episode_0126

“Hello. I am Solra Artemisia, the Commander of the Holy Knights.”

Solra, the Commander of the Holy Knights.

A prodigy Swordmaster who mastered the comprehensive swordsmanship of the human race and founded the Order of Oath at a young age.

A formidable opponent that is always mentioned when discussing the best swordsmen.

And that opponent, in the story, becomes one of the Four Kings after falling into corruption.

Undoubtedly the strongest, with no match in solo combat.

The RPG team said that, excluding the final boss battle, the battle against Solra would boast the highest level of difficulty.

“Darn it. Another task added here.”

We must prevent Solra’s corruption.

Or if Solra is already corrupted, we must eliminate them.

However, the problem is…

“Nice to meet you…”

“Yes. Nice to meet you. I also share the same sentiment as the Chief Magistrate. Since the High Priestess is unable to make rational judgments and is going astray, and I cannot bear to see an innocent person being executed, I will do my best to prevent you from being taken in front of the High Priestess.”

“You can trust Solra. Please think of me as your equal and follow Solra’s judgment and instructions wholeheartedly. That way, you can avoid being caught in the net of suspicion.”

“Thank you.”

Even with a light handshake, I could feel an immense power beyond the gauntlet.

Even though it was probably held back slightly, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of danger that they could crush my hand if they wanted to.

Do I stand a chance against Solra?

It’s not impossible, but it’s slim.

I just sensed it as we shook hands.

Despite appearances, Solra is a Swordmaster who is also well-versed in magic as a Holy Knight.

I might have to launch a surprise attack in a favorable situation to barely win with my body covered in wounds.

Compared to Lex, who burned out all his life with pure brute force, or Yerina in Beast Mode, it might be a close call.

“I hope they haven’t fallen into corruption yet.”

If Solra is already corrupted, there might be no way to intervene.

So, for now, I have to assume that Solra has not yet fallen into corruption and act accordingly.

The additional task is to ‘find the cause of Solra’s corruption and eliminate it.’

Still, since Solra is from this world, there are quite a few things in the background that could be useful.

Since we are traveling together, I might be able to make use of that.

I’m not sure if the timing will be right.

“Let’s go then.”

“Yes.”

“Where do you need to go?”

“I need to meet with Deputy Mayor Briem.”

“I wouldn’t recommend that. The High Priestess is currently staying at the Briem Mansion.”

“Oh… Then how about going to the City Hall during office hours?”

“The Deputy Mayor is currently taking a break from work. After completing the handover, the Mayor-elect will take over the duties starting next week. If you must meet with the Deputy Mayor, you will have to go to the Briem Mansion…”

“No problem. I’ll just sneak in through the window.”

“Excuse me?”

I know the layout of the Briem Mansion.

If the problem is that Jill is staying there, I can just sneak into Cornelia’s room and meet her there.

Ah, maybe Cornelia, being who she is, offered her own room to Jill.

In that case, it would be wise to choose the study.

“Let’s go.”

For some reason, I left behind the stiff Solra and took the lead.

‘Who is this person?’

Solra stared at Eugene’s back, seriously questioning that.

As someone who had entered the ranks of the extraordinary, Solra could discern truth from lies with their right eye.

But the man’s words, though a bit vague, were mostly true.

In other words, he really was falsely accused of attempted rape despite having no prior acquaintance with the High Priestess.

In such a situation, most people would go crazy with injustice.

They would gladly accept the chance to leave the Holy Kingdom and never return.

But this man was different.

Just calmly, Solara said, “Oh, is that so?” Even though there was a bounty on his head, he felt the need to go see Sung-guk.

Seeing Solara’s nonchalant demeanor, Ayeon couldn’t help but look surprised.

It was as if she had experienced this kind of situation before.

She seemed so accustomed to this level of misunderstanding…

What kind of life had she lived to be able to react like this?

Solara felt not just surprise, but also awe.

“Isn’t it confusing? Suddenly becoming a wanted criminal without committing any crimes.”

“It is confusing. And frustrating.”

“It doesn’t seem to bother you much…”

“If I think there is some responsibility on my part, it makes it easier.”

“…”

What kind of responsibility is she talking about?

Did she distort and ruin the character of the saint in the past?

