Holy Kingdom – Crossroads (7)

As their clash continued, an event finally occurred that shattered the balance of the battle.

-Tadak.

“Ah.”

Rena momentarily lost her footing and let out a gasp.

‘Now.’

At that moment, Jade’s right eye emitted a blue light.

Weak point.

Though he’d known about it through his Hero’s ability, he hadn’t found an opportunity to exploit it until now.

Jade didn’t miss this golden opportunity.

His aura-coated blade precisely pierced the desired spot.

-Pasa-sak!

“No!”

Rena screamed as she watched her sword shatter into pieces.

“Rena, my victory.”

Jade kicked the stunned Rena squarely.

“Kkyahk?!”

Rena collapsed to the ground, dropping what remained of her sword’s hilt.

“Keuk… Cough, cough…”

Approaching the suffering Rena, Jade pressed his blade against her neck.

“Rena, it’s all over now.”

“…What do you plan to do with me now?”

With a dazed expression, Rena hung her head low.

“Plans? I’ve never schemed anything. You were always the one plotting and causing me pain.”

“…I didn’t do that.”

“You’ll stand trial and live imprisoned forever.”

Rena’s crimes were immense. The punishment she might receive at trial could be beyond description.

But Jade couldn’t bring himself to mention harsher punishments – it was an instinctive revulsion.

“Hero-nim!”

When Jade turned, two Holy Knights were running toward him from behind.

“As expected of the Hero! You handled this magnificently!”

“I… First, apologies. I wanted to handle this matter myself.”

Jade felt gratitude toward the Holy Kingdom’s people. They’d merely watched from behind without interfering, allowing him to settle things with Rena personally.

“Not at all. We were struggling to apprehend the criminal ourselves. We’re grateful you stepped forward to resolve this cleanly.”

“Then I entrust Rena to you.”

“Understood. We’ll keep her secured.”

“Thank you.”

Jade turned his gaze toward the still-ongoing battle after leaving Rena with the Holy Knights.

-Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!

Deafening booms shook the underground as a spear wrapped in magic and holy power clashed repeatedly. The movements were too fast to follow visually.

‘…Impossibly strong.’

The battle made Jade, standing before it, feel utterly insignificant. Though only one star separated Jade’s 6-star rank from theirs, the gap was astronomical.

-Gugugu.

Through the thick dust cloud, Jade saw a mage relentlessly firing spells at Daniel.

Jade glared murderously at Ian.

‘Ian… I’ll have my revenge on that bastard myself…’

He couldn’t let stand the man who’d clearly conspired with Rena and committed those unspeakable acts.

But before Jade could intervene, the battle’s conclusion became apparent.

Daniel’s figure, which had momentarily vanished, reappeared behind Ian.

-Kwajik!

“Kkeuk?!”

Ian clutched his torn flank as he kneeled, blood pouring between his fingers.

“That was a solid hit. What will you do now, Ian?”

“Keuk… Getting cocky over this?”

“You know you stand no chance. Surrender.”

“Ha. You think I’ll give up here?”

Ian struggled to rise, as if declaring it wasn’t over.

But to Jade, the outcome was obvious.

Ian was already covered in blood.

Conversely, Sir Daniel appeared pristine, having healed even minor wounds with holy power.

‘Sir Daniel won. As expected.’

Seeing Ian’s miserable state lifted Jade’s spirits slightly.

After all his arrogance and troublemaking – this was the fitting end for such trash.

No matter how strong, defeating the Holy Kingdom’s elite forces alone was impossible.

‘You’d need at least an 8-star rank for that.’

A sneer playing on his lips, Jade slowly approached Ian.

“Ian, was it? Long time no see. First time since the garden.”

“Hero… Seeing you here means Rena’s already been defeated.”

Ian staggered as if about to collapse.

“Right. Only you remain. How about meeting your end at the hands of the Hero you despised?”

“Fool. Not content being the Pope’s puppet, you even attack those trying to help you.”

“…That’s rich coming from someone fighting in the Holy Kingdom’s heart.”

“Ha… With you acting this stupid, even your beloved woman will be taken.”

“…What?”

Had he misheard?

Jade froze at Ian’s shocking statement.

“I almost pity Rena now. To think the so-called Hero protecting her was this weak and pathetic.”

“Shut up! What would you know, spouting nonsense?!”

Jade hadn’t failed to protect Rena – she’d abandoned him. He was the victim here.

‘I… was just deceived from the start.’

“Might as well tell you now. You’re utterly unworthy of being Hero. It’s laughable how you trust the Pope over someone you love.”

Ian smirked and continued.

“Rena abandoned by her lover, screaming beneath another man – quite the spectacle. Shame you missed it.”

“One more word and I’ll kill you.”

“Ha. You? Kill me? Try it.”

“…As you wish.”

-Wooong.

Blue aura once again coated Jade’s blade.

Then a shout came from behind.

“Jade, stop!”

Jade halted and turned to see Rena pinned down by Holy Knights.

“Rena, what did you just say?”

“Stop now! Ian was trying to help us! You mustn’t attack him!”

“You’re… protecting that bastard?”

When Jade’s frenzied eyes locked onto her, Rena stammered.

“D-don’t misunderstand. Ian was…”

“Why would you defend such trash?!”

Ian had insulted him with outrageous lies, yet Rena sought to protect rather than condemn him.

‘Playing me till the end, both of you?’

Jade turned back toward Ian.

Though Rena shouted behind him… it didn’t matter. Just more deceitful words.

Only one thought consumed Jade – killing the man who’d humiliated him.

Ian’s death would also make Rena pay for her betrayal.

-Tuk.

“Calm yourself.”

Daniel stopped Jade.

“I understand your feelings, Hero-nim, but killing Ian here would cause major diplomatic issues. It would also severely damage your reputation.”

“But that bastard…”

“There are many ways to make criminals suffer sufficiently. Let’s resolve the situation first.”

“…”

Right, stay calm. A Hero must act heroically.

Jade tried cooling his head at Daniel’s advice.

That moment.

“Haha! So you’ll remain the Holy Kingdom’s obedient dog even now. Congratulations – thanks to you, Rena will become countless men’s bitch.”

Ian began laughing madly at Jade.

“Remember this well, Jade. You didn’t get betrayed – you betrayed Rena. You’re no hero saving people, just a calamity bringing ruin.”

-Ttuk.

The last thread of Jade’s reason snapped.

“You fucking bastard!”

“Hero-nim!”

Jade violently shook off Daniel’s restraining hand. In one leap, he reached Ian and thrust his sword.

“Die!”

“Still choosing stupidity till the end.”

Ian desperately gathered remaining mana to create a shield, but

-Kwajik!

Jade’s glowing blue eyes shattered the hastily-made magic instantly.

“Keuk?!”

“Ian, today you die by the Hero you despised.”

Simultaneously, someone shouted nearby.

“No!”

Without hesitation, Jade drove his blade forward.

-Puuk!

The sword pierced flesh and emerged from the other side. Jade felt every vivid sensation.

He’d succeeded in avenging Ian’s humiliations.

‘I did it. I really did it.’

Jade looked up with triumphant joy.

But the result before him… was completely unexpected.

“…Cough… Je…id…”

“Re…na?”