Betrayal Knight's Joyful Faith

Chapter 467

Luke expected his captain to give him a clear answer.Or maybe the evidence was wrong and Captain Laius was mistaken about something.

But Kendrick was reluctant to give him the answer he wanted.

Luke was able to read something different from what he had expected from Kendrick, who remained silent for a long time with an expression of distress.

“Do you think so, Captain? That Captain Laius and Sir Arendt were right?”

*…Even if I were to tell you my opinion now, I don’t think it would be of any help to you.”

Kendrick answered calmly.

“But the evidence presented by Arendt is something I have personally confirmed. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it, no manipulation, and how they acquired it is also clear.”

Prince Llewellyn himself participated in the investigation.

“Just keep in mind that this is a matter that His Majesty and His Highness are also paying attention to.”

“If Lord Luce is not justice…”

Luke, who had been listening blankly, stammered and spoke.

“What on earth did Benjamin die for? What is Captain Laius fighting for?”

“Captain Laius is a man of his own convictions. It was the same for Benjamin.”

“Benjamin’s belief was Lord Luce.”

Luke’s words left Kendrick speechless for a moment.

Luke managed to spit out one word at a time, trying to calm his breathing somehow.

“Even Captain Laius cannot deny that. Benjamin, he…”

But the young knight’s voice was quickly crumbling.

“Only by invoking the name of a god can one risk their life and take up the sword. To stand on the battlefield to protect the ones you love…”

In the end, Luke buried his face in his hands.

It was to the point that he couldn’t hold back the tears that were about to burst out.

“Perhaps it’s for the best that I’m far away from my wife.”

But it couldn’t be done.

There would be no place where someone from the Holy Empire could survive in a world devoured by Chernion.

“So, the only one who gives me the courage to stand on the battlefield is Lord Luce…”

Kendrick looked at his subordinate with complicated eyes.

Ultimately, Luke’s agitation was probably due to his own faith that was beginning to waver a little.

‘In the end, the materials collected by Sir Arendt were also spread throughout the Empire.’

It wasn’t just Luke.

Many will be shaken and anxious. Many will seek to leave God’s embrace and embark on a new path.

Kendrick was also terribly anxious.

But as an adult and as a captain of the knights, he had a duty to console the wandering youth.

‘I’m not someone meant for greatness.’

That was his role.

In front of his despairing subordinate, Kendrick swallowed a sigh he couldn’t bring himself to let out.

Luke raised his head at the sudden warmth on his shoulder.

“It’s okay.”

The captain’s affectionate smile appeared in front of his teary eyes.

“It’s okay, Luke. No matter how much of a hero you he is, no one has the right to deny your lives, your resolve, and your courage.”

*….Captain.”

A childish, high-pitched voice flowed out. Kendrick faced his subordinate and continued speaking slowly.

“You just have to prove Benjamin right. Nothing is over yet. Sir Arendt and Captain Laius have spoken out….”

Those who lived just as fiercely as them also had the right to rebel.

“You just have to shout louder. Enough to startle them and make them flinch.”

“…”

“But think carefully and don’t act rashly. Be skeptical of everything and believe in it at the same time. Even if it’s painful, you have to face the truth and confirm it over and over again. You went through that process to get to where you are now.”

Luke seemed to gradually calm down at the calm voice.

“When you can sufficiently prove that you are right, then charge forward with a more frightening momentum than those guys.”

Kendrick put a little more pressure on the hand on his shoulder.

“Trust me, Sir Luke, you are more than capable of it.”

And then he gave a soft smile to the knight’s anxious eyes directed at him.

“In order to do that, the first priority is to survive and win this war.”

“We are the strongest knights in the Caerleon Empire. You know that, don’t you? How much training did we endure to become knights of the imperial family?”

Luke bit his lip. Kendrick couldn’t help but smile even more bitterly at the sight.

“I’m sorry for being such a bad captain, Sir Luke.”

“….No, Captain.”

After a long time, Luke rubbed his eyes with his sleeve.

The knight looked at the captain with bloodshot eyes and spoke in a subdued voice.

“I will avenge Benjamin, protect the Empire, and show the world that Lord Luce is right.”

It was uncertain whether he would achieve his goal, but for now, Kendrick decided to relax.

Because Luke had rediscovered the meaning of living for tomorrow.

“And I will hold Sir Arendt, who has thrown the Empire into disarray, guilty of treason. Even though the dragon and Captain Laius protect him, they mean nothing in front of Lord Luce. I will prove that justice exists.”

“…”

“I will survive and fight to the end for that.”

Kendrick’s smile stiffened a little.

Those words came to the tip of his tongue.

It was because he knew very well how badly those who had tried to kill Arendt had been treated and retreated, including the dragon Lexion, who had been caught.

“…Well. Thoughts can change at any time.”

In the end, Kendrick ended up just glossing over it.

It seemed like he harboured an undesirable desire to kill, but he seemed to have made up his mind.

The Knight Captain decided to be satisfied with that for now.

The Third Knights’ dormitory, which had been engulfed in commotion, was also plunged into an awkward silence.

After the meeting, when High Priest Lumiel declared that she would cut off support for them, the Third Knights was branded a true group of apostates.

Following this, Arendt, as if in despair, made public all the genuine materials he had collected so far.

The countless materials that had been piled up in his room until now were spread throughout the Empire.

