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Chapter 35: Founding Festival (1)
What is marriage?
My answer to that question is simple:
‘Preparing a successor for the family.
It's a necessary thing—something that must be done eventually.
Even putting that aside, it's always been that way.
Even before my regression, while I was locked away, my sister would constantly say the same thing:
To meet a proper lady suitable for the House of Pharos, marry her, produce a clever heir, and stabilize the family.
That was her wish, and it was something actually needed.
So there was no reason I shouldn't oblige.
But the problem… is the current situation.
Right now, I have three ticking time bombs, each ready to explode at any moment.
Never mind the grander threats—there’s no time to be giggling with some woman.
As we were finishing preparations and heading to the imperial capital, I tried subtly expressing my disinterest.
“Isn’t this all a bit rushed? It hasn’t been long since my engagement was broken off. Looking for a new fiancée right away doesn’t seem… ideal.”
Of course, it was a meaningless resistance.
“We’re not talking about getting engaged right this second, are we? Broadening your horizons is important. You learn about women by speaking with many of them.”
I wondered what would happen if I said I was sick and tired of women.
Did she really believe the former scoundrel Yuren Pharos had no experience with women?
No—she clearly believed exactly that.
I considered telling the truth for a moment, but gave up soon after.
‘…If she faints again today, that’d be a problem.’
There are some secrets best left buried.
I believe this is one of them.
I tried changing the subject.
A tactical counterattack.
“But Sister, don’t you have anyone in mind? Honestly, I think you’re the one who needs to—” “I don’t.”
“I mean, just finding a potential—”
“How could I possibly do such a thing? My happiness lies with the family. Only when this house is stable can I find stability myself.”
She shot back without even blinking.
Reading between the lines: “I’ll get married when you do.”
There wasn’t any change in her expression, but the determination in her tone was unmistakable.
I couldn’t win against that.
What kind of person is my sister, anyway?
The kind who believed in my release until the very moment of death, even after the whole world gave up.
The most stubborn of stubborn mules.
There was no escape.
I was doomed to sit through meetings with noblewomen.
My spine chilled.
Cold sweat trickled down.
I needed a plan, but the cursed carriage had already arrived at the capital.
And that’s when it happened.
“Young Lord!”
From a distance, Erilda spotted us and hurried over, looking rather irritated.
Now what…
“I’ve been waiting forever. Can I borrow you for a moment? The Crown Prince is asking for you. Ah, Lady Pharos. May I borrow the Young Lord for a bit?”
“Ah…”
A sigh escaped my sister.
But in that moment, it was a sigh I welcomed with all my heart.
“…Of course. If His Highness is calling, you must go.”
She nodded briefly in reply.
Erilda gave a polite bow and grabbed me by the wrist.
And so, I arrived at Dawn Palace.
I spoke from the bottom of my heart.
“Thank you.”
“…Excuse me?”
“Really, thank you. Truly.”
“…What’s with you?”
Erilda made a disgusted face.
But even that was a welcome sight.
Thanks to her, I had dodged a bullet.
* * *
Once my head cooled, curiosity crept in.
Why would someone so busy call for me now?
The plans for the Founding Festival had already been finalized.
Was there some new development?
I got my answer soon enough.
Dressed in opulent garments in preparation for the banquet, the Crown Prince looked at me through the mirror.
“Thanks for coming. Did you sleep well?”
“Well… I managed. But what’s the matter?”
“There’s been a change.”
“A change?”
“The Elder of the Elves has arrived.”
That made me flinch.
An Elder…
In other words, a senior of the Elves.
This wasn’t just any high-ranking Elf.
Elves generally live for about a thousand years.
And Elders… they’ve lived far longer.
If you look into history, you’ll understand.
“You mean… the fossils?”
Survivors of the Racial Wars.
Those who fought the founding emperor of Ortaire in person.
Living history.
Their presence alone was astonishing.
They never appear at public events.
They know full well the weight of their symbolism—and they’re so old-fashioned that they rarely leave the forest.
The Founding Festival was no different.
The Elder hadn’t planned to attend.
But now, unexpectedly, one had joined the Elf delegation.
Why?
As I pondered, the Crown Prince spoke.
“There’ve been quite a few incidents lately. Starting with the appearance of the Orc Champion…”
“…And the demon? That was only two days ago.”
“Time doesn’t mean much to them. Especially to an Elder.”
So they used spatial magic.
For an Elder, that’s well within reason.
The key question: What does the Elder’s arrival mean?
Erilda provided the answer.
“It’s not about the incidents themselves. They probably want to see the humans who handled them. You and His Highness.”
“…Huh?”
“It’s a legitimacy thing. You know why those old fossils never show up, right?”
I nodded.
“They don’t see any point in talking to us. That’s the famous line, isn’t it?”
It happened centuries ago.
One of the empire’s past emperors once invited an Elven Elder to a meal, hoping to foster goodwill.
The Elder’s reply?
—There is no value in conversation.
A cold and dismissive remark, revealing just how stuck in their ways the Elders are.
Still, no counterattack came.
Because it was a time of peace.
And because the bond between elves and humans is built on a promise.
Returning to the present, I understood why the Crown Prince was telling me all this.
“You want me to find out what that promise is?”
“Well, wouldn’t you feel uneasy not knowing why they maintain friendly relations with us? Plus, the Elder showing up could mean we’re seen as worthy now.”
It was a valid point.
Clearly, something we did piqued the Elder’s interest.
And if we understood the nature of that promise…
“…We could use it to draw them into an alliance.”
“Especially since the Elves are far removed from demonic influence. Their god loathes demons.”
“That does make them ideal allies. If we can bring them in, it’d be a huge gain.”
The Crown Prince smiled.
“Sorry to keep piling tasks on you. His Majesty is attending a council meeting, so I’m stuck overseeing the banquet.”
