---

A delegation, in essence, refers to a group of people sent by one country to deliver diplomatic messages to another. In the traditions of the continent, the composition of a delegation typically looked something like this.

First, there were the ambassadors or envoys, who served as the face of the delegation and performed the role of official diplomats. Then there were the consuls general, who handled the practical diplomatic tasks and stepped in when the ambassador or envoy was absent. Under them were the attachés, high-ranking diplomatic officers who managed specific diplomatic duties. Each of these roles had their own place in the delegation.

Beyond the diplomatic staff, there was the chief of staff, who oversaw the schedules of all non-diplomatic members of the delegation. Under the chief of staff were the young officers sent to broaden their horizons and connections, the escort troops tasked with protecting the delegation, and the knights and attendants who commanded these troops. These roles filled out the rest of the delegation.

And then, of course, there were the merchants who tagged along, seizing the opportunity to engage in lucrative trade that they couldn’t normally pursue. In the case of the small kingdoms of Hiberia, they often entrusted merchants with the task of transporting tribute to the supreme king and bringing back gifts in return. So, there was no real need to stop the merchants from joining.

As for the other small kingdoms, duchies, and counties along the delegation’s route, the more people and goods that came with the delegation, the more crumbs would be left behind. While they might not welcome the delegation with open arms, they certainly wouldn’t turn them away either.

This time, the delegation sent by the small kingdom of Catalonia to Asturias was no exception to this traditional composition.

At the forefront was Maria, the princess of Catalonia and the face of the delegation, though she had no prior diplomatic experience. Then there was Shirdas Rampal, the count who would serve as the consul general and handle the actual diplomatic tasks. And finally, Ramon Pérez de Manresa, the count who would act as the chief of staff, overseeing the journey and recording all details along the way.

These three were supported by attachés, young officers, escort troops, and merchants, bringing the total number of the delegation to around a hundred. Of course, half of these were merchants who had joined the mission, and the majority of the rest were escort troops. So, in practical terms, the actual delegation numbered only about twenty.

Thus, the delegation’s route wasn’t a direct one to Asturias. The most common path from Barcelona to Asturias would typically pass through the Duchy of Yeda, the royal city of Zaragoza in Aragon, and then north through the Duchy of León in North Castile. The delegation planned to follow this route through the Duchy of Yeda into Aragon, but with a slight detour. Naturally, there was a reason for this.

Ever since the malevolent aura of the Great Demon erupted from Agnon and spread across the continent, strange phenomena, monster uprisings, dungeon appearances, and other anomalies had been plaguing the land. Catalonia was no exception. Whether triggered by the malevolent aura or not, the strange occurrences, monsters, and dungeon anomalies had become too much for local forces to handle on their own.

However, seeking help from the central government wasn’t an option either. Until recently, the court in Barcelona had been in disarray, unable to function properly. Even if it had been functioning, asking for outside help was a matter of pride for the local lords, and they were reluctant to do so.

In the midst of this, the delegation’s journey provided an opportunity. Since the delegation was already moving, why not make the most of it by addressing some of these issues along the way? It wasn’t a strange idea.

Thus, on their way to Asturias, the delegation decided to intentionally take a detour to investigate nearby dungeons, resolve strange phenomena, and even deal with bandits, all to reassure the local populace and stabilize the region.

This “civilian relief” activity by the delegation ended up being quite successful. With Conra, a master of both the Heart Sword and Wu Xin Dong, as well as a spellcaster, Karl, a master of the Heart Sword, and Brantle Riga, a grand spellcaster skilled in Qi Men Dun Jia and Skald spells, the delegation was well-equipped.

The basic tactical template of sweeping away weak enemies with wide-area attacks and having a powerful ninja infiltrate the enemy ranks to assassinate the leader was a time-tested strategy. This was roughly how the Catalonian delegation dealt with bandits and monsters.

The Eight Trigrams Spell Formation would sweep the area with a large-scale spell, and then Conra or Karl would follow up like shadows to take out the surviving enemy leaders. The escort troops’ job was simply to clean up afterward and ensure the safety of the other delegation members.

As word of their successes spread, the delegation’s arrival alone began to restore order in some areas, even before they had done anything.

This level of success was something that even a large-scale military operation by the small kingdom would have struggled to achieve. The initial goal of cost-saving was quickly forgotten, and some officials even began to celebrate with dolphin-like cries in the middle of the night.

The people cheered for the delegation’s achievements. But as always, where there are those who cheer, there are also those who oppose.

“There’s been a lot of talk about the delegation lately.”

“If they’re a delegation, they should just do their job and move on. What are they doing lingering around without even crossing the border?”

“When we tried to mobilize tax collectors to raise funds, they all looked troubled. They said they’d already collected all the taxes for the year, and the delegation had resolved all the territory’s issues. What reason could they possibly have to collect more taxes? Damn it, if we leave them like this, our influence among the lower ranks will be completely eroded.”

