61 New Home

Emmele Jungle… It is the largest jungle of the continent. Four homo nations surround that great jungle but it is not under the jurisdiction any of those nations. The four nations had attempted several times to conquer the jungle and bring it under their control but none had ever succeeded. The reason was not only because the jungle was big, but mostly because of its mysteriousness and abundance of monsters.

Monsters are animals that awakened elemental prowess like homo magicians. Just as how magicians are much stronger than the average homos, the strength of monsters is far beyond that of animals. Their awakening enhanced their physical capabilities and the more intelligent ones could even cast spells. Thus, while only strong animals, like tiger or elephant, could endanger homo settlements, a newly awakened monster of any kind could easily wipe out a large village.

Monsters of Emmele Jungle have their own territories where they rule. No monster would tolerate another monster roaming in its territory. If a monster trespassed another's territory, it would be confronted by the owner of that land. After the battle, the winner would take the land and the loser, if not dead, would flee to other places. Because of such jungle law, the central areas of the jungle are occupied only by the strongest monsters. The weaker monsters live farther from the center of the jungle and so the monsters near the outskirt of the jungle are the weakest. When those monsters living at the outermost region still lost their land and had no where else to go, they would enter homo territories and cause mayhem.

After being invaded by monsters many times, homo nations built forts which served as the first line of defense and for reconnaissance near the outer region of Emmele Jungle. Magicians and knights are always stationed in those castles to act immediately in case a monster invaded. Although the four nations did not have enough force to eradicate all the monsters in the jungle, the forts they built had succeeded in protecting their people and stood tall for several decades!

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Huvel lay down on his shabby bed in the marble-walled castle. There was the smell of moss and something rotting in the air. The room had many dark stains here and there although it seemed to have been cleaned recently. Seeing his very bed chamber being like that Huvel could guess how the other rooms would be like.

"Huu!" He could not help but sighed. "I did expect the living conditions here would be poor but this is beyond my expectation!"

Lying on his bed, Huvel's mind went back to the recent tiring days. In Warso Valley, he broke through to the 5th mana circle with the help of the Nymph of Graveyard. His plan to go back was put on hold for another day since he needed to stabilize his new mana circle. And when he arrived at the capital city of Blue Hippogriff Kingdom, he missed his flight and had to wait three more days for the next flight.

When he finally got back to Tournesol, he was faced by worried people. Karl especially was on edge. He even said that he would stick by his side no matter where he goes from then on. Chance Boden and Bellamy expressed their concern for him as well. He could understand that Chance's distress of losing his newly pledged master but he felt bittersweet when he learnt Bellamy was worried for him and it seemed genuine.

Huvel did not believe people could really forgive others and repent. He had seen and heard many things in his previous life. For example, when he scolded a subordinate for their mistake, they would apologize profusely in front of people. But Huvel knew that they apologize only with the fear of losing their opportunity or position. Because whenever he looked back said subordinate after a while, he could clearly see the contempt on their face. The look in their eyes shout "How dare you scold me?! Just wait, I'll get back at you!" And they actually did every little thing that would annoy him whenever they had a chance.

Since he had done a lot of things to Bellamy, he believed Bellamy must have hated him enough that he would want him dead. So, seeing Bellamy's concern for him made Huvel utterly surprised.

"Are people of this world more open-minded? Did he really let go of his grudge and decide to totally submit to me?" Such thoughts came to his mind, although he was not fully convinced yet.

Soon after Huvel reached Tournesol, his company began their journey to Boswel. Prince Leonard had prepared most of the things he would need at his new place, including chefs and maids. Huvel felt uneasy about the maids and asked for manservants instead. Whenever he saw the maid uniform, he could not help but imagined a crimson red knife. Apart from the prince scolding him for being too lustful, there were no other problem and they arrived at Boswel peacefully.

Huvel found that his realm, Boswel, was actually a large region. Boswel itself was just a small town but there were several villages scattered around it and all those villages were under the rule of Boswel. There, Huvel was surprised to see several merchant groups staying in the town.

"If I remember correctly," Huvel continued his chain of thoughts on his crappy bed, "the reports on Boswel the prince showed me did record an income of tolls and taxes from merchants. But the amount was small so I did not think much of it that time. But the merchants I saw on the way alone is quite a lot. Meanwhile, this castle looks so awful that it seems as if they don't have any funds for maintenance. Fishy! This smells too fishy, just like this room!"