Chapter 286

Chapter 286. Palao’s Will (1)

As soon as she passed through the portal from headquarters into Loborre, a noisy commotion welcomed her, Rashar.

Following closely behind her, the knights of the Order of Palao also began to arrive one by one.

She barely had a moment to listen to the noises coming from not far away.

She recalled her busy past few hours.

‘I didn’t think my concerns would become reality.’

For the past few months, the activities of the still-undefeated radicals had been troubling.

They began to congregate around Shelver Vilkzion, the High Priest of the Meferoseta Order.

It was something she had anticipated.

The key players who had been vying for power with Shelver in Senoa and Agnotia disappeared.

It was natural for the remaining leader to absorb the rest.

Indeed, the exchange of messages and telegrams within the radicals had significantly increased.

‘Recently, the Order even dispatched additional Holy Knights to Loborre and sent out the elite guards.’

Thanks to obtaining the details of their secret meeting, understanding their intent wasn’t difficult.

‘They’re targeting the Gate.’

The radicals planned to unilaterally seize the Gate to manipulate outsiders.

She had been shuttling back and forth between Loborre and headquarters to prevent the radicals’ attempts to occupy the Gate.

Rumors began to circulate then.

The Gate through which outsiders could enter this world was to be closed, and all outsiders would leave this land.

The rumor soon became a reality.

Outsiders began to withdraw like the ebbing tide.

It was a sudden retreat. There had been no prior discussions, nor was there an official notification.

Yet the outsiders were already leaving.

With over a million disappearing within just a day, the Duke’s face paled.

The problems their absence could cause were bound to be numerous and severe.

However, those issues haven’t arisen yet.

Compared to the problems that had arisen already, they weren’t considered urgent.

Rashar rubbed her throbbing head and pressed the icon for the Order’s website.

「Title: The Temoria guys are really backstabbing us (3) – Author: Venus」

「Title: What happens if we can’t cross the gate at this rate? (14) – Author: Grapefruit」

「Title: Isn’t there a way to break that barrier? (16) – Author: Dragon Hunter」

「Title: This is driving me crazy, how much longer do we have to wait? (8) – Author: Cereal」

「Title: At present, the Order is blocking the Gate. FYI. (245) – Author: Courtesy」

「Title: What is the association doing? (159) – Author: Bachelor Kimchi」

「Title: Why are there so many people around the Gate? (32) – Author: Parrot」

「Title: Changes brought by the Gate closure 1 (3) – Author: Song」

「Title: Damn, damn, damn Gate Gate Gate! (43) – Author: Silver Bracelet」

「Title: Are we really okay with leaving like this? What about the frontline here if we go? (97) – Author: Cain」

「Title: Are there still any dummies left at the forward base? (12) – Author: Sarah」

「Title: But what happens to the Biharin if the Gate is closed? (19) – Author: Maria」

「Title: Arrived at the Gate! (3) – Author: Coffee Bean」

「Title: Retreat Order (Association Statement) (1) – Author: Melissa」

……

Articles openly discussing the Gate closure, as well as those criticizing and condemning the Order’s actions, filled the board.

Upon witnessing the sharp words, a bitter smile escaped her.

‘Of course, it would be like this.’

The radicals had successfully occupied the Gate without permission.

It was a situation that unfolded just within the few hours she left Loborre upon hearing Yuria’s distressing news.

In disbelief, she gritted her teeth and took a deep breath.

Recalling Yuria’s words, who sent her here from her sickbed,

– Even if it’s too late, standing still isn’t right, is it?

– Time is short, so she might not give a proper send-off, but we should show courtesy, shouldn’t we?

– Please, Rashar.

Her calm yet solemn voice eased her tumultuous emotions.

Thanks to that, she found it easy to take deep breaths and continued on her way.

The Holy Knights who had come to Loborre with her from the Order of Palao followed behind.

They were the elite forces that originally should have protected Yuria at headquarters.

It was all the forces the High Priestess personally could mobilize.

Even though her safety was threatened, Rashar sent her best forces, anticipating a physical conflict.

She seemed to understand the complicated feelings behind her decision.

For she, too, felt complicated but remained calm as she headed to the entrance of the temple, where the effigy of the World Tree was located.

But she had to stop before reaching her destination.

Due to the crowd of outsiders filling the corridor leading to the entrance.

She grit her teeth at the overwhelming sight for a moment and then began to push through them.

Those who noticed her approach began to murmur among themselves.

“What the heck? Why are you pushing… Oh? Isn’t that someone from the Order?”

“I know her, she’s an apostle of Palao. The youngest one.”

“Palao? Then……”

“She’s heading towards the Gate? Shouldn’t we stop her?”

“We, us? She’s an apostle?”

“If we’re gonna stop her, we need to move before she enters the safe area.”

“We can’t just let her go. Who knows what she’ll do once she joins their side?”

Amid the chaotic murmuring at a standstill, people appeared to block her path.

They sought to detain her before she could reach the so-called safe area, the area near the Gate.

Had they detected the tense atmosphere? Those filling the surroundings started to retreat.

Thanks to that, a small space opened within the crowd.

It wasn’t hard for her to push those blocking her path aside.

However, instead of lashing out at the visibly angry ones, she assumed a cautious stance.

She deemed it necessary to ensure no further misunderstandings or resentment arose.

