508

Because I'll see the end of episode 508. (1)

Berhem looked blank for a moment. How could a country bumpkin from the outskirts know the royal secrets?

"How do you know about the Shadow Knights?"

"I am the one asking the questions."

"… … ."

Berhem couldn't bear this humiliation. But what could he do? His life was now in that guy's hands.

The damned priest of the Salvation Church fled as soon as he heard that Earl Fenris had come to the capital. With even the Royal Knight Commander defeated, there was no one left to protect Berhem.

Giselle also confirmed that Flaccus was not there and did not ask him about it. It was obvious even without looking. He must have decided that the king was no longer of use and ran away.

Berhem hesitated for a moment and then spoke slowly.

"Have you heard from the Marquis of Branford? I don't know much either. Just that he's another 'king' of this country… … ."

"What? King?"

"Yes, that's right. I know he didn't rule the kingdom, but he was able to exercise the same powers as a king."

"Tell me more."

"It's a royal secret… … ."

"Then just die."

Berhem shouted in horror as Giselle raised her sword.

"One of the three families that founded the nation together!"

"hmm...."

"The founding king, the Shadow Knight Commander's family, and the Duke of Delphine together founded this kingdom! The three families agreed to have equal authority!"

Berhem continued speaking, watching Giselle's expression.

"Therefore, the title of Duke was only granted to the Duke of Delphine in this kingdom. And the Duke had the power to overthrow the royal family whenever necessary!"

"her...."

Jiselle made a face of bewilderment.

Even the immunity granted to a common subject does not forgive treason. However, the duke's family had the power to overthrow the royal family. To this extent, isn't that power no different from that of a king?

"Then what about the Shadow Knights? Why don't they have any titles?"

"They decided to hide their identities. It means that they have become the ones who rule the night of this kingdom."

"Why did the founding king give such authority?"

"I don't know, I just assume it was an inevitable choice. I know the political situation was very chaotic at the time. It was to the point where three powerful families had to join forces."

"Aren't there any records left? I know the royal family values such things."

"Nothing, nothing. They said that people at the time deliberately erased all records."

It is said that after the fall of the ancient empire, numerous powers rose up in a struggle to seize power. This too was a story that was passed down only by word of mouth.

The general opinion was that there were almost no historical records from that period because they were lost during the war. It had not been that long since history was properly recorded.

However, according to Berhem, the historical materials were not lost in the war, but were 'deliberately' erased by the high-ranking officials at the time. He wondered why, but Berhem did not seem to know the reason.

"The three families shared equal authority… … How did things end up like this?"

"The royal family wanted to monopolize power by any means necessary. After all, the royal family was the representative of the three families. Over the centuries, they weakened their power."

"It seems to have been somewhat successful."

"I thought so. But… … The Shadow Knights had no interest in power. They were only focused on protecting the crown."

"hmm."

"The same was true of the Dukes. They also did not engage in external activities and simply focused on ruling the South."

In short, the royal family was the only one who opposed them and tried to eliminate them by any means necessary. Even that only weakened their power and ultimately failed to eliminate them.

Berhem continued in a trembling voice.

"That's all. This story is also just a secret story handed down in the royal family. It may or may not be true. Since there are no proper records, it was only passed down to the king."

"Hmm… … Then what is this holy relic?"

"That, that… … has been passed down since the time of the founding king. It was said to be a treasure that would protect the royal family, but until this incident, I didn't know that it contained such sacred power."

"Is that all? Judging from your expression, it seems like you're hiding something."

Jiselle held her sword to Berhem's neck with a cold gaze. It seemed as if she knew something more.

Berhem hesitated and then closed his eyes tightly. He had no choice but to answer the questions obediently because he wanted to live.

"It's a saint's necklace."

"Saint? What saint?"

It was said to be an item passed down from the time of the founding king. It seems that even back then, there was someone who received the title of saint like Parniel.

Berhem slowly continued explaining about the relic.

"That necklace… …is the necklace of the one called 'the first saint.' The saint who monopolized the love of all the goddesses."

"Saint? Wasn't the founding king a man? Why is the saint's necklace in the royal family?"

Berhem opened his mouth with difficulty at Giselle's urging.

"It is said that the founding king was… … the servant of a saint."

"...servant?"

"That, that's right. The one who was serving the saint… … This, this is the royal family's secret!"

The servants who were listening to Berhem's words were also surprised. Wasn't it true that the noble blood of this kingdom was descended from a servant?

Jiselle also chuckled.

"This is amazing. How could a mere servant establish a country? It seems he was no ordinary servant."

"No, it's not a story that has been proven to be true! It's just a myth that has been passed down!"

