The Shepherds Are Dense – Chapter 457

Chapter 456

What, they even added cutscenes this time?

This time, the Ascension Ritual was completely different from all previous experiences.

Instead of waking up from intense dizziness and finding himself in another location, Eivass’s perspective shifted to a bird’s-eye view, like a camera—complete with camera movements!

He saw knights in plain clothes seated neatly on both sides of the long table in the Banquet Hall of the Silver and Tin Hall, discussing something in low voices.

Eivass paused.

This Ascension Ritual… actually had cutscenes?

…But unlike in the game, Eivass couldn’t skip it by pressing ESC this time.

The scene then shifted, and Queen Sophia appeared around a corner. She looked quite frail, but her spirit seemed excellent. Her gaze was sharp, and her smile was kind. When passing knights bowed to her, she nodded with a smile.

The Old Queen used the Avalon Scepter as a cane, shuffling along. The timid and shy Princess Isabel, dressed in her finest, accompanied her grandmother with a worried expression, like a frail shadow. When she felt eyes on her, she couldn’t help but tremble.

Opposite Queen Sophia stood a young woman of stunning beauty and elegant demeanor, with an exceptional figure.

She wore a Queen’s Crown inlaid with amethysts and appeared to be in her early twenties. Only her scarlet pupils hinted at her identity as a Child of the Moon.

Behind her, closely following, was a young man no older than eighteen or nineteen. From their similar features, it was clear he was her son—but due to his mother’s extreme youth, they looked more like siblings.

He had neatly styled short black hair, and his obsidian pupils were like black pearls, with a faint, distant smile. He wore the dark purple tailcoat worn only by the highest nobility of Star Antinomy, with a black ruffled shirt underneath, its wavy ruffles cascading down the front.

Purple was a difficult color to pull off, but the young man wore it without looking awkward. His features were deep-set, and he sported a monocle made of topaz over his left eye. The tails of his suit were adorned with numerous crushed diamonds, making him appear like a dark nebula under the banquet hall lights.

More than a noble, his demeanor was that of a scholar immersed in esoteric knowledge.

“Respected Her Majesty Queen Sophia… My son Lucian and I, on behalf of my husband, Alfonso Valentin, the Holder of the ‘Twelve Keys,’ pay our respects to you and Avalon, protected by the Silver Crown Dragon.”

The woman curtsied to the Old Queen with a smile, while the young man behind her placed a hand on his chest and bowed in unison.

The most important title of the King of Star Antinomy was “Heir to the Twelve Keys.” Regardless, the King of Star Antinomy could only consider himself an “Alchemist.”

Nominally, Valentin I was elected King as the leader of the “Twelve Keys” organization by its members. Although the Valentin family had now become hereditary, and Star Antinomy’s “Twelve Keys” had evolved into a cabinet-like organization… this was the undeniable fundamental source of Star Antinomy’s royal power—the joint nomination by the first generation of top Extraordinary beings.

As Prince Lucian looked up, his gaze swept over Isabel.

Despite Isabel’s beautiful and charming attire, his eyes on her were utterly cold.

Isabel shivered in fear, stepping back half a pace and hiding behind Queen Sophia. Lucian’s gaze shifted away, and he turned back to the knights at the table with a hint of boredom.

“Greetings to you as well, Louise. There’s no need for formalities; in private, just call me Sophia.”

Queen Sophia leaned on her scepter with both hands and nodded with a smile. “It’s been over forty years since we last met… You’re still as radiant as ever.”

“Aging is also a kind of beauty, Sophia,” Queen Louise replied with a smile, then gently ran her hand through her bouncy, lustrous golden curls.

Then, she turned her attention to Isabel. “Is this Princess Isabel? As expected, a Holder of the Path of Beauty… how truly beautiful.”

“…Your Majesty Queen Louise, Your Highness Prince Lucian, I greet you.”

Isabel had no choice but to step out from behind Queen Sophia and curtsy to Queen Louise, responding in a soft, rapid whisper, “May the Silver Crown Dragon protect you.”

She dared not look at them directly, but fortunately, Queen Louise showed no reaction. She simply nodded gently at Isabel. Prince Lucian merely placed a hand on his chest and offered her an equal return gesture.

