I had already predicted it.
Though I was also Bayard’s friend. Still, the fact that something bigger had already taken root in her heart. But honestly, this is too much, you damn brat.
Yuyoung looked bitterly at Bayard’s back as she clung to Hans. Things had gone her way, but an inexplicable feeling was lurking in her heart.
However, that didn’t last long. Before she knew it, Cluna and Clara had come in right after. In their hands was Baykand, captured. His arms had been chopped off.
The moment Hans saw it, he gasped internally. No matter what, he was Bayard’s father. They chopped off his arms? What if Bayard sees this? She might turn dark again.
However, surprisingly, Bayard showed no reaction upon seeing it. She had probably anticipated it. But was Baykand oblivious? He yelled out.
“Bayard! They’re intruders! Quickly subdue them!!”
“You’re still the same, Father.”
“What are you saying! Subdue them quickly! Aren’t you my daughter!!”
“How pathetic, yelling like that at your own daughter.”
Cluna scoffed and then kicked Baykand’s head. The way she said pathetic, Baykand’s head got buried into the ground. Hans clicked his tongue.
“W-What the hell. Baykand is a renowned warrior who has won numerous battles. Even with all those Beastman warriors, he was subdued so easily?!”
On the other hand, Yuyoung was alarmed seeing the subdued Baykand. Baykand was one of the top three warriors among the Twelve Tribes and had accumulated countless experiences.
Moreover, it wasn’t just him fighting alone. The valiant warriors of the Bear Clan following Baykand had rushed in as well. Personal likes or dislikes aside, the warriors of the Bear Clan were the equivalent of the Twelve Tribes’ full power.
Yet that full power of the Twelve Tribes was annihilated by just two people, and even their chief was captured. Naturally, Yuyoung was left in shock. She knew they were strong, but was it to this extent?
“You should really stop being so surprised.”
“Right, when Mom and I join forces, we’re the strongest.”
“And if the Commander joins, we become invincible.”
Cluna added to Clara’s statement. Don’t just casually include me, Hans thought, but he didn’t say it out loud. On the other hand, Bayard glared at Baykand.
“Father, the reason I’ve cooperated with you all this time was not only because our goals aligned but also because I thought it was my last duty as your blood-related child.”
“What nonsense are you saying! Can’t you see your father’s arms have been chopped off?!”
“Did you think I wouldn’t know? I knew you wanted to take over the leadership of the Twelve Tribes after I died.”
“T-That’s…”
“Still, it wasn’t much of a concern. I didn’t particularly want to live. But now, things are different.”
Yes, before, it didn’t matter. After all, she had no desire to live even after achieving all these great feats. However, now it was different. Bayard firmly held Hans’s hand and said.
“Because now, I have a reason to live.”
“Y-You son of a bitch…!!!”
“Shut up.”
This time, Cluna stomped down on the buried Baykand’s head with determination. A crunching sound of humiliation and anger echoed, but there was nothing he could do.
Meanwhile, Bayard was clinging to Hans, refusing to let go. As if now she would never let him go. Seeing this, Lua became defensive like a cat.
“Bear-like woman! Get away from Hans!”
“By the way, who is this little girl?”
“She’s the daughter of the benefactor who helped me. I don’t know why, but she said she would leave her to me.”
Even now, Hans couldn’t quite grasp Lucy’s intentions. It felt like there was a reason for leaving her, but would she really be helpful? Bayard smiled and petted Lua.
“What a cute kid. She reminds me of Ruby.”
“L-Let go! Bear-like woman!”
“But the matter isn’t resolved yet.”
At Hans’s words, everyone nodded. The Thunder Hammer and Steel Lightning were still proudly flaunting their presence. If they said they were done now, what would that be?
No matter how he thought about it, the fallout would be incredible. Of course, Bayard, Cluna, and Clara didn’t seem to care much. That’s why Hans had to be cautious. Then Yuyoung spoke up.
“I will take responsibility for that.”
“You’ll take responsibility? How?”
“It’s simple. Just create a scapegoat.”
“A scapegoat? No way….”
