Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Havel's Bombshell Declaration and Banpellyon's Declaration of War
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Things escalated in an instant, leaving Sistane flustered.
He might be the firstborn of the Glasis family,
but that was all he was—just the firstborn.
He didn't have the authority to make decisions that could stake the entire family.
As such, he felt he had to push this situation back somehow.
"......I don't have the authority to decide on that."
Even if it meant humiliating himself by lowering his position.
He had to navigate out of this somehow.
The nobles' gazes converged on Sistane.
His face soured just as much as those stares.
"Fine, then."
Havel didn't press him further.
No point in badgering someone without the authority.
"I'll just ask someone who does have the authority."
Havel turned to Grand Knight Commander Stalla Bonedge.
"A Grand Knight Commander should have a way to contact the family head, right?"
Stalla's face stiffened.
As he'd said, there was one emergency communication channel available.
"That Sword Saint guy's back now, they say. Just call him here on the spot."
"......Are you in your right mind? That sounds like you're suggesting we start a war right now."
To risk something that dangerous and stir up trouble.
Stalla looked incredulous, and Havel snorted.
"If that was a concern, you shouldn't have summoned us in the first place."
This guy was utterly reckless.
Click—.
"Indeed."
It was then.
A low voice echoed alongside the sound of shoes from outside the hall.
There stood a man with glass-colored hair.
His appearance alone overwhelmed the crowd in an instant.
As he shifted his brilliant blue eyes, everyone involuntarily bowed their heads.
The presence radiating from him was like that of a tyrant king.
The atmosphere in the hall focused solely on him.
Before they knew it, all of Glasis's retainers were kneeling before him.
"We pay our respects to the head of the Glasis family!"
Their voices rang out thunderously through the hall in unison.
Sword Saint Lebltein Glasis.
The head of the Glasis family had appeared here.
"F-Family head!"
Stalla cried out in panic.
His appearance here meant there was no escaping it—they'd have to accept the war.
Stalla's face drained of color, turning ashen.
But Lebltein ignored him and walked to the center of the hall.
Then his eyes met Havel's.
A spark of fighting spirit ignited in Lebltein's eyes.
As if seeing a long-lost rival.
His eyes gleamed fiercely like stars.
Havel, too, felt that gaze after a long time.
He'd thought no one would look at him that way anymore.
'As expected of the one the Five Great Families chose to defend the continent.'
This guy had devoured so many Calamities.
Even with restraint, they crept out subtly.
This was the most Calamities of anyone he'd met so far.
'He must've been away from his family, gathering them all.'
And at the end, planning to clear the Primordial Three Calamities too.
Sorry, but Havel planned to claim them first.
"You accept the war, then."
"Yes, I accept. I'll grant what you want."
Lebltein responded to Havel all too easily.
Oblivious to Stalla and Sistane's faces turning deathly pale.
"But in accepting, we have conditions of our own."
He smiled slowly, as if it weren't difficult at all.
"The format is a duel. Just you and me, no interference."
"Family head, that's—!"
"Stalla, be quiet."
Stalla tried to rise and intervene urgently, but Lebltein's low voice cut through.
"Am I not speaking as your lord?"
Stalla's knees buckled involuntarily once more.
"Yes, I was impertinent."
Stalla said no more.
He was Glasis's Grand Knight Commander.
He couldn't defy the will of his family head, Lebltein.
"So, what do you say?"
Lebltein asked Havel again.
Would he accept the proposal or not?
His eyes brimmed with curiosity.
Havel read the pure intent for battle in those eyes.
"Fine."
If Havel was Banpellyon's strength,
Lebltein was Glasis's.
If he truly wanted to crush Banpellyon, he wouldn't have made such a proposal.
He genuinely wanted to test himself against Havel.
Glassis as a whole was distasteful,
but this family head wasn't so bad.
Havel didn't hate guys like this.
The moment he heard Havel's acceptance, Lebltein grinned like a child.
"Then, one month from now, at the safe zone on the 7th floor of the Tower."
Leaving the location, he turned and departed gracefully.
Havel's eyes fixed on his retreating back.
He was declaring right now.
That in one month, he'd reach the safe zone at the end of the 7th floor.
As Lebltein vanished, the tension in the hall began to ease.
Stalla and Sistane rose from their prostrated positions.
They glanced at Havel and Arthur before turning and walking out.
With the family head's acceptance, war was inevitable.
