Betrayal Knight’s Joyful Faith - Chapter 417



Only Noblemtl

The 417th episode of The Merry God of Betrayal

As always, Count Stadler greeted him with bloodshot eyes from lack of sleep.

“It’s been a long time, Lord Arendt. I’ve been waiting for you.”

“You look good as always, Count.”

Arendt greeted him with a simple nod of her head.

Behind him stood Arthur, the carriages transporting the sleeping criminals, and a line of soldiers standing guard tightly.

“The soldiers will be guarding this area for the time being. There is a possibility that a fugitive will escape. We will withdraw after Lexion joins us. Senior Arthur will stay with us for the time being.”

“Thank you for your help, Count.”

Arthur nodded. Arendt’s expression immediately turned grim.

“I originally planned to come alone.”

It was Laius, who had secretly hoped that someone would accompany him, and Arthur, who had insisted on following him no matter what, who ended up breaking Arendt’s will.

The count burst into laughter.

“The more guests, the better. I have prepared everything, so please follow me. I will show you around.”

The prisoners were moved to an isolation room prepared in advance by the Count.

It was a space where magic stones were installed all over the ceiling, allowing for the casting of sleep magic throughout the isolation room.

“The researchers will take turns casting spells. And the incense burner will also be kept burning, so even if they wake up by any chance, they won’t be able to escape easily.”

Count Stadler kindly explained as he watched the captured prisoners being moved.

“And to prevent them from starving, we will temporarily withdraw the magic and provide them with liquid food. The liquid food will also contain a large amount of sleeping herbs, so you don’t have to worry. And we have created a separate space to confine the person of interest.”

The person of interest was none other than Ain.

Ain was seen being dragged out of the carriage while still asleep and taken into a room with solid metal walls.

“As soon as I received the call from Lord Arendt, I designed it and completed the construction. It will be impossible to escape without any difficulty.”

“It looks like that.”

Arthur nodded with a slightly tired expression at the count who seemed genuinely pleased.

It seemed right to escort them here first rather than to the palace.

No matter how hard the palace magicians worked, they would not have been able to create a facility like this.

‘You can’t say that it’s inhumane… … .’

Arthur swallowed his words.

It seemed that the Count did not see them as people.

A camp this well-guarded would be something only a slightly savvy Count Stadler would have thought up.

“It’s a bit surprising, but I’m glad that the Count is on my side.”

“Haha. That’s too kind of you.”

When the Count laughed bashfully at Arthur’s words, Arendt added indifferently.

“I don’t think that’s a compliment. But I guess I can feel at ease at this level.”

“Of course. However, it will probably take a few more days to prepare for the experiment, so until then, both of you should get some rest. Are you very tired from the long mission?”

Whether or not, the count just smiled the whole time.

“Aren’t you going to the market? I’ve prepared a meal, so please go there as soon as this place is cleared up. I hope you won’t experience any inconvenience during your stay.”

As Count Stadler had boasted, he even provided Arthur and Arendt with a separate room for their exclusive use.

After the prisoner transfer was complete, the two were treated to a sumptuous meal and were able to return to the rooms prepared for them.

On the way to the lodgings, guided by the servant, Arthur asked casually.

“Are you sleeping well these days?”

“As you can see.”

Arendt answered indifferently. Arthur seemed slightly relieved by the answer, but he still couldn’t hide his curiosity.

“You suddenly feel better? Is there a reason?”

“What do you want me to do, senior?”

“… … You shameless brat.”

Whether Arthur was swearing or not, Arendt didn’t even glance at him.

Since Nereus handed over the pearl, the frequency of nightmares has noticeably decreased.

It certainly seemed as though Nereus wanted to help him.

‘I still don’t know the exact reason.’

At this point, I was curious about Nereis’s purpose.

‘Do you want to take revenge on Luce for breaking her promise and betraying the gods?’

Or maybe he wants to stop Chernion, who has lost, lost his pride, and turned his back on him.

