Betrayal Knight's Joyful Faith

Chapter 455

As soon as Lexion saw Arendt, his face distorted.“…What is that you look like?”

He wasn’t talking about the injuries.

To Lexion’s eyes right now, Arendt probably seemed like he reeked of the sea.

It was only natural, as he had spent several days in his dreams constantly bickering with Nereid.

“The handsome and talented Arendt von Eckhart. Are you dissatisfied?”

But Arendt just crossed his arms and answered shamelessly.

Lexion was left speechless. The surrounding knights and elves couldn’t help but naturally turn pale.

Lexion growled in a small voice, holding back the curses that were about to burst out.

“Did my warning go in one ear and out the other?”

“What do you want me to do? I’m so talented that She wants to talk to me.”

Arendt shrugged. Lexion, about to say something more, realized there were many eyes watching him, and simply sighed deeply.

“…I’ll see you later.”

“Yes. If my neck is still attached later.”

“…”

Lexion just touched his forehead.

He’s experienced the absurd situation several times where a being as great as a dragon would get a migraine because of a mere human.

And Ludwin, who had witnessed the quarrel between the apprentice knight and the unidentified man in black, was somewhat flustered.

“Llewellyn. Who is that person?”

The unannounced visitor seemed to have a fairly close relationship with the Imperial Knights. However, the fact that he suddenly appeared right when the others were preparing to return was something Ludwin couldn’t quite make sense of.

“That is…”

Llewellyn gave an ambiguous answer.

Could they have guessed that Lexion, who was arguing aimlessly with a bandaged brat, was actually a dragon?

Besides, that damn apprentice knight wasn’t treating him like a dragon, but just as a convenient means of transportation.

“Well, he’s an archmage who works with the Caerleon Empire. He’s quite an impressive person.”

For now, he decided to just wrap it up like this. That’s what was known to the public anyways.

‘Lord Lexion didn’t really want to let anyone know that he was a dragon either…’

As the battle dragged on, the presence of the dragons on both sides was inevitably revealed, but Lexion still maintained his identity as an archmage.

Llewellyn, who had thought that far, realized the discomfort belatedly.

‘Wait a sec.’

Normally, Laius would have pretended to lead his troops and moved, then joined up with Lexion in a place where no one could see, and used teleportation.

But this time, as if there had been some change of heart, Lexion told them to gather in front of the barracks.

Llewellyn had a moment of doubt, but shook it off and continued speaking.

“Lady Shekhinah will be staying in the Everan Kingdom for the time being, so if you have any requests for the Empire, please go through her.”

“I understand. More than that… Llewellyn.”

Ludwin nodded and lowered his voice slightly.

“Are you really thinking of going to the Empire?”

“Yes, I’m going.”

Llewellyn answered readily. Ludwin frowned at his usual tone.

“Of course, I know you trust Sir Arendt. Perhaps there’s some false accusation or some other misunderstanding. I understand you want to go to the Empire to help him, but…”

“No?”

Ludwin asked curiously as Llewellyn’s eyes widened.

“No?”

“I don’t trust that bastard. False accusations or misunderstandings? He’s a guy who would cause trouble and still be around. Don’t you know that even after seeing him?”

“…”

Ludwin shut his mouth tightly.

He had no idea what to say to his younger brother who was talking like it was natural…

On the one hand, it was because he couldn’t deny the words that said that Arendt would do something bad to others.

Then Llewellyn added:

“That’s why I’m going.”

“I don’t quite understand what you’re saying. If that’s the case, then it’s best not to go. It’s clear that Sir Arendt was plotting this, and if you rashly take his side…”

As a prince, it would have been right to bring that up first, but Ludwin spoke more frankly.

“I’m afraid you would be in danger.”

“…”

Llewellyn blinked. Ludwin hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“Our mother, father, and even our older brother agree. Diplomatic relations are important, but we’re just worried you might get involved in something dangerous.”

“Brother…”

“I know you’re not weak. You’re adventurous and free-spirited. That’s why I hope you live your life the way you want.”

Even though he knew Llewellyn wasn’t enjoying it, Ludwin had been sternly teaching him how to survive in aristocratic society and how to behave as a prince.

But that was only because he hoped that he would not be criticized.

“War and political strife don’t suit you. I understand why you like Sir Arendt, but he’s at the center of too much strife…”

Ludwin swallowed hard.

“Putting this aside, Sir Arendt attracts too much attention. He’s a dangerous person to keep close.”

“I know that as well.”

Llewellyn nodded with a sly smile.

“That’s why we’re leaving, alright? He’s such a wildly unpredictable guy that we need as many people as possible to keep him in check.”

“I’m not joking.”

“I’m not joking either.”

Llewellyn smiled wryly as Ludwin frowned.

“I’m worried that if I leave him alone, he’ll go somewhere and die alone.”

“…”

Ludwin, who was about to say something, closed his mouth again.

“He’s a tough guy, but strangely enough, he seems to have little attachment to life… You saw it this time too. He’s always like that.”

Llewellyn looked at Ludwin, adding as if he was lamenting.

“He’s the type who wants to save even just one more person, so what can you do? Even if it means being dragged around, I have to stay by his side. I’m the one who clung to him, asking him to be my friend. I owe him that much responsibility.”

