novelAlta Chapter 444: A Play Within a Play
Chapter 444: A Play Within a Play
Rita looked at her arm, now pale and radiant. Her body, once so ugly and emaciated, had returned to its former beauty, as if nothing had happened.“Thank you, Lady Jin.”
Rita, adjusting her clothes, bowed slightly. But she was no longer listening to her.
“Is it really impossible to create a perfect body…”
Rita, who saw her mumbling to herself and throwing herself on the sofa, just kept silent.
It was because she knew very well that even if she tried to talk to her at a time like this, she wouldn’t get a proper answer.
“I heard they had a spirit master there, too, but I didn’t know he’d grown so much already. I guess it’s because they have a dragon there. And his constitution is perfectly suited to being a spirit master… And is it all because of that damned brat? Damn it, of course it is.”
Jiklin’s monologue continued incessantly. Her green eyes lost focus and wandered into space.
“What the hell is that bastard? He should’ve been dead. Lord Chernion was lending his aid, but if that damn meddler hadn’t interfered…”
She seemed like a crazy person.
‘Her divine power is shaking.’
In Rita’s eyes, Chernion’s divine power rippling within Jiklin was clearly visible.
It seemed the time had come to seek Iris’ help, but she didn’t bother to bring it up.
Jiklin wasn’t originally a very religious person. She didn’t care much about Chernion or Luce, as long as she could conduct forbidden research.
But now, Jiklin was receiving Chernion’s attention more than anyone else, save for Iris. Her appearance, her mind agitated by the influence of divine power, was proof that Jiklin had taken a step closer to the gods.
‘I shouldn’t be bothering you.’
Rita, who had been watching blankly, chose to remain silent.
“This time, I absolutely have to kill him. How dare you interfere with me, with Lord Chernion? I can’t stand it any longer. Roger and Lord Nikephoros are both fools. They can’t kill a brat like that…”
She also knew very well why they could not kill Arendt.
But now that her anger had overtaken her reason, that kind of thing didn’t matter.
. A polite knock woke Jiklin from her thoughts.
She cried out as she lay down.
“Get out! Don’t disturb me!”
“Lady Jin. It seems he’s the new captain of the 4th Battle Priest Battalion.”
But Jin hesitated at Rita’s words. As a member of the Sword of the Broken Heart, Jiklin had a duty to fulfill. Jiklin clicked her tongue in annoyance and shouted.
“…Come in!”
The door opened carefully, and a battle priest wearing deep robes entered.
“Greetings, Lady Jiklin. I have newly assumed the captain’s post, carrying on the legacy of my predecessor…”
The priest continued to speak, his back bent even lower, but Jiklin suddenly shouted.
“I don’t care about your name. Just report!”
“…The former captain died in battle.”
He will find rest in Lord Chernion’s embrace.
“The damage was severe, but we were able to recover some of it. The wounded are also nearly recovered.”
It was a faster recovery than Jiklin had calculated. Only then did Jiklin soften her expression and nod.
“That’s right, that’s how it should be.”
The comrades who were defeated by the enemy dedicated even the remaining pieces of their bodies to Lord Chernion.
The priests and ghouls who consumed the flesh they had secretly retrieved without being noticed by the enemies quickly recovered from their wounds.
“Where is the enemy camp?”
Jiklin moved her eyes as she lay there, looking at the new captain.
“There’s still no sign of any movement. The people of interest appear to still be staying in the barracks.”
“Tsk. I was hoping at least the Hero would go somewhere else.”
Laius de Winfried was a formidable presence to confront.
Even the ambitiously created homunculi were helpless before him.
Normally, she would have stepped back and observed the situation, but Jiklin had no intention of withdrawing yet.
“…No. I don’t care about the Hero.”
Her eyes, resembling nature, revealed an overt murderous intent that did not suit an elf.
“Even if this castle is taken over by the Hero, I must kill Arendt von Eckhart here. Absolutely.”
It didn’t matter how many priests died.
If she could just deal with that little brat who was always causing trouble.
, Jiklin was certain of this.
“Do you understand? Our top priority is to kill Arendt von Eckhart. Even if it means losing our castle, we will eliminate that bastard at all costs.”
The priest didn’t even flinch at the girl’s cold voice.
“I will follow your orders.”
Because that was the only reason for his existence.
The meeting continued for a long time.
In reality, it was more like a civil war of sarcasm and irritability than a strategic meeting.
It was quite a sight to see Prince Ludwin, who had completely lost his dignity, and the shameless apprentice knight continue their argument.
“Is it possible for you to not say something?”
“Thank you for the compliment. I guess I’m just that good.”
Ludwin rubbed his forehead after hearing that nonsense.
“I said it was dangerous, but that doesn’t mean I want to leave it all up to you. This is my kingdom’s business, and I’m the prince of Everan and the commander of this battlefield. And you want me to back out?”
“Who said I’d take over? I’m just saying you’re getting in the way, so step back a bit. I’m not that kind-hearted. If you feel wronged, bring a knight as capable as I am. Then I’ll yield.”
But Arendt was still shameless.
