NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 77
The leader of the Magical Beasts that had persistently tormented the Boemon Kingdom finally fell.
The Holy Knights of the Holy Kingdom, witnessing the thunderous downpour like a storm, let out cheers and praised the Miracle of the Saintess. The sight of the colossal monster collapsing helplessly was enough to stir their faith in the First Saintess.
“The monster has fallen!”
“Attack! The Magical Beasts are starting to flee!”
A sharp thunder spear struck down, smashing the giant monster’s head to pieces.
With the leader lost in such a pathetic fashion, the Magical Beasts seemed to lose their will to fight and began to scatter. The excited Holy Knights pursued the remnants, leading the battle to a complete victory.
‘The problem is over there….’
They had brought down the gigantic beast coiled in the valley. Furthermore, they eradicated all the Magical Beasts freed from the Demon King’s army.
However, even so, Zebeline shook her head with a face full of worry. The priestess accompanying the Saintess felt the same.
“Th-that’s the Sword Saint!”
“Who on earth is fighting the Sword Saint?”
The sight of the impregnable fortress walls crumbling like fruit was enough to inspire fear.
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With the explosion sounds echoing, flames surged.
It felt like watching the return of the most horrific war called the Third Racial War.
‘The Sword Saint? No, the one Edan is facing is…!’
A graviton field of pitch black was blocking thousands of bullets.
And a white blizzard swept away the ruins.
Black Star Procyon.
White Star Altair.
The Blessed Swords demonstrating black and white powers were certainly the Holy Swords of the Holy Kingdom.
Holy Sword user.
There was only one Holy Sword user besides Edanant.
Realizing this, Zebeline’s expression turned pale in shock.
‘M-Maxi…milian…!’
“The Hero of All Times.”
The strongest hero of all time.
As Zebeline recalled Maximilian’s legendary exploits, fear began to cloud the beauty of her face like a dark cloud.
There was no chance of victory.
If the opponent was indeed Maximilian.
“I will go to the scene.”
“W-wait, Saintess!”
Zebeline clenched the Scepter of White Night firmly and turned her steps. The priests frantically tried to dissuade the Saintess from heading to the area filled with roaring explosions.
If she got swept up in the aftermath, she would die.
No matter how mighty the Holy Kingdom’s White Dragon was, it wouldn’t be able to withstand it.
The raging currents crashing in the ruins were far beyond what any human could bear.
“Max…?”
As Zebeline tried to shake off the priests and head towards the fortress, a bewildered girl’s voice rang out.
It was Rue.
With a thundering sound shaking her entire body, she was desperately observing the scene.
It was unmistakable. She felt the nostalgic aura from beyond.
The benefactor who had saved her while she was being chased by the Magical Beasts.
Her best partner who had traveled across the continent for three years since then.
The object of yearning who had abruptly declared their breakup right after the final chapter ended.
As Rue instinctively sensed Maximilian’s emergence, she hurried towards the scene where explosions were rampant, as if pulled by some force.
*
The waiting echoed.
Every time a sharp metallic sound rang out, the ground vibrated.
The clash between the warmonger and the hero was like a blood battle far beyond the limits of humans.
“Max…! Edan…!”
Regnas, retreating from the shower of artillery and the Sword Saint’s sharp Golden Slash, hurriedly evacuated the Boemon Kingdom’s troops, fearing the expanding aftermath.
He had already issued evacuation orders beforehand.
But now that wasn’t enough.
The clash of Edanant and Maximilian that had destroyed the fortress walls was now threatening to engulf even the residential areas where countless citizens lived.
He had never anticipated that Maximilian would intervene at the site. Regnas grimaced as he watched the warmonger and the hero battling furiously.
“Ugh, aaah!”
“The debris is flying towards us!”
As Edanant and Maximilian, mercilessly smashing the fortress with their swords, finally reached the city, the citizens screamed in fear.
It was right at their doorstep.
That strike that smashed the fortress walls and spires would soon strike the urban area as well.
As if to prove this, the heavy boulders that fell when the walls crumbled began to rain down on the city. The urban area, filled with citizens that hadn’t managed to evacuate, looked like it could be crushed at any moment.
“Hmm…!”
“…….”
Screams filled with terror echoed.
Simultaneously, cannon fire and Golden Slashes shredded the flying boulders. Although engrossed in the fight, they sensed the danger the citizens were facing.
It was a close call.
Instead of massive boulders, smaller chunks shattered into pieces and fell.
“What’s wrong, Maximilian? You seem weaker than before!”
“Looks like your firepower has dulled. I’m rather disappointed.”
Edanant raised Aldebaran high.
Facing him, Maximilian wielded Altair and Procyon.
Zheeeeeeeeeeng───!!!
