Chapter 493: Eastern Sea (2)
Of course, there were outstanding magic warriors stationed at the Lisbonde Port.
Just a year ago, the frozen Levian coastline at Lisbonde was a place swarming with sea monsters, requiring periodic clean-up operations by the guards. That hasn’t changed much even now.
Although the area hasn’t yet been completely cleared of monsters, they thought they had eradicated the giant sea monsters. Yet, out of nowhere, a sea monster with a risk level of 6 appeared. Even Black Matale, practically the mayor of Lisbonde, hadn’t foreseen this.
"Hooh, what a waste of effort."
Flame wiped the sweat from her forehead as she stood atop the corpse of an octopus monster. She didn’t even have time to change into her Stella uniform, so she wore a simple outfit consisting of a white tank top and blue pants. However, the magic power she displayed was anything but simple.
"Indeed. The stench is unbearable."
Eisel was similarly dressed in just a light sky-blue dress. She pinched her nose in disgust.
"Oh my goodness."
"The monster was killed in an instant..."
As soon as the sea monster was defeated, people quickly gathered around again. The process by which the two defeated the monster was remarkably straightforward: Eisel froze it, Flame sliced it apart, and then Eisel electrocuted it to turn it into roasted meat.
There was no need for Hong Bi-Yeon to make a grand entrance and summon flames.
"Hehe, I can’t let anyone steal the finishing blow. Coming late and trying to share the credit? Forget it. This monster subjugation reward is ours alone, so you can step back, Princess."
"Suit yourself."
Arriving late, Hong Bi-Yeon chuckled and lowered her staff.
Thanks to their quick action, fortunately, there was almost no damage.
"P-Princess?"
"Who are those girls...?"
Hong Bi-Yeon’s face was already widely known, and since this area was under the rule of the Adolevit Kingdom, many recognized her. However, the common folk who weren’t well-versed in magic and didn’t read newspapers didn’t immediately recognize Flame and Eisel.
"Oh, that girl is..."
Some eventually recognized Eisel, but rather than frowning or taking offense, they seemed more curious and intrigued.
She spoke in a calm and indifferent tone.
"What advantage is there for a mage to have their face widely known?"
"Who knows? Maybe it’s good for business when selling autographs?"
"I think it’s far better to live quietly, like a shadow."
"With your face, you want to live quietly?"
Even if it weren’t for her father’s incident, even if Eisel were just an ordinary human with average magical talent, she would have become world-famous. With that face, living an ordinary life was simply impossible. Absolutely not.
"The Lisbonde Magic Affair’s disposal team will handle the corpse. You’ve done enough, so go back and rest. I need to get acquainted with the person in charge here."
"Oh, thank you!"
As Flame hopped off the monster’s corpse, people cautiously approached.
Despite the overwhelming display of powerful magic just moments ago, Flame still looked like a cute high school student, which encouraged people to try striking up a conversation.
Naturally, no one dared approach Hong Bi-Yeon. A group of uniformed ’self-proclaimed pirates’ and ’so-called magic knights’ stood near her with intimidating expressions, effectively keeping everyone at bay.
She quietly reviewed a few files handed to her, but the sudden commotion of people forced her to look up.
"Ah, ah! Over there!"
"That flag... could it be...?"
The crowd murmured nervously, their fear evident. Hong Bi-Yeon quickly realized the reason.
’They’re here.’
A massive ship, so colossal it evoked the legendary pirate ship Black Cross, approached. It marched with a blue flag. The ship was so enormous that it seemed ready to deploy battle airships at any moment. Ships of that scale were exceedingly rare, few enough to count on one hand.
And yet, the fleet approaching boasted not one, but three of these formidable vessels. It was the strongest naval force in history.
"The Dragonwave Fleet..."
The Rising Dragon ship belonged to the Dragonwave Fleet, commanded by Admiral Halicevale, the protector of the Eastern Sea.
The ship, a culmination of cutting-edge magical engineering, was said to be capable of standing against even a Class 9 mage. Just knowing that such a vessel was approaching was enough to instill fear in all the residents of Lisbonde Port.
Admiral Halicevale was infamous for his extreme hatred of pirates. It was well-known that he had spent decades at sea, refusing to set foot on land, to eradicate every trace of piracy across the oceans.
But now, there was a problem.
At Lisbonde Port resided descendants of the world’s most renowned pirate king, proudly calling themselves pirates.
Until now, the frozen seas had prevented them from actively engaging in pirate activities, which likely kept them off Halicevale’s radar. However, if they intended to set sail and continue calling themselves pirates, Halicevale would not stand idly by.
"... Princess."
With a stiff expression, Matale called out to her. She smiled confidently.
"What’s the matter? You look utterly terrified."
"It’s nothing. I’m just concerned that our stubbornness may bring trouble to you, Princess."
These people had never forgotten their identity as descendants of pirates, and they had upheld that legacy until now.
Hong Bi-Yeon had no intention of looking down on them for being pirates. While they called themselves pirates, in reality, they were economists, artists, and entrepreneurs who had rapidly developed an entire city.
"Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone force you to give up the name of pirate."
Of course, even as she spoke with such boldness, she couldn’t help but feel concerned.
Admiral Halicevale was infamous for his unyielding stubbornness. He might even declare war against Adolevit itself.
Naturally, Adolevit would win. But what about the damage that would occur in the process? Was it worth risking Lisbonde, a city on its way to becoming the world’s greatest trade hub, in such a fight?
Queen Hong Se-Ryu would not see it that way. She might even command them to abandon their pirate identity to avoid conflict.
’Before it comes to that... I’ll have to meet him and talk to him myself.’
Hong Bi-Yeon appeared without even wearing a dress.
