“Hello. I am Sola Artemisia, the Vice Captain of the Sacred Knights.”
The Vice Captain of the Sacred Knights, Sola.
The youngest swordmaster who mastered human swordsmanship and founded the Martial Arts Secrets.
She’s a force that cannot be overlooked when discussing the greatest swordsmen.
And that beast becomes corrupted in the story, turning into one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
Unmatched in sheer strength, she’s truly the strongest.
The RPG team mentioned that, aside from the Final Boss battle, Sola’s fight would boast the highest difficulty.
“Damn. Another task added here.”
I have to stop Sola’s corruption.
If Sola is already corrupted, then I have to eliminate her.
But the problem is…
“Nice to meet you…”
“Yes. It’s a pleasure. I share the same sentiment as the Cardinal. Currently, the Priestess is incapable of rational judgment and is going astray. I can’t bear to see innocent people captured and executed, so I will do my utmost to prevent you from being dragged to the Priestess.”
“You can trust Sola. Think of us as equals, and I ask you to completely follow Sola’s judgment and orders. That way, you’ll be able to move without getting caught in the investigation.”
“Thank you.”
Even while exchanging light handshakes, the immense power felt through the gauntlet made me uneasy.
Even if she was just slightly gripping my hand, I felt as if she could crush it if she wished.
If I had to face Sola, would I stand a chance?
It’s not impossible, but it’s slim.
I just got that instinct from our handshake.
Despite appearances, Sola is a swordmaster and a holy knight proficient in magic.
Only with a surprise attack under advantageous conditions might I barely be able to win, all while my body is left in tatters.
In sheer brute strength, Rex would far exceed me, and I might be evenly matched with Yerina in Beast Mode.
‘I hope she isn’t corrupted yet.’
If Sola has already been corrupted, there’s no way to deal with it.
So from now on, I have no choice but to act on the assumption that Sola has not yet fallen.
The additional task is to “find the cause of Sola’s corruption and eliminate it.”
Since Sola is from this world, there are plenty of background details I can utilize.
Now that I’m traveling with her, I should be able to make use of that.
I wonder if the timing will work out.
“Then let’s set off.”
“Yes.”
“What errands do you have?”
“I need to meet Acting Mayor Briam.”
“That’s not advisable. The Priestess is currently staying at Briam Manor.”
“Oh dear… then how about going to the town hall in time for working hours?”
“The Acting Mayor is currently on a break. He plans to hand over the reins next week to the elected mayor, who will take over the duties. If you really want to meet the Acting Mayor, you have no choice but to head to Briam Manor…”
“That’s fine. We can sneak in through a window.”
“Excuse me?”
I’m familiar with the structure of Briam Manor.
If the issue is that Jill is staying there as well, I can just head straight to Cornelia’s room to meet her.
Ah, knowing Cornelia’s personality, she probably offered her room to Jill.
So choosing the office would be the wisest.
“Let’s go.”
For some reason, I stepped ahead, leaving a frozen Sola behind.
…
…
…
‘What kind of person is he?’
Sola glared at Yoo Jin’s back, pondering this seriously.
Having entered the ranks of superhumans herself, she could usually discern truth from lies with her right eye.
Yet, the man’s words, while vague, generally seemed true.
In other words, he was suddenly falsely accused of attempted rape with no prior acquaintance with the Priestess.
Most would lose their minds with such a wrongful accusation.
When given a chance to escape the Holy Kingdom, they would swiftly accept it and never look back.
But this man was different.
Calmly, he merely responded, “Oh, is that so?” and insisted he needed to go to the Holy Kingdom, despite being a wanted person.
Sola was astonished by his cool demeanor.
As if he was accustomed to this kind of experience…
What kind of life has he lived to be this way?
Sola felt a mix of surprise and awe.
“Isn’t it bewildering? One day, without committing any crime, you suddenly become a wanted person.”
“It is bewildering. I’m angry too.”
“You don’t seem to show it much…”
“I think it’s easier if I acknowledge some responsibility for it.”
“……”
What kind of responsibility could that be?
Did he go back in the past to twist the Priestess’s personality or something?
Sola clicked her tongue at his bizarre mindset.
‘Looks like I’ve been eliminated as a candidate for his servant…’
He didn’t seem like someone consumed by anger.