Ludwin, who had been silent for a while, finally asked.

“So you believe that Sir Arendt has a different intention behind the rebellion charges, don’t you?”

“Yes. I gained a lot of knowledge by moving around with that guy.”

Llewellyn nodded seriously.

“Brother, I won’t say anything else. But…”

He paused for a moment and then added:

“This may be a question we should consider at least once. Does the concept of justice, established since the beginning of time, truly exist?”

“What?”

“Justice exists because there is evil. The reason Captain Laius is called the Hero of the Holy Sword is because of the Chernion Cult, and Chernion, who is referred to as the Evil God.”

Llewellyn continued speaking slowly, still watching Arendt bickering with Lexion.

“Was God Chernion evil from the beginning? And was God Luce always good, existing to oppose him?”

“…”

Ludwin couldn’t bring himself to answer. The youngest, mumbling like that, seemed like a different person.

“Where did the forgotten gods go after the Great War?”

“…Llewellyn.”

“Brother.”

Ludwin tried to speak, but Llewellyn was faster. Lowering his voice, Llewellyn whispered so only Ludwin could hear.

“I will deliver the materials I have gathered while working with Arendt to the kingdom.”

Ludwin swallowed briefly at the gentle voice. Llewellyn, who had changed the mood again and was now laughing playfully, tapped him on the shoulder.

“Of course, I’ll leave the judgment to you, my brothers, my mother, and my father. Then you’ll understand what I’m talking about.”

“No, wait a minute…”

“It sounds like it’s going to be quite a headache for you, so I’ll apologize in advance. No, actually. I’m not really sorry. After all, I’m sharing everything we’ve gathered through all the hell we went through with that guy for free.”

Llewellyn said with a faint smile.

“So, I really hope you’ll consider this seriously. You can call me a blasphemer and a traitor, but I’d like to somehow ease his burden.”

“You…”

“I don’t know how you guys will react when you see them, but I’ve already made up my mind.”

Llewellyn, smiling lightly and bowing his head as usual, walked back towards the knights.

Ludwin said nothing and just stared blankly at his retreating back.

Ludwin met the eyes of the man in black who was talking to Arendt.

“…?”

Ludwin paused for a moment at the cold gaze.

Suddenly, huge wings sprouted from the man’s back, and a huge, shining white magic circle appeared on the ground.

“Excuse me, Lord Lexion? You’re doing it here?”

The moment when Llewellyn shouted in embarrassment…

A huge magical storm engulfed the group in an instant.

The light faded, revealing an empty space before Ludwin’s eyes. Moments before, it was where the Imperial Knights, including Laius, had been.

“…”

This time, Ludwin’s mind went blank. The knights and soldiers who had come to see them off felt the same.

“What just happened…?”

Someone muttered, dumbfounded. Only then did Ludwin finally recall something.

The rebellion that occurred in the Lucain Kingdom escalated to the point where dragons fought each other in the skies above the royal palace.

Until recently, dragons were considered to be nothing more than mythical creatures, but that incident made it clear to the public that they actually existed.

One of the dragons who fought was a known follower of God Chernion, and the other one that stopped him was…

“…A dragon?”

Ludwin muttered, lost in thought. The prince’s voice echoed through the suddenly quiet surroundings.

Llewellyn’s expression, when he had been vaguely talking about that figure being an archmage, came to mind.

The faces of those present at the scene all turned as white as a sheet of paper.

Opening their eyes with a dizzying sensation, they found themselves standing in the Imperial Palace training grounds of the Caerleon Empire. Arendt, who had been dazed for a moment, looked at Lexion.

“Lord Lexion, have you lost your mind?”

Lexion replied harshly to Arendt’s bewildered question.

“I’ve been living my life being treated like a means of transportation by human children, so isn’t it weirder to be sane?”

“That’s true… I’m actually more surprised that Arendt is still alive…”

Arthur nodded, muttering something like a groan.

Still, he never thought he would openly use teleportation while Prince Ludwin and the other soldiers were watching.

In fact, it was the same as letting them know that a dragon was with the Caerleon Empire.

Lexion said incredulously.

“That doesn’t mean I’ve really lost it.”

It was even more absurd that the knights dared to say that the dragon was out of his mind.

Even in the midst of all this, Laius, who did not lose his composure, asked.

“Lord Lexion. Are you sure it’s okay?”

“I don’t care.”

Lexion waved his hand dismissively.

“This isn’t something we can keep quiet about forever. And above all, I’ve said I’ll take responsibility now.”

Just as Laius was about to raise his eyebrows at the unintelligible words, Lexion added again.

“And don’t forget. I’m not collaborating with you, Hero, or the Caerleon Empire.”

“Huh?”

“Let me be clear once again, my only ally is that little brat.”

Lexion nodded at Arendt.

“It would be best if you made that clear on your end as well, so that the other humans don’t get the wrong idea.”

“…”

Only then did Laius truly understand why Lexion had acted that way.

After a brief pause, Laius answered.

“I will keep that in mind.”

Arendt took a step back and stared blankly at the two, then sighed briefly and shrugged.

As if it had nothing to do with him.