As Queen Sophia led Queen Louise closer to the round table, the knights one by one rose to their feet.

They respectfully saluted the royal members, their faces displaying a joy they tried hard to keep composed and restrained.

“Oh dear, Your Majesty… please sit down soon.”

Suddenly, a loud voice boomed from the side.

It was Trade Minister Charles Dross, his face split by a cheerful smile.

He was old and portly, his round, massive head resembling that of a bighead carp or a toad. His protruding belly looked like a water balloon, so much so that he couldn’t even see his feet when he looked down. His formal attire was stretched to its limit, as if a slight puff of his belly would send the buttons flying.

The old man’s limbs showed no signs of muscle, and his aged, loose skin could barely contain the flabby flesh.

He cheerfully stepped forward, helping Queen Sophia to her seat at the head of the long table. He then patted Isabel’s shoulder, as if offering encouragement.

Princess Isabel stood behind Queen Sophia, unsure whether she should sit down. Dross, however, moved next to Queen Louise, chatting about trivial matters in an exaggerated tone, making her laugh incessantly.

After Queen Louise and Prince Lucian were seated, Isabel followed Prince Lucian and sat down.

“…Once Their Highnesses are married, our Avalon and Star Antinomy will be one family.”

Minister Dross smiled cheerfully and waved his hand, prompting someone to bring over a bottle of chilled fine wine.

He displayed the bottle to the Majesties and Highnesses, boasting, “This is a special supply from the Pope, ‘Sacred Tree No. 1.’ The Eternal Pope drinks only one cup of this wine after waking from slumber. There is no better wine in the world.

“I searched for a long time and finally found this exquisite wine. It is perfect for celebrating the sacred union of Avalon and Star Antinomy—with Prince Lucian, Avalon will gain not only peace… but prosperity for both nations and happiness for our people. If the Church were to learn of this, they would surely send envoys to offer congratulations.”

“You’re quite generous, Lord Dross,” Queen Sophia said with a hearty laugh. “If it were me, I wouldn’t bear to part with such a treasure.”

“Oh, for such a sacred and joyous occasion, what is there to be reluctant about?” Minister Dross declared, as if unconcerned, then contorted his face into a mournful expression. “Of course… if I had to say, I would be somewhat covetous. If Your Majesty could grant me a sip, that would be simply wonderful.”

“Then what is there to be reluctant about?” The Old Queen’s smile was gentle and kind, looking at Minister Dross as if he were her beloved child. “You’ve worked hard, running around for this matter. It’s only fitting that you have a share on this day of toasts and celebrations.”

“That would be simply wonderful.” Hearing this, Dross’s face lit up with childish joy.

He opened the bottle and poured out the ruby-like, crystal-clear wine. An intense fragrance immediately wafted out.

First, Queen Sophia, then Queen Louise, followed by Isabel and Lucian, and finally himself.

Holding the cup in both hands, he showed it to the Highnesses before draining it in one go, thus demonstrating that the wine was safe.

“Oh, heavens, I’m terribly guilty. I’m a bit greedy… I can’t help myself.”

Despite tasting for poison, he spoke as if he had committed a grave offense.

Minister Dross savored the wine’s aroma, his face filled with a look of intoxicated bliss. “This truly is… ah, the best wine in the world…”

“Hearing you say that makes me even more eager,” Queen Sophia’s interest was piqued.

She sighed softly, chuckling helplessly. “I do have a bit of a craving for wine… Ever since Meg left, there’s been no one to drink with me. I’ve never tasted such good wine before; the bottle the Pope gave me when I was crowned was all drunk by Meg back then.”

Queen Louise softly clinked glasses with Queen Sophia and said with a smile, “It’s alright; from now on, Star Antinomy and Avalon will be one family.

“…If Madam Meg were still here, she would be comforted as well.” With that, they drank the wine in their cups.

As soon as Isabel tasted it, she coughed, choked by the potent liquor. The strong wine made her cheeks flush crimson, and her eyes watered from coughing.

As she was still holding her cup and coughing softly, Queen Sophia suddenly slumped over. Her half-emptied glass rolled off the table and shattered on the floor.

In an instant, the banquet hall fell silent.

The knights all turned their heads, some rising to their feet.

