In the heart of the royal palace, hidden behind towering stone walls was the grand throne. The person who sat on it was none other than the current king, Oliver De Lenfenth.
He looked down upon the people who had been standing on the two sides of the hall. Due to the tradition, there were a lot of nobles in the Muivell Kingdom.
They had gotten used to seeing someone becoming a noble after their service in the army. That was why this grand hall was usually desolate despite the occasion. All nobles had been invited, but those who came usually wanted to assess, befriend, or hinder the new noble.
Yet, today was like none other. The desolate grand hall was brimming with people. All were standing near the red carpet that led directly to the throne.
They had been invited, and surprisingly, most of the nobles in the kingdom decided to attend. After all, they had heard the name of the noble.
Noel Ardagan. This name had shaken the entire kingdom, not only with his achievement in rune but also his strength. It was undeniable that he would become a great figure in the future.
The anticipation among the gathered nobles was palpable. Their silk and satin garments rustled softly as they exchanged whispers.
Elegantly dressed women adorned in jewels whispered secrets behind delicate fans, while distinguished men adjusted the cuffs of their finely tailored coats.
Their intention was clear. To approach the new noble, the first impression was important.
"Are we really going to see that person?" asked one of the young women.
"That's possible. I wonder what kind of a hero he is."
"From the lazy noble to a grand hero, huh…"
The nobles brought their children, mostly young women for one big reason. Even Dimitri had mentioned it.
Despite his achievement, Noel had yet to have someone beside him. It would become a problem sooner or later. And those greedy nobles would definitely prey upon him.
As the minute passed, the anticipation mounted.
"Demon Hunting Squad's Captain Noel Ardagan is entering the hall!"
As the announcement from the soldiers echoed inside the grand hall. All sounds ceased as though the grand hall was holding its breath.
With a resonant creak, the bronze doors began to swing inward, revealing the person everyone had been waiting for.
Stepping into the grand room was a figure of unparalleled presence. Draped in robes of pitch black, trimmed with threads of gold. The black hair felt like it was flowing down the robe and eventually reached the ground like a river of silk as he walked.
His pair of gentle eyes carried both the fierceness of his strength and the deepness of his wisdom. The serene expression made him look aloof and dignified.
The young man, who could do nothing but fear his death after getting exiled to the Demon Banner Army, finally returned to the court with his achievements in tow.
The black military clothes matched perfectly with the black sword hanging on his waist. Ardagan's bright red jade caused a glint on the inner side of the robe.
Noel Ardagan had finally returned. Despite his thin stature, not a single of the strong men gathered in the room would dare to look down upon him.
A hush fell over the room as the figure continued forward, his footsteps echoing on the marble floor.
The only sound was the soft, rhythmic chiming of the jewels that adorned their attire. Not a single person could believe that this was the rumored Noel Ardagan.
Who was Noel Ardagan? They had heard of his name in the past. He was the son of Luke Ardagan, but the reason for his popularity was that he was known to have the opposite personality of his father. It was said that the Ardagan Family would decline if Noel Ardagan succeeded the house.
Yet, who could expect that infamous person would stand here and take everyone's breath away?
"So, he is Noel Ardagan…" A person muttered in a low voice. He was one of the few people who could react. He was none other than the Fire Arbiter, the one who observed Anna's fight. She didn't know why, but he felt a sense of suppression when looking at him.
"Interesting." The Sword Arbiter couldn't help but smirk. Anna was good, but there was something different from Noel. And he could feel it.
Kevin smiled gratified. He was staring at Noel as though he was his own child. 'This is something you deserve. Good job in facing all the struggles.'
"Noel Ardagan, huh?" The Void Arbiter maintained her calm expression. He was extraordinary, but he didn't know how he was compared to Anna. That was why she glanced at Anna, wondering what kind of reaction she would make after knowing that the person who should have died in her hand actually survived.
Anna didn't say anything, but her expression was extremely cold. It was as if she wanted to kill him right here.
Upon reaching his position, Noel solemnly fell on one knee, lowering his head. "Glory to the Muivell Kingdom."
The king frowned. The Ardagan Family was truly resilient. He thought he had destroyed them, but it wasn't enough.
Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do. If he didn't adhere to the tradition, he would lose the favor of the nobles.
He stood up and waved his hand, signaling to the minister next to him.
The minister opened up the scroll and stated, "Noel Ardagan has served in the Demon Banner Army for three years. During his service, he completed one expedition, ruined the plan of the Supreme Devil Organization multiple times, and killed one Devil Saint.
"He has become the founder of the Rune System, bringing glory to the Muivell Kingdom."
Noel lowered his head and shouted, "I serve the country. I shall create the Rune Academy in my territory so that our country can become stronger and more advanced compared to other countries."
"!!!" The people couldn't help but widen their eyes. Those words were what they had been waiting for. They were wondering how the Royal Family stole the rune system from Noel, but before they could do that, Noel announced that he would let everyone learn it. This way, the Royal Family would look like a tyrant if they forcefully retrieved the knowledge from Noel.
It seemed that Noel wasn't that oblivious to politics.
The minister couldn't help but glance at the king, wondering what he should do.
The king waved his hand. Since there was nothing they could do, it was better to continue.
"We're thankful for the contribution of Noel Ardagan." The minister paused for a moment. "There are eight people who recommend him to become a noble: Commander Oscar, Captain Shale, Captain Milfa, Captain Clara, Captain Septa, Water Lord Azel, Stone Lord Runth, and Fleeting Arbiter Kevin Stargaze."
"Due to all his achievements, the kingdom has decided to reward him with the rank of Earl as well as the territory of Lounstein. I hope that Earl Noel Ardagan can use his power to bring peace to the kingdom."
Hiss!
The people had just realized the royal family's intention. It wasn't a reward. Lounstein was one of the most dangerous places the kingdom currently had. Even bandits didn't want to stay there.
In other words, the Royal Family was hell-bent on exiling Noel.
The king stepped forth and asked, "Noel Ardagan. Do you solemnly swear that you will be loyal?"
'What loyal?'
'There is no way I'm going to be loyal if you are going to exile me.'
Most of them had the same thought. To think that the king dared to use such a phrase to Noel. It might be due to his inexperience that the king tried to trip Noel.
However, Noel wasn't that foolish anymore, especially after learning from Raincart.
He declared, "I, Noel Ardagan, solemnly swear that I will use all my strength for the country. I will use my wisdom to raise the country so that no one will look down on our country. I shall put my life on the line for the sake of the country."
Noel kept emphasizing 'the country' in his words. It was a declaration that he wouldn't be loyal to the royal family.
The king's face remained calm, but his heart was already distorted. Sadly for him, with all those promises from Noel, he couldn't force his loyalty.
He announced out loud, "From today onward, Noel Ardagan shall become the Earl of the kingdom!"
"Long live Your Majesty, Long live the Muivell Kingdom!" Noel replied.
A round of applause shook the entire hall. This was a man who had overcome all odds and finally got everything he had today.
It wasn't because of the Ardagan Family. He was the only reason. Not a single person would expect that the infamous Noel Ardagan would be one of the most talented people in the kingdom. They couldn't help but imagine what would happen if Noel Ardagan started his training at the same time as Anna.
Anna might have to give the talent as the most talented to Noel.
However, this was just the first step Noel took as a noble.
