Ch.24179. Grind Your Teeth (3)

From the moment Edmila crossed the drawbridge and entered the royal palace, she had to witness the pitiful sight of the incapacitated security forces strewn about.

By the time she reached the inner castle, she also encountered the helpless spectacle of additional royal guard forces scattered around.

Some of her own knights were among them.

But that wasn’t what immediately caught her eye.

“…Is that it?”

A young girl. A beggar.

And an armored warhorse.

I can see why they compared it to a magically created construct.

However, to Edmila’s eyes, that was…

‘A phantasmal beast?’

Though positioned prominently near the inner castle entrance, it didn’t appear to be trying to obstruct their entry.

If anything… it seemed to be waiting.

“What should we do about it?”

Edmila shook her head at her adjutant’s question.

“If it shows no hostility, leave it be for now.”

Even as she spoke, they had already reached the inner castle entrance.

‘Is it not a monster?’

The two humans were actually nothing special.

But that warhorse that looked like a phantasmal beast… something about it was unsettling.

The moment she met its red eyes, her heart felt seized, and a shiver ran through her.

‘If this is merely his mount…’

Then the knight who is its master…

The fact that he had come this far without killing or eliminating anyone, merely overpowering them unilaterally… that alone was already beyond common sense.

‘How many people could possibly do such a thing?’

That wasn’t the only suspicious thing.

The magical battalion and mages were unable to properly wield or control their magic.

…He even broke through the unique magical barrier known as Pace without any difficulty.

This was the biggest problem.

In fact, if it weren’t for that, no matter how powerful he was, he wouldn’t have broken through so easily.

‘That’s not what’s important right now.’

Setting aside her thoughts, she increased her pace.

The atmosphere of intense battle coming from inside grew stronger as well.

‘The captain of the royal guard?’

Though young, he was this country’s practical hope in terms of military power.

With excellent character, intelligence, and outstanding qualities.

In ten years, he would likely become the true power in this country.

But.

After Edmila entered the audience chamber.

“Huff! Huff!”

The captain of the royal guard was half-kneeling, clutching his sword.

His condition and appearance were alarming.

As if he had been thrown and rolled across the floor multiple times, his armor and cape had long since been ruined.

Blood trickled from his head, and faint traces of blood flowed from his nose as well.

“……”

Hmmmm.

A heavy breathing sound.

The breathing coming from the knight in black armor created a pressure that seemed to constrict her heart.

His build… wasn’t particularly massive.

Just his intimidating presence.

It made his existence feel like a towering giant, an immense figure.

“Stop this at once!”

Neither the black knight nor the guard captain turned their heads or responded to Edmila’s shout.

One showed indifference.

The other… couldn’t afford to be distracted with an opponent before him.

“Lady Edmila! At last!”

Only Blendur, the palace chamberlain, showed signs of relief after stomping his feet anxiously.

However, the precarious state of the young magic king clinging to the throne remained unchanged.

“I don’t know the circumstances, but this is an unprecedented situation! Are you such a barbaric person that you don’t know the proper respect and duty owed to a nation’s king?!”

“There’s something you people always say. Only God is noble under heaven.”

The black knight declared in a heavy voice.

“Can a king’s status stand shoulder to shoulder with God?”

“…They are God’s representatives appointed by heaven.”

“Do you seriously intend to spout nonsense about royal authority acting on behalf of divine authority? If so, why does the Pope exist? Why do bishops exist?”

“It’s a division of roles. Before that… what is your intention with these statements? Above all, your identity. Please clearly state who you are.”

“Does guilt vary according to status?”

“No. I’m asking so I can properly determine your crimes.”

“Then there’s no need.”

The black knight turned his body and once again advanced toward the king.

“Stop! The duel isn’t over yet…”

“Save your childish whining for your parents or the cross.”

The black knight coldly and harshly dismissed him.

He reached the steps leading to the king’s presence and asked:

“How long do you intend to keep up this pathetic act? Do you think you can escape fate by hiding?”

“Y-you! What grudge drives you to do this?! If you have petitions or demands, there are proper procedures—”

“Those procedures are what reduced that bastard to that state.”

He no longer even referred to him as king.

“‘It can’t be helped, that’s reality, this is the best we can do right now.’ Such disgraceful complacency and negligence is what corrupts you and this country.”

Suddenly.

From the hand of the black knight, who until now hadn’t wielded a proper weapon.

A black sword rose up.

