Episode 628: The last drop of blood (2)
“Master said his behavior changed after meeting those guys, so if we go after those guys, we might be able to find out where Master is.”
“exactly. but….”
Hans trailed off.
“I don’t think it’s that simple. The armament of the Paladins who left Lederbelk is unusual, but… ….”
“What else is there?”
“…The cardinal started gathering people. “It means that those who are said to be the greatest on the continent are converging at one point.”
Ludger’s eyebrows twitched.
The world’s greatest people are gathering together?
It was something that Ludger did not easily understand.
“What is going on?”
“I don’t know exactly. However, Cardinal Patrick is gathering people under the authority of the Order of Lumensis, and the number of people responding to him is quite large. Regardless of number or skill.”
Even if the Holy Kingdom of Bretus had locked its doors, the influence of the Lumensis Church as a religion was significant.
Even as this demonic incident spreads widely, the Lumensis Church has gained a greater say in world affairs.
It was natural for those who had previously consistently revered the Lumensis religion to respond to the call.
“Looking at your reaction, it seems like quite a few great writers have gathered together.”
“…exactly. “If you name them, your brothers will know them well.”
“Who are you? “The people who are moving in this matter.”
“First of all, among the people who respond well within the empire, the person who can be said to be the most representative is the Lumos family.”
“Lumos….”
Ludger thought of Lumos.
One of the three major families of the empire, he was also a faithful member of the Lumensis Church.
Among them, the current head of the family, Kayden Lumos, was famous as a cool-headed, bloodless and tearless man.
Even though he was an unwanted illegitimate child, his attitude towards Flora, who was born with his blood, was the same.
A cold-hearted believer.
That’s not even funny.
“Are you saying that the Lumos family is listening to the Cardinal’s words rather than the Empire’s orders?”
“Originally, the prestige of the Lumos family was such that even the imperial family could not tamper with it. Moreover, the image of certainty has fallen due to the recent demon crisis, and on the contrary, the power of the Lumensis Church has increased, so they have a justification to move without paying attention.”
“This means that the family’s main troops are all moving.”
“Not only that. “The Pablo family is also making moves.”
“The Pablo family. That’s a very familiar name. “Does the famous magician follow the wishes of the Lumensis Church?”
The Pablo family also had ties to Ludger.
It was not a very good relationship, because Albert Pablo, the son of the Pablo family, suffered a disgrace on Royal Street.
The Pablo family sent people to take revenge on Royal Street for doing this to their child, but only more bodies were floating down the city’s river.
After that, they stopped sending people because they thought this was not the case, but they steadily took a stance of subtly putting pressure on Royal Street.
“You don’t have to worry about that bastard. “The most dangerous thing is that little brother.”
“know. Alon Pablo.”
Ludger knows it too.
Albert Pablo’s older brother and the very young head of the Pablo family.
A great man and a living legend of the family who gave the title of ‘Master Magician’ to the Pablo family, who have built up the family’s reputation as wizards from generation to generation.
Alon Pablo.
To speak by another name.
─Red wizard.
“A wizard with the title of color. “I didn’t know that the person who became the head of the family at such a young age was such a devout member of the religious order.”
“But that one thing might have been better. “It’s a problem because it doesn’t end with one thing.”
“Who else is there?”
“The purple wizard who controls lightning, the crazy Coilwat. The Golden Rule Unit, the world’s second largest mercenary group. “To the Association of Hunters who survived the Night of Bloody Nightmare.”
In addition, the Guardian Holy Knights of Light are the strongest shield of the Holy Kingdom of Bretus.
Special Unit 11, a secret unit that handles work secretly throughout the continent.
After the cardinals, who can be said to be sons of God, there are archbishops who have authority and divine power.
They are truly talented people who are not only competitive but outstanding.
Even if they went to war with the country, they had so many troops that they had no chance of winning.
“Where are they gathering now?”
“I am following those traces diligently now. “Probably, the answer will come out soon.”
“I want you to tell me as soon as possible.”
“That’s natural, but….”
Hans, who trailed off his words, looked at Ludger’s eyes and asked carefully.
“If you find out, what will you do? “Are you sure you’re going to jump into that limbo to save Master?”
“that….”
“Of course, I understand how you feel. But the opponent’s strength is formidable. “If we’re going to fight those guys to save Master, all of us Owens will have to go out, not just you.”
It was questionable whether Owens would actually be able to step forward.
Above all.
“Brother, you don’t have anything else to do.”
“….”
“All preparations are complete. I spent all the money I had saved over a long period of time and did my best to the point where I could not tolerate even a single mistake. I found everything my brother was looking for. But are you saying you’re going to end it all here?”
Hans’ point was valid.
Ludger had work to do.
But if Ludger goes here to find Grander, then all his plans will fall apart.
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“I still don’t know what you came here for. But I can tell that you came running after seeing this one thing. Are you going to give up everything right in front of your nose? Then, what happens to those of us who have worked so hard to achieve that goal?”
“Still, he is my teacher.”
“…“I heard the story from your teacher.”
Ludger’s shoulders shook at the word “story.”
“He said he was looking for death himself. And he didn’t say he made a promise to you either. “One day, when the time comes, my brother decided to end Master’s life.”
“that….”
Ludger recalled what Grander had said to him on Isla Machina.
You no longer have to keep your promises.
At those words, Ludger wondered why, but deep in his heart, he felt a vague sense of relief.
Because he didn’t have to kill Grander, who was like his mother, with his own hands.
Because there was no need to once again bring a precious person to rest in death with one’s own hands.
