Betrayal Knight's Joyful Faith

Chapter 432

Llewellyn approached quietly and stood in front of Arendt.Then, a half-smiling face with a hint of irritation suddenly turned to face him.

“What.”

Although it was hardly an attitude one would expect from facing a prince, Llewellyn still smiled happily.

“Just. Thanks for taking my side.”

“I never took your side.”

But as always, he only got an indifferent response.

“Your employer wants to exploit you. What’s the problem? I was just telling the truth like always.”

“Hey, are you acting shy?”

Arendt frowned slightly as Llewellyn chuckled.

“If you wish, I can withdraw my offer and treat you like a prince. What do you think, Prince Llewellyn?”

“…I’m sorry. I won’t mess around anymore.”

Llewellyn, who had lowered his tail, glanced at Arendt.

“Still, it’s been bothering me a bit. Is there a reason?”

Although they treated each other with openness, Arendt never forgot their respective positions.

Even in the Lucain Kingdom, he used him to his advantage, and then he tried to persuade him several times to leave before a major fight even broke out.

Sometimes Llewellyn felt sad about that part.

Although he always talked about the problems that would arise because of his status, Arendt’s real concern was always Llewellyn’s well-being.

‘So I couldn’t bring myself to protest too much…’

Despite this, Arendt had actively stepped forward to defend him ever since the royal palace.

Llewellyn found that puzzling.

“I’ve told you this many times. It’s a hundred times better for you to suffer here with us than to watch you play around somewhere else.”

Arendt responded indifferently.

“And I meant what I said to Prince Ludwin. There’s no one in the palace who can stop you besides me. It’s easier to have someone by your side than to act alone. So, I’ll ask you the question myself.”

Golden eyes brimming with obvious annoyance locked onto Llewellyn.

“If I had just told you to stay there, would you have stayed?”

“No.”

“Exactly.”

As soon as the answer came back, Arendt waved his hand dismissively.

“Okay, then go back to your place. Don’t bother me.”

“What a cold-hearted bastard.”

Llewellyn pouted and grumbled.

But instead of bothering Arendt any further, he turned away.

“If you come back injured again, I won’t just let it slide. This time, I’m getting Lord Lexion to lock you away somewhere.”

“What are you going to do if I don’t stay still? Don’t go causing trouble and end up dead. I’m not about to take the blame if something goes wrong after I brought you here.”

After exchanging a few harsh greetings, Llewellyn quietly left the room.

As soon as he left, Arendt let out a short breath.

“…I can’t tell if that’s insight or ignorance.”

One of Llewellyn’s problems was that he trusted people easily.

That wasn’t limited to just him, though.

“Let’s go. Don’t just sit here.”

Richt, who had already finished preparing, passed by and tapped him on the shoulder.

Arendt’s gaze darkened even more as he watched his retreating back.

‘After acting like he was broken for a while…’

It seems that Richt has also made up his mind about what his priorities were.

Obviously, that was a good thing, but he felt a little uneasy…

‘I’m not in a position to say anything to those guys.’

Arendt clicked his tongue and tightened his slightly loosened hair tie.

“When did I ever sit around blankly?”

Then, changing his posture, he followed Richt with a gait worthy of the apprentice knight, Arendt.

He had to be a ridiculous clown after all.

If even Arendt himself were to be caught up in thoughts that were not Arendt-like, this place would no longer be a comedy.

Richt, a little ways ahead, had stopped walking and was waiting for him.

There was not a shred of doubt in his blue eyes staring at him.

‘What a bunch of spineless fools.’

Their faith, belief, and agony were real.

But in this state, this world was nothing more than a small stage placed in the palm of the two gods.

Arendt deliberately walked slowly and muttered to himself.

‘I’m the only one who needs to learn.’

He intended to shatter the narrow framework that made this world a stage.

If only to bring down the arrogant gods who dare to treat the lives of this land as their possessions and puppets.

This fight would definitely be the starting point.

Inside the castle, everyone busily moved about, each carrying out their own duties.

The sobbing of the irreverent followers of Luce shattered the silence of dawn.

While all the priests of darkness were busy with their own tasks, one man on the watchtower was staring out into the wilderness with cold, sunken eyes.

No, could you even call him a human?

Although his entire body was wrapped in black robes, the flesh that was occasionally revealed was covered in scars, and his blackened face was somewhat difficult to call human.

But the man paid no attention to his own strange appearance, and simply focused his attention on the direction his subordinates were heading.

‘Why?’

If things had gone smoothly, it would have been time for the report to come in.

But the communication crystal ball he held was just silent.

Eric, the commander of this mission and captain of the 4th Battle Priest Battalion, was growing increasingly anxious.

At the outset of the expedition, upon securing this territory, he had been filled with confidence and glory towards God, but now only unease had taken its place.

Eric stood on the watchtower and gazed out over the horizon.

Darkness had already receded, and dawn was slowly breaking. Yet, nothing had yet appeared in the desolate field.

“Could it be that we were ambushed…”

It was a slim possibility, but Eric couldn’t help but keep it in mind.

But if an unexpected situation had occurred during the battle, a report would have come in by now.

Since the outcome of the battle was still unknown, there was only one thing he could think of.

‘They were dealt with without anyone knowing?’

But that couldn’t be the case.