Only then did Hans realize Yuyoung was eyeing Baykand. Yuyoung had no intention of forgiving Baykand. Beyond his abilities, he had crossed the line far too much.
“What exactly do you plan to do?”
“It’s simple. We can blame all this commotion on the hard-liner Baykand and the Bear Clan.”
“…….”
“Chief Baykand of the Bear Clan plotted a conspiracy and instigated a rebellion, only to be subdued. Therefore, any development of the Steel Lightning will be halted, and all plans canceled… I think that should be sufficient.”
That wasn’t incorrect. After all, Baykand had personally led the forces to ambush. It could easily be judged as a rebellion in terms of circumstances. In other words, they were creating a target to hate.
“Then wouldn’t that harm Bayard?”
“I’m fine. It was my doing from the start. It’s only right to take responsibility together.”
“…….”
Bayard actually reacted positively to Yuyoung’s words. It was true that the Bear Clan had committed misdeeds until now. Even if there was a reason, it was true that Bayard had remained an observer.
But Hans didn’t like it. Sure, Baykand was the one who led this, but if you think about it, it was the hard-liners, including Baykand, who initiated it. The Bear Clan was at fault too, but.
Ultimately, everyone who took advantage of it should take responsibility. But rather than that, they were trying to cut off the tail. If that happened, Bayard would probably live with guilt towards her clan for the rest of her life.
“If there are no other opinions, I will handle it my way….”
“No, there’s a simpler solution.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s simple. Just destroy Steel Lightning.”
“……What?”
Instead of answering, Hans was already throwing his body out the window. He boldly moved toward the stationed Steel Lightning. At the same time, he snapped his fingers to stop time.
And he drew the Divine Sword that was hung at his waist. The Divine Sword he had obtained from the ancient ruins had incredible power fitting for its name. So, it was certain that he could cut it without difficulty.
In an instant, the Divine Sword pulled from his waist emitted a pure white light and sliced through the massive Steel Lightning that even surpassed the fortress in half. In the blink of an eye, the halved Steel Lightning collapsed.
“It’s still not enough.”
Just cutting it in half wasn’t enough to feel secure. They could always rebuild it. Or repair it. So Hans continued to swing the sword, completely shattering the Steel Lightning.
He had placed Time Deceleration on Steel Lightning. In other words, he had cut it in a state of time stop, ensuring no one was aware of it and maintaining it in the best possible condition.
And then Hans released the time stop. To everyone’s eyes, it seemed like Hans was poised to strike down Steel Lightning with his sword. At that moment, the dwarves rushed forward.
“Commander of the Royal Knights! That weapon contains all our hopes!”
“If it breaks, not only will we not be able to recreate it, but even repairing it will be uncertain! Please don’t destroy it!”
The dwarves were even kneeling and begging. This indicated how deep their thirst for revenge ran. However, Hans didn’t understand. Instead, he scoffed.
“How ridiculous. You, who have lost family, precious people, are considering doing the same thing?”
Hans’s voice struck a chord, leaving the dwarves speechless. He laid bare the truth they had been desperately trying to ignore, blinded by their desire for revenge.
Yes, they had lost precious ones to the demons. But if they fired the Steel Lightning, just like that, or even more innocent people would die, resulting in more families being torn apart.
Can this be said to be right? Hans didn’t intend to deny revenge. However, at the very least, to claim just revenge, shouldn’t they refrain from doing the exact same thing?
Now was the time. In front of everyone, Hans put his sword back into its sheath. Just as the dwarves expected him to back down, smiles began to spread across their faces, and Hans spoke to everyone.
“I will help you. So you can take just revenge.”
“Just revenge? How…?”
“It’s quite simple.”
And at that moment, the time deceleration was released. The fragments of the shattered Steel Lightning, which had been collapsing slowly. They fell like rain. The tremor was enough to shake the fortress itself.
The once-massive Steel Lightning that could even topple the fortress completely fell apart. At that overwhelming sight, everyone fell silent, except for Hans, who spoke.
“I’ll kill all the demons for you.”
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