Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: War Declaration Against Glasis
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Leaving the Devil's Auction and returning to reality.
Havel's eyes once again fell upon Glasis.
He glanced at the sun to gauge the time.
'Looks like there's hardly any time difference.'
The time difference between entering and exiting the Devil's Auction was negligible.
'In that case, I didn't even need to leave it to that Elasia girl.'
Havel turned around and headed straight back to the venue.
Just before stepping out of the venue earlier.
He had spotted Systine Glasis, the first son of Glasis, entering.
He had left it in Arthur's hands, but...
Still, he couldn't help feeling a bit worried.
So, as Havel entered the venue, he subtly erased his presence.
Not even the knights guarding the venue noticed his arrival.
In that instant, the situation inside the venue came into view.
'I expected as much.'
But he hadn't thought something would blow up in such a short time.
Havel clicked his tongue at the sight of Arthur and Systine facing off.
Something must have gone wrong while he was away.
For now, Havel decided to hold back and observe without intervening.
Then, their conversation reached his ears.
"So, Glasis has no intention of admitting the mistakes they made in the past?"
Arthur's sharp voice rang out first.
The long-standing grudge between Banpellyon and Glasis.
Even though Banpellyon had saved an ancestor of Glasis during the Unification War and earned their gratitude.
Glasis had led Banpellyon's other vassal families in betrayal.
Though Glasis had desperately erased that fact from history.
Now, only Banpellyon remembered the truth of those times.
But history could not be erased.
Yet Glasis denied it.
"It's true that Glasis once stood alongside Banpellyon.
However, Banpellyon brought about their own downfall, and we simply couldn't prevent it.
There's no need for our family to crumble just because one house falls, is there?"
Systine spoke in a very stiff tone.
Arthur didn't lash out recklessly at those words.
He was certainly furious, but this wasn't a Glasis inquisition.
On the contrary, it was a gathering of those sympathetic to Glasis.
Yelling blindly here could backfire and get him mobbed.
"For Glasis's sake, Banpellyon granted them territories and rebuilt their foundations.
Yet when Banpellyon fell, they just up and left?
Is there any family as ungrateful as that?"
"We repaid that grace countless times while standing with Banpellyon.
In fact, it was Glasis who stayed by their side until the very end, even after the other families abandoned them."
That much was true.
Even if the reason was to erase any traces linking Glasis to Banpellyon's remaining assets.
Glasis had indeed stayed until the end.
And Arthur had no way to prove otherwise.
"And yet you spread vile rumors that Glasis betrayed Banpellyon.
Isn't Banpellyon the one insulting us?"
A fallen house versus the current strongest of the Five Great Families.
There was no sign of the two families' views ever aligning.
After all, all recorded history had been written by Glasis.
Arthur bit his lip in frustration.
He felt guilty for not being able to avenge his ancestors, and angry besides.
Arthur's fists trembled.
He desperately wanted something—
Anything to turn this situation around.
He yearned to repay the humiliation his ancestors suffered right here and now.
"Is that so."
It was then.
As everyone watched the confrontation between Arthur and Glasis.
A voice pierced through the venue.
Arthur's gaze slowly turned backward.
Havel stood there.
Arthur's eyes gradually widened.
"Havel."
The name of the Sword Saint who had once illuminated Banpellyon long ago.
And the one who had brought him to this stage today.
Havel met Arthur's eyes and gave a short smile.
'When an ancestor's mistake happens...'
'Shouldn't the ancestor come to help?'
Those who hadn't noticed his return looked at him in bewilderment.
Among them were, naturally, direct descendants of the Five Great Families.
Baria Graiza, who had been watching the situation tensely, let out a sigh.
In contrast, his sister observed with keen interest.
Azaris Ignor sensed a fight brewing and his eyes sparkled.
Penbola August showed worry, while Pendora August showed respect.
Finally, Kabala Cain, who had arrived at the venue unnoticed, bowed his head as if honoring Banpellyon's resurgence.
Systine Glasis's gaze turned toward him.
Meeting Havel's eyes, he no longer spoke carelessly.
This was a man who had caught the attention of Glasis's family head, the Sword Saint himself.
Naturally, even he didn't regard Havel lightly.
Havel slowly began to walk forward.
"Then it's simple."
Nobles would never tolerate a mercenary or knight under their family interrupting their lords.
Yet no one there could stop Havel's actions.
And that included Systine.
"Whether Banpellyon or Glasis is right— the survivor will prove it."
No one in the venue misunderstood the meaning of those words.
A declaration of war.
Banpellyon had just declared war on Glasis.
Everyone looked at Banpellyon with eyes mixed with shock.
