158 - Ambush (1)

158 - Ambush (1)

TL/Editor: raei

Status: ongoing

Illustrations: none

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Episode 158, Chapter 44: Ambush (1)

In a quiet café near Lezero's central square, the silver-haired woman and her hero companions sat on one side, while Elysis and the Rat Mercenary Group occupied the other.

"...Can't you reconsider one more time?"

The woman's voice broke the silence, her eyes fixed on Elysis across the table.

Her tone was calm, yet tinged with an inexplicable longing.

Elysis's eyes wavered for a moment at this unfamiliar emotion, but she shook her head.

"I'm sorry. I can't join you right now. I'm still too lacking, and... more importantly, I have something I need to do first."

"Something you need to do..."

"Repayment. There's someone I need to prove myself to and repay."

A debt of gratitude for saving her life.

Perhaps not just once, but twice.

"......"

Seeing Elysis's firm resolve as she fell silent after speaking, the woman stood up without saying anything more.

"...I understand. If you ever change your mind, come find me anytime. If you're truly willing, your god will guide you to me."

"Yes, thank you for understanding."

As Elysis bowed her head with those words, the woman took one last look at her face before turning and leaving the café.

"It's hard finding companions~ Right?"

"I hope we'll meet again someday."

Rain and the giant followed behind her.

How much time passed after they all left the café?

"Phew... I thought I was gonna suffocate."

Rat, sitting next to Elysis, spoke dramatically.

"The pressure was no joke, even when we were just sitting there naturally. They didn't seem like ordinary people... Why'd you turn down their offer, Elly?"

"Idiot, they said they were the hero and her companions. Would you believe and follow someone you just met if they introduced themselves like that?"

As Rat spoke, Ember chided him, but Elysis shook her head.

"I believe what they said."

The moment she saw the silver-haired woman, she knew without being told.

That she was the hero.

There was no specific reason or evidence.

It was more like a certainty, similar to hearing a voice in a dream.

Elysis knew this wasn't from herself, but rather the will of 'someone' connected through the angelic blood flowing in her body.

'And along with that, the instinctive pull I felt.'

If she had been her original self, she would have accepted the woman's invitation to join them immediately.

But there was only one reason she didn't.

"It's just that I really have something I need to do first."

It was because of Prince Zion Agnes.

Ever since the incident in the Angelosh territory, Elysis had always felt indebted, and repaying that debt took priority over everything else.

'Of course, I still don't know how to repay it...'

But she felt she had somewhat achieved the qualifications Zion had mentioned, so it seemed like a good time to seek him out.

As excitement began to fill Elysis's eyes at the thought of seeing Prince Zion again,

CLUNK!

The café door opened, and a group of holy knights entered.

"Why are holy knights suddenly here?"

Ember's murmur reached her ears.

The holy knights, after briefly looking around the café, spotted Elysis and began approaching quickly.

"Are you Miss Elysis Desire?"

One of the knights who stopped in front of her asked, his eyes shining.

"Huh? Yes..."

As Elysis answered, the knight's face brightened even more as he bowed politely.

"I'm Alphonse, a 3rd-class holy knight of the Order of Light. Could you accompany us to the Order for a moment, in your capacity as a Saintess candidate?"

An elevated voice flowed from the knight's mouth.

* * *

He had long since thought about how to handle these two.

'But Rubrious's side...'

Just then,

DING!

The café door opened with a clear bell sound.

And behind the open door, a figure in a robe appeared.

Though there shouldn't have been any more customers since they had rented out the entire café, Zion's eyes remained calm as he looked at the figure.

'Speak of the devil.'

After all, it was Zion himself who had called this person here.

"I'll have a cup of hot tea with warm milk."

The figure approaching Zion spoke as he took off his robe.

What was revealed underneath was sun-like golden hair and an incomparably handsome face.

It was the First Prince Rubrious.

* * *

"The tea tastes excellent. I didn't know there was a place in the capital that could make milk tea this good."

In the café, now empty except for the two of them, with even Liushina and the owner sent outside.

Rubrious's gentle voice flowed out as he tilted his teacup, briefly looking out at the rain-streaked window.

"Zion, did you know that milk tea originated from our Order of Light? About 300 years ago..."

"Tell me why you wanted to see me first. You should already know I don't like small talk."

Zion spoke, cutting off Rubrious's unceasing words despite not having seen each other for a long time.

Their eyes met.

At that moment, the First Prince's eyebrow twitched.

He felt overwhelmed the instant he met Zion's eyes.

'It wasn't like this when I saw him last time...'

An immense pressure, incomparable to before, emanated from Zion's languid eyes.

It felt like standing before the late emperor when he was alive.

What on earth had happened in the meantime?

Though questions welled up inside him, Rubrious suppressed them and got to the point.

"...I heard you visited the headquarters in Lezero. I've been told everything that happened there. You really did something great. First, I'd like to thank you again on behalf of the Order."

When Rubrious first heard about it from the Order, he couldn't hide his surprise.

From being designated by the Light to weeding out the demons hiding in the Order and recapturing the seal sites.

All of it was enough to shake the entire Order.

So he wanted to discuss each point in detail for hours, but Rubrious first mentioned what he thought was most important and the reason he had sought out Zion.

"I heard you exposed and dealt with all the demons hiding in the headquarters."

"That's right."

"Then perhaps... Zion, did you know that demons were hiding not just in the Order of Light, but also in the imperial palace?"

Though he asked, Rubrious was certain Zion knew.

It was the only way to explain everything that had happened so far.

No, perhaps his youngest brother was already waging a war against them beneath the surface.

Zion, looking at the First Prince calmly, spoke in a composed tone.

"What if I did?"

"...!"

Rubrious's face froze at Zion's answer.

"Then tell me. Everything you know."

The First Prince was fully aware.

Of how serious this situation was.

It could potentially overturn the entire empire.

Moreover, he couldn't tolerate the very fact that demonic beings were residing in an empire that should be filled only with the holy will of the Light.

Thus, for Rubrious, this matter was more important than anything else.

"I will, but on one condition."

"What is it?"

As Rubrious asked with questioning eyes,

"Give up the throne, and serve under me."

The words Rubrious had once said to Zion at the late emperor's funeral.

Now those same words flowed from Zion's mouth in a low voice.