THE LORD IS TOO OVERBEARING

"About the place where it is located, do you have any idea about it?" Basil asked.

"We don't know for certain about it." Eloreth shook her head faintly. "We unfortunately can't send a lot of people to investigate it, lest we should cause a panic amongst the citizens."

The main reason why the Elves had decided to cover the real issue up was to not cause a panic. Weakened it might be, Yamata no Orochi was still a Mythical Beast that had terrorized the East for thousands of years before it was taken down.

Although many people had believed it was nothing more than a mere myth, now that the whole world believed such a thing did exist—especially the Elves who had always believed it—Yamata no Orochi's appearance would certainly shake the people.

Being the people of the Empire that hosted said Beast, pandemonium would definitely ensue in Padeitophys if they got to know it.

"You haven't said anything about the area where you encountered it," Basil remarked. "I am asking abut it."

"Ah, it is on Khirokiev Mountain."

"Khirokiev Mountain?" Basil blinked his eyes in slight surprise.

"Is there something the matter, Master Basil? Do you perhaps need the map of the mountain, so you can better understand the terrain?" Tinuviel asked, thinking Basil didn't know about the mountain.

"It is fine." Basil shook his head faintly. "I have prepared myself well."

"Oh..."

Basil had a small smile on his face. The location where Yamata no Orochi was encountered was really close to the place he wanted to visit, which was the main reason why he had "volunteered" to come to Padeitophys.

No matter how well it had been for him living in Braxtein Kingdom, he knew the time "happy" would end soon. They would turn their back against him the moment his identity was figured out.

Naturally, he couldn't care less about the Kingdom's fate. The forming of Henosis Army—no matter what Race decided to join it, it had nothing to do with him.

The reason why he had agreed to become the ambassador (sort of) for it was because he wanted to establish a relationship with the other races. He did everything he did solely because of his personal interest.

Just like now, aside from wanting to make an alliance with the Elves, which he had accomplished; he also wanted to retrieve something that was way more precious than Kusanagi.

'The First Fragment. It is said to be located at the peak of Khirokiev Mountain.'

The information he had gotten about the Fragment, which was the greatest gift the Guide had given him, said that the First Fragment was sealed at the peak of Khirokiev Mountain, and was guarded by a wounded guard.

Taking the information into account, Basil believed the den of Yamata no Orochi was actually the place where the First Fragment was sealed. In Padeitophys, after all, only Yamata no Orochi was qualified for the role of the wounded guard.

"I can't wait for tomorrow's investigation," Basil said as he stood up. "I think we can call it a day now. My company and I will head to our Manor, and take a good rest until the morning comes."

"Please, do rest to your heart's content, Master Basil." Eloreth bowed her head lightly after standing up. "May tomorrow further strengthen our relationship that has only been established."

Just as Basil and his company were about to walk towards the door, Tinuviel stood, and exclaimed, "Master Basil, a moment please!" Basil stopped in his tracks, then turned to the lightly blushing Tinuviel. "What about examining the bodies?"

"That was nothing but a gimmick," he answered simply. "I just wanted to use it as a reason to talk about Yamata no Orochi after the meeting. It has already been fulfilled due to the unexpected development, so... It is no longer necessary."

Tinuviel looked slightly flustered, lost, and disappointed. Basil even had a hard time reading her emotion, because he couldn't sense the dominant one that her Mana was letting out.

'No wonder this imbecile decided to kill herself out of shame in the past. She is emotionally unstable,' Basil remarked inwardly.

"Ah, right. Now that I think about it, it is unnecessary for you to do that. Oh, stupid me," Tinuviel murmured.

"Oh, maybe this is just him playing a psychological... Kuhum!" Stopping herself as soon as she noticed the gaze the people were giving her, Tinuviel smiled serenely. "Good night, Master Basil. Have a great rest."

In response, Basil clamped three of his fingers together, then touched his forehead with them.

"May Freya's love warms your night."

The gesture shocked the Elves greatly, but they still managed to react quickly.

"May Freya's love warms your night."

They wanted to ask how Basil could know their way of blessing, but he didn't even look back after receiving their response. Of course, none of them dared to stop him.

Although it was shocking for normal humans to know about that, he was not in any way a normal human after all. Thus, the night passed with their curiosity about him increasing.

...

