On Tuesday, July 21, 675, at 8:30 AM, Athena, Ciri, Chloe, Madeline, Kerry, and Liri were quietly eating in the dining hall.
Kerry spoke in a calm tone, gesturing with his fork toward Athena—who was elegantly slicing her steak—and said, "Since today is the first day of the Summer Festival, what do you say we stroll through the city of Berhais to enjoy it? Wouldn't that be a lot of fun?"
Ciri and Athena turned their gazes toward him, considering the idea. Ciri then glanced at Chloe and Madeline; the two were merely looking at their food without eating it. She didn't mind, however, as they rarely ate—having no fundamental need for it. Like any entity ranked "Holy Ruler" or higher, they had achieved a state of self-sufficiency.
Their power was infinite, yet they consumed food to keep their bodies accustomed to it—just in case they lost their powers, were forced to eat again, or were barred from using their energy (like Geeya, whose power was unstable and required food intake rather than the use of her abilities).
Ciri then turned her gaze back to Kerry and Liri, who were excited to go and enjoy the Summer Festival. Despite their enthusiasm, she felt a nagging premonition that something unfortunate was about to happen.
She let out a sigh. ...escaped her lips as she listened to Athena, whose voice held a note of excitement. "Kiri is right; it's going to be a packed day, but also incredibly fun—especially since everything being revealed will be exciting to see for the very first time, right?"
Ciri didn't say a word in response, though Kiri and Liri were brimming with excitement—a stark contrast to Chloe and Madeline, who were unusually quiet compared to previous days.
Liri spoke up while eating, her enthusiasm and joy bringing smiles to both Ciri and Athena's faces. "Aunt Athena is right. This is the best day of the festival—the opening day, and the first day is always the best. It'll be wonderful to have a great time."
"Alright, as you wish—we'll go to the summer festival. But first, finish your meals and get ready; we'll leave in two hours." Athena's tone was calm, and she ate with refined grace; yet, deep down, Yuta's words were scattering like sparks in her mind, especially after witnessing Chloe and Madeline's uncharacteristic behavior.
She wondered anxiously to herself, glancing at them: "Are they maturing, or what? They're so much quieter and more disciplined than before—it's strangely suspicious." She then resumed eating, pretending nothing was amiss.
Meanwhile, Chloe and Madeline were gazing calmly at their plates. However, the moment didn't last long; their expressions soon returned to their usual warm, charming selves, making everyone... Kira and Lira appeared visibly at ease.
This prompted Chloe and Madeline to look at them in puzzlement. Chloe spoke up, sounding curious as she ate her still-hot meal: "What is it? Did we miss something? We were just in a state of deep slumber to regulate our powers."
Athena sighed with relief; she had feared a disaster was unfolding, but it turned out to be nothing more than the routine regulation of their powers—a perfectly normal practice that everyone engaged in, with Geeya and Sira being prime examples.
Athena spoke calmly, setting her fork down on the table. "We decided a short while ago to stroll through the Summer Festival in two hours. However, remember that the city of Berhais is extremely dangerous—Sira was kidnapped on her second day there—so please be very careful."
Excitement was written all over their faces as they listened to Athena, completely ignoring her warning. Yet, when one considered the situation, who would dare kidnap them? They were associated with the Venerable Lotus of Jihao Yuxuan, the Venerable Heavenly Pool of Islabith, the Venerable Great Creation of Yuta, and the Venerable Final Board of Ping Tao Xin.
Then again, on second thought, someone might actually try; after all, no one knew of the bond they shared with the "disasters" that had unleashed their fangs upon this ordinary world.
Madeline spoke happily while eating, sending the excitement of Chloe, Kira, and Lira to a fever pitch: "Wonderful! I heard that my aunt and..." "My cousins will be here; it's going to be a wonderful day. On top of that, we're celebrating the festival for the first time in years—hahahaha!"
Athena rose from her seat, a faint smile still playing on her lips, and spoke in a calm tone: "Alright, finish your breakfast and get yourselves ready. I'll repeat my warning: be careful. Even under normal circumstances, the city of Barhais is teeming with criminals and thieves; imagine how active they'll be during an event like this."
