Seongguk – Crossroads
by Shini
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In the silence after their brief quarrel, the outside suddenly became noisy.
-Thud thud thud.
“…It’s noisy outside.”
Jade, thinking this was a good opportunity to escape the awkward atmosphere, stood up.
“I’ll go check what’s going on.”
“Okay.”
Annie nodded, her shoulders slumped.
-Creak.
When Jade opened the door and checked the hallway, dozens of Holy Knights were rushing somewhere.
“What is…”
Certain that something had happened, Jade hurriedly grabbed one of the Holy Knights.
“Excuse me. Where are you going?”
The Holy Knight frowned at being suddenly stopped and questioned in his haste.
“Who… Ah, The Hero.”
But he quickly recognized Jade and answered kindly.
“We are rushing to respond to the news that a Sinner is attempting to escape.”
“Escape? Is it a dangerous one?”
An escape that suddenly occurred in the Holy Kingdom. Jade, merely curious about the protagonist of this incredible event, froze at the Holy Knight’s next words.
“It’s… that person who was The Hero’s companion.”
“…Excuse me?”
-Thump thump.
Jade’s heart began to race wildly at the shocking news.
Lena, whom he had momentarily forgotten due to the argument with Annie, came to mind, making his head spin.
And of all times, an escape at this moment.
‘Lena, what are you thinking? Why are you doing this to me?’
He couldn’t even count how many times this had happened. Jade began to resent Lena, who had been tormenting him ever since he arrived in the Holy Kingdom.
“How is an escape possible? Lena should be wearing a Magic Suppression Orb. Could it be… Demons?”
“We’ve heard there’s no Demon involvement. We don’t know what means she used while imprisoned, but she’s with a Wizard from the Magic Tower. A considerable force has been dispatched, but they’ve requested support from us, so the situation must be difficult.”
“Surely Lena hasn’t harmed any Holy Knights…”
“According to the information we received, there have been no casualties yet. But we need to go and confirm the exact situation ourselves. I must go now.”
The Holy Knight gave Jade a light bow and tried to catch up with the group ahead.
“Wait a moment.”
But once again, Jade grabbed the Holy Knight’s arm as he tried to leave.
“Is there a problem…?”
“Would it be alright if I came along?”
Jade had no intention of letting Lena do anything wrong any further.
At Jade’s request to accompany them, the Holy Knight hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Hmm… Perhaps it would be alright for you to come along. The Hero’s abilities would be a great help in capturing the Sinner, and she is someone related to The Hero.”
“Thank you. I’ll just go and grab my weapon from the room.”
“Yes. We’ll be waiting.”
Jade turned away from the Holy Knight and quickly returned to his room.
-Thud.
Jade closed the door and squeezed his eyes shut in front of it. And finally, unable to hold back, he muttered a small curse.
“Shit… What am I supposed to do…”
“What’s wrong? Did something big happen? I saw some Holy Knights.”
Seeing Jade’s unusual expression, Annie asked anxiously.
“Lena tried to escape. The Great Temple is trying to stop her right now.”
“Wh-what?”
Annie was shocked, her mouth agape at the sudden news.
“Suddenly an escape? What are you talking about? You’re not joking, are you?”
“I just heard it myself. I don’t know the details yet.”
Jade left the surprised Annie and began to grab the sword on the desk.
“Wh-where are you going now?”
“Where else? I have to stop Lena right away. I won’t let her commit any more sins.”
“Then I’ll come with you! I’ll grab my Wand from my room, so…”
“No time for that. Either follow me without your Wand, or choose to grab your Wand from your room.”
-Click.
As soon as Jade had gathered his equipment, he immediately left the room.
-Thud.
“Ah.”
Annie, left alone in the room, collapsed and covered her head.
“Ian, what are you doing…”
Resenting her brother, Ian.
Following the Holy Knights underground, Jade was immediately able to witness the chaotic scene.
“Here they come again. Evade!”
“Quickly form ranks!”
“Heal the injured!”
“Keep supporting the Commander!”
-Bang! Bang! Rumble!
Loud noises of something exploding and colliding continued to echo from the front.
Jade asked a Priest at the rear about the situation.
“What’s going on?”
“Ah, we’re providing support from the rear. Cardinal Daniel, who is also the Commander, is in battle.”
“Cardinal Daniel…”
-You must always remember. You must not show mercy to Demons, and you must punish those who cooperate with them equally in the name of the Goddess.
