On Tuesday, July 21, 675, at 8:30 AM, in the dining hall, Athena, Siri, Chloe, Madeline, Keri, and Leri were eating their meal in a quiet atmosphere.
Keri spoke in a calm tone, gesturing with his fork toward Athena, who was elegantly slicing her steak:
"Since today is the first day of the Summer Festival, why don't we take a stroll through the city of Berhais and enjoy it? Wouldn't that be a lot of fun?"
Siri and Athena turned their gazes toward him, considering the suggestion. Siri then glanced at Chloe and Madeline, who were merely staring at their food without eating it. She didn't think much of it, however; they rarely ate, as they—like any entity of the 'Holy Ruler' rank or higher—had reached a state of self-sufficiency.
Because their power is effectively infinite, they only eat to keep their bodies accustomed to the process—just in case they ever lose their power, are forced to consume food again, or are prevented from using their abilities. A case in point is Gia, whose power is unstable, requiring her to eat rather than rely on her own energy.
Siri then looked toward Keri and Leri, who were clearly excited about heading out to enjoy the Summer Festival. Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that something unfortunate might happen. A deep sigh escaped her lips as she listened to Athena, whose tone carried a hint of excitement:
"Kiri is right; it's going to be an incredibly busy day—but also a lot of fun! Everything you're about to see will be a delight, especially since it's your first time experiencing it, isn't it?"
Siri remained silent, offering no response to Athena's words. Kiri and Liri, however, were brimming with excitement—a sharp contrast to Chloe and Madeline, who were unusually quiet compared to previous days.
Liri spoke up, eating with such enthusiasm and joy that it brought smiles to both Siri and Athena:
"Aunt Athena is right! Today is the best day of the festival—it's the opening day, and the first day is always the best. We're going to have such a wonderful time!"
"Very well, as you wish. We'll head to the Summer Festival—but first, finish your meals and get ready; we'll leave in two hours."
Athena's tone remained calm as she ate with refined grace. Yet, deep down, Yuta's words burned in her mind—sparks of concern ignited by the uncharacteristic behavior of Chloe and Madeline.
Watching them, she wondered to herself, a clear note of unease in her thoughts:
"Are they maturing, or is something else going on? They're far quieter and more composed than before—it's all rather strange, and frankly, a bit suspicious."
She continued her meal, feigning as though nothing were amiss. Elsewhere, Chloe and Madeline gazed at their plates with an exceptionally calm, composed expression. This, however, did not last long; their faces soon returned to their usual warm and playful demeanor, much to the relief of Kerry and Lery.
Observing this, Chloe and Madeline looked back at them, puzzled. As she ate her still-hot meal, Chloe asked:
"What's going on? Did we miss something? We were just in a state of dormancy to regulate our power."
Athena sighed inwardly with relief; she had feared some sort of disaster had occurred, but it turned out they were merely regulating their strength.
This was a perfectly normal practice—something everyone did—with Geeya and Sery being prime examples.
Setting her fork down on the table, Athena said in a calm, steady tone:
"We've just decided to head out to the Summer Festival in two hours. But keep in mind—the city of Berhais is extremely dangerous. Sery was kidnapped on her very second day here, so please, be extra careful."
As they listened to Athena, both of their faces lit up with excitement, completely disregarding her warning. Then again, considering who was present—the Venerable Lotus Gehao Yuxuan, the Venerable Heavenly Blessing Islabeth, the Venerable Great Creation Yuta, and the Venerable Final Board Ping Tao Xin—it was highly unlikely that anyone would dare to attempt such a kidnapping. Yet, upon further reflection, they would indeed go through with it—after all, no one knew that they were connected to the catastrophes that had unleashed their fury upon this ordinary world.
Madeline spoke happily as she ate, her excitement fueling the enthusiasm of Chloe, Keri, and Leri:
"Wonderful! I heard my aunt and cousins will be here. It's going to be a fantastic day—and on top of that, we'll be celebrating the festival for the first time in all these years! Hahahahahahahaha!"
Athena rose from her seat, a faint smile still lingering on her lips, and said in a calm, measured tone:
"Very well. Finish your breakfast and get yourselves ready. And let me repeat my warning: be careful. Even in ordinary times, the city of Berhais is teeming with criminals and thieves—can you imagine what they'll be like during an event like this? They'll be more active than ever."
