Chapter 101

Chapter 101: Salvation in the Secret Passage

The place the secret passage led to seemed to be an underground waterway, as the distinctively dirty and musty smell of a sewer wafted through the air.

Elwin and the Spero members landed safely on the narrow floor and looked around.

It was dark, as if basic maintenance hadn't been done.

“Light, Detection.”

As soon as Sercia entered, she cast spells in succession.

Illumination magic and detection magic.

Whooong!

Then, a vermilion ball of light floated in the air, and on the floor, the shapes of several people's footprints were revealed.

As if showing the urgent situation, footprints of various shapes were tangled chaotically.

“It’s that way. I sense a series of life reactions at a considerable distance.”

Sercia, who had closed her eyes as if sensing the magic, soon pointed to one of the several diverging paths.

The three of them nodded and entered it.

As if they didn't doubt Sercia's words, with a natural attitude.

“Kiddo. How did you know?”

“Hmm? What are you talking about?”

While dashing forward at high speed, Gale asked, sticking close to Elwin who was leading the way.

“About this secret passage! I never even dreamed there was such a place.”

“Ah~ that? That’s just how these powerful people are. They always prepare a corner or two to escape through.”

Elwin continued, as if it were obvious.

“Besides, if they had succeeded in assassinating the king, they wouldn't have mutilated the throne, which symbolizes the absolute royal authority of the kingdom, to that extent. The same goes for brutally slaughtering the people of the royal castle. It’s like they’re just venting their anger.”

“……Aha? I see. That’s one way to look at it.”

Gale murmured in admiration.

It was a perspective he hadn't considered at all.

“Lastly, I happen to have better eyes than others.”

“What eyes?”

Leaving the bewildered Gale behind, Elwin narrowed his brow and stared ahead.

“……Wait, what’s that?”

Elwin strongly imbued the foot he stepped forward with mana, and his form instantly disappeared.

As the remaining three hurriedly increased their speed to follow him.

“…….”

There, Elwin was seen crouching in front of a corpse, checking its pulse.

It was an old woman with pale blonde hair streaked with white.

“That person is?”

“……She has passed away.”

Elwin, who could detect nearby life reactions and presences just by a cursory glance.

Now, he was so agitated that he was personally confirming the evidence of the old woman's death.

“Who is this person?”

Even with a rough look, it was clear that the deceased had been of noble status before her death.

Although the dress she wore was soaked in blood, its splendid appearance had not faded.

Her hair, though somewhat disheveled, was braided into a complex style, clearly done with great care by skilled maids.

“Marizia Silla von Batevil.”

Clatter, Elwin picked up something that had fallen beside her.

A silver crown that would have shone most brilliantly atop her faded blonde hair, weathered by the years.

“……Her Majesty the Queen. The wife of the current King of Batevil Kingdom, Albinious II.”

“Ah…….”

“Wha, what did you say!?”

“Such a thing……!!”

The three of them made shocked expressions.

Having already seen the horrific state of the Batevil royal castle, they had anticipated that the royalty might not be safe, but seeing a royal assassinated like this…… it felt strange.

This was because they had all been active or affiliated with monarchical nations for a long time.

“Keuk…….”

Among them, Calix, who hailed from a renowned knightly family and whose loyalty to the Arad royal family had not wavered, grimaced as if in pain.

Highly empathetic, he seemed to be identifying with the feelings of the Batevil knights who had failed to protect their sovereign.

“May she rest in peace.”

Elwin, who closed the eyes that were wide open as if filled with resentment, stood up.

He took off his long robe and covered the Queen's body.

“Let’s go faster. His Majesty Albinious might still be safe.”

A silver crown was tightly clenched in Elwin's hand as he stood up with a hardened expression.

* * *

Meanwhile, the loyal retainers of the Batevil Kingdom, attempting to escape with King Albinious, briefly halted their hurried steps.

“Keuk……!!”

“Are you alright, Your Majesty!?”

“It must be painful, but please, do not lose consciousness!”

Though every moment was urgent and precious…….

They were too steadfast in character to ignore the King’s condition, who was groaning from a severe abdominal injury, and continue the forced march.

“I apologize……. I am ashamed that I seem to be holding you all back.”

“Please do not say such things…….”

“Steel your heart, Your Majesty. For the sake of Her late Majesty the Queen, you, who are the foundation and dignity of the nation, must survive.”

“……Mari.”

The old, pain-streaked face contorted sorrowfully.

The last image of his lifelong partner, with whom he had relied on for so long, came to mind.

-I am done for, so leave me behind. My beloved Albi, you must…… survive.

For some reason, the descendants of the Batevil royal family had been caught up in various incidents and accidents, dying off over generations, so the only royals currently in the castle were the King and Queen, just the two of them.

Therefore, many loyal subjects and officials had tried to protect them with their lives, but that too had failed, and they had lost another noble royal.

-Uwahahaha! Detestable Batevil royals! Die, dieeee─!

It was because he had been stabbed by a retainer he had trusted and relied on for decades.

The ominous blade, aimed at the King’s heart, had been deflected by the Queen who noticed it.

What he thought was a short knife suddenly extended, pierced the frail Queen, and inflicted a fatal wound on the King’s abdomen.

They had managed to kill the nefarious traitor who dared to attempt regicide, but what good did it do?

