Betrayal Knight’s Joyful Faith - Chapter 400



Only Noblemtl

The 400th episode of the delightful god of betrayal

“… … .”

The moment I faced the huge door, my well-kept thoughts seemed to be distorted again.

Iris stepped back and just watched Arendt quietly.

At the end of the uncomfortable silence, Arendt finally spoke up in a sharp voice.

“What on earth are you trying to do?”

“It’s a pleasure to have met you with whom I can share memories, but I never forgot for a moment that we were enemies.”

Iris answered leisurely.

“It is natural in hostile relations to make excuses.”

There was a hint of genuine malice in that desperately gentle voice.

“So open the door, Lord Arendt.”

The voice continued to whisper, almost as if seducing me.

It seemed as if a beautiful python had seduced a man and was slowly strangling him.

“Isn’t it quite cold these days? This is a chance to see with your own eyes the true history you’ve been curious about.”

“… … .”

Arendt kept her mouth shut.

As she said, it might have been a welcome thing.

Because it will be possible to prove that the blasphemous hypothesis that I have been asserting alone up to now is not wrong.

But what lay hidden beyond the door was also a deadly trap.

‘The truth doesn’t always bring good results.’

If the old seal were to be broken, the hidden curse of history might surge forth like a tidal wave, destroying everything that Arendt had tried to protect.

“Come on, Lord Arendt.”

A soft, urging voice dug into my ear.

“… … This is really annoying.”

Arendt stared into space for a moment, then a nervous word escaped her lips.

Arendt strode toward the door and placed both hands on it. Her fingertips were frozen red under the light cast by the spirit.

‘shit.’

Arendt bit her lip, realizing that she was hesitating in an uncharacteristic way.

My heart was pounding.

While an instinctive rejection made my stomach churn, deep inside my heart, an inevitable anticipation stirred.

The smell of blood came from deep in my throat.

It also seemed like his breathing was a little out of whack.

I couldn’t tell if it was because of an injury or because I lost my composure.

‘Focus on your role.’

Arendt quickly calmed her thoughts.

‘Because there’s already something to do anyway.’

Arendt calmed her breathing by taking a few deep breaths and put strength into her fingertips.

Creak.

An unpleasant creaking noise filled the dark passageway, and debris and dust rained down from the ceiling.

The door with the sun and moon carved side by side slowly opened. A strange light poured in through the gap in the door, and the fresh air, unusual for a place so deep underground, brushed my nose.

Arendt squinted her eyes involuntarily at the sudden light.

‘This light is… … .’

It wasn’t that unfamiliar.

Luna, who had been playing between Arendt and Iris, flew into the open door first.

Arendt’s gaze naturally followed the spirit, and an exclamation soon burst out of her mouth.

“ah…….”

Iris took a step closer to Arendt and whispered in an affectionate voice.

“Isn’t it a wonderful sight?”

Normally, this would have been a point where she would have refuted the remark with a sarcastic remark, but Arendt was unable to say anything.

It was a very spacious space, so much so that it was hard to believe it was underground.

A hemispherical ceiling enveloped the head, and the floor was harmoniously arranged with white and black stones that started from different points.

At some point, the black and white stones began to mix together, forming a beautiful swirl, and finally paired up when they reached the center of the circular space.

And on top of it, two statues sat quietly.

“… … .”

Luce looks up at the sky with a face that seems joyful, perhaps even innocent.

And Chernion looks down at the floor with an endlessly compassionate smile.

The two gods, who looked exactly like twins, gently spread their arms as if they were embracing everything, welcoming the visitors who had come for the first time in a long time.

And on the high ceiling… … .

Arendt raised her head as if possessed by something.

A pair of colorful butterflies fluttered their wings as they passed Arendt’s eyes.

White snakes with curious eyes cautiously watched Iris at her feet, and small figures that looked like fairies from old fairy tales hid themselves between the statues of Luce and Cernion.

Even in the midst of all this, some fairies could not suppress their curiosity, so they stuck their small heads out and quietly watched Arendt and Iris.

It was a fantastic sight, something I never thought I would see in my life.

Luna, who had entered first, was fluttering her wings cheerfully, circling around the large bird-shaped spirit as if she was happy to see it.

“… … That’s ridiculous.”

Arendt muttered in vain.

The light and clear air that did not match the underground were all due to the energy emitted by these spirits.

“This is the final resting place for the spirits remaining in the human kingdom.”

Iris explained kindly.

“In the land occupied by the god Luce, this is the only place that still maintains balance. The spirits that failed to find this place would have had no choice but to perish helplessly.”

Unlike the splendid exterior, it was a quiet space with no decorations and only a statue of a god.

But it wouldn’t have been quiet.

Surely, at some point in the past, there must have been so many people and spirits that there was no room to even set foot.

Humans, elves, dwarves, and perhaps even dragons who sought treatment among the beastmen and beasts seeking relief from the boredom of their long lives.

Although they may have been of different races and ages, at least before God, they would all be equal and could regain their original form.

