Galaxy's First Ruler

Crack! Cr-rack!!!

The entire space around the stage got covered in black shadowy cracks as if it was a mirror.

Most Dreamers under the Rank of Earls did not know what was happening. The only thing they were concerned about was getting Justice for Aldrich's wrongful death. They wanted justice for the Marquesses' inability to stop the fight in time. And they also wanted to decapitate Viscount Enok for his crimes, all in the name of Justice.

On the other side, Vivi's eyes were red beyond the color of blood. She also felt these emotions, but there was a hint of doubt on her face. Amid the collision of her abrupt anger towards Enok and other feelings, Vivi's talent showed itself in the face of her quietness. Behind her, Sonja was a hint away from climbing on the stage and ripping Enok's other hand by herself.

But few knew what this feeling was that commanded the others to do so.

As Aldrich's voice crossed the strange dimension, it had a heart-shaking effect on the Earls and Marquesses.

Earl Frida's lips were quivering as a word struggled to escape her mouth. Her throat had become dry, and the blue flood dragon tattoo on her breast kept flashing in rhythm with her shaky breath. Earl Drago's curse of taking excessive pride in one's family acted up. He did not know why the Ancestor had that pole strangely clung to his back, but he had discarded that as nothing but a mere habit.

Marquess Harold's heart palpated as he finally confirmed his theory related to the Ancient Relic. He could feel the staff on Aldrich's back had a hint of law about it. And as there were many things and ways in which one could imitate these feelings, he refrained from getting his hands over it openly.

But the most overwhelmed was none other than Marquess Nicholas. All his life, he had been feeling the same subservience towards Justice. Though the Justice he was experiencing now couldn't even be named in the same terms as the other, there was no doubt in his heart that it was the Law of Justice.

Only these four Dreamers, and the two unknown beauties, knew the consequences of the presence of an Ancient Relic. Not only did it give a direct path to observe and understand the working of an entire Law, but it was also related to a fact known throughout the Galaxy.

The Galaxy was big, and the number of Dreamers was countless.

There were billions of Counts, but the Earls were only in millions. And despite the ample opportunities, all the Marquesses were numbered into thousands. One could expect that the number of Dukes must reach up to hundreds.

Wrong!

Without understanding the traces of at least one Law, the Marquesses couldn't rank up to become Dukes. It was only speculation based on a fact that all Dukes in the Galaxy had at least one Ancient Relic on them.

Leveling-up… wasn't enough in the world of RECORD.

*

CRACK! BANG!!

ROARRRRRRR!!!

The space over the stage finally burst apart in shards, and along with howling spatial winds and thunder, a massive black bull made of fog charged out.

Its bellows shook all the Dreamer's hearts and souls, and its majesty fell on the saints and evils alike. This was the same technique through which Aldrich had survived the self-destruction of Count Rodrigo. Within the black-golden fog, the purple rings on Aldrich's shoulders kept giving out golden flashes.

The space within Rosalia differed from that of Dungeon. The Dungeon's space was artificial, and thus it required quite a lot of time to get repaired. But this was reality. As soon as the Black Bull came out, all the traces of spatial winds and thunder, along with fissures, disappeared.

The dust-like fog churned and condensed back into a solid form of the Pillar of Footprints. Aldrich extended his hand, and the pole, engraved with a bull's image, appeared in his hands. All Dreamers, even Enok, looked dumbfounded, seeing Aldrich alive and well.

It only took a moment of silence before the entire Great Hall erupted in cheering sounds.

Weet-whooo!!!

Aldrichhhh!!!

The emotion of relief washed over their anger, and the sound of whistling took over their ears.

Aldrich joggled his head as he realized the effect of the Law of Justice was even stronger and dangerous when used in a crowd. He slowly walked towards Enok, but the young Viscount wasn't in a state to speak or even react.

Aldrich towered in front of him and put the tip of the staff on Enok's shoulder, making him kneel. The trophy-like left hand fell out of Enok's grip and rolled away, leaving a bloody trail behind. The wound on his left shoulder was grievous but not deadly. Aldrich did not know if House Divine Enclosure had means of healing ripped-off arms, but truly, he did not even care.

Looking into Enok's unfocused eyes, Aldrich loudly called out.

"Yield."

Earl Frida appeared behind Enok, but not before the appearance of Marquess Harold beside Aldrich. Nicholas did not move, but there was a strange conviction on his face.

Both Harold's and Frida's eyes were planted on the staff in Aldrich's hand. Aldrich knew that not for a second, they thought Aldrich had any mastery of Law. To them, it was the Ancient Relic itself who was letting Aldrich use it. This was also a reason for Marquess Harold ordering his men to search Aldrich's maternal background.

Aldrich noticed that the greed in Frida's and Nicholas' hearts wasn't any lesser than Harold's. But none of them disputed as Harold traced the curves of the staff with his fingers.

Soon Harold jerked his hand away, and his face gained a ruthless expression. He stared at Frida and called out.

"I should kill this idiot for what he had done…"

Harold gestured at Enok with his chin and continued.

"… But, seeing Viscount Aldrich is alright, let him be a Dreamer with only one hand. This will be both his punishment and repentance."

Not caring for the bubbling rage on Frida's face, Harold looked up and faced Aldrich. The crowd was still cheering as if waiting to hear something. Harold was just as tall as an average 10-year-old boy. So as he pointed his hand towards the ground, Aldrich took the hint and kneeled.

"Before the beginning of the ceremony, you were a bastard…"

The Dreamers became silent, and most of them, including Sonja, approached the stage as if witnessing the outcome of a Just-Trial. A starry light flashed and a circular badge appeared in Harold's hand. The badge was black, like the vast space, and there was gold dust on it like countless stars. Harold put the badge on Aldrich's right shoulder and proclaimed.

"… But now you are Viscount Aldrich Goranov, a personal student of Marquess Harold Sindri."

Clap! Clap!! Clap-Clappp!!!

The hall lit up with the thunderous sound of claps, but this wasn't the only thing Marquess Harold had to say. By now Earl Drago had also appeared on the stage and, as Harold called for Amalia to come, he too got to know why the Marquess had not accepted his offer.

With a big smile on his face, Harold took Amalia's hand and handed it over to Aldrich as he shouted for everyone to hear.

"I also accept Earl Drago's offer for the engagement between his grandson and my daughter."