The Mythical Hero's Otherworld Chronicles: Volume 8 [Parts 1 to 3] by Tatematsuri

Author:Tatematsuri
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter 2: Plots and Schemes

The twenty-fourth day of the fifth month of Imperial Year 2026

The flames of war smoldered all across Soleil. Nobody was safe, and yet the common people were powerless to alter the course of events. They could only wait, tormented by fear, for the fire to erupt into an inferno that engulfed the continent. Until then, they lived their days in dread, uncertain about what the next day would bring.

Perhaps that uncertainty was why so many more pilgrims had begun to visit Baum in the past two years. Some came to Frieden to pray for the safety of their husbands or sons on the battlefield, some to lament the dark cloud hanging over the land, and some—mostly nobles and dignitaries from various nations—to trade large sums of coin for spirit seals in preparation for the harsh times ahead.

The nation only had one place to host so many visitors: Natua, a medium-sized city that lay in the gentle curve of a natural basin. Above streets heaving with pilgrims rose the dignified form of the temple of Frieden.

Hiro’s room lay within the temple itself, behind the solemn sheen of its white walls. A gentle breeze entered through the window, riffling playfully through the pages of abandoned books before carrying the stale air of the chamber back outside. The tomes filling the nearby shelves were yellow with age, but the shelves themselves had been cleaned with evident care. There was not a speck of dust to be seen.

This was the same room that Hiro had used during his brief stay in Baum shortly after returning to Aletia, and it had also served as his quarters one thousand years ago. It had not changed in the slightest. As before, two flags stood by the window: a pair of scales on a white field, and a dragon on a black field clutching a silver sword.

“Hmm...” A thoughtful voice issued from behind the pile of books on the aged writing desk.

If Claudia is to be believed, the second prince’s power has declined so much that the northern nobles are falling apart. Yet another consequence of the attack on the palace.

Two years prior, a group of intruders had infiltrated the grounds of Venezyne. Chancellor Graeci had been slain at their hands, and the second prince had been seriously injured. The chancellor had received a lavish funeral, Hiro had heard, although Selene had not attended. He had returned to his seat in the north, where he was still recovering.

The moment he loses his physical strength, his political power goes with it. How quickly somebody can fall from grace.

With the two political giants of the north either dead or in seclusion, the northern nobles’ steadfast union had begun to unravel.

Soon enough, they’ll start to think about biting the hand that feeds them. Convenient for me, but a problem the empire won’t be able to ignore.

Not that the ruling authorities could do much. The central and western nobles had been exhausted by recent conflicts, while the north had been quietly building its strength for years.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.