The aroma of roasted fish permeated the air.
The women brought out platters of freshly baked fish. The commoners sat together, holding their fish, eating and chatting, occasionally bursting into laughter.
"To our great Lord!" someone shouted.
Everyone raised their cups and echoed excitedly, "To our great Lord!"
Cups clinked, and laughter rose and fell like waves.
Louis, sitting at the head of the table, watched it all, a smile unconsciously gracing his lips. Compared to the subtle power struggles at the noble banquets in the south, he far preferred laughing, singing, and dancing around a bonfire with his commoners.
Perhaps it was the alcohol, but Louis casually accepted a dulcimer offered by a knight. His slender fingers plucked the strings, producing a series of clear notes. He began to sing a tune from his homeland—Earth:"Edelweiss, Edelweiss, every morning you greet me… Bless my homeland forever."The square instantly fell silent. Everyone held their breath, listening as if transported to a distant, peaceful place.
As the final note faded into the night, cheers erupted like a tide.
"One more!" someone shouted, leading the chant.
"The Lord sings so well!"
"Encore! Encore!"
"A toast to the Lord!"
The entire square joined in, even the most reserved knights couldn't help but laugh aloud.
Louis shook his head with a wry smile, picked up a piece of roasted fish, took a bite, and let the joyous laughter drift into the night sky.
The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room through the gaps in the curtains. The lingering scent of last night's bonfire smoke still hung in the air.
"...I probably drank a bit too much," Louis muttered as he rubbed his temples, sighing with fatigue.
Normally, he would rise before dawn to practice his fighting aura using his breathing technique. But last night had been so enjoyable, he'd indulged in a rare lie-in.
He subconsciously reached toward the other side of the bed. Only after confirming it was empty did he breathe a subtle sigh of relief.
Thank goodness he hadn't made any foolish mistakes while drunk.
After washing up, Louis sat cross-legged on the bed, took a deep breath, and began circulating the Tidal Breathing Technique.
His fighting aura flowed through his veins, but Louis could clearly feel its sluggishness.
The bottleneck remained—he was stuck at mid-level Official Knight, unable to make any progress.
Damn it, when will I break through?
He'd been training by the strictest methods, yet progress was painfully slow. His aptitude was too mediocre. For him, advancing through sheer training was far more difficult than for others.
If only he could find something like the Northern Crystal Cod again…
Useless system, give me a break.
Grumbling, he casually opened his Daily Intelligence System to check the day's noteworthy updates.1: After the banquet, Agriculture Official Mick proposed to Tanya—and succeeded.
2: The icefield cub Cold Fang defeated all cubs raised in the Red Tide Territory and became their wolf king.
3: Sif, the former little princess of the Cold Moon Tribe, fled to the Red Tide Territory and, famished and freezing, collapsed in the wilderness. She is expected to be devoured by a passing Frost White Bear at 5 PM.The first headline made Louis raise an eyebrow.
That old man Mick actually found love?
The Agriculture Official spent his days immersed in soil, obsessed with optimizing crops and improving yields. Louis hadn't expected him to pull off such a life-changing move in silence.
As for Tanya—he remembered her. A local widow in her early thirties, mother of three, strong and capable. He hadn't imagined Mick could win her over.
"Well, worthy of congratulations," Louis chuckled, shaking his head. "Looks like the Red Tide Territory's population might grow by a few."
The second piece of news was within expectations.
Cold Fang had lived up to its potential, standing out among the young wolves and claiming leadership.
Louis had confidence in it from the start.
The cub possessed a unique, untamed aura. Whether in size, presence, or gaze—it was different from any other cub its age. Its ascension as wolf king was practically inevitable.
"Very good," Louis nodded in satisfaction. "This is the battle wolf I picked."
But when his gaze fell on the third headline, his smile disappeared.
Sif, the little princess of the Cold Moon Tribe?
Fled… here?
Louis's heart sank.
The Daily Intelligence System frequently reported updates from the Cold Moon Tribe. Since the old chieftain's death, that tribe had spiraled into chaos.
His entire bloodline had been purged. The Elder Council lost all authority. Various commanders had begun to split the tribe's power base, forming factions and escalating internal strife.
To summarize it in one sentence:The entire Cold Moon Tribe was in shambles.Even with all that, Louis hadn't expected the little princess herself to flee toward his territory—only to collapse, unconscious and starving.
And worse still, she was fated to become a Frost White Bear's dinner at 5 PM?
"What the hell is this?" Louis rubbed his brow, sighing.
He now faced only two options—
Save her, or let her die.
He sat there a long time, fingers tapping lightly on the table.
Let her die?
After all, the Cold Moon Tribe was a powder keg of complications. Sif's presence might drag a chain of unknown trouble behind her. She was already unconscious, and if she was eaten by a bear… well, that would be the end of it.
He wouldn't have to get involved.
But…
In the end, Louis decided.
He would act.
First of all, Sif had already fled near the Red Tide Territory, which meant she had likely escaped the internal conflicts of her homeland. The risk of involvement was minimal.
Second, while he wasn't a saint, his conscience wouldn't allow him to watch a helpless girl die if he could prevent it.
Third—though it was just a faint and distant idea—what if, one day, he grew powerful enough to subdue the Cold Moon Tribe? Sif's identity might prove a useful key.
Of course, that was far-fetched for now.
Still, whether it was rationality, conscience, or even ambition, Louis came to one conclusion:He had to save her."Lambert," Louis called.
The door opened, and his loyal guardian knight walked in, bowing respectfully. "Lord?"
"I'm going hunting. Have the men prepare," Louis said casually.
Lambert paused. Since arriving at the Red Tide Territory, this young Lord had been relentlessly busy with administration. He hadn't even taken leisure strolls, let alone gone hunting.
And now he was eager?
As a qualified knight, Lambert didn't question it. He simply nodded.
"Understood. I will summon the hunters and knights at once."
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