The King of Tricks and Magic

Chapter 207: The Welcome Banquet (1)

[ Name: Ren Arken

Age: 14

Race: Human

Strength: 400,000 (+4,300,000 [Mana])

Agility: 500,000 (+7,300,000 [Mana])

Vitality: 1,000,000 (+10,200,000 [Mana])

Mana: ~~~

Spiritual: ~~~

Intellect: 700, 000

Unique Skills:

-Magic cards -Appraisal -Evil gaze -Strengthen -Leap -Basic magics -Magic mastery -Grimoire of death -Real Clone [Heavenly Slime] -Eye of Wisdom -Sword God -Fenrir Arken -Reo Arken -Predator of the sky -Wild Beasts Skills -Knight’s soul -Defiler of the banished, Ataraxia -Slime Soul Diversion -Slime technique: Split -Tarot Emperor -Master of The Dragon King, Atlas]

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“Where is that two… What the hell are they doing…?” Sera sweeps through the crowd with her eyes, searching for the two figures that should be present in the welcome banquet as well.

“Sera,” Edreale suddenly called out her name.

“E-Eh? Ah. What is it, Edry?” (Sera)

“You’re being too restless,” Commented Edreale indifferently towards Sera’s strange behavior.

“A-Am I?” Asked Sera with a wry smile.

“Yes, you are. Your expression is wasting the beautiful dress, how about squeezing some smile?” (Edreale)

“E-Even if you said so…” (Sera)

The welcome banquet is a rare formal party, and as a royal princess of the kingdom, it’s obvious that Sera has to use a dress that she rarely use. Even though she doesn’t really like wearing a dress, she’s still curious about what ‘that’ certain guy thought about her wearing the dress.

“Does this dress even matched me? I think I suit armor more than a dress…” Muttered Sera as she stares at the light blue dress she’s wearing.

“You look good on it. No need to feel so insecure about it,” Edreale attempted to calm the restless Sera.

“I see…” Sera finally calms down as she let out a sigh of relief.

“Now that I think about it, you’re really are gorgeous in dress, Edry,” said Sera about how her best friend turns out to be strangely beautiful in dress despite being expressionless.

“And you seem to be rather used to using a dress too,” (Sera)

“I’m a bard, after all. I used to get invited into some noble weddings and other formal events where they need a bard to entertain,” (Edreale)

“I see… And that flute is,” Sera points out at the flute Edreale is holding at her left hand.

“Yes, I’m going to perform here as well, of course. I’m a bard, after all. Since I can’t accompany you because of performing, you should try taking the initiative and talk with the others, Sera. Towards that wimpy hero that has been staring at you since the beginning for example,” said Edreale as she left towards the corner where some bards are performing.

“Wait, Edry! Geez… How heartless…” Sera curses Edreale for leaving her alone for performing.

“And why did she call him wimpy…? Who is she comparing him with…?” (Sera)

(But well, this is a welcome banquet for them. Since Peter is busy with the other nobles, I guess I need to act like a proper princess and at least greet them gently) (Sera)

After collecting her resolve, Sera approached the Holy Empire’s hero party that seems to be conversing with each other. Since the banquet had just started, the nobles only give some formal greetings towards the hero party, but they are still hesitating on talking to them casually.

Since they might be the future enemy of the kingdom, the nobles are afraid that having a friendly conversation with the hero party might displease the king’s party and the other nobles.

(It will help to break the ice as well) (Sera)

“Greetings, Holy Empire’s heroes. I’ve heard of your great names, does the food here pleases you?” Sera takes the initiative of starting the conversation.

The other nobles saw how the winter princess initiates the conversation with the Holy Empire’s hero party and get slightly surprised.

“Of course. There are lots of foreign delicious foods here, your highness. And to be able to be graced with the presence of the bearer of the ‘Endless Cold’ as well, it’s a great honor,” said the Hero Lian with a smile as he slightly bows towards Sera.

(So he knows about the sword… But well, it’s not unexpected for the Holy Empire to know about it) (Sera)

Sera felt that his smile indicates something else, it may be a provocation, or may be just a form of a test just like how Slime Tarot did to her before. But whatever it is, Sera won’t be as careless as she did before.

