Chapter 775: Beast Tars Threat
After the great demon war, the Vermilion Kingdom had been rebuilt from scratch once again, and although it might take at least another year before everything returned to the way it was, a temporary residential castle had been constructed. The old one had been completely destroyed after the barrier fell.
Above the kingdom’s skyline, there were still faint trails of miasma; however, it was so hard to see that it was almost invisible unless one was very powerful and above the Expert Rank.
The streets of the capital were once again overflowing with citizens who had co out of hiding or had taken refuge in neighboring kingdoms. Things were proceeding so smoothly that, if not for the scars, no one would think a huge war had taken place in the capital.
Currently inside the temporary castle, a eting had been called. King Adrian was seated at the head of the table alongside dignitaries.
After taking over the throne, Adrian had stripped all the old nobles of their power, as he didn’t want cowards and betrayers in his court.
Naturally, the nobles had tried to protest, claiming they held direct lineage to the first founders of the kingdom.
Unfortunately for them, Adrian had already made up his mind and dismissed them despite their protests.
Currently in the eting room, the newly installed nobles—those who had actively participated in the war—wore extrely serious expressions.
Even the air felt heavy. Adrian, seated at the head of the table, observed them with a calm expression. The rest looked sowhere between concern and anxiety.
“Your Majesty,” one of them spoke up. “Reports have co in that there’s a disturbance in the Cromwell Kingdom.”
The mont the words Cromwell Kingdom left his mouth, the atmosphere shifted.
Adrian’s calm face sharpened. His fingers lightly tapped the armrest of the throne-chair.
“Disturbance?” he repeated. “What kind?”
The noble swallowed before speaking. “Multiple reports from scouts and rchants say… beast taming has erupted across the entire kingdom. Children, teens, even commoners are awakening beasts at an alarming rate.”
Whispers broke out instantly.
“It’s spreading already?”
“This is dangerous.”
“What if they surpass our knight academies?”
“Your Majesty, this is exactly what we feared king Nox Cromwell is pushing too far.”
Another noble slamd his hand on the table.
“If beast tars grow at this rate, traditional class holders will be overshadowed within years. This is no longer just a ‘talent.’ It is a system. A movent.”
Soone else exhaled sharply. “And if that movent spreads across borders, then our entire military structure will be forced to change. The knight order, the mages, the adventurers… everything will shift to favor tars.”
“And that boy is behind it,” another muttered. “If Nox continues unchecked, the balance between kingdoms will collapse.”
Adrian’s eyebrow twitched. He raised a hand, silencing everyone, then looked around the table.
“You speak as if Nox is a threat,” he said. “But I know him personally. The kid risked his life to drive out demons. He saved thousands.” His gaze hardened. “He won’t harm humanity.”
A few nobles exchanged disbelieving looks.
“With all due respect, Your Majesty,” one said stiffly, “you are biased.”
Another added, “Beast tars may one day overturn the very foundation of our classes. Children everywhere idolize this ‘new path.’ They may abandon the traditional knight and mage routes entirely!”
The king surged to his feet. “So what? Isn’t it their choice?”
The entire table froze.
Adrian continued without hesitation. “If a child wants to be a tar, let them. If they want to be a mage, let them. What matters is that they contribute to humanity’s survival. You nobles worry too much about losing status.”
The room fell silent.
So nobles clenched their fists.
Others gritted their teeth.
But none dared interrupt.
King Adrian sighed inwardly. He already expected this reaction. He already expected fear.
Power brings fear.
Nox had created a force powerful enough to rewrite the world’s structure.
Of course other kingdoms would panic.
But Adrian trusted Nox with his life. The boy had proven himself too many tis.
After a tense silence, he finally spoke.
“What exactly are the ‘disturbances’ reported?”
The first noble stepped forward, pushing a paper across the table.
“We received confirmation that Cromwell Kingdom witnessed more than ten thousand beast awakenings… just this morning. That number may rise to hundreds of thousands in the coming years.”
Gasps erupted.
“That many!?”
“Impossible…”
“Is their entire population becoming tars!?”
Another noble flipped through the report and growled, “They’re saying even children who failed their Awakening are now awakening as beast tars.”
“Ridiculous. What kind of system lets failures beco elites!?”
Ria, Adrian’s sister, clicked her tongue and scoffed. “Because beast taming doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care about talent or status.”
A noble slamd the table. “THAT is exactly the problem! If peasants can suddenly gain power equal to knights, what happens to the kingdom’s structure!? What happens to noble families!? The hierarchy will crumble!”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “Are you concerned about the kingdom’s future,” he asked slowly, “or the fact that you might lose influence?”
The noble froze.
No one dared breathe.
King Adrian leaned back, expression unreadable.
“Do not forget,” he continued, “that Nox Cromwell saved the human continent from demons just as much as any knight or mage. We owe him gratitude, not suspicion.”
“But Your Majesty—”
“Silence.”
The entire table stiffened.
Adrian rose from his chair, cloak swaying.
“If the children choose the taming path, then let them,” he said firmly. “I refuse to suppress a power that might strengthen humanity’s future.”
Ria smirked slightly. She had watched Nox work with beasts and knew how effective they were—especially the ants. In fact, she was looking forward to seeing more beasts tad.
The nobles exchanged uneasy glances.
Finally, a young noblewoman spoke cautiously.
“…Your Majesty, we understand your stance. But even so… shouldn’t we at least send envoys? If beast taming truly grows to uncontrollable levels, Cromwell might beco the most powerful kingdom on the continent.”
Soone else whispered,
“And if King Nox becos the symbol of that power…”
A heavy silence filled the room.
The implication was clear.
Cromwell Kingdom might one day overshadow all kingdoms.
Adrian tapped the table lightly.
“…I’ll visit him personally.”
Everyone froze.
Even the general looked surprised.
“You’re leaving the kingdom?” a noble asked nervously.
“Yes.”
Adrian’s eyes hardened with resolve.
“But not to suppress him.”
He clenched his fist.
“To support him.”
Gasps echoed around the room.
“Y-Your Majesty!?”
“You can’t be serious!”
“What if he turns his power against us—!?”
“He won’t,” Adrian replied calmly. “I trust him. And if beast taming is the future… then Vermilion Kingdom must stand by Cromwell, not against it.”
General Adrian nodded in approval.
The nobles, however, looked like they had swallowed rocks.
“But…” one whispered, “what if you are wrong?”
Adrian gave a calm smile. “Then I will take responsibility.”
He turned toward the window, gazing toward the western region that was now Cromwell Kingdom.
Cromwell Kingdom was changing.
The world was changing.
Nox had ignited a revolution.
And Adrian wanted his kingdom to beco a part of it… at least now that it was early.
He exhaled softly. “Nox… what are you planning next?”
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