“Casey-jie, there’s something I’ve been wondering,” Li Xin said casually while flipping through the newspaper. “Does our Grand Consul Luther… keep a diary?”
Casey was born into a noble family—she likely had access to information most people didn’t.
“A diary? What kind of diary?” Casey looked genuinely puzzled.
“I heard nobles like to keep journals. If someone as important as him wrote one, reading it would probably help me grow a lot faster.”
Casey beamed with laughter. “I’ve never heard anything like that. Don’t listen to rumors. Nobles have very full lives. They don’t have time for boring stuff like that.”
“Tsk. What a shame.” Li Xin’s disappointment was almost comical—like someone who’d just missed out on a billion lira.
“...Huh?”
“Nothing. Guess our Grand Consul’s more of a straight-laced guy than I thought,” Li Xin muttered with a shrug.
Casey giggled behind her hand. In truth, Grand Consul Luther really was different from the typical nobleman. Much like Captain Luo Jin—upright, self-disciplined, and principled. It was Luther who had first proposed the monogamy laws, which replaced the chaotic customs of the past and gave dignity to women. Ever since, the entire kingdom’s female population had thrown their support behind him. Of course, she wasn’t about to explain all that to the simple-minded Ah Xin.
With clear plans for her evening—and perhaps the days to come—Casey strode off with cheerful steps. Today she wore little white leather shoes, legs long and graceful, full of energy. Watching her leave, Li Xin once again marveled at how much self-control his bargain-bin uncle had. Then he looked down at the suitcase stuffed with newspapers, and a genuine smile crept into his eyes.
Far away, in the Kamal Region of the Daoyuan Continent—a strategically vital area where multiple nations’ borders converged, plagued by constant warfare and territorial disputes.
Its political status was unresolved, leading to a flourishing of outsiders. People from all nations mingled here, churches clashed for power, and cults were rampant.
Behind Kamal lay the vast and silent mountain range, filled with awakened beasts. For mortals, it was a forbidden zone. For adventurers, a paradise.
The sunlight couldn’t pierce the dense forest. A tall, rugged man in his thirties sat tending a fire. Skewered over the flames were one large and two small plump hairless pompoms, roasting with a delicious aroma. Just then, a lean figure landed gracefully from above.
“Captain, the target’s been sighted. They’re protected by a knight corps—about five hundred strong. Eleven priests from the Radiant Sun Church. One bishop,” the young man reported respectfully, his voice tinged with excitement and concern.
Kantona looked at him and smiled faintly. “Ellie, what’s your take on this job?”
The young man called Ellie raised his head. “It’s tough. But if we pull it off, the Blazing Wind Mercenaries will rise to the next level. All of Kamal will know your name.”
Kantona laughed heartily. “Then let’s get to work. The target’s strong—so strike decisively. Hit where it hurts, and strike where they don’t expect it!”
“Yes, Captain!”
Ellie was an orphan Kantona had rescued during a past mission. He’d been raising and training the boy carefully ever since. Bold, observant, and clever—he’d already grown into a core member of the mercenary band.
The Blazing Wind Mercenaries were one of the most well-known bounty groups in Kamal. This mission was a big one—an assassination. With knights and Radiant Sun priests protecting the target, it would be extremely difficult to get close. But a job was a job. In a place like this, survival hinged on reputation.
Kantona already had a plan. They weren’t an army; they didn’t need to fight every guard—just accomplish the objective. There were always variables, but they’d handled this kind of mission before.
As he gently stirred the fire, Kantona’s thoughts drifted to the Zodiac Celestial Disc, and the three young people he’d met there.
Their faiths were clearly different. Aries was likely devoted to the Earth Mother. Cancer leaned toward the Moon Goddess. The newcomer, Gemini… hard to say.
According to the First Law of Divine Relics: Divine Relics are incompatible.
No one can possess more than one. If it somehow happened, either the user would die—or one relic would devour the other. Even then, the vessel would pay a terrible price.
If it wasn’t a Divine Relic, then it had to be a Divine Artifact—something far more powerful. Divine Artifacts couldn’t be contained. They could only be sacrificed, exchanged for power. The appearance of such an artifact would shake the very foundations of any church. A main god’s artifact was the core of a church’s strength. Whoever wielded one held unimaginable power.
Kantona wanted that power too—but he had the discipline to keep his desires in check.
Still... why had such a thing summoned them?
Second Law of Divine Relics: What you receive is fated.
If it’s meant to be yours, it will be—no matter what. If it isn’t, no amount of struggle will change that. Everything is decided by the gods. And so are the consequences.
Of course, what the gods want isn’t always what humans care about. But that’s exactly why people chased after them anyway. After all, by the end of the Fourth Era, humanity had learned how to make deals with the divine.
Artifacts belonged to a higher plane. Even now, with his current level of understanding, Kantona knew his grasp of such things was limited. But even being involved was an opportunity.
Years in the field had taught him: the patient ones reaped the greatest rewards.
In life, effort was important—but outcomes were often decided by luck.
The Zodiac Celestial Disc, no matter which god it belonged to, was no ordinary artifact. And because of that, it demanded caution. Gaining mastery over a Divine Relic took time. Mastering an artifact? Even more so. And the road was fraught with peril. The hasty would become cannon fodder. That’s why Kantona didn’t want infighting among the Disc’s chosen.
So far, things looked promising.
Of course, being chosen by an artifact was itself a form of recognition. The others might seem young and naive—but he wouldn’t underestimate them.
Whenever possible, Kantona responded promptly to the Disc’s summons. It was a chance—one of the few he couldn’t afford to miss.
The continent’s only Seven-Star Mercenary Group, Song of the Abyss, was so powerful that even nations were wary of them. Their captain was rumored to wield a true artifact.
Back at the fire, the pompoms were now perfectly roasted—crispy on the outside, juicy within. They had put up quite the attitude when they’d taunted him earlier.
At first, Kantona had only planned to eat some dry rations. But when the whole nest stuck their butts in his face again and again, well… he’d had no choice but to improve his meal.
Sizzling fat dripped into the fire, sparks flying up into the air. The golden skin gave off an irresistible aroma.
Kantona sliced into the meat with his knife. The timing was just right.
He pulled out a small tin of salt, sprinkled it evenly across the meat, then added a dusting of cumin. He set his flask beside him, folded his hands, and solemnly bowed his head.
“Thank you, great God of the Underworld, for granting me this food. Death is but a return.”
Then he tore into a roasted pork leg—pure muscle. Golden juices flowed down as the meat practically melted in his mouth. He was starving.
A good meal—just in time to fuel the battle ahead.
(End of Chapter 19)