Human Empire’s War Weapon Exhibition

Chapter 279 - Human Empire's War Weapon Exhibition

Katherine Evenhart:

A short distance away, Margaery was chatting animatedly with the dukes. The atmosphere between them was light, laughter exchanged as they praised the event's success. They had planned everything together, and it seemed to have been a fun experience for them—a rare relief from the constant pressures of their duties.

Observing closely over the years, I had seen how the position of duchess weighed on Margaery. She never had a moment of rest, her routine an endless cycle of responsibilities, working every single day without vacations or breaks. She had to be unshakable, emotionally strong, as she upheld the pillar of the entire duchy.

And even knowing all of this, I couldn't help but worry about Nathan and Chloe's future.

At the very least, my child won't be alone. They will share this burden together.

As these thoughts echoed in my mind, I continued sipping from my wine glass slowly, positioned in a more secluded corner.

I didn't like the clothes I was wearing.

They were too luxurious—a dress so expensive it felt like a fortune, something I never would have touched in my life as a commoner. Even after all these years, I had never gotten used to it. The jeweled necklace around my neck, for example, could probably buy every house in the village where I was born.

I raised my glass to my lips again, only to realize I had finished the wine.

"I noticed your glass is empty. Would you like me to fetch another for you?" a male voice sounded beside me.

"I would love to…" I began to respond, but then I turned and realized—he wasn't a servant.

My smile faded, turning neutral.

"No, I'll get it myself."

That approach wasn't mere courtesy. It was obvious it was an attempt at courtship—one of many I had received that night.

I took a step to move away, but the man insisted, stepping closer.

"Wait, Lady…" He hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and continued.

"The truth is… I was captivated by you. I know this might sound cliché, but I swear you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my entire life. I serve in the military, I've even been to the palace, but I've never seen anyone as stunning as you."

I stared at him, unwavering, trying not to let my growing discomfort show.

"Sorry, but I'm not interested."

"Lady, at least tell me your name?" he pressed, trying to keep his composure. "Someone as young and enchanting as you clearly comes from a noble and respectable lineage. I would like to formally present a proposal to your parents for a dinner with you… or perhaps something more serious?"

"I have no interest in starting a relationship."

This time, my response came even colder, my tone sharp enough to sever any lingering hope.

I quickened my pace, but he still followed.

"At least your name…"

"Ah!" he suddenly yelped in pain.

Looking down, I saw a small gray cat growling and lightly biting the man's ankle.

"Cylla…" I muttered, sighing. "That wasn't necessary…"

She kept growling at him, her fur bristling, ready to pounce again.

"O-okay! My apologies for bothering you…" the man stepped back, rubbing his ankle.

"But… could I at least know what displeased you about me?"

I stared at him, expressionless.

"Everything."

His face paled with embarrassment.

"If you want to please me, just jump off a building or slit your own throat."

He said nothing else. He simply turned and left quickly, his hurried footsteps fading into the distance.

I crouched down and stroked Cylla, who had finally relaxed.

"Good job..." I whispered, gently running my fingers over her head.

Nathan Evenhart:

I reached my friends, who were chatting near a fountain.

"Would you like me to fetch you a drink?" I asked, slightly changing the tone of my voice to catch someone off guard.

"No..." the woman replied dryly, but as soon as she saw me, her face turned red.

"Ah, Nate. I didn't know it was you," Chloe said, embarrassed.

Offering a drink to a woman like that was often seen as a courtship gesture. Though I had done it as a joke, and our friends laughed, unaware of our relationship.

"You're late. I heard you were working," Edmund commented.

"I was handling some administrative matters at my family's office nearby," I explained casually.

Everyone was there.

"Master Nathan," said a familiar voice, and when I turned around, I saw Kinue.

I was a little surprised.

"We're among friends, Kinue. It's not considered disrespectful to call me that," I joked, watching her face turn even redder.

"I got nervous and mixed up," she said, laughing as she realized her mistake while handing Chloe a plate with a dessert.

Athena appeared and gave me a light elbow jab while coughing dramatically.

"Ahem!" She pointed at Chloe's plate with a mischievous smile.

Damn glutton…

I moved closer to Chloe.

"What's that?" I asked. "Looks great."

"It's cake with ice cream. It's really good," she answered, holding the plate up for me to see.

I quickly touched the bottom of the plate, and without anyone noticing, a copy appeared in Athena's hands. She immediately sat on the edge of the fountain, giggling happily as she started eating.

I deserve this… I thought, sighing.

"This dessert is typical of my duchy," Viktor commented.

"It really is delicious," Chloe agreed, savoring another bite.

We continued talking, and some of my friends started discussing the treasures their families had brought for the exhibition.

"What about you, Melina? Didn't the royal family contribute anything to the event?" I asked curiously.

"No. My family usually organizes an event like this only with our own items, but that only happens when a royal heir is born," she explained.

So, I must have been a baby—or maybe still in my mother's womb—when the last event took place. A shame.

Of course, I already knew that only the duchies' items would be displayed, since I had been involved in security, but I asked out of curiosity about their treasure exhibitions.

At that moment, a servant approached Viktor and whispered something in his ear.

I was distracted, eating an appetizer one of the servants had brought earlier.

"Looks like the ship has docked, everyone. I think we'll finally get to see the exhibition," Viktor announced.

While working, I hadn't had the chance to see the items up close.

My role was to handle the security of the cargo, but the internal arrangements had been supervised by the dukes' guards.

