NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 72
Legnas had become notorious as the King Assassin by slaughtering the king and nobles of the Pug Kingdom, yet the Boemon Kingdom still revered him as the Sword Saint.
Not just the Sword Saint.
The members of the missing Saintess Party had the same sentiment.
The Boemon Kingdom, founded during the conquest of the Demon King’s territory, hailed the Saintess Party as humanity’s saviors for leading them to victory in the Third Racial War. Thus, the Boemon Kingdom graciously welcomed Legnas, who had fallen into disgrace as the King Assassin, as an esteemed guest.
“Oh holy Sword Saint, please give us your command.”
A man clad in full armor knelt as he set down a rough-looking crown.
Tarant von Boemon.
The king of the Boemon Kingdom and the captain of the Boemon Knights.
The brave king and knights, who had recorded countless victories against the Demon King’s army, pledged their allegiance. As a martial artist who revered the way of combat, immense respect and admiration for the Sword Saint filled the air.
“I apologize for coming without notice.”
“Not at all…! Please give us any command.”
If it became known that they welcomed the King Assassin, who had committed mass murder, they would be condemned by countless nations, including the Valtarian Empire and the Gael Holy Kingdom.
Legnas looked at the king and knights with guilt-ridden eyes.
He had dragged innocent people into this mess.
If a battle were to erupt at the Immortal Fortress, the repercussions would be devastating, no doubt.
Yet, despite this, the king and knights remained steadfast.
Their only desire was to repay the grace they received from the Saintess Party, which had defeated the Demon King and saved humanity. Truly, they were the knights of the Boemon Kingdom, to the core.
“There will surely be chaos.”
“I heard the Valtarian Empire has been attacked repeatedly by cultists. Are we to confront the cultists that raided the empire?”
Legnas spoke in a troubled tone.
In response, Tarant revealed a look of confusion and spoke.
“No, not at all. There’s someone I will meet here shortly.”
“Excuse me?”
“A warmonger. He should be arriving soon.”
“The warmonger…! Are you saying the warmonger, who had vanished long ago, is coming here!?”
Tarant gasped in shock.
The knights of the Boemon Kingdom, who had also been listening to the conversation, shared the same sentiment.
The warmonger.
A hero of war who appeared suddenly like a comet.
And an unidentified ghost who vanished right after dropping the Immortal Fortress.
gulp they swallowed dryly, their shoulders quivering.
The legendary warmonger, now recorded as a mystery, was about to descend upon the Immortal Fortress. The king and knights felt a thrilling rush of excitement flowing through their entire bodies.
“He will surely pull the trigger as soon as he lays eyes on me. That’s just the kind of person he is.”
“W-what does that mean…!”
Such terrifying words.
To aim a firearm at a longtime comrade.
The possibility of battle loomed large.
The Sword Saint and the warmonger might battle it out with the Boemon Kingdom as the stage, creating a sense of unease.
If the heroes representing humanity were to truly fight, the entire kingdom would be left in ruin. Tarant looked at Legnas with a worried expression.
“You needn’t be so startled. It’s just his unique way of greeting.”
“……”
Legnas smiled nostalgically, suggesting that he had frequently been met with such violent greetings from the warmonger.
This was hardly a laughing matter….
Who uses bullets to express their feelings, anyway?
The king and knights were left speechless, sticking their tongues out in disbelief.
“There’s nothing to worry about, Your Majesty. I assure you.”
“Yes, understood….”
Having promised safety to the king of the Boemon Kingdom, Legnas began to move. It was about time Edanant received word.
How should he face him?
Hmm.
For starters, he would have to deflect the bullets.
Edanant would pull out his pistol the moment they came face to face.
Legnas stepped outside and eventually ascended the fortress walls. He recalled his past glories of traversing the continent and defeating countless monsters.
*
The Boemon Kingdom was established after recovering territory occupied by the Demon King’s army, yet dark magical beasts, gnawed by foul magic, still roamed nearby.
To aid the kingdom, the Holy Kingdom dispatched troops.
The Holy Kingdom’s soldiers, following orders, engaged in fierce battles against magical beasts, maintaining their front lines.
Just when the battles were nearing completion,
Word came that Legnas, now known as the King Assassin, had entered the Immortal Fortress.
“Saintess!”
“C-could it be that the Saintess has come in person…!”
The high-ranking holy knights overseeing the troops moved in a hurry.
The Saintess, with her flowing silver hair and a cute fairy-like girl in tow, arrived at the base of the holy knights.