*…What a vicious bastard…”

Glenn, who had been looking at the documents for a while, muttered in a tired voice.

He could feel the strong will in each and every neat letter of the material he organized and wrote.

“I’m glad that His Highness has gotten over it, but I’m a little worried about what will happen in the future…”

Rider smiled awkwardly.

“What would change?”

Arendt, who was sitting on the sofa and watching them, blurted out.

“If an enemy appears, just run and cut them down, and if you get into trouble, just pay them back double.”

“Even if they’re the enemy, please don’t forget that we’re knights, you little brat. You’re the only one who acts like that.”

Glenn snapped angrily and put the papers back where they belonged.

“By the way, I was prepared, but I didn’t expect the High Priest to do something like this… Are you okay, Captain?”

“I’m not okay.”

Laius, who had been standing silently on one side, answered.

“But this is also the result of my choice, so I have to accept it. Don’t you have any regrets?”

“What good is it to regret something like this?”

Rider deliberately gave a playful smirk.

“It’s okay. I’m prepared for that.”

“It’s a bit of a shame that we can’t even set foot in the temple.”

Arendt added nonchalantly.

“We’re more free now.”

It was a subtle statement.

Arthur, who was right next to him, let out an ambiguous laugh.

“Can you talk about being excommunicated like that…?”

“Excommunicating us is tantamount to declaring that the temple will not interfere with our actions from now on. Even without that, the Captain was often associated with the temple, calling himself a hero and all.”

The apprentice knight continued speaking, leaning back on the sofa and not even glancing at his senior.

“They’ve essentially drawn a line. The captain is popular with the people, so even if you excommunicate him from the temple, there won’t be many people who will turn their backs on him.”

Maybe people would choose Laius over Luce.

Because Laius, who was running through the battlefield up close, would look more dazzling than the god who is far away.

Lumiel’s response would only serve to further fuel public interest.

‘Conflict is inevitable to bring about change.’

People will split into two sides, between God Luce and Captain Laius, and have a long and drawn-out argument over this incident.

Did Lumiel break the chains on purpose?

Or was she simply setting an example as the head of the temple?

‘Maybe both.’

Arendt thought.

Humans have ambivalent feelings.

The same would have been true for Lumiel, who had devoted her life to the temple and met Arendt in her later years.

After being lost in thought for a while, Arthur spoke to him with a frown.

“By the way, how long are you going to stay sulking? You’re not even a kid.”

“Don’t worry about it, it’s just how I was born like.”

Arendt grumbled and looked at Laius.

“What about the Holy Sword? Is there any problem with using it?”

“I’ve already tried it. So far, there’s been no problems.”

“Hmm.”

Arendt frowned and tilted his head.

“Well, I guess Luce can’t help it. If He takes the Holy Sword right now, He won’t be able to win against the Chernion Cult.”

“Are you okay?”

Laius looked Arendt up and down with concern. He knew he was under a great physical and mental strain.

Arendt shrugged.

“There’s nothing yet. I’m sure He knows that now is not the time to lose His temper.”

With public opinion in turmoil over Laius’ remarks, being branded a tyrant would not be desirable for Luce either.

Because it would give strength to the idea that there was a being that could retaliate anytime, anywhere.

“I don’t know how long it will take, but it’s okay because there are other faiths.”

It wouldn’t be perfect, but Nereid would protect it for the time being.

Nereid, who had lost the faith of humans, maintained her power thanks to the beings of the sea. And the elves, who still had faith in her, also played a part.

So, unless the seas dried up and the elves became completely extinct, Nereid would never completely lose their power.

The knights watching the conversation between the two could not help but feel somewhat disturbed.

Gods clearly exist, and they do indeed influence the world, performing all sorts of miracles.

When He was their ally, He was definitely a strong supporter of their hearts, but now that they started to oppose Him, things were different.

Arendt and Laius seemed calm at first glance, but…

“I can’t relax.”

Rider swallowed hard.

He was pretending it wasn’t happening, but the tension in his shoulders just wouldn’t go away.

At some point, he couldn’t shake off the feeling of being surrounded by an invisible enemy.

The same would probably be true for his other colleagues.

‘Arendt must have been handling it alone until now…’

As he thought of that, Arendt suddenly spoke:

“Anyway, since it’s come to this, let’s all give that damn god a nice smear of failure.”

Naturally, the knights’ eyes were drawn to Arendt.

Facing them, Arendt continued speaking leisurely.

“We can defeat our enemies and survive without a god. We just have to prove it.”

His golden eyes curved like crescent moons, creating Arendt’s signature arrogant and mischievous smile.

His voice, which was unusually audible and so compelling that one couldn’t help but listen, had a subtle playfulness to it.

“Take it easy. Let those watching be so jealous they’re sick with envy.”

“…”

Somehow, he felt like his energy was suddenly drained.

The others seemed to be feeling the same, as laughter erupted here and there. Rider let out a weak chuckle.

“That’s funny. Who doesn’t know that you’re a vicious bastard, and you’re the one who’s going to rush in with your teeth bared?”

“All my seniors are too soft.”

Arendt shrugged.

There was no way of knowing how the world would turn in the future. Perhaps tomorrow, they would all be accused of treason and executed.

But for now, he decided not to think that far.

Rather than fearing an uncertain future and feeling suffocated, it was better to have a good laugh and move on.