The day after the battle at the Shadow Palace ended, the populace dedicated themselves to repairing the Royal Capital. This major battle had destroyed too many homes and buildings, and it was also the largest disturbance the Clover Kingdom had suffered since the 28th Magic Emperor Julius Novachrono took office.
Afterward, the public gained some understanding of the upheaval: it was a conspiratorial campaign orchestrated by a devil, which was ultimately defeated thanks to the valiant efforts of the Magic Emperor and the Magic Knights.
Many never imagined that 'devils' existed in this world, nor did they know what those disgusting creatures looked like.
This included the Magic Knights of the Magic Knights.
Those in the Shadow Palace did feel a peculiar, nauseating magic, but by the time they reached the top of the Shadow Palace, the devil had already vanished.
All that remained was a shattered battlefield and the Elf Tribe Leader standing with a sword... It's worth noting that Lumiel, the First Magic Emperor from five hundred years ago, miraculously revived and appeared at the Shadow Palace.
The Elf Tribe Leader Licht, having regained his senses, and the First Magic Emperor Lumiel collaborated to piece together the entire story. Everyone learned a secret from five hundred years ago. Afterward, under the magic of the Elf Tribe Leader and William, the captain of the Golden Dawn, those resurrected by the elves returned to normal.
However, the Elf Tribe Leader did not mention how the devil was eliminated, only saying, "It will not appear again." Everyone speculated that the Elf Tribe Leader had used some method to destroy the devil.
The shattered, scorched environment clearly indicated that a major battle had taken place... Due to the devil's sudden disappearance and the fact that only a few people had seen its true form, the facts presented by the Eye of the Midnight Sun's leader, the Elf Tribe Leader, could not convince everyone. Therefore, this incident still had significant repercussions.
For example, Asta and his companions were taken to the Clover Magic Council Court for trial that day.
This was later followed by the famous scene of the entire Black Bulls riding their bull-like base to storm the Magic Council.
"Although I really want to go and cheer them on, I guess it's not possible, is it?" Bai En mumbled, looking at the newspaper with one hand and eating an apple with the other. "I wonder who the artist for the newspaper is; they drew Asta's devil form so beautifully."
"Hmm, if I'm ever in the news again, I'll have to find this artist."
After finishing the newspaper, Bai En folded it. The apple core in his hand was pulverized into dust by the 'Release' slash, scattering down from the air. He was flying on a broomstick towards the capital of the Diamond Kingdom.
After a brief contemplation last night, Bai En decided to go to the Diamond Kingdom first, then head to the Heart Kingdom. One reason was to confirm the location of the final cookware material information more thoroughly, as searching alone is always time-consuming and arduous.
The second reason was that he wouldn't have to hold back when using magic against enemies in a foreign land.
So, after handing over his duties to a few members of the Aqua Deer Squad this morning, he began his journey and actions.
Under the cover of the Limitless Magic 'Folk,' even as he crossed the international border and stepped onto the land of the Diamond Kingdom, no one detected his presence. In short, he traveled unimpeded and arrived smoothly at the capital of the Diamond Kingdom.
The time had come to afternoon, the time of sunset.
A huge, half-red sun illuminated the clusters of houses nestled against the mountain cliffs like a backdrop. The continuous houses were densely packed, resembling square mounds, with people moving between them. It was a magnificent sight, unlike the Royal Capital of the Clover Kingdom.
"It seems Zenon hasn't been here yet; I arrived earlier than him," Bai En mused, stroking his chin on his flying broom. "Never mind, this is good too. I'll rest a bit, grab some food, and then go find that guy Mars."
A soft, white light slowly descended towards the cluster of houses.
Unlike the resource-rich Clover Kingdom and Heart Kingdom, the Diamond Kingdom is a barren land with many desolate mountains and sparse vegetation. Consequently, even its capital is built within the desolate mountain range of broken cliffs. Most people in the country become professional Mages to support their families.
Following a straight street, Bai En entered a small tavern called "Black Roast." As it was approaching dinner time, the tavern was bustling with many people.
He ordered a drink and some red-marked Diamond Kingdom specialty foods at the counter. Bai En found an empty seat and sat down. The bartender at the counter looked at Bai En, who was looking for a seat, with a strange expression, seemingly not expecting a Mage in the Diamond Kingdom to come to a bar and not drink alcohol.
It was too odd.
Moreover, this guy had delicate skin, as if he had never done any heavy labor, almost... not like someone from the Diamond Kingdom, but rather like those self-important nobles from the Clover Kingdom's Royal Capital.
But at this moment, Bai En was not wearing the Aqua Deer's cloak, and his attire was inconspicuous. The bartender didn't notice anything unusual. "He's probably a novice, aiming to become a professional Mage."
"It's just that times have changed. Being a professional Mage isn't a lucrative path anymore..."
Bai En waited patiently for his drink and food. The loud chatter of a shirtless man next to him was hard to ignore. With a "thud," a wooden-barrel-style beer mug was slammed onto the table.
"Did you hear? The day before yesterday, the Clover Kingdom was attacked by some unknown organization. Their entire Royal Capital was severely destroyed, and even their defense force, the Magic Knights, suffered heavy losses. If we were to launch a surprise attack on the Clover Kingdom now, we would gain a lot."
"Even if we make peace, we could still extort a hefty sum!" The man wiped the beer from his lips, speaking excitedly.
A lean man beside him poured cold water on his enthusiasm, "What are you thinking? Do you still believe our country is pursuing an aggressive policy? The leadership has changed, and we are now beginning to mend our relationships with other countries."
"I heard that not long ago, a few treaties were signed with the Empress of the Heart Kingdom. Now, the magic stones and minerals extracted from the mines will be made into magical tools that facilitate daily life and sold. Soon, professional Mages like us will no longer be the mainstream profession in this country."
"Huh?" The shirtless man slammed the table again. "Why would those guys, who are best at combat, do such a thing? We could clearly use war..."
"War?" The curly-haired man on the other side interrupted him. "I don't want our country to ignite a war. People killing people... that would sacrifice many families. My wife just gave birth to our son this year, and I hope we can live in peace."
"If their reforms succeed, our country will usher in a new era."
"And no more children will be chosen to participate in that damned human experimentation."