[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-ember-dragon":3,"chapter-ember-dragon-ember-dragon-chapter-496":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Ember Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1162465,1504,"Chapter 496: The Festival","ember-dragon-chapter-496",496,"\u003Cp>Chapter 496: The Festival\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jose Salazar, a key figure in the Pearson Merchant Guild, had traveled far from the Thrace Kingdom. After purchasing military arms worth fifty thousand gold dinars, he hastily departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, in Isthalia City, where tens of thousands of people came and went daily, such an event was insignificant, incapable of stirring any waves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At most, it slightly increased Reuven’s commission and secured more orders for the Clauberwu Military Industrial Group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the local residents, the more pressing matter was the approaching festival—the most significant day in the Ember Empire—the Coronation Day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On March 1st, Year 1786 of the Third Era, at noon, Cassius personally crowned himself at the altar, proclaiming the establishment of the empire to the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the years, through extensive official promotion, the empire had formed a series of festival traditions, and its citizens took them seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every year on March 1st, people gathered at the Emperor’s Plaza, surrounding the grand and imposing red dragon statue, singing in unison the \"Hymn of Cassius\".\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In addition, people exchanged gifts, held feasts, and drank freely in taverns, shouting praises such as \"Long live His Majesty!\" and \"Gratitude to His Majesty!\" Some even burst into song.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The costly \"Gift of the Dragon\" was freely distributed on this day, with the empire covering the expenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, all factories and offices closed for the holiday, allowing people to revel in the celebrations and display their loyalty to the emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All people bow in worship to the mighty red dragon above!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could this grace ever be repaid?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The melodic singing echoed through the plaza, more impassioned than during yesterday’s rehearsals. Every face radiated fervor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Long live the Empire!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Long live His Majesty Cassius!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To celebrate Coronation Day, everything is now at a forty-percent discount!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Citizens of all backgrounds gathered, sitting beside taverns, raising their mugs—or even barrels—drinking in celebration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maintain order!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ogre over there! Put the satyr down!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tiefling security patrols were maintaining order, long spears in hand, patrolling back and forth—to prevent the oversized drunks from exposing their true nature and causing trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Humans, orcs, tieflings, goblins, lizardmen, ogres, satyrs, wyverns...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of race, identity, or status, as long as they were citizens of the empire, they all relished this rare day of revelry, releasing the burdens of work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet there were exceptions—such as the enemies of the empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A \"human\" draped in a gray robe silently observed the celebrating crowd from a shadowy corner, his eyes harboring boundless hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once, his name was Asher Kale, a noble of the Northern Lands, descended from a lineage of prestige that spanned centuries, living a life of luxury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the arrival of the red dragon shattered everything. His family was beheaded in the \"Great Judgment,\" and he was left to await death in a prison cell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was then that Asher’s overwhelming hatred caught the attention of the \"Demon of Vengeance,\" and the Abyss itself opened a terrifying, grotesque door for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Years later, he returned to the Northern Lands, but beneath his human facade lay the hideous, warped body of a demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These damned humans...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They have so quickly forgotten their ancestors’ grace and sworn loyalty to the vile dragon. They should be torn to shreds.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asher gritted his teeth. To oppose the dragon, he had willingly transformed into a demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet these wretched northerners had shifted their faith in just a few years, pledging allegiance to the red dragon!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unforgivable!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asher’s mission was to incite hatred against the red dragon, disrupt the empire’s social order, and gather sustenance for the Abyss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in this vast plaza filled with tens of thousands, not a single soul bore the red glow of hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, most emanated golden radiance—a symbol of loyalty and faith—so bright that Asher could barely keep his eyes open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hoarse exclamation escaped his throat: \"Impossible!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unbelievable!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They lived under the brutal rule of the dragon—how could they bear no hatred toward him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even under the old Northern Kingdom’s rule, there were always rebellious fools attempting to overthrow the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now, under the dragon’s dominion, the people felt no resentment?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made no sense!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asher lowered his head, muttering, \"These wretched humans! How am I supposed to complete Lord Jezal Slak’s orders like this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Flames are His Majesty’s robe, the sky His canopy, the dark storm obeys His path.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How could this grace ever be forgotten?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The resounding hymn from afar only agitated Asher further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this weren’t deep within imperial territory, he might have revealed his demonic form and slaughtered the humans singing that wretched anthem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I must not be hasty. This city holds hundreds of thousands of people—there must be those who resent the dragon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I find just one, I can uncover an entire faction of dragon-haters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this thought, he decided to wander the plaza, hoping for a stroke of luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asher roamed the festival grounds, weaving between taverns, manipulating his human shell to feign \"joy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the overwhelming golden light of loyalty, he finally spotted a lone white glow in the corner of a tavern—a human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White, signifying neither hatred nor support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in a sea of golden faith, this was already a rarity—someone Asher might still sway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, that wretched dragon has not deceived everyone. There are still wise humans left.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With this thought, Asher approached and struck up a conversation:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Friend, are you feeling down? This is a day of nationwide celebration. Why do you seem so troubled?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was startled, straightening his posture as he stammered, \"Long live His Majesty Cassius! I-I’m just dealing with some troubles, nothing against His Majesty!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A-are you from Nocturne?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was hope!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asher’s eyes lit up instantly, and he responded with a smile, \"Of course not. Relax, I’m just a traveler.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man let out a long sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asher pressed further, \"Friend, what is your name? What troubles are you facing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man looked sorrowful, raising his mug high before tilting his head back and downing its contents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The liquor trickled down his chin, soaking his clothes. He wiped his mouth carelessly before speaking:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"M-my name is Raj. I work at Factory Thirteen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1029,"2026-06-03T12:47:02.951Z","2026-06-03T12:47:07.061Z",1,"novelbin.me","29a6d41094874a4d026f801bf1658435aea899c37b560a449b398c87fc757b17","ember-dragon-chapter-497","ember-dragon-chapter-495",603,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fember-dragon-cover.jpg"]