These nobles, who had been stripped of their power due to the fake princess incident, began to gather and criticize the Catalonian delegation and the Barcelona court.

But of course, there was nothing they could do. With the regent and the noble faction swept away like fallen leaves in the recent incident, there was no longer any credible channel to represent their interests. In their greed, they had lost even what little they had.

A sensible person would have given up at this point, quietly nursing their grievances. But these were not sensible people. If they had been, they wouldn’t have ended up in this situation in the first place, nor would they have resented the delegation for stabilizing the territory’s security.

Thus, it was almost a cliché when these unreasonable nobles decided to express their grievances in a more direct and violent manner.

+++++

As mentioned earlier, the most well-maintained route from Barcelona to Asturias passed through the royal city of Zaragoza in the Kingdom of Aragon and then through the ducal city of León in North Castile. The people of Hiberia called this route the “Royal Road,” as it connected the most traditional and bustling cities of the land.

After dealing with various issues within the small kingdom, the delegation began to follow the Royal Road more closely. The route from Catalonia to Aragon passed through the Duchy of Yeda in western Catalonia and then through the southern border of the small kingdom of Aragon, the County of Fraga.

The delegation had set up camp on the Royal Road at the entrance to the County of Fraga. Campsites like these, prepared at regular intervals along the Royal Road where there were no villages, were important infrastructure managed by guild cooperatives across Hiberia.

The primary users of these campsites were usually traveling merchants. For those carrying backpacks, bundles, or using donkeys, horses, mules, or carts, these campsites were invaluable resting spots.

Of course, the campsites weren’t just for merchants. They were also used by mercenaries hired to protect the merchants, adventurers on quests from nearby towns or villages, knights on training missions, tax collectors on orders from their lords, and soldiers on reconnaissance or training missions. All sorts of people used the campsites for various reasons.

As such, the campsites often had facilities catering to this diverse crowd. One of the most notable was the training ground.

At first glance, it might seem odd to have a training ground at a campsite. But among those who used the campsites, the training ground was highly regarded. Whether it was the escort troops hired by merchants or the regular troops on patrol or training missions, having a space to train and hone their skills without worrying about their surroundings was far better than not having one.

The training ground wasn’t anything fancy—just a cleared area with a few pull-up bars and some wooden dummies. But the campsite’s unique nature made this simplicity a strength.

The campsite’s primary purpose was to provide safety from sudden anomalies, monsters, or bandits. Thus, the open space outside the palisade, cleared of weeds and shrubs, served as a defensive measure. It was a feature that, while not essential, was certainly useful.

Of course, the training ground at the Catalonian delegation’s campsite was being used more for its original purpose.

“Ughhh!”

Lying on the training ground, arms stretched out, legs raised in an L-shape, and head lifted to look at the hips. The legs were then tilted to the left, almost touching the ground, and then raised again, followed by the same motion to the right.

The posture had to be precise. Any deviation would earn a stern correction from the instructors. The helmeted head and leather-booted feet felt unbearably heavy. Sweat poured down like beads, and the vision blurred with what might have been sweat or tears.

Yes, the posture the escort troops were holding was none other than the Reverse Trunk Twist, known in the Korean army as PT8.

The soldiers endured the burning sensation in their inner and outer thighs, glaring at their legs that refused to stay up or down. But they couldn’t complain. Their commanding knights were performing the same movements with additional weights attached to their legs.

In fact, the knights seemed to be enjoying the exercise, their expressions almost inspired.

“Ahem! This, this movement is really good!”

“Ugh! I can feel the stimulation clearly! Deep into the spirit body! This is it!”

Indeed, the knights were feeling a sort of euphoria as they performed the movements.

Those who practiced the Reverse Muscle Technique possessed superhuman strength. By supplementing their real muscles with ethereal muscles, they could achieve power beyond the limits of their physical bodies.

The more muscle fibers one had, the greater the strength. And since these additional muscles didn’t occupy physical mass and drew energy from the ambient spell waves instead of real calories, the benefits were virtually limitless.

However, aside from this, ethereal muscles shared the same advantages and disadvantages as real muscles.

It was widely known among those who dealt with the mystical that ethereal muscles and nerves could tire. Just as a great warrior needed rest after exerting great strength, or a spell socket made of an ethereal brain needed time to reset after casting a spell, fatigue accumulated in the ethereal muscles and brain.

Moreover, just as the structure of real muscles and the balance of posture could place unnecessary strain on joints and internal organs, ethereal muscles could also impose similar burdens. For example, stress fractures could occur without any external impact, simply from excessive movement.

Furthermore, though unknown to the doctors of this world, overactive or underactive functions of specific internal organs could lead to dysfunction in other organs, potentially causing serious illnesses in the long run. This was also a risk for practitioners of the Reverse Muscle Technique.

Similar issues existed for the Reverse Brain Method. In short, without proper risk management, blindly practicing these techniques could lead to a shortened lifespan and a life of illness.