Solara rolled her eyes at the man’s strange way of thinking.

‘Eliminated from the candidate list for being a servant of that person…’

He didn’t seem consumed by anger.

She wondered if she could consider him a comrade, but Solara had already given up on recruiting him.

Those who are not desperate in some way are not easily corrupted.

“Why do you keep staring at me?”

As they headed towards the Briem Mansion, Solara noticed the man’s gaze and began to be wary.

It seemed like he was trying to assess her strength by secretly observing her.

Solara moved to the man’s right side and hid her right eye.

It felt like the man’s gaze kept coming towards her right eye.

For some reason, this man seemed to see things that were not visible.

But then, the man chuckled and stopped, smiling.

“Well then, Vice Commander. Shall we start revealing our identities to each other?”

“Yes?”

“Nice to meet you. One of the Four Kings, Il-ik. I am Mijeong, the left arm of Draken.”

“…?!”

The nonchalant attitude disappeared completely, and the man elegantly bowed to show respect.

Solara’s eyes widened at the sudden coming out.

For some reason, the blood fairy standing next to her also seemed tense.

“Come over here for a moment!”

Solara grabbed the man’s hand and led him into an alley.

She looked at the man and the blood fairy next to him, unable to speak for a moment due to confusion.

After a while, the first thing Solara said was, “Are you testing me?”

“Yes. Majeong is keeping a close eye on things.”

“…!”

She even noticed the mana in this right eye received from the Great Demon.

Solara shivered with goosebumps and knelt down on one knee.

“I greet the Four Kings, Mijeong!”

“Ahem…”

For some reason, the blood fairy girl standing next to her coughed.

Until just now, she had some doubts, but the moment she mentioned the mana, there was no doubt that this person was one of the Four Kings.

So she had to come up with a proper response.

“Do you like the mana?”

“Yes. Of course. It was given to me by the Great Demon-”

“Are you talking about Velfegor?”

“Yes, yes! I cherish the mana given to me by the Great Demon. I haven’t adapted to it yet, but I believe it will be a great help in battle once I get used to it.”

To have the mana of the Great Demon in her possession!

Are they really on such distant terms, even though they are both Four Kings?

Indeed, the Four Kings are all different.

Solara inwardly marveled.

“But may I dare ask who Mijeong-nim is?”

“I am a great blood fairy. I am Jinjo, who rules over many subordinates. This little one is one of my subordinates.”

“…!”

It was a series of surprises.

To be carrying around a young blood fairy, she had thought, but to be a blood fairy…

To be part of Jinjo’s subordinates meant being nothing less than a lifelong companion…

‘His taste in companionship is quite unique.’

Solara glanced at the vampire child and slightly lowered her head.

As expected, when one becomes a Four Kings, personal preferences can be so unique, she thought.

“I had no idea! Even knowing it now, you really seem human-like.”

“Of course. Because they move their heart and blood flow as if they were alive. When they reach the Jinjo level, this is nothing.”

“Indeed…!”

Solara exclaimed with even more admiration, nodding her head.

Mijeong, looking up at Eugene, admired the lies flowing like a clear stream in a different way.

Mijeong internally questioned, ‘If a vampire has a beating heart and blood flowing in their body, then aren’t they not a vampire?’ but decided not to provoke such a debate.

“Where is Velfegor now?”

“Um, yes?”

“I asked for the current location of Velfegor’s main body. You should know if you received the mana.”

“Oh. I believe the Great Demon is currently in the sea.”

“The sea?”

“Yes. Saying that he needs to meet with the Sea Dragon… I don’t know the details.”

Eugene’s expression twisted.

Solara, who believes me to be a Four Kings, wouldn’t lie.

But Velfegor really being in the sea and not in this kingdom…

‘Then who was the communication sent by Magi?’

Surely Velfegor’s Magi sent a communication in the direction of Kurn and Hameln.

Then who was the communication intended for, if not Velfegor’s main body?

A foreboding feeling crept in.

The possibility that another threat, not Velfegor, might be lurking here.

“Alright. I understand. Now hand over the mana.”

“What did you say?”

“I said hand over the mana.”

“Even if I ask for a reason… is it okay?”

“Do you dare to question the order of the Four Kings?”

“Ugh!”

