Chapter 96_ The Truth (4)

He was no longer the Sword Saint. No, it was more correct to judge that the strongest legendary combat class, Sword Saint is now just a part of him as the Undefeated King. As Mercedes affirmed this, Lexus spoke to her.

"With this, I can talk to you about something very important without worrying to any prying ears."

He saw her make a confused expression albeit she is still cautious but he continued. To be honest, the empire wasn't a threat for Lexus who have Nevartan by his side and with his own strength.

It wasn't just about confidence but it was because he knew his strength more than anyone else. However it was different when it comes to Mercedes. The future legendary knight that even won against fighting a god.

'I want her.'

Lexus became greedy of her. If that's not the case, he shouldn't be the king of the legendary heroes at all.

"Do you want to know the truth about Piaro?"

"...?!"

The name buried deep in her chest. Mercedes became blank as she heard Lexus mentioned Piaro's name.

The pillars supporting the country. The empire was eternal and the people would be at ease.

This was a verse of a song that was once popular throughout the empire. Great Swordsman Piaro and Splendid Swordsman Asmophel. The people of the empire gained great courage and hope when they listened to the song that praised the two heroes of the empire.

It was the same for the young Mercedes. She had dreams of becoming a knight and was raised humming the heroes' song. Mercedes overcame every hardship and trial in the hope that she could someday wear the same red armour as the two heroes. For her, the tragedy of about Piaro was a huge shock.

"Piaro...!"

Great Swordsman, Hero, Pillar, Emperor's Sword, Head Teacher, Captain...

They were all the titles that Mercedes once used for Piaro in the past. Now the best courtesy she could give Piaro was to not speak the stigma of 'traitor.'

"The truth... If you really know… Pl~please!"

The prideful attitude she has shown on their first encounter was no longer present. Mercedes eyes became red without her knowing. There was a sense of struggle as she tried to hold back her tears.

"I...!"

"Do you know how much I have been looking for him in the past years?"

It was hard to bear. In the end, Mercedes' tears emerged.

"Every day... I was waiting every day. For the day when captain would suddenly appear, telling me that the betrayal was a false accusation."

Despite trying to stop her tears, Mercedes looked towards Lexus with hope. Hope that through him, she will finally know the truth.

"This might be heartless of me but, there's no merit for me in telling you easily."

Move with only the benefits in mind. This is what he learned after he took a glimpse of 1st Great Demon Baal's personality.

"I understand. I'm prepared to do anything."

Mercedes's sad face and shaky voice gradually calmed down. The tears flowing down her cheeks completely dried up but she was still desperate to know the truth despite being aware that he could make an unreasonable and selfish request.

What did it mean to be alive? The captain she vowed a knight's oath, rather than be loyal to the emperor, which her former teacher who taught her about a knight's oath was already a traitor. It wasn't that hard for Lexus to tell Mercedes what he knows. He simply repeated what he told Piaro and Asmophel along with Duke Greed.

"Mercedes, there are a few things you should keep in mind."

Lexus opened his mouth.

"You know the Fourth Knight, right?"

The Fourth Knight was different from the other Red Knights. It wasn't a position appointed by the emperor but one handed down.

"The Fourth Knight, a position designed to protect the Red Knights, is closely related to the Yatan Church and the one closest to Empress Marie, was a black magician... In fact, he was Yatan's Seventh Servant and the subordinate of the Fourth Knight. The Red Knights who watched under the pretext of protection were the Fourth Knight's men."

The empress joined hands with the Yatan Church and destroyed the red knights in order to increase her authority. In the process, Asmophel fell into the empress' trap and took the Yatan's essence. Which lost his reasoning and betrayed Piaro and his colleagues.

It was an unbelievable story. The problem was that he claimed the person closest to the empress was a Yatan Servant. Didn't this mean that Empress Marie was related to the evil Yatan Church?

Lexus also says that one of the main causes behind Piaro being declared a traitor was 4th imperial prince, Edan.

The information Lexus knew has not yet been discovered. In the novel, although Lexus did not remember it word for word, he remembered the major events that have great importance in the story line.

From minor to major events, unless something deviated from the story, Lexus should be able to use his memory as a reference for things that will happen in the future.

'Mercedes was the one who discovered this information anyway.'

Yes, probably nine years in the future if the flow of the events will go according to the novel, Mercedes was able to uncover this information, because of her desire to know the truth.

"The empress can't be just anyone. The imperial family thoroughly investigated their origins and only welcomed the cleanest women. How can the empress be related to the Yatan Church?"

Of course, Mercedes didn't believed Lexus right away. She thought that he was giving her false information to make the forces of the empire to crumble from within before they could declare a war.

Saharan Empire, a country where discrimination is normal. A country full of arrogance and self righteousness… It was a country where conspiracy and danger couldn't be removed. Lexus didn't immediately respond and instead, he smiled at Mercedes. The reason, Mercedes was shaken as she held her eyes.

