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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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What on earth was she talking about?
The Saintess’s sudden announcement of her pregnancy threw the volatile situation into disarray.
Had I misheard?
Confusion spread across everyone’s faces.
Even Cirel, who had seemed ready to draw her holy sword at any moment, froze. The First Saintess of the Holy Kingdom had unexpectedly revealed her pregnancy, momentarily shattering her composure.
“Sob, sob! What will become of our child?! It hasn’t even been born yet! To think I must give up the heir who carries the blood of House Hohenberc! Please forgive me, my husband!”
The girl with flowing silver hair sobbed, pleading for understanding. Her exaggerated performance, designed to draw attention, revealed her deception.
Was she trying to distract Maximilian?
Though somewhat unsettling, it was a brilliant tactic.
Maximilian, who had joined Cirel, stopped in his tracks as Zebeline cried out for help. He seemed momentarily taken aback by her claim of carrying the Hohenberc family’s heir.
“First Saintess…! For the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom to resort to such a cunning trick to escape this crisis! Have you no shame?! As a saintess, you should value purity above all else!”
Cirel, having regained her composure, shouted, pointing her sharp blade at Zebeline. She gritted her teeth, realizing she had momentarily fallen for her deception.
Pregnant? Preposterous.
It was clearly a ploy to defuse the volatile situation.
As if to prove this, there was no sign of life stirring within Zebeline’s womb. Her slightly protruding belly was likely due to the padding she had added under her clothes.
“Sheathe your sword.”
“…What?”
Maximilian, who had initially sided with the Holy Kingdom, suddenly turned hostile towards the Knight Commander.
A chilling coldness emanated from him.
Cirel, sensing the shift in atmosphere, trembled, tensing her shoulders.
“If it’s Edan’s child… then it’s my family.”
“How can you believe such an absurd lie! There’s no life force emanating from her!”
“Are you accusing the wife of House Hohenberc of being a deceitful liar?”
“Damn it! He’s not listening to reason!”
A heavy pressure, accompanied by a resounding boom, weighed down upon them. Cirel and the paladins, crushed by the force Maximilian exuded, swallowed nervously, a sense of foreboding washing over them.
An opportunity had arisen.
To think Maximilian would be so easily swayed.
Zebeline and I exchanged knowing smiles, searching for a way to escape.
“Stand down, Cirel Veillard.”
“This stubborn fool…! I never liked working with you in the first place!”
Cirel had always been a loyal dog of the One True God and the Holy Kingdom. And she was also a bitter rival of Maximilian, clashing with him at every turn.
The Unrivaled Sword shifted its aim.
Her blade was now pointed directly at the Hero of the Ages.
“Let’s see what the Unrivaled Sword is capable of.”
“Kgh! Are you provoking me?!”
Cirel Veillard had earned the title of “Unrivaled Sword” from the Valtarian Empire and the Gael Holy Kingdom for achieving an undefeated record against the Demon King’s army and the cult forces.
Unrivaled Sword.
It was the highest honor bestowed upon an indomitable warrior.
However, Cirel considered the title a mark of shame.
Despite being hailed as an unrivaled superhuman, she had never defeated her bitter rival. While she had achieved victory against the Demon King’s army and the cult forces, her inability to defeat her rival fueled her frustration and inferiority complex.
Maximilian, oblivious to Cirel’s inner turmoil due to his lack of empathy, continued to use the title “Unrivaled Sword,” only exacerbating the situation.
“Let’s get out of here.”
“Yes.”
Maximilian finally drew his black and white holy swords.
Seeing this, I pulled Zebeline’s hand and began to move.
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The Holy Kingdom had dispatched Cirel Veillard, the Knight Commander, to arrest Zebeline on the spot for allegedly worshiping a cult.
A witch, they claimed.
They attacked the First Saintess without a shred of evidence.
If the truth were to be revealed – that the Holy Kingdom’s guardian dragon was actually the Calamity of Famine sealed by the One True God – the repercussions would be catastrophic. Fearing the aftermath, the cardinals attempted to apprehend Zebeline while concealing the truth.
“If the truth comes out, the higher-ups of the Holy Kingdom will surely face consequences. And the Earth Mother, who used the Harmless Calamities as puppets, would also be swept up in the criticism.”
“The previous First Saintesses, who inherited the White Dragon’s blessing, would be implicated as well.”
Zebeline held significant influence within the Holy Kingdom, even surpassing the Pontiff. That’s why the cardinals’ decision to mobilize the Unrivaled Sword against her was a foolish act of recklessness.
