Chapter 171
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Standing Against the Sword Masters
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This operation had such an extremely low chance of success because there was no way they would simply leave the saintess alone for two whole days.
And what I was focused on were the auras of Sword Master-level or higher powerhouses emanating from among those holy knights.
[Multiple approaches detected. Sword Master-level or higher powerhouses. Total of 5 identified.]
"Young Master Leon, the Holy Kingdom's forces have begun to move. It seems they're all pushing in from the same direction. Toward the Festad Avenue."
Diablo relayed the intelligence just as the librarian's report on detecting the powerhouses came in simultaneously.
"They're already on their way."
Quite a number of them.
The good news was that all five were approaching from the same spot.
I turned my head and saw Saintess Nadia already beginning her prayer.
The false saintess Nadia Ten Lilibel, branded a heretic.
For such a saintess to suddenly vanish and reappear, offering prayers before the Holy Kingdom's most sacred statue...
From the Holy Kingdom's perspective, it must seem like this unstable girl—who couldn't even properly manifest miracles—was up to something insane.
But.
The Holy Kingdom's upper echelons, upon noticing High Priest Diablo by her side, had no choice but to realize something was wrong.
A massive force they had completely written off due to its absolute non-interventionist stance had suddenly stepped up to protect the saintess.
Those who had merely observed until now were making their move, but Diablo had astonishingly gathered his forces in secret, blocking off the paths.
Their numbers were more substantial than I had anticipated.
But as he himself had said, they fell short of blocking even the upper-tier existences, so the Sword Masters were my responsibility.
Five holy knights clad in resplendent armor.
The high priests hadn't shown themselves yet.
Each one ranged from novice to mid-level Sword Master.
Powerhouses at a realm where each was called a strategic weapon, yet I simply steadied my breath to greet them.
Kwa-ga-ga-gak!!!
I stood in the avenue, blocking their rapid approach, and lightly swung the black night sword infused with mithril that the dwarf craftsman Berus had made for me before.
Using my signature sword technique here would defeat the purpose of the mask.
I had to operate as an unidentified mercenary cooperating with Diablo, not Leon Cascadia.
The swing of my sword created a shockwave, carving a massive line in front of the rapidly approaching group.
"......"
The five instinctively halted, their gazes converging on me in unison.
"Who are you?"
"You can't pass beyond this point."
The elderly holy knight at the front fixed me with a chilling glare at my words.
"A heretic's lackey? I'll handle him. The rest of you, swiftly suppress before the heretic can defile the holy relic."
At his command, the other holy knights erupted with holy power, assuming attack stances.
Yes, that was the normal reaction.
Standing alone against five Sword Masters was absurd.
Even if they sensed I possessed power, they couldn't gauge its extent yet, so they figured one was enough.
Tu-eo-eong!!!!
Suddenly, one Sword Master soared over the line I'd drawn, as if flying through the sky, trying to bypass me.
But I simply lifted one foot slightly, sword in hand.
"I told you clearly. You can't pass."
Tuu-ung!!!
As I lightly stomped the ground, dozens of magic circles erupted from the pavement in unison, forming chains of elemental mana that lashed out to bind the holy knight trying to slip past me.
Teo-eong!!
However, against a Sword Master-level holy knight, it wasn't very effective; he cleaved through the chains with his sword infused with the holy knight's aura blade.
Of course, that succeeded in pushing him back outside once more.
"A mage?"
Seeing me wield a sword yet cast magic, the elderly holy knight asked, caught off guard.
"Something like that."
"An arrogant pup. What are you waiting for? Move out now! That's an order to swiftly apprehend the heretic!"
At his command, the four others moved simultaneously.
Regardless of whatever I was hiding, they must have judged that blocking all four would be impossible for me.
"Don't blame me, heretic."
Moreover, to prevent me from blocking them, the elderly holy knight drew his sword and charged at me with tremendous speed.
Four strategic weapons trying to slip past me.
One most powerful strategic weapon barreling straight at me.
Indeed, with only one body, I had no way to catch them all at once.
"Room of Truth."
So, I had no choice but to trap them all.
[Overlord]
[Realm Transcendence]
[Colosseum of Links]
A false circle overlays the seven true ones.
The launchpad for 8th-circle magic was ready.
I immediately conjured a massive, impenetrable barrier enveloping the surrounding area, engulfing them all.
My task was to keep these guys from reaching Nadia for two days.
Kwa-ang!!!