With that, she left the dining hall, leaving the others to plan their activities for the festival. Still, she couldn't entirely shake her apprehension that another unforeseen disaster might strike during the Summer Festival.
Nevertheless, she resolved to remain flexible, determined not to let her own anxiety and tension turn what should have been an enjoyable outing into a dull, restrictive experience.
As Athena wandered through the corridors of the palace, she crossed paths with Gaia, who was heading toward the dining hall. Gaia's expression held no trace of suspicion or tension—only a profound sense of calm and peace, as if she were entirely unconcerned with anything around her. As for Yuta, he had been out of sight ever since their return from the Lake of a Thousand Monsters—the last time she had seen him—which left her somewhat puzzled and suspicious about what he might be planning.
She continued on her way, ignoring Jiya, who, for her part, had no interest in conversing; she was focused on preparing for the third day of the summer festival.
Athena, meanwhile, planned to spend her time with the children. Consequently, their paths diverged—though they would all converge in the same place on the third day, the impact of the event would be different for each of them.
"Strange—Jia has become more spontaneous than she used to be. It seems something has changed her for the better. Whatever it was, it did the right thing; the way she used to behave would have been fatal had it continued for much longer."
Athena's tone remained calm as she made her way toward her chambers.
It took a few minutes to reach her room—a space of exquisite beauty, fully equipped with every comfort. Yet, she remained indifferent; as the ruler of death, such mundane, mortal luxuries held no appeal for her—or perhaps she simply wasn't in the mood to appreciate the room's splendor.
She changed into an outfit that suited her perfectly—not funeral attire, but a stunning black dress adorned with a deep crimson rose over her heart. It lent her a breathtaking beauty, elegant rather than revealing—a true embodiment of grace and self-respect.
Leaving her chambers, she headed straight to the palace courtyard, where the others were waiting with eager anticipation. Sira sat on a sofa, her eyes closed, gradually bringing her power under control.
As Athena arrived, Sira opened her eyes and fixed her gaze upon her for a few moments before rising to her feet. In a calm, steady voice, she said:
"Since everyone is ready, let us go." They left the place immediately, without waiting even a second. As they walked, Kiri—accustomed to this routine whenever they went out—took his sister Liri's hand and said:
"Since it's the first day, we really should make the most of it. Otherwise, we'll just end up wandering around aimlessly without actually enjoying ourselves, don't you think?"
A faint smile appeared on the faces of Athena and Liri as they listened; Liri nodded in agreement.
Athena gently stroked Kiri's hair and replied:
"You're mostly right, but the whole point of coming here is to enjoy ourselves. What matters most is having fun and being happy—even if we don't manage to experience everything the festival has to offer."
A flicker of mild disappointment crossed both their faces as they listened to Athena. Meanwhile, Athena's gaze shifted toward Chloe and Madeline, who were walking with a steady, purposeful stride—a marked contrast to the more childlike gait they had displayed earlier.
It dawned on her that they were maturing; after all, they wouldn't remain children forever. A day would come when they would grow up and fully define their own individual paths.
Deciding not to comment on this uncharacteristic behavior, Athena simply continued along the path with them—welcoming the shift as a positive change. After all, change isn't always for the worse. After spending a few minutes wandering the streets of Brais—a city permeated by the refreshing scent of flowers, fresh summer fruits, and an array of traditional and modern fruit-based confections—it became clear that the city itself was the very embodiment of the festival it hosted.
The attendees were not limited to humans alone. Given the proximity of the Elven Empire to Brais—and the fact that Elves and humans once coexisted millions of years ago—the two races have, over time, come to share customs, traditions, and celebrations.
Consequently, the summer festival evolved into a blend of human and Elven influences. This was especially evident in the presence of fruit from the "Forest Spirit Tree"—a rare delicacy exclusive to the Elves and the Angels, who hold an exclusive legal monopoly over it, a right that predates the very existence of humanity.
The inclusion of this fruit drew high-ranking figures from across all five continents, all eager to experience it. A single piece of this fruit is equivalent in value to a "Spring of Life"—a resource used by Gu Masters to restore their strength—and it even serves as a form of currency in trade, particularly on the Northern Continent, where "Spirit Stones" are the only officially recognized legal tender.