The Holy Swords clashed.
An intense flash erupted as a storm roared, sweeping through the urban area.
“I understand why you vanished. But thinking of all the hardships you’ve caused me until now… First, I’ll have to smash your face to feel relieved!”
“Hmph, you have every right to feel that way.”
The man with black hair nodded, acknowledging.
But that was all.
Maximilian, who instigated this incident, would not apologize.
He couldn’t afford to.
Thus, he wouldn’t utter a word asking for forgiveness.
With an unrepentant demeanor wrapped around him like iron, Maximilian felt Edanant’s curse-laden smile and the fierce golden flame in his eyes.
“You bastard!”
“……!”
Ka-BLAM-!
The explosion reverberated.
The spot where the high explosive bomb detonated was Edanant’s leg.
The explosive force manifested as a kick aimed at Maximilian. He barely blocked it with the hilts of Altair and Procyon.
“…You’re recklessly aggressive.”
“That’s just how I am.”
He hadn’t completely dodged the attack.
Maximilian frowned at the pain transmitted through his palms.
‘I thought he would have weakened over time… but he’s actually much stronger than before. If Edan unlocks his full power like this, I might not be able to handle it.’
He hadn’t yet unleashed his full strength.
But neither had Edanant.
In an instant, the tide had turned against him.
Maximilian felt a nagging unease as he gripped the hilts of Altair and Procyon backward.
“In that case, I’ll just raise the bar a little more.”
“…Damn.”
Finally, the hero sheathed the black and white Holy Swords.
Then—
He grasped the hilt of the Holy Sword he had been carrying on his back.
With a new offensive in mind, Edanant cursed loudly, his face contorted in anger.
‘Gray Star Heila….’
Clang.
Maximilian drew the third Holy Sword.
As the gray blade revealed itself, a faint radiance began to envelop the surroundings.
“Max-!!”
Just before the Holy Sword that had delivered the final blow to the Undying Demon King was about to manifest, a desperate cry echoed.
It was a voice far too familiar to Edanant and Maximilian.
“Rue…?”
“…….”
The girl with green hair rushed in breathlessly. She’d fallen several times while running at full speed, and her whole body was covered in dirt. Even her elbows and knees had wounds.
Urgency was evident in her breathing.
Hot waves of emotion surged in her green eyes.
“Ugh, ugh──!!”
She darted in like a squirrel.
Then she threw herself into the arms of the man with black hair.
“Max! Max!! Waaah!!”
“…Rue.”
He had expected to shake her off immediately.
However, Maximilian did not reject the Rue clinging to him.
The girl burst into tears.
Then he gently patted her back with a familiar demeanor.
A hint of solemnity crossed Maximilian’s usually unimposing countenance, which had never apologized to anyone since revealing himself. After gazing lovingly at the hero for a while, he eventually withdrew the Holy Sword once more.
“I-I’m sorry! I won’t be stubborn anymore! I won’t even ask for candy! So please, please don’t hate me! I’ll be a good girl… Waaah, waaaah!!”
Perhaps trying to pour out all the sadness and loneliness built up inside her, Rue cried out loudly, streaming tears and snot.
– It’s my fault.
– He left because he hated me, because I was useless.
– That person named Edan he talked about… Will he end up abandoning me too?
Watching the fairy’s back, Edanant let out a deep sigh filled with regret.
It reminded him of the first time he met Rue.
She was completely covered in dirt.
And after crying day and night for several days, her eyes were puffy.
What kind of feelings must she have had when she walked weakly toward the Hohenberc Family, all alone like an abandoned puppy? Surely she had repeated that heartbreaking sadness over and over again, pouring out her tears.
“…I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Rue.”
Maximilian murmured in a low voice.
At this, Edanant looked at Maximilian with wide-eyed disbelief.
‘That guy… Apologizing?’
The gentle-waving silver-haired girl approached the somewhat distant Edanant. It was Zebeline, who had arrived at the fortress along with Rue.
Edanant muttered in utter disbelief.
“The guy who’s never felt sorry for anyone in his life… Just apologized? That bastard has never said he was wrong, no matter how much he’s twisted his mouth.”
“Ahem, but he is still your brother…”
“They just share the same parents. Other than that, they are complete strangers.”
“…….”
The atmosphere had sunk into a heavy sadness, yet there was still a fierce aura lurking. If Rue were to let go, it seemed they would rush at each other immediately.
What on earth had happened to the Hohenberc Family?
Looking at him, Zebeline sighed heavily.
“That’s… the Scepter of White Night. The First Saintess, isn’t it?”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. No, should I say it’s the second time? Hero Maximilian.”
Maximilian, who had been stroking Rue’s head, asked.
Zebeline then politely bowed her head and opened her mouth.