Chapter 213
"Th-that's not it... I mean."
Austria stammered with a flustered expression before lowering her head deeply.
"Y-you're doing this for me, so how could I possibly dislike it?"
For some reason, she felt the sympathetic gazes of Aslan and Serang behind her, but Austria was too distracted to notice.
"Mr. Kraush."
Instead of her, it was the Saintess's Holy Knight, Diona, who stepped forward.
She was a highly skilled individual even among the Holy Knights.
Possessing the qualifications to act as Austria's guard, she carefully asked Kraush.
"You mentioned breaking the Holy Grail. Do you know its location?"
If he wanted to destroy the Holy Grail, he at least needed to know where it was.
Hearing her question, Kraush stepped aside.
Standing there was Mirey Beakis.
Her striking blue hair left a strong impression as she stepped forward and bowed her head slightly.
"I know the location of the Holy Grail."
"Are you saying this, Cardinal Mirey Beakis?"
Diona's expression became subtle.
A faint trace of discomfort also appeared on her face.
After all, the leader of the Opposition Faction was none other than her father, Tersada Beakis.
It was suspicious that she, of all people, was helping their side.
However, Mirey looked at the Saintess Austria instead of Diona.
"I owe my life to the Saintess. The reason I can stand here now, after having fallen as a servant of the World Erosion Beings, is purely thanks to the Saintess."
As she said, under normal circumstances, Mirey would have been executed without a doubt.
If it became known that a Cardinal recognized by the Holy Kingdom had been tainted as a servant of the World Erosion Beings, the Holy Kingdom's reputation would be endangered.
The one who actively stepped forward to help was none other than Austria.
Though it was partly because Kraush had asked her to.
Austria was someone who had experienced the most unjust situations within the Holy Kingdom.
Perhaps that's why Austria couldn't bear to see Mirey executed in such a manner.
So Austria did her best to save Mirey.
"I clearly saw with my own eyes the Saintess negotiating directly with the Holy Kingdom."
Mirey recalled the day she was dragged to the Holy Kingdom.
She remembered being bound in chains, kneeling, with Austria standing by her side.
She had been despised, having become a servant of the World Erosion Beings without knowing why.
[This is a place to punish those who have sinned. If someone innocent suffers unjust consequences, it tarnishes the name of the Holy Kingdom.]
Mirey vividly remembered Austria's words as she shielded her back then.
[Because this is Freeman, we must protect Cardinal Mirey Beakis. Surely, God, with His vast mercy, would have done the same.]
Mirey clasped her hands together in prayer and knelt.
That gesture conveyed her respect toward Austria.
"Austria is indeed the Saintess. I saw the true Saintess at that moment."
Someone who, despite facing the most unreasonable circumstances, stood against the injustice of the Holy Royal Family for others.
Who could possibly deny calling such a person the Saintess?
Austria's eyes began to widen slightly.
Because she felt that the good deeds she had done as the Saintess were not in vain.
Austria might not realize it, but her benevolence always moved someone.
This time, the one moved by her actions was Mirey Beakis.
A gentle smile appeared on Mirey's lips.
"I couldn't possibly ignore the opportunity to repay the grace I received from the Saintess. The debt I owe to the Saintess of Freeman is so great that I wanted to repay it, even in this way."
"Cardinal Mirey Beakis..."
Feeling her sincerity, Austria embraced Mirey's shoulders.
The smile on her lips, as radiant as the sun, shone brilliantly.
"Thank you. I gratefully accept your intentions."
That scene was truly befitting of the title of Saintess.
Kraush let out a short laugh.
'Mirey isn't the only one moved by her good deeds.'
The same applied to Kraush.
After all, he owed his life to Austria in a way he could never repay.
So this time, it was Kraush's turn to repay her.
"The path to the Holy Grail won't be easy."
Diona looked at Austria with concern.
For her, Austria's safety was the top priority.
She was also worried about the risk to Austria's life later due to the Opposition Faction.
But for now, the path to the Holy Grail itself was a mountain of concern.
"Don't worry."
However, Kraush decided to ease that worry.
"I'll clear the path for the Saintess at full speed."
This was his area of expertise.
Hearing Kraush's confident declaration, Austria raised her head as if she had made up her mind.
"Alright. Let's go destroy the Holy Kingdom."
The Holy Grail, hidden away by Freeman of the Holy Royal Family to create a Saintess.
They decided to destroy it.
Kraush turned to look at one last person.
"So, what does the esteemed Astrologer think?"
The person Kraush addressed was none other than Serang.
She slowly turned to face Kraush after taking a sip of tea.
"Does the girl's story matter? The moment I speak, it might act as a prophecy for anything."
"I simply want to hear your opinion. Avoiding dangerous moves is the right thing to do."
Kraush was certain that Serang had seen through the stars that something would happen to Austria this time.
And, as he said, it wasn't entirely wrong.
However, if there was one problem.
'I can't see anything when it comes to you.'
Serang's astrology was undoubtedly exceptional, befitting the bloodline of Sephira.
But when it came to Kraush, it was strangely obscured, as if shrouded in darkness.
This time, too, she saw that there would be a problem with Austria, but it was unclear, as if veiled in darkness.
It was as if Kraush's future couldn't be determined with a single conclusion.
'A branching point, perhaps.'
