Betrayal Knight's Joyful Faith

Chapter 328

After Zakar and Neville left the conference room, Marquis Raytar, who had heard about the situation, rushed into the conference room frantically.As Laius gave a more detailed explanation, the Marquis’ already pale complexion turned even paler and he looked as if he might faint at any moment.

“No, wait, are you saying that the enemy is invading this territory right now?”

It was mind-boggling that his aides suddenly went crazy and they lost their memories.

It was like a bolt from the blue for the Marquis that some of his aides and employees were actually spies of the Evil Cult, and that the territory would now become a battlefield.

“Then, shouldn’t we evacuate the people first? There are no people here who can fight! We can’t abandon the people of the territory…”

The Marquis clutched his head in panic.

Before the Marquis came running, they had already finished discussing the same topic. Isabella hesitated for a moment and then answered.

“Rather than evacuating, I think it would be better for everyone to remain here.”

“Yes?”

Marquis Raytar’s eyes widened at the shocking words.

Then Arendt suddenly intervened.

“The enemy is a dragon anyway. No matter how far you run, you can’t avoid the dragon’s gaze. It’s hard to find a place that can accommodate this many people right now. The sparks could fly to the wrong place.”

“What on earth do you want me to do, then? Are we just going to wait here to die together?”

Arendt frowned in annoyance as the Marquis shouted in a disheveled manner.

“At least let me finish speaking. If you sneak them away without thinking, you might end up with hostages on your hands. You don’t want to end up like the Count Motier family, do you? For now, it’s better to keep them in one place under guard.”

“…”

Only then did Marquis Raytar close his mouth. However, his gaze toward Arendt remained filled with distrust.

“First, tell all the people of the territory to gather at the nearby Luce Temple. If they stay at the temple, the dragon won’t be able to do anything directly. They fear the gods.”

“Ha, but… did you say homunculi and ghouls?”

The Marquis expressed his discomfort at Arendt’s instructions.

“What if those monsters come rushing in to eat people? I heard that the Caerleon Empire’s Great Temple was in ruins.”

“They wouldn’t go to such lengths to wipe out the civilians. Their goal in the first place wasn’t to occupy this territory.”

“Well, what is it then?”

Arendt shrugged his shoulders at the Marquis’ hesitant question.

“There are other prey that are more desirable. Anyway, there is a temple inside your castle, right? Marquis, gather your people and take refuge there. The Royal Knights will protect you.”

It was a calm tone that didn’t really fit the situation.

Since he was saying that he would fight for him if he just hid, the Marquis couldn’t complain any more.

In the end, Marquis Raytar had no choice but to nod.hing? It might be a somewhat sensitive question.”

Isabella spoke first.

“Please go ahead.”

“You said that devotion without compensation is an illusion. If that’s the case…”

At Laius’s permission, Isabella hesitated for a moment, then continued speaking.

“Then, Captain Laius, is there anything you wish for?”

“Yes, there is.”

The answer came back surprisingly quickly. Isabella looked at Laius with slightly surprised eyes.

“Is that so?”

“Because I am also just a human being.”

Laius nodded slowly.

“If I were to dare expect something in return for my faith…”

His blue eyes turned toward the door through which Arendt and Llewellyn had just exited.

“No one dies in front of me.”

It was a simple desire.

Even though he carries the title of Hero and fights while sacrificing his life, all he asks in return is the safety of those around him.

It could be said that this was truly an attitude befitting the Master of the Holy Sword.

But Isabella did not miss the gloomy shadow that passed across the hero’s profile for a moment.

She was somehow reluctant to praise him as a model knight when she saw that.

“…Okay.”

After a brief pause, Isabella simply nodded slowly.

It was because she had a gut feeling that asking him any more questions was something she shouldn’t do.

“Hey.”

Arendt, taking long strides down the hallway, opened his mouth.

“Do you have the artifact?”

Llewellyn, who was following him, responded irritably.

“Of course. How could I come all the way here unprepared to fight?”

“And the magic stones.”

“I took care of that too, you brat. There’s still plenty left over from what you gave me last time.”

Only after hearing the answer did Arendt nod.

“Then later, make sure to slip away and stay close to the Crown Princess.”

“Who are you to give orders to as an apprentice knight? I’ll make my own decisions, so don’t interfere.”

A grumble came from the side.

Arendt shot a sideways glance at him, who had been acting all out of sorts since earlier.

“It’s bothersome.”

“Me? Or my sister?”

“Both.”