She thought about whether she could recruit him, but Sola decided early on to give up on that.
It’s hard to corrupt someone who isn’t desperate for something.
‘Why does he keep glancing this way?’
On their way to Briam Manor, Sola started to sense his gaze and became wary.
Sneaking glances like that, it seemed he was trying to assess her strength.
Sola shifted to his right, concealing her right eye.
His gaze was continually drawn to her right eye.
For some reason, it felt like this man could see through what shouldn’t be visible.
However, at that moment…
The man paused, chuckling.
“Well then, Vice Captain. Shall we now begin to reveal our identities?”
“Excuse me?”
“Nice to meet you. One of the Four Heavenly Kings’ aides, Draken’s left arm, Mi Jeong.”
“……?!”
The nonchalant attitude vanished, replaced by a bow as the man elegantly lowered his waist.
In the face of such a sudden revelation, Sola’s eyes widened.
For some reason, even the Blood Ghoul standing beside him seemed invigorated.
“Let’s, uh, take a moment over here!”
Sola grabbed the man’s hand and led him into an alley.
Looking at the man and the Blood Ghoul beside him, Sola was momentarily at a loss for words.
After a lengthy silence, her first words were:
“W-were you testing me?”
“Yes. You seem to guard your Evil Eye well.”
“……!”
He noticed the Evil Eye I received from the Great Demon.
A chill ran down Sola’s spine, and she trembled, dropping to one knee.
“I greet you, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, Mi Jeong!”
“……Ahem.”
For some reason, the Blood Ghoul girl standing next to him cleared her throat.
Until now, Sola had honestly been uncertain, but the moment he mentioned the Evil Eye, his identity as one of the Four Heavenly Kings became undeniable.
Thus, it was only right to show proper respect.
“Did you like the Evil Eye?”
“Yes, of course. The Great Demon—”
“Are you talking about Belphegor?”
“Yes, yes! Since it was provided by the Great Demon, I cherish it dearly. Though I haven’t yet adapted, I believe it could greatly aid in battles once I get used to it.”
To utter the true name of the Great Demon!
Does it mean they’re on friendly terms as fellow Four Heavenly Kings?
Indeed, Four Heavenly Kings are something else!
Sola was deeply impressed internally.
“By the way, may I ask who you are, Mi Jeong?”
“I am a great Blood Ghoul, a progenitor commanding many kin. This little one is among my kin.”
“……!”
The sequence of surprises continued.
Carrying a Blood Ghoul child led her to suspect something, but she never expected he was a progenitor.
Being a progenitor’s kin generally meant lifelong company…
‘His taste in partners is rather unique.’
Sola glanced at the Blood Ghoul child and shook her head slightly.
Indeed, those of the Four Heavenly Kings seemed to have quite peculiar preferences.
“I had no idea! Even knowing, you still seem very human.”
“Of course. I’m moving blood and heartbeat just like a living body. For a progenitor, this is nothing special.”
“Impressive…!”
Sola bowed her head even further in admiration.
Meanwhile, Mi Jeong looked up at Yoo Jin, marveling at the flow of his lies.
Internally, Mi Jeong thought, ‘If a Blood Ghoul has a beating heart and flowing blood, isn’t that just not a Blood Ghoul?’ But she decided not to press the issue.
“Where is Belphegor right now?”
“Yes, at sea?”
“I asked where the main body of Belphegor is located. As you received the Evil Eye, you should know.”
“Ah. The Great Demon is currently at sea, I believe.”
“At sea?”
“Yes. He said he needs to meet with the Sea Dragon… I don’t know any details.”
Yoo Jin’s expression twisted.
Sola, who firmly believed he was one of the Four Heavenly Kings, wouldn’t lie.
So Belphegor truly was at sea, not in this Holy Kingdom…
‘Then what was that communication from the demonic energy?’
Clearly, Belphegor’s magic had sent a message towards Cologne and Hameln.
So who was he intending to send that communication to if not his main body?
A sense of foreboding struck her.
It might not be Belphegor, but another threat lurking here.
“Alright. Understood. Now, hand over the Evil Eye.”
“What did you say?”
“I said hand over the Evil Eye.”
“May I ask why…?”
“Are you doubting the orders of one of the Four Heavenly Kings?”
