Chapter 125

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Creak!

“Huff! My lord! Huff! Go, to the castle wall. No, up on the wall….”

Zelbin’s eyebrows twitched.

A knight had suddenly appeared, rambling incoherently – a stark contrast to his usual composed demeanor. The knight, splashed as if drenched in cold water, was struggling to form coherent sentences.

In a deliberate tone, Zelbin spoke.

“Sir Ronkels. I won’t question why you’ve left your post at the south gate. Even though the situation seems dire, this isn’t a place that can be breached by beasts, not by any measure. Your brief absence won’t cause any harm.”

Panic is contagious.

Calmness, too, can spread just as quickly.

“Explain slowly… or rather, let’s go first.”

Zelbin put down the report in his hand roughly and stood up.

Both of them had weathered countless crises over their long tenure at Yelkins. Sir Ronkels had long been in charge of the southern wall. For him to be so emotionally affected, something truly out of the ordinary must have happened.

The way he burst through the doors of the Audience Chamber was proof enough that there was urgency behind his visit.

There must be a reason for his haste.

With only the sword propped against his desk in hand, Zelbin left the Audience Chamber with the flustered knight.

‘Sir Ronkels is this shaken?’

Sweat was pouring off him as if he had sprinted all the way to the Castle Lord’s residence. But why would the commander come himself instead of sending a Messenger?

A sudden doubt struck Zelbin.

‘Did the Messenger die?’

Even if that were the case, any soldier could’ve been sent to convey a message back to the castle. There was no need for the commander to rush over in such a panic.

‘Were they all wiped out?’

A chilling thought struck Zelbin, and he shook his head.

Had all the wall’s defenders been annihilated, Yelkins would already be in chaos. Before Sir Ronkels even reached the Castle Lord’s residence, the alarm bells would’ve rung, and the cries of terrified residents would’ve already filled the air.

Looking around the quiet streets, Zelbin asked,

“What is it now?”

Apparently calmer now, Sir Ronkels replied in a more composed manner.

“…Forgive me, my lord. A strange entity has appeared at the southern gate. The wall is completely subdued.”

The words that were impossible to ignore reverberated in his ears, and Zelbin instinctively stopped walking and turned his head.

‘A strange entity? The whole force has been subdued?’

Surely, this meant the wall had fallen!

“The wall has been breached?! What about the warning beacons! Why hasn’t the beacon been lit?”

“No, the wall hasn’t been breached. They’re merely subdued. Everyone, except me, is unable to move.”

“Hmm?”

“The strange entity is asking for you, my lord.”

Ronkels’s complexion was pale.

Though his breathing was steady, and his shoulders didn’t rise and fall, his eyes were still trembling slightly.

Subdued but not breached.

Zelbin felt a small sense of confusion but hurried his steps toward the wall.

When Zelbin finally reached the southern wall with Ronkels,

he stood there, mouth agape at what he saw.

“What in the world…?”

The wall, where soldiers should have been bustling, was silent.

Only the sharp winds of the snowstorm echoed through the still and desolate expanse of the castle wall. The soldiers, who should’ve been spewing hot breaths, lay prostrate on the ground.

‘Are they all dead? No, they’re alive.’

Faint groans could be heard from different spots. It was the kind of sound a person made when oppressed by something, suggesting that they were still alive.

The fallen soldiers’ bodies were relatively clean.

These were not the marks of monsters or beasts.

Even the Mana Manifesters lay on the ground, and upon closer inspection, their condition was stranger still. Unlike the soldiers, their heads were buried into the ground.

Ronkels’s words were correct.

The entire force on the wall was subdued. But what could have subdued not only the soldiers but also the superhumans?

“Are you the lord of Yelkins?”

Zelbin quickly looked up at the source of the sound.

“Huff…!”

There was someone hovering in mid-air.

Who could there be who flies through the skies!

The mysterious entity that had called for the lord had to be the one floating there.

Would even a Swordmaster, said to transcend all normal limits, be capable of this? Or was this the sorcery of a Dark Cultist who followed a malicious deity?

“Hmm.”

The faint sound pierced through the snowstorm, snapping Zelbin back to his senses.

The mysterious entity started to move. Walking down on the air, each step exuding majesty, it was as if a divine being had descended upon the world, calm and regal against the backdrop of a fierce snowstorm.

As the mysterious entity drew closer with each step, Zelbin’s body instinctively stiffened. The closer it came, the incomprehensible pressure grew heavier.

A human-shaped death was descending.

‘…Damn it.’

A Dark Cultist. Seeing that the wall’s defense forces had all been neutralized, it was clear. They had thought only of planting spies among the civilians.

‘In the end, they’ve decided to crush Yelkins by force.’

Still, considering that no one had been killed and only subdued, there had to be something they were after. He had to hang onto this thin sliver of hope.

Under the stifling tension, Zelbin watched the entity that walked on air coming down to ground level.

Thump.

Finally, when the strange entity’s foot touched the ground,

a commotion arose on the previously still wall.

“Huff. Choke!”

“Grr…”

The people around seemed freed from something and erupted in loud reactions.

Had the suppression ended?

The knights and soldiers who had collapsed began to stir. However, Zelbin had no time to check his surroundings.

The appearance of the mysterious entity was as overwhelming as its aura.

Its features were rugged.

Short black hair, black eyes, a robust physique that could break boulders easily.

