Chapter 104 : Chapter 104

Chapter 104: The Five Morning Stars (2)

Rodos gazed silently at the elf pointing at him with a sullen expression.

I quickly interjected before Rodos could respond.

“Marquis Rodos, this is Commander Bea of the elves.Having lived only in Kipaso, she’s not used to meeting humans.”

“Lord Polarin, this man’s aura feels strange.Is he truly human?”

Bea cut in again, oblivious to tact.

I waved my hand at her, signaling to be quiet.

Bea’s expression turned sullen once more.

On our way from Kipaso to Rodos’s domain, Bea had caused a few issues.

But they were minor.

They stemmed not from malice but from her lack of understanding of human society.

Like asking an innkeeper serving food if they were a slave or nearly breaking a merchant’s arm for soliciting.

In hindsight, they weren’t exactly small issues, but they were within my ability to handle.

However, asking Rodos if he was my vassal was different.

He was a high-ranking demon and a marquis of the Empire.

Being treated as someone’s vassal wasn’t likely a common experience in his long life.

Fortunately, Rodos didn’t get angry.

Instead, he smiled and spoke to Bea.

“Lady Bea, as a former Elf King, you might look down on me.But this is the Empire.”

I hadn’t even introduced Bea, yet Rodos knew her identity.

But Bea didn’t back down easily.

“Human, are you?”

“No.I was once a demon, now free of demonic energy.I’d like to believe I’m human.”

“Demon…”

Bea began to draw up her mana.

It felt like a fight might break out.

And I had no intention of letting that happen.

“Lady Bea, not all demons are the same.You don’t sense demonic energy from Lord Rodos, do you?It’s the same as with Derix.”

“Like Lord Derix, but not your vassal.Understood.”

Bea bowed her head and apologized to Rodos.

“We’ve only just met, but you seem important to Lord Polarin.I was rude due to my ignorance.

I’m sorry.”

Thankfully, Bea didn’t prolong the conflict and apologized quickly.

Her experience apologizing to the fairies seemed to have left a mark.

She also appeared to remember the advice I’d given her when she caused trouble in human society.

- Lady Bea, the sooner you apologize or give thanks, the better.

You may not be skilled at relationships, but you know how to see sincerity, don’t you?

Rodos, too, didn’t seem inclined to make a big deal out of her apology.

“I understand.I’ve been there myself.”

I let out a sigh of relief.

Both Bea and Rodos were important to me now.

It would’ve been troublesome for me if they clashed over something trivial.

“Lord Rodos, do you already know everything that happened in Kipaso?”

“More or less, but hearing it from the person involved is different.Would you tell me what happened there, slowly?”

Rodos usually didn’t use honorifics with me.

But whether because of Bea’s presence or his good mood, he spoke politely.

“Yes, then starting with meeting Lady Bea…”

I recounted the events in Kipaso to Rodos step by step.

Rodos listened intently, as if hearing a heroic saga.

Bea occasionally chimed in.

It was a relief that no lingering tension remained between them.

After explaining the full story of the racial war in Kipaso, Rodos looked thoroughly satisfied.

“Thanks to you, Lord Polarin, the Western Noble Coalition has gained face.”

“What do you mean?”

“The fact that you stopped the racial war and became a friend to both races has spread among the Empire’s nobles.”

“It seems they’ve realized strength can be united without war.”

Rodos nodded with a smile.

It was good news not only for the Western Noble Coalition but for me too.

I had shown that war wasn’t the only answer and had engraved my name in the process.

‘That’s why Rodos seemed in such a good mood.But what’s this about the Five Morning Stars?’

After the story wrapped up, I asked Rodos about my lingering question.

“I’ve been curious since I arrived—what does ‘Five Morning Stars’ mean?”

“The Imperial Intelligence Agency named five individuals recently making a name on the continent as the Five Morning Stars.”

“I’m one of them?”

“Yes, Lord Polarin, you’re the youngest and brightest among them.”

The title made my face flush, but it felt good.

When had I ever received such recognition?

Even counting my life on Earth, I couldn’t recall.

With a slightly flushed face, I asked Rodos,

“Who are the other four?”

“One you know well—Soler Adjak.”

“Lady Soler?”

“Surprised?”

“No, I knew Lady Soler was exceptional, but I had no idea what she was doing…”

Soler was indeed strong, but she had joined the Black Veil, a relatively small group within the Adjak family.

I hadn’t realized she’d made a name across the Empire.

I also didn’t know the extent of her current prowess.

“Lady Soler achieved feats similar to yours, Lord Polarin, and made her name known in one fell swoop.”

Rodos explained Soler’s accomplishments.

Her feats were tied to the Lizardfolk.

