Chapter 237: The Queen of Storms

The roads themselves were remarkably clean and orderly, lined with magnificent lamps positioned at carefully measured intervals.

Their soft golden radiance spilled across the white marble, bathing the streets and buildings in a warm glow that transformed the city into a breathtaking spectacle beneath the night sky.

It was almost as though the entire capital had been painted gold.

Everywhere Ethan looked, he could sense that this city had never been built merely to provide its inhabitants with somewhere to live.

It had been designed as a symbol of wealth, refinement, and power.

A city completely unlike Ashvarn.

Where Ashvarn had been a dark, Gothic city, this place reminded Ethan of the most beautiful European cities he’d ever seen.

"Amazing, dude. We actually got the chance to visit Europe in another world. Isn’t that hilarious?"

Verso’s voice suddenly whispered beside Ethan’s ear, followed by a burst of laughter.

"Stop mentioning things like that, or someone will overhear you."

Ethan replied with obvious irritation.

Verso had a habit of casually throwing around expressions from another world in front of everyone, as though there were nothing unusual about them.

"You’re worrying too much, man. Just enjoy the moment!"

Verso slapped Ethan on the back with a laugh before returning to his squad.

Ethan sighed, deciding that keeping his distance from the man was preferable whenever possible.

"Come along, everyone. We’ve already prepared accommodations for you."

The knight commander called out, gesturing for the hunters to follow.

And so they did.

Surrounded by the Silver Knights, the hunters made their way through the bustling crowds.

It was a procession that couldn’t possibly escape attention.

One after another, the capital’s residents began gathering on both sides of the street as the hunters passed, their numbers steadily increasing.

And soon, whispers began spreading through the crowd.

"Look... Their hair is red."

"It’s them, isn’t it? The cursed clan!"

"They look just like her! Just like the Queen of Storms!"

The whispers grew louder with every step the hunters took, causing most members of the Second and Third Hunting Squads to become increasingly tense.

Among them, Ethan found himself recalling an old memory.

A memory he’d witnessed when he defeated Matheus.

Matheus had once entered the capital in much the same way Ethan and his companions were doing now.

He had walked through these streets, surrounded by the very people he’d fought to protect, people for whom he’d nearly sacrificed his life.

Yet instead of gratitude, they’d greeted him with contempt and hatred.

They had called him a man of cursed blood.

A monster.

That experience had been one of the events that had broken Matheus more deeply than almost anything else.

And now, Ethan found himself on the verge of witnessing something similar.

Turning toward his companions, he could only hope that whatever awaited them wouldn’t affect them too severely.

Then, at that very moment, the whispers erupted into a deafening commotion.

What Ethan had feared was finally beginning.

Except...

Contrary to his expectations, and completely unlike the memory he’d witnessed...

The crowds weren’t cursing them.

Instead...

"They’re... cheering?"

Shock spread across Ethan’s face.

The people surrounding them had begun clapping, whistling, and cheering enthusiastically.

There were no mocking stares, no expressions of disgust, and none of the prejudice he’d expected to encounter.

Instead, the residents welcomed them with unmistakable happiness and admiration.

"Hunters of the Heart Clan!! Welcome!!"

"Welcome, bearers of the Blood of Fire! Thank you for protecting us!"

"Thank you!!"

"Welcome!!"

The cheers continued to grow louder.

More and more people poured into the streets at an astonishing rate, until additional knights were forced to arrive and clear a path through the swelling crowds.

Amid all that applause and celebration, Ethan and the other hunters stood utterly bewildered.

"What the hell is going on here? Aren’t they supposed to hate us?"

Ethan turned toward his companions, wondering whether he was the only one confused by what was happening.

But they were just as stunned, struggling to comprehend the overwhelming applause being directed at them.

The only two who didn’t appear particularly surprised were Asterion and Kevin.

Even so, neither of them had expected a reception quite this enthusiastic.

"Well, would you look at that... That girl really outdid herself this time."

Asterion chuckled, flashing his teeth in a broad grin.

He looked genuinely delighted by what was happening.

Ethan, however, remained so bewildered that he barely registered the old man’s words.

"That girl? Who are you talking about?"

Matheus’s memories and the scene unfolding before him were complete opposites.

Nothing about the situation seemed to make sense.

And just as his confusion reached its peak...

BOOOOM!!

A thunderous crack of lightning shook the heavens, drawing everyone’s attention toward its source.

The roar of thunder drowned out the crowd’s cheers.

Yet rather than frightening the people, it sent their excitement soaring to even greater heights.

"She’s here!! Storm Queen!"

The crowd erupted into even louder applause, their admiration now directed toward a figure standing atop one of the nearby buildings.

A woman had appeared on the rooftop, raising her sword toward the sky as brilliant lightning surged through her weapon.

Activating Wise Raven Insight, Ethan was able to see her clearly.

She stood with her legs spread apart in a firm, commanding stance.

Her long red hair whipped wildly through the air, carried by the fierce winds she’d summoned, while her cloak billowed just as violently behind her.

Her crimson eyes glowed with extraordinary intensity as her gaze swept across the cheering crowds, piercing through the sea of people until it finally settled upon Ethan and his companions.

The moment she spotted them, a broad smile spread across her face.

"Welcome, my beloved clansmen! I hope you’re enjoying the little show I prepared for you!!!"

The woman shouted before bursting into loud laughter, triggering even more brilliant explosions of lightning across the sky.

The capital’s residents reacted enthusiastically to her every movement, confirming Ethan’s growing suspicion that she was the reason behind all the applause and cheering.

This was the woman who had single-handedly changed an entire population’s perception of her clan.

The woman who had transformed hatred and prejudice into affection and respect.

"This is the Storm Queen... Serena Heart, one of the Five Generals..."