Chapter 52

First, there was something I had to do before heading to the castle, pushing through the soldiers.

I asked the man again.

"Is Priest Andrew at the relief shelter?"

"Oh, probably."

"Thanks for letting me know."

"Not at all...! If it weren't for the Heir, we would all have died. Besides..."

He was talking about the warp incident.

The man continued.

"The words you spoke for the fallen knights were a great comfort. If it weren't for the Heir, the city would still be shrouded in deep sorrow."

Five hundred knights had participated in the Great Expedition and died.

But their deaths were quietly buried.

Some believed they were still alive, while others gnashed their teeth, calling it a dog's death that no one knew about.

If I, who claimed to be the heir to the Knight King, had not personally comforted them, the city would still be immersed in deep darkness and sorrow.

"It was my duty."

"But no one did even that duty. Anyway, don't worry about the soldiers. I'll hide them in a place where no one can see."

The man, who bowed his head, dragged the unconscious soldiers.

The commotion in the city.

The citizens of the residential area, upon confirming me, opened their windows and bowed their heads quietly.

There was an unspoken agreement that this incident would pass without anyone knowing.

At least the citizens were on my side.

'First, I need to find Priest Andrew.'

Going to the castle was never part of the plan.

The reason I returned to the Knight's Garden was solely to meet Priest Andrew.

Andrew was Andrew, but there was something more important.

'The Platinum Box.'

The reward given only to the first person who sealed the dimensional rift!

I managed to obtain it, but I couldn't open it.

'Only a priest who can recite the hymn of praise can open it.'

For some reason, only 'honorable high priests' were designed to be able to open the Platinum Box.

And the only 'honorable high priest' I knew was Priest Andrew.

That was because the truly honorable ones had all died during the Great Expedition, leaving only the dishonorable ones.

*

On the way to the relief shelter.

Isaac had a look of incomparable complexity.

'Heir? Heir to whom?'

I couldn't figure out Randolph's true identity at all.

At first, I thought he was just a carrion crow.

Beyond mere disguise or transformation, he was the carrion crow itself.

How could a being who passed through the Mythic Mystery's coffin, attracted the attention of all the monsters in Kramdel, became an Ojulic, and grasped the stars, making even the Star Guardians envious, be human?

'...He was human.'

I couldn't believe it.

He was really human.

I still can't tell if this is a dream or reality.

Clearly human, and Isabella, who is beside me, is also human, but the shock of him being a carrion crow was so intense.

Suddenly, he teleported to the city of 'Knight's Garden' and was revered as an 'Heir.'

The way the citizens of this city looked at him was not ordinary.

'Respect, admiration, and trust.'

The citizens' eyes had all three.

'Is he the heir to a noble who rules the city?'

No matter how I thought about it, nothing else came to mind.

I was so curious I could go mad.

I barely held back the urge to speak.

Knight's Garden.

What kind of place was this?

Wasn't it once the highest 'knight training ground' in the former Balan Kingdom?

It was the best among the 13 major cities of the Balan Kingdom.

To have such a presence in a place that produced so many powerful knights.

Even if he were the owner or heir of the city, it would be hard to gain such trust from the people.

Was he a good ruler?

"......Heir. You have finally returned."

When we arrived at the relief shelter, Priest Andrew came out to greet us.

He looked around and cautiously guided us.

"Let's go inside. There are many people watching."

"Alright."

After confirming our group, Priest Andrew led us to a secret room inside the relief shelter.

Then, he lowered his voice.

"Hero Maxim is causing trouble in the city. If the Heir shows up now, it will create a troublesome situation."

Troublesome situation.

If I openly claimed to be the heir to the Knight King, I would inevitably clash with Maxim, one of the 8 Heroes.

Perhaps Maxim already knows that the heir to the Knight King visited the city, even if he doesn't know it's me.

"I know."

"But your group has grown."

"Hmm."

When we first came to the city, it was just Isabella and me, two people.

Now, we are four.

To be precise, five with Ahram, but Ahram is currently trapped in the leather bag Isaac is carrying.

So, the additional members are three.

Isaac, Ahram, and...

I slowly removed the helmet of the Dullahan who was following behind.

"Wait. Don't tell me?"

Priest Andrew's eyes shook wildly.

"A, Andrasar?"

The face of the armored figure following us was familiar.

Priest Andrew's hands trembled as he reached out to Andrasar's face.

"My God......! Andrasar......!"

Tears streamed down Priest Andrew's eyes like a waterfall.

His pale skin was as cold as a corpse, but he recognized his long-lost daughter, Andrasar.

Despite not expecting it, he really kept his promise.

Priest Andrew bowed deeply.

"Heir of the Knight King, thank you. Thank you. How can I ever repay this kindness......!"

"Cough! Cough!"

At the same time, Isaac let out a fake cough.

He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

'Knight King? Could he be the heir to the Knight King Wilhelm?'

The only one called the Knight King is Wilhelm.

The Ojulic recognized by the Northern White King being the heir to the Knight King Wilhelm.

...What kind of nonsense is this?

*

After a long time, Priest Andrew, still holding Andrasar's hands and face, turned his gaze, his emotions still running high.

Heir of the Knight King.

I was skeptical, but if he brought her from Kramdel, I couldn't doubt it.

But there was still something I couldn't believe.

【Reputation 724】

【Sin 27】

Priests can see the reputation and sins of others.

But the Heir's reputation had risen impossibly high since his visit to Kramdel.

724!

'Isn't that a higher value than even the most honorable knights?'

Not just knights, but such a value is rare even in the Church of the Goddess.

Perhaps only a few Cardinals would have such a value.

What could he have done to accumulate such reputation in such a short time?

His sins had slightly increased, but compared to his reputation, it was negligible.

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

But I put aside all my doubts.

