Chapter: 146
Phew. Hahaha. Ah, I was super tense before coming in here, but hearing what Phoebe said completely wiped that away.
You’re saying that’s why you’re a pathetic Apostle of the Evil God? That’s not something the Saintess should be saying, Phoebe.
I shook off the shock of my landing and raised my shield. The eyes of the two looking at me were contrasting.
Phoebe’s eyes were steadily rising in admiration like she was looking at a savior, while Nakrad’s gaze was slowly crumpling in despair.
I shouldn’t show too much confidence and draw Phoebe’s aggro, so how about I provoke first?
“Hey there, ♡ pompous jerk ♡! Still think you’re all that, huh? ♡ When are you going to grow out of your teen angst? ♡ Pathetic ♡ so pathetic ♡!”
Hearing my giggling insults, Nakrad’s eyes ignited with fury. Just looking at him brought back old memories that etched tension into my heart.
If it weren’t for the Mesugaki skill forcing my body to act, my feelings would have been all out there.
It’s fine. No problem at all. After all, I’m not the one facing that guy.
“I wonder how long it’s been since you had a body.”
Turning to the voice from my side, I saw an old man with white hair standing there.
The wrinkles etched on his face told me he hadn’t lived a short life, but his physique was a different story.
Despite his considerable age, his strong build reminded me of Benedict. It showed just how ridiculously monstrous this old man really was.
The old man, clad in flawless white armor, conjured a solid shield made of divine power on his left arm and turned his gaze toward me.
“I see you’re new to this. Young lady.”
Ruel. The spirit residing in my mace and the great holy knight who once saved the world.
I had no idea he was such a monster until I saw him speak after being stuck in my mace! Just looking at him exudes an intimidating aura.
Now I understood why the dopey fox was so confident.
Before entering Phoebe’s spiritual world, that dopey fox had said:
“In the spiritual world, the physical body has no meaning. What matters is the soul.”
‘Got it? The one residing in the mace is connected to you by soul. If you enter the spiritual world, it will naturally follow you.’
The old man stroked his mustache, grinning, and then extended his hand toward me.
“So, what do you think of this old man? Am I reliable?”
‘Of course!’
“You seem to want a certain answer, my clumsy old man? But what should I do? I really don’t want to say it!”
“Hah. Hearing those words out loud is pretty annoying, you know?”
As I handed the mace over to the grumbling old man who knew the backstory, he grabbed it with a hand that looked at least three times my size.
Naturally, the mace adjusted its size. The old man swung the mace as lightly as if it were a wooden stick, with a size that rivaled my head.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve fought directly; I’m not sure how it will go.”
‘Grandpa?’
“What’s wrong, you pathetic old man? You were boasting so much, and now you lack confidence? You really are a washed-up old man!”
“…Young lady, I’m sorry, but could you please keep quiet for a moment? I feel like I might accidentally attack you.”
What’s with this legendary holy knight who can’t even contain himself? I mean, come on, just brush it off like it’s nothing!
“You…”
“Ah, my bad. It’s been a while since I got a body, so I’m just excited. It’s nice to meet you, Apostle of the Evil God. My name is Ruel, a member of the hero party that sealed the Evil God. You are someone they should rightly hate.”
As the old man stepped forward, Nakrad took a step back. His eyes darted, unsure where to land.
He was panicking.
Though Nakrad was strong relative to me, in the grand scheme of the continent, he still had a lot to learn.
Unless the Evil God fully resurrected, it was no contest for him. Just look at how he’s being toyed with by Karl, a mere knight of the Alrn family.
But our grandpa? Even if the Evil God resurrects and Nakrad gains full power, he’s still a monster who’s not guaranteed victory.
The title of holy knight from the hero party isn’t just for show.
“That’s a lie.”
“You think it’s a lie? It doesn’t really matter. Even if you do, it won’t change the fact that you’re still here.”
“Don’t threaten me with your bravado!”
Nakrad hurled dark orbs floating around him. Each one held the power to incapacitate me.
However, the old man didn’t flinch at all. Instead, he calmly swept his mace in a leisurely manner.
Watching the old man’s movements was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Back when I had no experience wielding weapons, I might not have understood. But now, I practice every day to wield my mace better.
So there’s no way I can’t appreciate just how incredible his mace techniques are.
The way he holds it, balances the strength while swinging, directing the magic, and releasing it at the end.
From this, I was confident: that was mastery. That’s how to wield a mace most effectively and powerfully.
