"Especially that silver-haired half-demon actually has the qualification to participate in the Royal Selection. This is simply treating all of us like fools!"
As a member of the Council of Wise Men, Rickert had always despised silver-haired half-elves, even regarding them as incarnations of the Witch of Envy.
When he discovered that Emilia was participating in this Royal Selection, he naturally showed her no courtesy whatsoever.
"Sir, referring to a silver-haired half-elf as a half-demon is discrimination. Lord Rickert, have you no sense of decorum?"
Upon hearing Rickert speak in such a manner, Roswaal felt as though the paint on his face had been slapped clean off.
With so many people watching, even if Roswaal had wanted to smooth things over, it was impossible now. One sentence had thoroughly offended him, and it left him more than a little displeased.
"Hmph. The kingdom does not need a half-demon to rule it. This represents the thoughts of most people."
Facing Roswaal's questioning, Rickert merely frowned, still unwilling to back down.
As one of the kingdom's elders, his voice carried considerable weight. Having drawn several nobles to his side, he possessed no small degree of influence.
"Rickert, what you are saying truly lacks decorum. As a member of the council, do you intend to make all of us lose face?"
Having received Shendu's attention, Miklotov had gradually grown younger, and had even been promised the benefit of eternal life.
Thus, upon seeing the council members target Emilia so aggressively, his expression darkened. In front of everyone present, he openly rebuked Rickert.
As for a mere silver-haired half-elf—something akin to the legendary Witch of Envy—Miklotov did not care in the slightest. After all, the young lady who had granted him longevity was also silver-haired, so he naturally felt no disgust.
"Spare me your nonsense, Miklotov. Do you think I don't know what you people did behind the scenes to become young again?"
Rickert looked at the fellow council member seated with him, his eyes filled with loathing as he said angrily, "To be associated with the likes of you makes me feel deeply ashamed."
After venting his dissatisfaction, Rickert turned his gaze toward Emilia, making no effort to conceal the disgust and coldness in his eyes.
In his heart, he believed it was all because of this silver-haired half-demon that his relationship with his colleagues had deteriorated.
"How filthy. Is it not the Royal Guard's responsibility to protect the royal capital? How did you allow a silver-haired half-demon to sneak in?"
As Rickert's repulsive gaze swept over him, Marcos inwardly cursed the man without restraint. It was this fellow—he was practically roasting them over an open flame.
"My apologies, Lord Rickert. Lady Emilia possesses the qualification of a candidate. This is the guidance of the Divine Dragon, so please calm your anger."
Though Marcos was equally displeased with him, he still spoke gently.
"I don't care about any of that. Five candidates are already more than enough. There is absolutely no need for some uneven, half-baked stray!"
"She looks exactly like the legendary Witch of Envy. For all we know, she could be a monster that devours the world—the enemy of the world itself. I absolutely will not permit her to participate in the Royal Selection within the capital!"
As one of the leading figures of the Council of Wise Men, his words carried weight. The moment he spoke, many around them glared angrily at Emilia.
It stirred the fear and hatred toward the Witch of Envy buried deep within their hearts.
Several civil and military officials fixed their eyes upon Emilia. The softness from before had vanished, replaced by naked disgust.
Feeling those piercing stares, Emilia fell silent.
Although she had long grown accustomed to such discrimination, somehow...
Emilia still felt a sting of pain in her heart. She had always struggled desperately to change people's perceptions.
It was precisely because she wished to save her frozen elven tribe and change people's views that she sought to eliminate prejudice and truly realize her dream.
Unfortunately, mainstream beliefs were not so easily altered. Emilia remained as fragile and pitiful as ever, unable to refute the accusations directed at her.
"Is being a silver-haired half-elf truly a mistake?"
Emilia lowered her head, the light fading from her eyes.
Ever since awakening from her frozen slumber, she had been hated by humans.
Though she had grown used to it, each time someone said it aloud, her heart would still ache.
"Therefore, I believe the candidate supported by the Border Count should be disqualified."
Rickert was confident. The momentum he had just stirred was highly effective—there was hope of driving this silver-haired half-elf away.
The moment those words fell, the sorrow on Emilia's face deepened.
At that moment, Shendu, who had been observing the situation from below, gave Elsa a subtle glance, then cast another meaningful look toward Akane.