Considering its powerful look alongside its ability to suppress the wall without damaging it, cold sweats ran down Zelbin’s back. And yet…

‘What is it?’

It was a strangely familiar face.

‘I must be losing it.’

How could one have possibly met a being who walks in the air? He had no memories of encountering servants of the Dark Cultists.

“Are you the lord of Yelkins, or not?”

The strange entity spoke again. For some reason, it seemed to want to converse. Swallowing hard, Zelbin warily replied.

“…Zelbin Cromwell. Entrusted by the duke to defend the gateway city. I’m the commander of Yelkins.”

Glancing out of the corner of his eye, Zelbin noticed that the standing knights and soldiers were encircling the mysterious entity. Determined to buy time, he spoke again.

“Servant of the dark god. Though you have the power to completely destroy the wall, you chose only to suppress it. Your intent is understandable; hence, I will hear you out. Speak your purpose clearly, and stop insulting us.”

“Servant of the dark god?”

The strange entity repeated the question in bafflement. Eventually, rubbing its chin thoughtfully, it gave a small exclamation.

“Ah, it seems there is a misunderstanding. I am not a Dark Cultist.”

“Not a Dark Cultist? Hmm.”

The armor of the Mana Manifesters was in shreds. Some were vomiting blood due to severe shock.

The once-intact wall was cracked in many places, and ugly holes marred its surface. Undoubtedly, this was the disaster wrought by the servant of darkness.

The timing of the appearance was strange.

Surely, the strange entity had appeared during the midst of a battle of a beast attack. That it could command beasts out in the snowstorm was suspicious.

If not a Dark Cultist, then what could it be?

Even though his life was on the line, Zelbin was about to shout out of sudden anger when,

“Took me long to introduce myself. I am Cain MacBilian, consort to the Empress, a duke of the Empire, and the Holy Champion of the church.”

Hearing Cain’s introduction, Zelbin’s expression changed rapidly.

From the surname MacBilian, a sense of déjà vu.

From ‘empire’s duke’, a fleeting irritation.

And after mulling over the title ‘Holy Champion of the Church’, Zelbin involuntarily asked,

“What nonsense is this?”

A Holy Champion, not a Holy Maiden?

There was only one pink-haired Holy Maiden, and that was the Church’s divine intermediary.

“Of course, it’s hard to believe. I understand.”

Suddenly, a brilliant light erupted from Cain’s body. The cold, chilling wind subsided, and the frozen bodies quickly warmed up.

It was as if the sacred power of the sun had descended upon the wall of Yelkins.

Some of the soldiers who regularly attended the church lowered their weapons and quietly began to pray.

“The benevolence of the sun.”

“O goddess…!”

Seeing their comrades offer up prayers, other soldiers began to kneel before Cain.

Even the knights who sheathed their swords traced the sign of blessings. Zelbin himself unconsciously moved his hand before snapping back to his senses.

This was far too holy to be a power of the Dark Cultists. Even the young man at the center of the light seemed exalted and devout.

‘Could it be true?’

He had heard about the selection of the Empress’ consort.

Yet, the news that this central duke was also the Church’s Holy Champion was startling. What had happened to Myna, the Holy Maiden?

‘What in the world is going on in the empire?’

Zelbin felt the deepest kind of confusion he had experienced in his 56 years of life.

Flash!

At that moment, Cain’s body began to shine brilliantly, confirming all that had been said.

“Lord Cromwell. I’d refrain from using the term ‘Dark Cultist.’ The Goddess finds it… quite unpleasant.”

The Goddess is angry?

Zelbin’s heart sank.

He had insulted the divine representative out of misunderstanding.

Though brought about by a misunderstanding, would this young man overlook the earlier rudeness? In his mind, the public execution square flashed.

“I can tell what you’re thinking. Don’t worry.”

Zelbin stood dumbfounded with his mouth open.

“We are here as guests. There is much to say, but perhaps later. My companions are waiting outside.”

“Companions…?”

“Yes. It’d be great if you could open the gates. Ah, yes.”

Meanwhile, Cain casually continued, now having dimmed the light.

“Expect quite a lot of wolves coming inside. But don’t worry, they’re not dangerous.”

His calm tone was like that of someone out on a leisurely stroll.

Zelbin had no choice but to nod.

***

Yelkins’ lord, who introduced himself as Zelbin Cromwell, was giving out instructions in a visibly exhausted manner.

His silver-gray hair and the wrinkles carved on his face.

A thin scar that ran across his left cheek and the battered armor covering his body.

He was the second northern lord Cain had met after韦德, and unmistakably exuded a very different atmosphere compared to the nobles in the capital or other regions.

He was like an aged general who defends the bleak citadel against monsters.

Upon meeting on top of the wall the first time, that was the impression he had given – though now, he looked about ten years older, and incredibly weary.

Nonetheless,

After some brief persuasion, once the gates to Yelkins were opened,

Cain was waiting with Zelbin near the gate to greet the traveling companions.

Moments later, through the parting snowstorm, a White Beast and a pack of wolves appeared.

At the sight of the huge White Beast, Zelbin tensed.

“Miss Erica?”

“Ah, Lord Cromwell? Long time no see!”

“Yes, indeed. Long time.”

Erica’s cheerful response caused Zelbin’s head to slightly turn.

“What…on earth…”

Looking at him in bewilderment was awkward too, especially since even I hadn’t expected meeting her here. With a shrug, I responded to the unvoiced inquiry in his eyes.