Chapter 133 : Chapter 133

Chapter 133

Gasli de Bellium.

The Pope's right-hand man, the man Lan was certain had sided with her plan.

I set aside the thought of why such a man had betrayed her.

The important thing was that the arm he was holding was Sharle's.

“…….”

Mages were beings who dealt with formulas based on calculation, but that didn't mean the amputation of a limb wouldn't affect their level.

Sharle's talent was incomparable to Paian's.

All the more, the shock she must have felt from losing her arm was vividly conveyed to me.

“…….”

The emotions that I should keep calm were boiling over.

I was the one who had told those who walked the path of the sword, so often that their ears might fall off, that there was nothing more dangerous than a sword swung by a knight swept up in emotion.

‘I still have a long way to go.’

I calmed my breathing and unleashed three consecutive Ke techniques.

The Commander of the Holy Knight Order deflected all the attacks without difficulty.

‘Calm down, Killian Eurasia.’

The man before me was not an opponent I could defeat while agitated.

My stamina and my rank as a knight. In a situation where I held no advantage in anything, what strategy should I adopt?

It was then, as I was belatedly making a rational judgment.

“I heard about the divine object reaction experiment with the Saintess.”

“…….”

“Just by coming within range, you synchronize with the divine object. And because you lack the Hollyheart, a reflux phenomenon occurs.”

Gasli met my eyes, as if to confirm whether his information was accurate.

“A half-baked synchronization that puts your life on the line.”

It must not have been easy to break through the divine objects in the Lumina Archive and reach this place.

“Besides, you don't even have a sword, do you.”

Thud.

He threw Sharle's arm forward.

And then, what appeared to be Sharle's arm...

Sssshhhh.

...was enveloped in violet mana and transformed into the form of Aether.

“Transmutation magic……?”

Killian's voice was dumbfounded.

“They say your understanding of formulas rivals that of any Arch Mage.”

“…….”

“Seeing that you didn't even recognize a basic magic spell, you must be exhausted.”

“You…… this is…….”

The magic applied to the Aether was unmistakably Sharle's mana.

‘Why would Sharle……?’

“It is forbidden to possess personal armaments within the Papal Office. Put it back in that pendant.”

“Weren't you a traitor?”

“If I had been serious.”

Rumble.

The haki he emitted pressed down on Killian.

“You all would not be alive right now.”

Before, I would have countered with my own haki to offset it, then scoffed at such an arrogant remark.

But now, I didn't have enough stamina left to resist.

Just facing this level of pressure sent a shock through me that felt like it would shatter my mind.

‘Then why is this guy…….’

It was when I was pondering the unresolved question.

A group of Holy Knights stormed in.

“The Tutella Holy Knight Order.”

One of the two Holy Knight Orders stationed in the Papal Office to guard the Pope.

Identifying them, Killian bit his lip.

He had tried to get away without encountering them if possible, but Gasli's unexpected action had complicated the situation.

A man of similar age to Gasli, who was at the forefront, stepped forward.

“Hendrik de Tutella.”

“Gasli de Bellium.”

The two commanders of the Holy Knight Orders faced each other for a moment.

The one who spoke first was Hendrik de Tutella.

“What is all this about?”

“What do you mean?”

“The Empire's delegation and their escort knights were found dead. The head of the delegation, Count Arion, was discovered on the way here. Fortunately, he was still breathing.”

“Is that so.”

Gasli responded indifferently, as if hearing a story that had nothing to do with him.

At the blatant provocation, Hendrik's pale face flushed slightly red.

“The one frozen at the entrance is Sharle Cornelia. I may not know about the freezing magic, but the stab wound she sustained was clearly your doing. And now, Killian Eurasia is here.”

Hendrik's gaze shifted from Gasli to Killian, and then back to Gasli as he spoke.

“Killian Eurasia, who attempted to assassinate His Holiness the Pope, held a grudge and annihilated the Empire's delegation. He then tried to abduct Count Arion, but you stepped in first and subdued him. Is that how I should understand this?”

“A convenient interpretation.”

Glimpse.

He glanced at Killian and shook his head.

“But that interpretation is wrong.”

“Wrong?”

“Yes. This was all a plan devised by the Empire's delegate to assassinate His Holiness the Pope. At least, that is how I, the representative of the Bellium Knight Order, see it.”

