Chapter 126
Chapter 126
Ch. 126 .｡.:✧ Solra (2) ✧:.｡.
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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“Greetings. I am Solra Artemisia, Vice-Captain of the Holy Knights.”
Solra, Vice-Captain of the Holy Knights.
The youngest Sword Master, who mastered the Human Combined Swordsmanship and established its ultimate technique.
A monster who was always mentioned in discussions about the strongest swordsmen. And this monster, according to the story, would fall from grace and become one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
Unrivaled in individual combat, truly the strongest. The RPG team said that, excluding the final boss battle, the fight against Solra would boast the highest difficulty.
‘Damn it. Another task added here?’
I had to prevent Solra’s fall. Or, if he had already fallen, I had to eliminate him. But the problem was…
“It’s a pleasure to meet you…”
“The pleasure is mine. I share His Eminence’s sentiments. The Saintess is currently unable to make rational judgments. I cannot stand by and watch an innocent person be executed, so I will do everything in my power to prevent you from being brought before her.”
“You can trust Solra. Consider him my equal, and follow his judgment and instructions completely. That is the only way to avoid the investigation.”
“Thank you.”
We shook hands.
Even through his gauntlet, I could feel his immense strength.
He was barely gripping my hand, yet I felt a chilling sense of danger, as if he could crush my bones at any moment.
Did I stand a chance against him?
Not impossible, but unlikely. I knew instinctively, just from that handshake. Solra was a Sword Master and a Paladin proficient in magic.
Even with a surprise attack and the advantage of terrain, I would barely win, my entire body shattered. In terms of pure strength, he far surpassed Rex, even when Rex burned through his entire lifespan.
He might even be on par with Yerina in Beast Mode.
‘Please, let him not be corrupted yet.’
If Solra had already fallen, there was nothing I could do. So, I had to assume he was still pure and act accordingly.
My new task was ‘Find the cause of Solra’s fall and eliminate it.’
Since Solra was from this world, there were plenty of background settings I could use. Now that we were traveling together, I could utilize them. But the timing was uncertain.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
“Where did you say you needed to go?”
“I need to meet with Acting Mayor Briam.”
“I wouldn’t recommend that. The Saintess is currently staying at the Briam Mansion.”
“Oh… Then, how about going to City Hall during business hours?”
“The Acting Mayor is currently on leave. The newly elected mayor will take over next week, after the transition. If you absolutely must meet with the Acting Mayor, you have no choice but to go to the Briam Mansion…”
“No problem. I’ll infiltrate through a window.”
“What?”
I knew the layout of the Briam Mansion like the back of my hand. If the problem was Jill’s presence, I could just sneak into Cornelia’s room.
Although, knowing Cornelia, she probably gave Jill her room. In that case, the office would be a better choice.
“Let’s go.”
I walked ahead, leaving Solra, who seemed frozen in place for some reason, behind.
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‘What a strange person.’
Solra stared at Yoo-jin’s back, genuinely puzzled.
Having reached the superhuman level, Solra could distinguish truth from lies with his right eye. And this man’s words, though somewhat ambiguous, were mostly true.
He really had no connection to the Saintess and had been falsely accused of attempted rape.
In such a situation, most people would be furious.
They would jump at the chance to leave the Holy Empire and never return. But this man was different.
He simply said, “Is that so?” and insisted on entering the Holy Empire despite the warrant, claiming he had business to attend to.
His nonchalant attitude stunned Solra.
He reacted as if this had happened before, as if he was used to being falsely accused.
What kind of life had he lived?
Solra was beyond surprised, he was in awe.
“Aren’t you shocked? You’ve been falsely accused and branded a criminal.”
“I am. And I’m angry.”
“You don’t look like it…”
“It helps to think that I’m partly responsible.”
Responsible? What was he responsible for? Did he go back in time and warp the Saintess’s personality?
Solra was baffled by the man’s strange way of thinking.
‘He’s not a candidate.’
He didn’t seem consumed by rage.
Solra had briefly considered recruiting him, but he quickly abandoned the idea.
Someone who wasn’t driven by strong emotions was difficult to corrupt.
‘He keeps glancing at me?’
On their way to the Briam Mansion, Solra noticed Yoo-jin’s gaze and became wary.
He seemed to be assessing Solra’s strength.
Solra moved to Yoo-jin’s right, concealing his right eye. He felt Yoo-jin’s gaze fixated on it.
Somehow, this man seemed to see through him, to see things that shouldn’t be visible.
Then, Yoo-jin chuckled and stopped.
“Well then, Vice-Captain. Shall we reveal our true identities?”
“What?”
“Greetings. I am Undecided, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Lord Draken’s left hand.”
Yoo-jin’s casual demeanor vanished. He bowed elegantly.
Solra’s eyes widened at the sudden revelation.
The blood ghoul beside him also seemed to swell with pride.
“Wait, come with me!”
Solra pulled Yoo-jin into an alley. He stared at the man and the blood ghoul, speechless with confusion.
After a long moment, he finally spoke.
“Were… were you testing me?”
“Yes. You’re keeping your Evil Eye well hidden.”
He had noticed the Evil Eye, the one he received from the Archdemon?
Solra shuddered, then dropped to one knee.
“Greetings, Lord Undecided!”
Undecided cleared her throat beside him.
Solra had been slightly uncertain until now, but the mention of the Evil Eye confirmed it.
This man was undoubtedly one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
He had to show proper respect.
“Do you like the Evil Eye?”
“Yes, of course! The Archdemon-”
“You mean Belphegor?”
“Y-Yes! The Evil Eye bestowed upon me by the Archdemon… I treasure it. I’m not used to it yet, but I believe it will be a great asset in battle.”
