30 Years After Reincarnating, It Turns Out This World Was A Rofan?! novel Chapter 153

Unlike Ihan’s blunt evaluation, most people in the hall gazed at the new arrivals with admiration.

It wasn’t just their appearances—though striking—that captured attention. The fact that they had attained power, fame, and influence at such a young age naturally added to their allure.

Many noblewomen flushed with rosy cheeks at the sight of them, while quite a few noblemen visibly expressed their displeasure at the competition.

As the atmosphere grew slightly awkward—

“Young talents of Pendragon! My name is Salah! I am one of the 17 sultans of the west, but today, do not see me as a sultan. See me simply as a man eager to meet the brilliant young minds of Pendragon!”

The Sultan’s sudden declaration echoed through the hall, taking everyone by surprise, as this was clearly not part of the planned program.

“And to commemorate this meeting, I have brought gifts. But these are only for the cadets, so I hope the rest of you won’t be offended. After all, today’s stars are none other than the students of this academy.”

He pressed forward with a bold display of generosity, as if to emphasize his point.

Snap.

With a light snap of his fingers, dozens of attendants in exotic attire moved swiftly and laid out rows of items.

“Wow...”

The collective gasp of awe was immediate.

Gleaming golden bells, each about the size of a palm, shimmered in the light. The craftsmanship was exquisite, delicate carvings so intricate they seemed almost otherworldly.

It was clear these were no ordinary gifts. The bells bore the unmistakable quality of dwarven handiwork, a detail that made the cadets realize just how valuable these items were.

“Cadets of Pendragon, I hope you find these gifts to your liking. Hahaha!”

The Sultan’s hearty laughter rang out, as if he were oblivious to any lingering tension in the room.

“What a peculiar character.”

“In a way, he’s remarkable.”

“There’s an impressive dignity to him...”

The nobles exchanged quiet remarks of admiration.

The Sultan’s gesture of bringing gifts specifically for the cadets was unexpected, but it didn’t feel like mere ostentation.

And despite not being trained in martial arts, the natural charisma he exuded rivaled that of any seasoned knight. freewёbnoνel.com

It was a glimpse of true leadership—a testament to the qualities of a ruler.

Salah al-Adil Muhammad, this man was clearly no ordinary individual.

...However—

“...?”

“What’s wrong, Master?”

“...No, it’s just... While everyone else seems to think this Sultan is impressive, to me, he feels a bit lacking.”

“Huh?”

“How do I put it...? Like a fox pretending to be a tiger.”

“...”

“Compared to the people I’ve seen, that’s all he seems to be.”

“???”

Ihan shrugged lightly.

The “people” he was referring to were the likes of his older sister, the Princess, whose presence was like an all-seeing monarch, and the Duke and Grand Duke, who could command an entire room with a single glance.

Each of them had left an indelible impression on him.

Compared to them, the Sultan felt almost... small.

‘Maybe my standards are just too high,’ he thought.

Why else would this man look so unremarkable?

Like a puppy pretending to be a wolf.

Salah concealed a smirk.

“They’re simpler than I thought. Winning their favor was almost too easy.”

“Compared to the west, these nobles seem unrefined. Perhaps the south’s long peace has made them complacent,” remarked his loyal captain of the guard.

“Or maybe it’s simply that there’s no one of note here. The War God was said to possess divine insight when it came to recognizing talent, but with him gone, there’s no one left to carry that torch.”

Speaking in the dialect of a western minority, their conversation was indecipherable to the surrounding crowd.

“Pendragon without the War God is hardly a threat.”

“......”

“Do you disagree, Haksan?”

“...Sultan, you’re right that Pendragon has lost much of its former glory. However, I caution you not to underestimate them. They still have Mystics and Transcendents. Do not focus on a single tree while ignoring the forest.”

“Hah, you dare to lecture me?”

“My apologies.”

“...Tsk.”

Salah was not a petty man who ignored the advice of loyal retainers.

Though he scoffed outwardly, inwardly he could not deny a lingering envy.

‘A land blessed by Mystics... truly enviable.’

Pendragon’s abundance of Mystics, particularly those of the highest grade, was something that couldn’t be ignored.

The west also had Mystics, of course, and even Salah’s trusted guard captain was a bearer of one.

But the strongest western Mystics were only of mid-to-high rank. Pendragon, on the other hand, possessed top-tier Mystics like the [Demon Sword of Galahad] and [Lionel’s Black King].

These Mystics were the stuff of legend in the west, their tales inspiring generations.

And beyond their Mystics, Pendragon also had Transcendents—monsters capable of single-handedly annihilating an entire army.

‘How I desire those Mystics...’

Salah’s greed burned bright, his ambition palpable.

The Sultan suppressed his desires as best he could, maintaining his outwardly confident demeanor.

“What of him?” Salah asked.

“He is being closely monitored. If he tries anything, we’ll act immediately.”

“Good. Mages are not to be trusted. If he steps out of line...”

“He will be eliminated at once.”

“Excellent. See that it’s done.”

Satisfied, Salah took a sip of champagne and turned his attention back to the hall, his expression once again pleasant and affable.

‘This is going to be fun.’

He could feel the excitement building.

The stage was set, the flow of events unstoppable now.

If there was any remaining obstacle, it was—

‘...The Magic Tower.’

The presence of a mage was always a wildcard.

Despite traveling together, Salah couldn’t read the mage’s thoughts. They were inscrutable, as always—arrogant and enigmatic to a fault.

Yet there was something strangely thrilling about the fact that they both had the same target.

“Lady Irene Windler... I can’t wait to meet her.”

The Sultan’s voice brimmed with anticipation as he thought of the rumored “jewel.”

If even half the stories about her were true, she was more than worth pursuing.

Just as he was reveling in his plans—