Betrayal Knight's Joyful Faith

Chapter 523

The post-war discussion began in earnest after Arendt, who was at the center of everything, got up from his sickbed.After Arendt began to stir up public opinion by going here and there, the Caerleon Imperial Family made an announcement that lit the fuse in earnest.

Naturally, there was an uproar in the Empire.

In addition, Cantares announced that instead of restoring the Great Temple, he would build a new welfare institution there.

Because of this, the nobles and priests had no choice but to cry out in protest.

Letters poured in to Cantares, Laius, and Lumiel, day after day. Arendt even received several threatening letters.

“…Why are you collecting them?”

Arthur asked Arendt, who was collecting the threatening letters that had arrived, one by one. Arendt answered naturally.

“Most of them are anonymous, so I’m trying to figure out who the sender is. Lord Neumann is helping me. Handwriting is honest.”

“You, you’re planning on destroying them.”

Llewellyn, who had been watching from the side, laughed awkwardly. Instead of saying anything, Arendt simply smiled and replied.

It went without saying that Arthur and Llewellyn, who saw that smile, shuddered.

Even in the palace, the proponents and opponents were divided and fierce conflict continued.

“You won’t restore the Great Temple? This will shake the very foundations of the Caerleon Empire!”

“Didn’t we just discover that His Majesty the First Emperor himself warned against Luce? Rather, it could be considered a matter of re-gaining our foundation!”

“Don’t you know that not overthrowing them immediately is His Highness showing the bare minimum of mercy?”

Even the elves who had come as reinforcements and the heads of state from various countries joined in the debate. The war of words only intensified with each passing day.

Meanwhile, an incident occurred that further fueled the argument.

It was the High Priest Lumiel herself who issued the statement.

“I humbly accept the imperial decision. I convey this to the priests. Even if you leave now, I will not hold you responsible. Only those who are willing to continue atonement and service in Lord Luce’s name should remain. From now on, as Lord Luce’s servant, I intend to walk the path of atonement.”

The use of the word “atonement” in her statement ultimately signified an acknowledgment of God Luce’s immorality. Lumiel declared that she would atone in the god’s place, like a child carrying the sins of their parent, personally serving and taking responsibility for the sins committed by Luce.

The announcement further heated up the debate.

“In fact, this war was practically fought because of God Luce! And yet the High Priest can’t abandon God Luce?”

There were also those who protested like this.

“Atonement! How can someone who believes in Lord Luce’s innocence more than anyone else and should be protecting the Great Temple do such a thing?”

There were also many believers who were terrified.

Lumiel remained silent in response to the seemingly probing questions. Arendt, too, refused to intervene in her decision, simply observing.

“Shouldn’t we tell His Highness the truth?”

It was a topic Lumiel had brought up herself at a gathering with Arendt and Laius. Laius looked at Arendt, as if seeking an answer.

Arendt asked, munching on a snack.

“Why?”

“Why? There’s no point in hiding the truth now…”

Lumiel trailed off.

. The only people who knew about Luce’s breach of contract with the gods were Arendt, Lumiel, and Laius, who heard the story from Lumiel.

“God is more cruel than I thought. He even wiped out a generation of elves just because they knew the truth.”

He meant he intended to shoulder the truth alone so that the Imperial Family of the Caerleon Empire would not suffer unnecessary trouble.

“But if we never reveal the truth, the same tragedy might repeat someday. Shouldn’t someone record and remember this?”

Lumiel expressed concern, but Arendt responded naturally.

“It’s okay. I won’t let that happen.”

“…”

His tone was incredibly light, yet also firm. Thanks to this, Lumiel had no choice but to remain silent.

Laius asked, frowning slightly.

“Do you have some kind of plan?”

“No, there’s nothing like that.”

Arendt added, shrugging his shoulders.

“As you said before, Captain, that’s something our descendants will have to deal with. If we lay a solid foundation, they’ll figure out the rest.”

“…”

Despite that answer, Laius had an unpleasant expression on his face.

But Arendt pretended not to see and just stuffed another snack into his mouth.

Time passed quickly again.

By the time Arendt returned to his normal duties, the fate of the burned down Great Temple had finally been decided.

A facility for the welfare of war victims and various vulnerable groups was built on the site of the Great Temple, and it was named the Imperial Welfare Center.

It was an official announcement from the royal family.

In the end, Cantares broke the will of the opposition.

“There’s going to be chaos again for a while.”

Arendt blurted out, walking leisurely.

In order to appease the rebellious Luce believers, the current High Priest, Lumiel, was put in charge of the welfare center, but that did not mean the angry believers would easily give in.

Because to some of the Luce believers, Lumiel had already become nothing short of a traitor.

Richt, who had been patrolling alongside him, shook his head.

“I never thought I would see something like this in my lifetime.”

