Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Even a Treacherous Subject Has His Uses
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When Beonald emerged from the cave, the time was already late evening. The fight unfolding in the deepening gloom was, upon looking down, an utter mess.
The combatants all wore uniforms of unknown affiliation, with armor painted in achromatic colors or black.
'What the hell...'
Beonald wasn't the only one finding it absurd. Some of the fighting knights, swinging swords infused with aura, kept questioning their assailants, but the black-armored individuals simply fought on without a word.
"..."
"Grrh! Who in the world are you?!"
"..."
"So you're the dogs of the Kermel family after all?!"
The scene of people killing and being killed, Beonald first held his breath and watched. Having experienced battlefields and large-scale combat in his past life, it was clear to Beonald's eyes that this fight would ultimately end in defeat for the quiet, black-armored side.
The difference in aura, fighting spirit, and skill emanating from their swords was overwhelming in every aspect. Anyone could see they had no chance of winning; their resistance was futile and pointless. Yet, strangely, those quiet, black-armored fighters seemed to be fighting as if to die.
'That kind of act... only a mad fanatic or a cultist could do it.'
Beonald remembered from his past life that cultist rebels who occasionally appeared in the provinces often fought with that type of death-defying fervor. Of course, Beonald, who could not tolerate trash threatening the empire's stability, had been extremely proactive in hunting down those cultists.
'And those... the knights who deliberately wear mismatched clothes to avoid standing out but have perfectly synchronized breathing... must be the Imperial Knight Order.'
He had never seen the Imperial Knight Order of the Callem Empire fight, but throughout history, across all lands, the existence and purpose of an [Imperial Knight Order] was ultimately to protect the imperial family, safeguard the empire's stability, and guard the imperial descendants. Therefore, the identity of their martial arts and combat methods was always the same.
'...They're disguised, but look. They cover each other's backs without even speaking, and their swordsmanship is clearly defense-oriented... Even across eras, the habits and nature of these Imperial Knight Order guys are the same. So, in the end, does the Emperor also think this place is too precious to just give up?'
As Beonald analyzed, the black-armored individuals, outmatched in skill and organization, were completely annihilated.
However, the standing Imperial Knights, seemingly unnerved by enemies who charged without fear of death, all wore expressions of disbelief as they wiped off blood.
"...Shouldn't we have captured one or two alive?"
"They died immediately when we tried to capture them. It's as if they had... poison in their mouths or something. And we found nothing special among their belongings."
"Damn it! They trained them thoroughly to avoid exposing their backing. Where the hell are they from?"
"Since they're at this ruin... isn't it obvious it's the Kermel family? Who else but them could raise such people? They must have gathered the underachievers from their trainees to form a covert unit or something. They seem like discarded pieces."
"Discarded pieces. I see. Anyway, let's head back quickly."
The Imperial Knights made their own plausible speculations, trying to guess the attackers' backing.
The Kermel family, a prestigious martial house with a long history, ruling surrounding territories through branch families.
Possessing excellent military power naturally increased their capability for covert operations, so it was a reasonable deduction. And with the very ruin they needed to guard located here, they believed this truth couldn't be wrong.
'Can't they tell these are cultists? Are they all hypnotized or something? No... it might be because their perspective is different.'
It was because Beonald had confirmed the existence of cultists and subjugated them 500 years ago that he could notice they were different from a mere covert unit. In this current era, if cultists hid their appearance and remained concealed, the very concept of "cultists" wouldn't even occur to people, making it unimaginable.
'Then... it can't be helped. Anyway, we should head back too. This is quite something~ cultists.'
Seeing this, the [Crisis of the World]—which hadn't felt real since his rebirth—finally struck Beonald's heart.
Knowing that cultists, those who serve the dark god, existed not only beyond the northern borders but also here, he thought he'd have to factor them into his calculations from now on. Beonald headed for the capital with Alterio.
At the same time, around the same moment the suspicious individuals assaulted the Imperial Knight Order, members of the Kermel family, who had left the Haldeon Ruin frightened by its guardian, were also being attacked by mysterious figures in black armor.
"Damn it! What the hell are these bastards?!"
"..."
"Damn it, their silence means they're not up to any good! They must be dogs doing dirty work!"
"..."
Shhhhk!
Severing the neck of an eerily silent black-armored assailant, Sir Alsus looked at those who had ambushed them with eyes filled with rage.
They were too neatly equipped and their skill was far from ordinary for mere mountain bandits. And ordinary bandits wouldn't pick a fight they couldn't win, yet these bastards, with some sort of resolve, showed no fear of losing their lives.
'...Is it the work of that man, the Emperor?'
As he had already received reports from his knights, it was said the Emperor's side had also moved people upon hearing that magical artifacts were emerging from this ruin.
Moreover, this disciplined movement and the organizational power of a covert unit that defied death couldn't be cultivated by just anyone; it would be impossible for anyone below the caliber of the Kermel family.
Furthermore, as was well known, the Imperial Court officially had an organization called the [Intelligence Bureau] for information gathering and covert operations, making it perfectly easy for Alsus to misunderstand.
'But why are they attacking us now? Damn it! The ruin is already blocked by the guardian! What the hell?!'
However, what puzzled him was the reason for this attack. Why attack now, when they weren't on their way back laden with excavated magical artifacts?
