Betrayal Knight's Joyful Faith

Chapter 274

After the meeting, the elves left the Crown Prince’s office ahead of the others to prepare for sortie.The gaits of Shekhinah and Ragnald as they crossed the corridor at the forefront were full of displeasure.

Salem just looked back and forth between the two elves, his eyes under his hood darting with anxiousness, while Zakar walked along at the very back of the group, expressionless as always.

After a long pause, Shekhinah spoke up.

“Since His Highness the Crown Prince and Captain Laius agreed, I will follow for now, but it seems that the situation is not normal.”

“I agree.”

Ragnald gave a short affirmative answer.

The very idea of ​​having an apprentice knight in a position to make important decisions was beyond common sense.

But he couldn’t believe that he not only expressed his opinion in front of the Crown Prince and the captain, but also took the lead in giving various instructions.

Shekhinah continued speaking.

“I can see how much Lord Arendt’s standing is in this empire, since His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is listening to him. But it is still excessive.”

She wasn’t the most old-fashioned of elves, but she couldn’t understand the current situation.

Although it was said that listening to what your subordinates say was a good attitude for a superior, it was also not desirable to make the relationship seem almost equal.

Ragnald opened his mouth with a complicated expression.

“Obedience is the minimum rule for effectively operating troops. If that rule is broken, the entire organization may be shaken.”

“I think so too… but I think there must be some reason.”

She turned around and looked at Zakar.

“Instructor Zakar looks familiar with this. Did something happen in the Second Kingdom? I heard that they are stricter about their rules than we are.”

“Did something happen…”

Zakar followed her lead without answering and looked at the distant mountains.

Things were going well.

Shekhinah, Ragnald, and Salem were in for an unimaginable catastrophe.

He added after a moment of hesitation.

“Putting all that aside, what can we do with someone who drags even the Lord Dragon in it?”

“…”

That was also true.

The two elves, unable to find words to refute, stayed silent.

Looking at Shekhinah and Ragnold, who were silent and had unpleasant faces, Zakar added a sentence.

“And you will soon find out.”

That crazy apprentice knight was a silent monster.

The two were concerned about the breakdown of the hierarchy, but even that was meaningless.

To begin with, Arendt von Eckhart was a person outside the category.

At least in this Empire, no one would dare to question him any longer, saying something like ‘how dare an apprentice knight’.

‘I don’t know how far his abilities will be effective in war though.’

Since it seemed like a plan was already being created in Arendt’s head, Zakar decided to wait and see.

Seeing that he felt a sense of expectation even in this situation, it seemed that he too was messed up.

After the elves were sent out, the Crown Prince’s office fell into silence again.

It was because Arendt didn’t speak and became lost in thought.

His gaze was constantly on the map on the table.

Laius, who had been quietly watching the apprentice knight, opened his mouth.

“It seems you believe there are still hidden forces near the Empire.”

“I guess they’re not the commanders, right?”

“I agree.”

Laius nodded indifferently.

Then Arendt continued.

“It seems like Roger and Jin are trying to make their position known. They haven’t come forward yet, but it doesn’t seem like they’re actively trying to hide the fact that they’re the commanders.”

Cantares groaned.

“It would be too dangerous to empty the palace before we know what their plans are.”

“I guess so. The fact that the Caerleon Empire is the biggest thorn in their side remains unchanged.”

When Arendt added briefly, Laius arched an eyebrow.

“But wouldn’t this make the Lucain Kingdom uneasy? It seems like it won’t be enough to keep a man like Roger in check.”

“The Nephele Kingdom will probably take action. They have already expressed their intention to participate in the war.”

It was Cantares who provided the answer.

Laius’ eyes widened.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, the Nephele and Lucain Kingdom are quite close. If the Lucain Kingdom decides that the battle becomes too much to handle, they will request support from the Nephele Kingdom.”

“Then, I think Ragnald and Captain Kendrick can buy some time.”

Arendt crossed his arms and spoke.

There was one more person who could move, but they decided to hold off for now because they didn’t know what his condition was like.

In the first place, there was no way he would move according to Arendt’s will.

“For now…”

Arendt raised his head.

“I’ll go see Lexion. I’ll ask him to move the elves.”

Jereon, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, let out an awkward laugh.

“…Sir Arendt, you really have no reservations.”

“The elves didn’t seem to be in a good mood earlier.”

Even Cantares joined in.

It was not like Arendt failed to notice the resentment of the elves.

But it was even more un-Arendt-like to care about that.

As expected, Arendt responded in a twisted way, saying, “What do you want me to do?”

“I’m so busy, do I really need to listen to all those complaints?”

“I think you should be more careful with your allies than your enemies. Even the Third Knights are gnashing their teeth right now.”

Arendt shrugged his shoulders at Cantares’ joking remark.

“If they can, then do it. Then I will go to Lexion and see what happens, and you and the captain should quickly gather the esteemed nobles and spread the rumor that war has broken out.”

“…You shouldn’t talk about the Imperial Council like that.”

“I don’t think that’s wrong. I guess it should be helpful.”

Arendt, who responded indifferently to Laius’ remark, nodded and left the office.

.

As soon as the door closed and he left the room, everyone let out a short sigh.

“I don’t know if I should say it’s good that he’s so consistent.”

Cantares sighed briefly.

The tension that had been running high since Arendt’s appearance and the news that the attack had begun disappeared without a trace.

