Thud!
The sultan, who ruled the largest territory across all the continents, sat beyond the curtain.
As Zeke approached, the warriors guarding the sultan grew wary and placed their hands on their weapons.
At their reaction, Hades, who floated in the air, furrowed his brow.
"Inviting guests only to show them hostility—what kind of manners are these?"
Even under the intimidating pressure of Hades, who emanated the majesty of a dragon, the warriors of the Murk Empire stood firm without retreating.
Zeke inwardly admired the warriors as he watched them.
'Though their training methods differ from the knights of the Central Continent, to withstand Lord Hadesʼs aura like that—theyʼre impressive. At least on the level of blue knights or higher.ʼ
Since dragons still remained in the Eastern Empire, Hades openly radiated his draconic energy to assert his presence.
In the tense atmosphere, a sharp voice rang out from behind the curtain.
"What are you doing in front of our esteemed guest? All of you, stand down!"
A eunuch with makeup on his face stepped forward and scolded the warriors.
Only then did the warriors step back and return to their original positions at the eunuchʼs command.
Zeke observed the scene, trying to discern the sultanʼs intentions.
'They wouldnʼt have shown such wariness without the sultanʼs orders. It must be a test to gauge the relationship between me, Lady Yellin, and Lord Hades.ʼ
He had heard that Yellin and Hades had been invited as honored guests and had entered the palace but had yet to meet the sultan directly.
This was their first formal audience with the sultan, so they probed each other from beneath the surface.
At that moment, a familiar face emerged from behind the curtain.
It was Omar Hidayet, the elf who had come to Zeke as the sultanʼs envoy.
Omar Hidayet approached Zeke with a respectful posture.
"Itʼs been a while, Sir Zeke. This is the first time Iʼm greeting you since the Battle of Dorta."
Omar was a comrade who had fought alongside Luther against the monster legion in Dorta.
Thus, Zeke returned the courtesy politely toward Omar.
"Indeed, itʼs been a while, Duke Omar."
Omar smiled brightly and welcomed Zeke and his group.
"Please, this way. His Majesty is waiting."
Zeke, Yellin, and Hades followed Omarʼs guidance up to the dais.
Upon ascending the dais, they saw about a dozen eunuchs seated behind the curtain.
The eunuchs, who had bowed their heads with makeup on their faces, began to praise Zeke upon his arrival in their distinctive voices.
"It is an honor to meet the Guide of the Divine Beast."
"Weʼve heard you received the Blessing of the Fairy King. Please, do share that story with us."
"We also wish to hear the legend of the Knight of Salvation who shook the Central Continent."
Omar calmly pushed aside the eunuchs who were speaking and led Zekeʼs group further inside.
As they reached the innermost area, the sultanʼs lavishly adorned space came into view.
Soft silk cushions embroidered with gold thread lay on the floor, and colorful, gentle fabrics swayed like waves from the ceiling.
While taking in the surroundings, something caught Zekeʼs eye.
A tiger with snow-white fur gazed at Zeke with shining blue eyes.
Thanks to his titles—Grace of the Divine Beast and Companion of the Forest—Zeke immediately recognized the tigerʼs true nature.
'A Spirit Beast?ʼ
The Spirit Beast in tiger form rose to its feet and slowly approached Zeke.
It appeared twice the size of an ordinary tiger. As it circled around him, it soon fixed its gaze intently on Zeke.
Then, surprisingly, it rubbed its face against Zekeʼs leg.
Yellin watched the Spirit Beast with sparkling eyes.
As a descendant of high elves, she particularly loved animals.
Having seen its reaction to Zeke, she slowly extended her hand.
But this time, the Spirit Beast haughtily turned its head away.
It stayed only by Zekeʼs side, leaving Yellin with a somewhat flustered expression.
Zeke also found the Spirit Beastʼs behavior intriguing.
'Is it the effect of my titles?ʼ
Zeke reached out toward the friendly Spirit Beast and stroked its nape.
The white tiger closed its eyes slightly, showing a pleased expression at Zekeʼs touch.
