---

Chapter 59: hxd is in trouble

“Phoenix? Undying bird?”

Roy could probably guess the other party was referring to the legendary immortal bird that, along with the Dragon King, shared dominion over the skies.

But the title “Phoenix Princess” was a bit odd.

Most semi-god titles of otherworldly beings were not recorded in historical texts.

Roy learned about it through the remnants of souls in the Certificate of Kingship.

Especially for the already fallen immortal bird from the First Era, the information left behind was scant.

Even the sage from the transitional Third and Fourth Eras abruptly mentioning a semi-god’s decree was quite bizarre.

Noticing Roy’s confusion, Book chuckled wryly and explained, “I have some connections with that fellow, I guess.”

The old man stood up, gazing out the window at the drearily gray sky.

Even a sage seemed lonely and insignificant under the vast expanse of the sky.

He was staring at the heavens, but Roy felt that his gaze extended far beyond the sky’s edge, into some unknown past.

Roy kept silent, allowing the old man to continue his musings until he snapped back and asked, “If I recall correctly, you already have the blessing of three semi-gods.”

Roy nodded. “That’s right.”

The blood of past False Kings could accommodate varying numbers of semi-god blessings, but according to Roland’s research, four was the limit.

Any more would burden the soul.

There was once a False King who tried to hold five semi-god blessings and, unable to withstand the overwhelming power, had their soul destroyed, becoming a comatose vegetable.

“If there truly is a legacy of the Phoenix Princess, you better not miss it. She may not be the strongest semi-god, but she plays an irreplaceable role for you False Kings,” Book stroked his beard, giving his advice with a meaningful tone.

Now there were two choices.

One was to take matters into his own hands, leaving Choco and the others behind in Academy City to wait for news on other Certificates of Kingship.

The other was to stay behind himself, letting Choco and the others scout the situation.

But whichever option he chose, there was a risk of missing out on the other side, so he had to pick the option with the better chances.

“Speaking of which, Dean, how do you know where to find hints of the immortal bird?”

“Because, Sunfire Valley used to be where the immortal bird resided.”

“…Huh?!”

The overly specific answer caught Roy off guard, instantly stirring his excitement.

“Does that mean there’s actually a high possibility of a Certificate of Kingship being left there?!”

The old man waved his hand, his eyes dimming a bit. “No. I advise you not to get your hopes up too high.”

“To my knowledge, the Phoenix suffered severe injuries, and ordinary semi-gods probably couldn’t leave even a trace of their soul. There might be a thread of hope, but just a thread.”

After pondering for a moment, Roy resolved, “But whether there’s hope or not, we have to see it to know.”

“Dean, I want to go to Sunfire Valley myself.”

The relics of the First Era would soon attract the attention of various forces, and if he delayed, he might miss the opportunity.

Admittedly, whether the Certificate of Kingship existed in Sunfire Valley was still uncertain. If new leads came in from Academy City while he was gone, he would likely overlook them.

But if what the sage said was true, if there really was a Certificate of Kingship belonging to the immortal bird, it would be a treasure unmatched by any other semi-god heritage.

Besides, the chances of Academy City having new clues right after he left seemed slim.

Hearing this, Book’s expression inexplicably brightened, and his voice became clearer. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye out for you while you’re in Academy City.”

“However, I must remind you, if it really is the legacy of the Phoenix, you don’t need to worry about traps, but other dangers should not be underestimated.”

Roy frowned. “Is it because of dangerous magical beasts?”

There were many undeveloped areas in Veszyra’s wilderness, where extremely ferocious magical beasts often lurked, especially near the borders.

Only the Lionheart Kingdom could spare troops every year to eliminate magical beast threats; other countries simply ignored it.

“No, I’m not talking about magical beasts, but your old friends.”

“Old friends…?!”

Seeing the old man’s face turn into one resembling a mischievous observer, Roy quickly caught on, feeling a bit speechless.

Great, more cultists!

Well, the Kingdom of Golden Sands was vast and sparsely populated, making it a perfect hideaway for nefarious types.

Seriously, old friend? Do you think I want to deal with them?!

Book suggested, “You’d better take some helpers on this trip.”

Typically, during such times, adventurers would be hired as guards.

As the son of a marquis, Roy could also summon skilled experts from his family.

But either way, it would take time. However, time waits for no one, and he was not the only one interested in the First Era and semi-god relics.

Moreover, it wouldn’t suffice to just look for high-bloodline extraordinary beings.

To deal with the cunning cultists, one must consider not only the compatibility of abilities but also the adaptability of the individual.

Most importantly, the Certificate of Kingship was extraordinarily valuable; he needed to find someone trustworthy to prevent any betrayal mid-way.

Yet, with the urgency to reach the ruins before other forces and the need for someone experienced in dealing with cultists, finding that trustworthy expert wouldn’t be easy!

Just as Roy was struggling with this, the old man smiled slowly. “Actually, if you need help, I have a recommendation…”

After agreeing on matters regarding helpers, Roy set off to prepare for his journey to Sunfire Valley.

To be honest, he really didn’t expect to hear that name come out of Book’s mouth.

However, she was indeed close by, strong, experienced in dealing with cultists, and trustworthy.

Now it just depended on her willingness…

Of course, on the one hand of helpers, he needed to prepare himself as well.

To reach Sunfire Valley ahead of other forces, using an ordinary carriage simply wouldn’t cut it.

At this point, he’d need his hxd to come in handy.

To the south of the Academy, there was a stable for magical beast mounts to rest.

Initially, Roy visited every week to feed “Cheese,” until Alice bravely volunteered for the job, and Roy reduced his visits to once a month, now coming by whenever he felt like it.

Juggling relationships with three girls is quite a handful, you know!

During the holiday, the usually bustling stable was much quieter.

Arriving at Cheese’s stall, Roy softly called out in griffin language.

Roy knew he wasn’t a great owner, but they didn’t have the typical owner-mount relationship.

Instead, it was a brotherly bond formed by helping it find a mate.

Roy wouldn’t hold it back or baby it like other mount owners, he straightforwardly said, “I’m heading out on a journey soon, and it’s time for you to help me out!”

But to his surprise, the Golden-Winged Griffin merely lifted its eyelid slightly, not moving at all, its entire being filled with gloom.

“Sorry, I’ve been feeling a bit down lately, so I might not be able to help you.”

 

---