Chapter 1454: The Sovereign of Death - Part 7

"Most people have a similar reaction when they first meet me, but their reasons vary," the woman said with a smile as she walked around the room. "Most expect a man shrouded in darkness or a skeleton that has lived for a million years."

"I can't say my expectations were different," Arthur said as he eyed her examining the room like it was an antique store. "Why are you following me?"

"I sensed a strange presence in my realm, and I would naturally investigate. Of course, you did a good job hiding yourself until you arrived on my doorstep. Well played, sir."

"Thanks?" Arthur said with squinting eyes. "Are you here to fight?"

"Why would I fight?" the woman asked with a smile. "Are you here to harm me or my realm?"

"It depends," Arthur replied. "You have shown yourself to me for a reason, but I can't tell what it is."

"There doesn't have to be a reason," she said. "But your status as a challenger of the Path is concerning. Your answer to my questions will determine whether you are an enemy… or an ally."

"If you already know who I am, then you would know what I came here to do."

"It seems you are unaware that there are two sides," the woman said, grinning from ear to ear. "If you were sent here by the Mother Tree, then I wouldn't be concerned. But if you were sent here by Devaheim, then…"

"The gods send people to lower worlds?" Arthur asked with surprise. "For what reason?"

The woman examined him silently. It seemed she was trying to discern whether he was telling the truth, or feigning ignorance. However, given his spiritual energy in the surroundings, she sensed no falsehood in his words.

"It seems you are not a threat," the woman said, turning to leave.

"You didn't answer my question."

"I will answer them once you visit me in my palace," she said as she walked toward the door. "After all, I have to first understand whether you are capable or not."

The woman then passed through the door. Arthur no longer felt her presence, nor her watchful eyes. He stood in the room and sighed before heading toward the window to look at the palace in the distance.

It seemed that his first trial wasn't about rescuing the realm from an unjust ruler, but understanding the real problems in the lower worlds. If that was the goal of Yggdrasil, then it should be aware of his Netherborne lineage.

"Does the Path want me to prepare for the fight against Devaheim?" Arthur muttered to himself as he stared at the starry night. "If so, then I need to take my time and learn about the realms I visit."

Loyalty closed the door.

"That's a good mindset," he said, following on what Arthur said to himself. The latter turned toward the knight, and he seemed to be holding a strange sword. "This is my gift to you."

"An old sword?" Arthur questioned.

"Not just any sword," he said. "Try striking the ground with it, as hard as you can."

Arthur took the sword, examined it with a frown, and sensed the magic brimming within it. Then, he did as the knight asked and struck the ground. He expected a deep crater, which he would need to fix, but the sword struck the ground with a dull thud.

[99%]

Words appeared on the surface of the sword. Arthur was confused as he stared at it, then at the knight who whistled as he glanced at them.

"What is this?" Arthur asked.

"This sword is a testing sword for travelers wishing to join the army," Loyalty explained. "I wanted to see how well you would fare against the undead army tomorrow… but I guess I was worried for nothing."

"And that's what this number signifies? My strength?"

"This sword is calibrated according to the strength of the strongest general here," Loyalty explained. "It lets the army officials understand the strength of their new recruits and assign them accordingly."

"Then, I'm ninety-nine percent as strong as their strongest general?"

"I wouldn't say that's accurate," Loyalty said. "If you examine the runes in this sword, you'll find that a ninety-nine result is the highest possible one. It means that you are either stronger or just as strong as their general, but we can never know."

"We'll know tomorrow," Arthur said with a smile as he tossed the sword back. "If I want to understand this realm a little better to rescue it, then I need to prove myself capable of that."

Arthur didn't wake up until the shops opened again. Loyalty had planned for them to resume their journey at dawn, but Arthur realized that since the sovereign was already waiting for them, there would be no reason to be hasty.

Instead of heading directly toward the palace, Arthur began learning more about the local community. Despite being different in races and shapes, he found a strange unity among them.

After interviewing a few shop owners, Arthur came to the conclusion that the sovereign of this realm was feared, but also respected. Despite the undead army being a terrifying sight to behold whenever they passed by, they were still better than any army humans could form.

"They are different, but organized," a shop owner who dealt in textiles told Arthur and Loyalty. "I've never seen them bully anyone or misuse their authority. The only time I've seen them pull out their weapons is when taxes are involved."

"Taxes?" Arthur asked with surprise. "Are they to keep the army operating, or fund the public facilities?"

"Uh, I don't know," the owner said with confusion. "But I doubt the army needs anything to operate. They don't sleep, eat, or desire a thing other than to serve their lord. If you ask me, they are the perfect army."

"How much taxes do they take from you?"

"Half of all our profits," the owner said with a shake of his head. "Thankfully, we are exempted from rent as long as we pay our taxes, so we turn a profit enough for us to live."

Arthur nodded without commenting on the heavy taxes. If the sovereign wanted, she could take almost all of their income in return for the protection that her army offers from monsters and beasts. However, what use does she have for this money?

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