‘Behind this fucking stage… … .’

There really existed a fantasy world that was like a fairy tale.

“Where did we leave off earlier? Oh, right. Luce-sama said that a new rule was needed, and Chernion-sama and everyone else agreed.”

Iris bent down and stroked the white snake spirit.

“I’ve said it briefly, but their meeting lasted a very long time. After Lord Luce first spoke, the discussion didn’t end until I had lived three thousand years as a human. After all, it wasn’t an issue that could be decided easily. The gods, lost in thought, temporarily neglected their duty to look after the world. In the meantime, the number of people visiting this temple gradually decreased.”

As if the spirit had been waiting, it quickly climbed up Iris’s slender arm.

“I am the one who sealed this place that almost no one visits.”

Iris, holding the snake spirit in her arms, got up and slowly walked towards the two statues.

“The discussion is bound to be long. The absolute good, the standard for all life, who will take on that heavy position… … That is a very important issue. The most likely candidates were the primordial twin gods, Luce and Chernion.”

The voice telling the old story sounded like a dream.

Fall, fall.

The sound of long robes being dragged still followed the ghostly presence.

“And finally they came to one conclusion. Since no one can be said to be greater than the other, they decided to take turns guarding the world for a hundred years each.”

Iris, with her back to Arendt, stopped a few steps ahead of the statues of Chernion and Luce.

Arendt just watched her back quietly.

Iris cautiously reached out and released the snake spirit onto Luce.

Then, as if it had found its place, the spirit quickly dug into Luce’s arms.

“The first two times, the promise was kept. But the third time, Lady Luce refused to give up her seat.”

Iris, who had released the spirit, gently stroked the cheek of the Chernion statue.

“It was the moment when Lady Luce broke the rules and the twin gods of the beginning first had different opinions.”

* * *

“… … I didn’t know you would retreat this quickly.”

Jin muttered in absurd voice, sweeping his messy hair aside.

Perhaps he was afraid of getting caught up in the fight between Nikephor and Lexion, but his decision was made sooner than expected.

Jin, who had been thinking for a moment, blurted out.

“Rita, do you know where that damn apprentice and that shadow kid are?”

“It seems to be completely outside my range of perception. I think it may have entered the palace.”

Rita, who had been by his side the whole time, answered briefly.

“And one more thing. Roger has already stepped aside, but I don’t feel any sign of Ain.”

“… … .”

Jin frowned slightly at those words.

“Did you really get hit?”

“Yes. It looks like it has fallen into enemy hands.”

“Ugh, you seem like a useless guy.”

Jin, who had been grumbling irritably, turned his gaze towards the sky again.

After enduring several attacks from Nikepor and the constant attacks from the priests and Jiklin, Lexion’s defenses were now shaking as if they would break at any moment.

‘It doesn’t seem like there’s much point in holding the front line.’

Jiklin was in a slight dilemma.

Normally, commanders would not go to the front lines, but the legions of the god Luce seemed to have returned as a group, leaving their subordinates behind and engaging in battle themselves.

Ironically, the tactic they chose was definitely effective.

The heroes and elf commanders were growing increasingly tired as time passed, but in comparison, the knights and warriors were retreating from the front line with relative ease.

‘I thought there was some kind of ulterior motive… … .’

The reason I ordered them to pursue the enemy’s tails was because I was concerned that they might have another plan if they decided to retreat quickly.

‘Looking at the appearance, it doesn’t seem to be that way.’

If they can take over this palace, they will be able to achieve whatever they want.

Finally, Jiklin, who had made up his mind, gave the order again.

“Just leave those who run away alone! They’re just small fry anyway.”

The Kingdom of Lucain was already in my hands. I was quite dissatisfied with the fact that I had not been able to properly secure the royal family, but there were more important things to do at the moment.

“Once the barrier is broken, enter the palace immediately! Then kill everyone you meet!”

Flash!

Just then, a lightning bolt split the dark sky and struck the half-broken shield.

Rita, who had come over quickly, covered Jiklin’s ears with her own hands.

Kwarrrrung!

Then, a loud noise arrived a beat later than the light, shaking the surroundings. Jiklin reflexively closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again and raised her head.

After a while.

A sly curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.

Crack, crack.

The cracks carved into the barrier were expanding further, just like an eggshell just before a chick hatches.

It seemed that Lexion was so desperately fighting against Nikephor that he didn’t have time to pay attention to that.

“now…….”

Almost at the same time as Jiklin let out an innocent exclamation… … .

“Okay!”

Clang!

The thick shield shattered with a loud noise.

At that sound, the warriors and knights who were fighting against the Chernion cult horde also quickly raised their heads to check the scene.

The remains of the shield scattered as if they were stars, and soon disappeared without a trace.

“Captain!”

Glenn, who had cut down the rushing priest with one stroke of his sword, quickly called out to Leos.

Laius, who happened to see the same thing, hardened his face.

Although they had fully prepared themselves for this, the situation they had never wanted had come to pass.