Chapter 244: The Villain (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 244: The Villain (1)
Last night.
“Rani, you must be the one to cut me down.”
The moment Jin returned to the Holy Kingdom with the survivors, Vitura had spoken those words.
While Jin was away, Vitura had finished devising the swiftest and most perfect way to purge the invaders and traitors from the Holy Kingdom.
No, it was less a deliberation and more a final, unshakeable resolution.
“Sir Vitura, what on earth are you talking about?”
“Lord Jin has brought witnesses and evidence. Moreover, because of the Advent Festival, more eyes are watching this land than ever before. This is an opportunity that will never come again. To truly finish those bastards, we need a villain to die alongside them.”
“You’re… joking, right?” Rani asked, her voice trembling.
Vitura shook his head. “No. I have already made my decision.”
“But why must it be this way? We have witnesses no one can deny and the evidence recorded by the Saint from the Dawn Carriage Society, who martyred himself in agony. Even if you don’t involve yourself, Sir Vitura, that’s more than enough to—”
“That is a pipe dream, Rani Salome. Do you truly believe you can reclaim a nation from a Great Family that holds the world in its palm with just that?”
“And why not? No matter how great Zipple or Kinzelo are, how can they deny the state of the survivors when they’re revealed to the entire world? Besides, according to Lord Jin, Zipple is already in a tight spot because of Kall Zipple…”
“Of course, Lord Jin’s help alone will be enough to back them into a corner. But what comes after? They will simply cut their losses, offer up a few scapegoats, and then return to prey upon this land once more.”
“Even if that’s the case, I cannot brand you a traitor, Sir Vitura! This is madness!”
For a moment, only Rani’s ragged, anxious breathing filled the silence.
“Rani Salome. What do you think the Holy Kingdom needs right now?”
Rani could not answer.
“A leader. We need a symbol of hope to convince the people that the Holy Kingdom is not finished. The time has come for a leader to appear—one who can execute the traitors before everyone’s eyes and declare that the rightful masters of this kingdom are the children of Ayula.”
“Are you telling me… to take on that role?”
“Yes.”
“Ha. I see what this is about. In that case, you should frame me as the traitor, Sir Vitura. Kill me and become the leader yourself.”
“Rani.”
“To be blunt, I’ve done nothing compared to you. The people only love me because I am the Holy King’s daughter. By what right should I become their leader? I’m not capable of it.”
“…My friend, Miklan, brought you here from the very beginning with the intent to raise you as the next Holy Queen.”
“Father never said anything of the sort.”
“I swear on Ayula’s name. Miklan received a revelation from Ayula that you would become the Holy Queen.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden—?”
“Look at this.”
Vitura pulled a notebook from his breast pocket. It was Miklan’s diary. It contained nothing of state affairs, only his personal daily life and religious reflections. Near the middle of the diary was an entry about Rani and a revelation from Ayula.
“Ah…”
There was no way Rani wouldn’t recognize Miklan’s handwriting.
“So, if you cannot be convinced otherwise, accept it as the will of Ayula. Weren’t you the child who followed Ayula’s word better than anyone?”
“Even if God chose me… this isn’t right. It’s truly not.”
“I am already known as a prominent pro-Zipple figure, and I have spent a long time acting as their pawn. By executing me, you will show the world that Ayula’s volcano is still active.”
“There has to be another way, Sir Vitura.”
Rani found it even harder to accept because she had long harbored a quiet disdain for Vitura, even before the Holy King was kidnapped. To her, he had been nothing more than a sycophant—the first to become Zipple’s lapdog, her father’s greatest political rival, and an obstacle to the kingdom.
But the real Vitura had shared a deeper friendship with Miklan than anyone else. He was a loyalist among loyalists, one who had always volunteered to play the villain to keep watch over enemies both internal and external.
She felt that even a lifetime of apologies wouldn't be enough to repay him. And now he was asking her to let him bear such a heavy burden alone, branded a villain until the very end. It was too much for Rani to bear.
“I don’t have the confidence, Sir Vitura…”
“Yes, you can. Think rationally. You know as well as I do that there is no better move than this, don’t you? Even Lord Jin, who has no real connection to us, fought a great battle for the sake of the Holy Kingdom. Cutting me down is a simple task compared to that.”
“No one but us—no one will ever know of your sacrifice! Instead, they will point fingers and curse you. Your name will go down in history as a terrible traitor…!”
“Did the Goddess tell you to seek reward for doing good? Did she tell you to seek recognition for keeping your faith? Did she tell you to calculate the cost before resolving to sacrifice? Ayula and the Great Saints never left such teachings.”
“But still…”
“Rani Salome! Stop acting like a child. Do not disappoint me further. Like me, you must endure. Will you insult my resolve just because you fear your own heartache?”
In the end, Rani collapsed and burst into tears. Clutching her chest in agony, she bowed until her forehead struck the floor, letting out a raw, guttural cry.
In that moment, Jin and Murakan saw Rani’s body momentarily glow with a brilliant light. It was a flash so brief it felt like an optical illusion.
Vitura stroked her back for a moment before turning his gaze toward Jin.
Jin and Murakan had been silently listening to their conversation for some time, wondering if there was truly a better solution than the one Vitura proposed.
If they had thought of one, they would have spoken up. Unfortunately, Vitura’s sacrifice was undoubtedly the most powerful means to stabilize the Holy Kingdom.
Even as an outsider, Jin felt the injustice of Vitura’s sacrifice. From a purely selfish perspective, it would be far easier for him to expose the corruption and seek asylum in Huphester, or even to truly collude with Zipple.
However, to offer an opinion on the decision of this man of steel would be a grave insult.
“Lord Jin.”
“Yes, Sir Vitura.”
