Hyle Robert left Kolnman early in the morning but failed to meet Ariel.

‘What a letdown, a letdown. Since we don’t know where their headquarters are.’

He had to wander around the Helmir Forest looking for Ariel.

“Ariel-! Ariel-!”

On Hyle’s back, as he shouted towards the opposite direction, hung a large sword.

After teaching Ariel how to hunt demonic beasts, Hyle, who had retired from hunting early, gripped a sword for the first time in a while.

‘Where on earth could she be. Oh, my back. And why do my legs ache so much…….’

He set off with high spirits, as if he would meet his disciple soon, but reality was harsh.

“Ah, I should sit down and rest over there.”

Hyle sat down on a rock under a tree.

He brushed his white hair, which covered his eyes, behind his ears and looked up at the dense forest that covered the sky.

As he thought about seeing his disciple, his mind became cluttered.

He was worried whether Ariel was properly hunting in her mana-drained state or if she was under severe attack from demonic beasts.

“Ariel……. Where on earth could she be.”

He murmured his disciple’s name quietly.

Hyle’s gaze suddenly turned fierce. He turned his head to the right and asked in an angry voice,

“Who’s there!”

Because he sensed someone’s presence.

‘A person with tremendous mana.’

The only person who could possess this amount of mana was Emperor Leopold Diaz.

Someone who could dare to compete with Ariel.

Hyle swallowed hard.

“That’s what I wanted to ask.”

A low and solemn voice came from behind a tree a little distance away.

Hyle stretched out his arm to grip the hilt of his sword and quickly drew it.

“Emperor Leopold Diaz.”

Leopold, who was hiding behind the tree, shrugged his shoulders.

‘To recognize me without even facing me. Impressive.’

Leopold noticed that the white-haired man was no ordinary person.

“Who are you, that my wife’s name flows from your lips?”

“I am Hyle.”

Hyle spoke loudly on purpose so that his voice would carry to the other side of the tree.

‘Hyle……. It sounds familiar somehow.’

No matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn’t quite remember.

‘I am Ariel Clark’s swordsmanship teacher.”

Leopold exchanged glances with Evan, who was standing beside him.

Swordsmanship teacher, huh.

Evan remembered Ariel saying she wanted to learn swordsmanship when she was young.

‘Hyle……! Could it be, that Swordmaster Hyle!’

Swordmaster Hyle who stirred up the Atlan Empire.

He declared that he would return to his homeland, Kolnman, in his old age and left Atlan.

Evan whispered to Leopold’s ear,

“Your Majesty. That man seems to be Swordmaster Hyle. He was a mercenary in Atlan during Emperor Arthur Diaz’s reign.”

A Swordmaster and Atlan mercenary who was active during my father’s era.

Leopold’s brows furrowed.

How could he become Ariel’s teacher?

“What do you mean Ariel’s teacher?”

“I’m not quite sure myself… but Ariel went to study abroad in his homeland, Kolnman. Maybe they met then?”

Damn.

There was too much he didn’t know about Ariel.

He knew she had gone to study abroad in Kolnman but didn’t know why she went or what she did there.

‘You say you like her, no, love her. How can you be so ignorant about Ariel?’

Leopold bit his lip hard.

All these questions would be resolved if he heard the story directly from Ariel’s mouth.

But he couldn’t rule out the possibility that this man really was Ariel’s instructor.

“Let’s go see.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Leopold and Evan emerged from behind the tree.

Hyle stood up and bowed his head at their appearance.

“Though it’s late, congratulations on your marriage.”

“Uh…….”

He thought he was an old man. But up close, he was a white-haired young man.

Surely he had heard that he was a mercenary during his father’s era.

Leopold was at a loss for words in confusion.

“It must be my face. This is all due to the curse of dark mages. As you already know, I am an old man. Ariel was also surprised by my youthful appearance when we first met.”

Hyle vividly remembered that moment as if it was yesterday.

“Are you really Ariel’s teacher?”

“Even if you can’t believe it now, there’s nothing I can do until we meet Ariel. I have no way to prove it until then.”