Under the pressure of a mere shoulder shrug, Solara burst into a cold sweat.

It was an overwhelming force.

Just by glaring, she could exert a force like a psychic power!

“I misspoke… I will hand over the mana right away…”

She momentarily lost track of the topic and started to babble.

Solara, filled with remorse, began to push her finger into her eye socket.

“Uh, does it not hurt?”

“It’s fine! It’s a prosthetic!”

“…”

With a squelch and a thud, a harsh sound echoed.

Soon, the prosthetic came out of Solara’s eye socket.

Along with the long tentacle that extended to her brain.

With tears of blood, Solara handed over the mana.

Eugene casually accepted the mana with one hand.

As their eyes met and Eugene restrained herself from screaming, she had to make an effort to hold back the scream.

“Am I being stripped of my qualifications now?”

“What qualifications are you talking about?”

“The qualifications to become a Four Kings… Can’t you give me a little more trust? I am truly ready to betray the Papal Court. It’s not that faith can feed me. I can do anything for my sick brother! Even if it means betraying humanity!”

“Would you really not hesitate to betray humanity?”

“Yes!”

“Go out on the street now and kill that child. Then I will give you another chance.”

“…”

With a swish, a man raised his hand, pointing to a boy in the distance.

Solara’s pupils shook back and forth as if begging him not to do this, she looked up at the man.

But the man was firm.

“Do we really need to go this far? His purpose is to descend upon this world, not to destroy humanity…”

“If he descends, all of these lives will die anyway. Hurry and kill him. My patience is wearing thin.”

Solara, becoming anxious, drew her sword.

Thoughts of her sick brother came to mind.

Her brother was currently suffering from an incurable disease, and his heart was gradually dying.

In order to cure her illness, Sola had been running around tirelessly.

She refused to take any potions, elixirs, or any other form of treatment.

At one point, she even asked a saint to cast healing spells on her brother multiple times, but his heart still did not improve.

Later, she found out that this illness was congenital.

It was something that could never be cured through conventional means.

In her despair, Sola was approached by none other than one of the Four Demon Kings, the Great Demon.

He made her an offer.

If she pledged loyalty to “that person,” he would transplant a healthy heart into her brother.

There was no hesitation.

Sola immediately decided to pledge loyalty to the Great Demon and “that person” whom she had never seen.

She had no interest in the origin of the hearts of others that the Great Demon mentioned.

All she wanted was for her brother to be healthy and smile again, no matter what it took.

In the hellish place where there was no escape.

Sola chose to embrace evil for her brother’s sake.

“I’m sorry…”

Clang.

Sola dropped her sword.

She couldn’t do it.

No matter how much it was for her brother, it was too much to harm an innocent boy.

The boy’s face overlapped with her brother’s.

Although she had resolved to become evil, Sola had not yet fully embraced it.

A faint smile appeared on the man’s lips.

“You lack the talent. You are not qualified to be one of the Four Demon Kings.”

“Grr…”

Tears streamed down Sola’s face in frustration.

In her mind, a single question passed by.

“But, Your Excellency. I have one question.”

“What is it?”

“The seat of the Four Demon Kings consists of four positions. Namely, the Great Demon, the Necromancer, the Druid, and the vacancy that I was supposed to fill, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“However, if Your Excellency has already ascended to be one of the Four Demon Kings, that means the vacancy has already been filled. Why then did you test me? Even if I pass the test, I have no chance of becoming one of the Four Demon Kings, do I?”

“…”

Eugene’s mouth remained shut at the sharp question.

What should he say.

As he pondered, Sola’s eyes narrowed as she read his expression.

“Who are you…?”

“I guess I’ll be leaving then.”

Sola quickly drew her sword and lunged.

But her sword did not reach the man.

Instead, Sola found herself surrounded by a wall that seemed to be made entirely of mirrors.

The Celestial Gauntlet.

A sphere that reflected all external and internal impacts back at her, trapping Sola inside.

Kugugu!

Soon, the ground shook, creating a pit.

The sphere entered the pit and covered it with dirt.

In no time, the ground was as smooth as glass.

“Now. Let’s go meet Cornelia.”

“…Okay.”

Eugene brushed off his hands.

As if nothing had happened, he casually left the scene.