Chapter 43

# Chapter 043

Agelran Castle, Outer Tower.

Standing at the railing overlooking the city, Duke Regis Brant stood motionless.

“……”

His eyelids were closed, but his eyes darted back and forth, and his fingers twitched on the cane he held.

The blood vessels around his prominent frown spread like a spider web, pulsating.

He was currently perceiving every corner of the city.

It was different from what he saw with his eyes.

He recognized the vast space simultaneously through colors, scents, and sounds that were invisible to the naked eye.

The heightened senses he obtained by opening the Magic Realm.

He used all his senses to control the hounds.

Unlike the city, which was filled with screams and terror, the number of victims outside the walls was not many.

This was due to Regis's meticulous planning.

He did not wish for Agelran to be completely destroyed.

The people were the grains of the city. The sacrifice was enough to engrave fear and anger in their souls.

His main target was rather the nobles of the inner castle and their retainers.

Those who did not swear allegiance to him or who obstructed his path.

It was a move to turn a crisis into an opportunity.

Even when he learned that Viscount Berchard had fallen, he still believed the end was not far.

‘…For those who do not give up, a path will always open.’

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

“Hmph….”

A low laugh escaped from between Regis's lips.

It was because Mev Liurrel came to mind.

The old nemesis who returned as a variable, the old knight of Tir En.

The fact that she could not be found even with heightened senses suggested she was buried in frustration and despair.

Though he did not know how she managed to cut off all the kingdom's limbs.

With most of her family dead, this was enough to satisfy the revenge of his followers.

Of course, she had not yet paid the price for ruining his plans.

He intended to offer her soul and the hounds to the god he served as tribute.

This would be sufficient as the price for opening the Magic Realm and inheriting power.

“……!”

Suddenly, Regis's eyes twitched.

He sensed another annoying presence outside the outer walls.

Something was moving through the outer area, repeatedly fighting and fleeing from the hounds.

At first, he thought it was Mev, but now he knew it was not.

She was not that agile.

Of course, it was not a formidable opponent.

Regis ordered the hounds in the outer area to chase it.

After all, the hounds needed prey.

Regis's prominent frown twitched as if it would burst.

Controlling so many hounds for the first time was not easy.

The Magic Realm was the same.

But it was a power he could not give up.

For now, it was just one night.

One day, he would offer the entire kingdom to the god and permanently possess this power.

Then, he could be considered to have reached the realm of a demigod.

When that time came, he could preach the true truth to the empire.

“…If only that damn woman were gone… no one could stop me….”

Regis's muttering stopped.

The sound of footsteps ascending the stairs.

His prominent frown relaxed with the blood vessels, and his heightened senses dispersed.

Regis slowly opened his eyes.

The scene below the tower unfolded.

“Open it! Please open it!”

“Please…! Save us, please…! Ah, aah!”

The late evacuees, who had been pounding on the tightly closed walls, were screaming and fleeing.

A few hounds were panting as they chased after them.

How insignificant mortals could be.

A faint smile touched Regis's lips.

“Your Grace.”

A soldier entered the tower.

With a mournful expression, as if he had never smiled, Regis turned his head.

The soldier bowed.

“Why are you in such a dangerous place? If anything happens to you, many will be devastated.”

“The calamity has arrived. The brilliant goddess's servant cannot turn a blind eye. Just now, someone's family was pounding on the gate. Why was it not opened?”

“It is by the king's order… I apologize.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. …So, what is it?”

“The king is looking for you. The other nobles are as well.”

“Very well. Let us return together. It would be dangerous for you to stay alone as well.”

The soldier pointed to the stairs.

With utmost respect, Regis did not refuse and descended the stairs.

After passing through a narrow corridor and a few rooms, he entered the grand hall where the refugees had gathered.

Along the passage leading to the outer area, the Royal Guard and soldiers were lined up, and the gathered refugees were whispering.

Exchanging glances with a few followers, Regis headed for the throne at the upper seat.

Sitting on it, with irritation and anxiety clearly visible on his face, was Erwin Archibald Brant, his nephew and the king, Erwin II.

Despite thinking of him as a pitiful man who only inherited his brother's blood, Regis wore his characteristic compassionate smile.

“Your Majesty. You were looking for me.”

“Uncle. How is the situation outside?”

The king looked up at him.

Above his head, the crown shaped like deer antlers shimmered gold in the candlelight.

“The soldiers at each wall are fighting hard. It seems the monsters cannot climb the walls. The people… may the brilliant goddess protect them.”

“Damn… for such an unpleasant incident to occur in the capital of the kingdom. If the news spreads, they will think Agelran has weakened.”

“Overcoming this will prove the kingdom's resilience. When the day breaks, root out the source of the curse.”

“There have been many discussions about this. Your insight is needed.”

“Insight? What…?”

The king gestured.

A few nobles, who had been glancing at him, stood up.

“Repeat what you were saying earlier.”

The king ordered.

The noble, who bowed his head, spoke.

“I believe the Liurrel family is behind this.”

“What is your evidence?”