She left the dining hall immediately after, leaving them to plan their festival activities. Yet, she couldn't shake the fear that an unexpected disaster might strike during the Summer Festival.
Still, she decided to remain flexible in her attitude so as not to turn what should be a fun, leisurely trip into a tedious one weighed down by her own anxiety and tension.
As Athena wandered the palace corridors, she crossed paths with Gia, who was heading toward the dining hall. Gia's expression held no trace of suspicion or tension; she appeared calm and serene, seemingly unconcerned with anything around her.
Yuta, however, had been missing since their return from the Lake of a Thousand Monsters—the last time she had seen him. This left Athena somewhat puzzled and suspicious about what he might be planning.
She continued on her way, ignoring Gia—who, for her part, had no interest in conversation either, as she wanted to get ready for the third day of the Summer Festival.
As for Athena, she was planning to enjoy her time with the children; thus, their paths were diverging... On the third day, they would all be gathered in one place, though the impact of the situation would vary from person to person.
"It's strange—Jia has become much more spontaneous than she used to be. It seems something has changed her for the better. Whatever that 'something' 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 was calm as she made her way toward her room.
A few minutes later, she arrived at her room—a space that was exquisitely beautiful and equipped with every conceivable comfort. Yet, she paid it no mind; as the Ruler of Death, such matters were The room's décor failed to impress Athena, or perhaps she simply wasn't in the mood to appreciate its beauty.
She changed into an outfit that suited her perfectly—certainly not funeral attire. She wore a beautiful black dress featuring a crimson rose near the heart; it was a stunning look that exuded both beauty and dignity without being revealing.
She headed straight out of her room to the palace courtyard, where everyone was waiting for her eagerly. Among them was Sira, who sat on a sofa with her eyes closed, gradually focusing on controlling her powers.
Sira opened her eyes the moment Athena arrived, fixing her gaze on her for a few seconds before rising. She spoke in a calm tone: "Since everyone is ready, let's go."
They left immediately, without wasting a single second. As he held his sister's hand—a habitual gesture whenever they went out—Sira spoke up: "Since it's the first day, we have to make the most of it. Otherwise, we'll just wander around aimlessly without actually enjoying ourselves, right?"
A faint smile appeared on both Athena's and Sira's faces as they listened; Sira nodded in agreement with his words.
Athena gently brushed Sira's hair as she spoke: "You're mostly right, but we're going there to enjoy ourselves. The most important thing is having fun and being happy—even if we don't get to experience everything the festival has to offer."
Slight traces of disappointment appeared on both their faces as they listened. She listened to his words while watching Chloe and Madeline walk with a steady, purposeful gait—a marked contrast to their earlier, childish steps.
It made her realize they were maturing; after all, they would not remain children forever. A day would come when they grew up and could embody a unique identity of their own.
She decided to continue on their path without dwelling on their uncharacteristic behavior that day, viewing the change as a positive one—for change is not always for the worse.
Minutes passed as they walked through the streets of Berhais. The air was filled with the refreshing scent of flowers, fresh summer fruits, and both traditional and modern fruit-based confections—aromas that truly embodied the spirit of the festival the city was hosting.
The attendees were not solely human; a multitude of races participated. The proximity of the Elven Empire to Berhais, combined with the fact that Elves and humans had coexisted in the region millions of years ago, had led to a shared history of celebrations, customs, and traditions.
Consequently, the summer festival became a blend of human and Elven flavors. A highlight was the presence of fruit from the Forest Spirit Tree—a rarity cultivated exclusively by Elves and Angels under strict legal covenants, as the trees had belonged to them long before the advent of humanity.
This unique offering drew high-ranking figures from across the five continents, all eager to experience it. A single fruit was equivalent in value to a "Spring of Life"—the source used by the Masters to replenish their power and conduct trade, particularly in the Northern Continent, where spirit stones served as currency. It was the only officially sanctioned medium of exchange.
