"Sigh..."
Holy King Hoppen let out a deep sigh as he placed two cups of tea on the spotless white table.
"Did you really have to enter like that?"
He frowned as he pushed a steaming cup of tea toward Saintess Olga who sat across from him.
"Please allow me to maintain some dignity as the Holy King!"
Hoppen squeezed his eyes shut as he made his plea.
"A king's dignity isn't determined by such things."
Olga shook her head as she sipped the tea Hoppen had prepared.
"Regardless of my actions, it's determined by what kind of person you are."
She narrowed her eyes, examining Hoppen as a person.
"In that sense, you're doing pretty well. Your lingering patheticness hasn't spread outside. Which means your subordinates are keeping their mouths shut nicely."
Olga snickered, saying that many people were moved by Hoppen's kind personality rather than his dignity.
"I'd like to become a bit more impressive now..."
Hoppen wrinkled his nose as he held the warm teacup with both hands.
"Leave being impressive to others. Like people such as Raon."
Olga waved her hand, saying that adjectives like "impressive" or "amazing" were reserved for people like Raon.
"If compared to Lord Raon, no one would survive!"
Hoppen quickly turned his head, begging her not to compare him with Raon.
"Ah, if he would come, things would progress much more easily..."
He briefly clicked his tongue with regret.
"Don't talk nonsense."
Olga raised her fist and slammed it on the table. The tea in the cups surged like waves and splashed upward.
"It's not like he's only helped us once or twice! Just repaying the debt alone would break our backs."
She shook her head, saying that without Raon, the Suphren Holy Kingdom wouldn't even exist anymore.
"I know that, but we also sent considerable support to Zieghart."
Hoppen raised a finger toward Olga.
"Especially you, Saintess, you've participated in every war. You went during the war with the Black Tower, and you supported the White Blood Religion war too. Not to mention the many smaller battles..."
"I know that. No, regardless of that, Raon would come to Suphren as soon as we ask for help. But..."
Olga looked at Hoppen with deeply furrowed brows.
"Our territory has been invaded, our people taken, and you're asking why we don't call Raon? This war is happening on our land! If anyone dies, it should be us, and if anyone kills, it should be us!"
She shook her head, saying that regardless of alliances, this matter had to be handled by Suphren on its own.
"You're not wrong, but just in case..."
"Shut up."
Snap! Olga flicked her finger against Hoppen's forehead.
"Ugh..."
Hoppen frowned while clutching his forehead.
"My head hurts. I don't know where that witch suddenly appeared from."
He shook his head, lamenting his bad luck.
"The world is in chaos, so monsters hiding here and there are coming out."
Olga told him not to blame luck and to prepare for battle as she placed a dagger emitting a soft light on the table.
"Is this the artifact that purifies the mind with holy power?"
Hoppen narrowed his eyes as he looked at the thin, long dagger.
"Yes. If we infuse this dagger with Holy Power, it will break the witch's brainwashing. Now we can sweep away that damned thing without hesitation."
Olga tightly clenched her fist, saying she had prepared thoroughly for this day.
"Understood."
Hoppen set down the dagger as he looked at the confident Olga.
"We'll strike the witch's nest at dawn tomorrow."
He nodded, saying he would mobilize all the high-ranking Holy Knights and Priests.
"That's the way."
Olga raised her chin as she reattached the dagger to her waist. She frowned as she looked out the window at the northern center of Suphren. Whoosh.
In the northern center of the Suphren Holy Kingdom, a massive circular barrier made of holy power had emerged, and inside it, a strange pink aura with peculiar flow patterns was rising.
"What's wrong?"
Hoppen followed Olga's gaze to look at the barrier created with holy power.
"Every time I see that witch's aura..."
Olga frowned as she watched the pink aura rippling inside the holy power barrier.
"It feels like I've sensed it somewhere before."
She lowered her eyebrows, saying the aura felt strangely familiar.
"Huh? I feel the same!"
Hoppen raised his hand.
"I didn't mention it because I thought you'd think I was crazy, but I also feel like I've sensed that aura somewhere before!"
He nodded vigorously, saying he had the same thought as Olga.
"T-then should we try talking to her again?"
Hoppen clicked his tongue, suggesting they attempt to speak with the witch.
"We've already talked to her countless times!"
Olga shook her head resolutely.
"None of it worked, and instead she just brainwashed our people and took them away!"
