Chapter 36

The one who looked down at them with a bewildered face was the captain of the guard who had recovered the four-eyed crocodile's head.

"Master! What on earth are you doing?"

"Guard Doran, go and bring your brother. If possible, bring Father as well."

Declan, who had stopped, said this.

His tone was as calm as usual.

Doran's face showed deep concern.

"Shouldn't you explain the reason for such actions? This looks like a rebellion against the lord!"

He was one of the commanders under Ordel who was relatively close to Declan.

Being at the lowest rank and often crossing paths in the shantytown had helped foster their relationship.

Declan smiled, sensing the worry in Doran's voice.

"It's the opposite. It's Father and Brother who have betrayed not only the people of Ordel but the kingdom and even the gods."

"Fallen...?!"

Doran's face turned pale.

This was a topic he couldn't handle.

"Wait! I will not allow any further approach!"

Doran shouted and quickly turned around.

Declan, with his arms crossed, calmly looked at the soldiers on the wall.

The guards were the ones who seemed anxious.

Everyone gathered in front of the castle was silently looking up at them.

Most of them were familiar faces.

If this was a rebellion, it meant he would have to point weapons at them.

Soon, someone limped up the wall.

A middle-aged man with a gentle face, leaning on a long ebony cane.

It was Viscount Burcharde.

'That kid, he played the role of a father who lost his son in the game very well.'

I should have killed him without being deceived.

Ian's eyes darkened.

"Father, you have come."

Declan bowed slightly.

The viscount, looking around, asked,

"Why have you done this, son?"

"To expose the corruption and fall of Father and Brother."

"Under the watchful eye of the radiant Lu Solar, why do you speak such disrespectful words?"

"I already know everything. That you moved the people to rebel against the kingdom..."

Declan trailed off.

Meanwhile, resentment and anger spread among the shantytown residents.

"During the process, you sacrificed the castle's soldiers as offerings to monsters. I have the list of those sacrificed by Father and Brother."

Declan pulled out a scroll from his coat and read out the names one by one.

Sadness and anger spread across the faces of the Ordel residents, and unrest rippled through the soldiers on the wall.

They were familiar names.

"What proof do you have for such absurd claims?"

The one who shouted next was not Viscount Burcharde.

Mason Burcharde, the eldest son, climbed up the wall.

Behind him, soldiers with maces lined up, wearing armor.

"Even though you are of low birth, Father took you in as a son. To repay his kindness with false accusations. Do you think a mere list can make Father a traitor and a fallen one?"

His voice was full of hostility.

His cold blue eyes swept over the crowd.

The air froze, and Declan smiled calmly.

"Brother, it's good to see you. Of course, I have evidence. Sir Bradley, your confidant, confessed to everything."

"What...?"

"Even his true fallen form was revealed to me. Would you like to see it?"

Declan snapped his fingers.

The crowd parted, and Yooksoon drove a cart forward.

The cart stopped in front of the wall.

A few mercenaries who followed lifted a large coffin from the cart.

The coffin lid opened, and its contents spilled onto the ground.

"Ugh...!"

The faces of the citizens and soldiers twisted at the sight.

There were dismembered bodies and chunks of flesh scattered.

The stench of decay filled the air.

Some of the weaker-stomached people turned away and vomited, while Declan shouted,

"Look closely. This monster is Sir Bradley!"

Only then did those who had averted their eyes examine the body again.

A twisted form, more like a monster than a human.

"Sir Bradley confessed to everything. That Father and Brother have fallen, and he himself has become one! All the corruption he committed was done on their orders!"

Declan declared loudly.

Mason's face broke into a smile shortly after.

"Carefully prepared, I see! If you want to frame someone, you have to do it this well! But how will you prove that this is Sir Bradley? To me, it looks like a monster's corpse."

He glared at Declan.

"Are you the one who killed the innocent Sir Bradley and framed him? Just as you are doing to me and Father now!"

"We have witnesses."

"I am one of those witnesses!"

"Me too! I saw it with my own eyes!"

Mercenaries, including Patton and Yooksoon, raised their hands.

Mason snorted.

"They are all your mercenaries. Can their testimonies be considered the truth?"

The mercenaries' faces twisted.

"Then, what about my brother?"

A girl walked out from among the citizens and suddenly shouted.

"Why was my brother's identity badge, who was said to be living well in Agel Ran, found abandoned in the forest...?"

It was Ian's recovered identity badge.

The sister of Dave.

"Is my brother well?"

"Is my friend? I haven't heard from him!"

Cries erupted from various places.

Mason's face turned red.

"I understand your concerns. I also understand why you have these suspicions."

The viscount stepped forward and spoke.

Unlike his eldest son, his tone was lenient.

"If they were indeed victims of an unknown incident, I will form an investigation team and send them out. I will also request a direct investigation from His Majesty. As for the absurd claim that we have fallen, I will request an investigation and judgment from the Imperial Church."

He looked around the crowd and added,

"Will this calm your anger?"

"..."

"..."

The citizens, who seemed ready to rush the wall, hesitated.

They didn't expect him to agree to all their requests.

"If you do that... then..."

Someone muttered.

'As expected. Politicians can deceive the world.'

Ian snorted sarcastically.

The situation he had feared earlier was unfolding exactly as he had predicted.