Although Matale had given her a hint earlier, she hadn’t expected them to arrive so soon. However, a princess doesn’t need a dazzling dress to shine brightly. She was radiant and brilliant no matter where or when.
She had once loved dresses and jewelry, but that was a thing of the past, from when she wasn’t treated as a princess. Back when her self-esteem was low, she surrounded herself with ornaments, but now, she had no need for them.
Letting her silver hair flow freely in the sea breeze, she walked gracefully. It was astonishing. She wore nothing but a thin white dress, yet those watching her felt as if she were adorned in an exquisite silver gown encrusted with jewels.
As she stepped onto the dock, she was followed by pirates in uniform and knights of the Adolevit kingdom, clad in crimson armor, who had rushed out from the palace.
When the magic knights joined her, their magic created a red carpet that unfurled in her path. As she approached the end of the dock, the red carpet transformed into a staircase, rising to meet the towering height of the Rising Dragon.
No one dared to look down upon royalty. The mages had matched her height to that of the fleet to ensure the princess would never be looked down upon.
At the top of the crimson staircase, a man cloaked in a tattered black cape emerged from the fleet.
Whooosh!
The sea breeze whipped his torn cape around, but no one who saw him mistook him for a beggar. His body was covered in mud and brown stains, yet the sheer force of his presence, emanating from his rugged features, left everyone awestruck.
Ordinary people could no longer bear witness to the spectacle unfolding.
This was the meeting between Princess Hong Bi-Yeon of Adolevit and Admiral Halicevale of the Dragonwave Fleet.
This grand sight would soon be captured in photographs and spread across the world, but the two principals paid no heed.
"This is our first meeting, Princess of Adolevit."
"Hong Bi-Yeon. Address me with proper decorum, Admiral Halicevale."
"I’m afraid I must apologize. I’m not very accustomed to such formalities... Princess Hong Bi-Yeon."
Admiral Halicevale naturally knew her name. Though he lived a life completely detached from the world, adrift at sea, it was impossible not to recognize the face that appeared in the newspapers almost daily.
’... She’s completely different from what I’ve heard.’
Few people knew, but Admiral Halicevale was deeply interested in worldly affairs. His access to information was so extensive that he even possessed knowledge beyond what the general public could grasp.
For one to roam the seas without borders, they needed not only combat prowess but also a wealth of intelligence.
’She’s a completely different person.’
The Hong Bi-Yeon he knew from a year ago was nothing more than a hapless princess with nothing but raw talent.
She lacked legitimate qualifications for the royal succession, had no supporters, and was thoroughly isolated within the palace. Her self-esteem had plummeted to the depths, and she had feigned pride as a desperate means of self-defense.
A naïve brat still wet behind the ears.
That was the image Admiral Halicevale had of Princess Hong Bi-Yeon... a type of royalty he despised most. Those who wielded power without having the ability to back it up.
"It may be rude to ask this of Your Highness, but I cannot set foot on land. Would you be willing to board my ship for a brief discussion?"
"Sure, why not."
"P-Princess!!"
The knights erupted in chaos at Hong Bi-Yeon’s nonchalant reply. Even Halicevale himself was taken aback.
Proud nobles never willingly yielded to a fleet with no national allegiance. At the very least, they would reject the offer a few times to assert their dignity and only accept under strict conditions.
But what about Hong Bi-Yeon today?
’... Is she truly royalty?’
Hong Bi-Yeon was so unlike traditional royalty that she shattered Halicevale’s preconceived notions entirely.
What on earth was that plain white dress she wore? Where were the accessories that a princess should have? The ornaments? The attendants? She hadn’t even bothered with proper shoes and had simply slipped on a pair of sandals!
And yet, she was undeniably royalty.
Despite her complete lack of royal attire, somehow... Just somehow... The dignity of royalty radiated from her as a person.
Even Halicevale, for the first time in his life, experienced the commanding presence of true royalty.
"Hahaha!"
Halicevale laughed. He simply laughed.
"... What is so amusing?" Hong Bi-Yeon frowned slightly, her tone tinged with irritation.
Halicevale quickly stifled his laughter.
"I found my own appearance amusing."
"You are not amusing in the slightest."
"Ah, so you respect me."
"Of course. You are the noble one who cleared the seas of pirates and opened the maritime routes for all."
"... Thank you for saying so."
After those words, Halicevale did something he hadn’t done in 50 years.
"Ad-Admiral!!"
"Wait, Admiral, what are you—?!"
He stepped onto land.
It was just a single step.
But that single step meant that Admiral Halicevale had willingly set foot on the same ground as Hong Bi-Yeon.
Though it was merely one step, the symbolic distance it closed between them was immeasurable.
Hong Bi-Yeon brushed her hair back over her shoulder and said, "How considerate of you. Truth be told, I tend to get seasick."
Even as she said this, she couldn’t help but wonder.
Hong Bi-Yeon knew why Admiral Halicevale refused to set foot on land. She understood the depth of his convictions.
And so, she asked, "May I ask what prompted such a change of heart?"
Halicevale paused to think for a moment before answering.
"I realized I was no different from the nobles I’ve always despised, clinging to meaningless pride."
"...?"
She didn’t understand what he meant at all. However, Halicevale had no intention of explaining further.
"That’s all there is to it."
Hong Bi-Yeon, likewise, had no intention of asking more and instead gestured inward with her hand.
"Well, that works out perfectly. I nearly missed the chance to show you the pride of Adolevit and Lisbonde... Celestial Ice Flower Palace."
"That sounds wonderful. I look forward to it."
While everyone else stood in stunned silence, their mouths agape, Hong Bi-Yeon calmly and confidently guided Admiral Halicevale.
Naturally, this event quickly spread like wildfire across global news outlets, creating a massive sensation.