Chapter 405 Picking Sides (End)

When one gazed at the sky, seeing how bright and beautiful it was, one would expect people to go on their days with smiles and glee. In Braxtein, unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

As the news of their Hero's "fall" was broadcast, the citizens of Braxtein were thrown into an uproar. Some believed what they heard was what it was since they were never fond of the Hero, meanwhile, the others couldn't accept the news at all.

"What kind of horseshite is this? He kills citizens? Of course, he does. Just look at those bastards telling the citizens to block their way."

The people who knew the Hero well still stood on his side and got the escort that would take them to where the Hero was. His former classmates, the professors he had a good relationship with and the Nobles who openly supported him—all of them were on their way to meet him.

"I… have to see it with my own eyes. I don't believe he is this kind of person no matter how cold he is."

Those who had a neutral relationship with him but a favourable view of him didn't like what he did but didn't want to immediately judge. They believed everything happened for a reason, so they also went on their way to meet him.

"We have killed too many, Basil…"

"Bless their souls, who fell victim to the devil's scheme."

As for the Hero himself, he was still on the run. Hundreds of Priests blocking his way were cut by his swords, but thousands of civilians also died along the way.

He had no remorse for what he had done to the clueless innocent; however, he did feel something unsavoury in his mouth. It was a bitter pill that he had swallowed to save his life.

"A news has just come in," Iliana said. "Rancuser Dukedom has been completely demolished."

"That wasn't my doing, but I believe those leasing-mongers will blame it on me," Basil replied calmly.

"… You are right, unfortunately." Iliana smiled bitterly.

They had covered 150 kilometres for the last half an hour of running. They encountered some obstacles along the way, but their splendid cooperation with Deacon was always enough to pass through them, or rather, obliterate them.

The obstacles they were talking about were, of course, the Priests. They initially used the civilians as a shield sneakily, but they were already doing it openly now.

Seeing the crying women and children indeed shook one of the Pacifers' hearts, but her Arts still killed them regardless. Even if she didn't, her boyfriend will take the job for her since he appreciated their lives more than the civilians'.

"How many have we killed—the civilians?" Iliana asked.

"'Tis better thee dost not know," Basil replied. "Besides, we have something we should be more concerned about."

"What is it?"

"The old monster of the Rancuser Family hath awakened."

Basil, of course, also knew about August Rancuser. He didn't destroy half of the Dukedom only because he wanted to see the family's destruction, but also to lure August, who had been hiding somewhere in it, out of his hide.

It had worked splendidly, but he, now, had to always constantly look at what was behind his back.

The ruined relationship between the clan and the family aside, the fact that he had disturbed August's rest must have angered the old monster. He was sure August would come with untamed anger at him.

"Hey, hey, are we going to die now?" Iliana asked jokingly to hide her worry.

"May the fortune be on our side; we shall reach our destination before he layeth his hands on us."

The answer wasn't very assuring but Iliana understood they could only run and race against time. Because of that, her attacks became even more vicious; she didn't want all the killings she had done to end up in vain.

She had killed a lot of innocents, carrying a sin that burdened her on her shoulder. If she still died despite that, she would wallow even when she was already in the afterlife, if it existed, that is.

"Golden Apple, stop! P-Please… please, prove that the news is wrong!"

Despite hearing the people clearly, Basil still swung Durendal without hesitation, bisecting the people in an instant. Deacon obliterated them in the next moment with his air sphere, giving them no time to suffer.

"T-This Demon! Look at how unhesitant he was when he killed the people!"

"He needs to be immediately slain!"

The Priests, likewise their brethren, condemned Basil for what he had done. With ease, they disregarded the fact that they were the ones who put the civilians in that situation in the very first place.

Boom!

They soon got their rewards for being unbearable hypocrites, which was Deacon's air sphere that destroyed their Barrier with ease. Durendal and Caliburn's Mana Blades shredded them soon after, meanwhile, Iliana's Art drilled a big hole in their chest.

A few minutes passed and they no longer encountered people blocking their way. Deacon ran even faster covering hundreds of metres in less than a second.

"Slow down, my Beast."

"Tsk! Why are they even here?"

Deacon, unfortunately, was forced to slow down because there was a group of people blocking their way ahead. The people were either Mages or Knights and they knew all of them.

The moment Deacon stopped running, just as they arrived before the people, Basil and Iliana destroyed the Teleportation Gate that the people had used to get there with their Arts. No one stopped the two—no one could.

