Chapter 64: The Night After Baptism, The First Ball (2)
Iriel was shocked, as if she had been hit in the head with a huge hammer by Beriss words.
This crazy bastard!
She cursed in her mind, in a manner that was unlike a saint.
The opponent was a person who stood at the forefront of the field of magic at the age of fifteen.
To belittle such a person as a commoner Beris must have really hated his family, the Duke Heralds family.
Otherwise, why would he have been so anxious to ruin his family?
If that was the case, she was confident that she could have stepped in and applied pressure herself.
Iriel looked at Rey with a nervous expression.
This is a big problem If the Saint changes his mind
If Rey was offended by Beriss words and decided to leave the holy kingdom, no one could have stopped him.
Rather, they should have prayed that he did not use magic in anger against the holy kingdom.
If a meteor of the same size that appeared during the speech fell on the capital of the holy kingdom, the holy kingdom would have turned into a sea of fire in an instant.
But to stop him, she didnt know if the damage would have extended to the destruction of the holy kingdom itself.
In a situation where she couldnt act rashly, Iriel glared at Beris.
Should I just close my eyes and kill him?
It was truly a thought befitting a saint. If God had heard this, he might have even given her divine power as a reward for protecting the holy kingdom.
Rey responded to Beriss words like a child throwing a tantrum.
Just because commoners are holding a ball doesnt mean its value decreases. Its not that bad no matter what.
Then he shook his head slightly and scoffed at Rey.
You dont know yet, Saint. How foolish they are.
Beriss words became more and more radical, thinking that everyone around him was looking up to him.
Greyan kept giving Beris glances, but he was in the middle of feeling superior to the saint, who couldnt refute his mockery, so he didnt notice.
Rey smirked secretly and spoke.
Master Beris said, I didnt know. Why did they say they were foolish? In fact, Master Beris, did you not feel superior by belittling them?
Beris felt irritated by the saints unexpected counterattack.
Just one more step.
Perhaps he wanted to maintain his superior position during the conversation and decided to spew out even more radical words.
As Rey expected, Beris puffed out his chest to appear confident to everyone.
I felt superior by belittling commoners? The Duke Heralds family was not small enough to feel superior by belittling them.
He chuckled.
Was the reason why you defended them because
Beris smiled as well.
Werent you also a commoner like them in the past, Saint?
As soon as he finished speaking, Iriel covered her mouth with her hand.
Beris was out of his mind. There had to be a limit even if he wanted to die.
What nonsense was he spouting to the greatest sorcerer in history!
It would have been better to curse the Pope in front of the cathedral.
The reactions of those around her were not much different from hers.
Beriss face, which had just turned pale, was now completely ashen.
Suddenly, someone approached the door of the hall like a flash of light.
In an instant, Zik drew his sword and slashed at Beriss neck, executing a clean action. Rey hurriedly gathered mana to block it.
Kang-
With a huge noise, even the musicians were surprised and stopped playing music.
Beriss pale face was now completely white.
The owner of the drawn sword was Zik.
He quickly knelt on one knee and submitted to Rey.
I am truly sorry to show myself to the Saint in this manner for the first time. I had no choice but to step forward, as I felt I must cut off this filthy mouth. Please forgive my rudeness.
The audience was silent. To see Zik of the Tray family kneeling was a sight to behold.
The sight was one no one had ever seen before. They merely stared at the unfolding situation, unable to breathe or speak due to its magnitude.
Yet it was Zik who was surprised by the Saint. He understood his duty to serve and protect the Lord.
He also understood that he was the one who should protect him. However, he didnt realize that the Saint could deflect a sword swung with full force in anger in such a brief moment.
I heard hes only fifteen, but this power is
His hand went numb. Yet the Saint didnt seem numb at all; his expression suggested that nothing had happened.
Naturally, Zik bowed his head deeply.
Ray, too, was taken aback.
For someone with a hot-headed personality, who typically drew his sword first and asked questions later.
To imagine that he would go so far as to attempt to behead someone The intent to kill Beris was palpable in his sword.
Im glad I learned at least a little swordsmanship.
Had his swordsmanship been lacking, Beris could have been beheaded by the swords energy and died.
Such was the skill and power of the man kneeling before him.
Likely even more than his father.
He looks young, though.
Ray sighed in relief that Beris hadnt died.
However, it wasnt over yet; shortly thereafter, Euclid quietly approached from behind.
She whispered softly.
How dare Duke Harolds family mock the Saint without knowing their place. This should not have happened.
Zik also turned his gaze to her.
