Ch.203EP.46 – Everyone Has a Plan (1)

No matter how luxurious and spacious a mansion or building might be, it cannot be without flaws.

Why?

Because it’s impossible to eliminate all dust and flying insects.

Especially in areas untouched by sunlight or similar illumination, dirty elements inevitably accumulate.

That’s why cleaning should never be taken lightly, and why people pay good money to hire cleaning services.

Even if you think you’ve cleaned thoroughly, you never know where and how dirt will appear.

In that sense….

“I can hardly believe it’s been over 13 years since I graduated from the Academy.”

“You, you’re an Academy graduate?”

“I graduated top of my class from the Swordsmanship Department.”

“…There must not have been much talent that year.”

“What?!”

“Just joking.”

In the vast expanse of the Academy, there were bound to be many “dirty things that sneak in,” otherwise known as rats.

The eastern area of the Academy resembled a sprawling city.

It was a zone of dense vegetation, rich in rare medicinal herbs and timber—a place rarely visited by anyone except those from the Alchemy or Magic Departments.

Especially on days like today when entrance exams were being held, it became even more deserted, making it ideal for outsiders to hide.

…However, even if someone entered the forest, they would never notice the people hidden there.

For good reason.

“No one should be able to detect our holy magic, right?”

“The nurse in the recovery room is quite skilled, but not enough to detect our holy magic.”

Wooong.

Holy magic.

Divine magical techniques that only those who serve the Light of Radiance, like priests and nuns, could learn.

Some called it divine magic, and the types were as diverse as the name suggested.

And their use of holy magic was unmistakable evidence that they were people from the temple.

[Holy Magic of Dark Veil].

A magic specialized in concealment, extremely effective at eliminating the caster’s appearance and presence.

The fact that they used such magic despite already hiding in the forest showed how meticulously they prepared for any contingency.

And only two groups within the temple could use such holy magic so skillfully.

One was the Inquisitors, known as the temple’s hounds, who primarily operated in the shadows; the other was the holy knights who wore white armor, wielding more glory and honor than any other knightly order, and primarily operated in the light of the temple.

Just by looking at the armor they wore, it was easy to identify their affiliation.

The white armor and the swan emblem engraved upon it revealed who they were.

[Holy Knights].

Knights of the temple who mastered both martial arts and holy magic.

“Commander, is this really something we need to do?”

“Why, is your pride hurt?”

“…It would be a lie to say it isn’t.”

“Put that pride aside for now. Restoring the temple’s glory is more important than personal honor.”

“Is this really possible?”

“You think it’s not?”

“I understand the plan. But can we really deceive Galahad? That’s the key, isn’t it?”

“It might… be… possible.”

“?”

“Something like that.”

“You seem a bit uncertain, which is unlike you…”

“…Shut up.”

The commander didn’t elaborate further.

Even for unit members, not all confidential matters could be disclosed.

…Well, part of his reticence was also to avoid the hassle of dealing with potential opposition if he revealed everything.

But for a unit member unaware of these details…

“That’s really unfair.”

He could only express his disappointment.

Victor, a Holy Knight boasting a height of three meters, grumbled.

Though he respected the commander, he seemed frustrated and disappointed whenever so much was kept hidden.

“Victor, what kind of tone is that to take with the commander?”

“Senior, why are you only scolding me? Tch.”

“You little…!”

The two knights growled at each other, and the commander didn’t intervene.

Though unspoken, knights of their caliber would surely be displeased about having to escort a single woman like this.

Of course, he who had complaints was no different…

‘If it weren’t for the head family’s orders, I wouldn’t have agreed to this either.’

Thinking about it, it was laughable.

‘A plan to create a Holy Maiden…’

It was ridiculous.

A plan to artificially create a sacred being called a child of God through human hands?

Honestly, he thought it made no sense.

None other than…

“-You were planning to approach the Duke of Blake with a woman carrying his genes, and then announce at the temple level, ‘Heize Roche is actually your daughter,’ right?”

“……”

The commander of the Holy Knights, Erhin de Lohengrin, widened his eyes at the third party’s voice echoing through the forest.

The appearance of a third party wasn’t surprising.

Erhin was shocked because the content seemed to peer into his mind, reciting the temple’s plan.

But the owner of the voice continued as if this wasn’t the end.

