The Nolan Empire, Royal Capital.
This was the largest human city in the southern part of the continent.
Since its founding three hundred years ago, this city-state had stood firm.
Even through several revolutions and even rebellions, the Royal Capital remained the Royal Capital.
“The Nolan Empire… I remember the person who founded this country was your companion, wasn’t he?”
The two had entered the city early in the morning.
They were currently eating breakfast at a restaurant, watching the bustling traffic on the street as Gabriela asked the question casually.
“Nolan was the empire’s first emperor. Because humans were divided into city-states and constant warfare in the past, he wanted to establish a unified country and use laws to maintain order. I supported him back then. After defeating the Demon King, I assisted him in calming the flames of war among humans and liberating the slaves. We soon unified all the city-states in this region,” Qiaolin said.
“That was a period of peace, and almost no wars occurred in the south again. But after twenty or thirty years of that, Nolan declared himself emperor.”
“Why? So suddenly…”
“I don’t know the exact details. After those city-states were liberated, I temporarily left Nolan’s side. Ten years after he took the throne, a rebellion broke out in the empire. The reason seemed to be that his power was too concentrated, and he was unable to manage such a vast empire himself. The people’s livelihood deteriorated, so the former slave owners overthrew the empire.”
Qiaolin pointed out the window and said, “The current Nolan Empire has only a figurehead emperor. The ones who truly control the power are the Council. Most of them are nobles from the old era—the various city lords. In a sense, isn’t this also a form of unity?”
“It’s really strange. You humans clearly have so many powerful people, yet the person who becomes king has nothing to do with strength, and the same goes for the rulers.”
Gabriela was puzzled by this.
For the Demon Race, powerful strength and mana were the standards for becoming a king and leading the people toward prosperity.
Land, wealth, and power were all things that only the strong deserved to possess.
Although Gabriela didn’t like this value system, there was no choice.
Wanting to change the deeply rooted thoughts of the Demon Race wasn’t something that could be achieved in a day or two.
“Haha, you can’t ask me about that. After all, I’m no longer human.”
Qiaolin smiled with confidence. “You’ll have to find the answer yourself.”
Gabriela pouted her small lips with some dissatisfaction.
The other party was clearly looking for an excuse to brush off her question.
“Alright, I’m about full.”
Qiaolin looked at the finished meat broth in his bowl and prepared to stand up.
“Next, we have to go to the Royal Library.”
“Wait a moment.”
“What’s wrong?”
Gabriela carefully stacked her empty bowl to her side.
Qiaolin was startled to see that there were already eight or nine bowls piled up.
“Hehehe, can I have one more serving?”
***
The two walked toward the royal palace.
As Gabriela walked through this prosperous human city for the first time, a look of novelty appeared in her eyes.
She especially slowed her pace whenever she passed shops displaying various handicrafts in their windows.
“Do you like that necklace, or the ring?”
Qiaolin noticed her occasional glancing eyes and smiled mischievously.
Gabriela’s face flushed red instantly.
“No… it’s nothing. Besides, those things shouldn’t be cheap.”
“Although the life I lead isn’t exactly wealthy, I still have a bit of savings.”
Qiaolin leaned in with a tempting tone and said, “How about I buy one for you?”
“Mm…”
*Crash!*
Just as Gabriela was feeling conflicted, a sudden commotion broke out in the street behind them.
Both of them looked in that direction, where a crowd had already gathered.
“My child!” A middle-aged woman squeezed out of the crowd and stumbled toward the center, picking up a child who was twitching incessantly on the ground.
“Is this your brat? How dare he run into the carriage of the Great Archmage, Lord Osaran!”
The driver roared at the woman in a rage, completely ignoring the dying child.
Being hit by a carriage like that, even if he didn’t die, he would only become a vegetable in the future.
Looking at their ragged clothes, it was obvious they were vagrants from the Lower District, which made the driver even more arrogant.
Qiaolin and Gabriela watched the scene from the crowd.
Qiaolin’s reaction was relatively calm, while the young girl covered her mouth in shock, her eyes flashing with a bit of sympathy.
Qiaolin glanced at her, which couldn’t help but cause the figure of the Saintess, Tor, to surface in his mind.
‘If it were Tor, she would definitely step in to help right now.’
“Hey, didn’t you hear me talking to you!”
The driver grabbed the woman’s collar.
Qiaolin’s expression darkened, and he prepared to step forward to stop him.
At the same time, an elderly man appeared before everyone, supported by an attendant.
“Stop!” An aged voice rang out.
The driver froze as if struck by lightning and released his hand.
“Lord Osaran?”
Qiaolin took note of this elderly man dressed in magnificent robes and sporting a full beard.
The Arcane King, Osaran.
An All-Attribute Magical Talent and currently the most outstanding mage in the Nolan Empire.
He had created countless spells, and these spells occupied more than half of the space in the Royal Library.
He hadn’t expected the man to show up here.
“Step back. I will take responsibility for this child.”
“Lord Osaran, they are just commoners from the Lower District.
They don’t have the right to have you intervene.
They struck your carriage; that is already a capital offense.”
“What does that have to do with you?” Osaran merely gave him a cold glance, and the guards immediately took the driver away.
The old man bent down to comfort the frightened mother and said, “Do not worry. Your child will be well.”
After Osaran spoke, he stood up and spread his hands.
Mana surged as a golden magic circle appeared beneath the child.
Mysterious incantations echoed around like an enchanting melody.
In this moment, the people one after another witnessed a miracle—
“Guided by the miracle of light, shine upon the brilliant golden path. May the Holy God be above. Let the holy spring of a hundred healings flow and the pure white silk extend. Please answer my call, heal the pain, and soothe the soul.”
The long and solemn chant caused a violent fluctuation of mana.
A beam of holy light shot up from the magic circle, enveloping the child’s body.
Even the people who touched the tiny golden particles of light suddenly felt relaxed and comfortable, as the wounds on their bodies gradually healed.
The child, who had been twitching, regained his calm under the healing of this powerful Holy Magic until he fell into a peaceful sleep.
As the holy light dissipated, the old man’s steps couldn’t help but falter.
The attendants on both sides held him steady, but the beads of sweat on his forehead could not hide his exhaustion.
“Oh heavens, thank you so much, Great Archmage Osaran!”
After seeing her child saved, the woman knelt in gratitude, her eyes filled with tears.
The old man waved his hand dismissively, left a message saying, “Watch your child carefully,” and boarded the carriage.
As Osaran’s carriage drove away, the crowd dispersed, and the mother and son were nowhere to be seen when Qiaolin looked back.
“Hmm? Strange…”
“Qiaolin, who was that human mage? Osaran… I don’t think I’ve heard that name before,” Gabriela asked.
“You actually haven’t heard of him?”
Qiaolin was slightly stunned, then explained, “He is the third person among humans in these several hundred years to possess All-Attribute Magical Talent.
Before him, it was just Tor and me.”
“That impressive?!”
“However, he doesn’t seem to have put his energy into cultivation. His strength should only be at the Five-Crown Peak right now, and he might not be able to break through to the King Rank in his lifetime. But he utilized his All-Attribute Magical Talent to focus on researching magic, creating many miracles. However, those spells that could be called divine works have harsh conditions for the user, and most can only be used by him alone.”
“What a strange hobby. If the conditions for the researched magic are so harsh that only he can use them, won’t they be lost after he dies? Human lifespans are so short…”
“That’s why he stores his magic in the Royal Library. Anyone can learn one of those spells as long as they pass a test.”
Qiaolin smiled.
“That is also our purpose for coming here today.”