It was the person who had suddenly appeared on the way back from meeting Lena a few days ago and had given Jade various pieces of advice.
Jade didn’t particularly like what Daniel was saying, but he could immediately sense the tremendous skill he was hiding at their first meeting.
‘He was really strong. But the battle hasn’t ended yet, even with Cardinal Daniel involved?’
“Hasn’t she been subdued yet, even with Cardinal Daniel involved?”
“Normally, the battle should have ended in an instant, but… her accomplice is said to be a disciple of the Magic Tower Lord. I don’t know if this is the Magic Tower’s intention or a unilateral action. Either way, they are helping a Demon’s spy, so we will hold the Magic Tower accountable.”
“A disciple of the Magic Tower Lord… Could it be…”
Jade felt a sense of unease creeping in.
A disciple of the Magic Tower Lord.
If the person he was thinking of was correct, it was someone with a terrible connection. And now Lena was cooperating with such a person.
“Can I pass through to the front?”
“You could be in danger if you get caught up in the battle.”
“I am The Hero. And she is someone related to me. I want to take responsibility.”
“I understand. There is currently a Barrier in place, so you must be careful of that.”
“Thank you.”
“The Hero has arrived! Everyone, make way!”
Jade pushed through the crowd of Holy Knights and Priests and continued to move forward.
“Just a moment.”
-Swoosh.
The first sight that entered Jade’s eyes as he came to the front was Lena, who was sitting down.
“Cough… Hack, cough!”
Lena, whose clothes were torn and close to being naked, was groaning and clutching her stomach, as if she had been attacked a moment ago.
‘No. Is she seriously injured?’
As soon as he saw that, Jade instinctively almost rushed to help Lena.
But as he soon took in the surrounding situation, Jade could only freeze in place.
“…More nonsense.”
“Thanks.”
Lena was chatting happily with Ian, the man she had met in the garden, and holding hands.
‘Wh-why are that bastard and Lena…’
Moreover, the white liquid flowing between her legs caught his eye. It was undoubtedly a man’s Seeds.
“Lena?”
“Jade…?”
Lena’s eyes widened as if she was very surprised to see Jade suddenly appear.
“Lena. What are you… doing?”
“Haa… It’s you. That’s a relief.”
Lena, completely unaware of Jade’s confused heart, looked relieved to see Jade.
‘Haa… So that’s how it was.’
Disgusting.
Jade found Lena’s face, which had once seemed so beautiful, disgusting.
He had tolerated the betrayal she had committed while hiding everything.
He had tried to tolerate even being stabbed with a sword.
Because she had said that her love was sincere.
But then she had committed an escape.
He had come to stop her before it was too late, but now she was holding hands with the crazy bastard who had ignored him.
He didn’t even want to imagine it, but looking at the situation, it was clear that they had done something like that.
Even the last bastion, love… was a lie.
“I’ve been falsely accused and captured. I’ll explain the details after we escape, so help me right now—”
“…Shut.”
“Huh?”
“Shut up.”
Too noisy. Jade now heard Lena’s babbling as nothing more than irritating noise.
“Lena, you’re betraying me to the end. I regret agonizing and struggling all day about what to do with you. All of this was meaningless.”
“J-Jade? Listen to me, this is…”
Jade could no longer hear Lena’s words. The thought that filled his head was, ‘It’s all over.’
There was only one way to end this twisted fate and connection.
Jade gripped the handle of the sword at his waist so hard that it seemed like it would break.
-Swoosh.
And he raised the tip of the sword towards Lena.
“…Are you serious?”
“There’s no need to make excuses. You’ve been found out, so you’ve decided to abandon me and cling to that bastard. And you’ve sold your body as the price.”
“Wh-what…?”
Lena looked confused, as if she didn’t know anything. At first glance, she looked innocent and wronged.
But now, such an appearance of Lena no longer worked on Jade.
‘Even after coming this far, you’re still trying to deny it. Lena, you’re so cruel.’
Because he no longer intended to be deceived by Lena.
“Don’t say another word from now on. I don’t want to hear your lies anymore.”
“….”
“Quickly draw your sword. I’ll end your evil deeds as of today.”
“Please. Please listen to me…”
Lena began to plead with Jade, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Hic… Jade, give me a chance…”
“Here I come.”
Jade rushed straight towards Lena without a shred of mercy.
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