Betrayal Knight's Joyful Faith

Chapter 345: A Stage for One Person

“It seems like your condition is getting worse day after day.”That was the first thing Lexion said when he suddenly showed up in the room without any warning. Arendt responded curtly without even sparing him a glance.

“Don’t make me any angrier. I’m already so annoyed I could lose my mind.”

“I don’t think this is a problem that can be dismissed by saying it’s annoying.”

Lexion hit the nail on the head.

This morning, he had broken a glass at the dining hall. He had tried to drink water, but his hands had lost their strength.

Arthur and the knights, who saw this scene right up close, were instantly alarmed, and kicked Arendt out, telling him to just go lie down and get some rest.

As a result, Arendt was forced to return to his room, having had all his morning work confiscated.

‘That doesn’t mean I can sleep well though.’

Still, he had at least intended to pretend to get some rest, so he had changed clothes and was lying in bed.

It was definitely a problem because his physical strength was declining to the point where people around him could notice.

Then, Lexion suddenly barged in.

“What a pathetic guy.”

Lexion clicked his tongue and used his magic power.

He snapped his fingers once, making a clicking sound, and Arendt felt a warm energy enveloping his body.

After a while, his head, which had been pounding, cleared up a bit and his body felt a bit more energetic.

Lexion cast a healing spell.

“Oh…”

Lexion scolded Arendt for making such a foolish exclamation.

“This is only a temporary measure. In your current condition, it won’t last even a day, so, find a solution as quickly as possible.”

“If I could have solved it, I would have done it a long time ago.”

“Hmm.”

Lexion, who had been quietly staring at Arendt, narrowed his eyes. The pupils in his crimson irises split sharply into vertical slits.

“Judging by your expression, it seems you have a rough idea of the cause.”

It seemed that Lexion’s eyes were also reflecting things that Arendt could not see. Arendt asked blankly.

“I guess my guess was not wrong?”

“I guess so. If it weren’t for ‘them,’ then there wouldn’t be anyone on this earth who could eat away at your unparalleled mental power.”

Lexion nodded with a displeased expression.

Arendt, who had been under constant pressure, was already under considerable strain.

He’d just been ignoring it and holding on until now.

‘Then he came into contact with Nikephoros.’

Since he had to take the brunt of the dragon’s wrath, he was bound to take some damage as a human.

That was the reason why the knights were unusually tired after the battle.

Arendt’s body and mind, which had been burdened by a considerable burden, must have suffered a small crack as a result.

“Besides, you are still steadily exploring the forbidden realm. The closer you get to the truth, the more you end up destroying yourself.”

“…”

Arendt made no reply.

It was something he was already aware of.

Since the confrontation with Nikephoros, the surveillance has become more blatant.

After talking to Llewellyn, his awkwardness got worse, and after his recent long conversation with Cantares, his physical condition had seriously deteriorated.

It felt like an invisible hand was constantly squeezing his throat, and the pressure only got worse when he fell asleep or relaxed.

As a result, he often drifted off from sheer exhaustion, only to jolt awake in a panic, struggling to breathe.

“There is only one sure way to solve it.”

“What is it?”

When Arendt showed interest, Lexion answered plainly.

“Ask them for protection. If you find shelter, whether in the light or in the dark, you can be free.”

“Fuck that.”

Lexion gave Arendt a look of disgust as he started swearing without any hesitation.

“I expected you to react like that, greenhorn… honestly, you’re a vicious bastard.”

“Why ask when you already know? It’s not like you’re trying to test me. I’m already extremely tired, so don’t make me more upset.”

“Well, you have a bad temper.”

Lexion glanced at Arendt, who was snapping at him irritably, and shook his head.

“It is true that it is a surefire method. If you don’t like it, you have no choice but to find another way.”

“Honestly, you seem like a useless dragon.”

“Who was the one you were bossing around just until recently? Seems like you’ve even forgotten that because you’ve been all sickly, I’ve been practically taking full charge of the little elf shaman.”

As Lexion narrowed his eyes, Arendt replied spitefully.

“You said you’d cooperate, didn’t you? That much is only natural.”

“…Let’s just drop it.”

Lexion simply sighed deeply and then steered the conversation back to the original topic.

“Anyway, you’ll really die if this continues. I admire your spirit for not giving in, but if you were a normal human, you would have already gone mad or run to the temple.”

“I’m not crazy yet, I have no intention of running to the temple, and I won’t die, so don’t worry.”

Arendt shrugged.

“If I have to handle it, then I’ll handle it. What can I do if they can’t take their eyes off me because I’m just too amazing?”

“Haven’t I told you before? You’re not a rag doll that can be patched up.”

Lexion, who had a wrinkled face, pointed out.

“Fine, you can’t avoid being worn down. We can’t immediately change their will. But at the very least, you have to hold out.”

“So what do you want me to do? I guess you don’t have any particularly good method.”

Arendt also replied angrily, perhaps starting to get annoyed. Then Lexion spoke in a commanding tone.

“First, stop what you’re doing. Stop stirring things up with the prince. Then, take a vacation and go somewhere to rest. If you don’t feel like resting here, go back to your hometown. I’ll even offer you my lair.”

