“What are you talking about?” Yoosung’s eyebrows knitted in confusion.

If Jinhyuk was referring to those “above,” he meant beings on par with divinities.

The idea that something shouldn’t be known to them puzzled Yoosung.

“Remember the mid-level demon, Antrad?”

“The skeleton who wrecked the fortress, right?”

“Yeah, that one.”

“I remember it was a strong demon. But what does that have to do with the beings above?”

“To summon that demon, cursed relics were needed. However, the relics used to manifest Antrad weren’t complete. Neither was the place right.”

Despite the poor conditions, an incredibly strong entity had emerged, carrying a significant portion of its original power.

And there was only one implication.

“Someone with transcendent power assisted… Is that what you’re saying?”

“Exactly. And this isn’t something the divinities would do. They have no reason to.”

Demons revel in chaos, but they don’t typically interfere with the system to the point of upheaval.

That’s true for nearly anyone; the losses generally outweigh the gains.

“It’s the administrators who helped the demons. Probably someone very high up, maybe even at the highest level.”

Jinhyuk stared up into the night sky reflected in the window, a view of the tower’s upper levels that shouldn’t be visible from here.

There, absolute beings who oversee everything below the tower likely resided.

“Upper echelon administrators are involved…”

Yoosung’s face hardened, the gravity of Jinhyuk’s words weighing heavily on him.

And with the increasing danger the higher they climbed the tower, the chill running through his veins couldn’t be ignored.

“What should we do now?”

“Well, for now, let’s enjoy today.”

“What?”

“We’ve been fighting non-stop since we arrived at the mid-levels. We were hardly settled in the fortress before the demons interrupted. Knowing there’s someone backstabbing us is enough for now.”

“You speak as if you have it all figured out.”

“I have a few ideas in mind, though I’m not sure if they’ll work.”

“Your confidence never ceases to amaze me.”

Their opponent was a high-level administrator.

A transcendent being, on par with divinities, overseeing everything about the tower.

And yet, what was this confidence?

“Still… for some reason, I feel like as long as I’m with you, we can find a way out of even the worst situations.”

Yoosung cracked a smile for the first time.

It was a warm, comforting smile.

“I make sure to take good care of my people. Don’t worry too much. I will always protect my own.”

“Alright. Maybe enjoying today isn’t such a bad idea.”

After all, the seasoned pro before him had solved countless impossible situations before.

If anyone could find a breakthrough, it would be Jinhyuk.

Just then.

“Ugh, I thought I was going to die of annoyance.”

Alice approached with a face full of fatigue, Teresa and Andrea in tow.

“What happened?”

“These weirdos kept pestering us about dancing or going for a walk by the lake.”

“And one even had the audacity to toast to ‘the starlight in your eyes,'” Teresa added.

Alice and Teresa recalled their dreadful experiences with a long sigh.

Apparently, Yoosung had been too caught up in their conversation to notice they had also been having a rough time.

“Hehe, it’s because you two are too pretty,” Andrea giggled.

Indeed, the nobility must have been smitten with them, especially in their striking black and white dresses—Alice in her ebony attire and Teresa in her ivory, complemented by her blonde hair.

“With all the people around, you did well to come here.”

“Well, we managed to persuade them nicely.”

“With words?”

“Yes, with words.”

Hmm…

That didn’t seem likely. Yoosung’s smooth talking was hard to imagine.

Then Andrea leaned in and whispered the truth to Jinhyuk.

“Alice was quite forceful too, but Teresa… she unleashed her ‘aura.'”

“…!”

Could it be the ‘Corruption’?

Jinhyuk swallowed hard.

Certainly, a darkened Teresa could overwhelm mere mortals with her presence.

‘The dark version is quite intimidating even for me.’

Imagining the dignified queens spreading a daunting aura was enough to give him chills.

A moment later.

“Ah! There you all are. I wanted to share a drink, but I’ve been buried in work.”

“Finding the heroes of the banquet tucked away in the corner was quite the task.”

Abraham and Pesis joined, completing the group except for the shadowy Wolyoung.

In a relaxed atmosphere, fine wine and delicious appetizers enhanced the conversation.

After such a hectic time, this moment felt particularly sweet.

As the mood warmed up, an inebriated Abraham approached Jinhyuk.

“I sacrificed everything else for the cause of the empire’s survival. I thought as long as the backbone of the empire was preserved, all would be well, no matter the cost. But you, you achieved alone what I could not even dream of.”

His words were filled with gratitude, regret, and self-reproach.

Then.

Swoosh!

The ceremonial rapier at his waist was drawn.

“This is the empire’s unique way of showing gratitude to those who have done us a great service.”

A debt too great to ever fully repay had been incurred.

He had also helped restore pride and self-esteem that had been lost over the years.

Jinhyuk was not only a hero to the empire but also a benefactor.

