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Chapter 235

"What should we do? Shall we inspect them first?"

The question came from the lieutenant at his side, breaking the silence. It was just the two of them there, mounted on their horses atop the hill overlooking the road.

Spello nodded thoughtfully. The lieutenant, catching the signal, nudged his horse forward a step. His face displayed anxiety, mirroring the tension Spello felt, knowing the carriage below was not an ordinary traveler.

"Stop the carriage and identify yourselves!"

The lieutenant\'s command rang out sharply and commanding.

"This land is under the stewardship of Duke Kralen! If you do not comply with the procedures, you shall not pass!"

Yet, the carriage did not halt. It merely reduced its pace as it continued its climb. Amid the lieutenant\'s muttered frustrations, the beastfolk on the coachman\'s seat stood, her presence undeniably imposing.

"...."

She was robustly built, a characteristic of her kind, with a mane that fluttered in the breeze from her neck. Remarkably, her intense gaze was fixed not on the lieutenant but directly on Spello. Despite the distance, when their eyes met, a palpable tension sparked instantly. Spello felt a twitch in his eyebrow.

"Are you a soldier of Duke Kralen?"

Her voice, cold and sharp, cut through the air with a chilling clarity that Spello could hear from afar.

Spello subtly signaled the lieutenant to step back, then composed himself and urged his horse forward, speaking louder to hide his nervousness.

"That\'s right! I am Spello, a knight in loyal service to Duke Edward Kralen, the rightful ruler of Racliffe and the warden of the Inner Sea, master of the Blue Fleet!"

"Very well." The beastfolk nodded, her demeanor unflinching even upon hearing the Duke\'s esteemed name.

"In that case, lead us to the Duke, Sir Spello. The occupants within have urgent business with him."

"...." Spello\'s expression tightened, the implication of the beastfolk woman\'s words suggesting an inevitable course of action. He exchanged a knowing glance with the lieutenant before replying.

"I am the Duke’s knight, sworn to prioritize his commands above all. I am curious who these bold passengers are to make such imperious demands."

"Clear the way and dismount. The names about to be spoken deserve more respect than to be heard from atop a horse."

Muscles tensed along Spello\'s jaw as the lieutenant whispered, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

"What shall we do...?"

"... Disperse the soldiers. Clear the way."

As Spello turned his horse around, his irritation became apparent, though a stronger sense of curiosity took over.

Who are these mysterious passengers, speaking with such unshakable confidence? If they turned out to be less important than expected, they would not survive here.

With his command, the intruders would be swiftly and effectively dealt with by his well-trained soldiers. In the event of such a situation, Spello was fully prepared to ensure that the beastfolk woman did not survive.

Clatter, clatter—

As the soldiers and supply wagons moved off the road, the carriage slowly ascended the hill and approached Spello and his lieutenant.

After confirming that the two had dismounted, the beastfolk finally snapped her fingers. The brown-skinned coachman pulled the reins, bringing the carriage to a halt in the middle of the road. The beastfolk, taking in the sight of Spello, his lieutenant, and the lined-up soldiers, clasped her hands behind her back and began to speak.

"Let me introduce those inside. Sir Gotheir and Sir Nasser, both members of the purification squad, Apostles of the Radiant Goddess, and lights in the darkness."

"...!"

Though her voice was neither loud nor fast, the impact was immense. Spello, his lieutenant, and even the soldiers froze like statues.

Hearing such notorious names at such a time was indeed shocking.

"And also." However, the beastfolk\'s introduction had just begun. "She is the youngest and the last elder of the endless pursuit of knowledge, the one awakened through the baptism of death. Lady Tensia Aynas, the elder elf."

An elder elf...?

Spello inhaled sharply. These were unbelievable words.

While the purifiers might be here, why would an elf from the central or southern regions be in the West?

More astonishing was the implication that the main point of the introduction was yet to come.

"These individuals are all aiding in a sacred mission. Everyone, kneel on one knee and show your respect."

The beastfolk looked around to ensure compliance before continuing.

"A Holy Crusader of the Stern Goddess, the one who rekindled the sacred flame of the Blazing Goddess. The last avenger of the Giant Kingdom and the true Great Warrior of the North."

"...!" Spello\'s eyes widened at the words, as did those of his lieutenant and the surrounding soldiers. All eyes were now on the beastfolk, their jaws hanging open.

"The Dragon Slayer who pierced the heart of the Corrupt Ancient Dragon, the official and sole emissary of the mighty Platinum Dragon. And furthermore!"

The beastfolk suddenly shouted, her icy gaze sweeping over Spello and the soldiers. Clearly displeased that they hadn\'t kneeled yet.

Spello, almost kneeling instinctively, quickly steadied himself. The claims were staggering, but as the Duke\'s knight, he couldn\'t kneel just based on these words.

He mustered his strength to meet the beastfolk\'s piercing stare.

The beastfolk, baring her fangs slightly, continued. "The savior of Lu Sard who eradicated the vampire clan, the superhuman who defeated the demon incarnate from the void, and purified corruption and plague, Sir Ian Hope!"

The beastfolk raised her head slightly after finishing her introduction. A hush fell over the scene, with only the faint snorting of horses breaking the silence.

Spello, staring at her blankly, swallowed dryly and spoke. "Can you... prove all of that?"

The beastfolk, who had been glaring at Spello, finally turned her gaze. Behind her, the coachman, who looked as bewildered as the soldiers, blinked in surprise.

The beastfolk nodded toward the carriage. The coachman cautiously opened the small window behind the driver\'s seat.

But there was no need for him to speak.

Creak—

As if on cue, one of the carriage doors opened.

