Chapter 213
Chapter 213
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 213
Chapter Title: Shattering the Holy Kingdom
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"N-No, that's not what I meant... I mean..."
Astraia stammered in panic before abruptly hanging her head low.
"There's no way I'd hate it if you're doing this for me."
For some reason, the gazes of Aslan and Seirang behind her felt heartbreaking, but Astraia was too flustered to notice.
"Lord Krash."
Stepping forward in her place was Diona, the Saintess's Holy Knight.
She was one of the most skilled among the Holy Knights.
With strength befitting her role as Astraia's protector, she cautiously asked Krash.
"You said you're going to destroy the Holy Grail. Do you know where it is?"
To smash the Holy Grail, they at least needed to know its location.
Hearing her, Krash took a step back to the side.
There stood Mirei Beakis.
Her striking blue hair caught the eye as she stepped forward and bowed her head.
"I know the Holy Grail's location."
"Cardinal Mirei Beakis?"
Diona's expression turned subtle.
A hint of embarrassment flickered across her face.
After all, the man who could be called the leader of the opposition faction was none other than her father, Tersada Beakis.
So, it was hard to trust that she was on their side.
But Mirei looked not at Diona, but at Saintess Astraia.
"I once owed my life to you, Saintess. The reason a fallen servant of the World Erosion can still stand here is entirely thanks to you."
As she said, if things had gone the usual way, Mirei would have been executed nine times out of ten.
Letting it spread that a cardinal recognized by the Holy Kingdom had become a plaything of the World Erosion's spawn would endanger the Holy Kingdom's position.
And the one who stepped up most actively was none other than Astraia.
It was partly because Krash had asked her to help.
Astraia herself had suffered the most injustices in the Holy Kingdom.
That's why she absolutely couldn't stand by and watch Mirei get executed like that.
So, Astraia had done everything she could to save her.
"I saw with my own eyes how you directly confronted the Holy Kingdom on my behalf."
Mirei recalled the day she was dragged to the Holy Kingdom.
She remembered Astraia standing beside her, chained and kneeling.
The one who had been despised after inexplicably becoming a servant of the World Erosion.
"This is a place to punish the guilty. If an innocent person suffers unjustly, it tarnishes the Holy Kingdom's name."
Mirei clearly remembered Astraia's words as she shielded her then.
"Because she is Freeman's Saintess, we must protect Cardinal Mirei Beakis. God would surely have done the same with His boundless mercy."
Mirei clasped her hands as if praying to God and knelt.
The gesture was filled with respect for Astraia.
"Lady Astraia is the true Saintess. I saw the real Saintess that day."
Someone who, despite facing the most irrational situations, could stand against the Holy Kingdom's injustices for others.
How could anyone not call such a person a Saintess?
Astraia's eyes gradually widened.
She felt that the good deeds she'd done as a Saintess weren't in vain.
Though Astraia didn't know it, her kindness always moved someone.
This time, it had moved Mirei Beakis.
A gentle smile graced Mirei's lips.
"How could I pass up a chance to repay the Saintess's grace? The debt I owe Freeman's Saintess is too great; I wanted to repay it like this, at least."
"Cardinal Mirei Beakis..."
Feeling her sincerity, Astraia embraced Mirei's shoulders.
The smile on her lips, bright as the sun, shone dazzlingly.
"Thank you. I gratefully accept your resolve."
No matter what anyone said, the word "Saintess" suited her perfectly in that moment.
Krash chuckled briefly.
'She's not the only one moved by her kindness.'
Krash was the same.
He had owed Astraia a debt of life he could never repay.
So now, it was his turn to pay her back.
"The path to the Holy Grail won't be easy."
Diona looked at Astraia with concern.
For her, Astraia's safety came first.
She was also worried about the opposition faction endangering her later.
But the immediate path to the Holy Grail was a mountain of worries.
"Don't worry."
But Krash decided to ease those concerns.
"I'll clear the way to the Saintess at top speed."
This was his specialty.
Hearing Krash's assurance, Astraia lifted her head with resolve.
"Got it. Let's go smash the Holy Kingdom."
The Holy Grail that the Freeman Holy Royal Family had desperately hidden to create their Saintess.
They had decided to destroy it.
Krash turned to one last person.
"So, what does the esteemed astrologer think?"
The one Krash asked last was none other than Seirang.
She had been sipping her tea when she slowly turned to look at him.
"Does the girl's words matter? The moment I speak, it might turn into a prophecy."
"I just want your opinion. We should avoid dangerous paths, right?"
Krash was certain Seirang had foreseen something happening to Astraia through the stars.
And he wasn't entirely wrong.
The only problem was...
'Nothing shows up around the moments involving you.'
Seirang's astrology was exceptionally brilliant, befitting Sephira's bloodline.