[Abraham activates ‘Knight’s Conviction.’]

A warm aura enveloped the banquet hall.

Golden petals of energy began to fall from the ceiling, creating a stunning scene.

But more astonishing was the sudden silence that fell over the room.

All conversations stopped. The musicians paused.

The nobles bowed in respect.

The leaders of the White Tower’s mages and the Red Cavalry knights.

The royal guards and the heads of many noble families.

All showed their gratitude in their own ways.

Reinhardt at the center stage looked at Jinhyuk with eyes filled with emotion.

[The empire awards you a ‘Title of Honor.’]

[‘The Giants’ Fortress’ is elevated to the status of a ‘Duchy,’ ensuring its independence within the empire!]

[You have achieved a remarkable feat.]

[This event will be recorded in the ‘Hall of Honor’ for one day.]

A series of notifications appeared.

‘A title of honor and a duchy… They’re giving us status.’

For an empire strictly adhering to a class system, these were extraordinary rewards.

As Jinhyuk was still processing this, Pesis slowly began to speak.

“I found this event very intriguing. The Highwater Corporation. A rising power composed entirely of formidable members.”

If there was a force within the tower drawing attention, it was this one.

“So, I look forward to your future endeavors. It seems you might bring a major storm to the tower. Just being here to witness this legendary beginning feels like it’s worth it.”

[Pesis’s favorability has greatly increased.]

Pesis’s favorability also increased.

He had attended the banquet thinking to relax and enjoy some good food…

‘Unexpected rewards keep pouring in.’

In retrospect, summoning the first Reinhardt had been a masterstroke. It allowed the nobles to reflect on their mistakes.

And seeing Alice, who had made it possible, Jinhyuk couldn’t help but smile proudly.

“Why are you smiling like that? It’s creepy.”

Alice glared at him.

“Just. I’m impressed. It seems you didn’t just luck into the position of head of the Ataraxia family.”

“Hmph. You’re only just realizing my worth. I used to be the vampire everyone lined up just to speak to.”

“Right, right.”

Jinhyuk played along, ruffling her hair.

“Ah. By the way, what did you mean in the tomb? The… Te…sensio te arphem? That spell you used to summon the ancestor.”

It sounded like Imperial language, which he hadn’t studied much beyond a few keywords.

“Oh, that? It means ‘only those of the Imperial bloodline can protect the empire.’ Pretty grandiose for a brat, right?”

“…Hmm. He was quite a character, that first emperor.”

“Not bad. He wasn’t all talk, either.”

“Can I ask you one more thing?”

“Sure, ask away.”

“He didn’t die because you drained all his blood, did he?”

Given that a Grand Swordmaster could live over 200 years, his lifespan seemed oddly short.

Perhaps, this vampire was to blame…

Alice’s smile grew more radiant.

“Oh dear. I have a feeling that tonight, that will be your epitaph.”

The air turned chillingly cold.

Her fangs seemed particularly sharp tonight.

The party lasted until dawn.

Everyone, drunk on wine and sated with food, returned to their accommodations.

For this one night, they seemed to forget all their troubles, letting their guard down.

Just then.

Tap… tap.

Jinhyuk cautiously woke up Pesis, who was deep in sleep.

“Uh, huh… Mr. Jinhyuk? What’s going on at this hour?”

Pesis jumped up in alarm, facing Jinhyuk’s ominous smile.

Had it been Yoosung instead, he might have drawn his sword right then and there.

Jinhyuk lowered his voice.

“Let’s go for a walk. There’s a place I desperately want to visit.”

“A walk? In the middle of the night? And this place you want to visit is…?”

Pesis’s face expressed complete bafflement.

“I want to return to the Emperor’s tomb.”

“The Emperor’s tomb? Why on earth would you want to go back there?”

“There’s something I absolutely need to get my hands on, something I forgot to pick up earlier.”

“You’re not planning a grave robbery, are you?”

“Oh, come now! What do you take me for?”

Jinhyuk’s indignant reply made Pesis flush with embarrassment.

“Sorry. It’s just that you, now a Grand Duke, wouldn’t…”

“Consider it a long-term lease.”

“Excuse me?”

“It was a decision forced by international circumstances and resource conflicts.”

Pesis wanted to call out the absurdity of that explanation, but he instinctively realized he was already too deep in this quagmire.

The boost in favorability had played a significant role in his resignation.

“Sigh. I suppose asking the royal family might be simpler?”

“If it were something ordinary, I would. But this isn’t ordinary. Even the current Emperor doesn’t know how to get there.”

“The Emperor doesn’t know… You mean, it’s that?”

Pesis’s pupils dilated in shock.

Yes. Pesis would have heard of it.

The only one who could earn the title of Great Explorer in the tower was him.

“Pesis, you must have heard about it, right? About the Dragon-slaying Sword, ‘Balmung,’ rumored to be hidden within the empire?”