While they were thinking that, the two of them arrived in front of the room.

“Sir Arendt, you can use the room on the left, and Sir Arthur, you can use the room on the right. I’ve moved all your luggage, so make yourself at home.”

The servant bowed politely and stepped aside. Arthur spoke to Arendt before going into his room.

“Before you go out, be sure to tell me. It’s an order from your senior.”

“I can’t hear you. I don’t understand a single thing you’re saying.”

But Arendt pretended to cover her ears and went into the room first.

bang.

The door closed, and Arthur was left alone in the hallway, clenching his fists.

“……pup.”

***

The room was quite luxurious, considering that it was prepared in a hurry, as if the count had planned it out and decorated it. It seemed that he had put a lot of effort into making sure that the two of them could stay comfortably.

“Why are there so many nags these days?”

Finally, Arendt, left alone, took off her outer garment and threw it carelessly on the chair.

Then he walked over to the pile of papers on the desk.

These were documents borrowed from the Great Hall, things gathered from Neumann’s information center, and reports on the exploration of ruins written by Llewelyn.

Arendt slumped down on her chair and instead of immediately looking through her documents, she sat back down on her chair and stretched out her body.

A sparkling chandelier hanging from the ceiling caught my eye.

“It is the truth… … .”

Suddenly, I remembered the words the chief minister had quietly muttered before leaving.

Whatever the truth, Archimandrite Lumiel will choose to protect Luce.

Arendt had no intention of breaking her will or persuading her, even though it might eventually lead to her turning her sword against her.

Just as Lumiel respected Arendt’s path, Arendt has no right to block her path.

The time she spent on stage as the main character deserved to be respected.

‘What a great person.’

Even if she goes against God, Lumiel will see Arendt as a young man.

‘No matter what the outcome of my choice is… … .’

She will never regret or resent it.

Even if they did become enemies, Lumiel would not accuse Arendt of being a traitor.

I just stand firm in my position and do my job as Luce’s guardian.

One day, the Grand Chancellor Lumiel will stand in Arendt’s way as the biggest wall.

Arendt, lost in thought, took a pearl out of her pocket.

The pearl, whose color had slightly changed over time, sparkled white in the light.

“… … .”

Because of Luce’s tyranny, the gods declined.

And Chernion took on an ugly appearance.

But Nereus survived steadfastly even after losing his faith.

Moreover, compared to Chernion, its appearance remained intact.

‘It seems like I can barely use my strength.’

It seemed that Nereus’s limit was to help them breathe a little from the gaze of the two gods.

It was a weak authority compared to Luce and Chernion, who could tear the world apart and turn it upside down at will.

‘Is it Nereus’ will that is left alone?’

Even as the other gods disappeared one by one, Nereis stubbornly persisted.

They must have desperately protected themselves by relying on the small temples left in the elven kingdom and the statues of gods buried underground.

Arendt rolled the pearl over her fingers a few times and then put it back in her bosom.

Arendt sat up straight, pulled up a chair, and sat down at the desk.

Then, he spread out on his desk the blueprint of the underground ruins of the Lucain Palace that Llewelyn had sent him from among a pile of documents.

Now was not the time to be lost in thought.

‘If the other gods had perished… … .’

Surely there must be a way to land a valid hit on Luce.

A way to completely eradicate the power of Chernion, who is like a poisonous snake, and at the same time, to free this world from the palm of the hypocritical Luce.

“If it doesn’t exist, we have to create it.”

I found myself muttering to myself inadvertently.

Even though what he was trying to do was crazy, like pulling the sun out of the sky, he had no intention of backing down.

Using everything at hand, he was determined to make the finale of this stage a comedy.

Arendt’s eyes, looking down at the drawing, sank coldly.

The hand that habitually scratched the scar revealed under the glove began to become sharper.

‘Even if it means burning myself.’

If you fly too close to the sun with your crude wings, you will eventually crash because you can’t stand the heat.