The Sword Master holy knights, who tried to smash through the suddenly appeared wall, wore shocked expressions when even their aura blades left it unscathed.
"W-what is this?!"
"Save your energy. It's not breaking that easily."
"You bastard... What the hell are you? To cast such grand magic in an instant..."
"There's one surefire way to solve this. Want to hear it?"
"......"
"Most spells can't be maintained if the caster falls."
They'd be better off focusing solely on me instead of wasting strength.
As I said that, the elderly holy knight charging at me exuded an ominous aura.
I shifted my gaze to the sword of the holy knight captain.
At the same time, my aura exploded outward, and my body seemed to slip free of time's axis, instantly widening the distance between us.
Ka-a-a-ang!!!
His sword rang out faintly as if striking something, rebounding.
"Quite the unique swordsmanship. Lacking for a heretic's technique."
Impressive reaction speed.
His realm seemed mid-level Sword Master, but the seasoned skill he carried couldn't be judged by realm alone.
"I am Rehelon Ban, captain of the Holy Kingdom's holy knights. What's your name?"
"If I were going to tell you, I wouldn't be wearing the mask."
"Insolent fool..."
Unlike my signature sword, the black night sword was sturdier than a normal blade but couldn't withstand my full swordsmanship for long.
In other words, after a certain time, I'd need the Machine God's heart to repair it.
Thank goodness it could do that much; otherwise, I couldn't have used a sword for long.
"No choice, then. We'll subdue him as quickly as possible and break through."
At Rehelon Ban's command, the Sword Master holy knights manifested sword auras en masse and began their assault.
The saintess's prayer.
In the Holy Kingdom's upper echelons, the high priests who had branded Nadia a heretic gathered to discuss the current situation.
"I never imagined High Priest Diablo would step forward."
"Wasn't he completely neutral, never meddling in politics?"
"But now he's protecting the saintess."
They had prepared extensively since deciding to oust Saintess Nadia, but even they hadn't anticipated Diablo's involvement.
Whatever she did to sway him, if it was Diablo, he must have some plan, putting on this show.
"His scheme is obvious. Staging a performance where Nadia Ten Lilibel summons an angel in front of everyone."
If an angel is summoned, she can't be a heretic.
Of course, they could wriggle out with "even if it happens, so what?" logic, but if the opponent was High Priest Diablo, he held the power to truly round up and tear apart everyone involved.
"We've already dispatched five Sword Master holy knights on official orders. Diablo has strong forces, but he can't fully protect her from five Sword Masters and the kingdom's troops right now."
They needed to reach Saintess Nadia, suppress her, and drag her away before she stirred up the crowd with her bizarre antics.
The ploy was so sudden and outlandish that only capital-stationed forces—some of them—were mobilized, but it didn't matter.
The five Sword Master holy knights who normally wouldn't move had been sent under the pretext of a capital invasion, so good news should arrive soon.
Baril, who led them, wasn't here now, but it was fine without him.
"Report."
"Speak. Have you captured the heretic?"
When one high priest asked the reporting priest, he replied with a hesitant expression.
"Well..."
"Don't beat around the bush—answer quickly!"
Unable to hold back, one high priest bellowed, making the priest flinch dramatically.
"The thing is... the first wave of troops is tied up by blocking forces."
That much was expected. It just meant Diablo's forces were stronger than thought.
"What about the Sword Master holy knights? Where are they and what are they doing?"
At the high priest's question, the priest cautiously opened his mouth.
"I'm not certain, but all five are currently fighting a single masked individual. The area is sealed by a sturdy barrier—neither entering nor exiting is possible."
What kind of nonsense was this?
Kwang!!
"Does that even make sense right now?! That the kingdom's top five forces can't handle one person?! Even if the Empire's Sword Saint showed up!"
"It doesn't seem to be him..."
"Kuh..."
"Don't worry. Sir Rehelon will handle it without issue. He's the Undefeated Holy Knight, after all."
At those words, the high priests nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, that makes sense. Good news should come soon."
But inside the massive barrier, events were unfolding contrary to their expectations.
Ka-ang!! Kang-kang!!!
Rehelon Ban's relentless, swift sword strikes slashed at Leon multiple times.
In this situation of unexpectedly superb coordination—and needing to conceal all identity markers—Leon couldn't easily gain the upper hand.
He focused solely on dodging or blocking.
Fortunately, since they knew little of magic, he used it to create variables and adjust the flow.
"More impressive than expected. Your movements are like someone who's fought groups many times."
"It just turned out that way."