"Enough. Who are you barking at here like a dog?"
Just as the atmosphere grew deathly silent, Shendu's faintly mocking voice rang clearly in everyone's ears, instantly startling them all. They had no idea who possessed such audacity.
He was a leading figure of the Council of Wise Men—how could someone dare to confront him so openly? Were they not afraid of death?
"Who spoke? Who dares insult this old man so brazenly?"
Upon hearing a woman's voice, Rickert scanned the crowd, searching for the culprit.
Then Shendu slowly stepped forward, appearing before him, her eyes carrying a trace of amusement.
"And who might you be? Another head of silver hair? What a cursed color! Perhaps you are a silver-haired witch as well!"
Rickert glared fiercely. To be spoken to in such a manner before so many people was utterly outrageous.
Among the seats of the Council of Wise Men, three members who had already been won over by the Divine Dragon Merchant Guild—Marcos, Miklotov, and Wayne—watched with interest to see how their colleague would court disaster.
Of course, no matter what excessive action Shendu might take, the three of them combined possessed enough influence to suppress the matter entirely.
"Go on barking. You don't have much longer to live anyway."
Shendu remained expressionless, her tone casual, her eyes filled with contempt as she looked at him.
"How dare you threaten me! Royal Guard, where have you all died off to? Seize that woman at once! She intends to assassinate me!"
Seeing that Shendu showed him not the slightest respect, Rickert turned toward the guards, intending to vent his anger upon her.
At his command, the surrounding guards rushed forward with their spears. Yet the moment they charged—
They felt as though they had fallen into an icy abyss. A terrifying force locked onto them.
Shendu's eyes turned blood-red. An overwhelming killing intent filled the entire assembly hall. Everyone present felt an immense pressure pressing down upon them.
Clang!
The guards who had just gathered suddenly stiffened, their bodies rigid. Unable to hold on, their spears slipped from their hands and fell to the ground, the metallic sound striking clearly against the carpet.
"Old man, you've lived this long. Has no one ever taught you what it means to respect the strong?"
With an overwhelming presence, Shendu faced the guards head-on. As she approached, their legs went weak with terror; some could barely remain standing.
"Damn it... damn silver-haired witch!"
After enduring Shendu's intimidation, Rickert's eyes burned with both humiliation and fury. It was the first time he had ever been scolded like a child by a silver-haired woman.
"My, my! To dare call my master a silver-haired witch... Even as a mere maid, I can hardly endure listening to that."
While Rickert was still shaken by Shendu's overwhelming presence, Elsa stepped out from Akane's side, her gaze playful as she looked at the man before her.
"And who are you to interrupt here?"
Seeing yet another strange black-haired woman step forward, Rickert demanded angrily.
"I am Elsa, the Bowel Hunter—Lady Shendu's maid."
The moment she finished speaking, Elsa drew two curved blades from beneath her robe in full view of everyone. In Rickert's startled gaze, her figure blurred into an afterimage.
"Protect me! There's an assassin!"
At the sight of the drawn blades, Rickert was seized by terror and tried to summon the guards to capture the killer—but it was already too late.
It had happened too suddenly. Elsa stood far too close to him. In the blink of an eye, both curved blades swept across his abdomen.
Slash!
Blood sprayed from his stomach, and the air filled with the faint scent of iron.
"Wait!"
"Don't!"
"Stop!"
Roswaal, Emilia, and Reinhard had just begun to move to stop her—but they were already too late.
The elder of the Council of Wise Men collapsed to the ground, his abdomen torn open. Blood spread across the red carpet, staining it an even deeper crimson.
The arrogance on his face gradually twisted into fear and terror. In the end, despair overtook him, and the light of life faded from his eyes.
To eliminate a leading figure of the Council of Wise Men in front of so many people—it felt utterly unbelievable to all who witnessed it.
"Heh. Wasn't it just the death of an ant?"
"Does anyone else here wish to accompany him?"
Shendu casually waved her hand. Elsa gave a wicked smile and returned to stand behind her, without the slightest intention of moving further.
A provocation. A brazen, humiliating provocation.
Before the eyes of the entire kingdom, a high-ranking member of the council had been slain. It could not even be described as bravery—madness would be a more fitting word.