But when Krash was involved, it became strangely shrouded in darkness, invisible.
This time too, she had seen something troubling for Astraia, but it was veiled in shadow.
As if Krash's future couldn't be pinned to a single outcome.
'A branching point, perhaps.'
A future that changes with one action.
Maybe Krash possessed the power to defy such fate.
'More than that, why does he gain even more skills every time we meet?'
Truly, an enigmatic person in many ways, but one thing was clear.
"A pitch-black star was tilting slightly toward Freeman."
The pitch-black star.
It always heralded danger.
If such a star tilted toward Freeman, unfortunate events often followed.
"As you say, it doesn't hurt to be cautious. I can't help Astraia directly, but we'll handle the star tilting toward Freeman."
Seirang glanced at Blavi as she spoke.
Blavi nodded briefly.
It meant if something happened, he'd step in personally.
A safety measure of sorts.
"So, please take good care of my friend."
Seirang smiled at Astraia.
The girl who once acted the Saintess in front of others but wore a weary face alone.
Now she wore a genuine girl's expression.
Seirang hoped that face would stay on Astraia forever.
"I've always planned to. I'll take responsibility for life."
Krash replied without hesitation.
It was phrasing so open to misinterpretation that Astraia's face turned beet red, but that was their little secret.
＊ ＊ ＊
The Festival of the Gods.
Thanks to the bountiful harvest festival in autumn, Freeman was bustling with more people than ever.
As the grandest annual festival...
Crowds flocked from all over to enjoy it.
From dazzling circus performers to ordinary street vendors and spectators.
Countless people reveled in the festivities.
Amid the festival, some moved suspiciously.
They looked like vendors or onlookers, but they communicated via magical communication devices.
[Yes, Sector B is clear.]
[Same for Sector A.]
They were the opposition forces against Freeman's Holy Royal Family.
Today was the day for a massive religious revolution.
The day to uproot the rotten Holy Royal Family and usher in a new era.
They had prepared extensively for this.
They would expose the Holy Royal Family's misdeeds grandly during the festival and reveal the truth about the Holy Grail and Saintess to everyone there.
And that wasn't all.
Through their networks, special reports on the Holy Royal Family's scandals were already circulating everywhere.
The moment the festival incident erupted, articles would break simultaneously worldwide.
Then, the Holy Royal Family would be beyond saving.
Inside the grand temple overlooking the festival, Tersada called for one person.
"Lord Krash Valheim, are you prepared?"
"Yes."
It was none other than Krash Valheim.
The youngest of the Valheim Family and a hot topic.
The hidden card to leverage that buzz and cleanly reform Freeman.
At Tersada's request, Krash wore pristine white attire.
The intangible aura emanating from him made him stand out even more.
It even felt like holy power emanated from him today.
Tersada recalled the conversation with Krash the night before.
"We'll do it. Hero."
Following Tersada's request to decide by tonight, Krash had given his answer.
"But we'll minimize any harm to Astraia."
And as expected, that was his response.
Hearing it, Tersada nodded kindly with a benevolent smile.
"No harm will come to the Saintess."
With that, Krash was born as Freeman's new hero.
The pristine white sword gleaming at his waist was proof.
The Holy Sword, one of the Ten Heavenly Swords.
Unlike others, named with just two words, its aura was profoundly sacred.
Those who wielded it were always hailed as heroes across generations.
Thus, after this, Krash would surely become Freeman's representative hero.
A fitting figure to usher in a new Freeman.
"Good. Then it's time to start the real festival."
Tersada approached the window as he spoke.
"Benox."
He called a name into the magical communication device in his hand.
"Prepare the Holy Grail."
Time to bring the Holy Grail to the surface.
As he awaited a response...
For some reason...
Despite ample time passing, no reply came.
As suspicion grew and he began to look puzzled...
Static—
A burst of noise echoed.
An ominous premonition struck.
The moment Tersada shook the device...
[Ah, yes, all prepared.]
His eyes widened at the voice.
He whipped his head around.
There stood Krash still.
White attire and Holy Sword.
Even looking again, it was unmistakably him.
"Is something wrong?"
Krash asked innocently, but Tersada fell silent with a stiff face.
Because Krash's lips were subtly curled up.
Something was off.
The voice from the device just now was clearly...
Krash's voice.
"...Who are you?"
As he demanded, the figure of Krash began to dissipate.
Tersada's eyes grew even wider.
There was familiar blue hair.
"Father, I'm sorry."
Mirei Beakis.
She, who should have been waiting in her room per orders, was there.
Having used her skill 'Mirror' to impersonate Krash.
"Then the real Krash Valheim is..."
The moment Tersada rushed to the window...
BOOOOM!
Pitch-black Black Flame erupted into the sky.
Flames so inky black they could scorch even Tersada's insides.