A single action that could change the future.
Perhaps Kraush possessed the power to defy such a fate.
'More importantly, why do you keep gaining more skills every time we meet?'
Truly, in many ways, he was an enigmatic person, but one thing was certain.
"The Pitch-Black Star slightly tilted toward Freeman."
The Pitch-Black Star.
It was always a star that signaled danger.
When such a star tilted toward Freeman, bad events often occurred.
"As you said, it wouldn't hurt to be cautious, would it? While I can't directly assist Austria, we'll handle the star leaning toward Freeman."
Serang said this while glancing at Blavi.
Then Blavi gave a short nod.
It meant he would personally step in if an incident occurred.
It was a kind of safety device.
"So please take good care of the girl's friend."
Serang smiled at Austria.
Long ago, she had always acted like the Saintess in front of others, but when alone, her face was always worn down by life.
Now, without a doubt, she had the face of a young girl.
Serang hoped that face would continue to linger in Austria's mind.
"I've always thought so. I'll take responsibility for it for the rest of my life."
Then Kraush responded without a hint of hesitation.
It was such an easy statement to misinterpret that Austria's face turned so red she could no longer look at anything white. It was a secret.
* * *
Festival of the Gods.
Thanks to the festival, which took place after the autumn harvest and was based on abundant crops, Freeman was more crowded with people than ever.
As the largest festival held annually, the Festival of the Gods.
It attracted countless crowds from all over to enjoy the event.
Among them were people performing dazzling circus acts, ordinary street vendors, and spectators.
Many people were enjoying the festival.
Amid the festival, there were those making suspicious movements.
They appeared to be street vendors or spectators, but they were exchanging messages using magic communication devices in their hands.
[ Yes, Zone B is clear. ]
[ Zone A is the same. ]
They were members of the Opposition Faction against Freeman's Holy Royal Family.
Today was the day to launch a large-scale religious revolution.
It was the day to uproot the rotten Holy Royal Family and usher in a new era.
They had prepared extensively for today.
At the festival, they would expose the Holy Royal Family's wrongdoings on a grand scale, revealing the secrets of the Holy Grail and the Saintess in front of everyone.
That wasn't all.
Already, through their networks, exclusive information containing the Holy Royal Family's scandals was being distributed to various places.
The moment the incident at the festival erupted, articles would be published simultaneously worldwide.
If that happened, the Holy Royal Family would face irreversible consequences.
Inside the building of the Grand Temple overlooking the festival.
Tersada called for someone.
"Mr. Kraush Balheim, are you ready?"
"Yes."
He was none other than Kraush Balheim.
The youngest of the Balheim Family and a figure of great interest.
And riding on that interest, he was the hidden card that would cleanly transform Freeman this time.
Kraush's attire, at Tersada's request, was entirely white.
Furthermore, the intangible aura emanating from him made him stand out even more.
To the extent that today, he even seemed to exude divine power.
Tersada recalled the conversation he had with Kraush the previous night.
[ Let's do it, Hero. ]
Following Tersada's request to make a decision by tonight, Kraush gave his reply.
[ However, I will proceed in a way that minimizes harm to Austria. ]
And as expected, the other side brought the anticipated response.
Hearing that response, Tersada nodded willingly with a benevolent smile.
[ No harm will come to the Saintess. ]
With that, Kraush was set to become Freeman's new hero.
The white sword shining at his waist was proof of that.
The Holy Sword, one of the Ten Great Heavenly Swords.
Unlike other swords, the aura emanating from the sword, named with just two characters, was utterly divine.
Those who wielded the Holy Sword had always been regarded as heroes.
Therefore, once this mission was completed, Kraush would undoubtedly become a hero representing Freeman.
He was a figure perfectly suited to usher in a new Freeman.
"Good. Then it's time to start the real festival."
Saying this, Tersada approached the window.
"Benox."
Then he called someone through the magic communication device in his hand.
"Prepare the Holy Grail."
It was time to bring the Holy Grail to the surface.
As he said this and waited for a response.
Why was it?
Strangely, even though quite some time had passed, there was no reply.
As he began to show signs of doubt.
Zzzt-
A noise-filled sound echoed once.
A bad feeling began to creep in.
The moment Tersada shook the magic communication device once.
[ Ah, yes, everything's ready. ]
Hearing the returned voice, his eyes began to widen.
And he quickly turned his head back.
There, Kraush was still standing.
The white attire and the Holy Sword.
Even upon closer inspection, it was undoubtedly Kraush.
"Is something wrong?"
When Kraush asked with a hint of curiosity, Tersada remained silent with a hardened expression.
Because the corners of Kraush's mouth were subtly curling upward.
It was strange.
The voice that had just come from the magic communication device was undoubtedly.
Kraush's voice.
"......Who are you?"
The moment he asked the question, Kraush's figure began to scatter.
Seeing this, Tersada's eyes widened further.
Because there was familiar blue hair.
"Father, I'm sorry."
Mirey Beakis.
She, who should have been waiting in her room on his orders, was there.
Using her skill 'Mirror' to impersonate Kraush.
"Then, where is the real Kraush Balheim?"
The moment Tersada hurriedly looked out the window.
Boom!
Pitch-black flames shot up into the sky.
Flames so black that they seemed to burn even Tersada's insides to ash.