Instead of feelings of impatience or anxiety, all that remained before them were tasks that needed to be dealt with immediately.

“We need to inform the neighboring countries as well. Jen, report the situation to His Majesty and prepare for an emergency meeting.”

“All right.”

Jereon answered determinedly.

Cantares then gave instructions to Laius.

“Captain Laius, get ready too. It would be better if you were to convey the situation rather than me.”

It was to subtly inform the nobles that the person who would lead the battlefield in the future would be Laius.

When told he would be in a leadership position, Laius’ face looked quite uncomfortable, but he readily agreed.

“…Yes, I understand.”

Because he now knew full well that it was something that needed to be done.

Arendt headed to the Crown Prince’s training ground where Lexion was.

As if he had known he was coming, Lexion, who had been in his true form for the past few days, was waiting for Arendt in his familiar human form.

Arendt spoke as he watched Lexion standing and adjusting his clothes in the middle of the training ground.

“I was looking forward to seeing your true form, what a disappointment.”

“I guess that’s because you don’t know what happens to a human who sees a dragon’s true form.”

Arendt responded nonchalantly to Lexion’s pointed retort.

“I don’t think it would be any worse than God’s.”

“You crazy bastard. Anyway, what do you want?”

“Please move the elves.”

Arendt briefly explained the situation to Lexion.

Lexion nodded, not seeming particularly surprised.

“Of course. A promise is a promise. But isn’t it too early to use me?”

“It would be foolish not to use what you have.”

Arendt shrugged.

“And I realized that you were more soft-hearted than I thought. It seems like you might agree to any future requests as well.”

“Let me correct one thing. It’s not that I’m soft-hearted, it’s that you’re weird. I’m just doing it because I’m too lazy to deal with you.”

“That’s what I mean by soft-hearted.”

After a few exchanges of idle talk, Arendt switched the subject.

“Anyway, there’s still some time left until the elves finish preparing, so I’d like to ask you a few things in advance.”

“Speak. I will listen.”

“When will the Holy Sword react?”

Lexion paused at the main point that suddenly appeared.

After a while, Lexion muttered in bewilderment.

“You really don’t show even an inch of hesitation.”

“Why should I do that? I have no respect for a statue that stands with its mouth shut.”

But Arendt, as always, responded indifferently.

Lexion was silent.

He was speechless because he knew full well that God was not just a stone statue standing there with his mouth shut.

All the more so because he knew it wasn’t just reckless bravery.

“…Haa, don’t you know? When darkness falls on the world, that is, when it is in danger, the Holy Sword descends.”

“Other than that. Are there any more detailed conditions?”

“Is there such a thing?”

Lexion responded annoyedly to Arendt’s question.

“To be more precise, when his heart is moved. I guess that would be more correct to say.”

“Then, doesn’t it mean that the Holy Sword may not move depending on the mood of God Luce?”

“That’s not it. The Holy Sword exists to punish the Evil Cult, so once the Evil Cult appears, it will definitely react at some point.”

Lexion’s voice became firm.

Only then did Arendt nod as if he had heard something he liked.

“I don’t think you’ll answer if I ask you more questions here, but can I tell you what I guessed first? Just confirm whether it’s correct or not.”

“…”

Lexion’s face hardened strangely.

But he soon nodded his head in agreement.

“Just give it a try.”

“I’m talking about that Holy Sword.”

Arendt looked straight at Lexion and started to speak leisurely.

“It seems to be a powerful artifact with the power of divine power. Is that right? I assume that the time of activation is determined by the god Luce.”

“…”

It was a sentence that completely excluded any fear or respect for God.

It was a way of speaking that he could gradually become accustomed to, but Lexion found himself wrinkling his brow once again.

“…That’s not wrong.”

“And next. Dragons can recognize the next great hero, right? You said that Captain Laius is the next great hero.”

Lexion’s face hardened at the subsequent question.

“I thought you’d notice, but I didn’t know you’d ask so openly. And that’s actually what I wanted to ask.”

“What?”

“Why are you so conscious of the Holy Sword?”

This time it was Arendt’s turn to be silent.

Lexion continued to speak, staring at him blankly.

“The legend of the Holy Sword has been passed down through generations in the Caerleon Empire, but no one has as much regard for it as you. Even the Great Temple doesn’t seem to believe that the Holy Sword can actually move.”

“…”

“You act as if your captain is the rightful owner of the Holy Sword even though you don’t have even an ounce of faith.”

Lexion narrowed his eyes as if trying to read his mind.

“Do you know how strange that is?”

But no clue could be found in Arendt’s expressionless face.

“It can’t be helped that it’s strange. After all, I’m that good.”

“So you’re saying you won’t say anything?”

The apprentice knight shrugged his shoulders indifferently at Lexion’s displeased remark.

“There’s something that you didn’t tell me, so let’s take our time and talk about it later. I don’t think you are completely on my side either.”

Lexion, who had been furrowing his brow, soon changed his tone and grumbled in discontent.

“That’s funny. On that subject, you’re so good at ordering people around.”

“If I go somewhere and die, it will be a loss for you. Anyway, I’m asking for your help.”

“Just because you say it’s a request doesn’t mean it is.”

Lexion nodded, answering irritably.

And after a while, the elves couldn’t help but explode in surprise in front of the dragon that was treated as a ‘means of transportation’.