CH 96

Duke, Please Repent! chapter 96

23. Duke's Choice Day (2)

The ceremony began.

Based on the central platform on which the holy sword was placed, the candidates surrounded and formed a circle at a certain distance.

The Pope was the first to approach me. Next to it, a priest holding a transparent glass bowl filled with holy water followed.

I lowered my posture slowly according to the set ceremony. Place both knees on the floor and bow your head slightly.

Put the ring finger of your left hand on your lips while crossing your hands.

This is a reverent prayer with respect to the god Luxmea, and a kiss of an oath with love.

I closed both eyes.

The Pope recited a prayer.

With a sense of presence, he could tell that the pope was dipping the tip of his finger into a bowl of holy water and pulling it out.

A finger soaked in holy water touched his forehead, and through it the divine power of the Pope flowed into his body.

After a while, the feeling on my forehead fades away.

gone I opened my eyes and got up

The Pope went on to bless each candidate.

Finally, a small bead of sweat formed on the forehead of the Pope who finished it.

In the meantime, the castle sword placed on the pedestal began to glow gradually.

The Pope and other priests escaped out of the circle, and the holy sword flew into the air, scattering a brighter light.

It is a moment of choice.

The holy sword began to move slowly.

At first glance, it looked like it was flying straight towards me, but I could tell that the angle was very slightly skewed.

And whoever stands in that position .

Without realizing it, I almost turned my head to see if it was Hwang Tae-ji standing next to me.

' Is something wrong?'

When the Crown Prince was still the Crown Prince.

He came into the office at will, and said in a sarcastic tone about the relationship between the opposite sex and the progress.

'Is it too far for you?' he said with a teasing tone and stabbed me in the cheek... .

I wondered if I had calculated the angle wrong.

It may not have been him that the Holy Sword had chosen, but the Count Young Ae standing next to him.

"Uh, uh ?! Why is it this way ."

In the end, the Holy Sword chose the Crown Prince.

The man panicked and pulled back, but the holy sword clenched into his grasp.

"Hey, this is "

The prince's eyes met. His pupils seemed to waver, and he saw his eyes shut tight.

Only the owner of the holy sword can hold the holy sword in his hand.

Other beings are pushed away by a strong repulsive force. In return for being greedy for things that should not be touched, you have to carry scars that cannot be healed for the rest of your life.

There was no doubt about it.

But obviously, the conditions for becoming the master of the holy sword are:

''That's right, Your Majesty

now ?

...is force majeure!

If it was the original country, I would never have put it in my mouth. It wasn't that much, but words that would not have been able to make this kind of thinking per se were flowing out of my mouth.

'Shion, did I pass it on to him without my knowledge... ?'

Even though he spit it out, he seems to have popped out and asked a question and disappeared. I quickly covered my mouth with my hand, but it was already too late.

The Crown Prince also opened his closed eyes, and looked at me with a questioning eye as to whether the question I just asked was really me.

looked at

And .

"By the way, the conditions for becoming the master of the holy sword are "."

"Then you mean the Crown Prince is still a virgin?"

But it's force majeure...!

The surroundings began to roar.

Under the circumstances, the Crown Prince's cry would not have been the answer to my question. One, it seems oddly fitting.

His eyes fluttered even louder than when he was chosen by the Holy Sword.

"Do you have a fiancee who is confirmed to be married? At that age?"

Even so, it's irresistible...

I looked at the holy sword in the prince's hand.

From Zion's words and actions, I had already anticipated and prepared myself, but seeing it in the hands of another, I realized it only now.

It felt like something that was always full had gone out in an instant.

'nothingness Did you?'

It wasn't bad for that. Rather than being useless, it was easy.

"Have you not met many young girls before?"

''But it's force majeure!

A buzzing sound echoes from all over the place. The place of ceremonies, which should be solemn, began to become noisy.

'How long do I have to be here?'

The denominations who need to silence the turmoil have been blinking their eyes with expressions that seem to deny reality since the time the Holy Sword chose the Crown Prince. The prince seems to have completely lost his mind.

Last month, dear Marilyn, and My Majesty,

During the banquet, I saw clearly with my own two eyes the two of us sneaking out... .

''It's just that I got dating counseling! It's not my taste!

I don't know how to describe this situation. It was very crazy and crazy.