After the Teleportation Gate was destroyed, Iliana got down from Deacon. "Whom do you side with? Make it quick—my spear is not patient," she said as she carved a trench before her.

Looking at the Pacifer Seal that was shining in purple in the middle of her forehead made the people unconsciously gulp nervously. They felt like they were looking at the different side of Iliana.

"I will follow along you two," someone stepped forward. "I have seen what actually happened and I think I have figured out what makes this Kingdom doesn't feel right."

"Good choice, Karan," Iliana nodded her head in appreciation. "The three of us have drank tea together many times—it would have been a shame to kill you."

Jumping into Iliana's side, Karan looked at Basil, who was looking down at them, for the first time. His heart instantly raced as his body secreted sweat the moment he stared into Basil's golden eyes.

Turning to the people who hadn't crossed the trench in alarm, he urged them to cross with his eyes. 'Being on Basil's good side is the wisest choice you can make,' was what his eyes conveyed.

All of them got it, but very few of them decided to jump. They were too afraid of what Basil would do to them and they didn't have enough trust in Basil since he didn't even come down to explain the situation.

"Iliana," Basil called when there had been already six people crossing the trench. "We shan't waste our time. I can feel that monster… he is nearby."

Basil's hands were already twitching. None of the people was a Seventh Circle Mage—the strongest amongst them was but a Sixth Circle Mage—so if Basil lost his patience, none of them could even squeak before their head touched the ground.

Iliana nodded her head solemnly and glared at the people to urge them. She wanted to kill as few as possible, so she was hoping that the people would get a premonition of how terrifying the power he had was and how fearsome the cards Basil was hiding up his sleeve were.

"Let me ask you something, Basil Pacifer." Kimberley stepped forward and stared at Basil bravely. "What is your end goal?"

"Live and prosper," Basil answered shortly.

"Don't you have any desire to rule?"

"I do and that is the world I make myself."

Kimberley turned silent, torturing the people with suspense. None of them knew what the point of her question was and where it would end up.

Basil lightly but audibly scoffed, causing the people's expressions to darken. He jumped down from Deacon and then landed before Kimberley.

Boom!

The people who hadn't crossed the trench, except for Kimberley, immediately clutched their chests as soon as Basil lightly exuded his Mana Pressure. They stared at Basil in horror this time, meanwhile, Kimberley raised her head high to look into Basil's eyes.

"[Blessing: Discerning Heart]!" she muttered, causing her eyes to shine in white.

Establishing a Contract with a Legendary Beast, Unicorn, allowed her to receive its blessing. She was liked amongst the Unicorn, so she had received a lot of Blessings, which was very mind-boggling because she was a human.

One of the Blessings she had received was [Discerning Heart] which allowed her to peek into people's hearts and discern how pure their hearts were.

"This is… I…"

Before she tried it on Basil, she had a high expectation of the result. She was sure that her judgment about him wasn't wrong, which was why the result would be good.

After doing it, however, her mind was boggled by the result.

"I can't see anything… Either because your heart is too pure or you have a very strong Mental Barrier."

"So, what thou hast decided, lass?" Basil asked serenely.

"I… don't know."

Kimberley, who had planned to side with Basil the moment he was proven to be the person she thought he was, couldn't make a decision. The only way for her to know if he could be trusted was the Blessing, but it didn't work on him.

"Trust me and thou shalt prosper," Basil said as he raised his sword in a cutting motion.

Kimberley widened her eyes in shock and horror. She could feel Basil's killing intent and, judging by his gesture, it was clear that he was going to kill her.

In the end, however, she decided to trust him and closed her eyes. Lo and behold, she made the right choice by not doing anything.

Clank!

Basil blocked the sword of the person who had just joined them with Caliburn. No killing intent was detected from the man, but his Mana Pressure was suffocating the people who weren't as tough as the Pacifer couple.

"Fucking hell, brat! I have told you to ask for help when you need it!"

"Oh, dear good friend. It is very nice to see my fellow tea enjoyer on my side."

The people who witnessed the scene widened their eyes at the identity of the person whom Basil proclaimed his friend. He looked so different from the way he usually behaved.

"Calm down, pops. You can have your match when this is all over."

"Oh, dear… you are going to waste our time to escape."

"These two… they have spent too much of their time drinking tea together."

The King, the Queen, the fourth concubine, the Second until the Fifth Prince had joined Basil's side. Seeing that, the people didn't even think twice to pick which side.