Chapter 445: The Hero Climaxes in Defeat Again Today[R-18] (35)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 445: The Hero Climaxes in Defeat Again Today[R-18] (35)
My attempt to fuck Hilla wasn't going as smoothly as I’d thought. Every time I tried to stimulate her by leaking a bit of my seduction art—
“Oh! Marquis, there you are!”
—it was because of that damn hero, who would butt in with his clueless, uncanny timing.
If I rashly implanted my seduction art in her now, I’d just be getting her worked up for the hero to take her in his arms. Unable to do anything, time simply passed, and eventually, the gates of Lienos came into view.
“Pfft, you and that hero are a terrible match.”
Bi-yeon said with a laugh, holding Mayo in her arms.
Instead of answering, I glared at Aaren, who hadn’t left Hilla and Riette’s side up ahead.
What a nuisance.
Now that we’d arrived in Lienos, my time with them wouldn’t be long. My chances to claim her were dwindling, and it was likely we would all go our separate ways soon.
Just then, Aaren spoke to me.
“By the way, Marquis, what business do you have with the Order of the Pale Star?”
I answered nonchalantly, without any particular emotion.
“I’m here to pick up my woman.”
“Your lover… is she a priestess of the Order of the Pale Star?”
Aaren’s eyes widened in surprise.
“She’s not a priestess. They just dragged her away without my permission.”
“What…? The Order of the Pale Star… they wouldn’t do something like that…”
Aaren muttered as if he couldn’t believe it.
Ignoring his reaction, I dismounted my horse, ordered my knights to find a suitable place to set up camp, and began to walk in silence.
Finally, the main cathedral of the Order of the Pale Star came into view.
A colossal cathedral. The sanctuary, built of marble that shone with a pure white light, exuded a majestic and sublime atmosphere, like a hall where the gods themselves had descended. Banners bearing sacred crests fluttered in the wind from spires that looked to be dozens of meters tall. On the cathedral’s facade, a massive bas-relief depicting the wings of an angel stood with overwhelming presence.
Below it, pilgrims and believers from all corners of the land were bowing their heads in prayer. I cut through the crowd with my party and walked straight toward the entrance.
The men in pure white armor standing guard at the entrance—the Holy Knights of the Order of the Pale Star—blocked my path.
“What is your business here?”
“I am Marquis Jin Alcladion of the Sivern Kingdom. I have come to find my woman, who your Order took without my permission.”
The Holy Knights were flustered by my words.
“You… you say that we took your woman in the name of the Order, but could you please explain exactly what happened? That way, we can grasp the situation and report it to our superiors.”
“You recently brought a woman from the Sivern Kingdom. Her name is Marienne. As her master, I have come to retrieve her myself.”
The moment Marienne’s name was mentioned, their attitude changed drastically. The faces of the Holy Knights, who had been formally polite just a moment ago, turned cold.
“…Please wait a moment.”
One of them quickly turned and ran inside the grand cathedral. A short while later, the heavy cathedral doors slowly opened, and he returned with two high-ranking priests. A middle-aged male priest with a beard stepped forward from the group.
He placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head in accordance with etiquette.
“Welcome, Marquis Alcladion. I am Karon, an Archbishop of the Pale Star. I sincerely regret any inconvenience caused by our Order’s internal affairs.”
He paused, glanced at me, and then slowly continued.
“However, this is a sacred sanctuary. We must be cautious about anyone entering without permission or speaking carelessly about a specific individual.”
I looked down at him with cold eyes.
“I’m not asking for permission to enter. Marienne. Where is she now?”
“The Hero… is currently under the protection of the Order, preparing for her mission as a hero under the teachings of Lady Lumeis.”
“That’s not the kind of dogmatic answer I’m looking for. I asked, where is she now?”
He tried to change the subject, but I spoke first.
“This isn’t a request for cooperation. It’s a notification that I’m taking my woman back.”
The Holy Knights standing nearby placed their hands on the hilts of their swords almost simultaneously.
The air grew strangely heavy.
Just then, the middle-aged priest in front of me sighed and opened his mouth.
“…Your intentions have been made perfectly clear, Marquis. However, threats of this nature are not welcome here. This is the heart of the Holy Kingdom and a sanctuary under the name of the Pale Star. We could consider this not only a diplomatic conflict but also a challenge to the authority of the Order itself. Any further… threats, and I cannot guarantee your safety.”
The Archbishop’s words were roundabout, but the point was clear. It was a warning: ‘This isn’t your territory, and if you act up, the Order will deal with you personally.’ He was implying they wouldn’t hesitate to use force, regardless of any diplomatic friction.
I was trying to end this nicely… but I see that’s not an option.
I called out to Bi-yeon in a cold voice.
“Bi-yeon.”
“…Sigh.”
Bi-yeon let out a small sigh and handed Mayo, who was in her arms, to Ivril.
“Ivril. Take care of Mayo for me.”
“Huh? Ah… yes!”
As a flustered Ivril took Mayo, Bi-yeon quietly walked over to my side.
A refreshing breeze swirled around her body, transforming into a sword.
I naturally reached out and grasped its hilt.
The surrounding Holy Knights drew their swords in unison. The tension reached its peak.
I slowly raised the sword high.
“From this moment on, the persuasion is over.”
*
Lienos, the capital of the Holy Kingdom. And at its center, the towering, massive sanctuary and holy land of the Order of the Pale Star.
