Chapter 275: Reunion (1)

Several days had passed since Louis departed for Silver Flower Castle.

He had promised to return soon, but for some reason, he sent a message to the Twins saying he would be delayed, and they hadn’t heard from him since.

Despite Louis’s absence, the travel party’s daily routine remained unchanged.

They were treated as state guests within the Frenche Empire.

The Twins, eager to experience the Summer Continent for the first time, spent their days exploring the region with Fin and Lavina.

Tania, fiercely determined to obtain the Anti-Aging Elixir, and Kendrick, unwilling to be outdone by his younger sister, sparred daily with the Imperial Palace warriors.

Meanwhile, Pablo, who had returned to Frenche after a long absence, luxuriated in the lavish hospitality, spending his days lounging in bed.

Winter is nice, but there’s no place like home!

Of course, the Order of the Divine Body on the Winter Continent was practically his home, where he held a position of real power, leading the organization.

But the Summer Continent was different.

The Emperor ruled the Empire.

No matter how revered Pablo was as the founder and national hero, he couldn’t arbitrarily interfere with the Emperor’s governance.

Besides, that was exactly what Pablo wanted.

An old man living in luxury—now that’s the life!

Pablo could do absolutely nothing, basking in lavish hospitality and enjoying a life of complete leisure.

Of course, this blissful state was only possible because Louis wasn’t around to nag him or run errands.

Since Pablo never knew when or where Louis might suddenly appear, he was determined to relish his current freedom to the fullest.

I’m already doing nothing… but I want to do even less!

Just as Pablo was beginning to feel one with his bed, he, Louis, and their travel party received news of a grand party hosted by the Emperor.

“A party?” Kani tilted her head, puzzled.

Pablo elaborated, “Not just any party. It’s a celebration of Continental Unification. The Emperor himself will be there, along with the Imperial Family and all the prominent nobles of the Islet—it’s supposed to be an enormous affair.”

The Unification Festival, which had been put on hold due to Pablo’s absence, was now back on. As the de facto main character of the event, Pablo’s attendance was inevitable. The Emperor had also extended a formal invitation to Louis and his companions.

Naturally, none of them could refuse.

“Really? Wow! This will be my first human party!”

“I heard humans wear fancy dresses to parties, right?”

The Twins chattered excitedly.

”…I don’t know how to dance.”

“What have you been doing all your life? Never learned to dance?”

“You think I’m some noble? I’m too busy trying to survive to waste time on dancing.”

“Honestly, you’re so clueless… Well, how about I teach you?”

“What? Dancing?”

“Yeah.”

“But you’re a girl and I’m a guy.”

“I’m actually pretty smart, you know! I even know the male parts of the dances!”

“Hmm… I see. But… wouldn’t we look like a cicada clinging to an old tree if we danced together?”

”…Do you have a death wish?”

“And that dance you know—isn’t it just from the Winter Continent? Would it even work here on the Summer Continent?”

”…I don’t know, actually?”

“Honestly, you’re so clueless.”

“Hey!”

Kendrick and Lavina glared at each other, bickering fiercely.

Finally, there was Tania.

“Haaah…”

Uninterested in the party, Tania stood on the terrace, gazing up at the sky with a sigh.

Of course, everyone present knew exactly why she was acting this way.

“Teacher… when will you come?”

Tania’s eyes, fixed on the distant sky, held an unbearable wistfulness.

The fierce, demon-like figure who had spent the day pummeling the Imperial Palace warriors was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she resembled a pitiful, abandoned kitten.

The warriors Tania had thrashed would likely have been terrified to see her in this state.

As Louis and his companions each prepared for the party in their own way, a soft knock sounded.

Knock-knock.

A line of servants filed into the room.

Servants stood before them, each carrying a small box. Count Zoltan stepped forward as their representative.

“These are the garments His Majesty has bestowed upon the distinguished guests attending the party,” he announced.

At his signal, the servants opened their boxes, revealing a dazzling array of colorful party attire.

