Holy Kingdom – Counterattack (3)

“Now I’ll explain the detailed plan-“

“Ian, there’s one more thing I’m curious about. Can you answer me honestly?”

“What?”

The moment Rena interrupted him, Ian felt not irritation but an inexplicable unease first. Her serious expression was unusually grave.

“…We don’t have time to waste on trivial matters. Speak quickly.”

“I’ll be direct. Do we… have any hope?”

“What kind of… *sigh*.”

Hearing such words now made Ian’s unease turn real. He pressed his forehead against an oncoming headache.

“Are you seriously asking that right now?”

“I am. I hate to admit it, but the Pope is as meticulous as he is greedy. We already failed once with just our strength. Wouldn’t it be better to wait for proper support from the Magic Tower or help from elsewhere?”

“First, let’s clarify this. The one who decided to help you was me-not the Magic Tower. Seeing those Magic Tower representatives must have given you false hope, but they’re only providing humanitarian aid.”

Ian knew well that the Tower Lord would merely observe this situation without direct intervention.

‘At the very least, Master-nim won’t intervene in this.’

Those unfamiliar with the Tower Lord might see him as merely a benevolent old man. But beneath that facade lay only cold rationality.

In matters concerning the Magic Tower, he made only rational, pragmatic judgments. That was how the current Tower Lord’s Magic Tower remained one of the strongest factions even after the Great War.

“You should abandon false hopes now. The Tower Lord-nim would never deeply involve himself in this matter.”

“But he’s your teacher. If you ask him-“

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

When Ian cut her off firmly, Rena’s expression darkened further.

“B-but-“

-Thud!

Ian slammed his hand against the wall, forcibly silencing her.

“It’s truly disappointing to hear such weakness now.”

“…You’re the one failing to see this objectively. We already failed once.”

“Failed? So should we give up? Have you forgotten your own mistakes and failures? Without my help, you’d have been finished.”

“….”

Rena bit her lip and fell silent under Ian’s sharp criticism.

“Unlike you, I don’t believe I’m incapable of resolving something of this scale. Instead of offering support, you’re spouting demoralizing nonsense. I’m almost ashamed of my past self who was moved by your determination.”

Seeing Rena waver, Ian felt not just disappointment but anger.

‘My initial judgment was correct after all.’

Rena was just a woman blinded by love who followed the Hero. Though she possessed stronger mental fortitude than most, expecting more had been a mistake.

Ian calmed his agitated mind and began explaining calmly.

“Listen carefully. Your precious comrade Annie is also my precious sister. The likelihood of them targeting her is low, but that small possibility makes me anxious.”

Ian had always strived to maintain composure in any situation. Yet enduring the stress from this incident wasn’t easy.

“If you want to give up, it’d actually be easier for me. I’ll just take Annie and leave the Holy Kingdom immediately. Is that what you want?”

“That’s… no.”

Under Ian’s rebuke, Rena finally hung her head deeply, at a loss for words.

“…I’m sorry. I apologize for my reckless remarks earlier. I’m absolutely not saying we should abandon this. But, but… I’m growing more afraid…”

Rena began pouring out her true feelings with a trembling voice.

“I’ve been through so much in the Holy Kingdom. If only I’d avoided meeting the Pope, handled things slightly better… I regret every moment. Now I even fear my very existence is blocking Jade’s path, just as the Pope said. And what terrifies me most… is this premonition that failure now would truly be the end.”

“You…”

Having poured out her heart, Rena’s eyes grew moist with emotion.

‘This again… *sigh*…’

The unexpected turn left Ian’s mind in turmoil.

Normally, he would’ve unleashed scorn rather than sympathy. Yet strangely, the words wouldn’t come.

“Ian. You’ll probably laugh, but I couldn’t tell anyone how I felt-there was no one who’d listen anyway. Escaping that hell even briefly must’ve made my emotions overflow. I tried to kill you earlier, yet here I am saying these things… I’m pathetic and ashamed.”

For a while, only Rena’s soft sniffles echoed through the room.

‘I still need this woman’s help.’

This might be a good opportunity to improve our relationship.

Having made his decision, Ian stood and approached Rena. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

“…Ian?”

“This matter was beyond your capabilities from the start. So discard useless thoughts and focus only on the present task. I’ll overlook what just happened.”

“Huh? Are you… comforting me?”

Rena stared at Ian with wide eyes, shocked by his gentle words instead of expected vitriol.

“*Sigh*… It’s true I detest fools like you. But that doesn’t make me like the Pope or his kind. In this situation, you’re clearly the ‘victim’.”

Frankly, he wanted to remove her from his sight immediately. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

‘…Strange. When it comes to this woman, controlling my emotions becomes unusually difficult.’

I should get some examination when I return to the Magic Tower.

Ultimately, Ian decided to show her a sliver of mercy.

“Though it’s embarrassing to admit, even I fell for the Pope’s schemes. There was nothing you could’ve done from the beginning.”

