Chapter 57 See You Again at the North Wind Graveyard
In the early spring after the cold winter, the air still carried a frosty chill. Ig lowered the pure white long sword in his hand, and through the rift in the black clouds, as heavy as an iron curtain, a ray of sunlight illuminated the entire turbid world.
All around, there were numerous corpses of students from Aris Academy, soaked in bright red blood. Even more numerous, however, were the corpses of those corroded by the Blood Race and turned into blood slaves.
And before Ig, an ancient Blood Race noble, holding a treasured ancestral but tattered Blood Race ceremonial sword, his body covered in countless wounds from magic and sacred light, knelt unwillingly on the ground, utterly dead.
Clearly, this was not Rubiel City in Peka Kingdom. It was the vast, desolate land in the extreme north of Peka, perpetually shrouded by a bitter north wind.
This territory, a hundred years ago, had acquired a new name – the North Wind Graveyard.
Ig had heard of this name in Rubiel City.
The vast East Continent, occupied by the Peka Kingdom, was not a realm of light and the homeland of humans since ancient times.
Before the Golden Era, the blood-related descendants of the Blood Race, united by eight ancient clans, established the Crimson Royal Court, even surpassing the Orcs who were enemies of the Elves, becoming the fated enemies of the entire human world.
It was rumored that one of the Four Heavenly Kings by the side of the King of the Demon Realm, the Blood Emperor, was once a progenitor from the Crimson Royal Court who possessed “origin blood”.
However, with the rise of human strength, the Crimson Royal Court, which had once dominated the region, gradually declined due to internal strife and succession issues. Progenitors with ancient names died one after another, their power uninherited, leaving the throne vacant…
Until a hundred years ago, during an epic expedition initiated by Duke Oran, the guardian of the western territories of Peka, the last surviving Blood Race stronghold in the extreme north was completely destroyed.
Even the last progenitor who bore the title of “Burning Blood” died in the war.
The remnants of that war created the current North Wind Graveyard… or rather, a cage to monitor the remnants of the Blood Race.
Of course, the history of the Blood Race in the Peka Kingdom did not end there.
To gain the power to fight against the Demon Race, Duke Oran, the leader of the expedition, drank the origin blood of the Blood Race. Under his leadership, a considerable number of loyal subordinates and subjects also transformed into the Blood Race, becoming a legal Blood Duchy under the Peka crown. On the foundation of the old city, the magnificent City of Blood, Lancaster, was rebuilt.
… Until the end of the Demon Race War, under the radiant Sacred Sword, the entire City of Blood turned into ashes amidst Duke Oran’s unwilling roar.
Therefore, the North Wind Graveyard is, today, almost the only territory on the entire continent that retains traces of the Blood Race. The remnants of the Blood Race imprisoned in this territory suffer more than the enslaved Orcs, repaying their sins with labor and life.
This is also the reason why Ig and the new students of Aris Academy came here: it is a long-standing tradition of Aris Academy for the new students every year to go to the North Wind Graveyard for training, under the guidance of the academy teachers.
After all, in everyone’s eyes, the status of these “mongrels” of the Blood Race is even more humble than that of livestock.
And then came what was happening before their eyes: the Blood Race, wielding broken weapons, had controlled the local nobles and lords, and through a series of intricate and strange schemes, they launched their resistance, until the final decisive battle.
However, there was no unexpected outcome. Although many accompanying academy teachers were injured and defeated, with the power of the Sacred Sword and the sudden arrival of Vicena, the Blood Race’s resistance appeared powerless and laughable.
Ig lowered the sword in his hand, and drops of bright red blood flowed and evaporated on the blade. He silently looked at the resentful young Blood Race youth opposite him.
The other party was very young, clearly a descendant of the Blood Race born after the war… and with his talent and the power guiding him, he was undoubtedly a leader.
It was as if his angry voice still echoed in his ears, and even though he was scorched by the blazing sacred light, his blood-red eyes were burning with crimson flames of anger:
“Why should we be born slaves, why be oppressed by you, why should we sacrifice our lives for your momentary pleasure!”
The flames were permeated with vibrant blood. His fighting spirit was not extinguished by the sacred light until the last moment.
Ig did not answer his question… not even though he had many righteous answers. However, he had no reason to pity the “enemy” before him. What Ig thought of was merely the word “hatred.”
Hatred etched between the Blood Race and humans for thousands of years… Such hatred inspired countless heroes and warriors to take to the battlefield, defending human territory and survival with swords and shields.
But what Ig thought of at this moment was, was this hatred truly the original sin carried in the blood… should those innocent Blood Race, like the Blood Race girl Flarn, also accept this hatred?
Moreover, these enslaved Orcs and Blood Race, if stripped of their racial identity, were merely objects of oppression by the rulers.
The kingdom’s history books extensively used glory, blood, and hatred to depict that period, not only to boost national confidence but also to legally enslave these lowly “mongrels”?
Many thoughts echoed in Ig’s mind. He then thought of Lancaster in the light:
As a ruler, one does not need morality or any sense of right or wrong; one only needs to weigh the gains and losses… But such a reality is clearly too worldly and narrow for a hero who wielded the Sacred Sword for “benevolence” and “justice” and held the world in his heart.