Since the witch had settled there, they had attempted conversation several times a day, but she, with her robe pulled over her head, only repeated that the scent of him remaining here was hers and that they should retreat. She wasn't just half-mad—she seemed completely insane, making communication impossible. (E/N: ...The idea of taking Evelyn to a date here seems even more ridiculous)
"One last time..."
"Forget it. It's a waste of time. Besides, that aura is getting stronger."
Olga shook her head, saying they needed to end this before the witch grew stronger and consumed all of Suphren.
"Tomorrow."
She gripped the holy power-infused dagger tightly as she repeated to herself.
"We'll cut off the witch's head and end everything."
***
"Huh...?"
Dorian opened his eyes wide as he looked at the gates of the Suphren Holy Kingdom.
"The gates are closed?"
He tilted his head, noting that even the side entrance next to the main gate was closed.
"They must be conducting a holy war, so that's to be expected."
Raon stepped forward in front of Dorian and nodded.
"However... something seems off?"
Despite claims of waging a holy war, an enormous amount of holy power was being concentrated inside the kingdom. It seemed as though all the high-ranking Holy Knights and Priests were gathered in one place.
'Are they waiting before deployment? No, this is...'
Raon frowned as he deployed his Azure Clear Eye.
'Has a problem arisen within the kingdom?'
He had naturally assumed they would wage war outside the kingdom, but now it seemed the enemy was within the Holy Kingdom itself.
'I'll know once I check it out.'
Having made up his mind, Raon approached the gates of the Holy Kingdom.
"Halt!"
A Holy Knight wearing a silver visor raised his hand, signaling them not to approach any further.
"The Suphren Holy Kingdom is not admitting visitors today as entry is prohibited. I'm sorry, but please turn back."
He blocked their approach entirely without even listening to what they had to say. Though his tone was polite, his voice carried a clear refusal. It meant an urgent situation was unfolding inside the kingdom.
'As I suspected.'
Raon's suspicions were confirmed as he observed the Holy Knight's expression, which suggested no one would be allowed to enter.
'There's a problem inside.'
Even if most of their forces had been deployed externally, leaving the kingdom nearly empty, they wouldn't show this kind of reaction. It was clear that a holy war was taking place inside the kingdom.
'However, I don't sense the enemy's aura.'
A powerful barrier surrounded the Holy Kingdom, preventing him from sensing any aura except holy power. It seemed impossible to identify the enemy from here.
"I understand."
Raon nodded and obediently stepped back.
"If we mention Lord Raon's name, wouldn't they open the gates?"
Dorian lowered his chin, suggesting they try mentioning the name of the Light Wind Palace Master.
"It seems like a crucial moment right now, so I don't want to interfere."
Raon calmly waved his hand. To respect Olga and Hoppen's choices, he wanted to let them solve it with their own power unless it was truly dangerous.
'Even if they suffer losses, they'll ultimately be able to grow from it.'
Considering they were preparing for war under the concept of a holy war, the enemy was clearly strong enough to threaten the kingdom. However, if they overcame this crisis, they could grow both in experience and martial prowess, so quietly observing seemed like a good option.
"So we're not going in?"
Evelyn smiled with her usual expression, as if her previous sulking had completely dissipated.
"No, we're going in."
Raon firmly shook his head.
"While we can all move while concealing our presence, it's difficult to avoid the holy detection magic installed in the walls. Can you help with that?"
He raised a finger, pointing to the boundary magic operated by holy power on the walls.
"Of course."
Evelyn nodded as if to say not to worry.
"It'll be done in 5 minutes."
She closed her eyes, telling them to prepare to move in 5 minutes.
"F-five minutes?"
Dorian let out a gasp of disbelief.
"Five minutes to disable the boundary magic of the Holy Kingdom?"
He trembled his jaw, wondering what kind of ability this was.
"It's taking 5 minutes only because it's holy power. If it were magic, she'd have broken it the moment she saw it."
Raon shook his head as he explained in place of the concentrating Evelyn.
"Isn't that more impressive than even Lady Chamber or Lady Larian?"
"That's not quite it..."
Raon's shoulders trembled slightly as he looked at Evelyn.
"She specializes in this sort of thing."
Stealth, transformation, detection, trap disarmament, tailing. In these shadowy magics, no one in this world could match Evelyn. (E/N: The world number one stalker, that even outmatched the Demon King of Lust, becoming the Demon King of Stalking)
"Get ready to move."
Raon told Dorian to warm up as he gazed at the inside of the gleaming white walls.
'It seems like the war is about to begin? Or it may have already started.'