However, even this expression did not feel appropriate, and I felt that something was lacking.

If you have to express yourself somehow.

'The atmosphere is Zion... ?'

I don't think anyone could find a more appropriate expression than this.

Somehow, they only fluttered at me and only saw the liver...

Oh, did you do that to Young-ae? I thought it was only me .

"But it was force majeure "

The chaotic atmosphere showed no sign of calming down. Even if they leave the temple now, no one seems to be stopping them.

'It would have been better if the color of my hair wasn't conspicuous... .'

to stay in this place right now

I don't know what that means.

"Are you sure , you're incapacitated?"

"No, what blasphemy is that?"

But don't you mean force majeure!

I can assure you that the situation that Zion was worried about as she sent me here alone was not such a terrible thing.

''Your Majesty... , anyway. If that's the case, you'll be able to beat Duke Prasidus and become the master of the holy sword.

"Yeah, the conditions for the owner of the Holy Sword are a bit that's right."

It's better than a healthy man... It's probably better to keep a holy sword like that...

I wanted to get out of this noisy place and go back to the duke's house.

' You want to go back to the duke's house?'

I never thought the day would come when those words would form a sentence.

That place was the center of the cold world that always weighed on me, oppressed me, and turned me away.

[Their sincerity. ]

One by one, the sentences written on the bundles of papers that Zion delivered along with those words came to mind.

Unbeknownst to me, it had become a warm world that I wanted to return to.

Okay, you'll be fine! Surely, after the disaster is resolved, the god Luxmea will grant you the grace to revitalize your place!

Uh...uh..., uh, huh?!

"That's right, maybe with the power of the Holy Sword a new power might be awakened in it, right?"

Ah, no... Wait, I think everyone has misunderstood something...!

The rumors about the impossibility of the Crown Prince, which had emerged from a certain moment, spread in an instant, and now they have been disguised as confirmed truths.

He woke up to the sound of his comforting voice and did his best to make excuses.

Hey, this is Rainier! Rainier has to follow the set rules . So, that he has to keep until the day of his choice ! That's right, Renie?

Okay. Yes, that's right. That's what we do.

What?

No matter what happens... But your Majesty. Humanus, because I love you. I can accept everything.

This opportunity seems to be enough to take down competitors. The prince's fiancée expressed my will.

The hall fell into a solemn atmosphere at the confession of love that was heartbreaking to hear without knowing the circumstances.

Doesn't Humanus love me?

"Ha, don't love and not "

not doing the right thing on a regular basis

Is it in your own words?

Shion, he should have seen this mess. Maybe I'll run out of breath and laugh and fall out?

* * *

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, really...!

It's so funny that it makes it hard to breathe. As much as tears flowed out.

I don't know what kind of dog mess this is. Even if you release the three major demon dogs in one place, it's not going to be this messy.

I won't.

' That line in [Master of the Holy Sword] would have such a meaning! Where did the original go, the original!'

This is nothing more than a fake copy of which the original has been lost.

He couldn't even make a sound of laughter, and he giggled and laughed as he slammed the armrest of the sofa.

" Sunwoo? Is that so funny?"

It's funny! Of course it's funny, heck, heck, heck...! Oh, sorry..., heck!

Someday after the day of choice, I was meant to laugh at Humanus, but it was too hot

I can't do it in pairs.

'No, it must have been an impossible dream because of your status anyway?'

Anyway, in the [Master of the Holy Sword] epilogue, there was a mention of the child of Humanus, so that must be a simple misunderstanding.

By the way, the holy sword that finished its role abandoned its form and returned to Luxmea.

"No, but what was Serpence thinking about asking such a question?"

... now that you've all laughed, can we continue talking?

Yes, do it. Everyone laugh, pu-heop-

Seeing me snuggle up to the armrest of the sofa, he let out a small sigh and shook his head from side to side.

Ummm... I'm sorry, because I made a mistake...

"Ah, no. As long as the Holy Sword came to me anyway , this would have happened anyway.

While making a vain expression as if he had lost his mind, the Crown Prince didn't care.

He raised the corners of his lips laboriously, creating a strange smile.

It's only a misunderstanding, it's okay to solve it gradually. It's a misunderstanding, will it be resolved? Yes, it will be resolved.

I don't understand why everyone is so mad about it.

