Chapter 442

There is a saying that one avoids something not because it’s scary, but because it’s filthy.

However, Olivia Lanche was both a filthy and frightening existence. If anyone pointed a sword at Olivia Lanche, who was stepping forward as if daring them to try and stop her, that very moment could spark a war.

No one was brave or reckless enough to become the flashpoint of a war that could split the continent in two, except for Olivia Lanche.

In the end, Olivia led the contingent of holy knights through the Temple’s gate and arrived in front of the temporary detention building where Reinhart was being confined.

The knights and mages of Shanapell, as well as the Temple guards that had been stationed there, were blocking Olivia from taking even a single step further.

It would have been better for the empire if Olivia had been kept in the dark while watching her closely to determine whether she was on the Demon King’s side or not. However the decision to do otherwise had in fact been the worst decision, and had backfired spectacularly on the empire.

Olivia stood at the front of the contingent of holy knights, facing Vertus, who was blocking her path.

Shanapell and the Imperial Mage Corps were arrayed behind Vertus, while arrayed behind Olivia were the holy knights of the Order of the Holy Knights.

“Move aside,” Olivia said.

“I can’t do that, senior,” Vertus replied.

Vertus, who was on the verge of reaching his breaking point, stared at Olivia with irritation and barely-suppressed anger.

“The authority to hold the Demon King custody lies with us,” Olivia declared. “Hand him over.”

Olivia made her demand nonchalantly, causing Vertus to grit his teeth.

This stubborn fool was totally beyond reason. There was no need to persuade her that her actions might divide the continent and lead humanity to self-destruction.

Whatever reason she might give outwardly, she surely had only one thought in her mind:

‘So what?’

“The empire represents the totality of humanity. Therefore, it is right for the imperial family to decide the fate of the Demon King, the enemy of humanity,” Vertus said.

Olivia chuckled. “Humans are the creations of the Great Gods. The empire might have the right to represent humanity. However, isn’t it natural for the Order of the Holy Knights and the Church of the Five Great Gods, who represent the will of the gods, to hold a higher authority than you? Sure, represent the collective will of humanity all you want”—Olivia’s lips curled into a smile—“but I represent the will of the gods.”

Since the gods were the creators of humanity, the will of the gods superseded the will of humans.

The will of the gods was more righteous. And as the Champion chosen by Ouen, she represented the will of the gods. Opposing her was equivalent to opposing the gods.

Olivia was pushing forward with a terrifying logic. She was demonstrating what consequences could result when a Champion of the Gods used their authority violently.

It was just as Eleris had once told Reinhart. A relic was powerful in itself, but its political utility was even greater. Olivia Lanche was demonstrating the validity of that statement precisely.

Not only Vertus, but the empire’s knights and mages were appalled by Olivia’s attitude.

How was this different from madness? Was it acceptable for a Champion chosen by the gods to be so unreasonable? Why would someone who was willing to commit such tyranny be chosen by the gods in the first place?

Those who were not close to the gods began to doubt the gods’ intentions. However, the holy knights, despite being equally overwhelmed, began to think differently about Olivia’s actions and words.

The holy knights were close to the gods, and the gods were the ultimate authority. Therefore, the masters of the holy relics, the chosen of the gods, their Champions, wielded authority that was closest to that.

The fact that Olivia Lanche, the chosen one of Ouen, was displaying such behavior meant the gods deemed the situation severe enough to warrant such extreme actions.

The violent, reckless, and seemingly mad actions of Ouen’s Champion were not a result of the Champion’s madness, but it was because the gods desired such behavior.

Everything in the world was orchestrated by the gods.

The Champion represented the will of the gods. Thus, the more extreme, blind, and violent Olivia’s tyranny was, the more the believers concluded that the gods required extreme actions.

To those not close to the gods, she appeared as a Champion driven by madness. However, the more the holy knights witnessed Olivia’s tyrannical actions and the more extreme they became, the more these knights came to believe that the gods supported such extreme actions.

The air among the holy knights, who had initially been filled with fear of a potential continent-wide war, began to shift.

They recognized Olivia Lanche’s actions as the will of the gods, which could only be the absolute good, and realized that they could only support her.

Gradually, their eyes began to shine with determination. Faith and belief often led people to conclusions and actions that were different from the norm.

“It is our right to discuss the custody and fate of the Demon King. Does the empire have any grounds to deny this?” Olivia continued, and the holy knights behind her began to exude a more ominous aura.

They had Ouen’s Champion by their side, and they were right. Even if they died there, even if it led to a great war, it was the will of the gods.

If they died there, they would die as close servants to the will of the gods. How could that not be an honor?

“The empire was the one to identify the Demon King and secure him. The Order of the Holy Knights is now trying to usurp the empire’s achievement,” Vertus said, and Olivia tilted her head in acknowledgment.