Andrasar. He brought my daughter back.

Though she had become a Dullahan and her memory was incomplete, I must not let her go again.

"Open this."

If we're ready, there's no need to waste time.

I immediately took out the Platinum Box.

When Priest Andrew saw it, his eyes began to waver.

"Is this... a holy relic?"

"Holy relic?"

"Holy relics can appear differently to different people. But this is definitely a holy relic of the Church of the Goddess. Moreover, it seems to be sealed for some reason."

"Can you unseal it?"

"Normally, it should be done by the High Priest... but, yes, I think I can do it."

Priest Andrew nodded with a determined face.

If he entrusted this to me, I had to do it, no matter what.

It wasn't just about keeping a promise.

He was an honorable person and deserved the respect.

"Thankfully."

I was worried it might not be possible.

By the way, a sealed holy relic.

I handed the Platinum Box to Priest Andrew and added.

"And one more indulgence, please."

"......Another indulgence?"

Already the third one.

Priest Andrew looked at me with a puzzled expression, as I was asking for the last indulgence he could use.

"One for you, one for Andrasar."

"Ah...... then, the last one?"

"I plan to use it for myself."

"But your sins are not that high. Compared to your reputation, there's no need to use an indulgence......"

He shook his head.

Priest Andrew's words were not wrong, but...

Looking at the castle beyond the wall, I said quietly.

"I think I'll need it soon."

*

A young man with short red hair.

Maxim, one of the 8 Heroes, sat in the lord's chair, stretching his legs onto the desk.

"Hey, Viscount Wiser. How long do you plan to hold out?"

"......I will personally settle things with Duke Sain."

And Viscount Wiser sat in the chair for receiving visitors.

It was humiliating, but he had no choice.

Maxim was the messenger of Duke Sain and the officially recognized heir.

Moreover, since he himself had broken the promise, he had to endure the humiliation.

"Duke Sain has already paid the price. Don't you know that breaking the promise means the peace of this fief is over?"

"Just a little more time......!"

"Hey. Not only Hudson, but also the sudden change in your attitude, do you really think I don't know?"

"......"

"If this fact reaches Duke Sain's ears, everyone here will be exterminated. I hope you consider that I'm being lenient."

Viscount Wiser closed his mouth.

'Sure enough, he can't say anything.'

It had been a week since he arrived in this fief.

Maxim had already figured out everything about this fief.

'That Hudson, he's definitely deeply connected to the White Knight.'

At first, he thought Hudson was just a wealthy merchant, but the way he looked at the White Knight Seringetti confirmed it.

There was something between them.

And if this fact reached Duke Sain's ears, this city would be destroyed.

'Too valuable to let it disappear, I'll take it for myself.'

So, Maxim changed his mind.

He decided to exploit this weakness and take over the fief.

He had already inherited a city as part of his training as Duke Sain's heir, but that wasn't enough.

Maxim planned to become the king of the Balan Kingdom, surpassing the Duke.

Until recently, he was just a mercenary captain, but the world is unpredictable.

'I'll take over this city before the Round Table meeting starts. Then no one will be able to ignore me.'

Maxim was subtly ignored by the other heroes.

But if he becomes the owner of two cities, they won't be able to ignore him.

He planned to firmly establish his position at the upcoming Round Table meeting and exert significant influence on Earth.

Just thinking about it, just imagining it, made him shudder.

The scene of crushing the noses of those who ignored him was vivid in his mind.

"One day of my waiting is worth a million gold. It seems the money you prepared is running out. What will you do, Viscount?"

Maxim, with a relaxed attitude, twirled the dagger he had been playing with and stuck it into the lord's desk.

For someone called a hero, his behavior was no different from a neighborhood thug.

It was hard to understand how such a person could be one of the 8 Heroes.

But Viscount Wiser, biting his lip and clenching his fists, could do nothing.

Seringetti had just recovered.

If she regained consciousness, she wouldn't have to suffer such humiliation.

'Borrowing money from Duke Sain was a mistake.'

Viscount Wiser deeply regretted his decision.

But it was too late.

A more ruthless person had entered the fief.

He had no choice but to give up the fief or Seringetti.

At that moment.

"Kraaaah!"

"Cough!"

"Sa, save......!"

The outside became chaotic.

The sound of soldiers falling like leaves filled the castle.

Maxim frowned.

"How dare...... who is it?"

Whoever it was,

dared to invade this place where the great 8 Heroes were.

A reckless person had dared to invade without fear.

For the sin of provoking him, they would pay with their lives.

Whoosh!

As Maxim pulled out the dagger from the desk, a terrifying black flame enveloped his body.

'Just in time, this is good.'

But then he changed his mind.

Life here was unbearably boring.

Torturing Viscount Wiser had been going on for a week.

Just in time. If they could cause such a commotion, they must be stronger than the city's knights.

'I'll show them the power of the Demon Heart.'

His body, now incomparably stronger.

He would make sure to engrave it deeply in Viscount Wiser's mind.

Maxim, with eyes full of murderous intent, slowly stood up.

Randolph vs 8 Heroes Maxim

-Ignore him and avoid him. If the Heir is here, Maxim won't stay quiet.

Priest Andrew told me.

Avoid him. Maxim is like a passing typhoon.

-But...... just one thing. Are they heroes?

In other cities, I don't know, but in this city, 'Knight's Garden,' many people had doubts about the 8 Heroes.

Especially Maxim.

If Maxim was truly one of the 8 Heroes who left for the Great Expedition to the Demon World and achieved results, he wouldn't show hostility towards the heir of another hero in this city.

The first act of vandalism Maxim committed when he arrived in this city was breaking the monument.

The monument with the names of the 500 knights who had fallen in battle.

He broke it and destroyed it.

In its place, he left the names of the 8 Heroes.