Still with the Black Veil, she took on a beast-slaying mission at the request of the Lizardfolk, who had ties with Milias.

Months ago, beasts had overrun the coast near the Lizardfolk’s holy site.

Unable to handle the sudden surge of beasts, the Lizardfolk requested the Black Veil’s aid.

Valuing their ties with the Lizardfolk, Milias sent key members like Ingelram, Pinnon, and Soler.

While the Black Veil was gradually dealing with the beasts, a problem arose.

A Grade 2 beast, Lago, appeared.

Aside from the Grade 1 Kraken, Lago was the strongest marine beast, resembling an elephant but living in the sea, swallowing enemies with water.

Lago appeared while Pinnon and Ingelram, the Black Veil’s top members, were handling beasts elsewhere.

It devoured several Lizardfolk and Black Veil members in one gulp and tried to consume Soler.

As Lago’s swirling water threatened to swallow her, Soler cleverly let herself be consumed, then tore through Lago’s innards to escape.

People were shocked to see Soler emerge covered in beast blood and flesh, but she nonchalantly slaughtered other beasts.

A person who, alone, was swallowed by a Grade 2 beast and ripped through its insides.

That fact spread widely, earning Soler hero status among the Lizardfolk and fame across the continent.

‘Soler’s been doing well too.’

The title Five Morning Stars referred to five promising figures who recently made names on the continent.

I hadn’t known, as it came from the Imperial Intelligence Agency, but it wasn’t bad if the name was spreading across the Empire.

“Besides Lord Polarin and Lady Soler, there’s the recluse mage Gronevelt, the new Imperial Knight Pakar, and the Saintess’s brother, Paladin Everchen, known as the Five Morning Stars.”

Rodos’s explanation included names I recognized and others I didn’t.

I knew of Gronevelt, the recluse mage.

A member of the Old Tree Magic Tower, Gronevelt secluded himself, focusing solely on magic, cut off from the outside world.

Despite spending considerable time in Ostrum, I’d never seen him.

Gronevelt didn’t appear at the magical exchange where most tower mages participated, yet he was renowned as a prodigy.

His occasional papers reportedly had a profound impact on the magical academic community.

The others named as Five Morning Stars were also said to be highly capable.

Of course, there were many talented individuals beyond the Five Morning Stars.

In the Adjak family, Soler and I were chosen, but others like Keldric and Balan, despite lacking notable feats, were undoubtedly skilled.

Moreover, the Five Morning Stars were chosen only among humans; expanding to other races would reveal even more capable individuals.

I had no intention of resting on the laurels of being a Five Morning Star.

To lead an expedition like Adjak, I needed not only overwhelming strength but also to become a symbolic figure on the continent.

Only the brightest star would earn the right to lead an expedition.

That thought made my mind feel complex.

“I still have a long way to go.”

“Haha, being named a Five Morning Star at such a young age is impressive enough, and yet you look beyond.”

Rodos seemed pleased even with my refusal to settle.

He cleared his throat and made a proposal.

“I’d like to invite Lord Polarin and Commander Bea to a banquet I’m hosting.Will you attend and grace the occasion?”

It was a sudden proposal, but not one to refuse.

I asked Rodos for clarification.

“Is it a banquet for the Western Noble Coalition?”

“No, other nobles will attend as well.”

Tch, I’d need to be a bit more on edge then.

Still, having been to a banquet before, I felt more at ease than last time.

“I see.Thank you for the invitation.”

Bea nodded as well, hearing my agreement to attend.

“I’ll attend and grace the occasion.”

“Ahem…”

“Is that not how to respond?”

* * *

Bea and I dressed elegantly and attended the noble banquet.

The clothes we wore today were banquet attire provided by Rodos.

I mentioned the clothes Labella had given me, but Rodos wouldn’t hear of it.

“You both look splendid.The expense was well worth it.”

“Thank you.”

“Likewise.”

I spent late into the night teaching Bea banquet etiquette.

I wasn’t an expert myself, but I made sure to instruct her thoroughly to avoid any mistakes with the nobles.

“Still, banquets usually have a main figure, so we can just clap for them and enjoy the delicious food.”

I whispered to Bea.

But she pointed somewhere with a sullen expression.

From experience, I knew Bea’s sullen look meant trouble, so I felt alarmed.

“What’s wrong, Lady Bea?We agreed yesterday not to point.”

“You said we wouldn’t be the main figures.”

“Yes, there’s no way we’d be…”

But I couldn’t finish my sentence.

I spotted a large banner hanging on one side of the banquet hall.

[Elf-Fairy Racial War Armistice Celebration Banquet]

Next to it, our names were boldly displayed.

[Heroes of the Armistice, Five Morning Star Member Polarin Adjak and Elf Commander Bea Hellinger in Attendance]

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