Betrayal Knight's Joyful Faith

Chapter 390

Laius, who had stepped back towards Arendt, asked briefly.“Are you okay?”

“, ugh… I’m not okay.”

Arendt sat down, gasping for breath.

“What were you doing? I’ve been causing a scene trying to get your attention. I seriously almost died.”

“I’m sorry. There were too many enemies blocking the way. Things seemed to be getting urgent, so I left it to the others and came ahead…”

Laius glanced at Arendt.

“Just as I thought, you’re all torn up. What the hell did you do to end up like this?”

“So what? I’m still handsome.”

When the apprentice knight replied like that, Laius let out an exaggerated sigh.

Meanwhile, Roger was staring at the two with gloomy, sunken eyes. A calm, yet somewhat displeased voice came out from behind the mask.

“In the end, it came to this.”

Roger thought that if he could kill Arendt before Laius showed up, that would be a gain in itself.

But once Laius appeared, that plan became impossible.

A few Imperial Knights came rushing in from the other end of the alley.

“Ah, right. I forgot to mention…”

Arendt, who had been gasping for breath behind Laius, spoke. Seeing Roger’s gaze land on him, Arendt gave a sly smile.

“I used your name well. It was pretty useful, huh? Hiding your face behind that perverted mask all the time makes it easy to impersonate you.”

“…”

Roger, of course, did not answer. His expression was completely unrecognizable because of the mask. But Arendt was satisfied. He noticed how tightly his hand clenched the sword’s hilt.

But unfortunately, it seemed Laius was just as irritated.

“Just hurry up and go. Fall back to the rear and get treated.”

“No. When have you ever seen me listen so obediently?”

“Just listen to me once, please!”

Ignoring Laius’ irritated voice, Arendt brushed himself off and stood up.

Though his vision still spun, he felt like he could at least move after exchanging a few pointless jokes.

Rider who had rushed over supported Arendt’s arm.

“You’re such a troublemaker. You alright?”

“I’m not alright. Don’t touch me with those dirt-covered hands. Gross, seriously.”

“Ugh, you never let up, do you!”

While Rider was losing his temper, Laius gave an order.

“Rider, tell the others. For now, focus on dealing with the remaining enemies, and don’t come near here.”

“Yes? But, Captain, you’re by yourself…”

“At least for now, I’m comfortable being alone.”

Laius cut him off mid-sentence and added coldly.

“Because I’d probably end up showing a pretty disgraceful sight.”

“…”

It was a voice filled with hatred, unlike his usual self.

Since he could guess what the cause was, Rider stopped complaining and urged Arendt on.

“Let’s go.”

“Don’t get worked up over nothing.”

Before turning around to lean on Rider, Arendt threw a remark at Laius.

“Our goal isn’t just to catch and kill that bastard.”

“…Just hurry up and go.”

Laius replied irritably. Arendt shrugged and obediently followed Rider.

As Arendt, the target, left, Roger muttered regretfully.

“I guess I wasted too much time. I was planning to wrap things up this time.”

Although a considerable number of personnel were deployed to Laius’ side to buy time for Roger to deal with Arendt, it seemed that it was insufficient.

“I’m sorry, but I’m your opponent.”

Laius answered coldly.

His shoes and the hems of his pants were already soaked with the blood of the priests and ghouls.

The same was true for the Holy Sword.

The sword, caked with black lumps of flesh and gore, seemed to represent Laius’ ruthlessness.

Roger, who had been staring blankly at him, began to speak.

“It seems like I’m not the only one who’s changed.”

Just as the fight in the Great Temple had left Roger with a disfigured arm, it seemed to have left a considerable scar on Laius as well.

“It’s none of your business.”

“That’s also true.”

Roger readily agreed with the indifferent answer.

“All we have to do is fight with our swords, staking the world we believe in.”

“I don’t care about any of those grand reasons.”

Laius shook his sword once, dislodging the clotted chunks of blood. Gripping the now-shining Holy Sword firmly, he added coldly.

“I will mercilessly eliminate anyone who harms my people.”

That was enough of a reason for him to take up the Holy Sword.

No sooner had they put enough distance between them, a deafening boom shook the ground beneath their feet.

Arendt, who was being supported by Rider, grumbled in a tired voice.

“Wow, shit… this is a mess.”

“It’s because of you, bastard.”

Rider let out an irritated sound. In the distance, Glenn and the other knights could be seen running towards them hurriedly.

Arendt clicked his tongue and pushed Rider away.

“That’s enough now, step back. I can walk on my own.”

“Are you sure you’re okay? I saw you staggering around so much earlier.”

Rider stepped back obediently, with a dubious expression. Arendt grumbled in annoyance, dusting off his clothes.

“How could I be okay? That boar-like bastard came charging at me. I really thought I was going to die.”

“Who told you to fight alone? The captain sent Arthur and Richt as well, but where did those two go?”

“I shook them off for a moment to deal with the other guy. If you have time, go help them. It won’t be easy for them there either.”

Arendt added, glancing at the other knights running from afar.

If it were just Ain, maybe it wouldn’t be a problem, but there was a high chance ghouls and priests would join in from that side too.

‘Those two aren’t people who can be taken lightly either…’

That said, dragging things out for too long wasn’t ideal either.

A flash of lightning like thunder streaked overhead, followed by a rumbling tremor through the ground.