“It’s alright. As long as it’s within my power… I’ll at least try speaking to them.”
Of course, whether those snobbish aristocrats would even bother to talk to me was a different question—but I wouldn’t know until I tried.
I stood up from my seat.
At that, the Crown Prince added another remark.
“Oh, and this time, be particularly careful with your behavior. You're a hero, after all.”
“As if I’d go on a rampage or something.”
“You did just that at the last banquet.”
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I wouldn’t have, if it weren’t for Aria.
Besides, I didn’t want to draw attention this time.
There was no need to—rumors about how I stopped the demon summoning had already spread far beyond the capital and reached the guests.
There were already plenty of people whispering about me—no point in giving them more fuel.
“I’ll be off now.”
“Mm. I’m counting on you.”
And with that, I left Dawn Palace.
I arrived at the banquet hall.
As soon as I showed up, I avoided the murmuring crowd and made my way to my sister.
“Did your task go well?”
“Yes. Though, Sister…”
“Ah, you’ve been asked for a favor, haven’t you? A shame, but we’ll save the talk about your fiancée for later.”
That did it.
I found myself clenching my fist for no reason.
My sister spoke in a voice laced with the faintest trace of a smile.
“Young Lord, thank you.”
“…Pardon?”
“For growing up so well. That’s what I wanted to thank you for.”
Her gaze was fixed on the banquet hall.
“There was a time when I used to worry so much about you. I had faith, but the public image of the Young Lord was… well…”
“…Something shameful?”
“…Now, I think we can just call it a memory. On my way here today, and while I waited for you, I heard many things. Everyone’s calling you a hero. They call you Pharos.”
It felt a little embarrassing.
And while I was sitting with that feeling, my sister continued.
“I’m proud. That you’ve grown into someone worthy of the name Pharos.”
I couldn’t respond.
It didn’t feel like enough—not enough to repay the sacrifices she had made.
Because to me, the one who embodied Pharos more than anyone… was always her.
I still had a long way to go to catch up.
I was just a fool who had only recently learned where and how to wield my strength.
And so, all I could say was,
“…I’ll try to do better. Steadily.”
That was the extent of my promise for the future.
A silence hung between us.
My sister’s soft laughter gently filled the space.
Thankfully, there wasn’t time for the awkwardness to settle in.
Ba-ba-bam!
The founding festival banquet had begun.
* * *
The Empire’s founding festival wasn’t just a significant event within the Empire.
It was, essentially, a summit of various races from across the continent, centered around the Empire.
So why did the founding festival serve such a role?
Why was the Empire at the center of it all?
For that, one had to look to history.
The first human nation established was Ortaire.
All human kingdoms that followed naturally branched off from Ortaire, creating a clear hierarchy.
It was no different with the other races.
The one who had driven swords through their necks in history was the founding emperor.
He was the one who liberated the slaves and forged the first equal relations with the other races.
He was also the one who gathered the warring factions and negotiated peace.
In strength and legitimacy, the Empire was the undeniable leader of the alliance.
Of course, a millennium is a long time.
There were races like the orcs, who had been excluded from the alliance, and others like the harpies, who had recently joined.
Power dynamics within the alliance had shifted over time, and there had been periods of Imperial decline.
But ultimately, those were just temporary waves in history.
Under the current generation, no one questioned the Empire’s leadership of the alliance.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is entering!!!”
With the orchestra’s fanfare, the Crown Prince entered the hall.
All eyes turned to him.
Already renowned as the reincarnation of the founding emperor, his fame had soared even higher after he brought back the head of an orc champion as his coming-of-age achievement.
Unless he made some grave mistake, that momentum would never wane.
And making sure that didn’t happen—that was my job.
I watched him as he walked toward the center.
Thinking back, he still looked strange in that outfit.
‘He kind of looked better as a vagabond.’
I’d gotten used to seeing him covered in blood, smiling as he swung a sword in a ragged state.
Now that he looked so polished, I still hadn’t fully adjusted.
It was a reminder of how much appearances mattered, even though, underneath it all, he was still the same impulsive and reckless man.
Lost in that thought for a moment—
“I thank you all for gathering here today.”
The Crown Prince began his speech.
I reached for the rod hanging at my waist.
‘Time to begin.’
Everyone I needed was present.
My first task:
‘Traces of the demons…’
I had to search for another demon.
Mana subtly resonated with the rod.
My vision cleared, and the world faded into shades of grey.
A new reality unfolded—one invisible to the naked eye.
Miracles, mana, and nature.
Spiritual creatures, divine radiance, and refined mana each had their own distinct hue and shape.
Even magical whispers exchanged in secret became visible through this perception.
—This generation will be strong. What a terrifying talent.
Someone was commenting on the Crown Prince.
I let that pass and continued scanning the hall.
And the conclusion:
‘Nothing.’
At least within my range—within this Imperial banquet hall—there was nothing related to demons.
I hadn’t detected anything on my way here either, so it seemed safe to assume there was nothing inside.
Of course, I’d need a few more checks to be certain, but for now, it was a relief.
I was about to withdraw the mana when—
Buzz—
I felt it.
A gaze so intense, it registered even through the mana.
I looked up.
And then I saw him.
‘…The elder?’
An elderly elven man cloaked in natural mana and accompanied by spirits.
While everyone else’s attention was on the Crown Prince, he alone was staring directly at me.
I’d dismissed him earlier, since I hadn’t seen any traces of demonic influence on him.
Why was he watching me now?
Could it be that the mana I’d released had caught his attention?
He was a creature over a thousand years old.
It was entirely possible.
But then that thought was flipped on its head.
Because I realized what exactly he was looking at.
‘The rod?’
What the elder was staring at…
was the rod hanging from my waist.
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