Chapter 110
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Support Request - 1
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The nymphs, crafted personally by Hestia, the greatest goddess, could share thoughts and even sense each other's locations.
However, that only applied to pure-blooded nymphs.
Mixed-blood nymphs with human ancestry required extensive training to communicate mentally, and the farther apart they were, the harder it became.
To solve this, the Holy Kingdom established the Communications Division.
Using divine relics and the scientific prowess of the Tower of Wisdom, they created devices that allowed distant nymphs to share thoughts.
And right now, the Communications Division was...
"Emergency! Emergency! Ultra-emergency!"
"Several western nobles have colluded with vicious forces!"
"Communication with the Second Apostle Helen is unstable!"
"She's still determined to be in combat!"
"Lady Helen is in critical danger! Assemble the holy knights immediately!"
"Hooeee~ The workload is exploding!"
The unprecedented crisis since the division's inception—first, the alliance between the vicious force Hardron and the former Anitul Earl's noble faction, and now the loss of contact with the Second Apostle Helen and the Second Holy Knights Order dispatched to dismantle the slave-trading Hardron faction—had thrown everyone into chaos.
In times like these, the Communications Division had to resolve the issue swiftly to stay within the golden hour.
But it wasn't easy.
Assembling holy knight orders scattered across the continent was no simple task. Moreover, to protect the Pope—whom other vicious forces eyed covetously—at least three apostles and three second-rank knights had to remain stationed in the Holy Kingdom. The other apostles and knights couldn't easily leave their assigned duties either.
"Find a solution quickly!"
"Division Chief..."
The other staff began to agonize as the division chief, the Eleventh Apostle Puppy, started to tear up.
Just as everyone was stomping their feet in this dire situation, the youngest staff member raised her hand with a suggestion.
"How about requesting support from the hero who recently appeared?"
"You mean the hero Lady Helen discovered?"
"Yes. Geographically and in terms of ability, no one is more suitable for the current crisis."
In the Holy Kingdom, nobles had to be capable enough to hold major positions.
A baron needed to be at the mastery stage of fourth-rank knighthood. A viscount required the solid stage of third-rank.
A count had to be one of the continent's scant ten second-rank knights.
And the recently much-rumored hero Sian was slated to receive a count's title.
At the very least, it meant the Holy Kingdom judged his combat prowess equal to a second-rank knight.
"B-but he..."
Puppy couldn't easily accept the youngest staffer's proposal.
Even though he had an attendant nymph who could act faster than anyone.
The reason was simple.
Entrusting the matter to Sian—watched by the Black Heaven Knights and even the founding emperor—might bring some pressure on the Communications Division.
'But we can't let the black sky descend like a thousand years ago.'
In the end, Puppy recalled the original sin of the nymphs and adopted the youngest staffer's suggestion.
"I'll take the blame as division chief, so everyone, focus on rescuing Lady Helen!"
"Understood!"
And so, countless communications rained down on Sian's nymphs.
...
"Are you crazy? Why me?"
"You've got a foul mouth even after all this time apart."
The next day, as Sian visited Baron Issur with Forest.
Elsia visited the inn where Colin resided, accompanied by Navira, Elin, and Gregor.
Elsia had come to hire Colin.
Colin snorted dismissively.
"No matter how much money you offer, I'm never setting foot in that shithole village again."
"How much to follow Sian?"
"Jeez, Sister Elsia never changes. Think money solves everything? Sorry, but some things in this world can't be bought..."
"One year's salary: five platinum coins."
"Departing immediately."
"Sister-in-law..."
Colin's attitude flipped the moment Elsia flashed the platinum coins. She no longer minded returning to the hated hometown village.
"Why? I need money. Happiness can be bought with gold!"
"Whatever..."
Unable to stomach her sister-in-law's excuses any longer, Navira stepped outside first.
"Oh, by the way, Sister Elsia. I'm bringing my daughter. No one here to watch Aida. Got a problem?"
"None. Sian likes kids. He won't mind."
"Likes kids? Our nephew's tastes..."
"Not like that. And you're employed by Sian now. Watch your phrasing."
"Nah, this feels natural."
"Sigh... Fine, but don't defy Sian."
"Puhahaha! Anyone'd think you were the nephew's wife."
"I am Sian's concubine."
"For real?"
"For real. And I'm carrying his child."