“Everyone knows that the former head, Vernon Liurrel, fell to the dark. Moreover, Sir Mev Liurrel has been instigating the kingdom's turmoil and has even fallen into delusions. She must have finally summoned the madness of the Black Wall.”

He was one of Regis's subordinates.

While a few nodded in agreement, more had skeptical looks.

Regis, who had confirmed the king's expression, spoke softly.

“However, Sir Liurrel is a strict apostle of the goddess, a holy knight representing Agelran. He is also a grieving brother, and the Liurrel family has been a loyal house to the kingdom for generations.”

“……”

With a look of sorrow, Regis scanned the room.

“How could he cause such an incident just before the meeting he requested?”

“If he were truly innocent, why is there not a single member of the Liurrel family here? And where is Sir Liurrel, the king's shield?”

“He must be fighting the cursed monsters somewhere….”

“Enough.”

The king raised his hand to cut off Regis's words.

“I understand your heart, but their words do not seem entirely baseless to me. It is a fact that since Sir Liurrel returned, ominous events have continued in Agelran.”

Foolish man, to doubt his own royal guard in front of his subjects.

While thinking this, Regis wore a sorrowful expression.

“However, Your Majesty….”

“We will know the truth when we investigate. After this accursed night, we will clearly reveal the truth and restore Sir Liurrel's honor.”

“……”

Regis did not respond.

The king, who stared at him intently, added.

“I will leave the investigation to you. If Sir Liurrel is truly innocent, I will sincerely apologize and not mention it again.”

“……”

Foolish man, proud of going against my will. Thank you.

While inwardly smiling, Regis only bowed his head.

Silence fell over the hall, and a silent unease flickered in the eyes of a few Royal Guards.

“Do not worry, Your Majesty.”

A low voice echoed.

The attention of the room turned to the entrance of the grand hall, where the voice came from.

The king and Regis were no exception.

“I have arrived, Your Majesty.”

Under the flickering candlelight, a fully armored knight approached.

‘How did she get here…?’

Regis's eyes darkened.

The king furrowed his brow.

“Sir. I have one question. How did you enter the castle?”

“Through the main gate, Your Majesty.”

Mev's form became clearer.

Drenched in the black blood of the hounds.

Blood dripped from her armor with each step.

A man in ash-colored leather armor followed her, but no one paid him any attention.

Because an overwhelmingly ominous presence radiated from Mev.

“There are corruptors lurking around Your Majesty. How could the goddess leave you alone?”

“Corruptors… are you still saying such things?”

Thud, thud—

Mev, undeterred by the king's voice, approached and stopped at the entrance of the grand hall.

Her bird-beak visor slowly scanned the room.

“Do you not see them? Those who have plunged Agelran into chaos and now hide here, obscuring Your Majesty's eyes and ears.”

Though not a single word was wrong, it was clear the king did not hear it that way.

Regis's frown deepened.

‘Is she truly mad?’

His eyes twitched.

The cold gaze from behind the visor had paused on him for a moment.

…Impossible. Could she really…?

Just as he was about to mutter to himself.

“However, do not worry. I have arrived, Your Majesty.”

Mev knelt on one knee.

The king, whose expression was growing more and more irritated, spoke.

“Sir, what are you saying? Where are your family members?”

Mev, slowly rising, answered.

“They are all dead, Your Majesty.”

“……”

The king's expression was speechless.

She continued.

“So, watch, Your Majesty.”

Swish….

Mev slowly drew her sword.

“I will root out the corruptors here and now.”

“What…?”

The king's eyes slowly widened.

Tension that could burst at any moment filled the hall.

The hands of the soldiers holding spears trembled.

“Sir Liurrel is really mad! She intends to kill us all!”

Unable to withstand the pressure, someone shouted.

The refugees began to retreat in fear.

“Your Majesty! Protect the king…!”

Just as Regis was about to speak, someone shouted.

A member of the Royal Guard. One of the few who shared Mev's purpose.

Overwhelmed by Mev like the others, he had just remembered his duty.

Six members rushed to the king, and the remaining knights drew their swords.

The trembling spear tips of the soldiers were aimed at Mev.

Swish—

A red holy power rose from Mev's sword, held in front of her chest.

The ominous red light spread over her entire body.

“Do not forgive the traitors to the god.”

The moment he realized her gaze was directed at him, bloodshot eyes appeared in Regis's.

He was convinced that the madwoman had come here to kill the corruptors without hesitation.

Even if it meant killing everyone left in the castle.

***

‘It's not an act, but genuine.’

Ian inwardly chuckled as he watched Mev's back.

He had not moved a single step, but no one had paid him any attention.

Mev's presence was that strong.

The holy power emitted by the avenger was not as brilliant as when she was the avenger of judgment.

It flowed like blood, burned ominously, and evaporated.

As if it were the essence of revenge.

The image of a bleeding avenger, as Ian remembered it.

And to him, it was not just the appearance.

‘It seems she intends to end her revenge and die….’

Mev began to move.

Ian, who had been loosening his ankles and shoulders, launched himself with a cold gaze.

‘…Sorry, but that won't happen.’

Because there was still a debt to be paid.