Face a strong front with a strong front, taking a defensive stance without retaliating could be taken as a form of weakness. As a royal princess of the Grandaria kingdom, she can’t let a person from another country capture her action as a form of weakness.

“Oh my, it’s my pleasure. To be able to get praised by the bearer of the ‘Holy Sword’, it’s a great honor,” Replied Sera with her usual smile. Even though Sera had gotten warmer towards people because of Oz, Edreale, and co, it doesn’t mean that the special ability that gave her the glorious title of the ‘Ice princess’ won’t disappear that easily.

It’s her natural ability, ‘The ice princess’s majestic cold aura’.

The saintess and Hero Lian that met her eyes felt like they’re in the middle of a snowstorm or a blizzard. The coldness emits towards them which is a potential enemy of the kingdom, just by the gaze alone, they could understand.

They’re being warned.

‘Overstep the boundaries, and you’ll be left frozen’

Looking at it, Hero Lian chuckled as the gaze managed to make him shivers down to his spine for a moment.

“It seems that you really are connected by blood with the Grandarian king, your highness. I believe you might already know me, but still, please let me introduce myself. I am Lian Edingald. An honor to meet you,” (Hero Lian)

“Yes, it’s a pleasure to meet you as well, hero Lian. And not only you, but it’s a pleasure of meeting all of your friends as well. I hope all of you could enjoy the banquet,” Replied Sera with a smile.

Some of the nobles that saw Sera taking the lead to talk with the Holy Empire’s hero party finally decided to approach them as well. Conversing with them, and maybe taking some valuable information from them might be useful for the kingdom, and it would give the king a favorable impression about them as well.

Sera smiled as she’s happy her plan succeeded rather easily, but she sensed a gaze staring at her from a certain person for quite a while now.

(The lady saintess, huh… I wonder what she wants… Well, she doesn’t seem to be a bad person…) (Sera)

“Is there something wrong, lady saintess?” Asked Sera with a gentle smile.

“A-Ah! It’s…” After getting startled for a moment, Saintess Elvira’s eyes suddenly shone as she stares at Sera like a fangirl meeting a celebrity. 

(It’s? Eh?) (Sera)

“It’s an honor to meet you, hero of ice, Seraphina Grandaria! That coolness! That majestic aura! I’m a big fan of yours! Please help us save the world from the cruelty of the demons!!” Saintess Elvira excitedly approached Sera’s face as she holds both of Sera’s hands.

“E-Eh!?!?” The unexpected turn of events is too much for Sera to process, making her head freeze out. She’s prepared to face hostility, sarcasm, and war of words with the Holy Empire’s hero party, but it turns out that she got a sudden ambush by an unexpected factor instead.

“L-Lady saintess…?” Hero Lian called out the Lady Saintess that rarely loses her cool.

(E-Even that guy is surprised!? W-What is this!? E-Edry!! Help me!!!) (Sera)

“I-It’s nice to meet you too-” as Sera answered the lady saintess with a wry smile, a sudden familiar voice steal the attention of the whole room.

It’s a song.

The voice singing it is no other than Sera’s best friend, Edreale.

Her voice is smooth and beautiful. The sound of the lutes, gittern, and harps form a perfect harmony that matches perfectly with Edreale’s voice. The song is slow, unlike the usual bard songs that are filled with energy, the song they’re playing is heartwarming.

“So this is the famous bard hero, her voice is even more beautiful than the rumors,” Muttered Hero Lian.

“Her voice is so beautiful, no wonder she’s so famous. And to think that she possesses not only beautiful voice and face, she possesses great fighting abilities as well, how blessed…” Saintess Elvira muttered as she let go of Sera’s hands and closed her eyes to enjoy the song played by Edreale and the other bards.

(Well, it’s Eldry, after all. And this song…) (Sera)

A smile formed on Sera’s face as she closed her eyes as well.

(It’s a song that Ren used to sing when he’s staring at the night sky alone) (Sera)

“It’s where I left my soul~

where my origin lies~

where my soul resonates~ 

from where I learned warmth~ 

Raised on the gentle hands~ 

how to live and love~ 

my childishness hiding place ~

when the world’s too much~” (Edreale)