Furthermore, the fruit of the Forest Spirit Tree functions as a diplomatic tool between the Elves and the entities of the Dragon Realm—including the dragons and phoenixes that dwell there—owing to its extreme rarity, despite the tree's existence spanning hundreds of millions of years. Athena and Chloe headed toward a shop that sold this particular fruit. As they approached, Athena sensed the fruit's immense power—it was, after all, on par with the strength of a "Boundless" tree; otherwise, it could never have survived for so long.
Athena spoke in a calm, composed tone to the elves managing the shop. Five elite elven warriors stood guard nearby—for these fruits were considered sacred and precious, and the elves were sworn to protect them, even while offering them for sale during the festival (a necessity, given that they were barred from accessing the dungeon resources of the Central Continent).
"What is the price for a fruit from the Forest Spirit Tree, my lady?"
The elf listened to Athena's exceptionally polite inquiry and offered a faint, gentle smile in response. However, the price she quoted was staggering—a figure that would have left others reeling:
"A single fruit from the Forest Spirit Tree is valued at 50 million platinum coins. Alternatively, if you wish to pay using spirit stones, the price is 14 million high-quality spirit stones."
Athena remained silent upon hearing this astronomical sum—a price that ensured only the wealthiest individuals in the world could ever afford such an item. It mattered little to her, however; she wasn't paying out of her own pocket, but rather from Yuta Casiral's coffers. Consequently, there was no reason for her to be frugal.
Moreover, Yuta is one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet, owning vast technology corporations and commanding a significant monopoly over the global market and labor force. Speaking in a calm tone, she retrieved a storage ring directly from the palace vault—for Yuta had granted her access to the Casiral family's treasury, which held 30% of his total net worth.
She handed the ring to the elf, who regarded her with skepticism; the sum was so vast that it would have been considered substantial even for many counts across the Empire.
"May I have 16 Forest Spirit Fruits, please, my lady?"
The elf stared in utter shock, initially dismissing the request as a joke or something entirely unreal—but the confident, serious expression on Athena's face made her realize that the request was, in fact, perfectly genuine.
The same applied to Chloe, who regarded her with a look of slight bewilderment. Given her understanding of the world's financial system—a framework she had intuitively grasped through the narratives surrounding her—she recognized the true scale of the cost. It was a price so exorbitant that it could bankrupt entire counties and baronies across the Human Empire.
Athena, looking toward Chloe, spoke in a calm tone that clarified why such a vast sum was being spent:
"In truth, Master Yuta has a specific reason for wanting these fruits. He asked me to acquire at least sixteen of them. Since you clearly understand that he has a genuine need for them, I decided to go ahead with the purchase—wouldn't you agree, Lady Chloe?"
Chloe nodded in agreement, leading Athena to realize that neither she nor Madeline were as naive as they might have initially appeared.
After checking the storage ring—which contained more than enough funds to cover the purchase of sixteen "Forest Spirit Tree" fruits—the elf confirmed the transaction. These fruits, which accounted for the entire stock available in the shop, were rare commodities monopolized by the Elven Empire. In fact, the quantity offered for sale represented less than 1% of the total harvest; this ensured that others could not attempt to cultivate the trees from seeds, leaving the fruits to be consumed and nothing more. She placed the items into a storage ring specifically designed to hold this type of spiritually-infused fruit. A faint smile played on her lips, masking the tension she felt—for they had heard of Yuta, the one chosen by the "Sword of the Masters: Life," which was held by the Elven Empire of Veronia.
Handing the ring to Athena, she spoke in a calm tone that nonetheless betrayed a subtle, underlying anxiety—a sentiment shared by her companions. After all, offending someone close to the Elven Empire of Veronia carried dire consequences:
"Good day to you, and a happy Summer Festival."
Athena replied, while simultaneously sending the storage ring directly to Yuta's quarters:
"Thank you, my lady. I wish you a wonderful and joyous festival."
With that, she departed immediately, not waiting for any further response.
The group collapsed to the ground, overcome by the sheer mental exhaustion they had just endured. Athena was, after all, one of Yuta's inner circle; to insult her was to insult him—the Hero of the Prophecy—which, in turn, was a direct affront to the Elven Empire, the designated guardians of the "Sword of the Masters: Life."