“Are you disappointed? Then, senior, you should send an anonymous complaint like everyone else.”

At Arendt’s grumpy question, Richt glared at him with a disapproving look.

“That’s not even funny.”

“I just received twenty-five of them today. It’s quite a collection.”

“You’ve always been a strange person, but you seem even stranger lately.”

Arendt put his hands in his pockets and said proudly.

“Even contempt is a form of interest. It all comes in handy someday, that’s what I’m saying.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“The senders of 12 of the 25 have been identified. I plan to report this to His Highness and, someday, find a special occasion to seek personal revenge.”

“…”

There was nothing more terrifying than the thought of creating a special occasion to exact revenge. The most chilling part was that Arendt seemed quite pleased with the words.

Instead of commenting further, Richt decided to quietly pray for the souls of those who had sent threatening letters to Arendt.

“By the way…”

Arendt muttered as he looked up at the unusually clear sky.

“Why is it so quiet?”

“Quiet? In what world does this look quiet to you?”

Arendt shrugged at Richt’s puzzled question.

“No. I’m just talking to myself. If you’re bored, would you like to join me? Find the people who sent the complaints. His Highness has been obsessed with it lately… He asked me to help him out.”

“…I don’t know how anyone could say they’re bored at a time like this. Sorry, but I’ve been assigned to another mission. Sitting at a desk and racking my brain is more your thing. It’s not something I’m good at.”

Richt made a tired sound.

After the incident was resolved, Cantares began to search again for the first informant who had reported Arendt’s betrayal.

But nothing came out.

Because the person who sent it didn’t exist in the first place.

‘Well, I guess he’ll give up sooner or later.’

Nereid, who had interfered in the past and sent the complaint directly, would have fallen asleep by now. If not, She would be hiding, avoiding Luce’s gaze.

Arendt never intended to tell the truth.

Instead, he planned to leisurely pretend to search while watching Cantares exhaust himself fruitlessly.

‘That much is suitable for the scenario.’

In a play, there were always parts offstage that the audience shouldn’t see.

“Can’t we just take a quick round and go back?”

“No.”

Even as he said that, Richt slowed down to match Arendt’s slightly limping pace.

“Are you sure walking is alright?”

“If I say it’s not okay, will you let me skip patrol?”

“I guess it’s okay since you’re talking like that.”

Another pointless tirade flowed. Feeling a slight sense of satisfaction at this fact, Arendt turned his gaze straight ahead.

There was still a quiet presence who was quite displeased with this whole situation. Arendt decided to wait patiently for that contact.

‘I wonder if he still hasn’t given up hope.’

Or was there another corner of belief?

Either way, Arendt decided to wait patiently.

Because now there was nothing that he needed to rush for.

Amidst all the controversy, the first shovel was finally turned to build the Imperial Welfare Center in the ruins of the Great Temple.

Finally, Arendt was able to receive the call from the being he had been waiting for.

A familiar, yet at the same time, unsettling space unfolded before his eyes. .

Arendt was once again confronted with the figure of Lee Soo-hyun.

Without showing much embarrassment, Arendt turned away from the shadow of ‘Lee Soo-hyun’ reflected in the mirror.

Then, a spotlight suddenly shone and pierced his eyes.

As his eyes became accustomed to the light, the dark auditorium gradually came into view.

In the middle of the empty auditorium, there was a god who once ruled this world.

“…”

Arendt paused for a moment after seeing Luce’s appearance.

After a while, a smirk appeared on his lips.

“Serves you right.”

Still, God Luce still looked beautiful.

But His form wasn’t as complete as when they met before.

The tips of His pure white fingers were cracked, and even His luminous, pure white face was cracked, like a statue that had become worn and was beginning to crumble.

“How is it?”

Arendt asked, putting his hands in his pockets.

“Did you enjoy the play?”

Luce looked down at Arendt, who stood alone on stage, His face agitated. He looked like a doll struggling to decide what expression to make.

“…Truly impressive.”

After a long silence, Luce let out an exclamation filled with meaning.

“I never imagined that the Holy Empire could be shaken so quickly.”

“I’m a bit amazing.”

“…”

Luce didn’t respond to his most typical line.

Arendt looked straight into God’s eyes.

“The Great Temple has disappeared, and the faith of the High Priest has changed from reverence for you to atonement for the world. The Caerleon Empire has abandoned the name of the Holy Empire.”

Arendt chuckled, spread his arms, and took a big step forward.

A bright spotlight poured down on his head.

“So… you’ll admit it now, right?”

Luce looked at him with complicated eyes.

The image of an actor standing alone on stage was engraved in the eyes of God.

“I won, you idiot.”

An unusually clear voice filled the old theater.

The cracks on His beautiful face grew even wider.

It was because Luce’s face was distorted so horribly.