Chapter 167.1

Chapter 167.1

Bang. After finishing the interrogation of the prisoners, Mors closed the prison door behind him.

The prisoners captured by Isaac were immediately incarcerated in the dungeons of Aldeon.

Though traitors could have faced torture or execution, being prisoners captured by a Holy Grail Knight, they were merely isolated. This restraint also limited Mors’s ability to interrogate them harshly.

Indeed, he didn’t need to.

The captive knights had answered all of Mors’s questions without hesitation.

“Is the interrogation complete?”

In the waiting room, Edelred and Isaac were present. Mors greeted Isaac immediately, his demeanor respectful. General Mors Gideon, once filled with mistrust and suspicion towards Isaac, had changed his attitude after witnessing his valor firsthand.

His arrogance stemmed from his devotion and faith as a follower of Elil, so it was not something to blame him for.

All believers have some exclusivity towards other religions.

Moreover, by the standards of Elil’s faith, Isaac was a remarkably strong warrior who deserved respect.

“As you said, Holy Grail Knight. It doesn’t seem like Lianne Georg will suddenly emerge with an army.”

Isaac nodded.

He had thought that Lianne would immediately lead an army to ambush them once the Rite of Division was exposed. The witch hunt for Hekate had provided the perfect opportunity.

While the expedition was meant to capture Hekate, it also served as bait to lure in Lianne.

As expected, Georg’s knights had fallen for it, but they were not there to attack Edelred and Isaac. They were merely observing and gathering intelligence.

This meant that the Georg rebels were still not making any moves in the Holy Land of Elion.

“The scouts report similarly. The movements of the Georg rebels have actually decreased,” Edelred commented with a dark expression.

“Isn’t it a problem if Georg doesn’t come out?”

“It would be preferable, but staying put is the worst option for Lianne Georg.”

“Worst? Why?”

Isaac pulled out the Rite of Division from his pocket as he spoke.

“General Mors, how significant is the Rite of Division to the followers of Elil?”

Mors’s face stiffened as he could not take his eyes off the Rite of Division and finally spoke,

“The last sacred sword of the supreme king Elil, the final punctuation of a god’s demise, a symbol of division, betrayal, and remorse.”

The enemy was provoking a siege, and there was no room for negotiation. As time went on, they would all be drenched in blood.

Edelred’s lips were tightly sealed as he pondered deeply.

Isaac did not intervene. Whatever decision was made, Edelred had to carry its consequences.

Such anguish and despair were also necessary virtues for a king.

***

Edelred’s call to arms was issued throughout the Elil Kingdom.

From the northernmost Wintercall to Saltain beyond the sea, even to the rebel-held Holy Land of Elion, messengers were sent.

This was the first call to arms since his coronation.

Edelred had not demanded a loyalty oath immediately after his accession, because demanding loyalty in a divided nation would have forced everyone to show their cards.

The Elil Kingdom was split into four: the southern royal family of Aldeon, the Georg rebel forces in the Holy Land of Elion, the barbaric and uncharted Witch’s Forest, and the island of Saltain across the sea.

The Witch’s Forest could now be ignored as a force, but most nobles remained non-committal due to lack of power or due to regional and personal ties. Demanding a loyalty oath might have revealed a weaker support for the Aldeon royal family than expected, which would have been disadvantageous.

Therefore, Edelred had pragmatically opted to collect taxes without demanding loyalty oaths. This strategy allowed the Aldeon royal family to be nominally recognized as the rulers of the Elil Kingdom.

It was time to see where Edelred truly stood.

Clang! Thud, tatak!

Edelred’s sword flew out of his hand and stuck in the ground after clashing with Isaac’s.

Edelred sighed deeply and retrieved his sword.

While waiting for the summoned nobles, Edelred practiced swordplay with Isaac almost daily. Although he despised sword fighting, his respect for the Holy Grail Knight and his zeal for reform helped him focus.

But today was different.

“Your sword is wandering. Shall we call it a day?”

“No, no. My mind was elsewhere, Teacher. I can continue.”

But Isaac sheathed his sword.

“You might end up hurting yourself. Especially since my swordsmanship is particularly deadly; a mistake could be fatal.”

“However...”

–TL Notes–

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to read up to advance 20 chapters or support me, you can do it at /Akaza156