The shopkeeper turned to her assistants, her voice still taut with lingering tension:
"Since our stock is sold out and we've secured 800 million platinum coins, why don't we go enjoy the festival? First, though, we must deliver the funds to the official in charge of the 'Forest Spirit Tree' fruit shops." A sigh of relief escaped the lips of her assistants as they listened to her words. The sum was astronomical—800 million platinum coins—enough to sustain an entire lineage in luxury for a very long time. Yet, they were squandering it with extravagant excess.
Elsewhere, Madeleine and Siri were buying fruit-jelly tarts—a treat that had become the most popular confection at the Summer Festival, owing to its reliance on fresh summer fruits as a key ingredient.
As she ate her tart, Siri spoke in a calm, measured tone:
"A delicate matter, Madeleine. There is something I wish to ask you—would that be alright?"
Madeleine gazed at her for a few seconds with a neutral expression, which shifted into something chillingly cold for a fleeting moment. When she finally spoke, her calm tone carried an unmistakable threat directed at Siri:
"Siri, being close to my brother Yuta does not mean there are no boundaries. I know exactly what you want to ask, but now is certainly not the time. This story holds more than enough secrets; even your own secret—as the Supreme Ruler of Destruction, Higurashi—has yet to be fully unveiled. There are still details that remain hidden."
"So, let us first step outside the world of *The Dragon Angel in a World of Fantasy*. Only then can we delve into the secrets that cannot be revealed as long as we remain within this narrative—agreed, sister Siri?" Siri gazed at her calmly for several seconds before speaking in a quiet tone, recalling what had transpired earlier at the Lake of a Thousand Monsters:
"Very well, as you wish, Sister Madeline. But it would be best to reveal the truth only after we have emerged from this novel. Let us avoid any disasters related to those secrets before then."
Madeline paid little heed to Siri's words; she saw no reason to be startled or surprised by something so self-evident. No matter how rigid a plot may be, events remain subject to change—yet, in another sense, they remain exactly as they are. It is impossible for a novel centered on the "survival of the fittest" to suddenly transform into a peaceful tale, though the narrative pacing—the speed at which events unfold—can just as easily accelerate or slow down.
Siri and Madeline continued on toward the rest of their group, who were watching Kiri and Liri participate in festival games to win prizes.
Kiri's face was alight with excitement as he aimed an arrow at a target, his voice steady yet tinged with a hint of tension:
"Just a little bit more..."
He loosed the arrow, but it missed the mark—leaving him deeply frustrated. Liri, who had already lost several rounds, shared his disappointment.
As the two stepped away from the game, the stall owner cast a look their way—a gaze laced with a subtle, mocking derision. Athena caught this, her calm expression shifting to reveal a faint trace of annoyance.
She approached the stall, her voice quiet yet carrying a weight that left the owner visibly uneasy:
"I should like to have a go as well." "No problem at all; you're an honorable man, after all."
The stall owner stared at her for a few seconds before stepping into his booth to retrieve three arrows. As he handed them to her, he explained:
"It costs three copper coins to play. You get three attempts to hit the target and win a prize—a very simple game."
Athena handed him the three copper coins. She took the bow, nocked an arrow, and aimed toward the target—but then shifted her aim directly at the stall owner, who grew visibly flustered.
As he watched her—an arrogant smile plastered on his face—aiming an arrow toward him, Athena spoke in a calm, steady tone:
"I don't think these games of illusion will work on me. Do you really think I'm unaware that such games have a hidden, unspoken rule? Never let the player win—otherwise, the game master loses."
The stall owner swallowed hard as he listened to Athena. Having his rigged game exposed was enough to cost him his business and drive away future customers.
He spoke in a strained, nervous voice, trying to shift away from the path of Athena's arrow—which tracked his every movement—a sight that struck Kiri, Liri, and Siri as utterly hilarious.
(This was in contrast to Chloe and Madeline, who had left the group a short while earlier.)
"Alright, lady—you've won the game, fair and square. Just point that arrow somewhere else, okay? I'll give you your money back. Do we have a deal?"
A faint smile touched Athena's lips. She released the arrow toward the target, shattered the illusion magic, and struck the dead center with terrifying precision.
The stall owner collapsed in shock, then scrambled back to his feet as Athena said:
"The game is over. Now, keep your promise."
With a heavy sigh, the stall owner returned 60 copper coins and handed over five prizes—one each for Kiri, Liri, Siri, Madeline, and Kiri (who had returned, carrying an iced drink). They then continued on their way to enjoy the summer festival, which was still in its early stages.