Seongguk – Crossroads

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Amidst their ongoing battle, an event finally occurred that shattered the balance.

-Tap.

“Ah.”

Lena momentarily lost her footing and gasped.

‘Now!’

At that moment, Jade’s right eye glowed blue.

Weakness.

He had known it through The Hero’s ability, but until now, there had been no way to exploit it.

In this situation, Jade didn’t miss the golden opportunity.

His Aura accurately pierced the desired spot.

-Shatter!

“No!”

Lena screamed as she watched her sword shatter into pieces.

“Lena, it’s my victory.”

Jade kicked the bewildered Lena.

“Kyaa?!”

Lena dropped the sword, now only a hilt, and collapsed to the ground.

“Keugh… cough, cough…”

Jade approached the suffering Lena and placed the blade against her neck.

“Lena, it’s all over now.”

“…What are you planning to do with me now?”

Lena, with a look of despair, hung her head low.

“Planning? I’ve never plotted anything. You were always the one plotting and making me suffer.”

“…I didn’t.”

“Now you’ll be tried and live forever in prison.”

The crimes Lena committed were immense. If she went to trial, she might receive punishments too terrible to describe.

But Jade couldn’t bring himself to utter words about harsher punishments. It was a purely instinctive aversion.

“The Hero!”

As Jade turned his head, two Holy Knights were running towards him from behind.

“As expected of The Hero! You’ve done it magnificently!”

“Um… I apologize in advance. I wanted to handle this myself.”

Jade felt grateful to the Holy Kingdom’s people. They hadn’t interfered, allowing him to settle things with Lena directly, and had only watched from behind.

“No, not at all. We were having trouble apprehending the Sinner in the first place. We’re even more grateful that you stepped in and handled it so cleanly.”

“Then, I’ll leave Lena in your care.”

“Yes, we’ll keep her secured.”

“Thank you.”

Jade entrusted Lena to the Holy Knights and turned his gaze towards the ongoing battle.

-Bang! Bang! Bang!

With roars that threatened to collapse the underground, spears infused with magic and Divine Power clashed.

It was difficult even to follow the movements with his eyes.

‘…Unbelievably strong.’

It was a battle that made him feel utterly insignificant. Jade had reached 6-Star, only one step below, but the difference in level was enormous.

-Gugugu.

Through the thick cloud of dust, he could see the Wizard Ian, unleashing countless spells towards Daniel.

Jade glared at Ian with murderous intent.

‘Ian, I will avenge myself on that bastard…’

He couldn’t leave the man who had plotted with Lena and clearly done such things unpunished.

However, before Jade could intervene, the end of the battle was in sight.

Daniel’s figure, which had momentarily disappeared, reappeared behind Ian.

-Crack!

“Keugh?!”

Ian clutched his side, where flesh had been torn away, and knelt on the ground. A lot of blood was flowing through the gaps in his hand, which was covering the wound.

“That one hit properly. Ian, what are you going to do now?”

“Hmph… Are you getting conceited over this?”

“You should know you have no chance. Surrender.”

“Ha. Do you think I’d give up here?”

Ian rose to his feet again as if he wasn’t finished yet.

But to Jade, the outcome was clear.

Ian was already covered in blood.

In contrast, Sir Daniel had healed even minor wounds with Divine Power, looking spotless.

‘Sir Daniel won. As expected.’

Jade felt a little pleased at Ian’s miserable state.

He had been so arrogant and dismissive of others. It was a fitting end for such an arrogant and trashy guy.

In the first place, it didn’t make sense to try to defeat the Holy Kingdom’s elite forces alone, no matter how strong he was.

‘To do that, you’d need to be at least an 8-Star.’

Jade approached Ian slowly, a sneer on his lips.

“Was your name Ian? Long time no see. It’s the first time since I saw you in the garden.”

“The Hero… Seeing you here means Lena has already been defeated.”

Ian staggered as if he were about to collapse at any moment.

“Yes. Now, all that’s left is to defeat you, and it’s all over. How about meeting your end at the hands of the Hero you used to despise?”