"Usually, that's true, but if it's a story that's only been secretly passed down to the royal family, it's a little different. Anyway, why does the royal family keep this? Not knowing that it has some kind of power."

"I don't know, I really don't know. I was just told not to reveal it to anyone and to keep it secret. It was a really important item. That's why the royal family made a lot of secret treasures and kept it hidden."

"But you were going to hand this over to the Duke?"

"Well, isn't that obvious? I thought it was just an ordinary necklace. I thought it had only a symbolic meaning."

"hmm...."

"Since the Shadow Knights are gone anyway and everything will be over once the Duke is gone, I just thought there was no need to obsess over things from the past."

Jiselle nodded. If she had simply thought of it as an old item, then so be it. Judging from the fact that she had tried to hand it over as the duke had requested, it was clear that the king did not know the details.

Still, I could make some guesses based on what I heard from the king.

'This relic definitely seems to have a secret. That's why the Duke's family is after it. Didn't the Shadow Knights guard this necklace?'

The royal family had long kept the relics a secret. The remaining two families would not have known the relics' whereabouts.

The Dukes wanted the relic, and the Shadow Knights wanted to protect it. It seemed like the three families had maintained a balance of power for a long time.

As the founding king had expected, the royal family was protected simply by hiding the sacred relics.

It was clear that the Duke and the Shadow Knight Commander, except for this foolish king, knew what this relic was used for.

"That's an interesting story. Do you know anything more about the Shadow Knights? Why did they disappear?"

Actually, I knew the gist of it from Belinda. Melkir, who was the vice-captain, joined hands with the Salvation Church and launched a surprise attack.

But I wanted to hear what the king thought, because it was a story about his mother.

Berhem hesitated again before answering.

"I… … allowed myself to be destroyed."

"what?"

"How can there be two suns under the sky? My ancestors failed, but I succeeded!"

"What did you do and how did you do it?"

"Vice-Commander Melkir secretly made a proposal to Jim. He said that he would kill the Knight Commander. The Duke's people agreed to help. So… … ."

"so?"

"Jim gave his permission and told me the commander's hidden abode. It was a place known only to the king."

"her."

"The deputy commander distorted the information so that those sent from the duke's house could secretly go there. After that, they tried to wipe out the duke's house, but my body was weak… … ."

Berhem spoke proudly, but the more he listened, the more dizzy Giselle became.

"… … Wow, you want to get rid of the person who protected you? And you even brought in outside forces to do so?"

"Profit! How can I just watch someone with the same power as a king? Melkir has sworn allegiance to me!"

Jiselle glanced back. She felt an overwhelming murderous intent.

Belinda was holding back tears as she floated dozens of daggers into the air.

"So… … you're saying that you played a decisive role in defeating the captain?"

Annette's hidden abode was unknown to Belinda, and not even to her vice-captain, Melkir. It was a secret known only to the kings who had formed an alliance between the two houses.

If something happens to the royal family, you'll have to run away to where the Shadow Knight Commander is.

But it was Berhem who leaked that secret!

"I don't even know that… … ."

Belinda thought Annette had been ambushed somewhere else. Even though there were a lot of superhumans gathered, it was strange that someone as powerful as her had been attacked.

Annette must have felt somewhat at ease in her hidden abode. In the midst of all this, she was attacked by so many superhumans that she couldn't help but get seriously hurt.

Yet she left without killing Berhem. She suppressed even her desire for revenge in order to fulfill her responsibility.

Even though he must have known that Berhem had leaked the information.

Belinda could not even imagine how sad and difficult that betrayal must have been.

"You son of a bitch!"

Paaaaak!

Belinda's dagger extended out and stabbed Berhem in various parts of his body. Berhem was sent flying all the way to the wall and was stuck there.

"Kwaaaaak!"

Berhem screamed, his arms and legs pierced by daggers and pinned to the wall.

"Why, why are you doing this! Didn't Jim just tell you everything he wanted to know!"

"Gisselle shrugged," he said.

"This is the only surviving member of the Shadow Knights."

"What, what? B, all the Shadow Knights must have died!"

While Annette was away, the Shadow Knights' dwelling was also attacked at the same time. They were strong and held out for quite some time, but they could not avoid being annihilated.

Only Belinda, who was a trainee, was able to survive thanks to Annette's arrival just before she died.

"Sir, spare me. I didn't kill him myself, did I? It was Melkir and the Duke who did it!"

"If you hadn't told them where the captain was, they wouldn't have been able to make a move."

"Eeeeeeeee… … How could you do this to the King! Shouldn't the Shadow Knights be loyal to me! Wasn't that a promise?"

Berhem felt so wronged. What sin had he committed to deserve this?

He was the king and father of this country. It was so sad that he was being persecuted by such incompetent and lowly people.