“Damn, you shameless brat.”

Llewellyn cursed at the sharp retort.

“I don’t have much magical talent, but when it comes to swordsmanship, my sister is better than me. She can easily protect herself. And Captain Neville will be right there with her, so what’s there to worry about?”

“Whether she dies or not is none of my concern, but I absolutely cannot stand seeing that stupid Prince Matthias become the crown prince. Who would be more troublesome in this situation?”

“…”

That was the only thing he couldn’t refute.

“And you’ll be more useful than Captain Neville, who has no experience fighting ghouls. Anyway, if you want to leave, leave. Who told you to stand guard? Just move with them.”

“Okay, I got it. Anyway, you…”

In the end, Llewellyn had no choice but to put his hands up in surrender.

“But if you do something dangerous again this time, you’ll really die.”

He bared his teeth and growled after all that, but Arendt didn’t even acknowledge it.

“Go ahead and try if you can.”

“Is this the time to joke?”

“I’m not joking.”

Arendt responded indifferently, not even glancing at Llewellyn who was yelling.

“I am more capable than anyone else.”

“You really…”

Llewellyn, who was muttering incoherently, suddenly felt a sense of discomfort he had never felt before.

He stopped walking as if in a trance. Then Arendt, who was walking ahead, also stopped naturally.

“What?”

“…Hey.”

Llewellyn, who had been gazing blankly at the apprentice knight, suddenly stiffened his expression.

Even though he clearly knew that he didn’t have time for this, he seemed unwilling to move.

“What’s the matter?”

Arendt frowned for a moment, trying to figure out what he was thinking, then suddenly realized where his gaze had landed and clicked his tongue.

“Ugh, it’s pointless to be so quick-witted.”

“Is that what you’re talking about right now? Are you crazy…”

Llewellyn, who had been shouting, stopped.

It was because Arendt raised his finger and brought it to his lips.

It was a gesture that somehow could not be resisted.

If he shouted here, it was certain that Captain Laius and the elves, who had sensitive senses, would notice.

If that was the case, Arendt’s plan would go awry in an instant.

“…”

Llewellyn’s face distorted.

Arendt von Eckhart was not a person who acted without reason.

The fact that he didn’t tell his colleagues must mean that it was a plan that could only be successful if kept secret.

“What the heck are you…”

“Listen carefully.”

Arendt silently watched him, his golden eyes, like glass marbles, fixed on him as he murmured vaguely.

“I never do anything that results in a loss. I think it’s about time you realized that.”

As always, a voice was heard, sounding indifferent, yet at the same time confident, and difficult to doubt.

Of course, Llewellyn knew that too.

At first glance, it seemed like Arendt was enjoying gambling recklessly, but in fact, he was more calculating and thorough than anyone else.

If he got hit, Arendt would somehow repay it with more, and he would not stop at stopping the enemy who attacked first, but would somehow screw them over to satisfy his temper.

Llewellyn knew very well that even that was to prevent any damage that might occur later.

However…

“Are you included in that loss?”

Llewellyn asked curtly.

“What?”

Arendt furrowed his brows and asked.

It was a reaction that showed he truly didn’t understand. Llewellyn unconsciously clenched his fist.

His eyes, which always showed a gentle smile, grew cold.

“You said you wouldn’t suffer any loss, right? Does that include your safety and your life?”

“…”

“You say you’re the best and most important. Is that really what you think?”

There was no immediate reply. Unusually, it appeared as though he was briefly rendered speechless.

That alone was enough for Llewellyn.

“There’s nothing I can do about what’s already happened. I’ll even act as an accomplice since it’s a matter of everyone’s safety.”

Llewellyn continued coldly.

“When the fighting starts, I will stick close to Sister Isabella. I will not let anyone die, be it the Royal Knights, the people of the manor, or the Marquis. Because you told me to. But know one thing.”

Llewellyn stepped forward with long strides and spat out each word, almost as if grinding them out.

“I have no intention of using you as a shield to survive. The reason I’m listening to you now is because I trust you. I trust your decision that this is the best way to go in this situation. But there will never be a next time. Do you understand?”

“No, hey…”

A rare look of bewilderment crossed Arendt’s usually indifferent golden eyes.

He tried to say something, but Llewellyn abruptly turned and strode down the corridor, walking ahead.

The anger that had not yet subsided was clearly evident in his brisk strides.

Arendt stood frozen in place, watching the retreating figure in stunned silence, before irritably running his hand through his hair.

“This is driving me crazy.”