Shadows of Betrayal
Option (1) ===================== Bilen Santander planned to notify the high elf nobles of the dark elf raid and then, borrowing the power of the Yetzirah Council, demand whether it was truly the High Priestess's decision. The evidence was already ample. The dark elves left on the brink of death. Even that alone would make it impossible for the High Priestess to dodge the political backlash.
The force that held all power in the Liberia Elf Kingdom was the Yetzirah Council. Even if the High Priestess mobilized the Twelve Warrior Captains to attack the council, if the nobles united, she would have no choice but to raise the white flag.
"Mind keeping an eye on those dark elves for me? I'll pay you handsomely, of course."
"Sure, not a big deal. I owe those bastards anyway."
Allen nodded at Leticia's request. It wasn't tough work. Plus, she needed the cash right now. Money was always better in abundance—one of Yushin's favorite sayings.
Allen, who had always lived richly in the Valua Kingdom, hadn't gotten it at first. But since coming to the elf kingdom, she'd started to grasp just how crucial money was. Money. It was everyone's best friend.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Shoot."
Leticia opened her mouth cautiously.
"Allen. I've heard the name before. But I wasn't sure until now."
Allen Rocksfield. The Mad Dog of Rocksfield. The knightess rumored to have overwhelmingly crushed Warrior Captain Ardena in Urhel. Elves who witnessed Allen rampaging there all called her a 'monster' in unison.
"Took you long enough to notice. Anyone who didn't would be a total idiot."
"Not many can take on the Shadow Clan without a scratch."
Allen was a common name. But among knightesses named Allen, few could boast overwhelming might against the Shadow Clan. The Mad Dog of Rocksfield. Second Seat of the Kingdom's Seven Swords. She was one of the top powerhouses among the Valua Kingdom's guardian knights.
Even her father seemed to have a rough idea of her identity. That's why, before leaving for Maherith Palace, he'd tipped off his daughter Leticia.
"Best not to blab about it."
"Yes, I won't tell a soul."
"Good enough."
Allen nodded, seeing the clear resolve in Leticia's bright eyes. In Allen's assessment, the Santander family was a 'rich sugar daddy'. She'd learned that Yushin's men, hired by the Santanders, were living it up and getting fat paychecks.
She wanted money. To make money, cozy up to the wealthy. That's why Allen hadn't headed straight to Valencia Castle but stayed with the Santander family. Partly to guard Yushin's still-recovering subordinates, partly to earn some dough.
"Then I'll get going. Handle the rest, yeah?"
"Got it."
After entrusting the dark elves to Allen, Leticia headed to her room. She ordered the maids not to let anyone enter. Once inside, she locked the door tight, sealing off all outside access.
The Diablo Slayer of the Holy Empire.
Leticia always listened to her father recount Yetzirah Council matters. The High Priestess was searching for the 'Diablo Slayer of the Holy Empire'. Why had the Shadow Clan attacked Santander Castle? If dark elves under the High Priestess's direct command had moved, it meant Yushin Gilliard was the Diablo Slayer of the Holy Empire.
It might be jumping to conclusions. But the possibility was strong.
"Is this the Memory Vessel the Shadow Clan uses...?"
Leticia flopped onto her bed. Lying on the soft bed adorned with silk frills, she pulled out the small orb recovered from the dark elves.
Dark elves were called the Shadow Clan, but also the 'memory thieves'. They stole memories from others and treated them like objects. Seeing the orb that had rolled from the dark elves' grasp, Leticia instantly realized it held memories taken from Yushin's subordinates.
"They say dark elves can easily extract and read the memories inside... But how the hell do you pull them out?"
Leticia muttered, fiddling with the small orb between her fingers.
Memory Vessel. It likely contained info on the Holy Empire's Diablo Slayer. The Santander heiress had a burning passion for exploration. She'd once holed up in the library all day deciphering ancient tomes, and loved chatting with scholars friendly with her father. Drawing closer to the world's truths and knowledge—that was Leticia's greatest thrill.
"If I infuse it with mana..."
Leticia gripped the orb tight and channeled mana. But nothing happened. Mana clearly wasn't the key.
If she could just open the Memory Vessel... She might witness the epic sight of the Tyranny Demon King Agares falling to the Diablo Slayer's blade. Her curiosity surged. Leticia vowed to herself she'd crack it open somehow—to see Agares's demise, the birth of the Diablo Slayer.
Yushin learned the full story when Bilen, head of the Santander family, arrived at Maherith Palace. They crossed paths at an oddly perfect moment. Yushin had just refused the High Priestess's earnest plea and was leaving the meeting hall.
Bilen informed him of the raid on Santander Castle. Four of his subordinates had been caught in it. Attacked by the Shadow Clan—dark elves—under the High Priestess's direct command, they now lay bedridden.
"...Are they safe?"
"No external wounds. But the curse the dark elves cast has them stuck in bed."
"Understood."
Surprisingly, Yushin stayed calm. No overt rage despite hearing his men were attacked. But if Allen saw him now, she'd be fidgeting anxiously. The fierce light in Yushin's eyes was fading—the telltale sign of his true fury.