Hyle Robert waved his hand as he spoke.

“But what brings you here?”

“I came after hearing that the Atlan imperial family is hosting a demonic beast hunting festival. To see Ariel’s face, and also to help with the demonic beast subjugation, killing two birds with one stone. I couldn’t make it to the wedding.”

Listening from behind Leopold, Evan suddenly asked Hyle.

Hyle, who had never given Evan a glance until now, finally looked at him upon receiving his question.

His resemblance to Ariel’s appearance revealed that he was either Ariel’s brother or a blood relative.

“If you’re her teacher, why didn’t you attend the wedding?”

“I didn’t go due to personal reasons.”

Of course, those personal reasons were because he couldn’t bear to see Ariel with her mana sealed. But without Ariel’s permission to reveal her secret to these two men, Hyle dodged the question.

‘It’s fortunate that we met like this. They must know where Ariel is.’

The intense noon sunlight seeped through the shade.

If they continued to wander off at this point, they surely wouldn’t find Ariel even after a day passed.

Hyle was thinking of suggesting they accompany them.

“Come with us. I need to confirm. If you really are Ariel’s master.”

“That’s great. In this vast Helmir Forest, it was too difficult for an old man like me to find Ariel. Let’s go together.”

Hyle extended his arm forward, asking Leopold and Evan to lead the way.

As Leopold passed by Hyle’s side, he murmured a warning to him.

“If what you said turns out to be false, be prepared. Be prepared to face death.”

Of course, for Ariel’s safety.

Hyle nodded and followed behind Leopold.

“Yes, yes. If not, I will cut my belly open and apologize with my death.”

Evan stared blankly at Hyle’s face as he passed by, wondering if he really was the Swordmaster Hyle he had seen in the newspapers when he was young.

‘Is that really Hyle!’

He remembered Hyle’s face from the articles announcing his victory.

Evan’s face flushed with excitement at meeting his role model, Hyle.

***

The Empress of Atlan was captured by a dark mage.

And it happened under the watch of knights and mages.

“Quick, bring His Majesty the Emperor!”

One of the knights shouted.

Then, from the other side of the forest, someone ran towards them at high speed.

“What is all this noise? Why is the barrier broken?”

It was Noah Diaz.

He looked around, assessing the situation.

Corpses of demonic beasts were scattered everywhere. Knights and mages, and a lady who looked like a noblewoman, were trembling with fear.

“Where has everyone else gone?”

“Th-they’ve all returned to the capital.”

One of the mages pointed towards a portal and said.

Noah Diaz’s eyes narrowed.

“Surely the Empress returned with them?”

“That, that’s the thing, my lord…”

Everyone hesitated to answer.

Solviche clenched her fists.

Frustrated by the situation where no one dared to take responsibility for what had happened.

“Why are you all acting like this? The Empress has been taken by a demonic beast! We must save her.”

Solviche raised her voice.

Noah Diaz’s golden pupils shimmered with anger.

‘Diaton-!’

How dare someone lay a hand on her! Without my permission!

What on earth is Diaton up to!

He ground his teeth in fury.

Noah knew where they might have gone. A deserted house deep in Helmir Forest. That was the real hideout of the dark mages.

“Even if you search, you won’t find it, so stay here and report this news to His Majesty the Emperor. I will pursue the Empress.”

Solviche stood in front of Noah, who was about to leave, and spread her arms to stop him from going any further.

“I will go with you.”

With determined eyes, Noah stopped in his tracks.

Normally, in such a situation that even men would fear, a woman would tremble in fear.

But the lady before him dared to follow him.

“I don’t know which noble family you belong to, but it would be better not to get involved. It’s not something that can be handled with naive courage.”

He was right.

She, who knew nothing but to shoot an arrow, would surely hinder the Duke in rescuing Her Majesty the Empress.

Solviche sighed lightly.

“……May Lumiere’s blessing be with you.”

Noah passed by Solviche, who lowered her head.

It couldn’t be delayed any longer. Diaton and Bill might harm Ariel.

His steps grew more determined.