Betrayal Knight's Joyful Faith

Chapter 211

After leaving the Grand Elder’s office, Laius went straight to find Sylvian and Zakar.“The Grand Elder has temporarily delegated command to me. Please understand, Captain Sylvian.”

That one sentence alone was enough to tell how the meeting went.

Sylvian nodded with a stern face.

“I see. I understand. Traces of the traitor have been found at the entrance to the Fog Forest. I will guide you there. I will send as many warriors as possible…”

“No, that’s alright. Just be my guide.”

When Laius refused, Sylvian was taken aback.

“But we don’t know how the enemy will act.”

“That’s fine, really. Just show us around the Fog Forest, and we’ll take care of the rest.”

She urged him again, but Laius was firm.

Sylvian, who sensed that he would not bend, nodded with a complicated expression.

“Okay, then the Instructor and I will go together.”

“Thank you. Arthur, Richt, let’s go. The Prince as well.”

Laius called out to the three men who were waiting nearby.

After leaving the command of the warriors to the deputy commander, Sakhalin, Sylvian and Zakar led them towards the Fog Forest.

It was deep night, and there were still hours left until sunrise.

The six-man search party walked toward the Fog Forest.

Sylvian, who was at the forefront, kept her mouth shut and said nothing.

Zakar also had a rather complicated face.

Laius, who had been quietly staring at her back, started speaking.

“It’s not that I don’t trust the warriors’ skills.”

“Yes?”

As if her true feelings had been discovered, Sylvian flinched and turned around.

Laius repeated again.

“There is no way that the warriors who are taught by the instructor and under the command of the captain are incompetent. I also know very well that they are strong.”

“…I’m sorry. Now that we’re on the subject, I’d like to ask, why did you decline my help?”

Sylvian, who had been silent for a moment, asked.

As Laius looked somewhat distressed, Richt, who was next to him, answered on his behalf.

“He said that because he thought he would show you something you wouldn’t like to see.”

“Yes?”

“There is a high possibility that the situation will not be normal.”

“Yes…?”

Llewellyn smiled bitterly as Sylvian let out a bewildered voice.

Zakar, who had been silent, opened his mouth.

“…Do you intend to negotiate with the traitor?”

No matter what anyone says, the children were now being held hostage.

Whether they were a warrior or a knight, it was not something that could be seen by others, for them to be captured by the enemy and beg for their lives.

So, Zakar guessed that in order to protect the pride of the Imperial Knights, they only selected as few people as possible.

But Arthur simply denied his words.

“No way. He’s not someone you can negotiate with.”

“I heard earlier that Cheltan covets the treasures you possess. If that’s true, then isn’t there room for negotiation?”

“No, not that spy… no. Even if I explain it at length, you won’t understand right now.”

Arthur gave a vague answer to Zakar’s question.

They soon passed the entrance to the Fog Forest where Zakar and Arendt had fought.

From there, the pace slowed noticeably.

They had only gone a few steps before a thick fog enveloped the group.

The forest at night was even darker.

In addition, the fog obstructed visibility, making it difficult to see ahead even during the day.

Still, the group progressed fairly smoothly.

Arthur grumbled.

“A fog created by spirits… it’s definitely not ordinary.”

“Spirits live deep in the Fog Forest. Most of the spirit stones of the Fog Forest tribe are also produced within the Fog Forest.”

Richt asked Sylvian, who explained briefly.

“Is it okay for humans to invade without permission?”

“As long as you don’t go too deep, it’s fine. Most spirits are tolerant of other living beings, so the enemy probably wouldn’t have gotten that far.”

“They say the fog disappears from the center of the forest. That’s a space that only spirit masters are allowed to enter… Huh?”

Llewellyn, who was adding to that, suddenly stopped walking.

It was because something caught his foot.

Laius looked back.

“What happened?”

“What is there… wait a minute.”

He bent down and picked up something long from the floor.

A few magic stones embedded in the sword sparkled in the thick fog.

Llewellyn’s eyes widened as he realized what it was.

“This is that guy’s sword, isn’t it?”

It was clear.

The sword, with the magic stones embedded in it amidst the ornate decorations, was clearly Arendt’s.

Richt looked around, trying to discern his way through the darkness.

“I think he’s been disarmed at this point.”

“Ugh… I guess I should say it’s fortunate that I didn’t cut myself on it.”

With a short grumble, Llewellyn handed the sword to Laius.

While Laius sheathed the sword he had been given, Zakar urged his party on.

“We have to hurry.”

“It’s okay. Nothing has happened yet.”

But Laius remained calm.

Zakar, who was about to say something more, soon realized that it was presumptuous and closed his mouth again.

They began to walk slowly again, through the fog that clung to their skin.

In a small clearing where the fog had slightly cleared, they discovered a shabby cabin.

As time passed, Cheltan became busier.

He organized the things he absolutely had to take with him from the messy lab and put them in his bag, and he threw away the things he didn’t need one by one.

“…”

Arendt, who had been staring blankly at the sight from a corner, turned his head.

Outside the dirty window, all that was visible was ominous darkness and fog.

There was no moonlight or starlight at all, and only a small candle lit by Cheltan flickered, barely allowing one to discern objects within the cabin.

‘The conflict between light and darkness.’

Light and darkness were like two-sided coins.

When he thought about it, it was not surprising that the two gods resembled each other.

“You said you followed the God of Darkness since your grandfather’s time?”

“…Yes.”

Cheltan, who had been silent for a moment, answered.

