked around. The streets were bustling with nobles, lords, and tourists, but it didn't see anything amiss.

'Is it just my imagination, meow?'

The plush ball tilted its head uncertainly. Its little face slowly scrunched up in seriousness.

(End of this chapter)