But I couldn't die like this. I joined hands with the Salvation Church to survive. I had to survive somehow.

Berhem pleaded, blood pouring from his hands and feet.

"Come on, come on, unpack your things. I forgive you for your treason. I will just get better and live quietly."

Jiselle shook her head and raised her sword.

"That can't be. Things will be clearer only if you die."

In fact, there would be no harm in leaving a powerless king alive. He could just be locked up in a tower.

But if he lives, many people will be uncomfortable.

Berhem looked at Giselle's bloody sword and cried out in thought.

"Didn't you tell me everything? Didn't you tell me everything you know?"

"Didn't you say you'd let me live if I told you? I was just curious so I asked."

"… … This, this, this, this bastard! Kkaaaak!"

Berhem tried to reach out, but the dagger was firmly embedded in his arm, and he could not do so. Instead, he only felt more pain.

He was panting and glared at Giselle with bloodshot eyes.

"Ugh… … I, I made a mistake. If only the Shadow Knight Commander had been alive… … The likes of you wouldn't have dared, wouldn't have dared come here."

"...hmm."

Jiselle scratched her chin. I can't even clap my hands here. It's embarrassing at times like this.

"If the Marquis of Branford had been in office, would you have dared to commit treason?"

That was right. I had to fight the Duke, but I tried my best to avoid a situation where I would end up turning the kingdom into an enemy.

But what good would it do to regret it now? It was the king himself who broke down all those barriers.

"Is the will finished?"

As Giselle was about to cut off his neck without saying anything, Belinda shouted.

"Your Majesty's mother is Lady Annette!"

Berhem looked at Belinda with a blank expression, forgetting that he was in danger of death.

"what?"

"The Marquis Ferdium is Lady Annette!"

"What, what, what… … ."

"Lady Annette eventually passed away because of the wounds she received from you guys. However, she met Marquis Ferdium and left behind a young master and a young lady. So this is the revenge that Lady Annette is taking now. Never forget it even after death."

Belinda had no intention of just letting Berhem go. She wanted him to leave knowing exactly what she had done.

Indeed, Berhem muttered while looking at Giselle with a blank expression.

"Yes, you are… … the son of the Commander of the Shadow Knights? Are you saying that she is alive?"

"Yeah. In a way, you could say that I was born thanks to you."

"Ugh, ugh… … euaaaah!"

Berhem screamed, shedding tears of blood.

I couldn't believe it. Wasn't it the result of something he and his family had done long ago that blocked their future?

Her children had grown up and were blocking the ducal family and sweeping away the royal family. Her husband was coming to the capital to become the new king.

How could such a cruel fate exist!

Without even knowing it, he proudly said that he had killed your mother.

"Eww! That girl is going to block my path like this until the very end!"

It would have been better if he had just left it alone. Then he would have enjoyed a long life and the royal family would still be protected.

… … No, I really should have killed him then. Even if it meant searching the entire kingdom.

At that time, Berhem did not find Annette's body. He was terrified and increased the number of royal knights, and fed the dragon heart to Count Pallantz, the commander of the royal knights.

It was only after ten years that he was relieved that Annette was dead. Of course, after that, the Marquis of Branford came to power and he suffered from an inferiority complex again.

But that wasn't right. Instead of just increasing the number of knights, they should have dispatched the increased number of knights to somehow capture and kill Annette.

Berhem could do nothing but scream in a mixture of regret, despair, and anger. The side effects of the procedure had taken effect, and now blood was gushing from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.

Jiselle spoke to Berhem in a cold tone.

"The dynasty of the old era ends today. A new dynasty will now begin."

"Shut up! Hey Ino… … !"

Scratch!

Before Berhem could finish speaking, Giselle's sword moved. Berhem's head was cleanly separated from his body.

His face was filled with nothing but resentment and anger.

Jiselle muttered, wiping the blood off her sword.

"So why are you picking on someone who is just sitting there?"

It's the same with the duke and the king. Why are you picking on people who can live without the law and sending this message?

Still, I felt a little relieved. It wasn't perfect, but I learned a little more about the Holy Relics. I figured I could figure out the rest by sweeping away the Salvation Church.

I also liked that part because I ended up getting revenge on my mother once again.

Soon the king's head was hung in front of the castle for all to see. The people cheered when they saw it.

"Wow!"

"The mad king is dead!"

"We are liberated!"

The capital was in a festival-like mood for several days.

Giselle confiscated the food that the nobles had embezzled and distributed it generously. The people were able to eat and rest in peace for the first time in a long time.

And finally, when the Ferdium army arrived in the capital.

Zwalter couldn't help but be amazed at the sight unfolding before his eyes.

A great crowd of people came out of the capital and fell before him, shouting in one voice.

"Please be our king!"