“Yes,” she said, “I’m grateful that the empire has accomplished such a difficult task. The Church of the Five Great Gods intends to express due respect to the empire and pray for the gods’ blessings to be bestowed on it as a token of appreciation.”

It was sophistry, but in the name of the gods, it all became correct.

Even if they were commanded to see white as black, if it was the word of the gods, it had to be so. The eyes that couldn’t do so were deemed faulty.

If you were told to see black, why do your eyes see white? The gods could say such things, and their Champion was their spokesperson.

“Appreciation is appreciation, and duty is duty. I am not here to claim any achievement, but to fulfill a duty. The duty to determine whether the Demon King is indeed a noble being or not,” Olivia added.

Vertus gritted his teeth. There were many things he could say.

Wasn’t she ultimately doing this to protect the Demon King, with whom she shared mastery of Tiamata? Wasn’t she already impure from the moment she was soul-bound to the Demon King?

Hadn’t she been saved by the Demon King before? Wasn’t she an enemy of humanity?

However, all those words would inevitably lead to a massive conflict with the religious order. To declare that Ouen’s Champion was not pure would already be a grave blasphemy.

To doubt Olivia Lanche’s intentions was, in effect, to doubt the will of the gods.

Of course, the empire was strong. Therefore, it could afford to doubt the will of the gods. Even if the gods were considered absolute, one could simply say they did not agree with it.

The gods, while they were transcendent and lent power to the world, did not grant those who wielded that power the right to represent their absolute will, or so one could argue.

No matter how powerful the Order of the Holy Knights and the Church of the Five Great Gods were, the empire could easily crush them if it so desired. However, religion itself was a focal point, and if the empire tore it apart, it would lose the grand premise that it embraced all humanity.

The empire could annihilate the Church of the Five Great Gods and the Order of the Holy Knights, but in doing so, the empire would collapse.

The empire had been established to unite numerous races, cultures, and beliefs under a common banner: opposing the demons. If that same empire attempted to uproot a massive cultural group, it would inevitably lead to a loss of legitimacy.

Vertus had much to consider and much to protect: the empire, the imperial family, humanity. He had to speak and act to protect these overwhelmingly large entities.

However, Olivia desired only one thing: Reinhart. Therefore, she was willing to throw everything away without considering the consequences, solely to save Reinhart.

“I said, move aside.”

As Olivia took a step forward, the holy knights behind her also stepped forward imposingly.

Shanapell, the Imperial Mage Corps, and Vertus did not back down. However, if the holy knights continued to step forward, a clash was inevitable. The situation was about to explode.

If they handed over the Demon King to Olivia instead of inciting a war, the outcome was obvious. Olivia would argue, whether in a religious trial or elsewhere, that since the Demon King was chosen by the holy relic, the Church of the Five Great Gods had to support him.

Where that path would lead was unclear. War was always the worst option, especially if it was a war among humans.

This flashpoint needed to be defused.

That mad fool’s steps needed to be halted.

“How about having a brief conversation with the Demon King?” Vertus proposed.

“... What?”

“You must surely know that demanding custody is unreasonable, and we also have no intention of denying the legitimacy of the Order of the Holy Knights.”

Vertus somehow had to apply the brakes to prevent this imminent collision. A single wrong word or action could lead to war.

He tossed her a piece of bait.

“Have a brief conversation with the Demon King, and let’s discuss other issues in a calmer setting, rather than resorting to this aggressive approach.”

“...”

Olivia quietly stared at Vertus.

She too knew that war was the worst option, and also did not think it was possible to be granted custody immediately.

Olivia had gone to deliver a practical warning that if they decided the fate of the Demon King recklessly, a massive incident would erupt. She wanted to make the empire hesitate to execute Reinhart immediately, while thinking of another way to save Reinhart in the long term.

The empire was offering her a meeting with Reinhart so that she would step back for the moment.

“Alright,” Olivia said, accepting the proposal. “Lead the way.”

Naturally, not all the holy knights could enter, so only Olivia, as their representative, was allowed inside.

Olivia had no intention of pushing further. She allowed the knights of Shanapell to guide her and entered the detention building.

For the moment, she had bought time.

Once Olivia was out of sight, Vertus approached one of his knights.

Olivia’s justification was in the holy relic she possessed. The Demon King and Olivia Lanche were beings that could not be denied because they had been chosen by such a relic.

However, there was one more. There was a person whose very existence served as justification. Someone who, when compared to Olivia Lanche, was not inferior—and perhaps held an even stronger claim.

“Summon Ellen Artorius right now.”

Ellen Artorius was needed.

***

Olivia was led by the Shanapell knights down to the underground prison where Reinhart was being confined.

Upon her arrival, she had only sensed one thing.

‘Breaking him out by force is impossible.’

The forces outside were a problem, but the ones stationed inside the underground prison were those who had surpassed even the boundaries of superhumans.

To prepare for any unexpected situations, Grandmaster Sabioleen Tana was stationed there, along with numerous archmages and many Swordmasters, all residing in that underground space.