Hades, floating in the air, watched this with an incredulous tone.
"Huh, how did you tame that haughty Spirit Beast so quickly?" Zeke shook his head at Hadesʼs words.
"Iʼm not taming it. The Spirit Beast is simply allowing my touch."
Though Zeke spoke as if it were nothing, the white tiger, delighted by the affection, rolled onto its back and began playfully extending its front paws toward Zeke.
It was then.
"That shameless creature is embarrassing all the Spirit Beasts of our continent on its own."
A clear voice came from behind the veiled curtain.
Zeke and Yellin looked up toward the source of the voice.
Female warriors clad in armor emerged from behind the curtain and lined up in front.
Then, slowly, the curtain was drawn aside.
The sultanʼs figure, previously visible only in outline behind the curtain, finally revealed itself.
But surprisingly, the one seated on the cushion was not human.
Grrrr...
A pitch-black lion sat in a dignified posture, glaring at Zekeʼs group with yellow eyes.
Zeke immediately realized that the black lion was also a Spirit Beast.
The black lion met Zekeʼs gaze and suddenly rose from its seat.
Grrrrr...
With agile movements belying its massive body, it leaped forward and pounced on Zeke.
As Yellin startled and prepared to defend, Zeke raised his hand to stop her.
While Yellin hesitated at Zekeʼs gesture, the airborne black lion reached Zeke and, like the white tiger, rolled onto its back, extending its front paws and beginning to play.
It had been instantly captivated by Zeke with just a single glance.
Hades, resting his chin on his hand, clicked his tongue at the two Spirit Beasts frolicking in front of Zeke.
"What a spectacle. What a spectacle." It was at that moment.
"Youʼve said what I was about to. O holy one."
Looking toward the voice, a woman sat atop a fox with golden fur and nine tails.
She wore the distinctive attire of the Murk Empire, made of silk, along with ornate jewelry.
With brown skin, deep eyes, and a toned body, the sultan exuded nobility and elegance, yet also a wild allure.
The revealed sultan resembled someone from the East at first glance, but she could also pass for a Central Continent native, or even from the North or South.
She possessed a mysterious and enigmatic beauty, her slightly upturned eyes giving her a sharp gaze that only enhanced her dignified and graceful aura.
Zeke immediately recognized her identity.
'The sultan of the Murk Empire. Serazade Anatolia Shleight the Great.ʼ Historically, the sultans of the Murk Empire had always been men.
In the empireʼs lineage, Serazade was the first female sultan and bore the title of the Great.
She had subdued the turbulent tribes of the Murk Empire to establish the strongest centralized rule, and with that power, she had waged the unprecedented war of conquest across the Central Continent.
Even 25 years after the invasion war, Serazade had taken only five concubines and had not yet formally selected a royal consort, nor borne an heir.
Seeing the sultan seated atop the Spirit Beast golden fox, Zeke thought he understood why.
'At first glance, she looks about my age.ʼ
She radiated an otherworldly charm from her eternally youthful appearance, as if time had stopped for her.
The sultan dismounted from the foxʼs back and addressed the white tiger and black lion, who were still playing in front of Zeke.
"You rascals, thatʼs enough. Come here now."
At the sultanʼs words, the white tiger and black lion regretfully rubbed against Zeke one last time before lumbering back to the golden foxʼs side.
The golden fox also gazed at Zeke curiously but, fortunately, did not rush toward him like the other two.
The sultan shook her head and sighed.
"Sigh, I had hoped to make an impressive entrance in front of the Guide of the Divine Beast, but those fools ruined it all."
The sultan approached Zeke, her captivating brown eyes gleaming.
With each step, the golden earrings in her ears chimed softly.
Drawing near, the sultan smiled at Zeke.
"Guide of the Divine Beast. Zeke Draker. Do you know how long Iʼve awaited this moment to see you?"
In response to Serazadeʼs bold declaration, Zeke calmly bowed his head.