“Besides, who said you could just relax and loaf around? I’m telling you to provide cover from the rear. Or are you saying you can’t do such a ‘boring’ task? Are you disregarding the soldiers who are busily moving about in the rear?”
Ludwin got up in a fit of rage, slamming his fist on the table.
“When did I ever say that!”
Llewellyn, who had been watching the fight between the two men with distaste, tapped Laius’ leg under the table.
‘Try to stop that guy.’
However, Captain Laius, who fully understood him, simply averted his gaze.
“…”
Llewellyn looked at Laius with betrayed eyes.
“Captain, did you just offer up my brother to cheer that guy up?”
“I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do.”
It was a natural disaster similar to a forest fire or an avalanche.
Still, there was one thing to take comfort in.
After a good fight, that guy’s temper would probably calm down a little.
“These damn knights, really…”
Llewellyn pursed his lips in vain.
There were moments when it was understandable that Cantares would sometimes lament that it was difficult to handle the entire Third Knights.
Eventually, Ludwin rested his head heavily on the table.
“Just do whatever you want..”
It was effectively a declaration of surrender.
The moment he lost his composure, Ludwin’s defeat was all but certain.
Arendt shrugged his shoulders triumphantly.
“Yeah, it was going to end up like this anyway, so you didn’t need to waste your energy.”
“…”
Ludwin’s resentful gaze turned to Llewellyn.
It was the moment he deeply realized why the youngest, once unmatched in being a pain in the ass, had suddenly come back acting like a decent human being.
With someone like that stuck to his side, he had no choice but to grow up, whether he liked it or not.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Let me apologize on his behalf.”
“…”
Even Laius, who bowed his head and apologized only after the situation calmed down, did not look as cool as before.
Ludwin sighed deeply and rubbed his forehead. He felt a sharp pain in his stomach.
“So, what do you mean? I understand that the Imperial Knights will be in charge of dealing with Jiklin.”
“Even if I explain it to you, Your Highness probably won’t understand, so just do what I tell you to do…”
When Arendt started to speak again, Laius covered his mouth with heroic quickness.
“Mmph!”
“Sorry.”
The prince’s gaze turned sour as he watched Laius apologize so quickly.
Arendt slapped his hand away irritably and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
“It’s damn frustrating, seriously. But there’s nothing particularly new. Basically, I’m suggesting we deploy our forces in the form of a diversionary tactic, just as Your Highness mentioned earlier.”
“And the Imperial Knights are in charge of dealing with Jiklin, correct?”
Ludwin asked back, clearly displeased. That was precisely why they had been arguing all along.
“You’re not wrong.”
Arendt nodded roughly and continued speaking.
“To be more specific, we should each be more faithful to our own goals. Your Highness’ goal is to recapture the castle, and ours is to eliminate Jiklin, who’s stuck here.”
The relaxed tone that made Ludwin’s blood boil continued.
“It’s impossible to recapture the castle with just the royal forces anyway, and deploying too many people to kill Jiklin would only cause unnecessary alarm… So, like when we went in to rescue the prisoners, it would be better to move with a small force.”
“So, are you going to assassinate her?”
Arendt gave the prince a look of disappointment in response.
“Is that all you can think of?”
“How truly irritating.”
“As Your Highness said earlier, she’s not the type to be swayed by something like that. And moreover, she’s got a spirit attached to her, so she’ll be able to sense any threat right away.”
The ghoul priests, whose senses other than sight and hearing were greatly diminished, were relatively easy to deceive.
But Rita, whose main body was a spirit, was different from them.
Besides, Jiklin was an elf with highly developed senses.
“Then what are you going to do?”
“That bastard must be gritting her teeth right now. Thanks to that idiot senior interfering…”
Arendt tapped his chest.
“I’m still alive and kicking. And the last time I saw her, she seemed quite furious. She seemed intent on killing me, more than anything else.”
He felt the familiar hand of God in the abnormal malice felt at the last moment.
“I plan to use that. Since I’m insisting on killing Jiklin right now, I’m sure she’s just as frustrated because she couldn’t kill me.”
“…Wait a minute, Sir Arendt.”
Ludwin, who had been listening quietly, frowned, doubting his ears.
“You want to be the bait yourself?”
“No. I don’t plan on doing anything that outrageous. Well, it’s a tactic that works quite well against them… but if I just show them the same repertoire, they’ll get tired of it.”
Arendt shrugged.
“I’m going to go kill that bastard by myself, and I’m going to tell my seniors to follow me if they want.”
“…What?”
“Even though I tell them it’s annoying, they insist on following me, so they’ll watch my back. It’s none of my business what kind of hardship they’ll go through.”
Feeling dizzy again, Ludwin began to just stare at the ceiling.
Arendt, who had been watching his reaction, added briefly.
“Let’s go with that setting for now.”
It was a rather random remark.
Ludwin, who had suddenly come to his senses, looked at him again.
“No matter what’s going on beneath the surface for each person, life is just a play.”
Arendt met the prince’s gaze and gave a playful smile.
“Based on my experience so far, it seems like military strategy isn’t much different either.”
A subtle sparkle flickered in the apprentice knight’s golden eyes. It left Prince Ludwin completely speechless.