‘Arendt von Eckhart and Lee Su-hyeon should have already left the stage.’

In the end, he embraces the name of the traitor, like a crude wing… … .

With the lights shattered, falling into the darkness below the stage wouldn’t be so bad.

Kuk.

Blood began to drip from the burn scar where the wound had burst.

***

At sunset, Lieta sat alone on a bench in the garden, dazed.

I couldn’t even tell how many hours had passed. As I stood there, staring at the setting sun in the sky and feeling the cold air, my head felt empty.

‘… … I don’t think this will work.’

Lieta thought vaguely. But she couldn’t think of anything.

It was because I had a gut feeling that if I tried to think of something, I would immediately be swallowed up by despair.

Prince Llewelyn couldn’t see anything because his eyes were covered, but the smell of blood that his mother felt when she was hit by the arrow was still vivid.

‘Will Victor Orabe resent us?’

Looking at the sunset sky, Lieta threw the question that had crossed her mind countless times into the air.

But as always, there was no answer.

He knew better than anyone that Victor was not the kind of person who would do that. But the reason he had no choice but to ask himself this question was because he felt that he would rather be hated.

‘If you hate me… … .’

Should I hate you too?

As I thought about it, a hollow laugh escaped my mind.

After all, it was Victor who killed his mother.

But she wasn’t foolish enough to blame him blindly. And neither was Louis.

In the end, it was this world that killed my mother.

Not Viktor or Elf’s arrows or anything like that.

“Rieta.”

Suddenly, Lieta raised her head at the sound of a voice nearby. Louis, who had come closer, was looking at her with concern.

“I’ve been out too long. I should go inside now. I might catch a cold.”

“……yes.”

Lieta nodded slowly, trying to force a faint smile.

“Come in, now.”

Louis felt even more disgusted at the sight.

It was because I felt sorry for my younger brother who couldn’t even bring himself to throw a tantrum or express condolences.

“……okay.”

But if he showed it, Lietta would be even more hurt, so Louis just reached out to her.

Lieta grabbed Luis’ hand and stood up.

The evening air was becoming quite chilly.

The two of them walked towards the mansion.

No, I tried to move it.

If only there hadn’t been a rustling sound among the bushes in the garden at that moment.

“… … ?”

The two people’s gaze naturally turned to where the sound came from.

Rustle, rustle.

The ornamental bushes were swaying, but it wasn’t necessarily the wind.

“What is that… … .”

“Back off, Lieta.”

Louis made Lietta step behind him.

“Could this be an intruder?”

“That can’t be true. The Duke said he had taken thorough precautions.”

Louis answered Lieta’s question without any confidence.

The elders of the evil cult have abilities that ordinary people cannot even imagine, so it may have been possible for them to break through the tight security and infiltrate here.

“… … .”

The two of them observed the swaying bushes for a long time, their bodies somewhat tense.

And after a while.

“uh?”

A large head suddenly popped out from between the bushes, and the siblings almost simultaneously let out a surprised voice.

A large dog… no, a wolf was poking its head out from between the grass.

Although it had an enormous size and a ferocious appearance at first glance, it did not look all that threatening, perhaps because of the fallen leaves and dirt that clung to its face.

Lietta and Louis, who had forgotten their worries for a moment, exchanged glances and looked at the dog again.

“… … .”

The dog just looked up at the two people with its gentle eyes, as if trying to prove that it was harmless.

“It doesn’t look dangerous… … does it?”

When Lieta hesitated for a moment and spoke, Louis also agreed.

“That’s right. He doesn’t seem like a normal stray dog. Did he lose his owner and come here?”

The identity of the wolf was none other than Warren, who had suppressed the urge to bite his tongue but accepted Arendt’s advice that was not advice.

“Would you like to come over here? Should I get you something to eat from the kitchen?”

Warren looked at Lieta’s outstretched small hand, and for a moment, a strong sense of skepticism flashed through his eyes.

But there was no way the innocent princess and prince would know that fact.