The fruit of the Forest Spirit Tree served as a diplomatic bridge between the Elves and the entities of the Dragon World—including dragons and phoenixes—owing to its extreme rarity, despite the tree having existed for hundreds of millions of years.
Athena and Chloe headed toward a shop selling this Forest Spirit fruit. As they approached, Athena sensed a potent energy; after all, the tree possessed power on the level of a "Boundless" entity—a trait essential to its survival over such an immense span of time.
Athena spoke in a calm, composed tone to the Elf in charge of the shop—who was guarded by five elite Elf warriors, given that the fruit was a sacred and precious commodity they were sworn to protect, even while selling it at the festival to secure resources from the Central Continent's dungeons. "What is the price of a Forest Spirit Tree fruit, my lady?"
The Elf listened to Athena's exceedingly polite words and offered a faint smile in return, answering gently. However, the price was staggering: "A single fruit from the Forest Spirit Tree is valued at 50 million platinum coins. If you wish to pay in spirit stones, the cost is 14 million high-quality spirit stones."
Athena did not utter a word upon hearing this astronomical figure—a price that ensured only the world's wealthiest could afford it. Yet, it mattered little to her; she wasn't paying out of her own pocket, but rather using Yuta Casiral's funds, so there was no reason to skimp.
After all, Yuta was considered one of the wealthiest individuals in the world. ...given his ownership of technology companies worldwide and his monopoly over a significant share of the global market...
She spoke in a calm tone while retrieving a storage ring from the palace vault—access granted to her by Yuta, who had entrusted her with the Casiral family treasury, which held 30% of his net wealth.
She handed the ring to Elf, who looked on skeptically; the sum involved was astronomical, even for many Imperial-level Counts. "Please give me sixteen Forest Spirit Fruits, My Lady."
Elf stared in shock, initially dismissing the request as a joke or something unreal. However, Athena's confident, serious gaze made her realize the gravity of the statement.
The same realization struck Chloe, who looked on with slight bewilderment. Thanks to the intuitive understanding of the world's financial systems—knowledge she had acquired automatically as a narrative-conceptual entity (much like Sozars, the foe Gother McTire had fought before graduating from Versalkin Academy and returning to the McTire estate)—
...she grasped that the price was exorbitant—high enough to bankrupt entire counties and baronies across the Human Empire.
Athena turned to Chloe and spoke calmly, revealing the reason for such lavish spending: "The truth is, Master Yuta wants to buy these fruits for a specific reason; he asked me to acquire at least sixteen. It seems you understand his need for them, which is why I decided to make the purchase—isn't that right, Chloe?"
Chloe nodded in agreement, prompting Athena to... She realizes that, after all, Chloe and Madeleine are not that naive.
Elf speaks up after checking the storage ring, finding it contains enough funds to purchase sixteen fruits from the Forest Spirit Tree—the entire stock available at the shop.It is a rare fruit monopolized by the Elf Empire; sales are restricted to less than 1% of the total harvest to prevent others from attempting to cultivate it from the seeds—ensuring it remains solely for their own consumption.
She placed the fruit into a specialized storage ring designed to hold items of such spiritual nature, offering a faint smile that masked her underlying tension. They had heard of Yuta—the one chosen by the "Sword of the Lords of Life," an artifact held by the Elf Empire of Veronia.
She handed the ring to Athena, speaking in a calm tone that belied a subtle nervousness—a tension shared by her attendants. After all, offending a member of the inner circle of someone close to the Elf Empire of Veronia carried dire consequences. "Good day to you, and a happy Summer Festival."
Athena replied while instinctively transferring the storage ring to Yuta's room. "Thank you, My Lady; I wish you a wonderful festival." She then departed immediately, without waiting for anything further from them.
They collapsed onto the floor, overcome by the sheer mental exhaustion they had felt. Athena was a key figure in Yuta's camp; insulting her was tantamount to insulting him—the prophesied hero—which in turn was a direct affront to the Elf Empire itself, given their role as guardians of the "Sword of the Lords of Life."
The shopkeeper spoke to her assistants, her voice betraying significant anxiety: "Since the merchandise is sold and we've secured 800 million platinum coins... it would be wonderful to enjoy the festival now." ...handing over a fortune to the official in charge of the "Forest Spirit Tree Fruit" shops.
