Ch.259EP.58 – A Knight Never Forgets a Grudge (2)

Though it may sound redundant, Pendragon is currently in a state of war.

The repeated terrorist attacks by heretics have been threatening, causing Pendragon to suffer enormous damage.

Recently, the Grand Temple collapsed and the Ophen family residence was partially destroyed, making the threat of heretics enough to send chills down the necks of those in power.

…The amusing thing was that no one knew exactly who these extremely dangerous heretics were.

The organization’s structure, numbers, key officials, and their leader—everything remained a mystery.

All they knew was that the heretics originated from the [Blood Crusaders] who had been crushed by the War God in the past. However, they now operated with a completely different scale and composition from the ghosts of the past, making old information useless. They later discovered that there were apostates in the Grand Temple who maintained connections with the Blood Crusaders, but even those apostates proved to be mere hunting dogs as they were betrayed and burned to ashes.

This meant that the means to obtain information had all but disappeared, however…

“-The Blood Crusaders, as you’ve probably already guessed, are maintained as a cell organization. Even members don’t know their superiors in most cases, and there are even ordinary merchants and nobles who unknowingly help the Blood Crusaders.”

They say there’s always a way out even if the sky falls.

The abandoned heretic officials willingly revealed what they knew.

Quite valuable information.

“So if you think you can capture members of the cell organization and learn something, I’d say wake up from that dream. You won’t get anything by capturing them.”

“Don’t worry. We’ve already confirmed that fact by wasting manpower and money.”

“Y-you’ve already tried it…”

“I’m willing to tell you what happened to the cell organization if you’re curious.”

“…I’ll pass. My sleep is already restless enough as it is.”

“Wise choice.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

The woman once called one of the 7 Apostles shrugged her shoulders lightly.

But her expression—Daina’s expression—was hardened.

Looking at the person before her made her heart grow cold.

Sure enough.

“But if they call themselves an organization, they can’t be maintained by cell structure alone. There must be people who act as the head. Who are they?”

“…I was going to tell you anyway.”

Overwhelmed by the calm gaze of her counterpart, Daina found herself shrinking back again as she moved a piece on the chess board on the table.

Three knights.

Tak.

“[Brass Knights], they’re in charge of the organization’s military force. They led the mana research. I heard the half-mana was their masterpiece. There’s a leader called the ‘Commander,’ and under him are elite forces called the Brass Knights, but I don’t know exactly where they are. And don’t scold me for not knowing. The relationships between divisions are bad, and they could betray each other at any time, so everyone keeps their locations secret.”

Tak.

“[Torn Wings]. The brains of the organization. They’re the ones who actually deliver orders and plan operations. They’re mainly composed of sorcerers and black magicians who have made contracts with demons from hell. The summoning of the Demon King and hell beasts you saw the other day was discovered by them. Many of them have unique powers. They’re even more shrouded in mystery than the Brass Knights. They apparently have some magic or mystery that allows them to share thoughts with each other. That’s why they’re said to be hidden throughout the cell organization, to secretly devise strategies.”

Tak.

“[Black Apostles]. They’re the organization’s intelligence division, also in charge of infiltrating enemy countries and assassinations. They were once known as the assassination organization ‘Black Moon,’ but in reality, they were a training facility to raise warriors for the Blood Crusaders through countless human modifications and illegal procedures. In other words, they were trying to build military power in a different way from the Brass Knights. Well, their identity was discovered before they could properly operate, and all the warriors they had carefully raised were scattered. Still, now the members centered around the apostles are working hard.”

Whew!

Daina exhaled after finishing her long explanation.

Although she had betrayed them, somehow she felt relieved after spilling everything.

“…As you can see, it’s a messy organization. Only the leaders of each division know who the current head of the Blood Crusaders is, and there are many secrets. The divisions don’t get along well, and there’s always a possibility they’ll fight each other and self-destruct, but they maintain the system because the power and control held by the heads of each division is considerable.”

That was exactly right.

