Chapter 240

The Sixth Holy Maiden, Edmilra.

Also known as the Knight of the Blue Willow, the Governing Holy Maiden received the news just prior.

While engaged in a private audience with the bishop over matters concerning the Faceulan diocese, she heard an urgent report… It was utterly unbelievable content.

“What? Some unknown knight infiltrated the royal palace alone? So what? What’s the situation?”

At first glance, it sounds like nothing serious happened.

No real threat, and surely not something that warrants such an urgent message… But the fact that this intruder not only broke in without permission but also single-handedly defeated both the guards and reinforcements is absolutely not something to take lightly.

She moved immediately.

Her subordinate holy knights who had been alerted beforehand quickly joined her, while those unable to meet up here were already heading toward the royal palace ahead of time.

“Tell me the exact situation!”

Edmilra was traversing the corridors of the yet-to-be-completed cathedral when a woman with black hair standing beside her calmly reported.

“As briefly relayed before, the intruder is causing chaos alone. Specifically, there’s a girl, some clumsy guy, and what feels like a summoned creature or magical construct horse. Total number: three. However, if we’re talking about actual infiltration force, it’s all on the black-armored knight.”

“…So they still managed to break through? What were they doing?”

After stepping out of the cathedral entrance and mounting her horse, Edmilra asked.

“I’ve only received the information myself.”

“…I hear there’s significant damage.”

This!

As the horse galloped through the streets, the knight suddenly raised her voice after maintaining silence for a while.

“That’s not entirely true!”

“…?”

Upon hearing that, Edmilra slowed down her movement as if asking for further explanation.

“The knight apparently demanded to see the king. A conflict arose when attempts were made to chase him away, leading to his refusal. He was then labeled suspicious and attempted to be restrained—this is reportedly how the incident began.”

“Did I ask for such a detailed explanation? Don’t you know the gist?”

“To sum it up, a battle occurred, but no one has died.”

“Not dead? Then what?”

“He overwhelmed everyone with sheer power and is attempting to enter.”

“Then what about His Highness? If the target is the king, shouldn’t we prioritize evacuating him first?”

“It seems…”

The knight hesitated again.

“Are you feeling unwell today? This is an emergency! Why are you so disoriented?!”

“My apologies. Additional reports indicate that neither the king nor His Highness left the front of the throne room.”

“Why not?!”

What incompetence! Unable to handle even one irrational child!

“I’ll confirm and stop it with my own eyes! Move! No more excuses!”

Given the urgency of the situation, even scolding someone to deal with it later was put aside for now.

This!

The horse started galloping swiftly through the streets.

====

What is going on here?

Reiman couldn’t make sense of the current situation at all.

By the time he realized, a battle was already underway.

When that person entered the royal palace, it initially seemed like some sort of agreement was in place.

But it wasn’t.

Something went wrong, and suddenly soldiers surrounded them.

Even until then, Reiman felt uneasy, but…

He effortlessly took them all down.

Like sweeping dust with a broom, the troops were mercilessly swept away.

That said, if he’s this strong, what about us? Our safety?

Grrrrr!

This issue was resolved by the mysterious horse.

The impressive-looking steed acted as their actual guardian alongside the girl.

A few times, the horse casually kicked or charged at four or five soldiers, repelling them effortlessly. After witnessing it tear apart steel armor, helmets, and weapons with its teeth, nobody dared approach it. Any normal person would freeze in fear upon seeing such a display.

Moreover…

“Ugh!”

Crash!

The man leading the charge, despite appearing non-threatening, was wreaking havoc alone.

Struggling even with bare hands, he snatched weapons from charging opponents and used them to knock them flying, fully equipped in armor. Whether shields, spears, swords, or blunt weapons—it didn’t matter. Had he truly intended to kill, he could have done so hundreds of times over.

Instead, he easily subdued them with overwhelming strength and reflexes.

Because of this…

Everyone froze in terror, as if doused with cold water, at the sight of his incredible prowess.

Dying is scary, but pain is equally terrifying.

Acknowledging one’s own weakness or cowardice isn’t much of a big deal compared to this.

Each blow sent bodies flying into the air like toys, crashing onto the ground and bouncing off in absurd scenarios. If this doesn’t instill fear, what possibly could?

“Aaaaaaah!”

