### Chapter: 213
“N-no, it’s not like that… It’s just…”
Astrea, with a flustered expression, trailed off and then buried her face in her hands.
“I mean, it’s for me, so how could I possibly dislike it?”
For some reason, she felt pity from Aslan and Seyrang behind her, but Astrea was too lost in her thoughts to care.
“Kraush-nim.”
Stepping up in her place was Diona, the Holy Knight of the Saint.
She was a formidable knight among the Holy Knights.
Being capable of guarding Astrea, she cautiously asked Kraush, “You mentioned breaking the Holy Grail, but do you know its location?”
If they were going to break the Holy Grail, at the very least, they needed to know where it was.
Hearing her question, Kraush took a step to the side.
Standing there was Mirei Beakis.
With her striking blue hair, she stepped forward and nodded slightly.
“I know where the Holy Grail is.”
“Mirei Beakis, you say?”
Diona’s expression became complicated.
A hint of awkwardness crept onto her face.
After all, the head of the opposing faction was her father, Tersada Beakis.
It was suspicious for her to be offering help.
However, Mirei focused her gaze on the saint, Astrea.
“I owe my life to the Saint. The reason I’m still standing here, after descending to become a servant of the World Erosion, is entirely thanks to you, Saint.”
As she said, Mirei was meant to be executed long ago.
If it got out that a recognized cardinal had fallen to the World Erosion, the reputation of the Holy Kingdom would be at stake.
And Astrea was the one who stepped up the most to help.
Though Kraush had made the request,
Astrea had experienced the most unjust treatment in the Holy Kingdom.
Perhaps that’s why she could never bear to see Mirei being executed like that.
So, Astrea did her very best to save her.
“I saw the Saint negotiate directly with the Holy Kingdom with my own eyes.”
Mirei recalled the day she had been dragged to the Holy Kingdom.
She remembered Astrea standing beside her, kneeled and shackled.
Having become a servant of the World Erosion without understanding why, she had been looked down upon.
“This is a place to punish those who have sinned. If someone who hasn’t sinned suffers unjustly, it tarnishes the name of the Holy Kingdom.”
Those were Astrea’s words that enveloped her then, and Mirei remembered them crystal clear.
“Because she’s Freeman, we must protect Cardinal Mirei Beakis. The Lord must have also acted with sufficient grace.”
Mirei joined her hands as if praying to the deity, kneeling down.
In that gesture was an homage to Astrea.
“Astrea-nim truly is the Saint. I met the true Saint right there.”
Who else could stand against the injustices of the Holy Royal Family in such an unreasonable situation, just to help others?
Who wouldn’t call such a person a saint?
Astrea’s eyes gradually widened.
She felt that everything she had done as a saint was not in vain.
Though she might not know, her good deeds always stirred something in someone.
And this time, it was Mirei Beakis who felt the impact of her kindness.
A gentle smile appeared on Mirei’s face.
“I can’t turn down this opportunity to repay the grace I received from the Saint. The debt I owe to Freeman’s Saint is too great, and I want to pay it back this way, even just a little.”
“Mirei Beakis…”
Feeling Mirei’s sincerity, Astrea embraced her shoulder.
The sun-like smile gracing her face shone luminously.
“Thank you. I humbly accept your intentions.”
In that moment, she truly looked the part of a saint, no doubt about it.
Kraush chuckled softly.
‘It’s not just Mirei whose actions were stirred by this guy.’
Kraush felt the same.
He owed Astrea a life he could never repay.
So now, it was Kraush’s turn to return the favor.
“The road to the Holy Grail won’t be easy.”
Diona looked at Astrea with concern.
Her safety was her top priority.
Later, she worried about Astrea’s safety due to the opposing faction, but her worry about the path to the Holy Grail was already like a mountain.
“Don’t worry.”
But Kraush was determined to alleviate that worry.
“I’ll clear the path for the Saint, going full speed ahead.”
This was his specialty.
Hearing Kraush’s confidence, Astrea raised her head, determined.
“Alright! Let’s go break the Holy Kingdom!”
They decided to smash the Grail that made the saint hidden away by the Holy Royal Family.
Kraush turned to another figure one last time.
“So, esteemed astrologer, what do you think?”
The person Kraush asked last was none other than Seyrang.
She slowly turned to Kraush, sipping from her teacup.
“Is the girl’s story so important? The moment she speaks, any of it could turn into a prophecy, you know?”
“I just wanted to hear your opinion. It’s wise to avoid dangerous moves.”
Kraush was convinced Seyrang had foreseen from the stars what would happen next to Astrea.
And he was right; it wasn’t a completely off remark.
The only problem was.
“I can’t see anything related to you.”
Seyrang’s astrology was outstanding, clearly a testament to the bloodline of the Sephira.
However, when it came to Kraush, it was as if a dark cloud was always over him.
While she could see that something was off with Astrea, she couldn’t discern the details due to that ever-present darkness.
It was as though Kraush’s future couldn’t be definitively predicted.
“A point of divergence, perhaps?”
The future changing due to a single action.
