episode_0161

161 – Hyde, erect! #3

“It’s been a while. Friede.”

“Advisor – Friede,” who was Pope Gregory’s closest associate.

She said that she suffered a lot from living in a dark and humid cave.

Cough, Cluck-.

The cough rising from deep in the lungs seemed to prove it.

“… Are you Hyde?”

Friede didn’t remember me.

“Though I can’t think of anything about you. When I look at those gloomy eyes, I think I’m reminded of a pendragon. It looks similar to Asha.”

Asha and Pendragon.

They were the king and queen just before the United Kingdom was divided.

Idiots who forced marriages that were not permitted by the church.

How much damage did the war caused by them cause?

“My younger sister Asha was a lovely child. It was natural for anyone to fall in love. But she wasn’t supposed to love.”

The black-haired Midvar people had a curse from Emma, the prophet of destruction.

It was a prophecy that a Midvar woman would give birth to a murderer who would kill countless people.

As a result, Midvar marriages were banned and countless children and women were oppressed.

It was because of this that Friede, a Midvarian, and Roland, a cousin of Uniger, suffered terrible wounds and disappeared.

I asked Friede.

“Are you hateful? Pendragon and Ashaga. It is no exaggeration to say that their love hurt you and Roland and burned your whole life.”

Although they were people called my mother and father.

To be honest, I didn’t even feel it because I had been an orphan my whole life.

It felt like I was just hearing about a person from history.

However, Friede laughed.

“Because love is not a sin. Actually, I was jealous. Just as Pendragon turned the world against Asha, I wondered what it would have been like if my love Roland had also run away with me─.”

“That wish finally came true.”

Roland became an enemy of the world and was a fugitive, leading Friede and his son Rehoboam.

A situation where you may have to hide in a cave for the rest of your life, unable to see sunlight, and die from lung disease.

Wouldn’t this be harsh on Friede, who was called the Pope’s advisor and enjoyed all the honors?

Did you read my thoughts?

Friede gently took Roland’s hand.

“I like it now. Although there is no fancy party hall and there is no warm stew to make the evening enjoyable. I finally feel free. Above all, because there is Roland.”

Friede looked genuinely happy.

I couldn’t understand.

“Things may be better than they are now.”

“I don’t even want that. I feel so much just being with Roland and my child Rehoboam… Collock-. Because I’m happy.”

“… … .”

“Men won’t understand. Sometimes women become happy enough to not need anything just by being with the person they love.”

Sze-.

Friede’s hand now held mine.

There was a strong smell of bitter herbs.

“So, Hyde. It’s better to quit. There must be women who loved you. It might not be a bad idea to face a quiet and comfortable end with them.”

I didn’t know it might be so.

But we have already come too far.

My brakes and steering wheel were broken and the only thing that worked was the accelerator.

Sze-.

I bowed my head to Friede and left her room.

Roland asked as he followed me.

“Friede says he is happy. I don’t want her to die like this, consumed by illness and darkness. I want to bring the sunshine back to her. Promise me.”

“Promise?”

“I will never give up. Even if you lose everything you hold dear in exchange for great power, swear that you will follow your path to the end. Make an oath to become king. Then I will obey you.”

It was a very funny story.

Do I really need to ask?

I held out my hand for a shake.

From now on, we felt like comrades.

Instead of holding my hand, Roland knelt in front of me.

“I, Roland, will be your sword from now until the moment I die.”

“Yes. The picture feels a little different than what I thought.”

Sze-.

I put my hand on Roland’s head.

The helmet covering his face was unusually cold, but perhaps because of my mood, it felt hot, like boiling magma.

Sze-.

Roland finally stood up.

he asked me

“So what’s the next plan?”

“Of course, we have to harvest the wheat grains that fell on the ground. Blood Crusade. I will join them and invade the royal capital, Royal Road. Because I have to contact the 12th door again.”

The truth has always been simple.

Man is saved only by believing in the Word and the Savior.

And my plans were always simple.

We reach the 12th door again, pull Gregory down, and I place my hand on the axis.

And I will ‘command’.

Last 2 years.

That’s all I’ve thought about these past two years.

Sze-.

At that time, Roland unfolded a map in front of me.

“In order to join the main force of the Crusade, it is necessary to pass through the newly created “Fortress of Jericho” near Sodomi. It is a very strongly built fortress. There are many troops stationed there.”

In the past two years, many new castles or fortresses have been built.

While the Blood Crusade was gaining strength within sodomy, the Allied Forces also did not sit still.

Roland added.

“The problem is that the person guarding this fortress of Jericho is Alter Archibald. Do you know that he was appointed a Platinum Knight by Queen Ginevitt?”

Of course I knew.

By offering me to Ginebit, he received the comfort of his lover Hecate and a promotion for himself.

The people who were constantly watching me were all Alter’s subordinates.

Most of the people in Agarpe Village were also from Alter.

Of course, I have covered everything over the past two years.

“Roland. Can you deal with Alter?”

Roland was a knight strong enough to be called a great monster.

However, Roland clicked his tongue.

“Through various experiments, he has become a worthy platinum knight. It’s difficult for me to deal with it alone. It would be impossible to even kill it using ordinary methods. Therefore, it is right to avoid Jericho.”