"Whoa! Our nephew's impressive! Hitting on someone old enough to be his mom!"
Elsia found Colin's reaction distasteful but let it slide.
They weren't close, and her notoriety as a troublemaker in Lugeron Village was well-known.
Still, Elsia acknowledged her skills to some extent.
She was Ian's one and only disciple, trained under him.
"Sister, hold on."
"What?"
"Some scary bastards from our village just showed up outside the inn."
"Guests?"
At Colin's words, Elsia quickly gathered her daughter Elin and Colin's daughter Aida.
...
"Sir Gregor, follow us! A chance for revenge against the arrogant imperial court and Holy Kingdom has arisen."
"....."
Gregor possessed an excellent knightly character.
He held absolute loyalty to his lord and a stubborn determination to fulfill his duties perfectly.
Kindly put, he was a loyal retainer. Harshly, a fool blind to the bigger picture.
Indeed, while serving under Anitul Earl, his inability to read the situation limited him to mere bodyguard duty.
As a result, he held no real influence in the Anitul faction and served solely as the earl's sword and shield.
In that process, he unwittingly committed crimes.
The knighthood he desired slipped away, and he failed to prevent his lord Anitul Earl's fatal mistakes, leading to the earl's house's destruction.
As a knight and loyal vassal, he upheld no honor.
"I'm sorry, but I already have a new lord I serve."
"What do you mean, Sir Gregor? Think of Lord Anitul Earl, wrongly framed!"
"If you're scared of the Holy Kingdom's holy knights, fear not. We've allied with the Hardron forces. Join us, Sir Gregor, and we can strike back at those arrogant holy knights."
Watching his old comrades spout shocking words, Gregor reflected on his past errors.
A life of drifting aimlessly like a fool, culminating in months of wandering this stench-ridden Lugadrian.
He reached one conclusion.
"Enough. I have no intention of opposing the Holy Kingdom."
Gregor had seen them.
The black-armored knights who judged House Anitul.
Superhuman powerhouses beyond norms.
That Anitul Earl's knights—once deemed the west's finest—were mere frogs in a well.
That even the Holy Kingdom's holy knights, the continent's pinnacle, were but illusions.
The reason he, not yet a count, had thrown himself under Sian was fear. Fear of the black sky descending where he stood.
He crawled under Sian to survive.
At least under a Holy Kingdom knight, he'd never see the black sky.
Knights' honor was just a fancy excuse.
"Sir Gregor, what are you saying?! Forsaking your knightly honor?"
"Indeed. So leave. If you embarrass me further, my aura will split your skulls."
"Sir Gregor!"
As Gregor raised his halberd.
The Anitul knights drew their weapons in kind.
"Kiyaaah! You big lug! Couldn't just talk it out? What the hell?!"
"Dangerous. Catkin, fall back."
"I was gonna anyway!"
Pina, who had tailed them persistently, fled into the inn before Gregor finished speaking.
"Fuck off, these aren't my guests. Yours, knight?"
"Pardon, but could you assist?"
"Wanna tell you to fuck off, but you're under our nephew too. Helping this once."
"Grateful."
At Gregor's request, Colin donned her twin blades and assumed combat stance.
As both unleashed their auras in wary tension, forming a chilling frontline.
Kwaaaang!
A heavenly explosion severed one knight—vertically.
"Wha?"
Caught off-guard by the sudden strike, the nearby knights failed to react properly. From the blast emerged Sian, gazing at his foes with dignified poise.
"Sorry, everyone, but no time. We're heading straight back to Lugeron Village."
"S-Sian? What? Weren't we swallowing up the Catkit Merchant Company?!"
"Told you, no time. Anitul Earl faction nobles have allied with Hardron forces."
"??!!"
"War's bloody winds will blow across the west again. We must prepare before it erupts."
"How do you know?"
"And who are these? Why blades at my people?"
"Knights from the faction you just mentioned."
"Right? Capturing them lets Forest extract info."
At Gregor's betrayal, his former comrades were dumbfounded.
You're from our side originally!
To their glares, Gregor responded coldly.
"I'll assist."
Gregor charged, halberd aloft.
"Fuck, no clue what's happening."
Colin joined the fray with her twin blades anyway.
Needless to say, the knights plotting alliance with Hardron offered no proper resistance and were swiftly subdued.