“You fool. Not only are you being manipulated by the Pope, but you’re even trying to attack the people who are trying to help you.”

“…I don’t want to hear that from you, who’s fighting in the heart of the Holy Kingdom.”

“Haa… It’s because you’re so stupid that you get your beloved woman stolen from you.”

“…What?”

Did I just hear that wrong?

Jade froze at Ian’s shocking statement.

“At this point, I feel sorry for Lena. To think the Hero she loved was such a weak and pathetic bastard.”

“Shut up! What do you know to spout such nonsense?”

It’s not that Jade had his Lena stolen or failed to protect her. Rather, Lena had abandoned him.

‘I’m… just a victim.’

From the start, Lena had deceived him completely.

“Since it’s come to this, I have to say what I need to say. You’re definitely not qualified to be The Hero. It’s laughable how you trust the Pope’s words over the person you love.”

Ian smirked and continued to speak.

“The sight of Lena, abandoned by her beloved and wailing under another man, was quite a sight. It’s a shame you didn’t get to see it.”

“If you say one more word, I’ll kill you.”

“Ha. You? Kill me? Kill me if you can.”

“…I’ll do as you wish.”

-Wooong.

The blue Sword Aura was once again added to the sword Jade was holding.

At that moment, a shout towards Jade was heard from behind.

“Jade, stop!”

As Jade stopped and turned his head, Lena, subdued by the Holy Knights and kneeling on the ground, came into view.

“Lena, what did you just say?”

“Stop it right now. Ian is trying to help us. You mustn’t attack him!”

“Are you… trying to protect that bastard?”

As Jade’s eyes, filled with madness, turned towards Lena, she began to stammer.

“D-Don’t misunderstand. I-Ian is…”

“Why are you trying to protect such a bastard!”

Ian had insulted me with ridiculous nonsense.

But instead of criticizing Ian, Lena was trying to protect him.

‘Are you two playing with me until the very end?’

Jade turned and began to walk towards Ian again.

Lena was shouting something from behind… but there was no need to listen. It was probably just words to deceive him anyway.

Jade only had the thought of killing Ian, who had insulted him.

Ian’s death was also a way to make Lena pay the price for her betrayal.

-Thud.

“Please calm down.”

Daniel, who had been watching, stopped Jade.

“I understand how you feel, The Hero, but killing Ian here would cause a major diplomatic issue. Also, your reputation would definitely be severely damaged.”

“But that bastard…”

“There are many ways to inflict enough pain on Sinners. It would be best to sort out the situation first.”

“…”

Okay, let’s calm down. The Hero has to act like The Hero.

At Daniel’s advice, Jade tried to cool his head.

At that moment.

“Haha! Even in this situation, you’re going to be a dog that follows the Holy Kingdom’s orders until the end. Well, congratulations. Thanks to you, Lena will become the dog of countless men.”

Ian looked at Jade and started laughing like crazy.

“Jade, remember this well. It’s not Lena, but you who betrayed Lena. You’re not The Hero who saves people, but a disaster that leads to destruction.”

-Snap.

The last thread of reason that Jade had been holding onto snapped.

“You bastard!”

“The Hero!”

Jade forcefully shook off Daniel’s hand, who was trying to hold him back. And he leaped towards Ian in one swift motion, thrusting his sword.

“Die!”

“You’re only choosing to do foolish things until the end.”

Ian squeezed out the remaining mana with his trembling hands to create a Shield, but

-Crack!

With his eyes glowing blue, Jade shattered the hastily made magic in an instant.

“Keugh?!”

“Ian, you’re going to die today at the hands of the Hero you used to despise.”

At the same time, someone’s shout was heard right next to him.

“No!”

Without hesitation, Jade thrust his sword forward.

-Stab!

The sword cut through the skin, piercing through to the other side. Jade felt the vivid sensation.

He had succeeded in avenging himself on Ian, who had insulted him.

‘I did it. I did it.’

With a face full of joy, Jade raised his head.

But the result before his eyes… was completely different from what he had expected.

“…Cough. Ja…de….”

“Le…na?”