Holy Kingdom – Crossroads (8)

“…Cough. J…ade….”

“Le…na?”

“This… ugh… hurts a bit….”

Reason, which had vanished at the unbearable sight, began to return.

-Thud.

“Ah….”

Jade released the hilt and collapsed onto the floor.

“Wh-what have I done….”

He couldn’t comprehend it at all.

This was the sword he had thrust toward Ian, who had humiliated him. Ian’s panicked expression when his barrier shattered in an instant was still vivid in Jade’s mind.

‘But why…?’

Jade alternated his gaze between Lena and his blood-red hands.

Why was the sword embedded in Lena’s stomach?

Why was Lena coughing up blood in agony?

The person who knew the reason better than anyone was Jade himself.

All of it… was his doing.

Jade asked Lena in a trembling voice.

“…Why? Why on earth did you do this?”

“That’s… because… cough….”

Lena staggered before collapsing to her knees.

Only one thought surfaced in Jade’s mind.

[Lena might die.]

Fear surged like a tidal wave, snapping Jade back to his senses.

“Lena!”

Jade rushed to Lena and frantically checked her condition.

Her pierced abdomen was obvious, but blood continued flowing from her mouth.

Even with his limited medical knowledge, Jade could instantly tell her condition was critical.

“Wh-what should I….”

He couldn’t pull out the embedded sword now. Doing so would worsen the bleeding and escalate the situation.

But leaving it like this wasn’t an option either.

Jade’s mind went blank as he flailed his hands in panic.

“Pull out the sword… No, that’s bad. I need to give her a potion. D-did I bring any? Please, let there be one….”

“J…ade.”

“Y-yes?”

Jade stopped rummaging through his pockets and looked at Lena.

Her eyes were slowly closing as her head tilted forward.

Alarmed, Jade grabbed her shoulders and shook her.

“No! Snap out of it!”

“Cough… I’m okay. I can… endure this much.”

Regaining consciousness, Lena raised her trembling hand to Jade’s cheek.

“Jade….”

-Swish.

A trail of blood remained where her fingers passed.

“Sorry, I was… too hasty… did something so stupid….”

“No. No. This is my mistake. I’m sorry. Really… I never meant for this.”

“I know. You… wouldn’t do this… I just… wanted to stop you… from making another mistake… You mustn’t… kill Ian… cough!”

A mouthful of blood gushed from Lena’s lips.

Jade’s eyes shook wildly as he saw this.

“Lena, I understand, so please stop talking.”

“S-sorry… because of my mistake… I made you suffer… again….”

“Just….”

Jade’s mind became unbearably chaotic.

He couldn’t grasp why Lena had to risk her life to save Ian.

At first, he thought she had betrayed him to use Ian.

But Lena said it was to prevent a “mistake.”

This didn’t add up.

-Tap.

Lena leaned against Jade and began patting his back.

“Jade, calm down. I know… you’re very confused right now….”

“…Lena.”

“But… you need to… pull yourself together. You can do it… right?”

Lena and Jade’s eyes met.

Deep blue eyes resembling the ocean.

The desperate sincerity and belief within them reached Jade.

‘…She believes in me?’

A ripple had already formed in Jade’s heart. Now, a massive whirlpool began swirling violently.

At this point, one assumption he’d never considered surfaced.

If everything Lena said was true.

If all suspicions were false accusations.

Then what he’d done to Lena until now…

‘No. At least that’s not important right now.’

Jade shook his head vigorously.

He might have made an irreversible mistake.

This might never be forgiven.

But if Lena died here, everything would become meaningless. He’d never know the true truth.

The immediate right decision was to heal Lena first and hear the details later.

“Cough….”

“Lena, your treatment comes first. We’ll talk slowly afterward.”

“Hero-nim.”

Daniel, who had been observing the situation, approached Jade.

“Are you alright? You seem quite shocked. This criminal suddenly interfered, complicating matters.”

“I’m fine. The problem isn’t me… Ah!”

Jade’s eyes widened as he realized something upon seeing Daniel.

Whether to pull out the sword or not. Whether to use a potion. All were pointless worries.

‘Fucking idiot. What am I doing? I can just ask the priests.’

He was in none other than the Holy Kingdom’s Grand Temple. Moreover, Holy Knights, priests, and a Cardinal were right beside him.

He’d been fussing over nothing while ignoring the perfect healing method-Holy Power.

Jade felt incredibly stupid for forgetting this simple yet crucial fact.

‘At least it’s fortunate. Treatment won’t be a problem.’

Now I can save Lena. Relieved, Jade cautiously asked Daniel.