The Bellacrua family. A family with qualifications equal to his own.
Their wealth was so immense that they were known as the treasury of the Holy Kingdom.
Including himself, he had angered her and her family, so they wouldnt let this go.
Ray also had no intention of letting this go. In fact, he was considering making an example of them.
Euclid, summon Duke Harold.
Understood.
She didnt move at her usual leisurely pace. She vanished as soon as she spoke.
Ray looked at her and spoke to Iriel.
Iriel, what kind of punishment should I have given them in this situation?
She answered him coldly.
The words he just spoke fell within the permissible range for capital punishment.
Thats why Zik almost executed Beris on the spot.
Ray was lost in thought for a moment. Capital punishment It wasnt a punishment he was particularly fond of.
He asked Iriel.
What do you think was an appropriate punishment in this situation?
The Saint was an unprecedented great wizard and a representative of God.
Moreover, he had won the peoples hearts from the first day, and countless nobles wanted to be in his good graces.
So, for Iriel, Rays question was one with a predetermined answer.
Without giving it much thought, she immediately answered.
Capital punishment.
Upon hearing Iriels words, Beris and the surrounding nobles shuddered.
My God even if its Duke Harolds family, capital punishment is
Its what Miss Iriel said. It was probably really going to be capital punishment.
Ray shook his head.
If we excluded capital punishment?
We could have abolished his title, making it impossible for him to succeed the Duke, and confiscated their property.
It was a better method than capital punishment. At that moment, Euclid returned with Duke Harold, who was panting heavily.
After hearing the whole story, his face turned pale, and without even thinking to greet the two adults, he immediately slapped Beris on the cheek.
Whack-
Aaack!
It definitely sounded like he was hit with a fist rather than a palm, echoing delightfully throughout the lobby.
Everyone was appalled and just watched in shock.
However, the dukes hand did not stop.
Whack- thump-
Sob Dad
It resounded refreshingly like firewood cracking.
I told you so!
There was something the others felt in the dukes words.
They had all heard the same words from their parents as they ascended to the second-floor lobby.
Do not go against the Saints wishes.
Follow whatever he says, no matter what!
Stick by his side no matter what! Strive to leave a good impression!
They had thought it was merely a warning against acting foolishly.
But now, they understood it was more than that.
They were nobles, and among those who highly valued their dignity, Harold Dukedoms family was at the top.
And yet, there was the head of the Dukes family, beating his son in front of many onlookers.
It was certainly not a typical scene.
Euclid spoke quietly to the Duke.
What sort of disgrace is this in front of the Saint?
At these words, the Duke immediately stopped beating Beris and stood still.
Then he quickly prostrated himself and paid his respects to Ray and Iriel.
I apologize! I am Duke Harold, and I am here to meet the Saint and the Saintess! Please forgive my rudeness just now!
Iriel was angry with Duke Harold.
Who had he entrusted his sons education to, to allow such nonsense to be spouted in front of the chosen saint?
If because of Beris, the Saint turned his back on the holy kingdom and returned to the kingdom of Silia, it would be a national disaster.
No matter how much mana changed into divine power, he was someone who, at the age of fifteen, had achieved what no one else had.
Without him In the worst-case scenario, if he went to the kingdom of Silia with mana, it would be like discarding a feast that God had personally prepared for them on the street.
Moreover, now that more than half a day had passed, the neighboring kingdom of Silia might have already heard about this.
In that case, the kingdom of Silia might not hesitate to wage war to claim the 9th circle great wizard for themselves.
Whoever had him would have the power to control the continents fate.
So, her anger was only natural.
The rudeness Beris showed to the Saint is unacceptable. Naturally, Duke Harold must pay for his transgressions.
If you speak of transgressions
Duke Harold asked anxiously, filled with apprehension.
Nobles around him, curious about the situation, moved from the second-floor building to the first-floor lobby.
Everyone wore serious expressions; it seemed they had heard some of the dukes story.
Ray asked the duke directly.
What sins are you prepared to atone for in this situation?
It was akin to when parents asked their children, You did something wrong, didnt you? How many punishments are you willing to accept?
He was testing him. He was probing the kind of thoughts Duke Harold harbored.
It might be regrettable to lose everything he had achieved. However, if the duke only focused on that, Ray would not hesitate to strip everything from him.
Disowning his son was also an option. That way, they could mitigate the responsibility for what Beris had done.
But if the duke chose that path, Ray also contemplated imprisoning them.
Eventually, the tightly sealed lips of the duke began to part.
If you show mercy and spare my sons life I will relinquish the title of duke.
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