But I know.
The fact that Grander said this to himself did not mean that he had given up on death.
She found a new way.
A way to choose the death you so desperately want without having to borrow Ludger’s help.
“Perhaps the troops gathered now are those called by the Cardinal, but at the same time they are recruited by your brother’s teacher. On the other hand, since that much has come together, it means that someone who is like your teacher could die.”
“….”
“That was what your teacher wanted. Don’t you know that too? But what if you know his location? Are you going to save your brother?”
Even though it is something Master Grandeur does not want?
Ludger could not say anything in response to Hans’s point.
I understood it with my head, but I couldn’t accept it with my heart.
Ludger collected all the relic fragments.
I collected everything I had been searching for while traveling all over the continent.
But this was just the starting line.
If you really want to be honest, you have been given the opportunity to begin the work you have prepared for your true goal.
I don’t know how much will happen.
Even if you did your best to prepare, there was a chance that one small mistake could ruin everything.
In times like these, I had to think more rationally and calmly.
I had to do that.
“I am….”
“…I know that your feelings are complicated. “First of all, the answer won’t come right away, so let’s calmly organize our thoughts after we return to Leather Velk.”
Hans looked at Ludger with a pitiful gaze.
Although he harshly criticized him, this was not Hans’ true intention.
I had a wish that Ludger would do his job well, but on the other hand, I also had a contradictory wish that he would come forward to save Grander.
Nevertheless, the reason he said something to Ludger was because of what Grander had said to Hans.
─My foolish disciple will one day be held back by his weak thoughts before an important task. So, in preparation for that time, please personally say something nice to your student.
At that time, Hans stuck out his tongue, saying, ‘How can I say something to you?’
After those words, Grander didn’t say anything more, as if he wasn’t expecting much.
That might be why.
The reason why I can’t erase Grander’s words from my mind.
‘damn. ‘What are you telling me to do?’
Hans sighed deeply.
The airship crossing the clouds quickly headed towards Leather Velk.
Ludger finally returned to Leather Velk.
There was a lot going on, but Ludger got straight to work.
While he was away, he continued to check reports on what had happened to Lederbelk and how the situation was progressing.
I didn’t go to Seorn.
Seorn is currently closed indefinitely.
For Ludger, who had to do something right away to calm his complicated mind, it was rather a loss.
Violetta brought Ludger a cup of coffee and placed it on his desk as he was concentrating on work.
“Please eat. owner.”
“Is it Violetta? “Thank you.”
Ludger took off the rimless glasses from his face and lightly massaged the area between his eyebrows with his thumb and index finger.
“Aren’t you working too hard and not resting since you came back? “Everyone is worried.”
“It’s almost the end now.”
Violetta knew that the end that Ludger spoke of was a very important event in his life.
That’s why I was even more worried about Ludger.
Because it seemed like he was intentionally trying to overwork himself.
“What’s the trend outside?”
“It’s been similar lately. “The difference is that the number of believers who believe in and serve the Lumensis Church is increasing day by day.”
“It looks like quite a few people have left Royal Street as well.”
“Yes. Because many people died after the Dream Demon incident. “It’s natural for anyone to feel sad because that happened to their family, friends, and loved ones.”
The current Lumensis Church was the refuge from that sadness.
Ludger couldn’t blame them.
Just as I was about to sip a cup of coffee, the door opened and Hans came in urgently.
If it were a normal Hans, he would have knocked first, but the fact that he opened the door and came in at all was a sign that the situation was that urgent.
Ludger asked calmly, looking at Hans whose eyes were wide as if he couldn’t believe it.
“What’s going on?”
“older brother. “A completely unexpected guest has arrived.”
“…Are you a guest? i get it.”
“Are you not asking who it is?”
“I can roughly guess.”
Ludger put down his coffee cup and stood up.
“It’s a shame. “I was thinking of having a leisurely tea time.”
It occurred to me that perhaps the moment when he was able to drink coffee a little while ago might be the only time of rest given to him from now on.
Ludger went to meet the guest who came to see him.
Sure enough, the moment Ludger saw the woman with a bright smile as if she had no idea what was going on in the world, just like he had seen before, he knew that something was coming.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
The priest of Lemria, wearing a tiara that covered his eyes, accepted Ludger’s greeting.
Her attitude was so calm, as if she didn’t feel bad about Ludger’s informal language, and that it was natural.
“What is the reason you came to see me?”
“I want to help you.”
“You’re talking nonsense. A priest from the Lumensis Church came to me, offering to help me in any way possible. Do you think he will believe that?”
“The application for use of sacred objects has been approved by Bretus’ home country.”
When the story of the holy object suddenly came up, Ludger narrowed his pupils.
Holy object.
As the name suggests, it is a sacred object and could be seen as an artifact that operates with divine power.
In particular, the holy relics of the Holy Kingdom of Bretus went beyond ordinary artifacts and possessed power comparable to that of a relic.
This only applies to general holy relics, but in the case of holy relics specially managed by the Holy Kingdom, there were rumors that they went beyond relics and had powers equivalent to relics.
Rumors were bound to inflate, but that didn’t mean they were baseless.
“The sacred relics for which permission has been granted this time are items that are handled with utmost secrecy even in our home country. “They call it God’s stake.”
“God’s stake….”
Lemria smiled and said to Ludger, who felt uneasy at the word “peg.”
“They say that with that stake, they will destroy the church’s old enemies forever.”
As soon as those words were finished, a terrifying murderous spirit spewed out from Ludger.