In the end, Batevil had lost its benevolent Queen…….

“It is all due to my lack of virtue. I could not protect the people, nor the retainers, nor my spouse…… no one.”

The King tilted his head back and lamented briefly.

As if resenting the god who would impassively watch over the grief-stricken earth from a cozy heaven.

“Merciful Father, why do You bestow such trials upon us, Batevil?”

“Your Majesty…….”

“However, your words are correct.”

At first glance, the King seemed to have despaired, his head hung low towards the ground.

“I must live. ……Indeed! I must survive!”

Soon, the King, who straightened his back, had eyes that gleamed with a frightening intensity.

It was always humans who moved vibrantly in reality, writing history.

God merely watched from afar.

“So, I must audaciously uncover the identities of the heinous villains who trespassed upon our Batevil with muddy feet and took the precious lives of our people!”

The King was weaker than anyone present, but his figure, as he declared this boldly, was grander than anyone else’s.

The unique dignity of one who had lived his entire life as a ruler.

“I will surely punish the traitors who have thrown Batevil into chaos, and make known the sternness of the national law to the whole world!”

“Yes-! It shall rightly be so!”

The retainers, impressed by this, exclaimed.

“Yes. We have delayed because of me. Let us depart again. A little further, and there is an exit leading to the outskirts of Skya.”

Albinious II tried to boost the morale of his surrounding retainers, even as he sweated profusely from the pain.

But…… It was then!

Pyooong-!

“Keoheok!”

An arrow, flying unexpectedly from somewhere, instantly pierced the head of the outermost royal guard.

Simultaneously, an ominous voice echoed through the narrow passage.

“The King has been found!”

Thump, his heart sank chillingly.

Udadadada-!

The sound of traitors in black masks rushing in from the front, back, and both sides could be heard.

Soon, those cruel traitors would surround him and his retainers.

“Your Majesty. We will surely protect you.”

The Batevil Royal Guard Captain whispered resolutely.

“……If I do not trust you, whom shall I trust? I do trust you.”

However, both the speaking Royal Guard Captain and the responding King knew.

No matter how bravely the knights fought and tried to protect him, they were already outnumbered.

The Batevil soldiers, as well as the elite knights of the Royal Guard, must have all been wiped out in the royal castle buying time for the King and Queen to escape.

Moreover, this underground passage was narrow and shallow, making it unsuitable for the knights to display their full skills.

‘So, I depart without being able to exact any revenge.’

The King let out a hollow laugh and squeezed his eyes shut.

Ah! God, why are you so cruel……!

“……?”

However, God always helps those who try to help themselves.

He had trembled at the imminent slaughter, but what was this?

The screams were erupting not from them, but from the wicked ones who had attacked them.

“N-No, what is this!?”

The King, who cautiously opened his eyes, soon widened them to their limit in astonishment.

“Who are those people?”

Four individuals, who had suddenly appeared, were fighting against the men in black masks.

Even at a glance, the four were overwhelmingly dominant!

They swept through by extending their blades, or continued with unpredictable attacks, freely switching between sword and spear.

They threw blazing fireballs from their hands, neutralizing the men in black masks.

But among them, the one who stood out by far was.

‘That blond boy? Young man…… who on earth is he?’

Even to the King, who was not very knowledgeable about martial arts, he looked formidable.

Of course, the others also seemed strong enough, but that boy was on a different level.

Seeing him use a sword, he seemed to be a swordsman, but he was too quick and swift for his movements to be read at all.

He could only guess by watching the people fall like autumn leaves.

That he was moving.

“……Phew. Miss Sercia, are there any more life signs around?”

“No. It seems there are no more in this vicinity.”

“My dear young master. I took down more than you did!”

“Ha, can’t you even count properly?”

The individuals who had defeated all the black-masked attackers in an instant then turned to look at their group.

The blond boy’s clear gaze turned towards Albinious II, who was among the royal guards.

“……Found him.”

The knights, who had been watching blankly, quickly raised their guard and pointed their spears at them.

“Who are you! Reveal your identities!”

“Are you on the side of the traitors?!”

“Stop! If you come any closer, we will attack!”

However, they paid no heed and slowly approached.

With their hands raised, as if to show they had no intention to attack.

Stopping at a slight distance, the blond boy stepped out from among them.

This boy must be the leader of the group.

“Are you His Majesty Albinious II, King of the Batevil royal family?”

“……That is correct. And who might you be?”

The boy exuded an air that felt somehow extraordinary.

The King spoke, inadvertently using honorifics towards him.

Swish-!

Then, the blond boy took something out from his bosom.

The Batevil King and his retainers, who had reflexively tensed up, were soon startled by what they saw.

“Th-That is!?”

Nexion.

[This certifies that the individual before you is a member of the World Hunter Association.]

A large image floated in the air.

A polygonal yellow star and six white stars surrounding it.

The emblem of the World Hunter Association.

“We are members of Spero, an organization directly under the Top Hunter of Yellow.”

In perfect unison, with one hand on their heart and the other behind their back, the four people bowed their heads respectfully.

“Under the orders of the Top Hunter of Yellow, we have come to rescue the Batevil royal family, who are in danger.”

“Ahh, God……!!”

Finally, a tear streamed down the King’s dry cheek.

Despite all the resentment he had cast, the merciful God had sent them saviors of rescue.