[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-adventures-of-hulim":3,"chapter-the-adventures-of-hulim-the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-514":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Adventures of Hulim",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1882415,2498,"Chapter 514 A Shift in Standing","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-514",514,"\u003Cp>When the morning sun filtered into the chamber,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>an unexpected visitor arrived at Hulim Heyerar’s quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alicia……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulim stared at her golden-haired, crimson-eyed friend in genuine surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you are stationed here on the front lines?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was none other than Alicia Serions, the Ninth Princess of the Pasara Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quite the surprise, isn’t it~?” Alicia smiled. “I ought to have called on you yesterday when you arrived, but I was overseeing the empire’s logistics—there was no chance to slip away. For that…… I apologize for not coming sooner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Logistics? That hardly sounds like work you would enjoy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have no choice in the matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia replied with a helpless sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His Highness Drehack Serions, the First Prince, serves as supreme commander of the imperial army. I cannot compete with him in the slightest…… so I have resigned myself to logistics.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prince Drehack……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulim recalled the first—and only—time she had laid eyes on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly…… it had been beyond all expectation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She never would have guessed that Drehack was already A-Rank back then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, nearly half of those who followed him exuded the dangerous aura of A-Rank experts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulim, fresh from battle at the time, had weighed her chances in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had reached a firm conclusion:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>back then, had she clashed with that group, her odds of victory would have been less than half—and that was assuming their coordination was mediocre at best……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Against an opponent of that caliber, Alicia and the other princes and princesses never stood a fighting chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even across the entire Pasara Empire, only a handful of A-Rank experts exist at any given time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the power Drehack displayed in that single encounter already towered above the rest of the empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he spoke to Alicia back then, he had not been teasing—he had genuinely viewed the strife between his siblings as no more meaningful than the squabbles of young children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alicia, you have come to visit me…… does that mean you have leave today?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I do. I finished all my duties ahead of time, so I am free for the entire day. Windrock City is built amid green mountains, with scenery unlike any other. I know you have only just arrived, so I came to invite you to explore the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard Miko is with you as well—summon her, too. Let it be a long-overdue reunion for the three of us, shall we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. Let us go find Miko together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Windrock City lay nestled within a range of lush, green mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though not a large city, it bloomed with countless exotic flowers and plants, granting it a unique, picturesque charm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was early autumn, peak flowering season, so petals and sweet fragrance drifted through the streets at all hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three young women strolled leisurely along such a street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Incredible! We can see the entire landscape beyond the city from up here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the overlook of the city park, Miko gazed out at the vast expanse before her, awestruck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So high! So vast!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The park overlook stood at the city’s edge, with a sheer, hundred-meter cliff just one step forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The divide between wilderness and civilization could not have been more sharply defined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This park was erected by the lord of Windrock City a century ago. It was originally built to test flying magical artifacts, but it later became a scenic overlook for visitors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I had no idea! You know so much, Alicia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hardly. I simply looked into the city’s history after arriving…… Oh, right! Down that stairway lies a dessert shop famous throughout the Eastern Kingdoms. Even in these chaotic times, the owner still keeps it open.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A famous dessert shop?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulim’s interest was piqued at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it is truly that renowned, I should like to see it for myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hehe~.” Alicia let out a soft laugh. “Some things never change about you, Hulim. Very well—I shall lead the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three left the park and descended a long, white stone stairway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They reached a street intersection,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and the sign of the dessert shop came into view at the far end of the road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There it is. Let us—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia’s voice cut off abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze fell upon a group approaching from the opposite street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Older brother……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group noticed them as well, halting in their tracks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They then walked directly toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness Drehack——”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia had barely spoken\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>when Drehack stepped past her without a glance, stopping squarely before Hulim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then executed a formal noble obeisance,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>his voice calm yet impeccably polite:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady Hulim. I am Drehack Serions. It is my greatest honor to make your acquaintance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his words faded, the Bloodguard behind him bowed silently to Hulim in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh…… it is a pleasure to meet you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hulim replied, stiff and ill at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she had received such greetings everywhere since arriving in Windrock City, she still had not grown accustomed to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially in a situation like this: when they first met, he had been the far stronger party—but now, their standing had reversed entirely. She scarcely knew how to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drehack, however, appeared unbothered by the shift in status; he adapted to it with natural ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder Irus and the other S-Ranks rarely showed themselves in public……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After bowing to Hulim,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drehack slowly lifted his head and finally glanced sideways at Alicia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke flatly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Occasional rest is permissible, but do not lapse into carelessness. You are no longer at an age for childish games.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady Hulim, we have business outside the city. We shall take our leave now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh, please do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drehack turned and led the Bloodguard toward the city gates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once they had vanished into the distance, the tense Alicia exhaled a long breath of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She quickly frowned, however, indignant:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What was that…… still treating me like a child!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um…… Alicia? Shall we still go to the dessert shop?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We shall! Most certainly! I am utterly vexed—I shall take all my frustration out on sweets!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Alicia stormed toward the dessert shop with sharp, determined strides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoa~, there it is—Alicia’s petulant fit mode!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do not give me absurd labels! And it is called ‘taking one’s frustration out on something’, not…… whatever you just said.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun sank slowly toward the horizon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dusk drew near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahhh~, today was truly wonderful! Especially the treats from that shop—they were divine!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miko rubbed her stomach, looking thoroughly satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness Alicia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia’s personal maid and steward appeared before the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Martina? Has it truly become this late already……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Your Highness. It is time for you to return to your duties.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alicia looked reluctant, but after a moment of hesitation, she turned back to Miko and Hulim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I apologize, Miko, Hulim. Our time together ends here for today. We must go out again soon……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very well! Let us return to that shop next time!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alicia.” Hulim gave her an encouraging look. “Do your best with your work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>",1177,"2026-06-10T06:36:51.451Z",1,"novelbin.me","15667410bb96e392f736757d8f00d1c6bbcc7100cacbcc138fdedbeee3ee8460","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-515","the-adventures-of-hulim-chapter-513",528,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-adventures-of-hulim-cover.jpg"]