"Now are you satisfied? If so, go back! Those who stay will be considered rebels from now on!"

Mason shouted and raised his hand.

The soldiers aimed their maces.

Fear spread across the citizens' faces.

The atmosphere had completely shifted.

But Declan's face showed a satisfied smile.

He spoke calmly.

"Did you just say you would accept an investigation by the king and a judgment from the church?"

"Yes, I did, son."

The viscount smiled back.

Declan's smile deepened.

"Good. I happen to know someone suitable for the job."

"Someone suitable...?"

The viscount's brows furrowed.

Declan looked at Philip.

"Can you do it again, like last time? Preferably just the latter part."

"That...? Ah, you mean that."

Philip's face broke into a smile.

You can't be serious.

Ian's brows furrowed as Declan winked at him.

"It's almost over. Just a little more."

"..."

Ian, who had tasted the situation, took a step forward.

"Mercenary...?"

"The one who killed the monster in the underground sewer."

The soldiers who recognized him murmured.

Ian's reputation had already spread throughout Ordel.

"You said someone suitable. Another mercenary."

Mason sneered.

"Let me introduce him formally."

Philip, standing next to Ian, shouted loudly.

"The apostle of Tir En, the executor of the southern border, the sword of Agel Ran, the sole and official representative of Sir Mev Liurrel, the beloved judge of the Just Goddess! Sir Ian Hope!"

...What else was there?

Ignoring Ian's gaze, Philip bowed deeply.

"And I am his servant, Philip."

"..."

Mason and the viscount's mouths dropped open.

The other soldiers were the same.

Philip, nodding to Declan, added,

"Furthermore, Sir Hope personally witnessed and judged Bradley's fall. He seems more than qualified, doesn't he?"

"...Nonsense."

Viscount Burcharde's face slowly twisted.

The lenient expression he had maintained until now vanished.

"An official representative? A judge of Tir En? Is he a holy knight now?"

"Perhaps not. But what is certain is that the Just Goddess will make the final judgment on the two of you."

Declan looked at Ian.

It seemed the stage was set.

Ian, with a faint smile, drew his sword of judgment.

A blue holy power spread like flames along the blade.

"O... Oh..."

"The holy knight. He is truly a holy knight..."

The soldiers and citizens sighed at the sight of the sword of light.

Some even knelt and prayed.

Shock spread across the viscount's and Mason's faces.

"..."

Ian's brows furrowed slightly.

The holy power surging through the blade was more than usual.

A cold anger emanated from within the blade.

...Ah, right. This can reveal it too.

Ian shrugged and looked up at Viscount Burcharde.

The viscount's eyebrows twitched, and Ian took a step forward.

His steps soon turned into a sprint.

"Fire! Why are you just standing there?"

Viscount Burcharde shouted belatedly.

But even the soldiers with maces hesitated.

"But he is the apostle of the gods..."

Someone sighed.

Mason's face twisted.

"Don't forget who you serve! Stop him immediately!"

He drew his sword and added,

"I will cut off the heads of those who disobey!"

Only then did the soldiers aim at Ian.

Their hands trembled.

"Fire!"

Whizz-!

The maces were fired in unison.

Most of them were poorly aimed, but some flew directly at Ian.

Swish-!

But the bolts that reached Ian were scattered by an invisible wind.

A swirling barrier.

Ian, now surrounded by wind, reached the wall in a flash.

Thud, thud, thud-!

Ian kicked the wall repeatedly and soared like a bird.

The wind pushed him forcefully.

Ian paused in mid-air and met Mason's gaze.

"The judgment of the goddess is..."

Raising his holy power-filled sword above his head, he added,

"Death."

A blinding flash fell toward Mason.

The blue trajectory etched in the air split Mason's raised sword and pierced his arm.

Mason's right arm was severed, spraying blood.

"Aaaah-!"

As Mason screamed,

Ian's gaze turned to the viscount standing far away.

'I hope he goes berserk. Is that possible?'

A tingling sensation ran through his fingers.

The resentment of the swamp, which abhorred holy power, channeled through Ian's blood and reached the viscount.

Of course, the visible phenomenon was much less impressive than the reality.

The spirit that flew to the viscount and returned as a snake, biting his neck, was all it was.

The viscount, surprised by Ian's sudden intrusion, didn't even feel the sting.

"You bastard-!"

Ian tilted his head back.

Whoosh, Mason's swung arm grazed his cheek.

Mason, stepping back, clutched his severed arm.

"What are you doing? Stop him!"

"..."

Ian looked around at the soldiers. Their eyes were full of fear.

Raising his holy power-filled sword, he said,

"The blood to be spilled today is enough from the fallen ones."

"...Y-Yes, sir."

Clang, the nearest soldier dropped his spear.

Other soldiers also dropped their maces and spears.

"Guard Doran! Dismiss the soldiers!"

Declan's voice rang out.

The captain of the guard, startled, shouted,

"Guards, all retreat! Regular army, all retreat! This is not a fight for us!"

The soldiers began to retreat as if they had been waiting for it.

Mason's face twisted.

"You worthless scum...! We should retreat to the inner castle, Father!"

He shouted, stepping back and turning his head.

"Father...?"

His eyes widened in horror as he checked the viscount's condition.