Tap the text to show or hide reading controls.
Around sunset, Azadine headed to the meeting place.
Prince Kalintz’s banquet hall stood in the middle of Fireglyph’s entertainment district.
Climbing the stairs along the hill that unmistakably looked like a pleasure quarter revealed luxurious establishments.
Originally built as a top-class complex for wealthy pleasure-seekers, its most expensive room was a pavilion overlooking Fireglyph’s reservoir.
From that lofty pavilion one could enjoy the surrounding scenery while indulging in entertainment and cuisine — the extravagant venue Prince Kalintz had chosen.
‘A Hospitaller choosing a place like this for a banquet… What nonsense is this? I’m starting to develop prejudices I never had. Not that I’m in a position to judge others.’
Azadine, a member of the Messenger Clan who had become a Holy Knight of the Rescue Knights Order, shouldn’t harbor prejudice — yet he couldn’t help but feel displeased at Prince Kalintz hosting a Holy Knight banquet in a pleasure venue.
But something even more surprising awaited him: inside the banquet hall stood knights of the King’s Church.
“….”
Azadine started to speak but closed his mouth.
A familiar figure stepped out from among them.
“You, the Emperor’s Messenger, are here as a member of the Rescue Knights Order — why shouldn’t we be allowed to come, Sir Azadine?”
“…….”
Inquisitor Ject — the man who had pursued Azadine from the Kingdom of Korasar while aiming for the True New-King Scripture.
A true dark mage who wielded sinister Nether magic and turned the King’s Church’s Holy Knights into undead servants.
And now that man stood before Azadine again in the distant Chadra Plateau. Into that suffocating tension stepped Prince Kalintz.
“Well now, isn’t that Sir Azadine?!”
A large, hearty northerner with silver hair — the traits of the Yaegas God tribe strongly manifested in him.
Not quite as massive as the Minotaur Selim, yet lion-maned enough to make one doubt he was human, the man burst into laughter and offered Azadine a handshake.
“I’ve reviewed your accomplishments. Truly impressive — defeating the Chadra Five Ogres one by one.”
“Defeating them would insult their honor. My report described it as persuasion and negotiation. In fact, Sir Sork nearly killed me.”
“You look pretty healthy for someone who says that. Surviving a meeting with the leader of the Fimbulhorde alone is worthy of legend. Come now — why are you all standing around? Enjoy the banquet.”
“More importantly, you’re the new Chapter Master, aren’t you? Why are the King’s Church knights here?”
Azadine asked directly.
“They are present as advisors under my authority as Chapter Master. As you know, my royal father, Cohen Rioneir, seeks unity. The Rescue Knights Order and the King’s Church both protect humanity from darkness — there’s no need to fight each other. Tonight is meant as a place of harmony.”
“A place of harmony in a pleasure district… I’m moved to tears.”
Azadine’s sarcasm didn’t change Kalintz’s expression, though the Church knights frowned.
“Sir Azadine, I hear your reputation has been rising recently. A Holy Knight handling all sorts of dirty work.”
Ject smiled and spoke of Azadine’s reputation.
“But what happened to the copies of the True New-King Scripture? If my eyes do not deceive me, I sense its power from you.”
Ject believed Azadine’s fame as a Holy Knight came from stealing the Scripture’s power.
To outsiders, the Scripture and the Order’s miracles both appeared as white magic — his suspicion was reasonable.
“Apparently, though I didn’t know it myself, a faint trace of imperial blood flows in me.”
At that, Ject’s normally narrowed eyes widened.
“Don’t mock me, soulless blasphemer. I know you carry the copies. And now you dare claim the blood of the Yaegas God tribe?”
“My purple eyes are called the Eyes of Harkonia among the Messenger Clan — the lineage of Harkonia, the Emperor’s lover.”
“…….”
Before knights who revered divine bloodlines, Azadine claimed imperial heritage — heretical to the Church, yet not dismissible.
Ject, being royal himself, wouldn’t be intimidated — but if Azadine truly possessed such lineage, he’d lose justification to search him.
“The Scripture—”
“I returned every piece I collected to the throne of Vthuma.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“If you don’t, then there’s nothing to discuss. Believe what you like.”
“…….”
“More importantly — why is an Inquisitor here? Overused dark magic and got demoted?”
Ject sighed deeply.
“…Very well. I lost my temper. I acknowledge you, Sir Azadine.”
His bloodshot eyes returned to their usual narrow shape.
He suppressed his anger — the obvious choice in a “place of harmony,” yet one few could make.
“I will endure this for Prince Kalintz’s sake. As Fireglyph’s security advisor, something very interesting will happen.”
“More interesting than a top Inquisitor becoming advisor to a frontier exile? Doesn’t match your rank. Are you sure you weren’t demoted?”
“…….”
Ject fell silent.
“Still, this alone is amusing. I can guess why you volunteered for this humiliation.”
“Why do you think?”
Kalintz interjected.
“…Because of the Celestials? More precisely, because an Order faction feeling threatened by them pulled you in. The Courage Order?”
“Oh?”
Kalintz’s eyes gleamed.
Among the Rescue Knights Order’s three knightly virtues, the Wisdom Order held the greatest influence — creators of ceramite, masters of magic, and even creators of Celestials.
If a Celestial-only unit appeared publicly, Wisdom would dominate power.
Other factions needed to prevent that — especially the Courage Order aligned with the Northern Emperor.
“How perceptive.”
Kalintz admired Azadine’s instant insight.
“After all, my father — the Northern Emperor — is of royal Yaegas blood. Ultimately, he wishes to unite the Church and the Order.”
The ambition of Cohen Rioneir.
To unite the Rescue Knights Order, the King’s Church, and the Eight Kingdoms — and become the unifier of Hubris.
“Unification will soon be achieved. Everything will follow his will.”
“So… are you satisfied, Prince?”
Kalintz felt a pleasant surprise.
Everyone saw the Emperor beyond him — no one asked his own will.
But Azadine did.
“…That’s difficult to answer right now. Perhaps after we grow closer — over drinks?”
“No, I have another appointment. Enjoy your harmony, everyone.”
Azadine left them behind.
Azadine’s steps wavered.
As a child persecuted by his clan, the teachings of the Rescue Knights Order had saved him.
Virtue, justice, brotherhood beyond race — a promise that beauty still existed.
But when he met the Order in reality —
Virtue was gone. Politics and scheming remained.
He had known this, of course.
‘Funny. A child learning to kill believed beauty from books was real.’
He pitied his past self.
And pitied himself now for losing that belief.
“Oh — Captain Azadine. What are you doing here?”
“Hey… maybe don’t greet me so loudly here.”
“…….”
Camilla and Kuntachi sat at a street table.
“Eating?”
“Yeah. Drinking too. Why the sour face? Didn’t meet anyone you liked?”
“You could say that.”
“Then drink with me. Better than dealing with disappointing people.”
Azadine sat beside her.
“Maybe you’re right.”
“Rural place — what did you expect?”
He meant the Rescue Knights Order, but Camilla misunderstood. He didn’t correct her.
Reading Settings