“And…” Count Zoltan approached Tania, personally opening the box before her. “This dress was specially requested by His Highness the Second Imperial Prince for you, Miss Tania.”

The box he held out contained a crimson gown as vivid as her hair. It was an extravagant piece, handpicked by an Imperial Prince—an object any noble would covet.

Yet Tania’s face twisted into a grimace at the sight of it.

“Isn’t there anything else?” Tania asked.

“Huh?” Zoltan stammered, taken aback.

“Ugh, that bastard gets beaten to a pulp and sends this? What a pervert,” Tania muttered.

Zoltan realized Tania was referring to the Second Imperial Prince as “that pervert” and broke into a cold sweat, unsure of how to react. He awkwardly thrust the box into Tania’s hands and quickly retreated.

“Hey, mister! Take this back and get me something else!” Tania’s hollow shout echoed after Count Zoltan, prompting Kendrick, who knew the situation, to chuckle.

That evening, the most lavish Unification Festival party in the history of the Frenche Empire began.

The scale of the party, hosted directly by the Imperial Palace, was unimaginably grand. Hundreds of the Empire’s most influential Imperial Aristocrats, along with their retinues and legions of servants diligently preparing for the festivities, filled the opulent hall. Despite nearly a thousand attendees, the venue remained spacious and elegant.

A murmur of voices filled the air.

Even before the formal proceedings had begun, the hall buzzed with energy as small groups mingled and chatted. The primary topic of conversation was the postponed Unification Festival.

“Postponing the Unification Festival? This has never happened before!”

“Haven’t you heard the news?”

“What news?”

“The Emperor of Conquest has returned!”

“The Emperor of Conquest? No way! You mean the Emperor of Conquest?”

“That’s right—Pablo Kwon Frenche himself.”

“Goodness gracious! If His Late Majesty, the Emperor of Conquest, were still alive, he’d be over three hundred years old by now.”

“I know, I know. But there are countless people who claim to have seen the Emperor of Conquest with their own eyes! They say the Unification Festival was postponed because His Majesty ordered an even grander celebration to commemorate the return of our ancestral hero.”

“Huh, is that really true?”

“That’s what I’ve heard for now. We’ll find out the details later today.”

Pablo’s name was on everyone’s lips, and rumors of his existence spread like wildfire.

As the crowd whiled away the time with such chatter…

Dong!

The soft music flowing through the party hall abruptly ceased, replaced by the deep resonance of a drumbeat.

Then came a thunderous voice:

“His Imperial Majesty, the Great Sun Lord and rightful ruler of Frenche, has arrived!”

The voice, infused with mana, reverberated throughout the hall. The nobles instantly fell silent, dropping to their knees in unison.

The sight of hundreds of nobles kneeling simultaneously was truly breathtaking.

Creak…

The doors of the party hall swung open, and a procession entered.

Thud, thud…

At the head of the group stood the Emperor himself. Though no formal introductions were made, his children accompanied him.

The Crown Prince exuded an air of scholarly refinement.

The First Princess, known as the Jewel of the Empire, radiated elegance.

Unlike his elder brother, the Second Imperial Prince exuded a fierce, untamed presence.

The Second and Third Imperial Princesses still retained traces of youthful innocence.

These future leaders of the Empire stood behind the Emperor, poised to guide their nation.

As the Emperor took his place among the assembled nobles, he began to speak.

“I’m sure you were all surprised by the sudden postponement of the Unification Festival.”

The Emperor’s voice, infused with mana, resonated throughout the hall.

“Some of you may already know the reason for this.”

A faint smile played on the Emperor’s lips.

“The Honorable One, who departed long ago, has returned to this land. This Unification Festival will be a celebration dedicated to him.”

No sooner had the Emperor finished speaking than the voice that had announced his entrance boomed once more.

“The Hero of Frenche and glorious conqueror, His Late Majesty Emperor Pablo Kwon Frenche, has arrived!”

The doors swung open again, and Pablo’s entourage, led by Pablo himself, strode into the hall.

The crowd held its breath at their appearance.