Some eyes held pity, others confusion, some held outrage, and some closed their eyes in silence.

“Her Majesty has been attacked—” Minister Dross roared. “Seal the banquet hall!”

Isabel was immediately startled and stood up unsteadily. The wine glass in her hand slipped from her grasp and crashed to the floor.

Her mind went blank, her mouth opened, but no words came out.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed.

An “Isabel,” bearing marks of injury and restraint, stumbled frantically from around the corner.

She looked identical to Isabel.

Isabel stared at her, her pupils widening in shock and fear.

At this moment, the camera shifted to Isabel’s slightly blurred first-person perspective.

A buzzing, increasingly intense tinnitus filled her ears.

Isabel’s breathing grew more ragged, like an asthma attack. Her heartbeat grew louder, and the world before her blurred. She clutched her chest, unable to speak, and swayed, steadying herself against a chair back.

The “Isabel” pointed at Isabel and shouted, “She’s not me… that’s a witch counterfeiting me!”

“Wait—” Grand Inquisitor Shafiya suddenly stood up.

She quickly scanned between the two Isabels and immediately identified the one clutching her chest, appearing uncomfortable and unable to speak, as the real one.

“—Arrest the assassin!” Minister Dross, however, completely ignored her and roared.

At that very moment, many of the knights at the banquet suddenly drew their weapons from seemingly nowhere and attacked their colleagues.

Some reacted and fought back, while others were caught off guard and instantly incapacitated. A battle of Fourth Tier scale erupted, the Extraordinary Power of the Path of Authority diffused through the air, and the banquet’s long table was instantly destroyed.

Shafiya was about to intervene when she suddenly frowned, looking warily at the Queen of Star Antinomy.

Louise wore an unconcealed smile of triumph. The two Fifth Tier Extraordinary beings who accompanied her—a withered old man in black robes and an old general with raging golden flames in his eyes—also stood up from the banquet table at that moment.

—There was only a brief moment of hesitation.

Without her staff, Shafiya didn’t hesitate and ignored the chaos in the banquet hall.

As the only Fifth Tier present, she grabbed the still-stunned Isabel and fled.

Silvery white radiance formed wings behind her, flashing and disappearing. Shafiya, carrying the princess, shot out like a streak.

The surge of air scattered, and she crashed directly into the wall—the silver-gray storm shattered the wall.

At this moment, the old man in black robes extended his right hand toward their retreating backs.

Terrifying mana fluctuations stirred up a hurricane, and the walls of the Silver and Tin Hall trembled.

Time seemed to slow down, the movements of the fighting knights slowed several times, and visibly became slower and slower.

However, at that moment, Shafiya struggled violently in mid-air, forcefully turning around.

She carried Isabel in one arm, and with her free right hand, she made a “stop” gesture, pushing it forward palm-first!

*Ding—*

With a clear, melodious sound like striking a triangle, a white triangular symbol, filled with maze-like curves in its center, appeared before Shafiya’s palm.

It instantly blurred, scattering into a shimmering, multi-layered rainbow light, and the mana fluctuations that had just risen were immediately smoothed out.

The delayed time instantly resumed.

The two figures, still flying backward at high speed, shot out within this opening.

Inspired, some knights also changed their strategy and prepared to escape.

In the banquet hall, which had become ruins in almost an instant, the other “Isabel” stood motionless, her hands crossed in front of her, staring expressionlessly at the hole in the wall.

Queen Louise ignored her and sternly instructed her two “attendants” of Fifth Tier in a low voice. They did not attack others proactively, and other knights did not dare to attack them.

Prince Lucian, protected by the two Fifth Tier experts, languidly drank wine and ate food, appearing like an actor who had been cut from the scene, lacking any enthusiasm.

Minister Dross’s angry expression vanished, replaced by his usual cheerful smile as he respectfully poured wine for Prince Lucian.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Avalon’s knights were engaged in a fierce, life-or-death struggle—some tried to escape, others wouldn’t let them.

And the queen, lying on the ground, lifeless, was ignored by everyone.

Update complete, a 6,500-word update!
My sleep schedule is messed up again, it’s 6:40 AM (my condolences).
I’ll fix any typos after I wake up…