“*Sniff*… Thank you.”

-Thump.

Suddenly, Rena bowed her head and leaned it against Ian’s chest.

“What are you…”

Though inwardly flustered, Ian didn’t push her away.

Further conflict would disrupt their plans. If this helped restore their relationship, it wasn’t bad.

‘Truly an incomprehensible woman.’

One moment trying to kill him in rage, now appearing fragile and dependent. Perhaps Rena had finally realized she had no choice but to rely on Ian.

‘Has she finally understood her position?’

She was the woman who’d succeeded in stirring his heart-if only physically.

Not unpleasant at all.

Unaware himself, Ian had begun smiling.

***

Moments later, Rena hastily pulled away from Ian.

“Ahem… Shall we get to work now…?”

Rena scratched her cheek, seemingly embarrassed by her earlier vulnerability.

Ignoring this, Ian returned to stand beside the wall-mounted map.

“Then I’ll explain the detailed plan immediately. Though circumstances have changed, our objective remains the same. Hence our tasks are identical.”

The Saint’s and Hero’s assistance-these two were essentially mandatory for victory.

Ian pointed successively at the Papal Court and the Grand Temple plaza where the Appointment Ceremony would occur.

“The Pope likely keeps the artifact stored in the Papal Court or carries it personally. I’ll handle retrieving it. Meanwhile, you persuade the Hero. Free the Saint from brainwashing, and if you secure the Hero’s cooperation, the situation will completely reverse.”

No matter how powerful the Pope was, he couldn’t compare to the Saint’s influence as a Great War hero. With both Hero and Saint opposing him, public opinion would flip instantly.

“Don’t hesitate to use any means necessary to convince that fool of a Hero. That’s the only thing you can-and must-do.”

“Leave Jade to me. Matters between us… I must resolve them personally.”

Rena nodded vigorously, her usual passion returning to her eyes.

-Knock. Knock. Knock.

A calm knocking preceded the door slowly opening as someone entered.

“Have you both calmed down?”

Roana. She had discreetly left during Ian and Rena’s argument and now returned.

“You fled earlier but returned at just the right moment.”

Though Ian glared coldly, Roana simply shrugged with a smile.

“No need for such scary looks. I brought good news.”

Roana waved a letter in her hand.

“We’ve finally succeeded in contacting Cardinal Antonio’s faction.”

**

Schiiing- Click.

A sword halfway drawn from its scabbard made metallic sounds before being sheathed again.

Schiiing- Click.

Again, the sword was half-drawn then returned.

Jade sat in his chair, repeating this meaningless action.

-Thud.

Finally, Jade set the sword on his desk and dragged a hand down his face.

“This is maddening. This isn’t the time for this.”

Normally, he’d be training in swordsmanship at this hour. But today, he couldn’t muster any motivation.

‘Honestly… what meaning does training hold now?’

Ever since being chosen as Hero, he’d trained daily without fail-to grow stronger quickly and become a true Hero.

But he realized too late: strength alone wasn’t everything.

Jade looked around.

An extravagantly large, luxurious room. Yet he was alone.

“…It’s a bit lonely.”

The words slipped from Jade’s lips.

Annie, his pillar of support, had undergone intense interrogation regarding Ian after the prison break.

‘Fortunately, they concluded she wasn’t involved…’

But public sentiment toward the Temple and Magic Tower within the Holy Kingdom had spiraled out of control. These suspicions about his allies had extended to doubts about Jade’s qualifications.

[Hero-nim, meeting with Annie-nim seems inadvisable now.]

[Huh? What’s the problem?]

[To be frank… public opinion about you isn’t favorable. Of course, I don’t doubt your qualifications or the Goddess’s choice, but it would be best to postpone meetings until after the Appointment Ceremony.]

[…Understood.]

Ultimately, Jade had to give up seeing Annie too.

Amid endless worries, Jade looked up at the ceiling and asked:

“Goddess-nim… what should I do?”

Naturally, no answer came.

‘Why did you choose me as Hero?’

Comrades, priests, cardinals, the Saint-all said there must be a reason he was chosen. Yet he felt utterly lost.

Like being abandoned alone in a forest’s heart.

What was truth? Who to trust? How to proceed?

Jade couldn’t determine anything with certainty.

‘Suspecting the Saint-nim is absurd… but.’

Rena’s final words refused to leave his mind.

[Still… you must regain your senses. You… can do it, right?]

“I can do it? Do what exactly?”

Jade sank deep into contemplation.

Demonic threats? That makes no sense. Why would we nearly die to demons in the dungeon then?

Brainwashing magic? Impossible. The Hero’s abilities would’ve detected it.

Another hypothesis surfaced in his troubled mind.

‘Everything happening connects back to the Holy Kingdom-to His Holiness the Pope.’

A thought too terrifying to face. Too horrifying to imagine.

‘If… if I’ve been deceived by His Holiness and the Saint-nim…’

Goosebumps rose across Jade’s body.

“Then what… have I done to Rena?”