Of course, it is important to succeed in the imperial family as the Crown Prince, but the emperor's child was not the only one.

'Is that what makes it more fatal?'

Whether this is a misunderstanding or not.

As long as he became the master of the holy sword, it would be impossible to prove it until the disaster was completely defeated.

In addition, if you think about leaving the Empire and traveling around the continent in the future... .

'Should we be on the lookout for the second prince?'

got in trouble

There should be no fight for power over the achievements of the continent, but there have always been fools blinded by greed.

Even if it wasn't, you wouldn't be missing out on a great opportunity like this in a demon cult.

there was no

The Crown Prince was uncomfortable and awkward, but as long as he became the master of the holy sword, his foundation should not be shaken.

Sephi, are you okay?

Yes?

It's a bit strange for me to say things like this... You've been working hard all this time, right? To protect the continent as the master of the Holy Sword.

He was a person who always acted shamelessly, even when he showed a hint of discomfort.

As if such a prince was looking at me for the first time, he couldn't make eye contact.

speaks with caution

'What are you thinking?'

It was as if he had unintentionally stolen what was mine.

He was holding the holy sword in his hand, neither handing it to me nor hiding it behind his back.

It doesn't matter.

It's been a long time since I finished preparing my heart. That doesn't mean anything to me.

[ One perfect superman doesn't have to sacrifice everything. ]

''The master of the holy sword alone does not have to bear everything.

[ We should all work together. It's a world they live in, but to leave everything to one person. Isn't that too irresponsible? ]

''Everyone has to work hard. To hand over the fate of the continent they live in to just one person... . Aren't you too irresponsible?"

[ The continent will surely be saved.

But I will not hand it over to the Duke. ]

So, in my position. I will do my best to protect the continent. I have no intention of letting go, leaving everything to the master of the Holy Sword.

[ I'll do it anyway! That's why I'm here. ]

"Even if the Holy Sword is not in my hands, there are many things I can do for the continent.

It cannot be the reason for my existence.

Immediately after saying that... .

"Suddenly, a light burst from Serpens?"

Its meaning was one. And I know it.

'It's a gigantic event!!'

[It was also mentioned in The Master of the Holy Sword.

Gaining enlightenment through inner growth, leaping through several stages at once and becoming stronger.

enough to be sure. It is an event full of clichés that appear more than once in a growing mass market.

No, why are you holding such an important event when I can't see it?!

In the middle of the main story of the game, if you accidentally press the skip button and the replay function is not supported, what would it feel like?

Even in a very important climax scene.

'Not at that level!'

If I had been looking forward to the sound of a shooting star all day and just staring at the sky for a few hours, suddenly sneezing came and I closed my eyes and it had passed.

It can be compared to its emptiness.

It had nothing to do with my will.

He answered with a puzzled face. It is the strange expression that he first saw after returning from the ceremony.

When I asked why, it was because of the awakening, not the holy sword.

''Anyway, it's still amazing. where

These are the words that you seem to have heard before, but they know how to say positive things, and even each gender .

Originally, children grow up without their parents knowing if they take their eyes off of them for a while, but I want them to show them growing up where they can see them.

There was a mix of emotion and sadness.

"Sunwoo, I just copied what you said with a little change. It's natural to hear that."

" I mean. You mean that you have accepted those words and reached a level where they can be applied?"

Serpens shook his head.

"I just followed."

"No, then what is awakening? Yes! Wasn't it because there was some kind of inner growth?"

Again he shook his head. What the hell?!

There was a sense of outside intervention.

Yes?

There was a change of heart, but it wasn't to the level of going beyond the wall. It could be said that it was a situation where only the foundation was laid.... The place I'm standing now is not the end, only the fact that there is something beyond it.

I just realized it.

I just laid the foundation stone, and in the blink of an eye, the building was erected.

Is it okay to just accept it that way?

''If there is any outside intervention... , Shin Lux Smea?"

Perhaps?'

I thought they were all dumped on me and went on a submarine, but I think they are doing something.

With this level of directing, even people will try to criticize Serpence's personality.

I can't.

'On the day of choice, the continent got two heroes.'

Wouldn't the shrine and the imperial family work hard to spread propaganda like ?

We must cover up the scandal of Humanus, and we must spread it with great enthusiasm.