One would wonder if such an organization could exist in this world.

It was a miracle that it was maintained at all.

“…But why were you part of such a messy organization? From what I’ve heard, you weren’t poisoned or threatened, and you don’t seem like a fanatic either.”

“……”

For the first time, Daina was at a loss for words.

She remained silent for a long time, but her counterpart leisurely drank tea, as if waiting for her to speak.

When the teacup was placed back on the table,

“…There are mainly five reasons. The salary is good, and they provide enough wealth for those with families to live on for life. They provide all kinds of support. For those who want to become stronger, they teach methods to become stronger, even if they’re inhumane. Finally, there’s no retaliation even if you betray them. That’s why I was part of it, no other reason.”

“……”

The one who spoke was the former 11th Apostle, the sorcerer Yan.

Unlike Daina, who was recalling her complicated past, his was a wise answer befitting someone with an objective perspective.

And the person who heard this answer…

“Unbelievable… It sounds more like a normal workplace than a heretical organization.”

“It is a workplace. Many people are loyal because even if they die, their families are taken care of.”

“…Many people are loyal despite committing such inhumane acts?”

“Hmm, if I may ask, don’t the Grand Temple, Pendragon, the Empire, and the Magic Tower also commit many inhumane acts?”

“…That was a foolish question.”

Yes, it was a foolish question.

Their experiments were clearly inhumane, but sadly, it wasn’t something that a ruler like herself could criticize.

Even the Grand Temple had killed innocent people in the name of witch hunts and heretic hunts, and the Empire and Magic Tower had exploited the imperial citizens for over hundreds of years…

“Ah, of course, these employee benefits only apply to ‘full-time employees.’ For example, criminals or apostates from the Grand Temple in the tunnels are just discarded. They’re worth less than this pawn.”

“……”

“Did you know? The ones who led projects like the half-mana project or the mystery theft project weren’t these three organizations, but the Grand Temple and the Magic Tower. They cooperated for mutual benefit, kidnapping slaves and orphans for experiments. Well, we who shared that data are no different in the end.”

“…The country was full of beasts, no, walking monsters, haha…”

She laughed for the first time.

But it was a hollow laugh of disbelief.

A direct expression that she felt like going crazy the more she heard Yan’s information.

She, Isis, shook her head.

“Well, those beasts are gone now, so there’s no need to worry about them.”

The Grand Temple had collapsed, and so had the tunnels. As for the Magic Tower…

‘Did they say the race of magicians is dying out?’

As if atoning for hundreds of years of evil deeds, the magicians of the Magic Tower are dying day by day.

In addition, magicians in the Empire are being forcibly expelled from their hometowns or, worse, sold into slavery because they are magicians…

It’s possible that the race of magicians won’t be able to set foot in the Empire for at least several decades.

‘In the end, the Empire is also collapsing…’

Since the two knights brought down the Magic Tower, the warlords and kings scattered throughout the imperial territory have finally risen up, and the Empire is breaking into pieces.

It’s ironic.

The Empire, which once threatened Pendragon alongside Britain, is now disappearing so miserably.

It’s like one potential enemy has disappeared, and it will probably take at least several decades for the Empire to be unified again.

‘No, it took over 100 years for the Empire to be established in the past, so it might take even longer.’

This was good news for Pendragon.

While the Empire and the central continent are in chaos, the kingdom can absorb refugees from the Empire, and as the population grows, they can naturally solve their chronic manpower problem.

With no enemy countries, they can continue to develop, and like that…

‘It could suddenly collapse too.’

…Like pouring cold water, she coldly assessed the situation.

“It’s frightening… The fact that every place touched by your organization’s malice is collapsing one after another.”

“It wasn’t us who brought them down, but your knights, wasn’t it?”

“Even those places were touched by your hands. Pendragon won’t be safe either.”

“…I won’t deny that.”

Yan nodded honestly and inwardly admired her.

‘Is this the next ruler who will lead Pendragon?’