“If that’s the case, what difference does it make whether you die now or later?”

“Y-you monster! Th-this act is clearly! Clearly…!”

Treason? Who was he in the first place?

Disrespect? Hadn’t he already gone far beyond mere disrespect long ago?

His mind couldn’t process it.

Even his mouth wouldn’t open properly.

While Blendur trembled like an aspen leaf, sweating profusely as he stood protectively before the young king.

The black knight continued to glare at the king seated beyond him.

“Do you see this moment as a brief respite? You will never escape this, whether in life or death.”

“A-aaahhh!”

The young king went into a frenzy.

“Then that life. I shall take it first.”

“N-no?!”

“That madman?!”

As the guard captain launched himself forward.

Edmila belatedly pushed off from the ground.

To think he would seriously attempt such madness…!

The black sword he gripped with both hands roughly swelled into a massive greatsword.

Then he pulled it back as if to cleave the world in half, and swung it down diagonally.

SLASH!

The enormous greatsword instantly cut through Blendur, the throne area, the young king.

And even the wall behind him.

“Aaaaaahhh!”

While Blendur fell on his backside screaming.

CRASH!

The rear wall and all the banners and decorations hanging on it were simultaneously crushed, split, and torn apart.

“This is…”

As the young guard captain stood aghast.

Edmila coolly began to consider her next move.

‘What terrible…’

Yet she couldn’t help the instinctive chill and goosebumps that rose on her skin.

Wondering just who this insane knight was, and why he had caused such devastation.

Because of this, no one except the black knight noticed.

“Ugh, uuugh!”

As the throne split in half and collapsed along the diagonal cut.

The young king, who was now lying on the floor covering his face with both hands.

“Uh, um… huh?”

Blendur, belatedly realizing nothing had happened to him, touched his upper body in disbelief.

‘…What’s going on?’

I clearly…?

“……”

Whoosh!

With a heavy breath, the black knight finally climbed the steps and approached the young king sprawled on the red-carpeted floor.

He lowered his posture before him.

Yet his eye level remained firm.

“Stop pretending to be insane.”

The black knight placed his heavy hand on the king’s head.

Though the king was still trembling, his expression and gaze had changed somewhat from before.

The knight deliberately looked down at him, lowering his head.

“Even in this moment, the weight of your sins only grows heavier.”

He said.

“You know what you must do. Why do you flee?”

“……”

The young king was gripped by fear.

But clearly, his gaze was markedly different from before.

Nevertheless.

The deeper despair bound within it.

And the profound sense of defeat that seemed about to overwhelm him.

These were conveyed more clearly than ever before.

And from the knight who took in all of this with his eyes.

A small voice was heard.

“I.”

The black knight, who had now withdrawn the black sword he had formed.

With his right hand still resting on the king’s head, he relaxed his grip and said:

“I have come to forgive you.”

“……?”

He stated this in an indifferent tone.

“So that you can at least begin again, with minimal atonement and absolution.”

This young king clearly deserves to die.

But if not even the minimum opportunity is given to this miserable and pitiful being.

Now, who will save him? Who will redeem him?

I am not qualified to do so.

But at the very least, he himself has the right to save himself.

To be abandoned even by oneself.

How… miserable, cruel, and wretched a state is that.

“May my insignificant forgiveness give you the courage to stand again and face adversity.”

I will return.

“If, at that time, you still believe you cannot save yourself. Then I will… surely take your life.”

Remember.

“This moment.”

If you are not reborn here.

“You will have no hope whatsoever.”

====

“He’s coming out.”

There had been a tremendous noise as if an earthquake had struck, but after that it had been quiet for a long time… and now he was emerging unharmed.

“What happened?”

As Delica scurried over to ask.

“Let’s go.”

“Where to?”

“……”

There he goes again.

Ignoring Delica, who was openly throwing irritated glances at him.

The black knight approached his warhorse and looked down at Raymond who was nearby.

“I took you in because there is potential for you to do more good than the harm you’ve caused, beyond merely atoning for your sins.”

“…Me?”

“Of course, in your current state, such days will never come.”

This one’s fate, his destiny, has nothing left but to sink to the bottom.

“You must forge your own path. I merely provide the opportunity.”

“…Are you saying you’ll save me?”

“No.”

The knight firmly drew the line.

“Only you can save yourself.”

Whether to grasp the rope someone extends.

Whether to hold onto that rope until the end.

All of it is the product of one’s own will and effort.

