“The Emperor's envoy... again?”
Eirik muttered under his breath, annoyance flickering across his face.
Why couldn’t the man leave them alone? Was he some ghost haunting them, refusing to rest?
The rumor was that this envoy was at **Savant level**—a terrifying rank. In the magical hierarchy, it stood beyond the **Practitioner** stage, making it an incredibly difficult threshold to surpass.
Even someone as talented as Elvynna had struggled to advance, despite having Eirik—a literal golden-tier card—by her side. They’d tried twice through simulation trials, yet she remained stuck at this bottleneck for ages. And if even Elvynna couldn't break through, what hope did others have?
To achieve the rank of **Savant** meant to become one in a thousand. Only the strongest Practitioners at Level 9 had a chance to cross that divide. But those who did were no ordinary beings—they were **Revered Ones**, individuals with lifespans that stretched across millennia.
For context, the average Practitioner at Level 9 might live a few centuries—at most nine hundred years. But Savants? They lived for thousands of years, amassing knowledge and skills that made them nearly unstoppable.
In other words, dealing with a Savant wasn’t a joke. And right now, Eirik and his companions had made such an enemy.
The Emperor’s envoy had scoured the entire city of Aelsryel, fuming with rage when he failed to locate Eirik and the others. Even distant branches of the Ravenshadow family weren’t spared from his wrath.
To some extent, Eirik could understand the envoy's frustration. After all, the Emperor had sent him to investigate his son’s death, and now the main suspects had vanished. If they escaped, the envoy would be the one taking the blame.
Despite being a Savant, the envoy didn’t rank high enough to face the Emperor’s fury without consequences.
---
“Damn it! Can’t a girl catch a break for once? Another life-threatening crisis already?”
Pixie groaned, her frustration slipping out as her maid combed her hair. Unable to resist, she opened her simulation panel to check the progress of her automated tasks—and what she saw left her fuming.
“All I want is some peace and quiet to study magic, raise my son, and support my husband! Is that so much to ask?”
Stolen story; please report.
---
【Pixie asks what you plan to do. She says she doesn’t mind going on another long journey if needed.】
Eirik read Pixie’s message and let out a sigh. It seemed like Pip was ready to run again.
But Eirik wasn’t convinced they needed to. Yes, the envoy was powerful. But after all their training, so were they.
Both Eirik and Pixie had now reached **Practitioner Level 9**. While they were still a step away from Savant, overcoming impossible odds was part of being the protagonist, wasn’t it?
Besides, they were holed up in the **Starlight Range**, a naturally defensible location with environmental bonuses on their side. Maybe, just maybe, this could be their chance to kill a Savant.
If the envoy insisted on chasing them to the ends of the earth, why not take him down and end it here?
---
“Killing the Emperor’s envoy?!”
Pixie gaped when Eirik shared his thoughts.
Her husband certainly wasn’t lacking in courage. But could they really kill the Emperor's envoy?
As someone born into a noble mage family, Pixie understood the vast gulf between Practitioner Level 9 and a Savant better than anyone. It was an insurmountable chasm.
Yet, as Pixie weighed her options, she found herself willing to trust Eirik again. He’d led them to victory before—against all odds. And if things went south, they could always restart. After all, it was just a simulation, right?
“Wait, you’re really going to fight him head-on?”
Selene couldn’t hold back her disbelief and immediately voiced her concerns in the world chat.
“This is reckless! The envoy’s power isn’t something to take lightly. Your Ravenshadow family is just starting to recover. Engaging him now would be a foolish waste!”
Selene continued her analysis, her words meticulous and thoughtful.
“If you ask me, you should retreat deeper into the mountains. I’ve heard that west of the Starlight Range lies the **Sea of Reincarnation**, a forbidden zone bordering the demonic realms. If the situation becomes dire, escaping into the demonlands could be your best bet.”
She added, “Others might perish trying to cross that place, but with your luck—and your son’s rare affinity for all elements—you might not only survive but even uncover a great opportunity.”
Selene’s message received a flood of likes, with many players agreeing with her strategy.
---
“Pip, the mentor has a point. Why fight? Didn’t your last journey bring plenty of rewards? Why risk everything now?”
Liora chimed in with her opinion.
“You don’t get it.” Pixie pouted. “My husband said running once was fine, but if we keep running, our family will lose its spirit. What’s the point of surviving if we lose everything that matters?”
Pixie crossed her arms defiantly. “Even if we die, we’ll die with honor! You wouldn’t understand!”
Deep down, Pixie knew they doubted her and Eirik’s decision. They were jealous—definitely jealous.
“Honor, huh…”
Selene fell silent, contemplating Pixie’s words. It was true—honor was valuable. But would she herself make the same choice?
Probably not. In her case, she’d opt for survival, even if it meant enduring humiliation. But she also understood Eirik’s mindset. As someone blessed by fate, he was destined to take risks others would avoid.
---
Eirik wasn’t thinking that deeply about it, though.
This was just a game. And if it was a game, why not take risks? If things went wrong, they could just restart!
And if they *could* fight, then they *would* fight.
The Emperor’s envoy? Just another stepping stone. And if they managed to kill him, why stop there? One day, they’d topple the entire **Dawnstar Dynasty**.
Eirik smirked to himself. This game wasn’t just about survival—it was about raising the most powerful queen the universe had ever seen. A mere emperor was nothing in comparison.
---
“Heh, my husband said the Emperor’s envoy is nothing but an ant! And one day, he’ll even overthrow the old Emperor himself! The Dawnstar Dynasty? We’ll trample its palace, make the Emperor pour our wine, and turn the Empress into our maid!”
Pixie gleefully posted Eirik’s words in the world chat, adding her own flair for good measure.
For a moment, the entire channel went silent.
This was escalating fast. Taking on the envoy was bold enough, but declaring war on the Emperor?
At **Practitioner Level 9**, no less? That was beyond reckless—it was madness.
---
“Eirik... That’s... bold,” Liora finally responded, her hesitation obvious.
“Are you planning to rebel against the Empire?”
Elvynna, who had remained silent until now, found herself moved.
The truth was, she had always dreamed of rebelling against the Empire. After all, it was an imperial princess who had stolen her **Regal Bone of the Ancients**, a debt she had yet to repay.
But for now, she lacked the strength.
Perhaps... Eirik’s boldness was exactly what they needed.