This was why cheap training methods were known to shorten lifespans and have low ceilings.

In contrast, prestigious families had a history of systematically analyzing and addressing these issues through trial and error, with the resources and personnel to manage the risks. Being able to manage risks meant being able to venture into areas that would otherwise be too dangerous.

In this regard, the training methods taught by Sophia to her disciples, and now by her disciples to the escort troops, were on par with the secrets of prestigious families.

“The stimulation is clear. This should help bridge the gap between the upper and lower body in the ‘Ave Mariana’ martial arts.”

“I can feel my thighs burning, but my stomach feels more comfortable than ever. It’s been so long since I’ve felt this energized!”

“My heart rate is stabilizing… I think I’ll sleep well tonight.”

The secrets of prestigious families were called “secrets” for a reason. Even among knights, few had received proper instruction in these methods. Those who hadn’t inevitably suffered from imbalances in their ethereal muscles and the resulting damage.

In this context, Sophia’s expertise, which focused on balance and stability and efficiently stimulated even the smallest muscles, was like an oasis in the desert. Naturally, the knights were eager to learn as much as they could, as it would extend their careers as knights.

“Ugh, damn it…”

As the knights passionately trained, the soldiers had no choice but to grit their teeth and endure.

The training ground was a whirlwind of groans, sighs, hope, and passion. Overlooking this scene from a higher vantage point in the campsite was a large circular tent, the meeting tent for the delegation’s key figures.

Inside the tent, a round table was set up, surrounded by the delegation’s leaders: Maria Francesca de Cruz y Hortas, the princess of Catalonia and the chief envoy; Shirdas Rampal, the count serving as the consul general; and Ramon Pérez de Manresa, the count acting as the chief of staff.

Maria, seated at the head of the table, put down the parchment she had been reading and spoke.

“The King of Aragon has made quite an interesting proposal.”

The parchment was a letter delivered by a messenger from Zaragoza just as the delegation was setting up camp. It contained a proposal—or rather, a request—from King João II of Aragon.

The Royal Road from Catalonia to Aragon passed through the Duchy of Yeda and the County of Fraga in southern Aragon. It seemed that upon hearing of the delegation’s planned entry into the County of Fraga, King João II had sent the messenger with the letter.

And the content of the letter was rather perplexing.

“‘Please deal with the dungeon near the Royal Road that’s on the verge of flooding’… Is it normal to make such a request to a foreign delegation?”

Maria’s question was met with a sigh from Shirdas Rampal, who had just finished reading the letter and passed it to Ramon Pérez de Manresa.

“It’s not something that’s usually done… but, well, we are technically part of the ‘Hiberian Federation,’ so we’re considered one country.”

Shirdas Rampal’s somewhat disjointed response ended with, “Of course, this kind of thing hasn’t happened before.” His constant wiping of sweat gave the impression that he was trying to maintain the dignity of someone sitting at the table with a princess.

“In return, they’re offering full rights to any loot from the dungeon and assistance in its disposal… That’s quite a generous compensation.”

“But it’s also a proposal that shows their intention to involve their own merchants in the profits.”

Both Shirdas Rampal and Ramon Pérez de Manresa were cautious in their responses.

This was only natural.

Dungeons were always surrounded by complex and contentious interests. Even in Catalonia, it had taken a combination of factors to justify clearing a dungeon. For a foreign country like Aragon, caution was necessary.

That said, the paladins who cleared dungeons without much hesitation, balancing church and secular law, were the exception rather than the rule.

The delegation’s leaders made their decision as the sun began to set.

Outside the tent, dinner was being prepared. The smell of stew simmering over the campfire wafted through the air as Ramon Pérez de Manresa suddenly spoke up.

“Honestly, as the chief of staff, I’m inclined to accept the request. From a cost-saving and budget perspective, it makes sense.”

Maria and Shirdas Rampal nodded in agreement.

After all, a delegation from one country inevitably incurred significant expenses, which were covered by the court’s budget. As the chief of staff overseeing the delegation’s affairs, Ramon couldn’t help but be concerned about financial matters.

If they were granted full rights to the dungeon’s loot, they could not only save on costs but also potentially cover additional expenses.

Thinking this far, even Shirdas Rampal, who was essentially in charge of the delegation’s diplomatic strategy, began to change his mind.

For a diplomat, wealth was like arrows for soldiers—the more, the better. There was no downside to having ample resources. Moreover, it was the other side that had brought up the dungeon issue in the first place. If any political issues arose over the profits, it would be their problem, not ours.

With two of the three leaders leaning toward acceptance, Maria saw no reason to oppose it. Especially since she had been trying to expand her influence by teaching the Reverse Muscle Technique to the escort troops. Having more shared experiences to achieve common goals was clearly beneficial.

Thus, the delegation readily accepted King João II’s request and set their course for the nearest dungeon on the verge of flooding in the County of Fraga.

It was around this time that the remnants of the Catalonian noble faction decided to act.

 

---