Even forming ranks tightly provided no help.

He advanced relentlessly, like a giant bear among lambs.

Attempting to block him proved futile, only further crushing morale and will to resist.

“What kind of fiend is this?! How dare he invade our sanctuary!”

Just then, swordsmen infused with demonic energy and warriors rushed forward, some even challenging him to duels—but they met the same fate.

‘What is this?’

Everything felt unreal, like some bizarre joke.

“Take a good look, trash.”

“…?”

And this girl kept aggressively criticizing Reiman for some reason.

“Having overwhelming power means you don’t need to kill or hold grudges like that guy.”

“Overwhelming… power?”

“For someone like you, actions speak louder than words. And considering why I brought you here…”

The girl, Delica, threw contemptuous glances at the spectacle before her, devoid of any awe, admiration, or fear.

“Why are you telling me this?”

Before that, what’s his purpose in doing all this?

Could he be seeking revenge on my behalf?

Impossible, right?

Besides, does he even have a specific target for vengeance?

“…How should I know what that guy’s thinking, trash?”

“Why do you keep acting hostile toward me?”

“You smell like gutter filth, shut your mouth, bastard. Did you forget how you tried to rape me on the street, only to lose your arm to him? That’s why you’re useless garbage!”

“…It was you?”

Her appearance was drastically different back then.

Though she looked quite disheveled then…

‘…’

Now, I’m in a similar state.

Reiman remained confused.

Not only about the events unfolding before him but everything else as well.

“Ugh!”

“Keh!”

The knight in pitch-black armor.

Unstoppable, he mercilessly felled those who weren’t even considered enemies, treating them like mere obstacles.

And the monstrous horse guarding him resembled its master in demeanor.

Before all this…

Once, Reiman, naive and foolish, had antagonized this very girl unknowingly. Now, she berates him fiercely.

Everything felt chaotic.

“Hold your ground! Do not let him approach!”

Even archers were firing continuously as part of subsequent measures, but…

Arrows colliding with his armor merely bounced off harmlessly.

Not to mention, the horse effortlessly shielded Reiman and others from incoming arrows.

“Yeah. You’re the only one I can trust, Caligula.”

As Delica touched the iron-plated armor, the horse shook its head irritably.

“Same attitude except for being stuck in one spot.”

With gritted teeth, she forced a smile, challenging anyone to challenge her.

Ghhaaaak!

Boom!

Chaos reigned ahead.

Already surpassing a hundred counts long ago.

Even the archers eventually resorted to using nearby weapons as makeshift projectiles, but their numbers dwindled.

…Could this really end in a bloodless invasion of the royal palace within the kingdom?

Moreover…

Didn’t this place once boast an impenetrable magical barrier, a fortress unmatched across the continent?

Why are we all passing through here so effortlessly?

Isn’t this supposed to be the royal palace itself now?

“Kk, kkk…”

The number of people sprawled unconscious on the floor continued to grow.

Some were bleeding profusely, but judging by this extent, it might indeed qualify as a bloodless invasion.

At least, there appeared to be no fatalities.

====

Shaking… shaking…

“Your Majesty! Why are you staying here?”

Unlike usual, this person who normally despised this audience hall and the throne room itself…

Now clung to it as if leaving would bring a worse nightmare.

Hugging the throne tightly with both hands and arms.

His silver-white hair stood on end, his complexion deathly pale.

Slightly taller but alarmingly thinner, his hollow eyes reflected nothing but sheer terror.

“T-t-t-that… h-he… i-is… c-coming…!”

Incoherent babbling.

This wasn’t unusual for him, but this episode seemed far more severe.

If it were just a seizure, picking him up and leaving would suffice.

However, his consciousness was clear, and he stubbornly resisted with purpose, clinging on as if possessed by a demon.

Worse still…

“Excuse my rudeness! Forgive my insolence! Urgent news! An unidentified knight has reached the inner gate! Evacuate immediately!”

“Huh…”

The old man, both chamberlain to the king and high-ranking noble, felt as if he were on the verge of fainting.

What calamity is this in my twilight years?

Blendingur, torn between lingering attachments and loyalty, reluctantly returned to the palace following the empire’s request despite the fall of ministers and half the nobility.

The situation showed no signs of improvement.

‘Is Faceulan truly doomed?’