Ig realized that he was indeed beginning to doubt Lancaster… but a different voice in his heart told him not to believe it.
Ig suddenly shook his head forcefully, ending the argument in his mind that arose from the angry words of the Blood Race youth. Just like the narrow but simplest reason, there was a natural stance between humans and their natural enemies, the Blood Race.
Even if it was more like sophistry.
“Am I overthinking because of Flarn…?”
Ig mused. Since parting ways with Verafia, he had seen less of that exquisite, beautiful, and strong yet pitiable Blood Race girl.
However, Flarn was undoubtedly a close friend of Ig, and Ig had also received great kindness from Flarn’s father, Duke Oran, and had witnessed the hero’s grief and indignation…
Perhaps it was precisely because of this that Ig might deviate slightly from the human stance and feel some sympathy for the Blood Race before him.
He suddenly turned around.
However, Ig could not do anything. No matter how angry the Blood Race were in their eyes, their actions were undoubtedly rebellion, and dozens of Aris freshmen had died because of them.
– After all, they were the most talented geniuses in the entire kingdom, and most of the freshmen had noble backgrounds.
Ig could imagine the fate awaiting this North Wind Graveyard, which had imprisoned the Blood Race for decades: it would soon be destroyed by sacred light divine arts and the flames of the Silver Knights…
“Wait…”
His thoughts suddenly paused. Ig suddenly thought of something he had overlooked: what was causing the Blood Race’s rebellion, perhaps it was the long-standing anger… but where did their power come from?
After all, the Blood Race in this North Wind Graveyard had been imprisoned for a century. Even the remaining blood power and scattered weapon remnants from that year should have been depleted!
“Boss Ig!”
Hurried footsteps interrupted Ig’s thoughts. Ig turned his face, and running towards him was a red-haired noble youth.
The red-haired youth was the heir of a Marquis, but at Aris Academy, he was willing to be his subordinate.
“Boss Ig…”
The red-haired youth’s face was flushed, and he was panting, but his expression was very urgent: “Boss, we happened to find a secret passage over there! It’s dug very deep!”
“A secret passage of the Blood Race?” Ig frowned.
“Yes. That guy Lange told me that inside is a tomb, most likely a place where these bloodsucking bugs store weapons… or even gather.”
The red-haired youth said confidently. He suddenly showed a hint of worry: “But, Boss, should we report this to Lord Vicena first and let Vicena take us to investigate? After all, the insidious nature of these Blood Race brats…”
“No need.”
The speed at which the words fell was even faster than Ig’s thought, as if there was a vague premonition, making his instinct unwilling to involve Vicena.
However, Ig found a suitable reason:
“Lord Vicena has just gone through a fierce battle, and her consumption must not be light after breaking through that Blood Array. Since it’s an unsubstantiated matter, I think there’s no need to disturb the Archmage for now… Just take me to see it.”
The red-haired youth quickly obeyed.
Following behind him, Ig soon arrived at the secret passage mentioned by the red-haired youth. His raised Sacred Sword illuminated the way, revealing intricate runes drawn in Blood Race script on the corridor.
“This is…”
The brilliance of the Sacred Sword once again annihilated the curse formed by blood magic before his eyes. However, Ig became even more uneasy… as if a voice was stirring, calling him.
“Lord Ig, ahead, there’s a sealed barrier!”
A voice sounded. Ig looked up, raised the Sacred Sword in his hand, and the scorching white light instantly dissolved the power of blood. His pupils narrowed slightly.
“A hidden space.”
Ig also sensed what it was that had been tugging at his heartstrings.
The surrounding new students also had excited expressions. Everyone present knew how much merit they would gain if they really found the core place where the Blood Race’s secret treasures were buried.
“Let me go in and take a look first. You wait here for me.”
Ig said, holding the Sacred Sword in one hand, and then stepped into that space.
The bright light of the Blood Moon swept across, but there was no obstruction.
Ig looked up, and under the Blood Moon’s light, two withered but incredibly powerful Blood Race figures cast long shadows.
Between the two Blood Race elders, bathed in the Blood Moon’s light, was a beautiful girl with silver silken long hair. Her exquisite evening gown was adorned with gorgeous red silk, and at this moment, she looked as noble as a princess.
It was Flarn.
Ig’s gaze was not drawn to any of them. He stared blankly at that slender shadow.
Her long hair, more brilliant and gorgeous than the sunlight, quietly cascaded down to the girl’s delicate waist, like a blazing flame, stinging his eyes.
But Ig opened his eyes as wide as he could:
Even, even if it was just a glimpse of her back… it felt like he had lost her for a long time… No, it was her…
“Young Lady…”
–
The side story of the North Wind Graveyard… was intended for Flarn. However, basically, the male protagonist and female protagonist have separate storylines, and except for the end, they have no intersection. At most, they are mentioned a couple of times in conversations.
So, it was skipped, and directly went to the plot of Veer and the male protagonist (which is also approximately the last part of this volume, and it should end in another ten to twenty chapters).
However, the prelude in this chapter was written too much… making the later part a bit rushed…
And missed the deadline (sad).