Even if Banpellyon was on the rise, declaring war on Glasis?
They wondered if he was sane.
But family head Arthur stood by Havel's side without a care.
"Just as you say. I cannot accept Glasis's innocence."
Hearing Arthur's shout, Systine's brow subtly furrowed.
As if the two had crossed a line, he exuded sharp killing intent.
But that was a misstep.
In an instant, an overwhelming presence crushed the venue's killing intent, emanating from Havel.
For a moment, everyone in the venue clamped their mouths shut.
Havel, who had devoured even Systine's killing intent, tilted his head.
"If we do it right now, that's fine by me."
In that moment, the Meteor Knights' Captain stood in front of Systine like a shield.
Stalla Bonedge.
He glared at Havel in warning.
A sign not to emit any more killing intent.
Havel shifted his gaze to him dismissively.
In that instant, Stalla's body began to shrink back slowly.
Havel's gaze was strangling his throat.
Stalla was no weakling himself.
Yet the more he met Havel's eyes, the more ragged his breathing became.
Just before his knees buckled.
Havel withdrew his gaze.
"Hah... hah."
Stalla exhaled in relief, his breathing finally easing.
Watching that, Systine's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
What kind of monster was this man, making even him cower with just a look?
'Could it be...'
'That he's on par even with Father, Glasis's family head?'
"...Wars between families cannot proceed without observers from the Five Families."
He took a step back.
This Kailro was hosted by Glasis.
Naturally, no one would want to incur Glasis's wrath by observing.
So he deliberately pointed that out to retreat.
It was then.
"Then the Merlin Family will observe."
A girl with emerald, curly hair appeared.
Her name was Levi Merlin.
Arthur's fiancée.
She boldly stood by Arthur's side and stared straight at Systine.
She was declaring herself as one of the observing families.
Systine's eyebrow twitched.
The Merlin Family was already quite powerful with their amassed capital.
For such a family to turn against Glasis was absurd.
Observing families could suffer losses depending on the victor.
Yet the daughter of Merlin had volunteered without hesitation.
"Levi."
Arthur looked at Levi and smiled gratefully.
Levi shyly averted her gaze.
But it was still just one family.
To formalize the war declaration, they needed four more.
"The Selenetia Family will also observe."
Then Elasia raised her hand.
She had never doubted Havel's victory from start to finish.
With two families secured in an instant, Systine's displeasure intensified.
The families attending Kailro grew even more cautious.
"No more besides those two families, it seems. The war..."
"We'll observe."
As Systine tried to brush past the war declaration.
One man raised his hand.
With white hair and red eyes, he was the first son of August.
Penrad August.
At his declaration, Systine's eyes sharpened.
"Penrad."
A question of why another of the Five Great Families was interfering.
But Penrad ignored him, gazing at Havel.
He had already glimpsed the edge of Havel's sword.
Harboring respect for Havel, he was certain.
Who the victor of this war would be.
"Then we'll observe as well."
Then the first daughter of Graiza, Vaira Graiza, raised her hand.
Meeting Havel's eyes, she smiled beneath her mask.
"We have to repay what's owed, after all."
She had deliberately waited until after August spoke.
A cunning one, even on second glance.
"The Cain Family will observe too."
Finally, Kabala Cain of the Cain Family raised his hand.
With all five families filled, Systine's fist clenched tight.
Three of the observers were from the Five Great Families.
"Aren't we all part of the same Five Great Families?"
He asked if they intended to abandon Glasis.
Vaira snapped open her fan with a flourish.
"We're bound together as the Five Great Families, but there's no reason to be eternally chained under that name."
And her lips curved into a smile.
"Besides, we need to choose the true star who will protect the world."
Havel turned to look at Vaira upon hearing that.
She winked back at his gaze.
'The first direct descendant knows about the Calamities' invasion.'
He hadn't met Graiza's family head yet.
But it seemed she had been tipped off.
'Which means...'
Havel pulled out the letter he had received from Azaris.
The letter supposedly sent by Ignor's family head, Agni.
Skimming it right there, one line stood out.
—Choose the star between the Sword Saint and Havel who will protect the world.
Apparently, the original choice to protect the world was the current Sword Saint.
Lebltein Glasis.
It wasn't for nothing they called him humanity's strongest.
The current Sword Saint versus the former.
'Choose who between them will protect the world.'
Full support from the Five Great Families would surely follow.
Havel pocketed the letter and looked at Systine.
With the five observing families now set.
It was time for the two warring families to decide the format of the war.
"Lebltein Glasis."
The venue froze at the name.
No one dared utter that name lightly.
"Bring your boasted Sword Saint."
I'll show you who the real Sword Saint is.