The First Saintess had arrived.
The base, which had been buzzing due to the appearance of the Sword Saint, began to stir once again.
Zebeline, who had traveled to the Boemon Kingdom using warp gates multiple times, immediately inquired about the Sword Saint’s activities from the holy knights. Edanant, who had gone off alone, would soon reveal himself too.
“The Sword Saint is still residing in the Immortal Fortress. I confirmed his presence this morning.”
“Keep it confidential. It must not become known to the public yet.”
Zebeline intentionally refrained from informing the Holy Kingdom of the Sword Saint’s emergence in the Immortal Fortress. If the Holy King and the Cardinals were to learn, the situation would undoubtedly spiral out of control.
A dramatic stage was required to herald the warmonger’s return.
Therefore, she sought to eliminate the possible interference from those who might become a hindrance.
I wonder how far Edanant has come.
The Saintess, dressed in pristine vestments, looked up and recalled Edanant’s appearance.
“What happened to the magical beasts that were corroded by magic?”
“Most of the magical beasts that raided the kingdom have been subdued, but their leader is still holding out. Despite multiple assaults with sacred magic, it persists stubbornly.”
“Be thorough in your defenses. Magical beasts tend to become more vicious when cornered.”
“Yes, understood!”
An ominous magical energy swept through the air.
It seemed to indicate the living presence of the magical beast leader.
They were likely preparing to retali right now.
Feeling the intensifying magical energy, Zebeline frowned.
“Saintess, will Edan be alright? Will he come back to us?”
Once the holy knights stepped back, Rue asked in a trembling voice.
Was it perhaps because she was apart from Edanant for the first time?
Gone was her usual innocent demeanor, replaced now by the look of a drenched puppy, thoroughly deflated. She appeared overwhelmed with the fear that she might be abandoned by Edanant, just as she had been after Maximilian.
“He’ll be fine; he’ll come soon.”
He might have left her behind.
He might never come back to look for her again.
Fear brimmed in her tear-filled green eyes.
Zebeline felt a sympathetic pang for Rue, who was gripped by fear. Just like the little fairy, she too had once shed tears and suffered from parting with someone precious.
“Edan has never broken a promise. I’m sure we’ll meet again by tomorrow.”
“Do you really think so…? Edan always said he’d throw me into the mountains whenever he got angry.”
“Surely Edan wouldn’t abandon Rue? Maybe the Marquis of Hohenberc, since he’s over sixty….”
“Umm.”
Now was the time to believe and wait.
After waiting three years, could she not endure just three more days?
Three days.
The period Edanant had promised.
Zebeline withdrew all the holy knights stationed at the Immortal Fortress, anticipating the good news that Edanant would return.
*
The Immortal Fortress had once suffered the humiliation of collapsing under intense bombardment.
However, after driving out the Demon King’s army and reclaiming its territory, the Boemon Knights restored the fortress, boasting its glory just like old times.
The majestic walls rose like crumbling cliffs.
With gates impervious to any assault and towers positioned to repel invaders, it appeared strikingly similar to the past.
No,
The fortress, having endured several tribulations, stood even more fortified than before.
As Edanant gazed longingly at the impregnable fortress, he adjusted the iron mask he wore, letting out a heavy sigh. The presence of the vampire clinging next to him made that sigh all the more burdensome.
“I willingly wish to assist you, esteemed Seer! Leave it to me!”
“…Just stay back and observe. I can’t have you overstepping.”
The beautiful vampire, with her flowing black hair, eagerly donned a mask to join Edanant, who was hiding his identity behind his iron mask.
It was a touch different from the rough iron mask.
The mask that Ariel made from fresh blood boasted an elegance befitting a ballroom.
It was the perfect opportunity to showcase the greatness of the esteemed Seer to foolish humans.
It was also a pivotal moment to declare that the disaster god of war was descending upon this peaceful world.
The vampire looked ecstatic, like a child, waiting for Edanant to give her commands.
‘Really, how relentless this fate is. I thought I would never see this again….’
Fate truly is a pitiful thing.
To summon back specters of the past.
If the knights of the Boemon Kingdom were to join the Sword Saint, the situation would become complicated. Of course, the Sword Saint wouldn’t choose to use innocent people as fodder, but he had to be ready for the worst-case scenario.
I’ll finish this as quickly as I can.
Even if it means fighting against the one who has fallen to be the King Assassin.
“Let’s go.”
The eyes hidden beneath the iron mask of the warmonger turned dark.