"Keen-eyed, beautiful knight. Just like mine, your eyes can see through the difference between the truth and lies, albeit on a weaker scale."

Lexus playfully said but Mercedes realized it instantly. He was telling the truth. In the end, tears flowed down Mercedes' white cheeks. Keen Insight, an ability that she was born with. Her eyes tell her that Lexus has said nothing but the truth. Her being a beautiful knight is also included in it. He hasn't said any lies to her at all.

"Well as you are saying… At first she was a clean girl. But the empress could no longer be clean the moment she was filled with the ambition to place her son on the throne. She held hands with the evil forces that serve the great demons. Humans are weak creatures to temptation after all."

Over the past 3 years, one hero lived in desperation and suffering from a false accusation while another hero was ruled by guilt.

"If you investigate yourself, you won't discover this easily unlike what I told you earlier but let me tell you something. The fourth knight is not a human at all so you shouldn't evaluate him with human morals. He is a great demon from the legends after all. A great demon that was sealed by Sword Saint Muller hundreds of years ago."

"What ! ?"

When Lexus mentioned to her about the involvement of a great demon, Mercedes became alarmed. This isn't a good joke at all but then, her Keen Insight tells that what he Lexus says was the truth.

"Astaroth. Just so you know, the culprit behind the empress is the Great Demon Astaroth."

In the end, the source was Empress Marie and the Yatan Church. The moment she realized this.

"I'm glad that you told me about this but please let me know what your motive is."

Mercedes was conflicted about this. From his position as a king of another nation, what would he want in exchange for telling her this precious information?

"Actually, I don't want any material thing at all nor I care about the empire. I just like, happy endings."

Lexus smiled but Mercedes was surprised. Although his answer was vague, he was saying the truth again.

'A truly great person.'

The view that Mercedes held toward Lexus changed.

[Affinity with First Knight Mercedes of the Red Knights has increased by 70. Mercedes is willing to dine with you at any time and will positively review whatever you ask for.]

It was due to this notification window. Lexus knew that it was very difficult to raise affinity with this named NPC, Mercedes. Now that she found out the truth, she had an obligation.

"With this revelation, I shall pursue charges against Empress Marie and punish her."

It was the duty of the empire and the emperor towards the two heroes.

"Undefeated King Lexus, I want to apologize for our rudeness and to ask for understanding. Today's price will be paid later, even if I have to give up everything. I vowed that I'll do anything you desire."

[First Knight Mercedes' liking towards you has increased.]

In her heart, she wanted to kneel down. She wanted to yell after her heart full of resentment over the years was finally filled with relief. Lexus saw that Mercedes revealed a genuine smile. It wasn't forced at all and she was extremely beautiful in his vision. Looking at her sweet smile, he felt his heart thumping.

[You have felt a slight romantic feeling.]

[You have resisted.]

Mercedes was a beauty who gave off an extraordinary feeling. It was a dignified elegance that couldn't be measured. However, looking at the system message, Lexus confirmed that love is really not normal.

"Anything, you say... Okay. I am looking forward to it."

The opponent was the empress of the empire. There was a high chance that Mercedes would suffer a counterattack from the opponent and be labeled a traitor like Piaro. It was good from his perspective. It might be an opportunity to take Mercedes away from the empire.

Satisfy wasn't a microcosm world, but a world itself. Politics and betrayal were rampant and there were more than a few wicked people. It was impossible for only one person to survive in this huge world where there were conflicting goals between the billions players and NPCs.

"Let's go."

A couple of seconds later, Mercedes commanded the Red Knights while carrying to unconscious imperial prince to leave after Lexus released and unveiled the space he created from his sword energy and mana.

'Would the emperor believe in my words?'

It was true that Piaro had been framed, and the one behind it was Empress Marie who conspired with the Yatan Church. Would the emperor fully accept the truth? He had lost the empress and gotten betrayed by a friend. The emperor had suffered a great wound in his heart and relied on Marie for many years. The emperor's confidence in her might be far deeper than she thought.

"Mercedes, do your best."

The departing Mercedes immediately turned around when she heard his warm and sincere voice.

"You have to become stronger."

Though he spoke softly, Mercedes heard his sincere voice very clearly.

"Being strong enough not to be left behind by me."

Lexus truly means it. Especially now that his class became the Undefeated King.

Undefeated King encompassed all the classes of Pagma's Successor, Magic Swordsman of the Epics, and all other legendary classes he had before and it was also Lexus's epithet. It wasn't the myth class Undefeated King that defined him; it was Lexus that defined the Undefeated King.

The Hero King who cleansed the Behen Archipelago, the man who inherited some of the power of the legend Braham and the Undefeated King, and so on—Lexus had a number of unique titles.

His feats were so great that even a mediocre player would become a world star or high ranker with just one of them. Not to mention that his journey that already transcended the category of a legend isn't over yet.