episode_0195

My recognition in the Central Continent was more immense than I had imagined, causing a huge commotion from the entrance of the Holy Nation.

From people who just wanted to see me even once, to people who wanted to create a connection with me to gain profit, and so on.

Truly, various people rushed at me with various purposes, so I secretly entered the Holy Nation, covering my face, under the guidance of the Holy Knights.

“This is… It’s hard to go anywhere….”

“It’s the hardship of a celebrity, I guess.”

“Still, your popularity has become even more immense than when you came last time.”

“Now that I’m here, I need to find out for sure what I need to find out.”

I came to the Holy Nation at Lucy’s request, but I don’t intend to just check on the Pope and the Saintess and leave.

I must obtain information about the remaining two witches.

‘I don’t want to suffer like that again because of something like the manifestation of .’

Since it’s the Holy Nation, there is a lot of information about the ‘Fragment of the Demon King.’

In addition, Saintess Bathory is the Queen of the Blood Demons who has lived for a long time, so she must know a lot about the Fragment of the Demon King.

Of course…, she didn’t give me a proper story when I talked to her last time, but now that there are only two Fragments of the Demon King left, she will tell me something.

“Hmm…. Brother?”

“What is it? Sister Lucy.”

“It may be just my feeling, but… the atmosphere of the Holy Nation seems a bit strange. Is something going on?”

Lucy, who came out of Leviyah’s shadow since she’s in the Holy Nation, shrugged her shoulders while heading to the Papal Palace under the guidance of the Holy Knight.

It doesn’t look any different to me, but it seemed that the atmosphere was slightly different to Lucy, who had stayed in the Holy Nation for a long time.

The Holy Knight cleared his throat and slightly avoided his gaze.

“The truth is… there was a bit of an incident the day before the heroes arrived…. Because more than half of the Holy Knights were injured, the number of knights currently guarding the Holy Nation has decreased a bit.”

“Yes?….”

“More than half were injured, so what on earth happened that caused such a thing….”

“Did something like the Fragment of the Demon King invade?”

Everyone there, including Lucy, was surprised by the much heavier story than expected.

Of course, I was also surprised, but at the same time, I felt something strange.

I can’t think of any existence other than the Demon King’s forces that could cause such a big incident that more than half of the Holy Knights of the Holy Nation were injured.

‘But it’s not a war atmosphere?…’

It just feels like they are working as usual.

As if noticing my doubts, the Holy Knight waved his hand and said.

“It’s just a minor misunderstanding, so you don’t have to worry too much. The injured Holy Knights are not seriously injured, and they said that they can return to their original duties after taking a rest for 2-3 days.”

“I don’t understand how a misunderstanding can lead to a situation where half of the Holy Knights are injured?”

“That is…, you may find it hard to believe, but the ‘Sword King’ came to visit.”

…Huh?

Who?….

Who came to visit!?

“Why did that person come?!”

“?? Do, do you know the Sword King??”

* * *

The Great Church Crua in the center of the Holy Nation.

Inside, the Pope’s Audience Chamber.

As soon as I heard the news of the Sword King, I didn’t stray anywhere else and came straight here. I had an audience with the Pope along with my party.

In fact, it wasn’t possible to meet the Pope just because I wanted to, but thanks to the achievements I had built up so far, I was able to receive permission for a sudden request for an audience with the Pope.

“I’m glad you look healthy. Hero Leon. I’ve been hearing about your activities through Lucy, and I heard that you successfully defeated in the Western Continent this time.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I heard that Hero Abel died in the process….”

Hero Abel.

After being brainwashed by , he blocked my path, and in the end, as died, his connection with the World Tree was severed, and he couldn’t withstand the power of the Great Sage Equaling Heaven and was torn apart.

“No matter how capricious he was, he was still a hero chosen by the Goddess, so the story of a hero being brainwashed by the Fragment of the Demon King is not very good. About this….”

“Yes, I know.”

Hero Abel met a sublime death.

That’s enough of a story.

After saying that, the Pope glanced at the Holy Sword hanging on my waist.

“Speaking of which, I heard that the Holy Swords have been merged.”

“Yes, the Holy Sword Machina that I had said that there were originally three Holy Swords. However, the power of the Holy Sword was too strong for one human to handle, so the Goddess divided it into three swords.”

“I heard a brief story from Lucy. After hearing that story, we also found several ancient books and clarified the result. It seems that the first hero was definitely one person, not three like now.”

After saying that, the Pope took a breath and continued.

“We discussed what to do with the merged Holy Sword. Considering the achievements that Hero Leon has made, we have decided to leave the merged Holy Sword as it is. Two Fragments of the Demon King have been defeated thanks to your activities, and we don’t know how to divide the merged Holy Sword in the first place.”

