Chapter 146
Going back in time, while Joshua was busy fighting Duke Altsma…
A man and a woman were peacefully talking to each other while the mercenaries were busy with their own tasks.
“The residents here have everything they need. Of course, I entrusted the valuables to the trustworthy people of the estate.”
Iceline had been looking at the sky with an indescribable look. Upon hearing that, she turned to look sideways and said, “Thank you, sir.”
“I just did what had to be done.” Akshuller shook his head. “We can leave for Rev immediately, but I wouldn’t recommend it.”
.
“I know about your concerns, but…” Iceline’s cold eyes momentarily brightened, and after a moment of silence, she said, “I have to know the truth.”
“Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. The pursuit of truth will not always lead you to the answer you want to know,” said Akshuller.
However, Iceline shook her head and said, “Even if it ends up being a painful truth I will find hard to accept, I still want to know. I don’t want to live my life without knowing the truth.”
“...” At that, Akshuller had no choice but to close his mouth.
“I have always been grateful to you, sir. I’m grateful for all the things you have done for me so far.” Iceline bowed her head. “However, I shall go there on my own. It is a dangerous place that can be considered the eye of the storm, and I cannot bring you there with me. Besides, you don’t have much time left, do you? The start of the Masters’ Battle is nigh.”
Akshuller revealed a sad smile before saying, “I apologize if I wasn’t of much help.”
“That’s not—” Iceline wanted to explain.
However, Akshuller interrupted her by saying, “You always remind me of your father, Lord Rebrecca.”
“...” Iceline remained silent when she realized that she had heard something like that before.
Iceline was reminded of a young man whose profound eyes seemed to be able to penetrate her.
‘Why am I remembering him? Why does the memory of that day come back after remembering him?’
While Iceline was deep in her thoughts, Akshuller’s voice awakened her from her stupor.
“As you know, most aristocrats consider commoners—such as my own parents—as less than cattle. There are only a few nobles whom the people consider as ‘true’ nobles among the aristocracy, and Lord Rebrecca is one of them.”.
“Sir…” Iceline became filled with complicated emotions as she trailed off.
Akshuller stared right at her without looking away. “I consider Lord Rebrecca as a ‘true’ noble, and I owe him a debt as well. You have no idea how many tears I shed when I found out about Lord Rebrecca’s death. I would not be able to face His Excellency in the afterlife if I were to let you fall into jeopardy. This is why I have to protect you, even if you don’t like it.”
A flicker of warmth flashed in Iceline’s cold eyes.
“Thank you. Thank you so much, sir.”
“It wasn’t much.” Akshuller smiled and stretched his massive biceps. “Anyway, Rev Castle lies along the path to Reinhardt. The undead there will serve as a good warm-up for me for the upcoming Masters’ Battle.”
However, he suddenly revealed a bitter smile upon recalling something. “With that being said, I think it’s too late for me to use the undead as warm-up partners.”
Iceline tilted her head and asked, “Hmm? What do you mean?”
“Did you forget? Someone already went there.”
“Ah—” Iceline instantly realized.
However, she immediately revealed a solemn look and said with concern, “I think what he’s trying to do is a bit dangerous. He’s one of the greatest talents of the continent, but he’s only my age, fifteen.”
“Fifteen?” Akshuller’s eyes widened upon hearing that. “The brat looks like he can take on an ape, but he’s actually only fifteen? What was I doing when I was the same age as him? This is ridiculous.”
Akshuller shook his head. Afterward, he stared into Iceline’s eyes and saw it. He didn’t miss the particular, distinct emotion in Iceline’s eyes, which greatly contrasted with her usual frigid demeanor. It was none other than ‘concern.’
“I see…” Akshuller revealed a mischievous look.
Seeing his peculiar look, Iceline’s demeanor soon returned to normal.
“What could you possibly mean?”
“Nothing.”
Akshuller shrugged and smiled. “This is what I am concerned about. If it is Joshua Sanders, there is no issue. If it is a dangerous place for him... then I will not be safe there either.”
“...!” Iceline's eyes widened at that.
Just who was Akshuller? He was one of the most prominent people on the continent, officially acknowledged as the second-in-command of the Mercenary Guild which had a hundred thousand members. He even held one of the only two diamond cards to match. He was also a talented man, who could become a Master whenever he wanted, and his name wasn’t something one could easily overlook.
