Right now, a lot of people were gathering in front of the palace of the Gyunar Republic. They had an important announcement today. A Master-class Knight will join the ranks of the upper-echelons and she will be promoted to the rank of duchess today.

A Master-class Knight was worth celebrating as it entirely increased the military might of a country.

Countless people were talking about the new Master-class. They wanted to see her appearance and they couldn't wait for her to appear.

"I heard that she's beautiful like a goddess."

"Yes, I heard that too."

"She's strong too. She's the fifth Master-class Knight of our country. I wanted to know what will happen next."

"Yes, the Condifan Empire got destroyed the other day so we're lucky to have another Master-class Knight at our side."

The entire plaza was filled with their voices and people with ranks were situated in front of it. Common people and nobles were separated by a group of guards that were guarding the place.

After a while, the president of the republic stepped forward. He said a lot of things about the country and its forces. He also talked about the fall of the Condifan Empire. It took half an hour before he finished his speech.

'I got bored listening to him.' Alice said inwardly while looking at the president from the palace.

"Now, let's call the person who will be promoted today. Let's welcome Lady Alice Fambell with a round of applause." The president said with a smile as he looked inside the palace.

'Now, he's acting like a host.' Alice thought as she stepped forward. She pulled the curtain to the side with her hands before she stepped out and revealed herself to the public.

She saw countless people were looking at her. She didn't think much about it as she was used to it.

The people saw a beautiful girl with long silky silver color hair that dr.a.p.es down on her back. She had white skin and golden color eyes with red hue around it. She wasn't wearing a dress. Instead, she was wearing a simple black tight pants and a black coat with a white shirt inside. There's a small blue cloak on her upper body. This was the cloak from the Ladro Institute.

There's a pair of swords hanging on her waist. This wasn't her weapon but just a spare one. Various accessories were on her wrists, fingers, neck, and ears. Everyone didn't have an idea that all of these were artifacts that could increase her strength to a certain degree.

"Is that the new Master-class Knight?"

"She's so beautiful...!"

"I can't believe someone like her existed."

Even the other nobles were shocked at her beauty. A female fatale would only work in this kind of world but in Imperium where strength matters the most, it wouldn't work. Although there were people who like beauty over strength, still most of the people in Imperium prefers a strong one or someone of the same status.

The president smiled and said, "This will be your crest from now on. I will not give you another name. Instead, I will have your name Fambell as the name of your household." He then opened a box and took a small badge inside it. The badge was the crest of Alice's household as a duchess.

Alice received the badge in two hands and she slightly bowed towards the president as a sign of respect. After all, he was the leader of this country.

After that, Gyun's party entered the stage and the president recognized them as Alice's retainer. They will be part of her household. Looking at this, a lot of knights and aspiring knights wanted to join her household. They wanted to know her requirements but this was not the right time to ask about it.

Alice slowly opened her mouth and said in a cold voice, "This is my household. If you want to enter, just prove yourself that you're worthy enough. I don't care if you came from a rich family or a common family as long as your worthy enough I will accept you."

The Knight Levels were watching and listening to her words. Also, the four Master-class Knights were simply watching from the side. Up until now, they haven't tested Alice's strength but considering Souta's strength, they guessed that she was strong too.

Compared to Alice, Souta was much approachable than her. She had that kind of vibe that she didn't like talking to people that she didn't know.

"Just why did she stay here and the other left the country?" Frederica wondered.

"I don't know what they are planning but we need to watch her movements," Paul said as he shrugged his shoulder.

The incident in the training ground only circulated to the upper echelons of the country. They didn't dare to tell anyone that a lone man singlehandedly defeated all the Master-class Knights of the Gyunar Republic.

...

Souta, Lydia, Isabella, and Yuko were closed to the territory of the fallen Condifan Empire. They arrived in a huge city called Riverpool City.

The people here looked like they were preparing for war. The women, children, and elderly were leaving the city with their things. While the men were sharpening different weapons as if they were going to fight some powerful monster.

"I already said to you that it's dangerous in this place. The army of the Great Astley Empire will slowly invade the nearby places around the Condifan Empire so this place had no choice but to fight or flee." Lydia said to Souta in a low voice. "Yet you still want to see if what I said is true."

Souta stopped walking as he glanced at her and said, "You haven't even told us how you arrived in this world so how do you expect me to believe you."

"I already told you before, right? After a cut the resources of the army I came here to hide." Lydia replied to him.

"Sigh... I want to know the details. What sort of techniques did you use to travel from another world to another world?" Souta sighed as he turned around and started walking.

"I will tell you about it later," Lydia said.

"Why?" Souta turned to her.

"I still didn't know if you're going to join me," Lydia replied to him while looking into his eyes.

"I see... Then, you'll it to me sooner or later." Souta turned back as he shrugged his shoulder. If he triggered a quest then he wouldn't mind helping her but if not then he's going to let the Great Astley Empire discovered the Great World Imperium.

The group continued to walk to find a place where they could stay until one of the men stopped them. The man said, "All of you should leave this place as soon as possible."

"Why should we leave?" Souta asked.

"Haven't you heard the news! The Condifan Empire got destroyed and the army that destroyed it is slowly spreading invading every village and city that they've found. Soon they will arrive in this place." The man explained to Souta.

"I see... Then, do you have the confidence to repel it?" Souta nodded and asked another question.

"No, do you think someone like us could repel the army of the one that destroyed a thousand years old empire that no one could destroy before?" The man shook his head and added, "Practically we're fighting a losing battle but we had to do it. It's the only way to buy time for those people that left the city."

"I understand about your concern. Then, good luck I hope you protect this place and your love ones." Souta said as he waved his hand. He then left with Isabella, Lydia, and Yuko.

The next day, a lot of people were panicking. Well, the army has finally arrived and it will arrive the next day. People who managed to escape from its onslaught arrived at the city. Most of them were elves who came from the Condifan Empire.

After all, the Condifan Empire was a country of elves and a haven for magicians of this world.

Souta found an elf who had full of injuries in his body. The elf was a handsome man with a thin body. It feels like he hadn't eaten for a few days and used all of his energy to escape.

"What are you going to do?" Lydia asked as he looked at Souta.

"I'm going to heal him. Then, ask him some questions." Souta replied to her as he stretched out his hand and place his palm on top of the wounds of the elf.

[Light Heal]!

This healing spell could heal small wounds of every creature but the only problem with this spell was that he couldn't use it on his own body.

His palm emitted a light and the wounds on the elf's body slowly closed.

The elf opened his eyes and looked at his body. "Healing spell...?" He muttered as he saw that some of his wounds were gone leaving only a scar.