The Eastern warriors who saw Raven knelt down immediately and bowed reverently.
Raven, perched on Zeke's shoulder, lifted its head proudly, adopting a haughty expression unlike before, as the warriors gazed at it in awe and bowed.
Zeke looked at Raven with an incredulous expression.
"This guy seems to be getting weirder by the day."
Zeke had completely forgotten the saying that a divine beast takes after its master.
Zeke approached the Eastern warriors who were bowing.
He cleared his throat and spoke.
"Now, do you believe my words?"
The Eastern warriors looked at Zeke with eyes full of reverence and said.
"Of course, Guide. Please forgive our rudeness." Zeke nodded at the warriors' words.
"Good. My name is Zeke Draker. In the Central Continent, I am known as the Knight of
Salvation. Guide me to the Sultan's palace. The Sultan is waiting for this divine beast." *
"Hmm?"
Hades, who lay watching a beautiful Eastern dancer perform as a maid fed him grapes, tilted his head.
"This aura feels familiar from somewhere."
Hades rose from his seat, and Himmel, the captain of the Black Ravens unit who stood behind him, approached.
"Lord Hades, do you need anything?"
"It's not that I need something. Hmm, where is Yellin right now?"
"The young family head is training in the rear garden."
Hades clicked his tongue and shook his head at Himmel's words.
"Man, training even after coming all this way. Your young family head is something else." But then a trumpet sounded from outside, accompanied by cheers.
Hades looked out the window, wondering what was happening.
Warriors carrying the Sultan's banner were entering the palace, and something familiar caught his eye.
Ururururu—
The phoenix flapped its wings toward those cheering for it, letting out a pleased phoenix cry.
Seeing this, Hades's mouth fell open.
"Raven? If that guy's here...?"
Hades realized what the familiar aura he had sensed from afar was.
He immediately rushed out of the room.
*
"Impressive."
Zeke, who had entered the imperial castle of the Murk Empire, was struck first by its enormous scale and then by the massive crowd welcoming him.
Everyone in the palace waved colorful banners toward the divine beast Raven and scattered flower petals, offering greetings of welcome.
Drunk on the atmosphere, Raven cried out in phoenix song, spread its wings, and soared into the air, showing off all sorts of feats without end.
While Raven basked in the popularity, Zeke closely observed the palace.
"Fascinating. The architecture and style are completely different from the Central Continent."
He had never visited the Eastern Continent even in his previous life, so entering the Murk Empire's imperial palace was a first for him.
Looking at the Murk Empire's style, Zeke felt it resembled Carcosa, which he had seen in the dimensional fragment.
Though different from Carcosa, the Murk Empire also used tiles to decorate the exterior and interior of buildings.
Moreover, the Eastern people of the Murk Empire wore clothes made of high-quality silk, and their weaving technique seemed more refined than that of the Central Continent.
"No wonder Murk silk trades at such high prices."
Twenty-five years ago, when diplomatic relations between the continents were cut off due to the Murk Empire's invasion, the price of Eastern Continent silk had skyrocketed.
At that time, a single bolt of silk was traded for a thousand horses.
Direct trade was still impossible, but intermediary trade through the Dorta Republic was somewhat permitted, and it was said that the reason was to import Murk Empire silk.
As Zeke took in the exotic yet mysterious sight of the imperial palace, a familiar face appeared before him.
"Sir Zeke!"
Yellin, dressed in Eastern training attire, emerged from the crowd.
Zeke shouted happily upon seeing her.
"Lady Yellin!"
He dismounted from Bucephalus and headed toward Yellin.
It was their first meeting since Zeke had teleported to the Southern Continent to handle the situation when the Dorta Republic was invaded by the monster legion.
Yellin looked at Zeke with an expression of disbelief.
"Sir Zeke, how did you get here all alone?"
Zeke gave a wry smile at Yellin's question and replied.
"It's a long story to explain. More importantly, have you been well, Lady Yellin? I was worried."
At Zeke's words, Yellin's face flushed for a moment.
"He was worried about me... Does that mean Sir Zeke has feelings for me?"
Yellin had already confessed her feelings to Zeke back in the Dorta Republic.
But in the end, she had fled in embarrassment without hearing his proper response.
The meeting with Julius had proceeded in that state, and with the monster legion's invasion, the answer had ultimately been left unresolved.
She entertained a romantic thought that perhaps Zeke had come all the way to this distant Eastern Continent for her sake.
"Maybe Sir Zeke also..."
The cheers enveloping the palace gave Yellin courage.
Amid the people shouting in acclaim, she looked at Zeke and said.
"Sir Zeke, about what I asked you back then..."
It was then, as Yellin mustered the courage to speak.
"You rascal! Why did you take so long to get here!"
Hades suddenly appeared in the air and pointed at Zeke while shouting.
Zeke's gaze shifted from Yellin to Hades.
He bowed his head to the finicky and sensitive black dragon.
"Have you been well, Lord Hades?"
Hades barely acknowledged Zeke's greeting as he scanned the cheering crowd and muttered.
"Huh, I heard they revere the phoenix as sacred, but this is something else. Beyond what I imagined."
Zeke nodded at Hades's words.
"I feel the same. Raven is absolutely thrilled."
Yellin, having missed her chance to confirm Zeke's feelings, glared resentfully at Hades floating in the air.
At that moment, the inner castle gate of the palace opened, and eunuchs in splendid attire appeared.
The highest-ranking among the eunuchs approached Zeke cautiously with his head bowed.