Her assistants sighed with relief as they listened; the sum was astronomical—800 million platinum coins—enough for an entire family lineage to live in luxury for a very long time, even with extravagant spending.
Elsewhere, Madeline and Siri were buying fruit jelly tarts—a treat that had become the most popular sweet at the summer festival, thanks to its use of fresh summer fruits as the main ingredient.
As she ate a tart, Siri spoke in a calm tone: "By the way, Madeline, there is something I'd like to ask you. Would you mind?"
Madeline looked at her with a neutral expression that shifted to icy coldness for a split second before she spoke—her calm voice carrying a clear threat directed at Siri: "Siri, just because you are close to my brother Yuta doesn't mean there are no boundaries. I know exactly what you want to ask, but now is not the time. This story already holds enough secrets, and the full truth about your role as the Supreme Ruler of Destruction, Higurashi, hasn't been revealed yet; there are still details left to uncover."
"That is why we should leave the world of *The Dragon Angel in a World of Fantasy* first; then we can delve into the secrets that remain hidden as long as we are in this story. Agreed, Sister Siri?"
Siri gazed at her calmly for a few moments before speaking in a quiet voice, recalling the events at the Lake of a Thousand Beasts: "Very well, as you wish, Sister Madeline. But it would be best if the truth were revealed eventually..." "Escaping this novel—before the disasters linked to those secrets unfold..."
Madeleine paid no heed to Siri's words; she felt no need for astonishment or surprise at the obvious. No matter how rigid a plot might be, events remain subject to change while simultaneously staying fixed; it is impossible for a "survival of the fittest" novel to suddenly take on a peaceful nature, though the narrative pacing of events might abruptly accelerate or slow down.
Siri and Madeleine continued on their way toward the others, who were watching Kiri and Liri play festival games to win prizes.
Kiri's face was alight with excitement as he aimed an arrow at the target, speaking in a calm yet slightly tense voice: "Just a little more to go."
He released the arrow, but missed the target completely—leaving him utterly dejected. Liri shared his frustration, having lost several rounds herself.
They walked away from the game under the stall owner's gaze—a look that held a subtle, hidden mockery—prompting Athena to regard him with a calm, slightly annoyed expression.
She approached the stall, speaking in a quiet tone that made the owner somewhat nervous: "I'd like to try as well. Surely that's not a problem? You are, after all, an honorable man."
The owner stared at her for a few seconds before stepping into his stall and handing her three arrows. "A single game costs three copper coins," he explained. "You get three attempts to hit the target and claim the prize. It's a very simple game."
Athena then handed him... She held three copper coins and a bow, having nocked an arrow to aim at the target; however, she strangely pointed it instead at the stall owner, who looked incredibly flustered.
As he watched her aim the arrow at him—an arrogant smile playing on her lips—she spoke in a calm tone: "I don't think illusion games will work on me. Do you take me for a fool? I know the hidden rule of these games: the player isn't allowed to win, or else the game master loses."
The stall owner gulped hard as he listened to Athena; the mere exposure of his rigged game was enough to shut down his business and cost him future customers.
He spoke in a nervous voice, trying to dodge the path of Athena's aim—which tracked his every movement—creating a scene that Kiri, Liri, and Siri found absolutely hilarious.
In contrast, Chloe and Madeline had already left the group a short while earlier. "Alright, lady, you win. Just point that arrow away from me, okay? I'll give you your money back. Do we have a deal?"
A faint smile appeared on Athena's face as she listened. She released the arrow toward the target, dispelling the illusion magic in the process, and struck the bullseye with terrifying precision.
The stall owner collapsed from shock before scrambling back up to his feet, listening as Athena said, "The game is over. Now, do what you promised."
Sighing, the stall owner returned the sixty copper coins and handed over five prizes—one each for Kiri, Liri, Siri, Madeline, and Kiri (who had returned carrying drinks). Iced
They then went on to enjoy the Summer Festival, which was still in its early stages.