‘For him to humble himself…Perhaps…’
Iceline became filled with hope.
“I don’t believe that you haven’t noticed it just yet. I mean, you’ve spent way more time with him than me.”
“Yes, I know…” Iceline shook her head when she recalled those times. “But that was just according to the standards of those at that age.”
At that, Akshuller responded, “Have you forgotten that he was able to wield mana before he was ten, securing him the spot of the continent’s greatest talent? And his ‘dream’ is just within reach, the same dream as me who is already over forty.”
“...” Iceline was silent at that.
“Didn’t you see it as well? That divine power he gave off then. One does not simply wipe out a horde of undead along with three Dullahans.”
“Can I ask just one question?” Iceline finally spoke. When she saw Akshuller nod without saying anything, she asked with a concerned look, “If you were to fight him in the Masters’ Battle, how do you expect the fight to end?”
Iceline’s words could be considered rude. After all, Akshuller had lived more than double the years Joshua had been alive, regardless of Joshua’s talent and titles. In addition, Akshuller’s rich experience as a veteran was something that could not be casually ignored.
However, Akshuller’s hesitation seemed to have negated Iceline’s worry about that.
“Well…”
“...” Iceline remained silent.
“People had always been looking at Joshua Sanders as if he were a mere child due to his age, but I don’t really see it that way. I need to see him fight personally to draw any kind of conclusion, but I can’t say for sure that I’ll win. Perhaps my second-ever defeat in life would be at the hands of a fifteen-year-old child.”
“...!” Iceline's eyes widened in shock. It was rare for her to break her usual demeanor.
“Anyway, enough talk of this. If you have made your choice, then let’s head straight for Rev. I have to rush to Reinhardt after, so we don’t have that much time.” With that, Akshuller turned around and started walking away.
“Ah!” Iceline exclaimed and followed after him.
***
“My eyes!”
Holy Knight Modrian and High Priest Herald exclaimed as they were forced to close their eyes.
The immaculate white light that filled everything around them was simply too bright for them to open their eyes. Naturally, everyone could recognize the identity of the immaculate white light.
“Divine power? W-what is this? This can’t be… At this level, isn’t his divine power at the same level as His Holiness?” High Priest Herald muttered incredulously.
It sounded absurd, but even the priests of the Hubalt Empire were divided into classes.
It was a ridiculous idea, but it could not be avoided. After all, these priests were humans as well.
Plus, they were in a group that is Hubalt.
And as soon as one joined a group of people congregated, the hierarchy became a requirement and not a choice.
“H-His Holiness…!”
High Priest Herald exclaimed.
There were hundreds of thousands of first-grade, second-grade and third-grade priests. There were also bishops, archbishops, high priests, and cardinals, but His Holiness the Pope stood at the apex of them all. He was the spiritual foundation of each and every priest of Hubalt.
His Holiness was also one of the two monarchs of Hubalt.
High Priest Herald held a rather prominent position as the high priest, but even he could only meet His Holiness a few times a year. Cardinals were considered to be of the same rank as high priests since they served His Holiness in close proximity.
Still, High Priest Herald was capable of recognizing what the intensity of the immaculate white light meant. However, the issue was that it had come from a foreign knight rather than from one of the Hubalt Empire’s high ranking priests.
All of a sudden, the sound of shattering glass could be heard.
“...!” High Priest Herald’s eyes widened. “Oh, God… the Tears of the Gods…!”
The intensity of the immaculate white light had slightly diminished, but they could only open their eyes slightly. High Priest Herald ignored the discomfort and pain to stare at the crystal ball in a daze.
And the crystal ball finally shattered, sending shards flying in all directions.
“No, no! If anything happens to the artifact, I don’t have the face to see His Holiness anymo—!”
High Priest Herald’s impassioned voice was cut short.
A beam of light tore through the fading glow, and it landed on Joshua’s back before eventually taking on a corporeal form. It became a pair of enormous wings of light that filled no less than half of the first floor. They showered the first floor with flakes of light, and High Priest Herald could swear that he had seen those wings somewhere.
High Priest Herald finally remembered seeing those wings in his memories, and he muttered blankly, “The Wings of Archangel Michael…!”
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