Chapter 269: The King’s Reward

"What’s wrong, High Priest?" Nova asked, folding his arms with a questioning expression. "Were you so sure that I wasn’t human for you to have such a great reaction?"

Everyone else in the throne hall wanted to know the same thing.

"Oh, no, no! Why would I think that?" Alaric immediately spoke, understanding the situation he was in. For the first time in his life, he found himself in a situation where he had no advantage to be smug about.

He had always been arrogant, as he was the High Priest of one of the biggest orders on the continent.

Although the Order was independent, he himself worked under the Everhart family, making the Order subordinate to the Imperial Family.

Alaric chuckled lightly.

"Hahaha... it’s not like that, Champion Nova. It’s just that I thought I saw something else. My old eyes aren’t working properly, it seems."

"I see... Don’t worry. As you can see, I am very human, not any other race like a Demon or Dragon," Nova said with a laugh.

Internally, Nova decided to leave him alone for now. He needed to find out who was behind this plot first.

"Ah, yes, yes. You are innocent, as we can all see from the results," Alaric said, managing to calm himself again.

But inwardly, his thoughts were in turmoil. How in the world did this happen? It should have been impossible.

Even more unbelievable was that Nova had discovered his plan and still went ahead with the test, somehow managing to prove his innocence.

Was he really the Slaughter Monarch? Or was this Nova something else entirely—something he didn’t understand?

Alaric needed to investigate him further.

He knew Nova wouldn’t say anything about this here to anyone. If he had intended to reveal the truth, he would have said something before injecting his mana into the crystal.

And he was still quiet, pretending that nothing had happened. Either he was stupid, or he was something Alaric couldn’t understand.

As for Nova’s warning, Alaric wasn’t too worried about it. Unless Nova really was the Slaughter Monarch, there was no reason to fear his threat.

But regardless of who Nova truly was, Alaric had to report what had happened.

"I am sorry once again, Nova Valencrest, for what happened. But I am also happy that a talented youth like you is part of our kingdom," Leonis said before continuing.

"So, as compensation, I would like to give you two rewards.

Consider them not only compensation, but also a gift from my side, as you have made the name of my kingdom shine throughout the world in the Empire’s Grand Youth Tournament."

Everyone present in the throne hall, including Theodore and Korr, listened with interest, curious about what Leonis was about to reward Nova with.

"First, I would like to raise your and your family’s status from mere commoners to that of Viscounts."

"You will have a mansion of your own in the capital, along with enough land and a few towns to rule over."

A stunned silence settled over the throne room as everyone heard Leonis’s words.

He was giving Nova one of the greatest rewards a king could bestow—nobility for him and his family.

And he wasn’t even making them Barons, the lowest noble rank. He was directly granting them the rank of Viscount.

That was an extraordinary honor.

Theodore and the other nobles were surprised, while the Viscounts and Barons present in the throne hall were filled with jealousy. Why would the King go so far for Nova?

Theodore, however, was genuinely happy for Nova. He had never expected something like this to happen. It wasn’t because he considered commoners beneath him; rather, he simply believed that Nova deserved such an honor.

Nova was also surprised when he heard Leonis’s words. He hadn’t expected something like this to happen.

However, refusing a king’s reward would be foolish. Not because Nova feared anyone, but because he wanted his family and the people he knew and cared about to live peacefully.

"I thank His Majesty for such an honor... but I would like to ask His Majesty to grant me those lands under Duke Theodore’s territory. It would be a pain to rule them on my own, and the same would apply to my father."

"Hahahaha... What do you say, Duke Theodore?" Leonis asked as he turned toward him.

Theodore smiled. He had already known Nova would say something like this, and he had no problem with it. His existing vassals were already overseeing his lands, and adding Nova as another vassal would not be a problem.

"I would like to make Nova my vassal, my lord," Theodore said.

Nova smiled when he heard this. He didn’t fully understand how the nobility system worked yet, but this arrangement suited him perfectly.

He wouldn’t be rejecting the King’s reward, and he wouldn’t have to bother himself with overseeing towns and villages.

After all, he didn’t particularly care about being a noble.

"Alright... And Nova Valencrest, for your second reward, you may ask for anything you want—wealth, treasure, or anything else that is within my capacity to give," Leonis said.

His words shocked everyone once again.

Fuck, what do I ask for now? Nova was speechless.

What could this bastard even give him? He was already going to receive a fortune as the champion of the tournament, and Nova didn’t want to owe anything to this Leonis guy.

{Why is he being so nice to you anyway?}

He isn’t being nice. He’s being smart. I don’t like to praise myself, but people like him never make a powerful person—or someone who will become powerful in the future—their enemy. They make them their friends.

And that’s exactly what you’re seeing now.

{Talk about being a king when he’s just a bootlicker. Hahaha.}

Nova thought of something. It was something he had been planning to do anyway, but now he wouldn’t have to do it the hard way. He had found an easier solution, and it would also fulfill the King’s second reward.

He turned toward Leonis. "I don’t like asking for those things, but I do have a request."

"Hmm, please go ahead and mention it. I’ll do my best to fulfill it," Leonis said.

Everyone else also wanted to hear what Nova was going to ask for. He had rejected wealth and treasures, but perhaps it wasn’t that strange.

He was already going to receive a fortune as the tournament champion, and, of course, as Duke Theodore’s son-in-law, he didn’t have to worry about wealth.

"There’s one more thing. This request of mine can be fulfilled by Commander Albert of the Twilight Order."

Everyone turned toward Albert. They wondered what he could possibly do for Nova. Even Albert himself didn’t understand what Nova was going to ask for.

For a moment, he felt nervous when Nova mentioned his name.

"Let us hear your request first. Then I’ll be able to speak with Commander Albert about it. The Twilight Order doesn’t come under my rule, as they are independent," Leonis said.

Nova smiled. He already knew that, but it was only a small request. Albert wouldn’t refuse the King’s request, and his second reward would be fulfilled.

"One of my friends, his name is Bai Chen, was recently recruited by the Twilight Order. After offending them over a small matter."

"I would like to request that Commander Albert release my friend from their ranks and allow him to leave the Order."

Everyone was surprised. That was it?

Nova’s request was so simple that all the buildup had made it sound like he was going to ask for something enormous.

Even Albert himself was inwardly relieved.

For a moment, he had been afraid Nova was going to ask for something troublesome.

Yet even after it had been proven that Nova wasn’t the Slaughter Monarch, he still couldn’t shake the strange feeling that this young man was somehow the same person.

Regardless, Albert spoke. "At His Majesty’s request, I will fulfill your request. Your friend will soon be released and returned to you."

**

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