The Mage King is half-insane, and his closest advisors are either sycophants or pawns of the Empire and Irene’s Doctrine.

‘Still…’

As long as the lineage survives, anything is possible.

History cannot be erased, no matter the circumstances.

Hasn’t magic flourished precisely through such perseverance in this era?

“That’s enough! Stop!”

“Lord Blendingur?”

“Isn’t His Majesty determined to face this?”

Though visibly trembling with fear, the young king did not appear intent on abandoning the throne or crown.

Whether instinctive or due to impaired judgment coincidentally aligning with events…

“Uuuuugh…”

There was a reason the young king remained anchored here.

Because he had been forewarned in a dream.

-I will come. You must remain guarding the throne.

If I arrive and find you absent…

-Your end will come sooner.

The young Mage King feared death.

He knew firsthand, glimpsed the inevitability of death—both redemption and salvation elude it.

And the one who cast him into this position was none other than him.

Despite the drastic change in appearance, the Mage King’s soul trembled in terror.

Him. Him.

An existence that dismissed even the Great Demon of Hell and surpassed countless beings.

Though clearly neither demon nor evil, why does he inspire such dread within me?

“Ugh…”

I don’t know.

I truly don’t understand…

Clang! Thud!

Screams! Roars!

Irregular commotions gradually approached, drawing nearer, pressing in.

Eventually…

Clank! Clank!

A sound like iron grinding against the floor, ominous and rhythmic, echoed from the audience hall entrance as darkness itself materialized, invading the space.

Clank!

“…”

Huff… Huff…

The heavy breathing alone seemed to freeze the room.

“…”

Clank! Clank!

Boom! Boom!

Pitch-black boots stomped on the carpeted floor. The fully armored knight in obsidian, weaponless, arrived at his destination.

“O King of Faceulan. What a pitiful sight.”

Before the steps leading to the throne, he tilted his head slightly and spoke in a weighty tone.

How strange is his phrasing and tone?

Blendingur, the royal chamberlain and current elder of the court, exclaimed in astonishment.

“Where did you learn such impudence?! As a knight, aren’t you defying chivalry outright?!”

“…”

The knight in obsidian ignored him completely.

“Foolish one, swayed by desire, leading to ruin. I ask again. What is this wretched form?”

“Preposterous! How dare you address me thus?!”

“Silence. Watch and learn.”

“This insolence…!”

Whatever Blendingur intended to shout next, his breath caught in his throat.

‘Wh-whatever aura is this…?’

Not even when facing a dragon spewing killing intent up close did Blendingur, confident in his near-mage abilities, feel this way.

For some reason, this man exuded an oppressive pressure capable of shattering even someone like himself effortlessly.

“Do you lack discipline?”

When Blendingur turned his gaze to the Mage King, the latter continued trembling pathetically.

Nevertheless, this knight seemed aware of the main reasons behind the nation’s decline.

Blendingur, summoned late and unaware of the full situation, could only grasp fragments of the story.

Since the despicable regent fled to another country for asylum, Faceulan’s standing deteriorated significantly.

Though the Empire claims benevolence in remaining here, its absence would undoubtedly lead to Faceulan’s destruction.

Faceulan remains safe solely because…

The Empire supports it from behind.

The fear of disturbing a sleeping dragon prevents further internal interference, allowing Faceulan to stabilize for now.

Even this arrangement lasts only five years.

Five years hence, the Emperor officially declared they would withdraw and cease meddling in domestic affairs.

“?”

Why the sudden silence?

Something is off.

The knight in obsidian’s stillness feels highly suspicious.

Almost as if… waiting for something.

“Vile one! Do not move another step!”

At the distant voice calling from the audience hall entrance, Blendingur felt a mix of relief and unease.

‘So they’ve arrived.’

Perhaps the strongest force currently available in Faceulan.

Yet…

Why does this unease persist even with their arrival?

If anything, it intensifies.

As if…

This suspicious knight anticipated this moment.

And perhaps orchestrated this to completely shatter the Mage King’s resolve upon witnessing it.

‘No. The young king is already deranged. Watching this wouldn’t cause further disturbance…’

But why?

Normally so reliable and prideful, their presence now…

Seems incredibly insignificant, like a small beast before a towering tree, as they stepped from the entrance into the interior.

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