Hey guys,

Sorry for the delay in updating this Chapter. My wife wasn’t feeling well—she had nausea and stomach pain.

Naturally, I was worried and dropped everything to take care of her.

After consulting the doctor, we received wonderful news instead of bad news: my wife is pregnant with our first child! Yaaaaay! 🎉

Because of this, I couldn’t update any new Chapters for the past few days. I hope you all didn’t have to wait too long.

But don’t worry! I’m committed to finishing the second volume of this novel.

In the meantime, if you’d like to support me, leaving a review and rating for this novel would mean the world to me. Your feedback and encouragement truly motivate me to keep writing.

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me! ❤️

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Artur’s POV

The stench.

Everything reeked.

There was something foul in the air, like a rotting conspiracy festering just beneath the surface, though Artur couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was.

The crowd of nobles in Heles City, laughing and talking with hollow cheer, deepened the furrow on Artur’s brow.

He had never felt comfortable among people like them.

The cloying scents of expensive perfumes, the thick gowns adorned with lace, the layers of makeup that nearly obscured their real faces—all of it felt like masks crafted to deceive.

The way they sipped champagne, chuckled, glanced around, or whispered behind their fans while gossiping—every move made Artur’s stomach churn.

To him, these nobles were useless creatures, nothing more than parasites consuming the world’s oxygen.

But it wasn’t his disdain for nobility that truly bothered him. No. Even if they knew how much he despised them, Artur was certain they lacked the courage to challenge him.

Many of these nobles might have huge amount Mana, but they were merely the result of potions and drugs, not training or effort. In a fight, Artur, a Level 5 Constellation Mage, could wipe them out in minutes.

What truly gnawed at him was Anna.

His sister. His pride. A beautiful woman who now refused to be called by the name their parents had given her.

Every time someone addressed her as "Nevare," Artur’s blood boiled. The urge to rip their mouths apart surged within him.

Yet over time, he had learned to control his emotions. Artur was now more mature, stronger, and better at concealing his hatred.

The blade in his hand was no longer visible—it could only be felt by those wise enough to sense the danger.

Still, seeing Anna at the heart of the party, reluctantly conversing with the nobles, made it hard for Artur to suppress his frustration. This grand event, supposedly celebrating the birthday of her eldest son, felt like nothing more than a forced charade.

Artur had never liked Anna’s sons. Nash, Kuja, Acel, or the others—there were a dozen of them now, at least as far as he knew.

Their dark greenish skin, glowing red eyes, and, even though their faces were handsome, there was something about them that reminded Artur of their father, Moku.

That alone was enough to make his stomach churn.

He knew those feelings were inappropriate. After all, they were his nephews, his family’s bloodline. But the disgust was something he couldn’t ignore. Worse still, he couldn’t shake the suspicion he felt toward them.

Over a dozen expert Mages specializing in illusions and mind control had examined Anna.

All of them claimed she was not under any form of control—no magical artifacts, no spells, no toxins influencing her. The likelihood of Anna being manipulated was practically zero.

But for Artur, "practically zero" was still not zero.

And that was enough to keep him on edge.

The abruptness of the birthday celebration made Artur’s stomach churn as though it were being wrung.

He could feel danger in the air, though not through his senses. His mage instincts whispered to him—something was wrong.

The danger came from the arions, creatures mingling and chatting freely among the human nobles. The sight of them made Artur grip his glass tighter, his free hand curling into a fist, trembling slightly as he struggled to suppress his rising emotions.

"Artur, could you relax your brow for once? You look like a monster," a cold voice cut in from his side.

Riri.

His wife, who now looked nothing like the lively woman he’d married years ago. Her face was gaunt, with dark circles shadowing her eyes.

Once, Riri had been a vibrant and refreshing presence in his life. Now, she mostly nagged and complained, leaving Artur to wonder what he had ever seen in this woman.

If not for protecting his family’s reputation, Artur would have divorced her long ago. But the weight of public opinion was a daunting thing.

"Shut up, Riri. I don’t need your commentary right now," Artur hissed, his voice low, his anger bubbling beneath the surface.

Riri scoffed softly, her derisive gaze cutting deeper.

"Tch... You’re so amusing, Artur. What makes a loser like you think you can silence me? Hmm? Just because you’re a Level 5 Constellation Mage, you think that makes you special? Don’t make me laugh."

Artur clenched his fists tighter, but Riri wasn’t done yet.

"So, what’s got you so sour today? Hmm? Is it because your precious sister, Nevare, doesn’t care about you anymore? Fufufu... I knew it. Even she must be sick of you."

"You—!"

The glass in his hand shattered into tiny shards. The Mana in his body surged wildly, and sparks of electricity danced in his eyes. Artur’s face flushed with rage, but Riri only smirked, basking in his fury.