Then, in a voice that sounded neither distinctly male nor female, he spoke.
"His Majesty personally hosts a banquet for the sacred Guide of the divine beast and the renowned Knight of Salvation, Zeke Draker, and invites you to attend."
A banquet hosted directly by the Sultan of the Murk Empire was an enormous honor in itself. Moreover, it was not a summons to attend but a request.
In truth, the influence of the Murk Empire, which dominated most of the Eastern Continent, was immense.
The power of its pinnacle, the Sultan, went without saying.
For such a Sultan to invite Zeke and inquire about his intentions was the highest form of courtesy.
Zeke looked at the eunuch sent by the Sultan and said.
"Tell His Majesty that I gladly accept the invitation."
The eunuch bowed so low his head nearly touched the ground in respect at Zeke's words.
They guided Zeke into the inner castle and led him to the best guest room provided by the palace.
Entering the room, Zeke marveled at the unique Eastern architectural style adorning the Murk imperial palace, along with the astonishing level of pottery and craftsmanship.
Soon, beautiful maids entered Zeke's room.
"We will guide you to the bath."
The bathing culture of the Murk Empire was well-known even in the Central Continent.
While the Rom Empire, which loved baths, had developed a public bathhouse culture, the Murk Empire seemed to have evolved a luxurious aristocratic one.
Following the maid's guidance to the bath, Zeke's mouth fell open.
"Is this a private bath?"
In the center was a massive natural hot spring pool made of precious lapis lazuli, surrounded by wooden tubs filled with various herbs.
Then the maids approached Zeke.
"We will assist with your bath."
After being led to the lapis lazuli pool and attended to, they carefully poured water scented with perfume over his body.
They then skillfully massaged his arms and back as he reclined in the tub.
The bathing experience was clearly different from the Central Continent.
After receiving the massage and sipping a cool beverage, Zeke emerged from the bath with a glow on his face that he himself was unaware of.
It felt as if long-accumulated fatigue had been completely washed away.
Returning to his room in high spirits, attendants had prepared Murk-style banquet attire for Zeke.
Precious silk and crafted items filled Zeke's room.
The tailor sent by the Sultan bowed before Zeke.
"It is an honor to tailor clothes for the sacred Guide."
The tailor immediately measured Zeke's body and, right there, cut and sewed the fabric to fit him perfectly.
It was a splendid garment of black silk matching Zeke's hair and eyes, embroidered with a golden phoenix motif.
They adorned him with various accessories on top, which suited him astonishingly well.
Not only the maids behind him but even the tailor exclaimed in admiration at Zeke in his Murk-style formal attire.
At that moment, someone entered Zeke's room.
"All prepared?"
Hades, dressed in Murk-style formal attire, floated into Zeke's room.
He was startled by Zeke's protagonist-like appearance from a story.
"Ho, Eastern clothes suit you quite well."
Zeke said to Hades, who had come to his side.
"Come to think of it, I have something for you, Lord Hades."
"Hm? What is it?"
Before answering, Zeke took out the Tome of Hyperion, received from Hyperion, the lord of the Silver Clan, from his inventory and handed it over.
"I met Lord Hyperion's spirit body. When I relayed your story, he was pleased and asked me to tell you that all the time spent together was joyful."
Hades, completely caught off guard by the mention of Hyperion, was at a loss for words.
"Lord Hyperion..."
With slightly trembling hands, Hades accepted the Tome of Hyperion from Zeke.
He slowly leafed through Hyperion's final legacy.
Then, closing his eyes briefly, he nodded.
"As expected of Lord Hyperion. With this, there should be more progress in the powered suit research."
Hades was conducting research to mass-produce dragon slayer exclusive equipment as powered suits.
If successful, it could be useful in the war against the demon king's army.
It was then.
"Lady Yellin Ishtar has arrived."
Soon the door opened, and Yellin entered slowly.
With a thin veil over her head and an elegant silk garment embroidered with delicate patterns, Yellin looked like the goddess of beauty herself.
Approaching Zeke, Yellin gave a slightly embarrassed expression.
"Is it... alright? I wore this traditional high elf dress on a whim..."
"You look truly beautiful, Lady Yellin."
It was Zeke's sincere words, without a trace of falsehood.
At his words, Yellin's face reddened.
Zeke extended his hand to Yellin in Central Continent etiquette.
Yellin lightly placed her hand on his arm as his escort.
Thus, Zeke, Yellin, and Hades headed together to the banquet hall hosted by the Sultan.
Arriving at the banquet venue in the inner castle following the attendants, Zeke and his group were overwhelmed by its immense scale.
It was a grand hall that could accommodate thousands.
Inside were hundreds of dancers, large orchestras, and a feast of delicacies made from ingredients from various regions of the Eastern Continent.
As the three entered with surprised faces, the nobles invited by the Sultan and the palace ministers cheered and laughed upon seeing Zeke's group.
"Guide of the divine beast!"
"Welcome! To the Murk Empire!"
The crowd parted to make way for Zeke's group.
At the same time, they removed their hats, bowed their heads, and paid respects to Zeke.
Zeke walked straight ahead along the path they made.
And at the end, he discovered something.
There was another space created within the banquet hall.
On a high dais surrounded by splendid curtains, sturdy warriors stood with sharp eyes.
Inside the curtains, beautiful attendants fanned the air.
Zeke knew who was inside without even looking.
"The Sultan of the Murk Empire."
The hegemon of the Eastern Continent and master of the Murk Empire was here.