Betrayal Knight’s Joyful Faith - Chapter 453



Only Noblemtl

The Cheerful God of Betrayal Chapter 453

107. Actually, I’m not really sorry.

News of the subjugation of Jiklin spread quickly, and was soon relayed to the Allied Powers centered around the Kalion Empire.

But before they could even celebrate their victory, Prince Ludwin and the Imperial Knights had to deal with the aftermath of the war.

As much as the territory was in disarray, the biggest problem for both sides was the spirit stone recovered from Rita.

“I don’t think it’s completely gone yet.”

Salem frowned slightly as he touched the spirit stone that had almost lost its light.

Although faint, there was still some warmth left.

Ludwin asked curiously.

“Wasn’t Rita a spirit that had already been born?”

“That’s right. However, since Jiklin wasn’t suited to being a spirit master, he would have needed a separate intermediary to make a contract and use Rita’s power.”

So, Jiklin created a homunculus using Rita’s mother spirit stone.

It would have been more useful to become a homunculus rather than existing as a spirit itself.

“I think I was a homunculus during normal times, serving Jiklin, and sometimes becoming a spirit when necessary… … I think I lived freely like that.”

It was an invention of an absurd level.

Ludwin nodded, frowning.

“I see. I heard that the spirit stone was stolen from the second elven kingdom. What will you do, Commander Rios? Of course, returning it to the kingdom is possible in Everlan, but… … .”

The prince, whose speech was slurred, looked at Laius. Laius met his eyes and nodded blandly.

“It seems to have fallen asleep inside the spirit stone again, so we will retrieve it.”

“I’m not sure if I’ll ever wake up again. The human kingdom isn’t exactly the right environment for a spirit to be born in.”

Salem added cautiously.

A spirit stone without a spirit is nothing more than a lump of stone. If the spirit inside were to disappear like this, returning it to the kingdom would be meaningless.

Lyos thought for a moment and then answered.

“Okay, I guess it would be best to just wait and see for the time being.”

“Then I will understand that the captain is in charge.”

Ludwin closed the box containing the spirit stone tightly again.

Luna and Ray, who had followed Salem, were sitting next to the box, pecking at its outer surface with their beaks.

Ludwin, who could not have known that, continued speaking politely.

“I’m sorry to bother you when you’re busy. It’s almost time to eat. Would you like to eat with me?”

“Thank you for the offer, but I will decline.”

Ludwin asked in response to Laius’ polite refusal.

“Do you have any other work to do?”

“No. I’m going to Arendt.”

Ludwin’s face hardened slightly at the answer he received.

“… … Okay. I’ll send you some tea and refreshments.”

“Thank you, Prince.”

It’s been three days since the battle ended.

Upon hearing the report that Jiklin had been defeated, Crown Prince Cantares gave him the usual compliments and immediately ordered him to return.

However, the Imperial Knights were inevitably unable to carry out the order.

It was because the troublemaker trainee reporter had been unable to wake up from his deep sleep for several days.

* * *

Click.

Arthur and Llewelyn, who were inside, raised their heads at the sound of the door opening. Laius stopped when he noticed the two.

“… … I’m sorry. If I had known you were here, I would have knocked and come in.”

“Hey, what’s going on between us.”

Llewelyn waved his hand as he leaned back on the sofa. Arthur was sitting in the chair opposite him.

“Hey, Captain, are you here? Welcome, Salem.”

“Is Lord Arendt still there?”

Salem, who had poked her head out from behind Leo, asked worriedly. But Arthur nodded with a bitter smile.

“I told you there’s nothing seriously wrong with your body. It’s just that you’re tired. Don’t worry.”

Arendt was fast asleep on the bed, buried deep in the blanket.

Arthur asked cautiously as Lyos closed the door and came in.

“What happened to the return order?”

“We decided to wait until Arendt wakes up and see how she is doing before making a decision. You don’t have to worry about it.”

Lyos looked at Llewelyn after giving a simple answer.

“What will your Majesty do?”

“Of course I should go with you.”

Llewelyn said naturally.

“It’ll be okay since you guys are here. You’ve already fought in this battle, so you’ll probably have some experience dealing with enemies.”

“Yes, I understand. I will convey that to Your Majesty.”

Lyos approached the bed where Arendt had fallen asleep. Then, pretending not to be Arthur, he spoke with concern.

“But I still wonder if he’s sleeping too long… … I shook him, but he didn’t move.”

“It must be because I don’t sleep well these days. Just leave me alone.”

Lyos looked down at Arendt with a troubled face.

Because of his habit of curling up when he slept, all Lyos could see clearly was his silver hair disheveled on the pillow and his side profile with a large tourniquet attached to it.

‘It’s an order to return.’

Cantares’ voice, heard from beyond the communication port, was unusually harsh compared to usual.

Thanks to this, Leo was able to sense without difficulty that something unusual had happened.

It also means that Cantares’ mood has become extremely uncomfortable.

‘That’s probably why.’

The cause was not difficult to guess.

It was something I had prepared for, but I couldn’t help but feel more and more uneasy when it actually happened.

But my heart was never shaken.

Laius had already made up his mind a long time ago.

As I watched the boy sleeping like a child with all his wounds hanging from his body, my resolve grew stronger.

‘Whatever it is… … .’

I will never let things just flow as Arendt intended.

I’m starting to get sick of being dragged around by this guy and struggling.

“… … He seems like a pain in the neck.”

Lyus let out a short sigh.

At least for now, I just wanted to let him rest comfortably for a little longer.

* * *

Arendt blinked several times.

Blue water filled the field of vision.

I could feel the warmth of the water surrounding my body, the smell of the sea, and the rippling waves.