The older nobles were awestruck by the realization that the rumors of the Emperor of Conquest’s return were true.

The younger nobles were captivated by the breathtaking beauty of the men and women accompanying Pablo.

In particular, the Second Imperial Prince couldn’t tear his gaze from Tania, who was wearing the dress he had gifted her.

As everyone stared in stunned silence at Pablo’s party, Pablo stepped to the Emperor’s side.

The Emperor spoke again.

“What a truly joyous day! The great Late Emperor of Frenche has returned to us after his long journey!”

The Emperor turned to Pablo, his gaze imploring him to say a few words.

Pablo stepped forward and began to speak. “I always believed the day would come when I would stand before my descendants, but to be here, on this very occasion, fills me with immeasurable joy.”

Pablo smiled warmly. “I won’t detain you with lengthy speeches. Let us laugh, drink, revel, and make merry! For the glory of the Empire we enjoy today, and for the heroic spirits who fell to achieve it!”

A hush fell over the crowd after Pablo’s declaration.

The Emperor chuckled. “What are you waiting for? His Late Majesty has commanded us to enjoy ourselves!”

As soon as the words left his lips, a thunderous roar erupted from the nobles.

“Woooahhh!”

Louis quietly slipped out of Ariana’s room, only to run into Genelocer.

Genelocer looked at him and asked, “Leaving already?”

“I have to.”

It had been a week since Louis abandoned his travel party to stay in Genelocer’s lair. It was time to head to the Summer Continent and resume his original mission.

As Louis prepared to leave, Genelocer spoke with a hint of regret. “Even when you’re busy, drop by occasionally.”

“I will.”

“Good answer. Now hurry up and go before Ariana wakes up and starts looking for you.”

“Understood.”

Louis took one last look at Genelocer, who waved casually.

Poof!

Genelocer’s figure vanished.

He reappeared high above the Imperial Palace of the Frenche Empire.

“Let’s see… the kids…”

Louis sensed a familiar energy. His gaze turned toward the Imperial Palace.

“Hmm?”

The palace shimmered with dazzling lights, buzzing with activity.

”…No way, could it be?”

Unlike its usual serene demeanor, the Imperial Palace seemed brimming with life, making Louis’s eyes sparkle.

“A party?”

His eyes gleamed with excitement.

A party!

He realized he hadn’t experienced a real party since his reincarnation. The only parties he knew were those from dramas and movies.

With newfound enthusiasm, Louis exclaimed, “They’re having all the fun without me!”

Before the words had even finished, his figure vanished once more.

As time passed, the party grew increasingly lively. True to Pablo’s command, the guests laughed and chatted with unprecedented merriment.

When the party was about halfway through, a sudden, thunderous shout echoed through the hall:

“What did you just say?!”

The exceptionally loud voice immediately drew the attention of everyone present. Soon after came another shout, even louder than before:

“Do you truly wish to die?!”

The voice was so deafening that Pablo’s gaze snapped toward its source.

“Huh?”

It was only natural to investigate the commotion. The first person Pablo spotted was a tall, blond man.

“Who’s that guy?”

The source of the voice was none other than the Second Imperial Prince. Unlike the Crown Prince, who was calm and scholarly, the Second Imperial Prince was the epitome of a warrior.

A man of fiery temper, more inclined to action than contemplation. In some ways, he resembled Pablo of the past, a descendant echoing his ancestor’s traits.

The key difference, however, lay in their backgrounds: Pablo had been a commoner with nothing, while this man possessed the formidable backing of the Empire.

“Tsk, tsk. What fool dared to provoke that brat’s temper?”

It wasn’t merely provoking a man with a foul temper; it was provoking an Imperial Prince with a foul temper—a truly unfortunate soul.

As if sensing Pablo’s thoughts, the Second Imperial Prince shifted slightly.

This revealed the unfortunate individual hidden behind him.

”…Huh?”

Pablo’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Th-th-th-that’s!”

Pablo’s jaw dropped in shock.

For standing before the Second Imperial Prince was a familiar white-haired man, so familiar it took Pablo’s breath away.