If things went wrong, it could even spark a civil war.
Yet, the cardinals had made the disastrous decision to brand the First Saintess a witch.
Damn it.
Were they planning a mutual destruction within the Sanctuary?
I clicked my tongue, imagining the cardinals huddled in their cramped meeting room, anxiously awaiting the outcome.
“I’m worried about Father and Mother in law, waiting in the cathedral. Those bastards will surely try to harm them…”
“Don’t worry about pointless things.”
–KABOOM!
–KABOOM!!!
A series of explosions echoed through the air.
The source of the explosions was, of course, Februa Cathedral.
The battle between the two disciples of the same master had begun. The sword energies scattering through the air spoke volumes.
“An explosion!”
“It’s Februa Cathedral! Move quickly!”
Paladins clad in gleaming armor rushed towards Februa Cathedral. Though they encountered us on their way, no conflict arose.
Fortunately, the accusations against Zebeline hadn’t been fully publicized yet. So, the ordinary paladins simply ran past us, their attention solely focused on the source of the explosions.
That was a close call.
I almost had to deal with a bunch of mindless corpses.
“Please tell me the quickest way out of the Sanctuary.”
“We just need to reach the outskirts.”
Thanks to Maximilian’s betrayal of the Holy Kingdom, our escape went smoothly. If he hadn’t intervened, we would have undoubtedly faced difficulties.
Perhaps I should thank him when we meet again.
Or maybe I should just send him some pocket money since he’ll likely be arrested by the Holy Knights.
“Where do you think you’re going, you Harmless Calamities who would lead humanity to ruin?”
As we navigated the maze-like alleyways and reached the main road leading to the outskirts,
Flames erupted.
It was a magical inferno, conjured intentionally.
A beautiful woman with flowing emerald green hair emerged from the flames. Dressed in a revealing dress, she gracefully manipulated the raging flames with both hands, like a conductor leading an orchestra.
–ROAR!!
–GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!
The flames surged, taking the shape of a massive beast.
The inferno, transformed into a ferocious predator, roared, its intensity growing.
“I have no personal grudge against you. I’m simply carrying out the task assigned to me as the Master of the Tower.”
“…The Master of the Tower?”
Querisa Neserhane.
The Archmage Neserhane. The Master of the Red Tower and the head of the prestigious Neserhane family, renowned for producing generations of skilled mages.
And also the adoptive mother of the Sage, a member of the Saintess Party, and an unprecedented monster who had mastered all existing magic.
She was practically a living, breathing armory.
To oppose such a formidable figure meant inviting a lifetime of misfortune.
“Edanant von Hohenberc. Let’s see what you’re made of.”
“I’m fond of women in their late twenties, but I’ll have to politely decline a hag in her seventies.”
I responded nonchalantly to the Master of the Tower’s provocation.
Zebeline, hearing my words, shot me a sharp glare filled with jealousy.
“You seem quite relaxed, considering you’re facing the Master of the Tower.”
“There’s no reason to be afraid of a grandmother who’s well past seventy.”
–Crackle, crackle!
–Crackle, crackle!!!
As if declaring an all-out war, the earth cracked and numerous stone pillars erupted. These pillars then formed a dome, encircling the area like a massive barrier.
Constructing a barrier to prevent outside interference was a common tactic employed by the renowned archmages of the Magic Tower.
How arrogant.
Did she intend to engage in a decisive battle against Zebeline and me?
The Master of the Tower seemed thrilled by the prospect of facing the prophesied Harmless Calamities. As if to prove this, she unleashed a barrage of high-level magic spells from the very beginning.
-I’ve encountered countless situations, but… I never imagined I’d be facing my friend’s mother. What a predicament.
I immediately activated the Calamity of War.
I had to, considering my opponent was the Master of the Tower, renowned for possessing the greatest firepower among the Seven Strongest.
Black armor enveloped my body.
I extended my hand, clad in a gauntlet.
A black mirage shimmered, and hundreds of firearms materialized. Querisa, witnessing the grand spectacle, grinned, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
-Just wait a moment. I need to escort this septuagenarian to a retirement home in the Holy Kingdom.
“As expected of Edan who gives his all even for the young Luinongs”
The Holy Kingdom’s objective was to trigger the Calamity of Famine.
There was no doubt they intended to push Zebeline to her limits.
I clenched my fists, recalling Ludmilla’s rampage as she had been consumed by the Calamity of Tyranny. Disgust welled up within me at the Holy Kingdom’s scheme to sacrifice Zebeline.
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