The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned
Clank, clank.
With each step the iron knights took, the sound of metal echoed through the vast hall.
They were not knights merely clad in steel armor, but knights whose very bodies were made of iron.
A type of golem.
And if one were to consider the ability to create such golems...
‘The power of the Earth God.’
Yes.
The god among the Seven who governs earth and metal.
There was no doubt these beings were created using the power of the Earth God.
‘Is this the so-called Blessing of the Seven that the Empress possesses?’
A ridiculous blessing that allows one to harness a portion of the Seven Gods' power.
Narrowing my eyes, I turned my gaze toward Camellia, the Empress, who was reclining lazily on the throne.
"Heh. It’s only natural to be mesmerized by my beauty, but..."
With a languid smile on her lips, Camellia rested her chin on her hand.
"You don’t have the luxury for that right now, do you?"
Srrng!
The iron knights drew their swords.
Platinum-colored aura surged along their blades.
‘Golems wielding aura, huh?’
I let out a soft chuckle and lowered my stance.
Boom!
With a rough stomp, I dashed forward.
Despite my sudden charge, the iron knight swiftly swung its sword without a hint of hesitation.
"But that won't be enough..."
Crunch!
I grabbed the platinum-aura-infused sword with my bare hand.
The dull metallic clang that rang out was far too thick for it to have been caught by an unarmored hand.
Berald’s Martial Arts.
Sword Breaker.
Crack!
I snapped the iron knight’s sword in half with my bare hands.
Losing its balance, the knight stumbled forward.
I grabbed its head as it fell and slammed it into the ground.
"It’s nothing but a pile of scrap metal."
Boom!
With a heavy crash, the knight’s head was utterly shattered.
"Oh?"
Camellia's drowsy eyes suddenly gleamed with interest.
"Looks like the rumors weren’t exaggerated after all."
But.
"The test has only just begun."
Snap.
With a flick of Camellia’s fingers, the surrounding iron knights rushed in all at once.
Their number—thirteen.
"Hah..."
Slowly inhaling, I summoned the Primordial Flame.
"Burn."
Fwoosh!
Ashen flames coiled around my body.
Thick gray smoke rose from my pores.
‘For now, just an ignition.’
There was no need to reveal more than necessary for such a trivial "test."
Whoosh!
One knight lunged straight at me, swinging its sword imbued with platinum aura.
At the same time, two knights flanking me crouched low and thrust their spears.
A perfect coordinated attack—so precise it was hard to believe these were mere golems created by divine power.
There wasn’t a single gap to escape.
‘If there’s no gap...’
I’d just break through.
Ashen Flame Sword, Third Form.
Flame Spear.
A concentrated burst of ashen flame pierced through the charging knight’s body.
Immediately, I leaped high into the air.
Clang!
The two spears that had been aiming for my sides clashed, forming an X.
Tack!
Like an acrobat, I landed atop the crossed spears, gripping my sword in reverse with its tip pointing downward.
Ashen Flame Sword, Fourth Form.
Fire Rain.
The flames spread outward from my sword.
Using the crossed spears as a foothold, I propelled myself even higher.
High enough to touch the ceiling of the hall.
Then, gripping my sword in reverse like a thrown spear—
I hurled it toward the ground.
Fwooooosh!
A downpour of ashen flames rained down.
The iron knights, clustered together in formation, were impaled and melted by the fiery deluge.
"...Hah."
Camellia let out a soft exclamation as she watched them fall.
Her gaze seemed to say: "This is a mere candidate? And the lowest-ranked one at that?"
"Hmm. Now I see how you managed to break Marianne's barrier."
As she nodded from her throne—
Tack!
I landed back on the ground and immediately launched forward.
My target was the last iron knight left unscathed.
Or rather, the one I had intentionally left standing.
‘She asked me to put on a show.’
How could I claim to have done so properly with just a handful of broken scraps?
"Hah..."
I surged forward, channeling the ashen flame into my fist.
With a powerful step, I drove my fist straight into the knight’s abdomen.
Boom!
Its torso exploded, sending a blast of flame shooting past it.
At the end of that fiery trajectory stood the golden throne—
Where the Empress sat.
"Hmm?"
Watching the approaching flames, Camellia’s lips curled into a deep smile.
"Now, this is an entertaining little performance."
She didn’t even flinch as the fire closed in.
Just before the flames could reach her—
Whoosh! Clang!
A maid in a frilled black dress suddenly appeared, intercepting the attack with a spiked mace.
Boom!
The impact dispersed the ashen flames into the air.
"...How dare you aim at Her Majesty the Empress?"
A woman with black hair and thick-rimmed glasses glared at me fiercely.
