Chapter 213
Chapter 213
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 213
Chapter Title: The True Enemy Appears
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***
‘If that’s true….’
Valtre was utterly bewildered after hearing what Natarsian had said upon returning to the castle with Heric, both of them wounded.
On top of that, he couldn’t even imagine a Grand Sword Master like himself losing to anyone.
He couldn’t believe it without seeing it with his own eyes.
So he rushed out from the castle straight to the battlefield, only to find the allied forces suddenly pulling back, followed by the Namshar Empire’s troops fully retreating.
The atmosphere had abruptly settled into a stalemate.
In the empty battlefield, a familiar helmet caught his eye.
And in front of that guy stood Duke Terry of the Namshar Empire and a mysterious woman in a blue robe.
‘What the hell is going on here!’
Valtre’s face twisted in anger.
He was supposed to be the master of this place, and this battle was supposed to revolve around him.
But at some point, unexpected interlopers had gotten involved, throwing everything into chaos.
The Demon King’s familiar and a spirit of darkness.
And the one who grated on his nerves the most, Arthur Julius.
In this situation, one wrong move could unravel everything he had built up so far.
He even had a foreboding premonition that he might suddenly lose it all to that brat.
“I won’t… allow it.”
Valtre leaped off his saddle almost the moment he arrived.
Then he strode confidently toward Arthur and Duke Terry.
Duke Terry’s face hardened at the sight of Valtre.
On one hand, it was a chance to confirm Arthur’s sincerity.
Anticipation mixed with tension as he wondered what the man would say.
Valtre swept his sharp gaze over the two before speaking to Duke Terry.
“This is the first time I’ve encountered such dogshit in the middle of a war.”
“Same here.”
As Duke Terry glared with murderous eyes, killing intent flickered in Valtre’s as well.
“Don’t run your mouth carelessly just because it’s loose. If I wanted to, taking your worthless life would be child’s play.”
“What did you say!”
Duke Terry’s eyes bulged as he drew up his mana.
A ferocious aura boiled up from him, and Valtre immediately countered.
He unleashed thick killing intent, instantly overwhelming Duke Terry.
“Ugh!”
An immense pressure crushed Terry from all sides.
He tried to resist by drawing up his mana, but he couldn’t even twitch a finger.
For someone who had reached the pinnacle of Sword Master to be rendered immobile….
‘Has he ascended to Grand Sword Master as well?’
If so, he had become an absolute being that Valtre couldn’t hope to match.
Realizing his earlier words weren’t idle threats filled him with despair.
He had been confident that he would bow to no one but Artisan….
‘Damn it!’
The man’s aura pressed in on his heart.
“Keuk.”
Duke Terry clutched his chest and dropped to one knee.
As Valtre glared and approached to grab his head, it happened.
“That’s far enough.”
“Who the hell are you to give me orders!”
Valtre swung his hand toward Arthur.
A deep crimson aura blade shot out.
Arthur calmly extended his hand and blocked the aura.
‘What!’
Valtre’s eyes went wide.
It was a casual strike, but it carried the power of a Grand Sword Master.
And it had been blocked so easily.
‘No way, you too….’
Valtre’s eyes shook violently.
Arthur flexed his steaming palm and spoke.
“Have you forgotten what I said?”
“……?”
“That I’d come for your head—did you think that was just said in the heat of the moment?”
“Shut up!”
Valtre shoved Duke Terry aside and turned toward Arthur.
Then he unleashed his full power as if to show it off.
A tremendous aura exploded outward.
“Hup!”
Duke Terry was flung back by the pressure.
As it bore down on Aria beside him, a barrier of wind unfurled to protect her.
Parisia had moved on Arthur’s command.
The aura swept toward Arthur too, but he stood there unfazed, utterly composed.
He even wore a mocking expression.
“You thought this pathetic display would threaten me?”
“How long can you hold out?”
Valtre sneered and took a step forward.
The pressure intensified even further.
“Your climbing stops here.”
The moment the smile vanished from Arthur’s face, blood-red aura flowed from his eyes.
As the power of the Tyrant activated, the atmosphere around them shifted dramatically.
‘What?’
Now Valtre felt the pressure bearing down on him.
It was like the air itself was crushing him—movement was difficult, even breathing.
Impossible for mere aura to pressure a Grand Sword Master like himself.
But it was happening, so he couldn’t deny it.
Even standing face-to-face felt burdensome now.
If he backed down here, he’d never be able to face the man again—that ominous fear drove him to exert himself fully.
“I-I won’t… back down….”
Valtre gritted his teeth and tried to step forward, but the pressure only grew stronger.
“Don’t put on airs of pride in front of me.”
Arthur, who had merely stood there until now, approached Valtre and seized his head just as he had tried to do to Duke Terry.
Then he crushed down mercilessly.
Thud!
Valtre offered no resistance and dropped to both knees, staring up at Arthur.
He tried to avoid the man’s eyes, but Arthur applied pressure to force the gaze.
A headache like his skull would split assaulted him.
“Ugh….”
Valtre couldn’t hold back a low groan.
Arthur looked down at him like an insect and said,
“Your insolence ends here. From now on, everything you have is mine.”
He flung him aside like a rag.
Then he turned his gaze to Duke Terry.
“Tomoya’s royal castle is where I’ll be, so if talking with her clears your head, come find me.”
“Understood.”
As Duke Terry turned toward Aria, something occurred to him, and he asked Arthur.
“What if.”
“……?”
“What happens to the Namshar Empire if we side with you? Do we become vassals of the Julius Kingdom?”
“I have no intention of expanding territory.”
“Then….”