“Are you still thinking it’s all bravado?”
Seeing Nakrad clench his mouth shut, the old man stepped forward.
“In some sense, it’s fortunate. I was always frustrated having to give advice just through words; now I can show you how to fight.”
“Watch and learn. With that, the old man surged forward.”
*
Ever since the day Ruel awoke, he was always by Lucy’s side.
When she was training.
When she was sparring with other knights.
When she’d bump her forehead on the desk while reading.
When her deity’s blessing made her say something rough and she felt flustered.
Even when she grumbled about his nagging.
When she was shunned by those around her and received wounds in her heart.
And of course, when she faced life-threatening dangers, he was always there, always beside her.
Initially, the old man had thought that helping this girl was the will of the gods.
However, things changed. After spending so much time with Lucy, he learned just how upright and kind she truly was. Now Ruel considered her like his granddaughter.
And the person standing before him now? He was the damn man who attempted to kill his granddaughter in the past.
He had no reason to show any mercy whatsoever.
“Where do you think you’re trying to run off to?”
As Nakrad attempted to hide in the shadows, Ruel stomped his foot down, crushing those shadows.
He was the one who had sealed the Evil God with his own hands in the past. Naturally, he also had experience fighting the dark Evil God.
He had knowledge on that battle tactic as well.
Seizing Nakrad as he tried to escape, he kicked him far away.
“It’s not over yet. Stand up!”
“Damn it!”
How could he already be on the floor?
Lucy endured more torment than you ever dealt her and stood back up every time. She blocked your way. She held onto your ankles.
Those who tormented others should prepare to face the karma they’ve sown. Is this really all you, the Apostle of the Evil God, thought you had to offer?
“I still have much to show Lucy. You’re just a teaching tool.”
“Die!”
With Nakrad’s command, sharp dark spikes formed from the shadows on the floor, shooting up towards me.
However, they were crushed before they could even take shape as Ruel stomped down with divinity in his foot.
“Divinity is not merely a material for sacred magic. Depending on usage, it can yield endless results.”
For you, Lucy, who has barely started on the path of a holy knight, it might seem difficult to grasp now, but one day, you’ll reach this plane too.
Because I will always be by your side. So remember this well.
“Shut up and die!”
Even after his intent was crushed, Nakrad didn’t give up. He lunged at Ruel, trying to engage in close combat.
A combination of dark magic and superb hand-to-hand combat is indeed threatening, but before Ruel, it was utterly powerless.
He blocked all of Nakrad’s attacks with his shield and, whenever a gap appeared, he steadily delivered impactful hits with the mace.
Look, Lucy. This is how a shield-bearer fights. Moving selfishly and shamelessly, it’s all about making your opponent lose their composure.
This was precisely what I always told you, to fight like an alligator.
The attacks of Ruel, concealed behind his shield, showing teeth only when favorable, gradually wore down Nakrad until he hit the ground once more.
He barely managed to rise, but his legs were shaky.
Though there hadn’t been a single deadly blow yet, every single strike filled with murderous intent was amplifying his wounds and breaking his bones, ensuring the damage was not light.
“Not yet.”
Ruel tightened his grip on the mace and moved forward.
Not yet.
Lucy endured longer against this disaster than you have so far. So you too must endure even more.
“Don’t come near! I said don’t come near!”
This time, Nakrad summoned numerous monsters from his shadows.
The life forms made of darkness all bore ominous powers. Put simply, they were incredibly weak against divinity.
Ruel surveyed the creatures surrounding him and raised his mace up high.
“Behold, young lady. This is a state you will one day attain.”
As he raised his mace, the light of divinity gathered on top.
Once, when the world was tainted by darkness, the holy knight who stood at the frontlines and drove away the endless darkness bore a light that resembled a sun.
The black shadows that darkened the sky retreated,
The monsters that had surrounded him vanished back into shadows,
And the Apostle of the Evil God, responsible for all this, could do nothing but scream in front of that powerful light.
When all of that was concluded, Ruel walked towards Nakrad, sprawled out on the floor, illuminated by the descending light.
Panicked and terrified, Nakrad crawled along the ground, trying to escape, but he couldn’t get away from Ruel’s footsteps.
Standing before Nakrad, Ruel raised his mace high.
“I will take revenge! I will repay this disgrace upon the Apostle of Armadi!”
“Go ahead. In that time, you will kneel before the young lady.”
The mace swung down, following the pull of gravity.
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