Betrayal Knight's Joyful Faith

Chapter 394

After a brief clash, Roger came to that conclusion.The Holy Sword the hero wielded was rough and ferocious, and it wasn’t much different from when he had completely lost his mind in the Great Temple.

His expressionless, yet eerie blue eyes seemed to sparkle with flames that could burn anyone who came too close.

Roger squinted his eyes beneath his mask.

‘Hatred and anger?’

If he had to name the two driving forces that were driving Laius right now, it would probably be those two.

The murderous intent pouring out towards him was so intense that his fingertips were tingling.

As the hero’s adversary, he had a premonition that one day he would confront the Holy Sword directly.

‘But I never thought it would turn out like this.’

Feeling insulted, Roger became somewhat offended.

Had it not been for the divine power keeping his mind in check, he might have been consumed by rage.

Roger, who had knocked away Laius’ sword, leaped backwards and gained some distance.

“Hero. I recognize your strength…”

Roger landed lightly and fixed Laius with a chilling gaze.

“It seems you’re not as great a man as I first thought. Don’t let your personal feelings tarnish the great undertaking.”

“A great man…”

Laius gave his sword a quick shake and strode toward Roger.

“I’m not quite sure how you saw me. Honestly, that’s none of my concern.”

Words Roger could not have imagined came out of the hero’s mouth.

Roger’s brow furrowed beneath his mask.

“What?”

“I was never someone remarkable to begin with. I’m weak, and like someone had said, so soft-hearted that there are many times when I can’t even tell right from wrong.”

Laius looked straight at Roger and continued speaking slowly.

“So I am not a great man fit for such a great undertaking. You have made a big mistake.”

“…Heh.”

After a long pause, Roger let out a hollow laugh.

“Don’t you know that excessive humility is also impious? Or do you dare to deny God’s choice?”

For the current Laius, belittling himself carried that very meaning.

God Luce had clearly chosen Laius as his hero. The Holy Sword in his hand was proof of that.

“It was definitely Lord Luce who bestowed upon me the Holy Sword. If that’s the case, I can only express some regret regarding his judgment, for I was never cut out to be a hero from the start.”

Laius added, adjusting his grip on his sword.

“But now that it’s in my hands, there’s no need to hesitate.”

“…Stop insulting our fight.”

Finally, Roger, who couldn’t stand to hear more, warned him.

The flames caused by the Blessing of Karma grew more intense as if representing his surging emotions.

But Laius didn’t stop speaking.

“Was there ever anything to insult in the first place? You and I are both insignificant beings. Was this fight ever meant for great men?”

His bright blue eyes clearly revealed the anger he tried to conceal.

“I don’t know anymore.”

Every moment of it was still vivid.

Everything from that time was still etched beneath his eyelids like a scar.

Although he survived, whether by God’s grace or a trick, Arendt was tormented by pain.

But rather than being defeated, Arendt chose to confront it head on.

‘In the end, it was because of my shortcomings.’

Laius gritted his teeth.

All the more reason for Laius to remain faithful to the role given to him.

The Holy Sword and the title of Hero were now only for that purpose.

“What stands before you now isn’t some hero… but a miserable knight captain consumed by vengeance after nearly losing his young subordinate.”

Laius gripped his sword tightly and glared at Roger.

“You are nothing but my enemy. Don’t you dare use any grand titles like ‘hero’ or ‘rival’. What truly matters right now is something far less lofty, right?”

Roger’s face hardened behind his mask.

“Arrogant bastard.”

After that, the conversation abruptly ended.

It was because Laius, who had channeled strong holy power into the Holy Sword, once again struck the ground as he advanced toward him.

Roger gritted his teeth and ignited the flames once again.

The moment when the two were about to clash head-on again…

Thunder struck down from a sky thick with stormy, dark magic.

In the aftermath, buildings in the immediate vicinity were destroyed in an instant.

But Laius and Roger did not stop moving. The sword engulfed in flames and the sword clad in holy power clashed head-on, tearing through the air once again.

“…Are you okay?”

A gentle voice came from just above his head. He also felt a hand gently stroking his forehead.

Salem couldn’t open his eyes for a while because of the drowsiness that was creeping in. The thought that it wouldn’t be bad to just fall asleep crept into his hazy consciousness.

He was so tired.

It didn’t seem like a bad idea to just close his eyes and fall into a deep sleep.

But just as Salem was about to succumb to the temptation of rest, a strange scent of blood brushed past his nostrils.

“…!”

Salem took a deep breath and suddenly sprang up. The person who had been tending to him just moments before hesitated and stepped back.

As he looked around blankly, an unfamiliar sight caught his eye.

Though the surroundings were still shrouded in darkness, a proper hallway greeted Salem instead of the dilapidated warehouse.