I nodded at the Pope’s words.

After that, the Pope exchanged a few words with Leviyah and Lucy, who were standing next to me, and finished the brief report on the current situation.

Well, I think I’ve said everything I need to say roughly….

“Before I came here, I heard that my master, the Sword King, came here.”

“Is that him? Yes, after confirming that you came here, I told him, so he will be here soon.”

Even the Pope is quite respectful, so it seems that the name Sword King has a great weight.

The Pope would be the shepherd who proclaims the will of the Goddess to the world….

…Well, anyway, it’s nothing I need to worry about.

“But…, what on earth did he come for?”

“About that…, I think it’s better to hear it directly.”

I felt a slight anxiety at the Pope’s words.

What on earth is going on that he says it’s better to hear it directly….

“…But, now that I realize it, Mr. White Tiger is not visible? I’m sure I received a report that he moved the orcs to Mount Cheon of Yeomguk and joined you…. Did something happen to Mr. White Tiger?”

“I have something to say about that. Actually….”

I briefly explained the story about White Tiger to the Pope.

White Tiger, who entered the Western Continent to join us, was attacked. Even that the attacker was Tayo Kingdom, which is beyond the East Continent’s sea.

The Pope nodded after hearing the explanation.

“Then we have to hurry.”

“Yes. So originally, I was planning to leave right after seeing His Holiness the Pope….”

“Don’t worry. It won’t take that long.”

As I turned my gaze to the voice coming from behind, an old man was walking calmly.

He looked exactly the same as when I first saw him.

“You’ve arrived. Sword King Veldro.”

“Thanks to His Holiness the Pope’s grace, I was able to spend the night comfortably.”

Sword King Veldro.

He was my master and a living legend.

* * *

“T, this person is Young Master’s master….”

“I can’t feel anything, it’s scary….”

Baekryeon and Seolrin looked at Sword King Veldro, who was walking ahead, and whispered to each other.

Since they are martial artists, the topic of conversation they share is the ability of martial artists.

And of course, the Sword King’s ability is overwhelming.

“But…, Sword King. This place is….”

“….”

However, Lucy frowned slightly, wondering where the Sword King, who was taking me and my party, was heading, rather than that.

I think I know where this is.

Certainly…. It’s the way to where Saintess Bathory is staying….

“Are we heading to the Saintess?”

“That’s right. I have something I left with her for a while.”

“Left something?”

The Sword King nodded at my question.

After that, the Sword King skillfully opened the secret staircase hidden here and went down below.

“T, there’s a secret door in a place like this….”

“If it’s the Saintess, isn’t she a person in a relatively high position? Why are you going down to the underground corner like this?”

“Because she’s a Blood Demon.”

“…Yes?!”

Leviyah was the one who was startled by my words.

I looked at Lucy, wondering about Leviyah’s reaction.

“I didn’t tell you.”

“….”

“There’s no need to know…. Above all, Lady Leviyah is pure, so she can’t lie.”

That’s…, that’s true.

I nodded and followed the Sword King, who had gone ahead, down the stairs.

The party members also looked at each other for a while and then stepped on the stairs following me.

When we completely descended the stairs, what we saw was an underground plaza that looked like the inside of a cathedral.

This place, lit by candles, was not much different from when I came last time.

The only difference is that there is a large full-body mirror with ornate decorations engraved in the center of this underground cathedral.

In front of it, the Saintess with pink bobbed hair, Bathory, was praying.

“…You’ve arrived.”

“Yes, it’s been a while.”

“It’s okay. I know the weight of the duty you bear.”

She said without turning around, still in her praying posture.

I think her concentration in maintaining her praying posture without a single wavering is still amazing.

“But what is that full-body mirror? I’ve never seen it before.”

“That is….”

Bathory paused for a moment.

Then, she took her two hands, which she had gathered for prayer, and got up from her seat and said.

“One of the Fragments of the Demon King. It’s a ‘door leading to the mirror world’ where is sealed.”

“…What?”

I was momentarily embarrassed by Bathory’s words.

.

The first time I met her was in the Magic Kingdom.

She, who was using someone else’s body instead, engraved a ‘brand’ on me with the words ‘find me.’

“That’s why I came here. I’ve heard your rumors. As you said to me at first, you seem to be working hard to defeat the Demon King, not to pursue power, so I came to the Holy Nation because I thought it would be ‘okay to entrust’ this to you.”

“E, entrust?!…. Wait a minute. You don’t mean you brought this mirror?!”

I asked back in disbelief at the Sword King’s words.

The Sword King… was keeping the Demon King’s seal?!….