Chapter 58

That night was terribly quiet.

In his private room in the guard corps, Helt Stanley was gazing at the city lights through the window, reflecting in his golden eyes.

The lights were lively and vibrant, yet somewhat noisy, symbolizing the prosperity of Galuamaria, his hometown. Helt had grown up watching these lights since childhood.

Or perhaps, the lights had recently seemed somewhat dim. His skin tingled, and he couldn't bring himself to sleep. His eyes were unusually sharp.

He had been feeling this way for some time now. However, in stark contrast, the city was at peace. Life continued as usual, and everyone was enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the city.

Fiala, his former classmate from the academy, had apparently come to him.

Helt's fingers gently caressed his chin. The encounter in the slums and the fact that he, Ruis, had been saved from there, hinted at something.

Why, though.

Helt couldn't understand the reason. The slums were a gathering place for criminals and exiles. The only reason Fiala would go there must be because of Ruis. Even so, it was incomprehensible.

No matter how much he tried to reason with her, she refused to return to the city. She protected Ruis until the end, even swearing not to use magic against the city. All the truth and justice in the world couldn't move her.

An act that defied justice. However, Helt's expression was a mix of self-loathing and a slight smile, as if he himself was similar.

The rebellion of the Crest believers that erupted in the Galalist Kingdom. His chest churned with unease. The armed Crest believers he faced in the underground temple. It was certain that they were involved in this turmoil.

If only, Helt thought. If only his uncle had told him everything when he visited the academy, perhaps this situation could have been prevented. Such a meaningless imagination filled Helt's mind.

If that were the case, it would be a punishment for defying his own justice. A hard labor imposed by the gods for breaking his word. If that were the truth, Helt was prepared to take full responsibility.

Speaking of incomprehensible, the events in the slums were also baffling.

The deputy captain and his subordinates reported that nothing had happened, that the entire incident was a non-event. The girl with the tattoo and the duel-like event never occurred.

Helt's blood ran cold at the report. It was impossible. The deputy captain's tyranny and his own private duel were both violations of discipline. If so, they should have been reported, Helt believed. In fact, he had submitted the report to the captain.

The result was immediate. Nothing had happened in the slums, the judgment went.

Helt was stunned. It was inconceivable. The facts he had seen with his own eyes were being denied. In the guard corps, that was the truth.

A seed of doubt sprouted in his heart as Helt narrowed his eyes. The light of Galuamaria before him remained dim.

— Oh, even the captain has human-like worries, I see.

Such words had somehow entered the room.

Helt's voice naturally turned toward the door. The lack of caution was because he immediately recognized the voice.

Karia Bardonic. With her silver hair split into two braids and large, silver eyes, her elegant appearance and sword skills were a constant source of admiration for the guard corps. Even the deputy captain treated her with respect.

"Sorry, but after knocking so many times and getting no response, I felt bad for the door."

*

The deputy captain, often called a lizard, strode down the corridor of the guard corps headquarters, his distinctive eyes glaring as he surveyed his subordinates. Each step sent a slight vibration through his jaw, causing pain.

Since that day, it felt as if a thick nail had been driven into his skull. Whether he worked tirelessly or tried to sleep deeply into the night, the emotions clinging to his head wouldn't go away.

It was a humiliation so great it made him want to grind his teeth and a rage so intense it could engulf everything around him.

The lizard's eyes narrowed, and deep wrinkles formed between his brows. Every time the wound inflicted by that scoundrel in the slums pained him, his chest felt as if it were being torn apart. A lowly inhabitant of the slums, a rat living in the mud, had dared to wound him.

An unbelievable act of folly. An unexpected act of rebellion. Too disrespectful. The overflowing, muddy emotions made the lizard's body writhe.

The young captain also annoyed him. To the lizard, it was annoying enough that someone younger than him held a higher position due to family status. He found it annoying but accepted it.

However, when Helt stopped him from taking the scoundrel's life, it felt as if his insides were boiling. The people in the slums had no dignity or pride. There was no such thing as honor or righteousness. Why couldn't they understand that their lives were less important than his honor? The lizard couldn't comprehend the young captain's thoughts.

The inhabitants of the slums were not human.

They had no rights, no value in their lives, and no weight in their words. They were just rats. This perception was not unique to the lizard. To some extent, it was a shared belief among the residents of Galuamaria, buried deep in their hearts. Therefore, the lizard couldn't understand Helt's actions.

Pain shot through his jaw again.

Ah, he wanted to see her. The lizard's eyes wavered slightly. Karia Bardonic, the idol of the guard corps, whose dignity and beauty were like a war goddess in poetry. Her silver hair had moved his heart many times.

For the lizard, it was no different. Just seeing her eased the pain in his jaw. And at the same time, his hatred for the scoundrel who had wounded him grew.

Indeed, that man had humiliated him. In front of the war goddess, he had been forced to make a pitiful excuse and show his weakness.

It should never happen that a guard corps member is wounded by a slum dweller. Therefore, that incident was declared a non-event. He had instructed his subordinates accordingly, and the captain, though a bit of a fool, had nodded in agreement.

However, retribution was necessary. To atone for everything, the scoundrel's life must be taken.

Black sparks flashed in the lizard's distinctive eyes, and his hands trembled. He clenched them tightly, and pain shot through his jaw again.

"Sorry, but after knocking so many times and getting no response, I felt bad for the door."

As he walked down the corridor with determination, the lizard heard Karia's voice, whom he revered as a war goddess.

*

"No, it's fine. I have many things to worry about, and there are countless shortcomings."

Helt responded to Karia with a wry smile. Her posture was as usual, dignified and full of confidence.

"That's not true. For someone as talented as you to be troubled by something must mean there's a significant issue... Is it about the Crest believers?"

That was partly correct.

Karia had also seen the Crest believers in the underground temple. It wasn't strange for her to share similar concerns, fearing that the rebellion in the Galalist Kingdom might spread and cause a major fire.

However, it was also partly incorrect. Helt nodded lightly, agreeing with Karia's words, and spoke.

"You're not wrong; they are a clear threat. There are many things to worry about in dealing with them. But... there's something more fundamental."

His words seemed unexpected, as Karia's large, silver eyes widened slightly. For a moment, Helt hesitated, wondering if he should reveal the source of his worries. His lips trembled.

Helt was inwardly frustrated with his own hesitation. Worrying and frowning were not like him. What was this emotion? Justice and kindness. Acting according to these principles should be enough. That was the truth and the right path for the Great Holy Church.

He had always lived in that white world. He understood that the white was right, and everything outside of it was wrong. What had caused the murkiness in his mind?

He didn't need to ask himself. The image of the green-clothed adventurer appeared in Helt's mind.

Who was he? Was he just, or was he evil? Was he an ally or an enemy? Helt couldn't categorize him. He couldn't understand him. This was a presence that had never existed in his life before.

It was curiosity, nothing more. But why was he acting on personal curiosity? It was a mystery to him.

"Do you remember the adventurer named Ruis, who was part of your group? He had a somewhat mysterious aura."

Karia's large, silver eyes seemed to widen even more. Helt lightly tapped his foot.

"To be honest, I don't understand him. Despite his ruthless behavior, he helped Fiala and even took the blame to save the slum dwellers. I can't tell if he's just or evil. What do you think of him?"

Karia shrugged lightly, as if to say, "What are you asking?"

"He's a reckless adventurer and a fool. That hasn't changed. But if you're curious, you should go see him yourself."

Helt's golden eyes blinked. Karia's face broke into a beautiful smile, and she slowly opened her lips.

— It wouldn't be at all interesting if everything went according to his plans, would it?