At every stop, more treasures had been loaded onto the ship.

At that moment, the master of ceremonies took his place on stage.

Some of the nobles, eager for the event, had already begun moving the moment they saw him.

He picked up a glass and tapped it lightly with a spoon, the sound reverberating through the soundstones spread across the venue, drawing everyone's attention.

"Good evening, lords and ladies," he began in an elegant voice. "As the host of this honorable event, it is my pleasure to announce that the ship holding the exhibition is now open for visits."

His words were met with enthusiastic applause.

"The event staff is ready. Please follow the red carpet, which will lead directly to the ship, where you may admire the treasures," he concluded, gesturing toward the path.

The event staff stood aligned, indicating the direction.

The red carpet stretched through a long corridor, decorated with flowers and floating water bubbles gently drifting through the air—released by magical items—creating a truly enchanting atmosphere.

We began walking toward the exhibition, following the red carpet as the excited murmurs of the nobles filled the air around us.

"Good evening, Princess Melina," a maid said as she approached her. "We will be at the table, arranging your dinner with your favorite dishes. But after the exhibition, you are free to return to the palace whenever you wish."

"Thank you, Joana," Melina replied.

Beside Joana stood another maid, a bit younger, who seemed to be around my age.

I observed them carefully, thoughtful.

"These are Joana and Anastasia," Melina introduced. "They are personal servants of my family."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," both said, bowing.

Could these two be Night Killers?

"These are my dormitory friends," Melina said.

"I feel like I've seen you at the academy before," Edmund commented, addressing the younger maid.

She nodded. "Yes, I'm a fourth-year student," Anastasia replied.

Princess Melina smiled.

"Anastasia is very talented. Did you know she's also a lightning user, just like Nathan?"

Another one? We're really rare.

"Really?" Edmund asked, surprised.

"I'm impressed to meet another lightning user," I commented.

"Ah, you must be the one who gave that advice to Melina. She always talks about this friend," Anastasia said.

I noticed Princess Melina looking a bit nervous, silently pleading for her to stop talking.

Advice? Oh, it must be from that time Melina was crying in our first year at the academy… I thought.

But before I could reflect further, I noticed Kinue and Chloe narrowing their eyes at me.

I might be in a little trouble…

At Melina's request, Anastasia stepped forward and made her hand glow blue.

"See? She's very talented," the princess commented.

"Show yours too, Nathan," Edmund suggested. "It's rare to see a lightning user, and even rarer for two of them to meet."

"Alright..." I agreed.

I raised my hand, positioning it next to Anastasia's, releasing a small burst of blue sparks.

Everyone watched with interest—until something unexpected happened.

"Ow!" we both exclaimed at the same time, shaking our hands.

"Our energies accidentally clashed," I explained, looking at her. "Did it hurt?"

"No problem," she replied with a peculiar smile. "I like pain."

Viktor cleared his throat discreetly, clearly eager to change the subject and move things along.

He could barely wait to show us his family's arsenal.

We said our goodbyes to Anastasia and Joana as they withdrew from the area.

"I always eat with Anastasia and Elara in their private dormitory," Melina explained.

That explains why she and Alice always disappear during lunch and dinner. Their maid probably prepares meals for them in Elara's dormitory or brings food directly from the cafeteria.

We continued walking with the other nobles when a gray cat appeared, walking beside me.

"Katherine and Margaery are a bit further ahead in line for the exhibition," she discreetly told me.

The path was beautifully adorned with various magical decorations. Small water bubbles floated gently in the air, released by a magical device. Along the way, there was also an enchanted glass wall, displaying an animated painting of a stunning landscape that moved as we passed. Soft breezes were emitted by crystals on the ground, providing a refreshing coolness as we walked. Further ahead, snow began to fall delicately, creating a magical scene.

Probably my aunt's doing.

With each step, it became evident that every part of the path had been decorated by one of the dukes, making the journey even more impressive.

We kept moving forward, passing through more enchanted decorations until we reached the massive ship adapted for the exhibition. The first section showcased large war weapons—imposing and well-preserved. The path continued into the interior, guided by staff, as we admired the relics.

Atop a small stage, next to a gigantic war weapon, a familiar figure stood out.

"Professor Sinclair," Chloe murmured beside me, and I recognized her instantly.

The professor was dressed in the uniform of the event staff, and I realized she was acting as a historical consultant at that moment.

"Good evening, my esteemed nobles," she said in a serene voice. "This entrance to the exhibition contains great war weapons, collected during the last great war, belonging to the True Humans."

I noticed she didn't identify herself as a True Human, which indicated that not everyone here was meant to have access to her real identity.

"This piece beside me is a Crystal Cannon," she continued, pointing to the massive, wheel-mounted cannon with an aged-gold hue. "This devastating weapon fires enchanted crystals that cause massive explosions. It was created by the True Humans and is capable of obliterating entire squadrons, even those with mages in their ranks."

Some people in the group made disgusted expressions upon hearing the term True Humans—no one liked them very much, and the discomfort was palpable.

"The True Humans excel in technology. That's how they manage to keep up with our continent," she continued, maintaining her cover. "Our war remains stagnant at the border—neither side advances. However, the True Humans are masters at manipulating all kinds of magical minerals and transforming them into war weapons."

She paused and, with a solemn tone, concluded:

"One of the most distinguished peoples among the True Humans is renowned for their unparalleled skill in engineering and crafting war armaments. This people is called… Dwarves."