It was a statement that clearly contradicted the opinion put forth by the Tutella Holy Knight Order.

Hendrik's eyes sharpened.

“An explanation seems necessary.”

“His Holiness gave me a secret order to root out a spy.”

“What…….”

“You know of the Pope’s Authority as well. He sees the future.”

“But that is an unconfirmed…….”

“Our mission is to escort the Pope and be the sword that serves him. What more reason is needed?”

“Even so, with His Holiness unconscious right now…….”

“Furthermore, His Holiness is also aware that you have joined hands with the Empire.”

“You're spouting sophistry!”

Hendrik's sword pointed at Gasli.

“Everyone, deploy the Divine Formula, Sun (Shield)! From this moment on, we will arrest the Commander of the Bellium Holy Knight Order for treason!!”

In front of the twenty Holy Knights, square shields made of divine power formed.

“Fourth squad, subdue Killian Eurasia!”

Thump.

Five Holy Knights answered by stomping their feet.

“It seems you show your true colors as soon as you're found out.”

“Shut up!”

Unfazed by Hendrik's momentum, Gasli drew upon his own divine power to face him.

At the sudden change in demeanor, Hendrik de Tutella issued an order.

“If he resists arrest, you have permission to kill!! I will take the lead!!”

Tutella's authority was protection.

As the Divine Formula unfolded, the expanded divine power enveloped the Lumina Archive.

However, Gasli maintained a transcendent attitude.

“People are mistaken, thinking you and I are on the same level.”

At that, Killian asked him.

“Commander Gasli. It's good that you're not a traitor, but you do have a plan, right?”

“Just because you found out I'm not an enemy, you've dropped your formalities?”

“It was you who made the situation difficult.”

From his perspective, he might have needed to test Sharle and Killian, but that ended up being the biggest variable that threw the plan off course.

Now, Killian had no choice but to bet on the Pope, Lan, and the arrogant knight before him.

“A plan, you say…….”

Gasli grinned.

“My plan is war.”

He wrapped the divine power that was flowing into his sword around his entire body.

“Divine Formula, Jeogui (Hostility).”

At a glance, it was an ordinary longsword.

But its divine power was gradually amplifying.

“The amount of amplification is determined by the hostility of the opponent directed at me.”

Thump.

He stomped his foot.

Thud.

Thump.

Thuuud.

The sound of the ground rumbling spread through the Lumina Archive.

It was a pressure akin to an entire knight order stomping their feet.

He had imbued his previous movement with haki.

“You who have abandoned the honor of protection.”

A corresponding amount of divine power surged from the shouting Hendrik’s body.

‘This is the level of a Commander of a Holy Knight Order.’

Hendrik de Tutella, enhanced by the Divine Formula, was already at the 7-star Master level.

And yet.

‘Did such a gap exist even between commanders of the same rank?’

The moment their swords crossed.

Crack.

Hendrik de Tutella was cut down, along with his shield of divine power.

He had torn apart the authority of protection with a single strike.

“…….”

A silence fell over the area.

A strange expression slowly settled on Gasli's indifferent face.

“N-No way!!”

“The Commander……”

“The Divine Formula with a single strike……”

Chaos belatedly erupted among the Tutella Holy Knights.

The raised sword was aimed at them, frozen in place.

“Now, it is war.”

Blood splattered, and screams filled the air.

It was a massacre carried out in the name of war.

While Killian dealt with three Holy Knights, Gasli single-handedly cut down seventeen.

“To think I entrusted the defense of the Papal Office to fellows like these. I'll have to suggest a new defense system to His Holiness.”

Gasli muttered, his breathing unchanged from when they first met.

What had changed was the crazed expression on his face.

‘To think he was on the verge of 8-stars.’

I should consider myself lucky to be alive after emotionally swinging my sword at him just a moment ago.

“Was this also part of the plan?”

“A bloodbath will ensue.”

Having subdued his madness, Gasli continued to speak as if it were nothing.

“It will be a bloodbath that neither your Eurasia, which is no different from the frontiers, nor the Empire, which calls itself the ruler of the continent, can ignore.”

“…….”

It was something I had expected even before joining the plan.

Gasli de Bellium, his face now calm, grinned.

“Congratulations on becoming the spark for a continental war, Killian Eurasia.”

***

Inside the Papal Office's special prison.

“I am the Commander of the Blue Knight Order, Julian Eurasia!!”