“Hey, you! Why are you going to the Gate?”

“Can’t you see all these people stuck because of your actions?”

“What are you going to do about it? There’s only so much… Ouch!”

“Ugh!”

At that moment, one among those surrounding her toppled forward, rolling onto the ground.

It was caused by someone approaching from behind and kicking him down.

The one revealed behind the fallen outsider was someone she recognized.

“Did you have some business with our apostle?”

It was Joseph, who often mingled with K during Order missions or exclusive events.

“This time, I want to commend your actions for not discriminating between front and back.”

Behind him, kirish and other outsiders bearing the Palao symbol appeared en masse.

“Wow, are all those people from Palao?”

“Whoa, that’s Kirish. An Indian Platinum Rank!”

“Crazy, there really are those affiliated with Palao.”

“I heard it is advised not to mess with them.”

“Rumors say they’re packed with talented users?”

Buzz, buzz.

Amid the mounting buzz, the murmuring grew louder.

While she was momentarily stunned by the unexpected intervention, kirish, who directly intervened in the commotion, spoke, looking at the fallen ones.

“Will you continue? Because we don’t intend to hold back either.”

The association doesn’t interfere in mere violent incidents, they say.

Faced with his warning-like and somewhat threatening tone, the fallen individual averted his gaze.

He awkwardly rose to his feet, stealing glances, and withdrew from the scene.

Together with those who previously blocked her path.

“It’s been a while, Rashar.”

In the meantime, Joseph approached her, offering a greeting first.

She was openly showing signs of surprise, but she composed myself.

She attempted to greet back in kind, as usual, but…

“Why……”

What came out of her mouth wasn’t a greeting but a question.

“Why did you help us……”

It trailed off towards the end, barely audible.

Yet it was clear enough for Joseph and Kirish, who were donning the Gold Rank and Platinum Rank respectively, to hear.

“Why ask why we helped someone helping us! Naturally, we helped our apostle! We don’t want to get tangled up in an unnecessary scuffle.”

“But…… but considering what the Order is doing to you guys, it’s understandable for them to be wary of me……”

“Hey, those individuals were just dumb.”

“Indeed.”

The usually silent Kirish chimed in.

“We can tell the difference between those attempting to use us and those who genuinely care.”

For some reason, those simple words lowered the corners of her mouth.

She clasped her hands tightly and pressed her lips together with strength.

“I’m sure Rashar is here to aid us rather than hinder. I mean, am I wrong?”

Despite the Order’s actions, they didn’t misconstrue her intentions. They viewed them for what they were.

Afraid they might see her expression, she slightly bowed her head, shaking ‘no’ from side to side.

“Let’s go, we’ll handle anyone trying to start trouble.”

Rasha nodded again.

Avoiding words, she responded with head gestures, and followed after Kirish and his group.

Upon arriving at the Gate, she couldn’t hide her dismay.

“Sigh……”

A golden, semi-transparent barrier stood where usually thousands traversed daily.

‘They really involved Temoria……..’

The knights essentially guarding the entrance to the Gate were Shelver Vilkzion’s elite guards.

Yet what kept outsiders from reaching the Gate was the Barrier of Patience.

The one who erected this barrier was the second apostle of Temoria, Haley Sodenia.

“Hmm? It’s been a while, dear.”

Since being chosen as an apostle, she had outwardly pretended to be friendly, seemingly a caring senior.

‘Often subtly mocking her situation.’

The very last apostle of an order without a god.

From the perspective of an apostle within a fully established order, perhaps she seemed laughable.

But she never lamented her situation.

Nor have she ever been resentful of Palao, who chose her.

She had always prided herself on her choices, living proudly by them.

That’s why she could feel genuine anger at the sight before her now.

“What is this, what are you doing?”

Even with an evidently lowered tone, there was little response on her side.

“What do you mean? We merely erected a barrier granted by the god to protect the poor souls.”

“Are you really calling that an excuse? If it was truly to protect the believers, you should’ve gone to the frontline!”

Knowing Haley’s history, her anger grew uncontrollably.

Throughout the more than ten years of war, she has never stayed at the frontline.

Hailing from the Atar Empire’s nobility, she continued her peaceful life in Gemal.

Unlike the life before, her life post became lavish, even extravagant.

‘Though publicly claimed to woo donations from the nobles, is it truly so?’

Rumor had it that every day she hosted parties with the nobles, the food wasted merely for being cold formed small mountains.

To get that food, people in the slums fiercely competed.

How much more was spent on buying expensive dresses and jewels?

Had she purchased medicines with that money, more soldiers might have survived.

Considering the other apostles of Temoria participated regularly in defending the frontline fortifications, Haley’s life wasn’t that devout.

‘And now she claims it’s for the believers’ sake?’

Shamelessly, was hindering those who bled and fought in this world truly for the believers’ benefit?

One might say she was literally fuming.

“Withdraw your authority immediately and step aside! We cannot meddle in the return of the outsiders!”

Even if their sudden departure seemed cruel, there’s a boundary of rules to be observed.

As an ally, she talked about duties and conscience that should be maintained.

“What if she step aside? What then?”

Not everyone lives adhering to the same values.

“Surely you don’t believe the frontlines can endure without the outsiders, do you?”

There are always those like Haley who prioritize outcomes and benefits.

Damned System