Above his head, a gaping hole remained where he had fallen, occasionally dropping rotten pieces of wood.

The smell of blood seemed to come from his own hands, which he had not yet been able to wipe off.

“…”

Dazed, Salem turned his head toward the person sitting right beside him.

The woman, meeting the boy’s gaze, asked cautiously.

“Are you okay? Does anything hurt?”

Salem found himself lost in thought for a moment.

The voice was gentle, yet carried a strange tone. Her appearance, which seemed to be blending into the darkness, was far from ordinary.

‘It’s pure white.’

Even in the darkness, her pale white skin stood out as if it were glowing on its own.

In contrast to that, her long flowing hair was pitch black, as if cut from the night sky itself.

Her fingertips that cautiously reached toward Salem were so slender they looked as if they might break at the slightest touch.

She was so beautiful that he forgot the situation for a moment and was completely entranced, yet he felt no trace of life in her.

As if she was not a living person…

‘It’s like looking at a porcelain doll.’

Salem swallowed dryly.

But Ray and Luna sat comfortably, as if her slender shoulders were a comfortable perch.

“Have you seen everything?”

When she finally spoke, Salem, who had been staring blankly, straightened up in surprise.

“Ah, I, I’m sorry. I think I was staring too much…”

“It’s alright. Since we met in a place like this, it’s only natural to be surprised.”

The woman answered quietly with a soft smile.

“Does anything hurt anywhere?”

“No… It doesn’t seem like there are any particular injuries.”

Salem nodded absentmindedly, still dazed.

He couldn’t figure out what was happening.

More than anything else, the identity of the woman before his eyes was the most puzzling.

The spirits, who rarely approached anyone unless they were elves, were acting cute by rubbing their small beaks on the woman’s cheeks.

”She doesn’t seem like a bad person since the spirits approached her…’

As soon as that thought crossed his mind, the woman smiled lightly and stroked Luna’s head with her white fingertips.

“You’re cute. But isn’t your master over there?”

Ah…?”

A bewildered voice flowed out from Salem’s mouth.

“Can you see them?”

“Well… why don’t you think about that question again?”

She asked back with a playful smile.

Only then did Salem realize that she had never opened her eyelids before.

“Because they are so caught up in things like sight, most most people don’t even realize such a lovely existence.”

As the woman reached out her hand, Ray settled lightly on her fingertips.

Only then did she slowly open her eyes.

Her silver eyes, resembling the moon in the sky, were clearly visible in the darkness.

Salem took a sharp breath.

Colorless, transparent pupils reflected the surprised expression on his face.

It seemed her visual function was already completely lost. Yet, that didn’t seem to be much of a problem for her.

“In the end, the essence that light reveals is utterly shallow. You’re the shadow clan’s shaman, right? A rare and exceptional individual.”

She continued, her eyes sparkling with delight.

“Having met you here under the merciful shade, this too must be Lord Chernion’s blessing. What is your name?”

“…Yes?”

Salem, who had been asking stupidly, felt his blood run cold a beat later.

Only then did he come to his senses and truly take in her features.

Salem had clearly heard of such a being some time ago.

The Saint of the Chernion Cult who entered the realm of the shadow clan alone, calling them apostates and shaking the kingdom in an instant.

“…!”

Salem jumped up, startled. But the saintess just smiled and continued speaking.

“Oh, before asking for your name, should I have revealed my name first? It’s been a long time since I’ve met an outsider, so I forgot for a moment.”

Her silver eyes were hidden beneath her eyelids again.

“My name is Iris. What is yours?”

“Luna, Ray! Come here, quickly!”

Instead of answering, Salem urgently called out to his spirits.

The two spirits tilted their heads in regret, then quickly left Iris and returned to Salem.

Then Iris said with a look of regret.

“Oh. Did I surprise you?”

“Surprise me, what in the world… What on earth are you?”

“Didn’t I just reveal my name?”

Iris tilted her head.

Her jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, following her every movement.

Salem shouted, becoming impatient.

“No, that’s not what I meant!”

“I don’t know why you’re suddenly angry.”

But Iris still had a puzzled expression on her face.

After watching them briefly, Ray and Luna flitted once again toward Iris, happily rubbing their beaks against the tips of her pale fingers.

Salem looked at the sight in astonishment.

Suddenly, the battlefield outside came to mind, its silence lingering like that of a graveyard.

“…”

A gruesome scene where the dead, the wounded, and those still grasping their swords lay entangled in restless slumber.

It was Iris, right before his eyes, who created that miserable sight.

The moment he realized that, Salem’s face paled.

“I don’t think I’ve heard your answer yet, little elf.”

Turning towards Salem with her eyes shut, Iris asked again kindly.

“What is your name?”