This point made no sense to Alsus either.
Attacking now would only worsen relations between the Imperial Court and the Kermel family, deepening mutual suspicion, conflict, and strife.
'...No, could that be the goal?!'
He had given up the [Haldeon Ruin] before excavation, but frankly, once it became clear that incredible magical artifacts were pouring out from inside, the Emperor must have been sick with envy.
However, officially demanding it back would damage his prestige, so perhaps he deployed unidentified personnel to create an 'unknown threat' here, giving him a pretext to intervene.
Of course, the pretext alone might be insufficient, but if it was the Emperor, he could add another scheme to paint a prettier picture.
For that Emperor, it was entirely possible.
'Kuh! But there's no choice! We must keep fighting... Hm?'
Thinking such thoughts, Alsus continued focusing on the battle and commanding, when he noticed someone's absence.
Escal Kermel, a man who couldn't wield a sword. Though he hadn't been entrusted with any significant family responsibilities, he was competent in strategy and thoughtful, handling the family's external affairs in the capital.
'...He probably slipped away alone and headed for the capital. That guy was always a coward anyway.'
Alsus didn't think as deeply about Escal as he did about the Emperor.
He was just a man born into a martial house who couldn't handle a sword and had no talent for aura.
So, thinking he must have gotten scared when the fight broke out and fled alone to the capital, Alsus focused on the battle.
"Hmm... What do you think? Is my faith still insufficient? I really can't tell."
And that Escal had, for now, indeed separated from the group as Alsus said.
However, his location wasn't an escape route or the road to the capital, but the very place where the [Haldeon Ruin] was located.
[...There is no scent of a god here.]
"Ah! I knew it. I almost got fooled, you know?"
[This space is thoroughly covered in desire, passion, and hatred. Not a shred of faith can be felt.]
The person Escal was speaking to in a smooth-talking manner answered in an emotionless tone.
He wore the same black armor as those who attacked the Imperial Knights and the Kermel family, but with more decorations and even embedded jewels, making it ornate. A red cloak hung from it, making it far more dashing and indicating the wearer's high status.
"Hmm~ So the sanctuary thing was a lie after all. If a Dark Paladin says so, there's no room for doubt."
A Dark Paladin. If a paladin is a knight who protects a temple with faith in a god, then a Dark Paladin literally serves a dark god. From inside his helmet, red gleams of light emanated, giving him a sinister appearance.
Two savage battle axes hung at his waist, and on his back was a torture rack unbecoming of a 'knight.' Skulls of people he had personally 'harvested' were proudly hung from his waist and shoulders, making him utterly un-paladin-like, but fitting for one who follows a dark god.
[If there is no trace of the Goddess, my role here ends.]
"Yes. Then please go ahead. I'm truly sorry for calling you here. It's just... the appearance was so miraculously god-like that I was mistaken."
[It matters not. Destroying the filthy creations of the Goddess is my duty. How is your plan?]
The Dark Paladin answered bluntly, put his hands together in prayer, and asked Escal.
Escal smiled very leisurely, shrugged his shoulders, and answered.
"The plan is proceeding very well."
For now, this plan could be called a great success.
The objective of using members of the Dark God Cult to firmly implant in both the Kermel family and the Imperial Court, who were targeting the Haldeon Ruin, the gesture that each harbored malice towards the other, was accomplished.
The empire's governance had been strong simply because the Imperial Court and the Kermel family joined hands firmly. Now, a fissure had been created to undermine that.
To create rebellion, revolt, or chaos, that governance must be chipped away, and nothing chips it away better than discord between the nobility and the Imperial Court.
The remaining task was simply to continue widening that fissure, making them not only suspicious of each other but now also fight.
"...But then, what on earth was that really?"
A voice like scraping metal. A metallic giant in armor slightly larger than a normal human.
Moreover, pointing that strange iron pillar towards the sky and summoning a lightning strike that seemed to tear the heavens apart.
That appearance, with its majesty and power, could only be described as a divine creation by anyone who saw it. It made no sense that the [Dark Paladin], who hated and raged against the [Goddess] more than anyone, wouldn't detect [Divine Energy].
"Hmm... The ruin's guardian. Could such a thing have existed hundreds of years ago as well? Dark Paladin? Do you happen to know anything?"
[It's not certain, but... according to the Order's records, in a very ancient time when the continent's nations were not divided, there is a record of a certain subject who held real power in place of the Emperor brutally suppressing our Order.]
"Yes?"
[It is said the legion led by that subject possessed power and might akin to 'God's Apostles,' even though they were not 'God's Apostles.' If such a thing actually existed and remained as a ruin, that might be it.]
"...That makes it even more incomprehensible. Hmm... Hm?"
The Dark Paladin had offered what he considered advice, but it only deepened Escal's doubts.
However, something brushed past a corner of his mind—the existence of [Beonald].
He had merely lured him here as a chaotic variable and a distraction for Sir Alsus's attention, but according to Sir Alsus's words, Beonald had secretly entered the ruin.
'...!!'
When that point brushed through his mind, he ran towards the ruin with a startled face. Unfortunately, the interior of the ruin was once again blocked by a massive barrier, and a foul stench and toxic liquid were flowing out again, making it impossible to enter. Clicking his tongue, Escal ultimately had no choice but to give up.