Though the head called it a duel, they'd surely prepare other contingencies.
"Havel."
Arthur called to him.
Faith shone in his eyes.
So Havel decided to live up to that faith.
"Yes, I'll win and return."
That answer was enough.
"I'm counting on you."
Banpellyon had come this far thanks to Havel.
So even to the end, he could entrust it all to him.
The war between Banpellyon and Glasis.
It took no time at all for Kailo to descend into chaos.
One month.
A long time if long, short if short.
In that month, the hottest topic in the world was, naturally, Banpellyon and Glasis.
A massive incident at the nobles' gathering in Kailo.
Havel's declaration of war, and Lebltein Glasis's acceptance.
Havel, the most talked-about figure lately.
And Lebltein Glasis, hailed as humanity's strongest, the Sword Saint.
News of the two staking their families on a one-on-one battle was enough to send the world into a frenzy.
"Who do you think will win?"
"Who else? The opponent's the Sword Saint!"
Predictions overwhelmingly favored the Sword Saint.
It was only natural.
The legends Lebltein had built were like myths.
But those who'd faced Havel even a little thought differently.
"Havel wins. That guy's a monster. If the Sword Saint is the strongest human, then he's no human."
Quite some time had passed since the 7th floor clear.
A few high-rank climbers who'd emerged spoke of Havel.
A monster beyond humans.
They called him a calamity.
Havel was that much of an outlier.
And so, a month passed since everyone predicted the duel differently.
Babel drew more people than ever, all eyes on the showdown.
Today was the day of the war where Banpellyon and Glasis staked their fates.
Sword Saint versus Havel.
Crowds gathered before the Tower to witness the clash.
"When will they show? Been waiting since morning."
"Should be soon, right?"
People lined up even on the streets before the Tower entrance, eyes gleaming with excitement.
"By the way, no sign of the Glasis folks. How do they plan to hear the results?"
"Plenty of ears everywhere, I'm sure."
"Still, if the Sword Saint loses, Glasis is really done for."
Glassis denied it,
but rumors had spread that they were once Banpellyon's vassal family.
People always wish for the downfall of the privileged.
They leaned in more to Banpellyon's underdog claim.
As a result, public opinion already tilted toward Banpellyon somewhat.
The aggrieved deserved some pushback.
Thus, defeat for Glasis meant total ruin.
They'd have to admit all their past wrongs and apologize to Banpellyon.
The entire Glasis family would crumble that day.
Everyone knew what became of a family that admitted betrayal after defeat.
"If that's the case, wouldn't it have been better to admit the betrayal sooner?"
"What can you do? Glasis insists it's not true."
"In the end, victory decides everything."
It was then, amid the murmurs.
In the distance, the crowd began parting like the Red Sea.
Those who noticed turned their gazes there, one by one.
Soon, all eyes fell on one man.
A man with silver hair nearing white.
A single sword at his waist, he simply walked.
Yet people naturally cleared a path.
No one dared block his way.
They had to make way.
That thought filled their minds.
Human survival instincts kicking in.
Three figures followed behind Havel as he passed through the throng.
Baria Graiza.
Ellashia Selentia.
Phaiod.
Havel's three followers.
"Crowded as hell. Like a swarm of ants."
"Quiet. Don't act all brutish and just follow Havel."
As Ellashia scolded Phaiod,
Havel stopped before the Tower.
By now, the crowd had fallen silent.
All gazes fixed solely on Havel.
In that silence,
"Listen well, everyone, and spread it with those mouths."
Havel opened his mouth, dominating the assembly.
"The day Banpellyon, once the Three Great Families,"
He paused briefly,
"returns has come."
Thus he declared.
Havel's eyes met the three.
They nodded and halted there.
They'd wait for his return.
Leaving the three behind, Havel strode calmly into the Tower.
"Wooooooooooh!"
As Havel entered, belated cheers erupted from the crowd.
He'd declared victory over the Sword Saint.
News that had to spread immediately.
If, as he said, the Sword Saint fell that day,
the world's order would change completely.
Conversely, if Havel lost,
Glassis would reclaim fame and fortune.
A battle for the survival of two families.
The crowd screamed skyward in anticipation of its end.
The excitement spreading like wildfire created a festival atmosphere.
But they didn't know one thing.
The world saw it as Havel challenging the Sword Saint.
But reality was the opposite.
Havel wasn't the challenger.
The current Sword Saint had thrown down the gauntlet to the former one.