"What? Are you going to attack me? Go on, Artur Valya," she taunted, her voice dripping with venom. "I might lose, but you know exactly what will happen if you harm me. Fufufu..."

"Don’t push me, Riri!" Artur hissed through gritted teeth, his voice low but menacing.

Around them, a few curious glances began to turn their way, drawn by the brewing conflict.

Riri squinted, displeased with the attention, yet her mocking smile remained firmly in place.

Before Artur could spit out a retort, he felt a cold gaze drilling into his back. Turning, his eyes met Anna’s.

His sister’s stare was like a blade—cold, sharp, and brimming with disapproval. Artur opened his mouth to explain, but Anna’s glare gave him no chance.

The look alone said everything that needed to be said, cutting through him without words.

Artur’s fists clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened, his jaw locking in frustration. When he turned back to Riri, her triumphant smirk had widened into an insufferable grin.

Without a word, Artur spun on his heels and strode out of the room.

"Such a loser~"

Riri’s voice followed him, igniting a fresh wave of fury. Artur ground his teeth and quickened his pace.

He would deal with this later—not here, not now, but at home. Perhaps a slap would be enough to silence the woman.

But Artur knew he couldn’t act recklessly. Riri wasn’t just any noblewoman; she had the backing of Zilya. And that made everything infinitely more complicated.

Artur couldn’t fathom how Zilya could support such an insufferable woman over her own cousin. Despite his frustration, he held himself back.

If only Robert, his closest friend, could return from the frontlines, Zilya’s backing would no longer concern him.

Unfortunately, Robert was currently preoccupied with the war and the organization he was building.

Robert had always been a friend full of potential. Even though Artur didn’t fully agree with Robert’s collaboration with the arions to capture slave traders in the Bog Forest, he recognized how much he needed Robert’s influence.

As the sole heir of Stent Gaht, Robert wielded immense political power within the Human Alliance—a power that had a direct impact on Artur’s life as well.

Through Robert’s connections and the support of the Valya family, Artur had risen swiftly from a Level 2 to a Level 5 Constellation Mage within a few short years.

However, his rapid ascent had come at a cost; he had failed to master a Domain Spell. Even so, he consoled himself with the knowledge that his God’s Form was powerful enough to compensate for the gap.

This strength should have placed him on the frontlines of the war, but Robert had protected him. Instead of fighting in the thick of battle, Artur was assigned to oversee the Human Alliance’s territories against potential threats from the elves and arions.

Artur’s steps carried him into the garden of Moris’s Mansion, abuzz with the celebration’s lively chaos. Anna had truly invited all of Heles City—not just the nobles but also the common folk.

The mansion’s vast gardens were packed to the brim, leaving hardly any space to move. Even outside the gates, the festivities spilled over, as though the entire city had halted its work to join Nash’s birthday celebration.

The sight only tightened the knot of frustration in Artur’s chest, a storm of emotions he struggled to suppress.

In a corner of the garden, Artur spotted Gilbert chatting with some of the wall guards. Among them were a few of his father’s old comrades from when he’d been a humble wall guard himself.

Despite being a noble now, Gilbert had remained grounded, never forgetting his old friends. This humility was one of the traits Artur deeply admired in his father.

"Artur, over here!" Gilbert called, waving him over. "You remember Uncle Tom, don’t you?"

A small smile tugged at Artur’s lips, momentarily distracting him from his irritation toward Riri. "Of course, Father. I remember Uncle Tom well—he was the one who gave me my first wooden practice sword."

"Hahaha! I never thought a mighty mage like you would remember a humble wall guard like me," Tom replied with a hearty laugh.

Artur nodded, but what he remembered wasn’t just the wooden sword. During their family’s darkest days, Tom had been one of the few to lend a helping hand.

Gilbert had struggled to provide for a teenage Anna and a young Artur, and Tom had often brought food from his own home to share with them.

"Uncle Tom," Artur interjected into their conversation, "aren’t you on duty tonight? Is it really alright for you to leave your post like this?"

"Oh, it’s fine," Tom said with a chuckle, patting Gilbert on the shoulder. "Everyone’s celebrating tonight. With all the nobles gathered here, who would dare cause trouble? Besides, your father gave us a few hours off to attend the party."

Gilbert chuckled softly. "That wasn’t my idea. Anna requested it. She didn’t want my old friends to miss out on this celebration."

"What? Anna asked you to—"

BOOM!

A massive explosion shattered the air, the ground beneath them trembling violently.

The deafening roar cut their conversation short, and Artur spun around, his instincts screaming.

The sky above them darkened as thick black smoke began to billow upward.

Screams of terror rippled through the garden, where moments ago there had been only laughter and cheer.

The celebration dissolved into chaos, a storm of panic and confusion consuming the once-festive atmosphere.

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Words Count: 1713