Rider looked up at the sky anxiously.

“What the hell is going on?”

“It’s not like this is the first time there’s been chaos. Why are you acting like this again?”

Arendt responded indifferently and asked.

“How are things going?”

“For now, all the summoned ghouls and homunculi have been dealt with. I received word that Lord Zakar and his party are engaged in combat with Jiklin near the palace walls.”

Rider answered with a look of displeasure.

“Lady Shekhinah and Lord Ragnald are also dealing with the Evil Cult’s forces in the area. I heard they’re having trouble with the ghouls and homunculi appearing there too.”

“…Just a moment.”

Arendt, who had been listening quietly, frowned.

“The palace is under siege right now?”

“That’s what they said. Since Lord Lexion has set up a magical barrier, they won’t be attacked right away. They said that even our allies can’t approach. I’m worried about the Royal Knights that remain inside…”

Arendt was silent for a moment and then asked.

“What about Salem?”

“Hmm?”

Rider made a curious sound. Then Arendt urged him irritably.

“Have you heard anything from Salem?”

“I heard that on the way to the palace, they encountered the enemy and split into two groups. The rest joined up with Lord Zakar near the palace. I don’t know much about what happened after that. I was too busy fighting.”

Rider who had been mumbling suddenly realized something strange and frowned.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you?”

At some point, Arendt’s expression hardened.

“So, Salem’s location hasn’t been confirmed yet?”

“…If I had to say so, then yes. He’s probably with Lord Zakar, hey, wait a minute!”

Rider, still dazed, shouted in surprise.

Arendt suddenly turned around and started walking away quickly.

Rider nearly broke into a run to catch up with him.

“What’s going on? Why are you like this?”

“I thought that kid was going to join the battlefield. I told him to stay out of the way and head towards the palace.”

“No, wait a minute!”

Rider, who was becoming anxious, grabbed Arendt’s shoulder and stopped him.

“Then he must be with Lord Zakar. It seems that Lord Ragnald and Lady Shekhinah have joined them as well. Besides, we can’t even get close to the palace right now.”

“Probably not. That kid…”

Arendt’s expression crumpled.

“He must have tried to get into the palace somehow. If it’s Salem, he could probably find a hidden path. He has spirits with him.”

“Even if he did get in, what’s the problem? The Royal Knights are there.”

“Ugh, seriously!”

Arendt’s kick landed squarely on Rider’s shin.

“Ugh!”

“This is driving me crazy! Are you an idiot, senior? Why else would those fanatics be going all out to seize the palace like this?”

A voice full of irritation shot out at Rider, who was slumped down groaning.

“What do you think it means that that crazy lizard, Roger, that wild boar bastard, and even Jiklin are here? It means there’s still something left inside the palace for those bastards to feed on, right now!”

“Ugh, so you’re beating up your senior? You idiot with no sense of hierarchy!”

Rider barely lifted his head and yelled back. While the two were arguing, Glenn and the other knights also approached.

“What the hell are you guys doing? What kind of stupid move is this in a situation like this?”

“No, that bastard is trying to just run off like that in his condition!”

Glenn asked in disbelief, and Rider replied defensively. Arendt snapped at him irritably in response.

“It’s because you’re stupid, senior. Anyway, you guys should go support senior Arthur and senior Richt. I’ll go find Salem.”

“You really are stubborn, huh…”

Glenn muttered in a weary voice.

“Okay. Then Rider, you go with Arendt. We’ll go find senior Richt and Arthur.”

Since Arendt wasn’t the type of guy who would listen obediently even if told to fall back, he quickly gave up.

“Do you have a communication port? You haven’t been receiving anything for a while.”

“I have it. I was so busy fighting that I didn’t have time to receive it… Ah!”

Arendt let out a short exclamation as he took out his communication port to confirm it.

The communication port was broken during the fight with Roger.

“I knew it. Here.”

Glenn clicked his tongue and tossed the communication port he had in his arms. Arendt caught it with a blank expression.

Glenn added threateningly.

“If anything happens, report it immediately. I’ll tell you in advance, if you fail to enter the palace, come back immediately. Don’t wander around aimlessly and get into trouble.”

“Ugh, stop nagging. Senior Rider, you don’t have to follow me if you don’t want to. But I don’t think things are that relaxed right now, are they?”

“Shut up, you rude bastard. If I send you out alone, what will I hear from the captain later on…”

Before Glenn could finish speaking, a deafening explosion shook everything around them. This time, it came from the palace.

“…!”

The knights reflexively turned their heads toward the palace.

Between the swirling magic powers akin to dark clouds, the silhouettes of two beings facing each other in the air were visible.

It was Nikephoros and Lexion.

The dome-like defensive wall covering the palace, which had not been visible to the naked eye until just now, was now barely visible.

It meant that Lexion’s magical power was starting to waver little by little.

Arendt clicked his tongue and looked at the knights.

“There’s no time to chatter, seniors, get moving right now.”

“Don’t go around giving orders when you’re just an apprentice knight! Anyway, you two, if anything happens, report it to me. Don’t do anything reckless. Rider, don’t you dare leave that bastard’s side.”

Glenn replied angrily and left with the other knights to find Richt and Arthur. Arendt and Rider also turned around and ran along the dark road.

Their destination was the royal palace, located not far away.