"I just turned down her offer on my way out. If what Lord Santander says is true, I need to meet the High Priestess again right now."
With that, Yushin turned. Sensing an inexplicable unease, Bilen placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Guh!"
But Bilen yanked his hand back before it touched. Sparks bit at his fingertips. Static electricity...? No way. It hurt far too much for that.
Yushin was a coiled thunderbolt. Lightning wrapped his entire body. The moment he swung a fist, those bolts would ravage everything around him mercilessly.
"It's not confirmed as the High Priestess's doing yet. Don't act rashly."
Bilen intended to hold the High Priestess accountable for the dark elf raid on Santander Castle. Like Kadaz, he despised High Priestess Ileina. He resented her pushing aside those who'd run the elf kingdom's affairs and seizing power.
But that didn't mean he wanted calamity to strike Maherith Palace.
Bilen was convinced Yushin was the Holy Empire's Diablo Slayer. He'd realized it through this dark elf attack. The Diablo Slayer had the power to bring disaster upon Maherith Palace.
"...I know."
After steadying his breath and quelling his anger, Yushin thanked Bilen.
"Lord Santander, thanks for looking after my idiot subordinates."
With that, Yushin calmed the lightning coursing through him and turned away from Bilen.
Ileina was currently in a mild snit. She'd failed to persuade him. If the Yetzirah Council nobles learned she'd failed to sway the Diablo Slayer, she'd never hear the end of their nagging. She hated even imagining it.
Should she just hole up in her room? When cornered, don't fight—flee. That was Ileina's creed.
"I'll try persuading him again later."
As Ileina gulped down her cold black tea in frustration, Ardena bowed her head and spoke. Ileina shot back,
"So, what's your deal with the Diablo Slayer, Warrior Captain Ardena? From what I saw, you two aren't just casual acquaintances. There's gotta be something there."
"Nothing! How could a high elf and a human..."
Ileina cut in on Ardena's words.
"But if that human's the Diablo Slayer, doesn't that change everything? Think about it. He took down the Tyranny Demon King Agares. I've already promised him treatment equal to a high elf in the High Priestess's name and said we'd honor him as a hero of the Liberia Elf Kingdom. From our elves' perspective, under siege by the Demon King Army, he's talent we must acquire."
Diablo Slayer. Hearing it from Ileina made Ardena's heart race. The Diablo Slayer was revered and awed by knights across races and nations. If Yushin Gilliard truly was the Diablo Slayer—the hero who'd briefly brought peace to the Holy Empire by toppling the Tyranny Demon King...
No, too soon to assume. It's not fully confirmed yet.
Ardena cooled her flushed cheeks and averted her gaze. Her heart pounded realizing the Diablo Slayer had been right there. She'd crossed swords with the man who'd felled a Demon King... Infinite glory.
Only now did Ardena truly grasp that Yushin was the Diablo Slayer. She tried suppressing her excitement, but it wouldn't settle. To any who walked the path of the sword, the Diablo Slayer was an idol of aspiration.
"Anyway, we have no relation."
"Really? I heard Warrior Captain Ardena—who's never owned even one slave—bought a handsome human male at the slave auction. Figured you were gonna do the usual deed."
Not a few elves bought pretty slaves as male prostitutes to satisfy their unique tastes and lewd urges. Ardena Valencia. Fourth Seat Warrior Captain. 320-year-old spinster. When Ileina heard from a maid that she'd bought a handsome slave, she'd muttered, "Gonna pop her cherry with a slave, eh, Warrior Captain Ardena," pitying her.
"High Priestess."
A female warrior captain on guard approached, bowing to Ileina. The human who'd just left had returned, requesting an audience.
Hearing that, Ileina decided to meet Yushin immediately. Had he accepted her offer? Her heart skipped. With an excited expression, she summoned the requesting Yushin.
"So, thought it over? My proposal?"
Ileina asked. Yushin replied,
"One thing I want to ask."
"Sure, go ahead. I'm feeling super generous right now."
Yushin nodded. After a deep breath, to confirm the facts, he relayed what Bilen Santander had told him.
"My men staying at Santander Castle were attacked. I heard it straight from Lord Santander here at the palace."
"Attacked? Who the hell would dare hit the Santander family..."
Ileina reacted with disbelief. Ardena was the same, her face showing genuine shock at the news of Santander Castle's raid.
High elves were supreme beings. Untouchable, unsurpassable. Of course, exceptions existed. Yushin Gilliard was one. Only a Diablo Slayer warranted high-elf-level honors.
"Dark elves, they say."
"Wh-what...? Why would they!!"
Ileina dropped her teaspoon. Her face twisted in horror as she shouted.
Dark elves. The Shadow Clan had attacked Yushin's men at Santander Castle. Hearing this, Ileina thought they wouldn't commit such an outrage—but suspicion crept in toward the dark elves, who had started acting arrogantly, dismissing her as a young High Priestess.
"I'd like to ask. Was it on your orders, High Priestess?"
Before Yushin's question finished, changes began in his body. The Stigmata grew. The mark on his shoulder extended, creeping up to his neck. The ominous red Stigmata surged like a volcano, blazing with fury and rage.
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