“Ugh!”
The sudden overwhelming pressure caused Sola to gasp.
It was an immense aura.
Simply glaring at her seemed to wield powers akin to telekinesis!
“I misspoke… I’ll hand over the Evil Eye right away…”
I had briefly lost the topic and replied defiantly.
Sola deeply reflected on her mistake and began inserting her fingers into her eyes.
“Uh, um? Does it not hurt?”
“It’s fine! It’s a magical eye!”
“……”
Crack, snap.
Menacing sounds echoed.
And soon, the magical eye was extracted from inside Sola’s eye.
With long tendrils leading to her brain.
As she shed bloody tears, Sola handed over the Evil Eye.
Yoo Jin casually accepted it with one hand.
The moment their eyes met, a scream threatened to burst from Yoo Jin’s lips, which he had to suppress.
“Have I now been stripped of my qualifications?”
“What qualifications are you talking about?”
“The qualification to be one of the Four Heavenly Kings… please trust me a bit longer! I’m truly ready to betray the Holy See. Devotion isn’t what keeps me alive. I would do anything for my sick brother! Even if it means betraying humanity!”
“Can you really betray humanity without hesitation?”
“Yes!”
“Go out to the street and slay that child over there. If you do, I will grant you another chance.”
“……”
Swoosh.
He raised his hand, pointing at a boy in the distance.
Sola’s pupils twitched repeatedly.
She looked up at the man as if begging him not to do this.
But he was resolute.
“We don’t have to go this far. That person’s purpose is to descend upon this world, not to destroy humanity…”
“When he descends, all those lives are as good as dead anyway. Kill him quickly. My patience is running thin.”
With panic rising, Sola drew her sword.
Thoughts of her sick brother came to her mind.
Her brother was currently afflicted with an incurable disease, his heart slowly failing.
In search of a cure, Sola had been tirelessly searching.
Potions, Elixirs, nothing seemed to work.
Once, she even asked the Priestess for multiple recoveries, but still, her brother’s heart did not heal.
Later, she learned this illness was congenital.
It was incurable by conventional methods.
In her despair, it was the Great Demon among the Four Heavenly Kings who approached her.
He proposed that if she devoted herself to ‘him’, he would grant her brother a healthy heart.
There was no hesitation.
Sola immediately decided to pledge her loyalty to the Great Demon and the ‘mysterious figure’ she had never met.
She didn’t care where the heart came from that the Great Demon mentioned.
She only wished for her brother to regain his health and smile once more, willing to do anything for it.
In a hell where there was no escape.
Sola chose evil for her brother’s sake.
“I’m so sorry…”
Thud.
Sola dropped the sword.
She couldn’t do it.
No matter how much she longed for her brother, it was too much to kill an innocent boy.
The boy’s face overlapped her brother’s.
Determined to become evil, Sola was still not evil enough.
At that, a faint smile appeared on the man’s lips.
“You lack talent. You shall not be qualified to become one of the Four Heavenly Kings.”
“Ugh…”
Tears streamed down Sola’s face, filled with anguish.
In her mind, a question crossed her thoughts.
“By the way, Mi Jeong, there’s something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“The Four Heavenly Kings’ seats total four. Each was to be occupied by Great Demon, Necromancer, Druid, and my intended seat.”
“Correct.”
“However, since Mi Jeong has ascended as one of the Four Heavenly Kings, it means that seat is already filled. Why did you test me? Even if I passed the test, I wouldn’t have had the chance to become one of the Four Heavenly Kings, right?”
“……”
Mi Jeong fell silent in response to her keen question.
What could he say to justify himself?
As Sola contemplated, reading his expression, her eyes narrowed.
“You… who are you…?”
“Now, this is getting interesting.”
Sola hastily drew her sword and charged at him.
But her blade did not reach the man.
Sola found herself surrounded by walls that resembled mirrors.
Heavenly Armor Plate.
A sphere that reflects all shocks absorbed, imprisoning Sola within.
Boom!
Then telekinesis stirred the ground, creating a pit.
The sphere sank into the pit, covering it with dirt.
The floor was soon as flat as could be.
“Now, let’s go meet Cornelia.”
“……Okay.”
Yoo Jin dusted his hands.
As if nothing had happened, he leisurely departed the scene.