“I am Commander Julian's escort knight, Hector!!”

The two 4-star knights, bound by Bongsinseok, shouted ceaselessly.

“Commander, at this rate, we'll die of exhaustion before we're executed.”

“Damn it…… Something has gone wrong. This can't be happening…….”

Julian denied reality.

He had certainly drawn attention as Killian requested, but he was immediately subdued by the Holy Knights while resisting, without even a chance to surrender, and dragged here to be imprisoned.

Three days had passed since then.

Neither Lan nor Killian had visited, and there had been no special word of any kind.

‘That Killian fellow, don't tell me he used me as bait and then abandoned me?’

Even if they had a minor grudge in the past, they had resolved the lingering feelings from that time with their swords, like knights.

Was that all? He and that fellow had even formed a private master-disciple relationship.

‘From Killian’s perspective, there’s nothing to gain from abandoning me. The amount of money the Sepia Merchant Guild sponsors the Annihilation Squad is…….’

It was when he was thinking that.

“Ahem. Commander.”

“What.”

“Surely, Tactician Killian hasn't abandoned us, right?”

“That nonsense again!”

“To call it nonsense……”

“How many times do I have to tell you that Killian and I are bound by a stronger relationship than you think!!”

Anger was laced in Julian's reply, but this time, Hector didn't back down either.

“That might just be what you think, Commander!”

“What?!!”

“Honestly, considering the Tactician's personality, isn't it for the sake of the kingdom's military power, not personal feelings, that he took on the tactician roles for both the Blue and Yellow Knight Orders?”

“You bastard…… what are you trying to say.”

“Tsk. Since he also holds the key position of Annihilation Squad Leader, wouldn't it be plausible for him to use a Commander like you or a mere Centurion like me as disposable pawns for the greater good of the kingdom? That's what I'm saying.”

Hector finished his words with a bitter smile, finding his own situation pathetic even as he thought about it.

“You…….”

Julian's body trembled as he swallowed his anger.

‘Damn it…… what that bastard Hector said has a point.’

Perhaps he had known it deep down but didn't want to admit it.

‘That damn Killian. If that bastard really did…… me.’

Just then.

“Now that you've learned to consider the political situation, I suppose you could be entrusted with the tactician position, Hector.”

At the voice that echoed through the prison, Julian and Hector shot up at the same time.

“Ki-Killian?!!”

“Tactician!!”

The joy was fleeting.

Upon seeing Killian's neat appearance, the veins on Julian’s neck bulged.

“Why did you only come now!”

“There is an order to things. That is even more so in another country.”

“Khehehe…… I was certain the Tactician wouldn't abandon us.”

“That's different from what I heard?”

“Ahem…… That was because Commander Julian was complaining so much…….”

“This punk?”

“Hehe…… well, it doesn't matter now, does it.”

After glaring at Hector for a moment, Julian looked at Killian.

“More importantly, what's the situation outside, what happened to the plan……?!!”

“The misunderstanding has been cleared.”

Killian nodded to the Vice-commander of the Bellium Holy Knight Order who had accompanied him.

“Release them.”

At the Vice-commander's order, a Holy Knight unlocked Julian's and Hector's handcuffs.

“You have been cleared of the charge of attempting to assassinate His Holiness the Pope. You are free to go.”

“You bastards…… with words like that, without a proper apology…….”

“Commander, let's just get out first and then complain!”

Hector practically dragged Julian out of the prison.

“Please go on ahead. Sharle and Saintess Lan are waiting.”

“You, what about you?”

“There's a place I need to stop by for a moment.”

“A place to stop by…….”

“It is something I must finish. Brother, please do what you must.”

“What I must do……?”

Julian asked back with a clueless expression.

“I have told the Saintess the conditions. Please confirm them one more time and finalize it, Brother.”

He was saying he would hand over the credit as promised.

Julian's face flushed.

“Indeed……!! Indeed, you are my Tactician! My younger brother!!”

“Please go quickly before I change my mind.”

“Let's go! Hector!!”

“Hahahaha. Understood. I'll see you later, Tactician!!”

As Julian and Hector noisily left the prison,

“Fourth Prince, you should get going as well. His Holiness the Pope will be waiting.”

“I will.”

Guided by the Vice-commander, Killian headed for the Pope's reception room.

It was time to conclude the negotiations that had gone round and round before leaving the Holy Nation.

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