“We’ll simply be allies.”
Arthur swiftly mounted Khan as he approached from the side and galloped off toward the Tomoya Kingdom.
Duke Terry watched him go and asked Aria.
“What do you make of his words, Saintess?”
“If he says it, then believe it.”
“Human greed knows no bounds.”
“I know. But he is the one chosen by Karen. He will choose the world’s peace over his own desires.”
“Your faith in him is impressive.”
“I couldn’t let go of my wariness until I received Karen’s revelation myself.”
“You received a revelation from Karen?”
Duke Terry’s eyes lit up.
Aria nodded, recalling the night she had fully awakened as Saintess—the day Arthur had eliminated Boika at the Scollas Sanctuary and departed for Anscent Castle.
“That evening, Karen appeared to me in a dream.”
A halo glowed around Aria, exuding a holy aura.
“He is the one who will save the world. The grace bestowed upon you is to unite those who will be saved through him. This is your first mission—heed it well.”
“Ah….”
An exclamation escaped Duke Terry.
It wasn’t the voice of the woman he had just spoken to.
He knew the words and will of Karen carried special power.
When relayed by one who received divine revelation, that will was faintly conveyed.
The will felt in Aria’s words!
It must have been Karen’s message reproduced through her.
Doubts about her vanished, replaced by faith.
Among Karen’s revelations, “saving the world” surely included the Namshar Empire.
Besides, he hadn’t said subjugation by the Julius Kingdom, but alliance?
From Namshar’s perspective, there was no reason to oppose joining him.
Duke Terry pondered for a moment.
After careful deliberation, he spoke gravely.
“I will trust and accept the Saintess’s faith and Karen’s revelation. But I have a request for you, Saintess. Please grant it.”
“Speak. I’ll help if I can.”
“Be our witness.”
“……?”
Aria tilted her head.
“I want his promise for Namshar’s revival.”
“Understood. I’ll convey that request.”
Duke Terry smiled meaningfully and said,
“There is a most certain way to revive Namshar. It is….”
After hearing him out, Aria’s eyes widened.
“That’s… for me too….”
“I believe this aligns with your mission as Saintess. So you must take responsibility and help.”
Duke Terry pushed forward with resolve.
***
“What’s going on? Where’s Lord Valtre, and why’s only that guy showing up?”
“And what’s that monster he’s riding? Isn’t it a monster?”
The soldiers on the walls stared in confusion at Arthur appearing before the gates.
Arthur looked up at the firmly shut gates and shouted.
“Open the gates!”
One soldier yelled back.
“State your identity!”
Arthur replied immediately.
“I am the king of the Julius Kingdom, Arthur Julius! I’ve come to end this war!”
“What?”
“The king of the Julius Kingdom?”
“Why’s he here?”
As the area grew chaotic, Natarsian and Heric appeared at the gates.
“Open the gates!”
The guard captain rushed over and shook his head.
“No! King Valtre ordered us not to open for anyone but him!”
“He is not the enemy. Open the gates and welcome him.”
“What are you talking about?”
“If you won’t, I’ll open them myself.”
Natarsian drew his sword and drew up his mana.
He wasn’t fully recovered from his wounds, but he had enough power to smash the gates.
As a mighty aura emanated from him, the guard captain paled and shouted.
“Understood! Open the gates!”
At his command, the soldiers hurriedly unbarred them.
Moments later.
Arthur rode Khan into the castle.
Facing Natarsian, he declared firmly as if issuing a proclamation.
“From now on, I take command here.”
“……!”
The surrounding soldiers’ eyes widened, all gazes turning to Natarsian.
With Valtre absent, he was the final authority.
Everyone prepared to follow his decision.
As the Kingdom Knight Order and Bursta Knight Order gathered behind him, their hands slowly moving toward their sword hilts.
Natarsian sheathed his sword and bowed his head.
“We shall follow your will. The Peridri family obeys Arthur Julius from this moment.”
Clang-!
The Kingdom Knight Order sheathed their swords without hesitation in response.
As the Bursta Knight Order hesitated in the sudden turn, Demian returned alongside the Kingdom Knight Order.
Riding with the unconscious Valtre, he shouted to the Bursta Knight Order.
“Even King Valtre has accepted it—follow suit! If any disbelieve me and stir unrest or rebellion, the consequences will be dire!”
No one moved or spoke.
A heavy silence fell, tacitly shifting to acceptance of Arthur.
That was when.
Heric’s voice cried out from the walls.
“Monsters have appeared from the Gopra Mountains! Their numbers are in the thousands!”
“What!”
Natarsian was stunned.
Monsters appearing out of nowhere?
‘The Kristan capital had been quiet for a while—did they move here for that reason?’
But the Central Guard Knight Order had scoured the area thoroughly and found no monster traces.
‘What in the world…?’
As Natarsian unwittingly glanced at Arthur.
Parisia appeared before him.
-Owl Bears, trolls, even Minotaurs and Ogres—all mobilized.
“Hmm….”
Incompatible breeds gathered together—it had to be under someone’s command.
He checked the most dangerous first.
“Is there a Cadrazin?”
-No.
“Griffon?”
-No. They don’t seem under monster orders….
Parisia frowned.
-Kolepton is commanding the monsters.
“That saves me the trouble.”
Arthur gave a faint smile and turned to Natarsian.
“Can you fight alongside?”
“Monsters are no problem at all.”
Natarsian swiftly mounted his horse, ready to follow.
Arthur shouted to the Kingdom Knight Order and Bursta Knight Order watching him.
“We are not enemies! Behold! The true enemy has appeared! Brave knights, follow me!