“I have incurred a debt to you that I can likely never repay. I shall not forget your hard work for the Holy Kingdom, even in death.”
“…Unlike you, sir, I only got involved because I was promised compensation.”
“Even so, it was no easy task.”
“Sir Vitura.”
“Speak.”
“I will take responsibility for your family. I’ll see to it they can live quietly in Huphester.”
If Vitura’s plan succeeded, Rani would be unable to look after his family. It was impossible for a Holy Queen to care for the family of a traitor. Furthermore, without help, Vitura’s family would never survive.
Would Zipple, having suffered such a massive setback, truly leave them alive?
The subjects of the Holy Kingdom might not go so far as to stone them, out of respect for Ayula’s mercy, but they would certainly not step forward to protect the family of a traitor.
“…I meant to express my gratitude, yet I find myself even further in your debt.”
“Consider it a show of respect from one warrior of the Garden of Swords to a senior.”
* * *
“What is this foul babbling? Dawn Order of Doctrine Protection! Drag these heretics away at once!” Vitura shouted, his voice thick with venom.
At his violent outburst, an almost terrifying silence fell over the square.
Everyone felt that something was terribly wrong. Ten subjects bearing the clear marks of biological experimentation, the Captain of the Holy Knights screaming ‘heresy’ at them in a panic, and the shocked expression of the Fake Holy King.
It all left the crowd in a state of jarring confusion.
Clomp, clomp, clomp!
The paladins of the Dawn Order of Doctrine Protection standing beside Vitura instantly formed ranks.
The crowd instinctively blocked the path of Vitura and his knights. The paladins began to shove them aside roughly.
“Your Majesty! Those people are all heretics! Get away from them! Golden Shield Society, what are you doing? Separate those heretics from His Majesty at once!”
The Golden Shield Society did not budge at Vitura’s command, only closing ranks around the carriage.
While the Fake Holy King, merely a Zipple agent transformed by Bubar’s magic, couldn’t hide his bewilderment, Rani glared at Vitura and screamed.
“How can the Captain be so certain they are heretics? And to draw your sword so recklessly before His Majesty has even given an order! Fall back!”
There wasn't a single person in the square who didn't know of the political rivalry between Rani and Vitura. In their eyes, Vitura looked like Zipple’s dog, screaming in a desperate attempt to clean up the mess.
“I am the Captain of the Holy Knights. I hold the sole authority to judge heresy. If you have eyes, look, Rani Salome! Do those hideous figures look human to you? They have surely colluded with demons!”
“That is for His Majesty to decide! Your Majesty, please order Sir Vitura to stand down.”
The Fake Holy King had no idea how to handle the situation.
“Your Majesty, I have told you several times they are heretics! Before the Holy Kingdom's prestige is tarnished any further, you must suppress them and proceed with the Consecration Ceremony!”
“One more word, and I will declare you a heretic as well, Rani Salome! Everyone, move! Clear the way!”
As Vitura and the knights of the Dawn Order drew close enough to reach the subjects, the knights of the Golden Shield Society drew their swords and blocked their path.
“Do not come any closer, Sir Vitura.”
“You bastards…! You are my direct subordinates. You dare to block my path?”
Direct subordinates. Unlike those whose heads Vitura had taken when he first met Jin, these were the thirty knights of the Golden Shield Society who had remained loyal to the end. They were now pointing their swords at Vitura, their hearts aching with the pain of betrayal.
“Drawing a weapon without His Majesty’s command is an act of treason. Captain, sheathe your sword immediately.”
Clang!
Vitura fiercely thrust his sword toward the Golden Shield knights. As the knights of the Dawn Order began their attack simultaneously, blood splattered across the square.
Vitura charged toward the survivors like a man possessed, fighting as if killing them was the only way to contain the damage from today's incident.
Vitura and fifty knights of the Dawn Order versus Rani and thirty knights of the Golden Shield.
A chaotic melee erupted, but Vitura’s martial prowess was truly befitting of his title as Captain. He pushed back the Golden Shield knights with sheer force, closing the distance to the survivors.
“You heretic scum! I’ll have your heads!”
As Vitura drew closer, the ten survivors huddled around the Fake Holy King. This, of course, had been planned beforehand. Within seconds, all the survivors were screaming as they surrounded the Fake Holy King, and Rani blocked the path before them.
The first to reach Rani was, naturally, Vitura. The Golden Shield Society was fighting desperately to prevent the Dawn Order from reaching her.
Rani and Vitura’s eyes met.
On the surface, both were glaring daggers at each other, but inside, they felt an indescribable pity for one another.
“You wench, Rani! You're a heretic too! I will hold you accountable for your crimes later! Your Majesty, Your Majesty! I have come! I, Vitura, will save Your Majesty from these heretics!”
Clang!
Rani and Vitura’s swords clashed. The exchange they had practiced all night began.
While Rani only had to dodge and block his attacks, Vitura had to force her back, making it seem like he was trying to kill the survivors while actually aiming for the Fake Holy King.
Clang, cl-clash!
While parrying Vitura’s sword, Rani felt as if he were comforting her with his blade.
It’s okay, it’s okay, he seemed to say.
Thud!
Rani was sent rolling across the ground by Vitura’s thrust. In that moment, the distance between Vitura, the Fake Holy King, and the survivors was a mere two steps.
With madness in his eyes, Vitura bypassed Rani and thrust his sword once more.
What happened next looked, for all the world, like a terrible mistake on Vitura's part.
“Urgh, cough…!”
Vitura’s sword pierced the Fake Holy King’s throat.
And as he faltered, seemingly in disbelief at his own error, he raised his sword to strike the survivors again—
But Rani, having just scrambled back to her feet, swung her sword at the back of Vitura’s neck.