"Aim at the Empress? I merely targeted the last iron knight."
"Hah. And you think such a feeble excuse will work?"
Gripping her spiked mace tightly, the maid stomped forward.
In the blink of an eye, she was upon me, swinging her weapon straight for my head.
But just as her attack was about to land—
"Melina. That’s enough."
"Your Majesty! This person is a traitor who aimed for your life...!"
"I clearly commanded you to stop."
"......."
Grit.
The woman called Melina ground her teeth fiercely before finally withdrawing her mace.
"...If you act rudely before Her Majesty Camellia again, I won’t stand by next time."
With a cold warning, Melina turned and walked towards Camellia.
"Heh. You’re usually so calm, yet whenever it’s about me, you get excessively worked up."
"Her Majesty is the pillar supporting tens of millions of citizens in the empire. You should be more mindful of your conduct...."
"Ah~ how noisy. I’ve heard that too many times, I’m sick of it."
Camellia waved her arms dismissively, looking exasperated.
"Anyway...."
Lying sideways on the throne, Camellia slowly sat up straight.
"Gasp...!"
Seeing this, Melina’s eyes widened as her jaw dropped.
"Why are you so shocked?"
"Y-Your Majesty...! You’re sitting up straight again!"
"...Is that so surprising?"
"I—I had assumed Your Majesty’s back was completely shattered, making it impossible for you to sit properly!"
"...It seems to me that you are being the more disrespectful one here."
Tsk.
Clicking her tongue, Camellia narrowed her eyes and turned her gaze towards me.
"Rumors truly can't be trusted."
With a deep smile, she continued.
"You’re even more impressive than I’d heard."
Even though she hadn’t used even a fraction of the power of her so-called "Blessing of the Seven Stars," the fact that I had so easily wiped out a golem created by the Earth God’s power was—
‘Interesting.’
Camellia’s eyes sparkled as she gazed intently at me.
"Now then, may I finally hear the reason you summoned me?"
"Hmm. Speaking before I’ve given you permission... how bold."
Camellia smirked in amusement, her voice carrying its usual leisurely tone.
"I’ll be direct, since explaining everything is bothersome."
She reached out a hand toward me.
"Would you consider joining the Imperial Court?"
"...Joining the Imperial Court?"
"I mean, become my servant."
"......."
The servant of the Empress.
"I’m from the Republic."
"Heh. Your origin is of no concern to me. After all...."
"Because to Her Majesty, everything except yourself is insignificant?"
"Precisely."
An unexpected recruitment offer.
And not from just anyone—but from Empress Camellia herself.
That meant I could probably secure quite a high-ranking position within the court.
‘What should I do?’
Of course, I had no intention of accepting.
But if recruiting me was the reason I had been summoned, rejecting her outright might lead to a response like, "Then there’s no reason for you to stay. Leave."
‘That would be a problem.’
I needed to remain in the Imperial Court to track down traces of the Eternal Order.
I couldn’t afford to be expelled by the Empress.
"......."
While I was considering my response, Professor Elisha stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, I apologize for interrupting, but...."
"I do not recall permitting you to speak."
"Candidate Dale is currently a third-year student at the Hero Academy. According to the Tri-Nation Agreement, recruitment offers are prohibited before graduation."
"I..."
Camellia raised her hand.
Snap.
With a simple flick of her fingers, a blue aura engulfed Professor Elisha.
"Khh, ugh...!"
Unable to breathe, she clutched at her throat, gasping for air.
"I said, I did not permit you to speak."
Camellia’s platinum eyes gleamed coldly.
The blue aura thickened, and as if she were drowning, bubbles of air escaped from Elisha’s lips, floating in the air like soap bubbles.
"So, your answer...."
Fwoosh!
Suddenly, fierce embers engulfed Professor Elisha.
The blue energy constricting her throat clashed with the flames, intertwining.
And then—
"...Huh?"
Camellia’s Blessing of the Seven Stars was devoured by the embers and dispersed into the air.
"You erased the Blessing of the Seven Stars...?"
For the first time, the ever-leisurely Camellia's face hardened in disbelief.
"How did you...."
"I refuse."
"What?"
Ignoring Camellia’s narrowed gaze, I approached Professor Elisha.
"Gah!"
She coughed violently, gasping for breath.
"Are you alright?"
"C-Candidate Dale...."
"There’s no need for you to speak."
I gently patted Professor Elisha’s back as she struggled to breathe.
"...What did you just say?"
Empress Camellia narrowed her eyes dangerously.
"Did you not hear me?"
I turned to face her and clicked my tongue.
"I said no. I won’t be your servant."
"......."
A heavy silence filled the grand hall.

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