The next town Jin and Emrys stopped at was called Steam Lake.It was a place where people often came to rest from their daily activities. Travelers, merchants, kingdom soldiers, assassins, mercenaries, and even some bandits or syndicates could come here, but no one was allowed to cause any trouble, no matter the reason.Steam Lake Village was also called the Lake of Serenity or the Peaceful Lake. It had existed for many centuries, and even now, no one—good or bad—dared break the one rule: don’t start any trouble, out of respect for the Queen of the Lake who lived beneath the water.At the center of the town was a vast lake, naturally steaming with moderate heat. Many people came to bathe and relax there. The lake was said to ease fatigue and boost energy the moment someone immersed themselves in it.The town’s business thrived, and almost every inn had its own bathhouse using water from the lake. The surroundings were misty from the lake’s warmth, but the cool air of the town made it

At the Inn House, Jin easily made his way to the third floor. He walked straight down the hallway and entered the third room on the right.Once inside and after closing the door, he went straight to an open window to get some fresh air.He peeked at the bed and saw Emrys, his neck buried under his blanket, still fast asleep.Jin didn’t understand why he suddenly felt nervous after seeing Leander earlier at the shop.But he also felt uncomfortable keeping Leander’s connection to the princess of Central Vale a secret from Emrys. He wanted to protect both sides, but he was the one stuck in this situation. He was confused.He knew Leander was important for the start of Emrys’ revenge plan because of his strong connection to the royalty. But on the other hand, Jin didn’t want to make him an enemy of the princess, as he was also a friend.Still, he didn’t want to withhold this from Emrys. As long as his conscience remained clear, he was fine with it.Just as he was about to approach Emrys,

“I can’t believe how beautiful it really is here!” Emrys couldn’t help but comment as they finally passed through the gates of Central Vale and entered the city.Finally, after days of enduring a long journey, they had reached the place they had long been waiting for.As the rumors said, the town was truly prosperous.Their path was completely clean, without any trash. Even a single person littering would immediately be scolded by the townspeople, which made Emrys happy to see such unity.People greeted each other as they opened their shops, while others chatted with neighbors, giving the town a lively, welcoming atmosphere. However, the kingdom’s soldiers hadn’t forgotten to post wanted notices on posts, wood, and walls, warning about a faceless person wearing a mask.The two didn’t pay much attention and, passing by a bakery, Emrys waved cheerfully. “Good morning!”The elderly baker looked up, smiled, and waved back. “Good morning to you as well.”Emrys’ cheerful mood continued as t

The sun had risen. In a luxurious bed where the princess lay, she slowly stirred and then decided to got up, rubbing her eyes as she woke.Her face was unclear due to the sunlight streaming in through the closed balcony window, blinding her.The princess adjusted her sleeping robe and went straight to her bathroom, where she bathed in cold water for a few minutes.There were no mirrors anywhere in her room, not even in the bathroom. So not only did others wonder what the princess really looked like, but even she herself wanted to see her true face but couldn't do anything about it.However, due to the unique power she had since birth, no living person knew her face.Because of this seemingly cursed trait, no servant could enter her room, so she had to handle everything by herself from preparing to go out until getting inside again.After dressing, she put on her mask. With it, she knew she protected everyone under her care.But because of the mask, she also could not fully see the tru

Inside the palace, on the east side where a small training stage was set, Raphael sat alone on an iron bench, sharpening his blade.“As always, you arrived early,” Leander said, soon appearing behind his own weapon.Raphael stood and bowed. “Good morning.”“And to you.”They faced each other, both drawing their swords. Raphael held his with both hands, his expression serious, while Leander held his sword with just his right hand.“As always, just think of me as a high-ranking cultivator you hate,” Leander said.Raphael exhaled sharply and nodded. In an instant, he appeared behind Leander, swinging his sword horizontally at his opponent’s neck.Leander blocked upward with his own sword, creating a sharp clash. “Impressive, you’re really getting good,” he commented before spinning and launching a quick strike toward Raphael’s eye.Despite the speed, Raphael blocked it, and when he reached the edge of the stage, he rolled while Leander continued the attack without pause.“Your opponent i