As the moon shied away, the sun showcased its glorious light. The cold and dark night left, replaced by the warm and bright morning.

Sitting on the balcony of his Manor, Basil, who had been nurturing his Core since the night before, let out a smoky breath. It was the impurity in his Core, which was already so clean, it could barely be called impurity.

Staring at the sun deeply, he felt like he could grasp the entire world in his hand. After mastering [Star Withering] to an extent where he could immediately jump into the Purple Core Stage, he could easily convert Star Energy into Qi.

He was confident he could stand toe to toe with the strongest Purple Core Knight once he reached the Peak Stage of Violet Core, but that didn't make him happy at all.

His Mastery over [Star Withering] had led him to a shocking but exciting revelation: There was another level above the Purple Core.

At that level, he wouldn't utilize Qi anymore. He could directly utilize Star Energy, which means there was a huge possibility that he could reach a point where he could even control the sun.

p His goal of being able to pierce the heavens might not be that far-fetched!

"Well, I need to focus on my current predicament first." Basil smiled wryly. "It is getting harder to prevent my Core from advancing to the Middle Stage, so I should visit Huaguo as soon as I can."

The Curse of Bahamut that Charles had cast on him was still in effect. It would end his life as soon as he reached Peak Stage Violet Core, so he had been holding himself back from advancing to the next stage.

He could actually instantly advance his Core to the Middle Stage; however, he didn't want to take a risk. If one day he lost his control over his Core and it advanced by itself, he would instantly die if it was already in the Middle Stage.

With that in mind, he kept his Core in the Early Stage. Should he lose his control over it one day, he wouldn't immediately die because it would only advance to the Middle Stage.

"Don't you think it is better to pull ourselves off?" Dressed in her lingeries, Iliana asked solemnly behind him. "I know you are confident in your power—I admit your prowess—but we know nothing about this Yamata no Orochi Beast."

"Are you worried?"

"We are not ready—all of us."

Basil stood up and turned around, facing Iliana who was barely covered in any fabric. She would usually tease Basil to get a reaction out of him, but she merely stared at him stoically this time.

"It's a Coreless Beast," Basil calmly said as he caressed her hair softly. "Legendary it might be, it no longer holds what made it terrifying. We can—"

"There must be a reason why the powerful Elf Empress doesn't take the matter into her own hands." Basil's hand stopped at Iliana's statement. "Yamata no Orochi is not the only issue here. There must be something... Something that is—are you even listening?"

"Calm down, worrywart. You know me well," Basil placated. "Everything's going to be alright."

Iliana didn't look convinced by Basil's assurance. She wanted to argue; however, like always, he managed to silence her with his hug.

Smiling softly at the way his girlfriend buried her face into his chest, he then wryly thought, 'I have to be more careful doing my shenanigans. Her instinct is getting sharper.'

Iliana's worry was not unfounded. There was indeed a reason why Eloreth didn't take the matter into her hands and left it to her daughter instead.

'Yamata no Orochi has a Curse on it, and anyone who kills it will inherit that Curse. Tinuviel is planning to have Cyane take that Curse, but I need the Curse, so I'll take it,' he mused. 'It will give me enough Yin Energy to counter Bahamut's Curse.'

None of it was planned, as far as he was aware of, but this mission brought him many things that benefitted him. Kusanagi, Yin Energy, and the First Fragment—he would get them all as long as he performed well.

"Good Morning, Master Basil! Oh my, you dressed yourself like a proper Knight. It's shameful to even call you Master. Can I call you Sir Basil instead?"

After getting everything ready for the investigation, Basil was greeted by Cyane. Said Knight had already prepared his army well, which made Basil's company wonder if he just wanted to brag about how well he could organize his army.

Iliana and Ione's view of him was that low.

"You can call me whatever you want, Sir Cyane." Basil smiled politely, wondering if Cyane had hit his head the night before.

'What is this genuine fondness for me that I feel from him? Shouldn't he hate me after what I did?' Like the two female Pacifers, the sole male Pacifer was confused too.

"Anyway, I hope we can help each other when things go south. Let us take care of each other well!"

Cyan extended his hand, and Basil stared at it for a couple of seconds before shaking it. He then scurried away with a grin on his face as soon as Basil let go of his hand.

'What a strange fellow,' the three Pacifers thought.

Tinuviel came with her army not long after. With her in the lead, the journey to Khirokiev began.