“Sir Daniel, could you heal Lena first?”

“Hmm… Hero-nim, is it truly necessary for this criminal?”

But Daniel’s reaction was entirely different from Jade’s expectations.

“Huh? We can’t just let her die….”

“She has no worth living anyway. Attempted papal assassination, colluding with demons, prison break. Even if saved, you know the outcome. Minimum hanging at trial. Letting her die here isn’t bad. It’s the best end she deserves.”

“Still, I’d appreciate it if you healed her.”

“Sigh….”

Daniel sighed deeply and firmly grasped Jade’s shoulders. Meeting his eyes, he spoke.

“Hero-nim, think carefully. I know this woman shared a deep bond with you. But now you know the whole truth, don’t you?”

“That’s….”

“Given the circumstances, cleanly severing ties here would be best.”

Even Jade had to admit nothing was wrong with Daniel’s words.

Lena’s actions were already too numerous to undo. Even the Hero couldn’t cover them up.

Perhaps letting Lena go here was the right choice.

But.

These were thoughts worth considering before the shift in Jade’s heart.

Jade had already made one resolution.

‘I’ll verify everything. One by one.’

Clearly, there was ‘something’ he was missing.

He intended to thoroughly investigate every suspicious detail about events since arriving in the Holy Kingdom.

“Sir Daniel, I truly appreciate your advice. But I choose a different farewell.”

“If you insist, we can heal her. But are you sure?”

“Huh?”

Daniel asked again, pointing backward with his finger.

Only then did Jade notice his surroundings.

‘Everyone….’

All eyes were focused on Jade.

But unlike usual, the Holy Knights and priests were staring at him with cold eyes.

‘Why are they looking at me like that…?’

Thanks to his Hero status, Jade had only received respect until now. The hate-filled gazes were bewildering.

After freezing momentarily, Jade realized belatedly.

‘This isn’t about me. It’s all about Lena….’

The thoughts Holy Knights and priests might have about the dying Lena-he could guess without hearing.

-Serves her right.

-Good riddance.

-A fitting end for a demon-collaborating bastard.

-Pity. Should’ve made her suffer more.

Common thoughts about those who collude with demons.

Holy Kingdom citizens with intense hatred toward demons might harbor even harsher thoughts.

But Jade had no right to blame them.

‘I… was like that too.’

It was no different from how Jade himself had treated Lena until minutes ago.

“Hero-nim. Everyone is watching you. Remember the responsibility carried by the Hero’s name.”

“Please….”

Jade covered his face with both hands in anguish.

He knew. Knew too well to make a decision.

People would judge him based on this choice.

Whether this era’s Hero would save a criminal colluding with demons for personal feelings. Or whether he could make the right choice for humanity.

Choosing the former would spawn countless rumors about the Hero. His status might plummet endlessly.

Choosing the latter…

Jade looked at Lena in his arms.

She’d been quiet lately, lacking strength to speak. Her faint breathing grew weaker.

‘…Ha. What am I hesitating about?’

-Grind.

Jade gritted his teeth and made a decision.

“Sir Daniel.”

“Yes.”

“Heal Lena with Holy Power immediately.”

People’s gazes never mattered.

If everything was false, to show mercy as the Hero.

If everything was true, to slightly amend his mistake.

Though terribly late… Jade chose Lena.

“I said heal herㅡ”

“I’ll take full responsibility. Please.”

“If that’s your will… understood.”

Reluctantly, Daniel extended his hand and began channeling Holy Power into Lena.

“Stay still.”

Daniel moved Lena from Jade’s arms and laid her on the floor.

“First, I’ll remove the sword.”

The sword embedded in Lena’s stomach was pulled out by Daniel’s hand.

Immediately, massive blood tried gushing from the wound, but

-Sssss.

Daniel neatly sealed it with Holy Power.

Demonstrating Holy Power’s incredible healing, Lena’s complexion quickly returned, and the wound slowly closed.

“Haa… Thank goodness. Truly….”

As Jade sighed in relief, a loud shout came from behind.

“Step aside! Jade!”

Jade’s heart dropped at the familiar female voice.

‘No.’

Why now of all times?

Jade turned his stiff neck to look back.

“Huff, huff… Jade, I’ll tell you everything.”

Annie appeared, bent over and breathing heavily.

“…Annie.”

“Jade, listen. First, Ian is….”

Annie, about to explain something to Jade, paused and tilted her head.

Lena lying on the floor. Jade trembling violently.

She sensed something was wrong.

“J-Jade? Lena’s collapsed-is she okay?”

Annie approached him and Lena.

Jade tightly closed his eyes and clenched his fists.

