The entire sky was bathed in radiant glory.
In the direction of the Sacred Veil, which they had left not long ago, a beam of light shot straight into the sky.
Within that terrifying holy radiance, a massive white lion with twin wings on its back slowly materialized.
"Sacred Sovereign?!" Nanako exclaimed in shock.
The appearance of the Sacred Sovereign immediately caught the attention of every mage in the Mage Association.
Such a terrifying beast instantly caused the young mages' faces to turn pale with fear.
"What is that?! Could it be a monster invasion? But what monster could break through all the defenses of our Winter Spring Valley?"
"No! That's not it! It seems to be appearing from the Sacred Veil, could it be..."
"It's the great Sacred Sovereign that sleeps beneath the Sacred Veil?!"
"The Sacred Sovereign has awakened! What's going on?"
"Wait, something seems off about the Sacred Sovereign..."
Everyone stared wide-eyed in that direction.
Then they saw it.
The giant white lion remained majestic and glorious, but on its back, it carried a huge bundle...
It looked as if someone had hastily grabbed a piece of tattered cloth, quickly stuffed everything they could into it, tied it up, and hung it around their neck.
The mages were dumbfounded.
Because this appearance was truly... unique.
And in the next moment.
From various directions across Winter Spring Valley, figures shot into the sky one after another.
They were six powerful mages completely enveloped in Arcane Magic Power. The leading mage emanated an aura that made everyone's hearts tremble.
These were the other six executives representing Winter Spring Valley's highest combat power!
"My Lord Sovereign!"
The elderly man in the gray magic robe who led them knelt on one knee in mid-air and solemnly looked at the Sacred Sovereign, asking in bewilderment:
"May I ask what caused your awakening? And this is..."
He stared in confusion at the bundle on the Sacred Sovereign's back.
Since the establishment of Winter Spring Valley.
Apart from the seven executives requesting blessings, the Sacred Sovereign had awakened fewer times than could be counted on one hand.
Let alone appearing directly before everyone like this.
And stranger still was... that bundle...
The Sacred Sovereign fluttered its wings slightly and spoke in a detached yet authoritative tone:
"I've come to bid you farewell. From today onwards, I will leave Winter Spring Valley and never return. As for our contract, it shall be void from this moment."
Upon hearing these words, the six executives' bodies trembled instantly.
First Executive Andrew was especially shocked and exclaimed:
"Lord Sovereign, may I ask what exactly has happened? Why are you suddenly leaving Winter Spring Valley? This... this... Has someone offended you, my Lord?"
The Sacred Sovereign secretly glanced in a certain direction and muttered internally.
Offended...
Perhaps "bullied" would be a more fitting word...
But externally, it maintained its detached and authoritative demeanor, saying:
"I've slept for a thousand years, and simply wish to stretch my legs, travel around the world, and experience its magnificent sights. Who would dare offend me!"
Then it added mentally.
He's not human...
Andrew was completely bewildered.
Although the Lord Sovereign said this, looking at its packed belongings, it didn't seem like a simple sudden desire to go sightseeing!
Especially that raggedy bundle.
Why did it give the impression that the Sovereign had been driven out?!
Andrew immediately suppressed these offensive thoughts in his mind and asked in confusion:
"If that is truly the case, great Lord Sovereign, I hope you can stay a while longer. I will immediately arrange a sacrificial ceremony to bid you farewell!"
Then he turned his head and looked at the other five figures.
And noticed one executive was missing.
He frowned and shouted in a certain direction: "Nanako! Come quickly to bid farewell to Lord Sovereign. As our Winter Spring Valley's Seventh Executive, such negligence is unacceptable!!"
Nanako, outside the mage tower, startled and snapped back to reality, realizing her negligence.
She immediately rose, about to take flight.
But in the next moment, she heard the Sacred Sovereign's suddenly sharp voice.
"DO NOT LET HER COME OVER!!!"
The executives were instantly stunned.
This sudden outburst left them completely baffled.
The Sacred Sovereign swallowed.
Then it quickly resumed its holy and dignified expression, cleared its throat, and said indifferently:
"What I mean is there's no need for such trouble. The sacrificial ceremony is completely unnecessary. I must leave now. We shall meet again someday."
After speaking, the Sacred Sovereign turned around, its body quickly becoming enveloped in that holy radiance again.
But Andrew still saw that in the instant before the radiance completely covered the Sovereign, it raised its furry paw to wipe cold sweat from its brow.
Faintly, he seemed to hear muttered words from the Sovereign.
"It would be troublesome if that one were to come..."
Then under everyone's bewildered gaze.
The Sacred Sovereign, carrying its bundle, hurriedly shot towards the horizon.
At that speed, it was as if there was something terrifying in their Winter Spring Valley, and it didn't want to stay a second longer.
Complete silence fell over the scene.
...
Below Nanako's mage tower.
Nanako watched dazedly as the Sacred Sovereign disappeared into the distance.
Then she turned her head, casting an inquiring look at her disciple nearby.
Lynn seemed to have just recovered from his shock as well, looking at his master with a "completely confused" expression, apparently still immersed in the tremendous shock of the Sacred Sovereign's departure.
He moved his lips and said blankly:
"Master, what's going on?! How could the great Sacred Sovereign..."
[Finally gone. That stupid cat was sensible enough not to make me drive it away personally!]
[Hehehe, now that this fool is gone, no one in Winter Spring Valley will recognize me anymore. I can continue laying low for a long time.]
[It's just a bit of a shame. I was planning to go fleece some wool from it tonight, didn't expect it to run so fast.]
Lynn thought privately.
And his inner thoughts were naturally heard crystal clear by Nanako.
Nanako forcefully suppressed her shocked feelings.
Sure enough...
The Sacred Sovereign had indeed been driven away by her own disciple.
No wonder why the Sacred Sovereign left so suddenly...
But...
This is too much!!
Nanako was about to lose it.
But on the surface, she maintained her dignity as a master.
At least until she figured out her disciple's background, she absolutely couldn't let him suspect anything.
She clasped her chubby hands behind her back, stood straight with her chest out, closed her eyes but kept them slightly open to peek at Lynn.
"The great Sovereign is going on a journey for some time." She admonished:
"However, disciple, you must never forget the Sovereign's grace bestowed upon you. You are one who has received the Sovereign's blessing as a chosen one. You must always maintain respect for Lord Sovereign, understand?"
Lynn's face showed deep reverence as he firmly and seriously replied: "Yes, Master! I will defend Lord Sovereign with my life!"
[Like hell I will!]
[I've been hiding for so long that even such insincere words come out so smoothly...]
[Not giving me an Oscar for this performance would be truly unfair!]
[By the way, Blue-hair Master's pose looks quite nice. Despite being small and short, she's trying to look dignified and imposing, there's some gap moe~ When pushed down, she'd probably scream really loud!]