Maybe, Kraush might possess the power to defy that fate.
‘More than that, why does he seem to have gained even more skills since we last met?’
What a puzzling person, in many ways, yet one thing was certain.
“The dark star was slightly tilted towards Freeman.”
The dark star.
That was a star that always heralded danger.
If that star tilted toward Freeman, it usually meant something bad was going to happen.
“Just as you said, it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious, right? While I can’t directly assist Astrea, we’ll handle the stars shifted toward Freeman.”
Seyrang said, glancing toward Blavi.
As a result, Blavi bowed his head briefly, indicating his intent to step in and prevent any issues if an incident arose.
He was a kind of safety measure.
“So, please take care of the girl’s friend.”
Seyrang smiled at Astrea.
Long ago, when in front of others, she had acted as the saint, but when alone, her face had worn the signs of a weary life.
Now, she truly looked like a girl again.
Seyrang hoped that face would continue to stay on Astrea.
“I always intended to do that. I’ll be responsible for her for a lifetime.”
Without the slightest hesitation, Kraush replied.
That statement was so easily misinterpreted that Astrea’s face turned beet red to the point of being unable to see her whites.
—
The Festival of the Gods.
Thanks to the harvest festival filled with bountiful crops, Freeman was bustling with people more than ever.
As the biggest festival of the year, people flocked from all over to enjoy the event.
Among them were those performing extravagant circus acts, typical street vendors, and eager onlookers alike.
Countless people were enjoying the festivity.
Amidst that celebration, there were suspicious figures moving around.
Disguised as vendors or spectators, they communicated with magical communication devices in their hands.
[ Yes, Area B is clear. ]
[ Same goes for Area A. ]
They were opposition forces against the Holy Royal Family of Freeman.
Today marked the day of a grand religious revolution.
They were set to uproot the decayed roots of the Holy Royal Family and usher in a new era.
They had conducted preparations for this day for a long time.
With plans to publicly expose the wrongdoings of the Holy Royal Family during the festival, they intended to reveal the identities of the Holy Grail and the saint in front of everyone.
It didn’t stop there.
Right now, through connections, information about the Holy Royal Family’s weaknesses was already in circulation.
The moment things went down during the festival, articles would simultaneously spread across the world.
Should that happen, the Holy Royal Family would become irredeemable.
Within the Grand Temple watching over such a festival, Tersada summoned a figure.
“Kraush Balheim, are you ready?”
“Yes.”
It was none other than Kraush Balheim.
The youngest of the Balheim family and the topic of much discussion.
And he was the hidden card meant to completely change Freeman.
Kraush was clad in all white, as requested by Tersada.
The intangible energy radiating from him made him stand out even more.
So much so that it even felt like divine power was exuding from him today.
Tersada recalled their conversation from the night before.
“Yes, hero.”
Following Tersada’s words requiring a decision by night’s end, Kraush had brought his answer.
“However, I will keep Astrea out of harm’s way.”
And as expected, Tersada received that anticipated answer with a warm smile and a nod.
“There will be no harm coming to the saint.”
With that, Kraush was born as the new hero of Freeman.
The shining white sword at his waist was the proof.
The Holy Sword, one of the ten heavenly swords.
Different from the others, this sword was named with only two characters, radiating a divine energy unlike any other.
Those who wielded the Holy Sword had always been recognized as heroes through generations.
Thus, once this matter is over, Kraush would surely become the representative hero of Freeman.
He appeared perfectly fitting to start a new chapter for Freeman.
“Alright then, it’s time to truly begin the festival.”
Tersada said as he walked to the window.
“Benox.”
He then summoned a figure through his magical communication device.
“Prepare the Holy Grail.”
It was time to bring forth the Holy Grail to the land.
As he awaited a response after making the proclamation, he felt an odd delay.
Feeling puzzled, he started to show hints of confusion when suddenly.
Zzt—
A crackling noise erupted through the air.
A bad premonition swelled within him.
As Tersada shook the magical communication device, he heard.
[ Ah, yes, everything is prepared. ]
His eyes gradually widened at the response.
He turned his head sharply behind him.
And there stood Kraush.
In his white attire and with the Holy Sword.
Looking again, he was undoubtedly Kraush.
“Is something the matter?”
Kraush asked, laced with curiosity, and Tersada fell silent, his expression hardening.
Because the corner of Kraush’s mouth was subtly curved upwards.
It was strange.
The voice that had come from the magical communication device just moments ago was definitely—
“…Who are you?”
The moment he asked the question, Kraush’s form began to distort.
Tersada’s eyes widened as they gradually filled with surprise.
For within that distortion was a familiar blue-haired individual.
“Father, I’m sorry.”
Mirei Beakis.
She shouldn’t be here, instead, she should be waiting in her room for her orders.
Not only that, but she was using her skill, “Mirror,” to impersonate Kraush.
“If that’s the case, where is the real Kraush Balheim?”
As Tersada hurriedly glanced out the window, suddenly—
Boom!
A pitch-black flame shot up into the sky.
It was a dark flame, so black it could almost incinerate Tersada with its very presence.
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