A moment later, a pale-skinned elf with silver hair stepped out, her head held high. Despite wearing simple leather armor over worn clothes, her innate nobility was unmistakable.

After descending from the carriage, she stood beside the door without glancing at Spello or the soldiers. When two more figures, both deeply hooded, emerged from the carriage, a significant ripple spread through Spello\'s mind.

As a knight and a devotee of Lu Solar, he quickly recognized that the robe symbolized the Great Church, and beneath it, the heavy armor indicated their true identity. They were undoubtedly members of the church\'s purification squad.

While the two purifiers stood beside the elf, Spello\'s gaze naturally shifted to the last man emerging from the carriage.

Thud—

Black hair and eyes, an expressionless face like a mask. His armor, a mix of plate and chain mail, appeared ordinary, as did his physique.

Only the sword at his waist seemed exceptional, but overall, he didn\'t stand out compared to those who preceded him.

However, the elder elf and the two purifiers bowed deeply to him. He, on the other hand, paid them no mind and walked forward.

He stopped in front of Spello and extended a document.

"Verify this."

Unconsciously, Spello accepted the certificate with both hands. The man\'s demeanor, as if everything was perfectly natural, exuded an even greater authority.

Upon reading the document, Spello sighed deeply.

"My goodness, Lu Solar...."

This was a certificate issued by the church of Travelga and signed by Archduke Olaf, the ruler of the Northern Autonomous Region.

The ink used to inscribe the letters was mixed with gold dust.

Everyone had heard the rumor of a superhuman appearing in the North and slaying a dragon. And this document was enough proof that the man before him was indeed that Dragon Slayer.

This also meant that everything the beastfolk had said was true.

A superhuman from the North, the official emissary of the Platinum Dragon, had appeared before him, accompanied by an elder elf and purifiers.

"Is this still not enough?" The beastfolk\'s low voice pierced Spello\'s ears.

Spello shuddered and fell to one knee. "F-forgive my rudeness...! Glory to the radiant light...!"

As if on cue, the lieutenant and soldiers followed suit, bowing their heads. They placed their spears on the ground.

Sweat trickled down Spello\'s cheek.

"There are matters here that need to be discussed urgently with the Duke. Will you guide us?" Ian asked. His voice was so flat it felt almost abrasive.

Spello bowed his head lower and replied. "P-please forgive me. I must depart to carry out my orders. Instead, I will assign soldiers to guide you."

"What are your orders?"

"We... are heading to Tessen. His Excellency suspects that the corruption has spread there as well. We are to assess the situation and establish a military camp nearby."

"Then you can come with me now."

"What...?" Spello looked up instinctively.

Ian, looking down at him with an impassive face, continued. "The situation in Tessen has already been dealt with. That\'s why I need to meet the Duke."

"...." Spello\'s mouth opened slightly again. He met Ian\'s black eyes and finally asked. "What happened in Tessen?"

"The city of Tessen has fallen. By the time we arrived, it was already in ruins." The beastfolk answered.

Seeing Spello\'s widened eyes, she added calmly. "And Sir Ian Hope here defeated the demon of the void that had taken root there and purified the corrupted land."

At that moment, Ian extended his hand toward Spello. Locking eyes with the stiffened Spello, he gave a slight nod.

"We can discuss the details on the way."

"... Yes." Spello barely managed to reply, carefully folding the certificate and holding it above his head.

Ian took it as if it were the most natural thing and added.

"Lead the way, Sir Spello."

***

The soldiers marched in silence, unable to hide the relief that mingled with their smiles. It was only natural. Their dangerous mission had been reduced to merely escorting a carriage, and they were heading back to the Racliffe.

Although they would undoubtedly be reassigned to another mission, it wouldn\'t be as perilous as their original task. And this sentiment was shared by Spello, who was walking alongside the carriage.

"... It truly is a remarkable achievement, one for the history books." He murmured, having been briefly informed about the events in Tessen by Charlotte.

Of course, much of Charlotte\'s account was embellished, particularly the part about the purifiers coming to kill Ian.

According to the story, the purifiers joined Ian near Tessen and helped thwart the corrupted ritual. At least, that was how Spello would report it.

"...." Ian, who had been sitting impassively, glanced at Thesaya beside him. She had been quietly observing him, clearly eager to hear more. Ian nodded slightly. He also needed to gather some information.

Thesaya promptly spoke up. "Sir Spello."

"Yes, my lady." Spello turned his head eagerly. His expression and tone were now impeccably respectful.

"Sending reinforcements to Tessen implies that Racliffe successfully overcame all its crises."

Thesaya, smiling as Tensia Aynas, added. "I\'m curious how it was achieved. According to the corrupted ones in Tessen, there was a ritual performed here as well."

"Indeed. Everything was rotting away, even the seawater. Horrid creatures emerged from the underground sewers, and those killed by them reanimated in ghastly forms."

Spello\'s gaze seemed to focus on something distant, not the scenery, but his memories.

"His Excellency led the knights through the city, rescuing the citizens. The inner fortress became filled with survivors. But holding out was all we could do. A few days later, reinforcements arrived from the islands, but even they couldn\'t enter the city. We were completely isolated in the inner fortress. It was a nightmare, as death seemed inevitable."

That’s how it was played out in the game.

While Ian mused inwardly, Spello continued.

"But then, suddenly, everything changed. From the underground sewers, screams echoed, and soon the entire city was filled with cries. They were the sounds of the monsters. His Excellency realized it was an opportunity and launched a counterattack. And indeed, the curses and monsters that had engulfed the city began to lose their power. At that time, we didn\'t know why it happened...."

Spello glanced at Ian\'s profile, his eyes shimmering.

"... Now, I think I understand why."