Chapter 43

Chapter 43

On the outer tower of Agel Lan's castle, with the city sprawling below, Duke Regis Brant stood solemnly by the parapet.

"...."

His eyelids closed, his eyes darted beneath them, and his fingers twitched around his staff. Veins bulged like spiderwebs across his furrowed brow, signaling his deep concentration. He was attuned to every corner of the city, perceiving it in ways beyond ordinary sight, through wavelengths of color invisible to the naked eye, smells, and sounds, all at once.

This hyper-awareness was a boon from opening the demonic realm, allowing him to control the hounds. Despite the screams and fear filling the air, casualties outside the walls were minimal, a testament to Regis's meticulous planning. He didn't wish for Agel Lan to crumble completely. The citizens were the seeds of the city, and a certain level of sacrifice was enough to engrave fear and anger into their souls.

His main targets were the nobles within the inner castle and their retainers, those who hadn't sworn loyalty or stood in his way, turning crisis into opportunity. When he heard that even Duke Burchard had fallen, he sensed his end was not far.

...Paths open to those who don't give up, Regis thought.

After this night of madness, his few followers would stand among the majority.

"Hmph..." A low chuckle escaped Regis's lips, thinking of Mev Riurel.

She had returned as the most troubling variable, the fallen angel of Tir En. That she was beyond his heightened senses suggested she was buried in despair and defeat. How she managed to decimate the kingdom's limbs was beyond him, but the near-total annihilation of her house must have avenged his followers sufficiently.

Yet, she had not paid for disrupting his plans. Her soul and the hounds would be offerings to his god, a worthy exchange for opening the demonic realm and receiving its power.

It was then that Regis's eyes twitched, sensing another disturbance outside the city. Something was fighting and evading the hounds in the outskirts.

Initially, he thought it was Mev, but now he knew otherwise; she wasn't this agile. Not that it mattered much. He commanded the outer hounds to pursue the nuisance. After all, the hounds needed their prey.

Controlling so many was challenging, a first for him, as was managing the demonic realm. But it was a power he couldn't forsake, not when he aimed to dedicate the entire kingdom to his God and to secure this power forever. By then, he would be near divine, able to proclaim the true faith even against the empire.

"If only that damned woman were gone... no one would be able to stop me...." muttering, Regis's speech halted at the sound of ascending footsteps.

His brow relaxed, dispersing his hyper-awareness as he slowly opened his eyes to the tower's view below.

"Open up! Please, open the gates!"

"Please...! Save us, please...! Ah, aaaah!"

Late evacuees screaming and pounding on the sealed gates were now fleeing, chased by several hounds. How trivial mortal life seemed. A faint smile crossed Regis's lips as a soldier entered the tower.

"Duke Brant." The soldier's arrival wiped the smile from Regis's face, replaced by a somber expression.

The soldier bowed, "Why are you here in such a dangerous place? If something were to happen to you, many would fall."

"Hasn't disaster struck? I can't ignore the pleas as the Goddess's faithful servant. Just now, someone's family knocked on the gates. Why weren't they opened?" said Regis.

"It was the His Majesty’s command... I apologize," said the soldier.

"No need for your apologies. ...So, what brings you here?" Regis asked.

"His Majesty seeks you. And so do other nobles," said the soldier.

"Let's return together. It's just as dangerous for you to remain alone," said Regis.

The soldier gestured toward the staircase with utmost respect. Regis didn't hesitate to descend. Passing through narrow corridors and rooms, he entered the assembly hall crowded with refugees.

Surrounded by the royal guard and soldiers, the gathered evacuees murmured among themselves. Exchanging glances with a few followers, Regis approached the throne at the head of the hall. There, wearing an expression of annoyance and impatience, was Erwin Archibald Brant, his nephew, and the king, Erwin II. Despite viewing him as a pathetic man who only inherited his brother's blood, Regis offered a compassionate smile.

"Your Majesty. I heard that you were looking for me," said Regis.

"Uncle. What's the situation like outside?" The king looked up at him, the crown shaped like interwoven deer antlers shimmering gold in the candlelight. Top novel updates at novelhall.com

"The soldiers on each wall are fighting valiantly. It seems the beasts cannot climb the walls. The people... can only pray for the vivid Goddess's protection," said Regis.

"Do you not see? Those who plunged Agel Lan into chaos and still hide here calmly, covering Your Majesty's eyes and ears," said Mev.

Her words were undeniable, yet surely they fell on deaf ears to the king.

Regis's brow furrowed tighter.

Has that brat truly lost her mind? thought Regis. His gaze twitched momentarily as her cold eyes, even behind the visor, paused on him briefly.

...Could it be that she really knows everything? As Regis was about to muse internally,

"Do not worry. I, myself am here now." Mev knelt on one knee.

The king, his expression growing increasingly grim, demanded, "Sir, what are you talking about? Where are all the members of your household?"

Slowly standing, Mev answered, "They are all dead, Your Majesty."

As the king was at a loss for words, she continued, "Therefore, please watch, Your Majesty."

Woosh.

Mev slowly drew her sword, "I will eradicate the corrupt from this place."

"What... did you say?" The king's eyes gradually widened.

A tense atmosphere seemed about to explode in the hall. At that moment, when the hands of soldiers gripping spears trembled.

"Sir Riurel has truly gone mad! She intends to kill us all!"

Overwhelmed by the pressure, someone shouted. The refugees began to back away in fear.

"Pro.. protect the king...!"

Just as Regis was about to speak, someone shouted.

A member of the royal guard, one of those aligned with Mev's cause. Like the others, he had been overpowered by her presence but belatedly remembered his duty. Six members rushed toward the king almost simultaneously, and the remaining knights drew their swords. The trembling tips of the soldiers' spears began to aim at Mev.

Whoosh.

Red divine power surged from the sword Mev held in front of her chest. The ominously flickering red light spread throughout Mev's entire being.

"Do not forgive the disloyalty of myself," said Mev.

The moment Regis realized her gaze was on him, his eyes filled with blood. He was certain this madwoman had come here to kill the corrupt indiscriminately, even if it meant slaughtering everyone left in the castle.

***

It's not an act, she’s genuine, Ian internally chuckled as he watched Mev's back.

He hadn't moved a step yet, but still, no one paid him any attention. Mev's presence was too overpowering. The divine power emitted by the Apostle of Vengeance was not as radiant as when she was the Apostle of Judgement.

It rather flowed sticky like blood, rising ominously and evaporating as if embodying the essence of vengeance. The appearance of the avenger, covered in blood, which Ian recalled, was exactly as he remembered. Furthermore, according to him, it wasn't only the outward appearance that remained unchanged from before.

Seems like she intends to finish her vengeance and die..., thought Ian.

As Mev began to move, Ian, loosening his ankles and shoulders, launched forward with a chill in his gaze.

...Sorry, but that's not going to happen.

After all, there was still a reward to be claimed.