A great storm raged over the place that symbolized heavenly order and sacred dignity. With a blade-like wind that tore through the sky, a beautiful yet menacing arc of blue aura formed a crescent and flew toward the Order’s main gate.
—CRASH!!
The massive entrance, engraved with sacred crests, shattered into pieces. The Holy Knights in pure white armor and the priests in training were sent flying without even a chance to scream.
“Enemy attack!!!”
“Dammit, what kind of madman—!”
The scene instantly devolved into pandemonium. The collapsed entrance and the scattered forces were tantamount to a declaration of war against the Order.
The Pope, who was watching this scene from the highest floor of the Order, from beyond a spire window, also widened his eyes.
He bit his lip for a moment, looked around, and immediately leaped from the window, throwing himself down below.
“Who is it! Who dares to attack this sacred place!!”
The square fell silent at his shout. The Holy Knights who had been lying amidst the rubble got to their feet, and dozens of soldiers formed a line, holding shields emblazoned with the Order’s symbol.
And then, at the entrance where the dust and aura had settled, a man appeared, stepping on the fragments of the broken gate.
Blue aura rose from the tip of his sword, and from within the swirling dust, eyes burning like red embers were revealed.
“Bring me Marienne.”
The Pope took a step forward. A holy light slowly gathered in his hands, and the surrounding air began to seethe.
“I don’t know who you are, but to dare destroy the sanctuary of the Order and speak of the hero chosen by God as if she were your possession…”
His eyes grew cold.
“This is blasphemy.”
At that moment, the holy vestments he wore burst into flames. Contrary to his thin and gentle appearance, a physique of solid muscle was revealed beneath. And when the Pope closed his eyes and let out a short cry, his muscles, monstrous for an old man, swelled and became intimidating.
A sacred halo flashed above his head, and his eyes blazed with a golden light.
He raised his fists and shouted.
“In the name of Lumeis, I shall judge you!”
As he shouted, dozens of overlapping sacred magic circles materialized in the air, emitting light. A beam of pure white light descended from the sky and condensed on the Pope’s fists. In that instant, knuckles engraved with a holy mark formed on the back of his hands.
A golden radiance flickered in his eyes as his gaze fixed on my sword, as if to pierce it.
And then, the Pope charged first.
“Haaaaah!!”
His massive muscles tensed, and he kicked off the ground, closing the distance in an instant. His momentum was like that of a wild beast.
I raised my sword.
—CLANG!!!
The first clash. The moment the Pope’s knuckles and my sword collided, an explosive sound erupted, and a shockwave swept through the area.
The ground shattered, and several nearby Holy Knights were thrown back and collapsed. Dust billowed up thickly, and within it, I stood my ground, locked in a stalemate with the Pope.
“Unexpected. I thought you were just a madman.”
The Pope muttered under his breath. His fist came at me again. A series of hooks and straights flew with enough force to tear through steel.
I tilted my head back to dodge his punch and took a step back.
“Baldy. You’re more threatening than you look.”
At my provocation, a ripple momentarily flickered across the gleaming crown of the Pope’s head, and the sacred halo behind him wavered slightly.
“…You would do well to watch your tongue. Otherwise— you will not leave this place alive today.”
He took a deep breath.
“Hmph… Judgment—”
Layer upon layer of formations made of holy power appeared over his fists. Light and symbols pulsed as they overlapped.
The Pope’s eyes shot open as he rushed forward with explosive speed.
Crazy…!
He was too fast to dodge.
I’ll help you!
Bi-yeon instantly created a barrier of wind as I enveloped myself in a protective aura.
“Star— Finish!!”
—KRA-KOOM!!
The moment his fist connected, the space in front of me ruptured as if it were being torn apart. At the center of the attack, the stone floor of the square buckled and split like a wave, and explosive holy power shot out in all directions.
A tremendous impact pierced through my entire body. Even though I had blocked it with my protective aura, I was thrown back several meters as if caught in a violent storm, crashing into and shattering the wall of the grand cathedral.
—Crack!
The breath was knocked out of me. My arm was numb, and it felt like a few of my ribs had cracked.
“Kuh…”
As I tried to get up from the dust, the Pope’s figure, trailing a golden afterimage, slowly approached. The holy light above his head still flickered, and his eyes were filled with a cold, sharp killing intent.
Crazy old man… Fuck, he’s strong as hell.
I told you we should fight after a spirit fusion. Why are you so stubborn when you’re so weak?
…I didn’t know he’d be this strong.
He was much stronger than I expected.
I had deliberately caused a scene to gauge his strength for myself… but he was beyond my imagination.
So the crazy old man wasn’t called the Pope for nothing.
Still, I had no regrets.
I had started something this big fully prepared to accept the risks.
Besides, I could smooth over the aftermath.
Not only had I brought a hero, but I was also willing to hand over one of the Seven Deadly Sins that the Order so desperately wanted.
At that moment, the Pope raised his fist. A sacred magic circle appeared over it once more, and his eyes flashed.
“This is the end.”
Just as his fist was about to fly toward me, a familiar voice came from above.
“Marquis!!”
In that instant, a person descended from the sky.
Dropping through the golden afterglow, she landed squarely on the Pope’s head, forcing him to stumble and break his stance, before lightly spinning and landing in front of me.
Then, she gasped for breath and hugged me tightly.