‘If Annie sees this….’

He wanted to hide this immediately. But no such convenient method existed.

Finally reaching Jade, Annie

“Lena?!”

screamed upon seeing Lena collapsed with a hole in her stomach.

Annie bent down and urgently checked Lena’s condition.

“Wh-what do we do? Is she okay?”

“You must be Miss Annie, the Hero’s companion.”

“Who… are you?”

Annie initially eyed Daniel warily but relaxed upon realizing he was healing Lena.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Cardinal Daniel. She’s being healed with Holy Power, so rest assured.”

“Thank goodness.”

-Thud.

Sitting down, Annie clutched her chest and began taking deep breaths.

“Haa…. Thought Lena was dead. Jade, what happened?”

“….”

“Did… people stab her while subduing her?”

Annie glared, springing up with her staff and pointing it around.

“Are you insane? You all just….”

“…I did it.”

“What?”

Annie asked again, not catching Jade’s mutter.

“Annie, I stabbed Lena.”

-Clang!

Annie’s staff clattered to the floor.

“I-I misheard, right?”

“….”

“Jade!”

Annie lunged at Jade, grabbing his collar.

-Thump.

“Ugh?!”

“Say I misheard! Now!”

Annie raged at Jade, her face looking ready to burst into tears.

“Th-that….”

Jade couldn’t speak, hanging his head low.

Naturally. He had stabbed Lena.

Only one thing could be said to Annie.

“I’m sorry.”

“How… how could you stab Lena….”

Annie buried her face in Jade’s chest and began sobbing.

“Sob… what do we do about Lena now… you fucking bastard….”

“…I swear I never meant to stab Lena. She jumped in front of my strike meant for Ian….”

“I-Ian?”

“You’re hearing this for the first time, but Ian is from the Magic Tower. It’s hard to explain everything now, soㅡ”

-Kwaaaaang!

“Guh….”

Jade slowly rose, dazed.

‘What just happened?’

He only remembered being flung away by a sudden shock.

Jade frantically scanned his surroundings.

“Treat the wounded quickly!”

“Reform ranks!”

“Deputy Commander! The barrier is broken!”

“Wh-what? How could the barrier….”

Everyone seemed bewildered by the unexpected attack.

“Wait… Lena?”

Jade looked where Lena had been, but she was gone.

‘No.’

The Holy Power healing hadn’t lasted long. Leaving her like this endangered her life.

He had to find Lena immediately and resume treatment.

Jade forced his staggering body up and began searching.

He found Lena surprisingly quickly.

“Jade, looking for this?”

Jade turned toward the voice.

Ian stood confidently there. Seeing who he held, Jade’s eyes widened.

It was Lena, whom he’d desperately sought.

“Ian! You fucking bastard!”

“Well, I’ll admit there were mistakes. Never thought I’d suffer such humiliation. First time my pride’s been trampled like this.”

“Stop bullshitting and return Lena!”

Jade charged at Ian in rage.

Then, the stone in Ian’s hand began glowing red.

-Kwaaaaaa!

“Guh?!”

A whirlwind surged around Ian, repelling Jade.

“Return her? Ridiculous. Stabbing her means you already discarded her, no?”

“Th-that was a mistake. It’s… all your fault!”

Jade hurled resentful words at Ian.

Thinking back, Ian was the root cause.

If he hadn’t escaped prison with Lena. If he hadn’t provoked them.

None of this would’ve happened.

“Ian, none of this would’ve happened without you!”

Ian shook his head incredulously.

“Ha. Still busy blaming others. Astounding you still don’t know why I did this.”

-Hummm.

Blue light began enveloping Ian and Lena.

‘N-no way…?’

Even Jade, ignorant of magic, knew what this meant.

Warp.

Ian was trying to escape somewhere with Lena.

“I’ll take this poor woman. Hope you’ve come to your senses when we next meet.”

“No! Give Lena back!”

Jade grabbed a sword from the floor and charged madly at Ian.

-Kwaaaaaa

A mana storm blocked his path again.

“This shit!”

-Boom! Boom! Boom!

Jade forced his way through the storm using the Hero’s power.

Countless wounds covered his body as he advanced.

But Jade felt no pain.

‘Faster. Please, faster!’

Only one thought consumed him-he couldn’t lose Lena again.

Perhaps Jade’s will shone through.

Soon, Ian and Lena’s figures were within reach.

“Just a little more!”

He swung his sword vertically, shattering the last mana barrier.

Done. Now just get Lena back!

“Ian, right now….”

-Thud.

Jade collapsed mid-sentence.

“Le…na….”

Only dust remained where Ian and Lena had been.