Sabioleen Tana, the key person in charge, was practically living there.

“... I was wondering why there was such commotion,” Sabioleen Tana said, biting her lip as she noticed Olivia’s stern expression.

“I have the prince’s permission to enter,” Olivia said.

Tana furrowed her brow but stepped aside, as if she had already been briefed on the situation. Only then could Olivia see Reinhart, chained up and hanging limply.

He was gagged, and his eyes were unfocused.

Olivia clenched her fists and knelt before Reinhart, who had watched over her for so long, protected her, and now was in such a miserable state.

Olivia quietly used her Divine Power to heal the battered Reinhart. Olivia only observed the situation without taking any further action.

“Reinhart...”

While healing Reinhart, Olivia’s eyes welled up with tears. His unfocused eyes moved, and finally rested on Olivia’s face.

Though the clarity in his gaze had not returned, he recognized Olivia.

“Hey... I... I will...” Olivia muttered.

“...”

“I will, definitely... Save you,” Olivia said as she gently placed her arms around Reinhart’s neck, bound as he was.

After a brief hug, Olivia reached for the gag in Reinhart’s mouth.

Shing!

Sabioleen Tana drew her sword and pointed it at Olivia’s neck.

“It was put there for a reason. Do not touch it.”

“Kill me if you must.”

If she couldn’t even speak with Reinhart, who was in such a pitiful state, she would rather die.

Olivia, ignoring the sword at her neck, removed Reinhart’s gag.

Thud.

Although his physical injuries had been healed by Olivia, Reinhart still remained limp and his gaze seemed unfocused. His strength had yet to return.

Sabioleen Tana ultimately could not bring herself to strike Olivia.

“Reinhart. You did nothing wrong, right? You... You did nothing wrong. We will hold a meeting within the Church of the Five Great Gods to prove you did nothing bad. So—”

“

Noona

...” Reinhart said, calling to Olivia in a ragged, metallic-sounding voice.

It was the first time he had addressed her that way, and Olivia looked at him wide-eyed.

“Don’t...” Reinhart muttered.

“... What?”

“Don’t do that...”

Reinhart spoke quietly with an unfocused gaze, struggling to lift his head.

“You’ll... die if you do...

noona

...”

Even in the state he was in, he was worrying about her, asking her not to do anything dangerous.

“After all the effort I went through to save you... don’t do something so reckless and die...”

𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Those words...

“It would be such a waste...”

Those words finally brought tears to Olivia’s eyes, and she began to sob.

Even in his nearly-broken state, he was worrying about her instead of himself. Olivia couldn’t bear to see Reinhart like this.

Through her tears, Olivia looked at Sabioleen Tana, who’s sword was still pointed at Olivia’s neck.

“Do you really think... he’s an evil Demon King?” she demanded. “Do you really think Reinhart... is evil? Do you really think that? He’s someone who worries about me, even in this state. Even if he is the Demon King... he can’t be evil... he can’t be...

“Reinhart must have had his reasons... There must have been reasons for everything Reinhart has done until now. There’s a possibility... So we should at least... listen to him once.

“Why he did it, and why he had to do it. We can at least hear him out.... Just because he’s the Demon King, just because he’s suspicious... To bind him like an animal, even gag him... Is this right? Beyond the will of the gods... beyond all that... This is just too cruel...

The tip of Sabioleen Tana’s sword, still pointed at the sobbing Olivia, began to tremble.

Was the Demon King truly evil? Even in his situation, he had told Olivia, whom he had saved, not to try to rescue him because of the danger she would face. Could such a being truly be evil? Could even

this

be an act?

“Leaving aside doubts, circumstantial evidence, and all that—what harm has Reinhart actually caused? What exactly has he done...?”

The first attack by the Demon King had been to rescue demon captives being sold into slavery. The Demon King could have done that.

The attack on the Order of the Holy Knights had been to rescue Olivia Lanche, with whom he was close. Reinhart could have done that.

The third attack had been a fabrication by the empire. The Demon King did not do that. It was Sabioleen Tana who had done so, acting under the empire’s orders.

So was the Demon King... evil?

Sabioleen Tana, looking at the sobbing Olivia Lanche and at Reinhart, bit her lip and sheathed her sword. She, too, was desperate to know what the truth was, where the truth ended and the lies began.

Everyone wanted to believe that Reinhart was not evil. However, there was the all-too-intuitive belief that the Demon King could not help but hate humanity.

Suppose the Demon King did not hate humanity. Why? Why in the world would he not, when there were only reasons to hate?

Unable to comprehend this, people felt betrayed and mistrusted the Demon King.

“Please... just listen to what Reinhart has to say... Even just a little... Please... believe him... Believe in Reinhart...”

However, in this situation, it was only Olivia Lanche, who had blind trust and love for the Demon King, who had received decisive help from him several times, who was pleading tearfully to believe in him.