As three leading figures of the council who had been won over—Miklotov, Marcos, and Wayne—exchanged glances, they showed no concern whatsoever for Rickert's death.
His demise meant nothing to them. The remaining resources could simply be divided among the three of them. As for Kraken, who stood apart from their faction, he had never been one of them.
Strangely, the hall fell into heavy silence. The three council members said nothing publicly, instead whispering among themselves.
Those not aligned with them, seeing their inaction, erupted in anger.
"What are you waiting for? Will you not order the guards to arrest that insolent woman?"
"She has slapped the face of our kingdom and trampled upon the dignity of the Council of Wise Men!"
Kraken was furious at their refusal to issue orders.
"No, I believe this is a misunderstanding. It can be resolved peacefully."
"This incident was entirely Lord Rickert's fault for going too far."
"Besides, I rather think that young lady did nothing wrong."
The three of them were determined to turn a major issue into a minor one—and a minor one into nothing at all.
Their words were surprisingly consistent, leaving Kraken, also a council member, feeling utterly unsettled.
He suspected underhanded dealings.
It seemed that both openly and secretly, they were aiding this woman. It was outrageous.
Yet as he glanced at their half-darkened hair—once fully white—Kraken seemed to realize something. He finally understood why they refused to help.
"Hmph. If you will not handle this matter, then I shall deal with it personally!"
Kraken, who likewise disliked silver-haired half-elves, decided he would step in and punish this woman who had dared to insult their authority.
"Guards! Royal Guard! Advance and seize that woman!"
Enraged by Shendu's brazen defiance and by his colleague's death, Kraken gave the order.
The grand doors were flung open. Groups of armed guards and white-cloaked knights flooded in, steadily surrounding Shendu.
The once-spacious hall grew increasingly cramped under the press of so many bodies. Elsa cast Shendu a questioning glance.
Should she make her move?
By instinct alone, Elsa sensed these opponents were no easy prey. At best, she could eliminate only a portion of them.
Shendu merely shook her head. The performance was only halfway through. It was time to reveal a true trump card—to flex her strength.
"Wretched woman! How dare you harm my colleague? Do you know how much he contributed to this kingdom?"
Kraken led a squad forward, glaring at Shendu as he questioned her.
Hearing his words, Shendu nearly laughed aloud. She knew perfectly well the true nature of the Council of Wise Men—an organization that manipulated the queen from behind the curtain.
Contribution? They had hardly contributed anything of worth.
"No. I believe he contributed very little. And if you wish to fight, then fight. I don't mind sending you to meet the Divine Dragon as well."
Shendu remained utterly indifferent. She cast a glance toward Reinhard, who was observing the situation, and toward Julius as well, before letting out a cold smile.
"Insolent! Arrogant! Disrespectful!"
"Attack! Kill her without mercy!"
Fully aware now of Shendu's audacity and and her intent to kill him, Kraken pointed forward. Like a surging tide, the troops rushed toward her.
"No!"
Seeing someone attempting to harm her Sister Shendu, Emilia tried to step forward—but Felt grabbed her arm.
"Emilia, don't forget—Big Sister is very strong. Your worry is unnecessary."
Felt spoke firmly. She had absolute faith in Big Sister.
"All right..."
Though comforted by Felt's reassurance, Emilia still felt lingering concern.
As the tidal wave of soldiers was about to engulf her, Shendu lightly pressed her foot against her own shadow and spoke coldly.
"Come forth, Shadowkhan."
At her summons, the inky darkness beneath her feet suddenly surged and condensed. Towering over two meters tall, hulking Oni ninjas emerged before her.
As one of the nine ninja tribes, their defining trait was their massive size. They possessed immense strength and formidable defense—ordinary weapons could scarcely harm them.
The moment the shadows solidified into ninjas, these Oni warriors sent the approaching guards and Royal Guard knights flying with just a few punches and kicks.
Ever since gaining control of the Shadowkhan, Shendu had strengthened them further. Now, unless their hearts were pierced or their heads destroyed, they would not vanish.
Otherwise, they were as if immortal—destined to become a nightmare for the kingdom's many knights.
"Yin-attribute magic..."
As one of the most powerful mages, Roswaal's eyes were filled with shock. He had never anticipated that Shendu had concealed such a move.
It seemed that those capable of changing the world truly did possess extraordinary abilities.