“It’s quite a funny plan. No matter how you look at it, Blake isn’t an easy man to fool, and he’s not the type to simply believe evidence presented by the temple. …However, if the woman claiming to be his daughter possesses the power of a ‘Succubus,’ this plan might have some chance of success. The power of [Mystery] might work on him, albeit slightly.”

Step, step.

The man walking comfortably through the forest wasn’t even wearing armor, carrying only a sword at his side and an axe on his back.

Moreover, despite the Dark Veil holy magic that should have rendered everything invisible, he was looking directly at them as if he could see them hiding.

“…What follows is merely my conjecture, but I think the temple bastards need three things. First, for Heize Roche to successfully enter Galahad. Second, to gradually use the succubus power to plant ‘suggestions’ in Duke Blake’s mind to make him regard Heize Roche as his daughter. Third, to use Galahad’s influence to establish Heize Roche as a ‘Holy Maiden.’ …And finally, if they could also obtain the power of the demon sword, that would be even better.”

“……”

“It’s such an absurd plan. …No. It’s more like gambling than a plan. But gambling and investment are separated by a fine line, so it’s right to proceed with the hope that ‘it might succeed!’ Now I see, these temple bastards are born gamblers, aren’t they?”

“…Can you see us?”

“But gambling is like that, you know? Everything is a fifty-fifty chance. Hmm, thinking about it, it’s quite impressive? Both executing such a reckless plan and having elites carry it out… Is the world really led by madmen?”

“It seems he can’t see us.”

The man just kept talking, showing no reaction to Erhin’s question.

The Dark Veil holy magic that blocked even sound was working properly.

So…

“Victor, take care of him.”

“Kill him?”

“What else?”

“…Commander, you’re so thorough.”

Despite his earlier complaints, the moment Erhin’s order fell, Victor picked up his iron mace without any objection.

‘Iron Mace Holy Knight’ Victor Volb.

In terms of strength, he was the best in the Holy Knight Order, perhaps even in the entire kingdom, and he employed his holy magic.

[Holy Magic of Mighty Strength].

Crack!

A holy magic that not only increased physical abilities by about ten to twenty times but also granted explosive power in an instant.

Moreover, he was a knight who had properly mastered martial arts, not just holy magic.

In reality, it could be said that no being could block his iron mace, and in the past, he had even collapsed an ogre’s head in one blow.

Whoosh!

To make matters worse, thanks to the Dark Veil holy magic, his attack was neither visible nor audible, so there was no way to block it.

Victor’s iron mace flashed as it struck the opponent’s head strongly…

Squelch!

“…?”

For a moment, Victor couldn’t understand what had happened.

For good reason.

‘Huh, why is my arm broken?’

He was clearly the one attacking, but he couldn’t understand why his arm was dangling.

To him with his puzzled expression.

“In Taechang’s terms, you’re someone who invested all points in strength and none in skill or intelligence.”

Thud.

“Kuhak!”

Victor’s body was flipped over.

“To explain simply what happened to you, I used your strength against you, turning it back on you. How is that possible, you ask? Just understand the law of action and reaction.”

“Arghhhh!”

“What good is strength if your head is just for decoration?”

Crack!

Victor wouldn’t have wanted to know.

That his massive three-meter frame could be lifted so easily, and that his waist could be bent like a shrimp.

Though he often heard he lacked flexibility, looking at him now, no one would say that.

That’s how thoroughly Victor was broken, and then-

Crack!

…His spine and back bones were shattered.

Hopelessly, with no way to repair them.

Victor Volb.

It was the pathetic defeat of the Iron Mace Holy Knight, renowned even within the Holy Knight Order, and the moment he became paralyzed.

“V-Victor!”

“Damn it!”

“How dare you touch a Holy Knight…!”

The Holy Knights, stunned by Victor’s pathetic defeat, charged forward with rage.

As if they would never forgive the one who dared harm their comrade.

“Stop!”

But Erhin, sensing something ominous, tried to halt his unit members.

It was an instinctive judgment that they shouldn’t move recklessly, and he thought they needed to maintain composure now.

But stopping excited unit members was difficult, and more than ten people charged forward, and then-

“Why are there so many [trash] here?”

Whoosh!

Ihan happened to have a 3-meter “weapon” in his hand, and this.

‘It’s quite flexible.’

He swung it like a whip with great force.

That day, the Holy Knights learned something they never wanted to know.

That a human body can be used as a weapon, and that it can be sturdier than most weapons.

…Though it was a fact they never wanted to know.