Because of Alter, I have to avoid Jericho Citadel, which is a straight road to sodomy, and go back somewhere else.

They said the other route would take more than 15 days.

It took too long.

“It’s only a matter of time before the alter detects something suspicious about my movements. The advantage I have now is that the enemy is caught off guard. You have to make the most of this.”

In fact, I knew very well how to defeat Alter.

“Roland. It’s always their women who break down the men who will never break down. Men are stupid enough to be made to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil by women. Lord Roland. What was the reason you surrendered to Gregory 20 years ago?”

“… You, no way.”

Roland surrendered to Gregory for the safety of Friede and for the security of his unborn child, Rehoboam.

So what about Alter?

“Alter. I already know from Balhajak that he has developed a deeper relationship with Hecate. If you hold that Hecate hostage, there’s nothing you can do, no matter how much you are an alter.”

Aside from that, there were more than five ways to deal with alters.

For the past two years, all I’ve been doing while sleeping with the sheep has been planning and thinking.

“Let’s see what the alter bastard prioritizes more between his hatred for me and his love for his lover.”

“It’s a completely trash idea, but that’s why it’s an effective strategy. I’m not in a position to say this, but I’m glad I didn’t turn you into an enemy.”

Sze-.

I called out to Balhajak with a wave of my hand.

“Evangelist Balhajak. From now on, go where I tell you and do what is written on this scroll. Keep this in mind. These are things that must be accomplished even with your life.”

“Yes!”

# # #

Jericho Citadel.

A newly built wall near Sodomy to fight against the Blood Crusade.

It was strong enough to make it hard to think that it was a hastily built wall, combining the essence of the castle’s castles from the Allied Forces and the Church’s Templar Knights.

The castle walls, armed with powerful artillery and crossbows, were as strong and formidable as the “Fortress of Taeman,” which boasted iron walls in the past.

Inside, Hecate lived safely.

Because they thought the high walls would protect them.

But now my thoughts have changed.

‘This is a prison. The strongest and most secure prison.’

Hecate trembled as she looked around and saw soldiers and knights everywhere.

Sze-.

Hecate touched her lower abdomen.

Hecate had recently found out that she was pregnant.

‘It’s okay now, though. If the baby’s cry is heard inside this castle—.’

Hecate thought about new babies being born.

Those who gave birth were persecuted for being corrupted by the Blood Crusade.

The mothers were taken somewhere and the babies were also put in a facility somewhere.

‘My stomach is getting fuller. When that time comes, I won’t be able to hide it… .’

Hecate had discovered a book in the witch’s house where she was said to have once lived.

There was information written about what a taboo witch should know, and among them was how to kill an unborn child.

Kills the unborn child -.

There was only one way for Hecate to survive with Alter.

But Hecate didn’t want to do that.

‘First you have to leave the fortress… .’

“Hecate. It’s dangerous.”

“Let’s go inside.”

“It is said that members of the Blood Crusade committed suicide in sodomy. You don’t know what will happen, but rest assured. As Alter’s lover, we will protect you.”

The soldiers tried to protect Hecate like a fragile glass.

Hecate would not allow him to leave this fortress.

It was right then.

“Hecate. You haven’t done a proper inspection these past few months, right? You need to check whether there is any problem with your body. Because Hecate’s body is even more special.”

The nuns approached Hecate.

They were therapists who examined and examined women’s bodies.

Now Hecate had to avoid them.

“I’m fine. Very healthy.”

“Really? But. If you live in this fortress, you’re bound to hear rumors. There are rumors that you, a witch, may be seducing our Lord Alter and committing ‘bad things’ every night.”

“… … .”

Hecate felt a cold sweat running down her spine.

Alter was popular with women.

And Hecate became the object of jealousy and speculation from those women.

Every time Alter went on a campaign and disappeared, he was met with such blatant checks.

“Miss Hecate. Is there anything you want to point out?”

“No. Not at all.”

“Of course. You may not know Miss Hecate, who was a witch, but how faithful and pious a man is our Sir Alter? You are never one to be tempted.”

Hecate shook her head.

Women went to Hecate.

“Then Miss Hecate. Prove your purity to Lord Alter with this.”

Sze-.

The women held out something to Hecate.

It was a fruit that looked like a round magatama.

“If you were Miss Hecate, the witch of Walpurgis, you would know what this fruit is, right? Fallen flower fruit. Although it is delicious, it is a very fatal fruit to small creatures if eaten.”

It was a fruit that witches used to perform abortions.

If he eats that, Hecate’s child will surely die.

But if you don’t eat it─.

“ja-. This fruit causes no harm to healthy adults. We also eat one every day to prove our purity. Now it’s Miss Hecate’s turn.”

Sze-.

Hecate picked up the fruit.

Everyone’s eyes were focused.

Hecate felt that gaze was as sharp as a dagger stabbing her.

“I… .”

In the end, Hecate couldn’t get the fruit into her mouth.

Pot-!

Hecate just ran away.

Seeing that scene, the women screamed in anger as if they had been waiting.

“There is a woman with a child!!!”

“There is a pregnant woman!!!”

Hecate thought she had to run somewhere.

Someone grabbed Hecate’s wrist and dragged her away.

“Miss Hecate.”

“Are you Lord Balhajak?”