Because the Everan Kingdom army wasn’t that strong.

Even if the Imperial Army, aided by the power of the dragon, had come, the possibility of the battle ending without a sound like this was slim.

‘…Had the hero not come here in person.’

Eric, whose thoughts had reached that point, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

“No way.”

A sigh burst from his mouth.

A faint light was breaking through the darkness, signaling the dawn.

At the beginning of the unwelcome dawn, a hero rode valiantly on a white horse, rushing straight toward them.

The Holy Sword he drew gleamed white in the dawn’s light.

As if Luce’s gentle hand embraced Laius de Winfried’s shoulder, the night sky shrouded in darkness gradually softened, bathed in the light of dawn.

Grinding his teeth, Eric bellowed down toward the foot of the castle walls.

“It’s the enemy!”

The subordinates standing guard raised their heads in surprise.

“Report to Lady Jin immediately, Laius de Winfried has appeared here! Under no circumstances let those bastards breach the castle gates!”

“Yes!”

A loud reply came from below.

The legions led by the hero were quickly closing the distance. The priests also immediately stepped outside the walls and began summoning ghouls.

Beneath the darkness that had not yet fully receded, several splendid summoning circles appeared one after another, and soon, countless monsters protecting Chernion bared their fierce teeth at the enemy.

“Keeeeeek!”

“Krrrrrrr…”

The ghouls began to instinctively reveal their murderous intent towards the charging knights.

“Captain, the miracle soldier is…”

“Not yet. Our power is limited, so conserve it as much as possible until Lady Jiklin arrives.”

“All right.”

At Eric’s direction, the subordinate backed down.

Just as Eric prepared to draw his weapon and jump down from the watchtower, a thought struck him, and he quickly gave a new order.

“Under no circumstances must we let the materials be taken.”

The sole reason for leaving those vile servants of God Luce alive was due to Jiklin’s request.

“Herd them all into one place! If you can’t leave them alive, just kill them. Even their corpses will be useful.”

“Yes!”

The subordinates answered loudly.

Only then could Eric go out into battle with peace of mind.

“Come if you dare.”

There was a clear murderous look in his eyes.

He didn’t believe he could stop the hero whom even Roger couldn’t handle.

But it would be perfectly possible to kill the hero’s followers right before his eyes.

In particular, he was determined to tear apart the apprentice knight, whom Jiklin and Roger considered a thorn in their side, in front of the hero, limb by limb.

!

A powerful arrow flew in and was imbedded deeply into the castle wall with a loud noise.

It was the sound that signaled the start of the battle.

“Your Highness, don’t push yourself too hard.”

Llewellyn nodded at Shekhinah’s request.

“Don’t worry, Lady Shekhinah. I won’t do anything presumptuous. I don’t want to be a burden.”

In his hands he held a bow enchanted with a strengthening enchantment and a steel arrow that resembled a harpoon.

It was specially designed to increase destructive power, taking into account the fact that with the help of the artifact, he wouldn’t have to worry about the weight of the projectile.

“I should have done this a long time ago. It’s so convenient.”

The magic stone embedded in the bow glowed faintly, and a light breeze blew around Llewellyn.

Llewellyn, who had attached the steel arrow to his bow, concentrated the power of the artifact into the arrow.

Following him, the other elf archers also began to aim their arrows at the enemy.

“Fire!”

At Shekhinah’s command, they released their bowstrings in unison.

A torrent of arrows rained down on the heads of the ghouls who were charging towards the knights led by Laius.

The arrows dug deep into the flesh with a dull clank, but the ghouls seemed to be unscathed.

Llewellyn’s heavy arrow flew and buried itself deep into the thick castle gate

Llewellyn exclaimed in a very cheerful tone.

“Lady Shekhinah, now’s the time!”

“I know.”

Shekhinah nodded and began to use her magic. A brilliant red magic circle appeared where her feet touched.

Almost simultaneously, the arrows embedded in the walls and enemy bodies also began to glow red.

“Kyaaaaah!”

The ghoul at the forefront rushed towards Laius, shaking its arrow-studded head.

Aiming for that moment, Shekhinah snapped her fingers.

That became the signal, and the arrows that flew into the enemy lines began to explode one by one.

The first thing to explode was Llewellyn’s arrow that was embedded in the gate.

The old wooden walls were unable to withstand the blast and were quickly torn apart, scattering debris everywhere.

“Keeeeeek!”

“Keeeek! Keek, keeek!”

The battlefield turned into chaos in an instant.

Chunks of flesh from the ghouls caught in the explosions flew in all directions.

Even with their bones and entrails exposed, the ghouls remained unharmed. However, the flames from the arrows caught them by the ankles.

The ghouls, who had turned into fireballs in the blink of an eye, repeatedly ran wild and eventually collapsed.

Llewellyn, watching the scene, let out a gasp of admiration.

“Wow, isn’t that cool?”

“It’s only possible because of the abundance of magic stones. It’s too early to let our guard down. This is just the beginning.”

Shekhinah answered calmly.

Meanwhile, new ghouls were constantly being summoned.

The walls that Llewellyn had attacked were also in disarray, but not completely destroyed.

“Let’s do it one more time. Your Highness, please get ready as well.”

“Okay. I understand.”

With a sly grin, Llewellyn picked up another arrow.