He spoke the Archdemon’s true name so casually! Were they close, being fellow Heavenly Kings? As expected of a Heavenly King.
Solra was impressed.
“I apologize for not recognizing you sooner! Even now, you look just like a human.”
“Of course. I have a beating heart and flowing blood, just like a living being. It’s nothing for a True Ancestor like me.”
Another surprise.
He was a blood ghoul? A True Ancestor, no less? And the blood ghoul girl was his subordinate… A subordinate of a True Ancestor was practically a lifelong companion…
‘He has… peculiar tastes.’
Solra glanced at Undecided and shook his head slightly.
As expected of a Heavenly King, even his personal preferences were unique.
“Indeed…!”
Solra bowed his head in admiration.
Undecided, looking up at Yoo-jin, was impressed in a different way by his smooth lies.
She thought,
‘If a blood ghoul has a beating heart and flowing blood, wouldn’t that make them not a blood ghoul?’
But she decided not to point it out.
“Where is Belphegor now?”
“W-What?”
“I asked for Belphegor’s current location. You should know, since you received the Evil Eye.”
“Ah. The Archdemon is currently at sea.”
“At sea?”
“Yes. They said they had to meet with the Sea Dragon… I don’t know the details.”
Yoo-jin’s expression faltered.
Solra, who believed wholeheartedly that Yoo-jin was a Heavenly King, wouldn’t lie.
Belphegor really wasn’t in the Holy Empire, but at sea…
‘Then what was the communication signal Tay detected?’
Belphegor’s demonic energy fragment had definitely sent a signal towards Cologne and Hameln.
If it wasn’t to Belphegor’s main body, then who was it intended for? A sense of foreboding washed over him.
Perhaps another threat lurked here, something other than Belphegor.
“I see. Now, give me the Evil Eye.”
“What?”
“I said, give me the Evil Eye.”
“May I ask… why…?”
“You dare question a Heavenly King’s order?”
An oppressive pressure weighed down on Solra’s shoulders, and he groaned.
What an overwhelming presence! He could exert such force with a mere glare!
“I apologize… I’ll give it to you… right away…”
He had spoken out of turn.
Solra regretted his momentary defiance and inserted his fingers into his eye socket.
“W-Wait, doesn’t that hurt?”
“It’s fine! It’s prosthetic!”
Crack, pop.
Grisly sounds echoed through the alley.
Solra pulled out the prosthetic eye, along with the long tendrils connected to his brain. Tears of blood streamed down his face as he handed over the Evil Eye.
Yoo-jin, feigning composure, accepted it with one hand.
The moment the eye’s pupil swiveled and met his gaze, Yoo-jin had to suppress a scream.
“Have I… been disqualified?”
“Disqualified for what?”
“To become a Heavenly King… Can’t you give me another chance? I’m truly ready to betray the Papal Office. Faith doesn’t put food on the table. I’ll do anything for my sick brother! Even if it means betraying humanity!”
“Can you truly betray humanity… without hesitation?”
“Yes!”
“Then go out there and kill that child. Then I’ll consider giving you another chance.”
Yoo-jin pointed to a young boy in the distance.
Solra’s pupils trembled.
He looked pleadingly at Yoo-jin, but the man was resolute.
“There’s… there’s no need for that. His goal is to descend upon this world, not to destroy humanity…”
“They’ll all die anyway once He descends. Hurry up and kill him. My patience is wearing thin.”
Panicked, Solra drew his sword.
He thought of his sick brother. She was suffering from an incurable disease, her heart slowly dying.
He had searched far and wide for a cure, but nothing worked.
Potions, elixirs, even healing magic from the Saintess… nothing could heal his brother’s heart.
He later learned that her illness was congenital and incurable by conventional means. In his despair, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, an Archdemon, had approached him.
The Archdemon offered him a deal: pledge loyalty to ‘Him,’ and his brother would receive a healthy heart.
He hadn’t hesitated.
He had sworn loyalty to the Archdemon and the unknown ‘Him.’ He didn’t care where the heart came from.
He would do anything to see his brother healthy and smiling again. Trapped in a hell with no escape, he chose evil for his brother’s sake.
“I’m sorry…”
Clang.
Solra dropped his sword.
He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t kill an innocent boy, even for his brother.
The boy’s face reminded him of his brother.
He had resolved to become evil, but he wasn’t evil enough yet.
A faint smile appeared on Yoo-jin’s lips.
“You lack the aptitude. You’re not worthy of becoming a Heavenly King.”
Solra wept in despair.
Then, a question crossed his mind.
“But Lord Undecided, I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“There are four seats among the Heavenly Kings. One for the Archdemon, one for the Necromancer, one for the Druid, and one vacant seat that I was supposed to fill.”
“That’s right.”
“But if you are a Heavenly King, that means the vacant seat is already filled. Why did you test me? Even if I passed, I wouldn’t have become a Heavenly King.”
Yoo-jin was speechless.
What could he say?
Solra’s eyes narrowed as he saw Yoo-jin’s hesitation.
“Who… are you…?”
“This is bad.”
Solra quickly drew his sword and charged. But his blade never reached Yoo-jin.
Instead, Solra found himself surrounded by mirror-like walls.
Heavenly Armor Plate.
Yoo-jin trapped Solra in a sphere that reflected all impacts, both internal and external.
The ground beneath them rumbled, and a pit formed. The sphere descended into the pit, and the earth covered it.
The ground was seamlessly flat again.
“Now, let’s go see Cornelia.”
“Okay…”
Yoo-jin brushed off his hands and calmly left the scene, as if nothing had happened.
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