The woman named Isis never got excited.

She listened to their story with consistent calmness, analyzing and judging from an objective perspective.

She didn’t just look at the situation positively either.

Rather.

“They commit inhumane acts without hesitation, and while they seem to use any means necessary, they don’t spare support for their own people. They work together to achieve a single goal even while being hostile to each other. Neither completely insane nor completely evil, and even with a moderate amount of goodness—what kind of bizarre organization is this…”

“That doesn’t make it a good organization.”

“Could an organization that doesn’t hesitate to conduct human experiments and kidnappings ever be good?”

“……”

“What I’m saying is that you are simply bizarre. It’s the first time I’ve been at a loss for how to deal with someone.”

“……”

“You use any means necessary to bring us down. That’s why it’s difficult to deal with you by normal standards. To think there are such enemies…”

Isis expressed her difficulty in dealing with an opponent that doesn’t move according to common sense.

Additionally, Pendragon is currently not united, with the royal family and the great nobles ignoring each other.

“…This is serious. Really serious…”

“……”

“So I propose, would you consider becoming my people?”

“??”

…So suddenly?

It might seem like an abrupt proposal after her serious mutterings, but Isis had made an extremely practical judgment.

If the opponent doesn’t play by the rules, then she too must move somewhat unconventionally.

So.

“You said you’re at the Academy now? Take off those ill-fitting clothes. The place that will use you best is none other than by my side. If you become my people, I will spare no support, and I’ll give you twice the salary you want. Feel free to name your price.”

“T-that… W-we’re criminals…?”

“This is an era of war. Rather than locking up talents like you, it’s more appropriate to use you. Dedicate yourselves to Pendragon for exactly 10 years. I’ll guarantee your freedom afterward.”

She too made a bold decision.

Although accepting them would create a political weakness for Isis, it was worth enduring.

However…

“Um… actually, we’ve already received that offer from Galahad…”

“And from Lionel’s side too…”

Bang!

“─These people with no business ethics!!”

Her political rivals were indeed quick-footed.

Why are these people, who already have plenty of talent, so greedy?!

Isis couldn’t help but feel wronged.

At that moment…

“But you have No. 8 under you.”

“?”

“The child now called Ihan.”

“…Hah.”

The moment she heard his name, a smile naturally formed on Isis’s lips.

It was a name that made her feel at ease even just hearing it, after feeling so unpleasant.

“My proud adoptive brother.”

“……”

“What is he doing now? I heard the Academy is going on break from today? Is he training again?”

“…You don’t know?”

“?”

“…What was it? Something about hunting vampires with the Guild Master?”

“??”

“I think he said he was going to hunt Hansel, the 2nd Apostle. He seems determined to tear down all suspicious places… I think the kingdom will be in an uproar for a while.”

“…This person with no business ethics-!”

She was furious.

“If he’s going to do something like that, he should do it with me…!”

…At her adoptive brother who was enjoying the hunt without her.

The crown princess was disappointed in the knight-.

*

*

*

“…?”

Guild Master Simon was experiencing an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.

‘I think something like this happened before?’

At that time, it was definitely…

“Thanks, as expected of the Hao Sect. I finally heard that spellcaster cry. It really relieved my stress.”

…Was that axe pointed at him before, perhaps?

Well, fortunately, it seems to be directed at others this time.

Simon, wondering whether the person before him was a knight or a butcher, asked one small question.

“Um, I’ve been curious about this, but why do you call the guild the ‘Hao Sect’?”

“Oh, it’s just a nickname. Don’t worry about it too much.”

“…Haha, I see.”

“So, Guild Master, where’s the next spellcaster?”

“…The way you say it makes me feel like I’m the mastermind behind everything.”

“That’s the position the Guild Master is supposed to be in.”

“……”

…He had felt this before, but what exactly does this knight think the guild is?

‘We’re not bad people…’

Guild Master Simon—not the Hao Sect Master—felt that many things had gone wrong since their first meeting went awry.