“I don’t have a hometown. And I’m not really interested in your lair either.”

Arendt flatly refused.

“And I don’t think things will get any better if I stay stuck somewhere alone. How long do you think I’ll be like this?”

“You really…”

“This is something that can only be done now. If another fight breaks out, Prince Llewellyn will have to respond with full force, and there won’t be any leisure time to dig into the ruins.”

Lexion, who was about to say something in response to the firm rebuttal, closed his mouth.

Arendt’s voice continued.

“As the number of casualties from the war increases, and as Captain Laius becomes more active, the number of people seeking God Luce will also increase. The only time the blasphemous talk of an apprentice knight can be meaningful is now.”

Arendt looked straight at Lexion and said:

“When that time comes, the High Priest will not remain still. High Priest Lumiel will definitely take action to save the victims and punish the Evil Cult. When that time comes, it will no longer be possible to stir things up like this.”

Of course, he had no intention of just standing by while trying to stop it, but soon there would be limits to relying on others for help.

“So I have to move as much as I can while I still can. Now is not the time to retreat.”

Looking at it point by point, it was correct.

But as the conversation went on, Lexion’s expression hardened..

“So you’re just going to foolishly endure this? That’s ridiculous.”

“It’s not like I’m just waiting around stupidly without any expectations of gaining anything.”

Arendt responded calmly.

“This might be a chance to get some clues, especially since there’s almost no information about God Chernion.”

“What?”

“A gaze is not as one-sided as you might think. After all, if this counts as a connection, then it’s still a connection.”

Since it couldn’t be avoided anyway, it meant trying to make use of everything possible, even this situation that was eating away at his body and mind.

Lexion, who had been silent for a while, burst into laughter.

“…You’re really talking nonsense. Are you waiting for something, by any chance?”

“If I just stay here stubbornly doing nothing, they’ll get frustrated and try something else.”

“Oh, my. So you’re completely ignoring the possibility that you might die or become an idiot in the process.”

“If it means screwing over those big shots, then that much of a risk is nothing.”

Arendt responded naturally, as if he was talking about someone else.

After that, silence fell over the room. This was because Lexion just stared at Arendt for a while.

At that moment, Arendt, who was starting to feel uncomfortable with that gaze, was about to complain.

“Yes. Each and every word is correct, but…”

Lexion broke the silence first.

“I realize this anew how arrogant of a person you are.”

“I was originally like this. You know that.”

When Arendt frowned, Lexion responded with a look of disapproval.

“No. You are more arrogant than you can imagine. And at the same time, you are pitifully stupid.”

“Why are you suddenly picking a fight?”

Arendt’s eyes widened in an instant. Lexion let out a short sigh, sat up from his chair, and lightly clenched his fists.

And then, a moment later. !

Before Arendt could even prepare himself, he was hit painfully on the forehead.

“Ah! Why are you hitting me again and making a fuss?”

Lexion shamelessly answered Arendt, who was holding the spot where he was hit and venting his frustration.

“I recently learned how to control my strength while teaching an elf kid. This is when I can use it.”

“Did I say something wrong?”

“You said something that was not wrong, but at the same time, it was insulting. I think it would be better to say that you were incredibly pathetic rather than arrogant.”

Lexion coldly looked down on Arendt, who argued relentlessly without giving in.

“It doesn’t seem like you’ll understand it easily, so I’ll just say a bit more.”

Lexion looked him straight in the eyes and counted on his fingers one by one.

“First, don’t delude yourself into thinking you can solve everything. There’s a limit to how clueless you can be. And second, the hero and his companions aren’t as foolish as you think.”

Arendt frowned and touched his red, swollen forehead. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novel[f]ire.net

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? I know that as well. That’s why I’m just sitting here quietly in my room right now. I never thought I could completely fool those people from the beginning.”

So, he was roughly brushing it off by saying he was just tired from overwork. Even he couldn’t do anything about the physical signs that were showing.

But that didn’t seem to be the answer Lexion wanted.

“As expected, you don’t know anything.”

Arendt tilted his head as Lexion shook his head.

“Hmm?”

“Listen carefully. If you have no intention of bowing before the gods, then as you said, the situation won’t change much. But depending on how you endure, a lot can still change.”

Lexion’s voice settled into a calm tone.

“And now you are reacting in the worst way. If you continue like this, there will be more problems in the future. To prevent that, I have suggested an alternative that takes into account your tastes to some extent.”

Lexion, who had been paused for a moment, added:

“But if you refuse that, you will have to take responsibility for the consequences.”

It was a very meaningful statement.

Arendt, who had been blinking blankly, frowned.

“What do you mean, take responsibility?”

“It means that sooner or later, you will pay the price for your arrogance… no, for your pitifulness.”

Lexion replied curtly, as if annoyed, and waved his hand dismissively.

“You’ve got to talk to someone who actually understands. I’m leaving.”

“Huh? No, wait a minute…”

Arendt tried to grab him quickly, but Lexion disappeared as suddenly as he had appeared.

Looking at the empty space, Arendt muttered in bewilderment.

“What…?”