"I heard from your envoy, Duke Omar. It is an honor to meet you directly, Your Majesty." Serazade looked surprised at Zekeʼs courteous Eastern-style bow.
"Oh? You feel different from the Western knights Iʼm used to. The knights in my memory seem rougher somehow."
"Most knights learn only to swing swords and charge from a young age, so they lack a bit in refinement."
Serazade clapped her hands and laughed heartily at Zekeʼs words, opening her mouth wide in a refreshing manner.
"Puhahaha! Among the Westerners I know, you are the most amusing. I like people with a sense of humor."
After laughing heartily for a while, she turned her head to look at Yellin.
"Descendant of the high elves. I hope your stay in my palace has been comfortable."
Caught off guard by the sultan suddenly addressing her, Yellin hurriedly replied in a polite tone.
"I have been very comfortable, Your Majesty. The food was delicious, and the bed was cozy."
Noticing Yellinʼs tension, Serazade waved her hand dismissively.
"No need to be so tense, descendant of the high elves. You and I share the same blood, though distantly."
Yellin asked in surprise.
"Your Majesty also has elven blood?" Serazade smiled and replied.
"I am not of pure elven blood. My ancestors are a mix of many races. High elves, night elves, druids, the now-extinct one-horn tribe, and even blood from races unknown to the world."
At Serazadeʼs words, Hades, floating in the air, joined the conversation in astonishment.
"Huh? Is it possible to have such a diverse mix of bloodlines?" Serazade answered Hadesʼs question.
"O holy one, the imperial family of the Murk Empire possesses a unique bloodline ability.
It allows us to mingle blood with any race."
Hades looked impressed at Serazadeʼs response.
"Oh, thatʼs truly fascinating. Indeed, there are studies showing that half-elves gradually lose fertility over generations. But if interspecies breeding is possible without such limitations, then each generation could produce even stronger descendants."
Hades appeared eager to study Serazadeʼs bloodline right then and there. Sensing this, Zeke used telepathy to rein him in before he went too far and changed the subject. "It seems your ability to handle Spirit Beasts is part of that power as well." Serazade nodded.
"It is an innate unique talent I was born with. Though, ultimately, it must be one of the abilities from my ancestors manifesting. Animals have always been particularly fond of me since I was young. Speaking of which, may I see the divine beast you guide?" The reason Zeke received such a warm welcome was ultimately thanks to Raven.
He called for Raven, who was outside putting on a show and drawing awed gazes from the Murk nobles.
Rurururu—
At his call, Raven emerged from a dimensional rift and perched on Zekeʼs shoulder.
Serazade exclaimed in admiration upon seeing Raven, with its splendid feathers and resounding phoenix cry.
"A true phoenix! This is truly wondrous!"
Seeing Serazadeʼs awestruck reaction, Raven shot Zeke a look as if to say, "Now you see my true worth."
'This guyʼs getting full of himself.ʼ
To Zeke, it still looked like a large, flashy-feathered chicken, but Serazadeʼs expression was as if she beheld the worldʼs most precious gem.
She cautiously asked Zeke.
"Guide, may I hold the divine beast on my arm?"
Zeke nodded at Serazadeʼs request.
"He particularly likes beautiful women, so heʼll probably prefer Your Majesty over me."
At Zekeʼs gesture, Raven fluttered upward with exaggerated grace and settled on Serazadeʼs arm.
Rurururu—
Raven, now perched on Serazadeʼs arm, seemed quite pleased with the situation, puffing out its feathers even more proudly than when with Zeke, striking a majestic pose.
Though to Zeke, Ravenʼs display seemed rather embarrassing.
'Yeah, Raven, when else would you get treatment like this? Enjoy this moment.ʼ Serazade gazed at Raven on her arm with an expression as if she owned the world.
After admiring Raven for a long while, she pondered briefly before turning to Zeke.
Then, she slowly spoke.
"Today, I have made a significant decision." Serazade gazed intently at Zeke and said.
"Sir Zeke Draker, Guide of the Divine Beast. What would you think of becoming my royal consort?"