No matter how much a great teacher pours out, absorbing and accepting it is the disciple’s responsibility.

No matter how much a great prophet points to the future.

Trusting, believing, and following those words is also the responsibility of the listener.

“The choice is yours. What will you do?”

“……”

This was clearly an opportunity.

But honestly, he didn’t know exactly what the knight wanted from him.

It was clear that this man was the enemy who had damaged his arm.

…But now, more than anger, he wondered whether he could follow even a part of that being’s path.

That was causing him… more anguish.

Why him of all people?

Was I not abandoned by the world, by God?

“Don’t misunderstand my words.”

As if reading his thoughts, the knight warned him.

“Neither this world, nor God, nor anyone can abandon you. Only you can abandon yourself.”

“Ah…”

At those words, if only for a moment, a great deal of regret and remorse struck the back of his head.

Come to think of it, I…

Have only blamed and despaired at every moment.

I have never once…

Tried to save myself.

I only made excuses.

Hesitated until I missed my chance.

Remained mired in frustration.

Why did I move and struggle?

I was starving to death.

I thought I would freeze to death living like this.

The future looked increasingly bleak, it was hard and painful.

…I just did whatever I could because I hated that.

The only time I’ve ever tried to save myself.

Was actually now, living as a beggar.

“Let’s go.”

As if sensing what Raymond had realized, the knight mounted his warhorse.

“If we’re not in a hurry, shouldn’t we buy a carriage to ride in?”

Delica said with irritation.

“So it doesn’t matter if we’re in a hurry.”

“……”

She got more than she bargained for.

The black knight casually grabbed Delica and Raymond and placed them in front of and behind him.

Grrrr!

Caligula, the warhorse that had been quiet until now, exploded into action, kicking off the ground and galloping back across the drawbridge.

And.

Edmila, who belatedly rushed out of the inner castle entrance.

She rubbed her forehead with a frown.

“How could such a thing… such a disaster… haah.”

How should she report this, what measures should be taken?

Even if lightning had struck from the sky in broad daylight, it wouldn’t have been this bewildering.

But there had clearly been a change.

“……”

What kind of omen that would bring.

For her, known as the Saint of Governance, the 6th Saint of the Irenis Order, there was simply no way to know.

====

Thanks to their mad dash through the streets and across rooftops, moving at an insane pace as if flying, Kariel’s group was able to leave the city-kingdom before sunset.

However, it was only when they reached a position where the kingdom was visible in the distance, just as the sun was sinking below the horizon.

That they stopped.

“Bleeegh!”

Raymond, who had been holding it in, finally jumped off the horse in a fit and vomited.

Since he hadn’t eaten much, only yellowish liquid flowed out with his saliva, and seeing this, Delica covered her mouth in disgust.

“That idiot.”

“……”

Kariel showed no particular reaction.

“You brought clothes, I assume?”

“…I had them prepared.”

If I’d known those clothes were for that bastard, I would have just grabbed whatever.

“There should be a stream connected to the river downstream nearby.”

“…Haah.”

Understanding, Delica kicked Raymond’s side as he lay sprawled on the ground and forcefully directed him to follow.

“……”

Kariel quietly set up a simple camp.

Though he didn’t need it himself, entirely for those two, he lit a campfire and pulled out some food from his spatial storage.

Then, as if he’d been waiting for this moment, he got up and moved to one side.

Grrrr!

Caligula neighed, as if seeing off his master.

……

It wasn’t far.

About a 10-minute walk.

There, as if waiting for him, with the just-extinguished sunset glow at his back, someone.

“Can you read the future? It’s like you predict and avoid all the places I’m going to. You’re doing it on purpose, right? When I realized that, I felt pretty hurt.”

A voice both unfamiliar and familiar.

One he thought he had forgotten, one he had considered irrelevant for ages.

Yet when it appeared before him, a rage he didn’t know he had threatened to explode.

“Do you know who I am?”

Just by looking at his appearance, one could never tell he was Kariel.

Yet if he had figured out his identity…

“Oh, Kariel. What kind of relationship do we have that we wouldn’t recognize each other?”

“……”

In a truly rare moment for Kariel, he sighed, which suddenly turned into a deep lament.

Through his heavy helmet, it flowed out as a magnificent exhalation.

Finally.

“…Eras.”

Kariel.

He reluctantly uttered that name he never wanted to speak.

Immediately after.

The sun that had fallen to the edge of the earth completely collapsed.