Hearing the King's decisive answer, the official was instantly silenced. His tongue seemed tied. It was not just because of King Nalvon's boldness in challenging their protocols, but because of the specific words referring to a non-human race that he had just heard.
A high elf? said the official, her face turning pale instantly. Isn't the status of a high elf the same as a prince or a king on this Azvel Continent? Considering that youth is a high elf, a prince from across the sea, such tight security is actually quite reasonable to prevent unwanted incidents.
King Nalvon took another step forward, closing the distance. "Answer me!" he asserted, his voice now truly breaking through the busyness of the registration hall. "Do this academy and Larkvood Kingdom dare to guarantee safety if there are fools who dare to cause trouble because you forbade an escort from me?"
The official began to break into a cold sweat under the King's gaze. He realized that the threat coming from the man before him was no mere bluff. On the Azvel Continent, which was inhabited only by humans, the presence of a race like the High Elf was a highly sensitive political matter, considering they were a non-human race that most humans had never even seen.
"V-Very well. I understand completely, Your Majesty." the official finally answered while bowing deeper. "Please proceed if your troops wish to continue escorting him until the registration process is complete. Since there is a non-human race within your entourage, we will grant a special exception."
The official immediately made way, instructing other staff to serve them promptly. King Nalvon's entourage continued walking calmly toward the re-registration desk located at the front of the hall.
For everyone from other kingdoms surrounding them, it was an extraordinary sight. It was the first time they had seen tournament participants so strictly guarded, even personally accompanied by the King of their own territory.
At the registration desk, Dean Claus stepped forward. With calm and neat movements, he handed over four bundles of personal data forms belonging to Kazien, Alvin, Allen, and Arken, which had been prepared beforehand.
The female official sitting at the desk received the documents. She began to read the names listed there one by one. However, her movements suddenly stopped. Her face changed drastically, her eyes widening as she stared at the papers.
I never expected these three handsome youths to be descendants of the Altavis family, whose strength has been famous and reckoned with for hundreds of years. the official thought, her hands trembled slightly as he touched their profile forms. And this High Elf... he really is a prince from the Reavel Continent far across the sea. The four of them must be students with terrifying power, even though they are still only first-year students.
Despite being overwhelmed by immense shock, the official tried hard to remain professional. She took a deep breath and immediately processed the data into the academy's magic recording crystal, acting as if everything were normal even though her heart was racing.
Once the administrative process was complete, the official took four small wooden boxes containing the special tournament participant clothing. She handed them to Dean Claus with a very respectful gesture.
"The registration is complete. When the tournament begins and they enter the academy later, please wear these clothes as official proof that these four students are legitimate tournament participants. These garments are equipped with runes to monitor health and status during the match."
"Yes, thank you very much for the assistance." Dean Claus replied while receiving the boxes.
As soon as the re-registration of the participants was finished and all procedures were met, the entourage did not linger. They immediately left the central academy grounds with their tight escort, heading toward the accommodation in the form of a luxury pavilion that had been specifically booked by the kingdom.
Meanwhile, within just a few hours after they left the hall, the news about the existence of a High Elf who was a student from the Garveon Kingdom academy spread like wildfire.
The word of the super-tight security and King Nalvon's own presence in the capital of the Larkvood Kingdom flowed from mouth to mouth, eventually reaching the ears of the high-ranking officials in the Larkvood royal palace.
The atmosphere inside the throne room felt far more tense and silent than usual. The golden-orange sunlight of the late afternoon filtered through the massive stained-glass windows depicting the history of the Larkvood Kingdom, casting a shimmering glow that fell directly onto the thick red carpet stretching from the main entrance to the steps of the throne.
At the far end of the grand, high-ceilinged room sat the supreme ruler, the 25th King of the Larkvood Kingdom, Nortvan Arguist De Larkvood.
The middle-aged man, with a sharp jawline, a keen hawk-like gaze, and a diamond-encrusted gold crown resting authoritatively on his head, leaned forward. His fingers, adorned with royal signet rings, were interlaced in front of his chin.
His primary focus was fixed on one thing: a scout in light armor kneeling on one knee before him.
The soldier's breath sounded slightly ragged, his armored chest rising and falling rapidly, as if he had just run with all his might past hundreds of steps and long palace corridors from the main gate directly to the throne room to deliver an urgent report.
"Is it true that a high elf is in this kingdom?" King Nortvan asked in a heavy, deep voice that echoed throughout the throne room, trying to confirm once more the extraordinary report that had just shattered his peace. His thick brows furrowed deeply. "Can the authenticity of this news be accounted for? You know well the punishment for spreading false news in my presence."
The kneeling soldier swallowed hard, yet he raised his face without a shred of doubt in his eyes.
"I am very certain, Your Majesty!" the soldier answered loudly and without hesitation, risking his life and position for the truth of his report. "This is no mere rumor or magical illusion. There were many eyewitnesses who saw him directly in the central academy plaza. The entourage from the Garveon Kingdom arrived using a special spatial carriage, and the arrival of that high elf was strictly guarded by dozens of their elite troops. Furthermore, the escort formation was highly unusual, as the king and the prince of that kingdom also took part personally to escort him to the academy hall."