Arendt continued to ask questions without taking his eyes off the window.

“If you had followed Chernion, your father would not have survived. Is there a reason why you, the only one left, insisted on keeping your faith?”

“That’s a strange question.”

Creak.

Cheltan turned around, covering the old box.

“Is there a grudge that can be easily forgotten? It was the God of Light who killed my family.”

“Aha, resentment… then I can understand to some extent. So your belief is revenge.”

Arendt nodded vaguely.

This was easier to understand.

The faith of Priest Lumiel and Laius would probably be of a different form.

Cheltan furrowed his eyebrows.

“For a knight of the Holy Empire, isn’t that a rather irreverent thing to say?”

“There is no rule that says you have to be devout just because you are a knight of the Holy Empire. I am a prodigal son.”

At the leisurely answer, Cheltan looked even more confused.

“It sounds like you’re saying you don’t necessarily pray to God.”

“That’s right.”

“Then…”

After a brief pause, Cheltan asked impulsively.

“If you don’t have faith, why are you doing this?”

After making contact with the headquarters, Cheltan occasionally heard about Arendt’s activities outside.

How many of the ‘Sword of the Broken Heart’ members were killed after stealing the sacred relics?

It was clear that his life was threatened several times during the process.

It was something only a fanatic believer in the god Luce would do.

Arendt answered plainly.

“Because it’s something that needs to be done.”

“What?”

“What can I do? It’s because I’m so unlucky that this has happened.”

When Cheltan asked with a frown, Arendt shrugged.

“I think time is up. Do you have any last words?”

“What do you…”

After saying that, Cheltan closed his mouth.

It was because he felt that the beasts outside had become noisy.

Cheltan regained his composure and spoke briefly.

“Looks like they’re here.”

He grabbed the dagger that was on the desk.

He didn’t think he would be able to deal with knights and warriors like this.

However, it might be possible to threaten this little knight by taking him hostage.

Arendt, who had been staring blankly at Cheltan, opened his mouth.

“It may be a little late to advise you, but can I tell you something?”

Everyone stopped walking in unison.

Zakar and Sylvian looked at Laius with anxious hearts.

“Over there.”

Laius, who had been quietly staring at the hut, spoke briefly.

A faint noise was felt from inside.

At the same time, the presence of non-human things surrounding the cabin was also felt.

Laius, who had been thinking for a moment, opened his mouth again.

“Arthur, Richt. Get ready.”

“Yes.”

Naturally, the two men drew their swords.

“Grrrr…”

Beyond the fog, the sound of a beast growling could be heard.

It seemed like several ghouls were surrounding the cabin.

Laius then addressed Llewellyn.

“Your Highness, please.”

“Okay.”

Llewellyn stepped forward, holding the Dragon’s artifact.

Zakar and Sylvian were taken aback by the sight of them naturally taking a fighting stance.

“Wait a minute. Isn’t there Arendt inside?”

“Yes, I can feel the movement inside.”

When Sylvian asked urgently, Laius answered plainly.

This time, Zakar couldn’t stand it anymore and intervened.

“If you attack recklessly, you never know what might happen.”

If something were to go wrong with the apprentice knight, it would be a disaster.

But Laius did not bend.

“It’s okay.”

“Are you saying that it doesn’t matter what happens to Lord Arendt?”

“No, that’s not it…”

Laius naturally drew his sword.

It was Arendt’s sword that had been retrieved earlier, not his own.

“It means that there is no way that could happen.”

“Do you know that?”

Following the captain’s words, Arthur opened his mouth.

“Arendt is not valuable as a hostage.”

Sylvian and Zakar were truly embarrassed.

“What? What does that…”

“That guy is the kind of guy who won’t die even if you kill him.”

A strange smile appeared on Arthur’s lips.

Before Sylvian could ask what he meant, Llewellyn took action.

The artifact was activated with all his might.

“…!”

The two elves could only watch.

As the gusts of wind blew and scattered the thick fog, brilliant moonlight poured down across the night sky.

The hidden hut came into view, and the ghouls guarding the area charged forward, barking ferociously.

The teeth and claws of the ghoul that were about to tear Llewellyn and Laius apart at any moment were easily blocked by the swords of Richt and Arthur who intervened.

Without even looking at them, Laius also used his magical power.

The power granted by the Shadow of the Strong was gathered into Arendt’s sword.

“…Not worth being held hostage?”

Cheltan, who did not understand Arendt’s words, asked back.

The apprentice knight shrugged his shoulders slightly.

“It’s not that our relationship as colleagues is that affectionate.”

Arendt’s clear golden eyes, leaning against the wall next to the window, looked eerie in the darkness.

“. I bet they’re thinking about how to beat me up right now.”

The two eyes, with their obvious laughter, looked like golden moons floating in the fog.

A moment when Cheltan was lost in thought at the unrealistic sight that did not fit the situation.

Kwaaang!

A gust of wind blew so hard that it shook the old cabin.

In an instant, the fog dispersed and moonlight poured through the broken window.

“Uh?”

There was no time to panic.

Clang!

The next moment, a sword flew through the window.

The sword whizzed past him and crashed into the wall behind him.

Cheltan didn’t understand what was happening.

“…”

He didn’t notice the blood flowing from his torn cheek, nor did he notice that Arendt had taken action.

It was the eleventh second that Cheltan, who had barely grasped the situation, attempted to cast a spell on the children.

The sword, shining silver in the moonlight, cut off Cheltan’s neck.