Arendt, who had been blankly staring for a while, realized belatedly that she was underwater. The quiet space where only water could be felt was not so bad.

‘That means… … .’

Arendt rolled her eyes, looking for another being that might be there.

Soon, he noticed a small elf a short distance away with its back to him.

‘dolphin?’

Nereis was not alone. His webbed hands were stroking the pretty dolphin.

The dolphin, which had been locking eyes with Nereid for a long time, stopped when it saw Arendt.

Then he left her side and swam leisurely towards Arendt.

“ah.”

Only then did Nereis look back.

As Arendt just stared blankly at her, Nereis, who had been following the dolphin, cautiously opened his mouth.

“Are you awake? Can you hear me?”

It was a very young voice that suited his face well. It even sounded like a bird chirping.

Arendt, who had been thinking for a moment, opened her mouth.

“You were flustered last time, but I guess you’re slowly getting the hang of dealing with people.”

Unlike last time when I had difficulty breathing, this time I was able to speak comfortably.

“I’m just asking just in case. You won’t end up drowning in your sleep like last time, right?”

“… … No, that.”

Nereis, who had been blankly staring for a moment, waved both his hands in confusion.

“That was a real mistake. It’s been so long since I’ve dealt with humans… … ! Sorry, were you scared? That definitely won’t happen today. I even borrowed that kid’s voice… … .”

“Were you scared?”

Arendt asked back in absurd surprise.

Only then did Nereis seem to realize his mistake, and he made an expression of regret.

The opponent was a human being, and he was a guy who would even attack Luce and Chernion with his whole body.

“No, that’s… … . Sorry… … .”

“… … You’re not really a child. I don’t know what to say.”

Arendt grumbled briefly and waved her hand.

“Okay, let’s get to the point. I appreciate your protection, but personally, I’m not a very happy person either.”

If Lexion found out that they were having a conversation like this, it would have blown up their flagship.

Then Nereus became a little discouraged.

“Uh… … I know. It would probably be better not to get involved. If you come into contact with someone like me for a long time, it wouldn’t be good for you either.”

The dolphin swimming around the two of them rubbed its long snout affectionately against Nereis as if to comfort him. Nereis continued to mumble as he lightly stroked the dolphin.

“It seems like there was a lot of unrest, so I was worried that if the country didn’t intervene, something big would happen… … But now it seems to have stabilized again.”

Nereis tilted his head to the side and looked at Arendt with a worried expression.

“Are you okay?”

“What… … .”

Arendt scratched her head and rolled her eyes. She seemed to know what she was talking about.

“maybe.”

From the moment I stayed at Count Stadler’s laboratory, my head felt like it was going to burst with all kinds of thoughts.

However, after coming to the Everran Kingdom, all sorts of things happened and my thoughts became more organized.

Now, it seemed like my vision was clearing up a little.

‘I was stupid.’

Because I realized that I couldn’t run away.

Arendt hesitated for a moment, then continued speaking slowly.

“It may not be completely better, but whatever. For now, that’s it.”

“Really? That’s fortunate.”

A bright smile appeared on Nereid’s young face. Looking at it, Arendt felt a sense of emptiness and let out a sigh.

“… … I don’t know anymore. There’s nothing I can do about it.”

The accident had already happened, so someone might be gnashing their teeth by now.

From now on, it’s really impossible to predict even an inch ahead.

“I never thought I would change my mind.”

I considered as many variables as possible, but there was one thing I overlooked: the current situation.

Nereus asked again, worried.

“it’s hard?”

“Not really.”

Although he answered with a single stroke of the sword, Nereis still looked puzzled.

“That sounds like a lie.”

“… … .”

Arendt, who had been silent for a moment, changed the subject.

“Is that all you want? I’m already in shambles, and I’m afraid I’ll be completely destroyed by nightmares.”

“Yeah, that’s also true, but… … .”

Nereis hesitated for a moment and then lowered his eyes.

“Luce and Chernion are very angry. I wanted to let you know that.”

Arendt was silent for a moment at the words that came out carefully.

After a while, he responded calmly.

“I don’t think that’s something that happened in a day or two. That Chernion guy got screwed, so it makes sense. What about Luce?”

“That must be because things don’t go the way you want them to.”

Nereis, who had been mumbling in his mouth, hugged his knees in the water.

“I think he expected you to be completely destroyed. But you lasted longer than I expected… … . Maybe that’s why? He’s more interested in you than in the hero. I’m sorry, but this is as far as I can go.”

Nereis had come all the way here to warn us of this.

Arendt, who had been staring at him silently, opened her mouth again.

“… … If you’re sorry, just answer a few questions.”

“huh?”

“Surely, since they are both gods, they wouldn’t vomit blood or suddenly die just because you carelessly talk.”

Arendt answered leisurely to Nereis, who looked puzzled.

“I have a lot of questions. I guess I’ve had quite a few snacks. Since I’ve come here, let’s have a serious conversation.”

A faint smile appeared on the trainee knight’s face.

Sensing a sense of crisis, the dolphin quickly bit the hem of Nereid’s clothes and began to pull him towards it.

Nereis also stepped back with slightly frightened eyes, but Arendt was not so easily persuaded.

“Are you trying to run away? Wasn’t it because of your misbehavior that I’m having such a hard time?”

“No, that’s… … .”

“I hope you don’t mean to dismiss me by saying, ‘I know you’ve had a hard time,’ or by offering a pitiful expression of sympathy. You know that, too. I’m not a person who backs down like some hero who’s all that.”

Arendt continued leisurely.

“If you have even a little bit of responsibility, shouldn’t you be helping? Where are you acting like it’s someone else’s business?”

“… … .”

Nereus ended up feeling a little regretful for having worried so deeply about him.