Seeing how the holy power inside was surging as if about to explode, it seemed the battle had already begun. Raon turned his gaze toward the eastern mountains. The sun was rising very slowly.
'The timing is perfect.'
Holy power reveals its greatest strength when darkness recedes and the sun illuminates the world. Now, the war was beginning.
'I wonder if there's an enemy who can withstand that power?'
-Ugh...
As Raon was thinking about the Holy Kingdom's enemy while clicking his tongue, Wrath suddenly trembled all over as if feeling cold.
'What's wrong with you? You've been quiet for a while now?'
Raon frowned as he looked at Wrath. He was concerned because Wrath, who had been energetic until they arrived at the Holy Kingdom, was now trembling like a sick chicken.
-Some-something feels strange. My body feels chilly...
Wrath let out a low groan, saying he wasn't feeling well.
-I have a very bad feeling, can't we just go back?
He raised his hazy eyes, saying he wanted to go home.
'Are you feeling that bad?'
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Wrath.
-I-I don't know. From the moment we arrived here, my strength has been draining away, and my head feels like it's about to split...
Wrath sighed, saying his body felt unwell as if he had caught a cold.
'Bear with it a little longer. We'll leave after confirming the Holy Kingdom's enemy and receiving the mark of their support for me.'
It was just as Raon was telling Wrath to stay inside the bracelet.
"It's done."
Evelyn opened her eyes, concentrating dark rippling mana at her fingertips.
"Get ready. The boundary nullification will last exactly 10 seconds."
She jerked her chin, saying they needed to cross the wall within 10 seconds.
"T-ten seconds? Can I make it?"
Dorian swallowed dryly with concern.
"With your current skills, you could cross it in two seconds, not ten, so don't worry."
Raon tapped Dorian's forehead, telling him not to exaggerate.
"Then I'll begin."
As Evelyn aimed her fingertip at the Suphren Holy Kingdom, the holy flow emanating from the walls suddenly froze with a sensation like something snapping.
"Cross the wall and run toward the north where holy power is exploding."
Raon gestured to Evelyn and Dorian with his chin and gently kicked off the ground. Whoosh. The moment he decided to cross the wall, his body was already inside the Suphren Kingdom. It was like ground-folding movement that compressed distance. The growth of his body and mind had achieved clear advancement in martial arts.
[Follow behind me.]
After sending an aura message to Evelyn and Dorian, Raon deliberately moved slowly through the interior of the Suphren Holy Kingdom.
'As I thought, the location is the northern center of the kingdom.'
Magnificent holy power was rippling from the area where tall towers and a cathedral stood. It seemed all the Holy Knights and Priests of the Holy Kingdom were gathered there.
'This presence is...'
He sensed a familiar presence at the center of the powerful holy power.
'It's Olga and Hoppen.'
Befitting their roles as Saintess and Holy King, Olga and Hoppen stood at the forefront of the Holy Knights and Priests, emitting the most powerful holy power.
'I still can't sense the enemy's aura.'
Even after crossing the walls of the Holy Kingdom, he couldn't identify the enemy's aura. It seemed to be contained by thick holy power.
'I should go there first to check.'
Raon briefly clicked his tongue and slightly increased his speed toward the northern center of Suphren.
-Urgh...
As soon as they approached the center of Suphren, Wrath gasped violently and clutched his head.
-Th-this is insane! Why is that one here!
He shouted that they had made a terrible mistake and tried to retreat, grabbing his own shoulders. But his body and legs were already on the roof of the cathedral built in the northern center of Suphren. Whistle. Raon whistled as he observed the Holy Knights and Priests lined up in front of the holy barrier.
'There are so many of them.'
Seeing Holy Knights gathered in one place with their swords raised in orderly formation—enough to wipe out a small kingdom in a day—he couldn't help but be impressed.
'Those two are there as well.'
As expected, Olga and Hoppen stood at the front, encouraging the Priests and Holy Knights.
'Then the enemy is... hm?'
While turning his gaze to the opposite side with a faint smile, he felt an ominous sensation that took his breath away.
"Ugh!"
Raon let out a sound he'd been holding back as he saw the pink aura rising from inside the wall made of holy power.
'Why is that one here...'
The moment he saw the unmistakable color of that aura, his mouth fell open involuntarily.
-I-I told you we should go back!
Wrath, now recognizing the owner of the pink aura, screamed in protest.
-This is the worst misfortune!
'But this is the best luck?'
Raon's lips curled up into a smile as he said the opposite of what Wrath claimed.
'I might be able to accomplish three goals at once!'