Betrayal Knight’s Joyful Faith - Chapter 463



Only Krnovel

The Cheerful God of Betrayal Chapter 463

‘Should I still say this?’

In the distant silence, Duke Lancelot gazed at Arendt.

‘Or should I say it has changed?’

He could still vividly remember the scene of him being dragged out of the dungeon in a mess, then glaring at him in the courtroom.

Arendt was overly provocative then and now.

‘That must have been a calculated move.’

Because if I don’t provoke anyone, no one will listen to me.

His ability to skillfully grab attention and bring up the topic he wants with his smooth speaking skills was also intact.

‘If anything has changed… … .’

Unlike back then when things were extremely precarious, things now seem quite stable.

Rather than stopping him from insulting the gods and nobles, the three knights and Laius were glaring at anyone who might harm Arendt.

That means they also share Arendt’s views.

‘The same goes for His Highness the Crown Prince and His Majesty.’

Immediately after hearing the news, the Crown Prince showed his discomfort for a while. However, after Arendt returned and they talked for quite some time, he seemed to change his mind.

The Emperor, who had been watching the situation with the eyes of an entertaining play, seemed to have no intention of interfering with the decisions made by the Crown Prince.

‘This is it.’

Duke Lancelot swallowed a bitter smile.

The Duke, like other people in the empire, would visit the temple and pray whenever there was an important or small event.

It was really strange when I thought about it.

I don’t really have any intention of stopping Arendt from talking as she pleases.

‘Lord Arendt is an extremely dangerous person, then and now.’

And the most powerful weapon he has is not flowery words or shamelessness… … .

I didn’t even know that it was about moving people’s hearts.

* * *

“… … The object of desecration is not sacred.”

While the nobles were shocked by the provocative remarks, Lumiel, who had been silent for a long time, spoke softly.

“Of course, it refers to Lady Luce.”

But it was inevitable that his previously kind voice would start to show thorns little by little.

“On what basis? The Kalion Empire has long grown as a sacred empire with the grace of Luce.”

“Let me ask you something, Your Highness.”

Arendt, standing crookedly, responded.

“Where is the evidence that God Luce is a divine being? In the Bible or in history books? Are you talking about something written entirely from God Luce’s perspective?”

Grand Chancellor Lumiel, who was about to answer, closed his mouth.

“In the end, even that is nothing more than a false record manipulated to suit the tastes of God Luce. Can that be used as evidence to prove God Luce’s divinity?”

Arendt’s voice continued clearly.

“In this land called the Holy Empire, is there anyone who can objectively judge the god Luce?”

“… … Then, Lord Arendt.”

Lumiel, who had been watching him quietly, asked calmly.

“Do you think that Lord Arendt is qualified to judge him? Do you deny the history and roots of the empire so far, and even pretend not to know the grace of Luce who gave Lord Arendt his life?”

“Let me make one thing clear.”

Arendt frowned.

“I never begged for my life. I just threw myself to protect Commander Lyos. I don’t know about the grace of the god Luce or anything.”

“yes?”

“Of course, since I’ve finally survived, I plan to spend the rest of my life giving the two gods as much shit as I can.”

Arendt continued, glaring straight at the chancellor.

“Can you force money into the pockets of people passing by and tell them to obey you because you have done them a favor?”

“… … .”

“You’d be lucky if you didn’t get beaten up for calling someone a beggar. What Luce Shin did to me was no different.”

Arendt’s eyes scanned the room again.

“There is not a single person who knows the history before the Great War. It is only natural. The God of Luce personally erased the history that was unfavorable to him through His Majesty the First Emperor. As a result, Chernion was labeled an evil god, and the other gods lost their authority and were relegated to angels or fairies who assist the God of Luce.”

“… … .”

“Your Majesty the First Emperor, Hero Khan, must have known how cruel the god Luce was. That is why the temple and the imperial family were strictly separated. It was to protect future generations from the tyranny of the god Luce.”

The only thing that filled the cold silence in the conference room was Arendt’s voice.

“I believe that everyone here has checked the letter I circulated. I have provided all the evidence there. Was there anything false there?”

Leaning back in his chair, Cantares stared at Arendt with complicated eyes.

‘It is a clear fact that Luce and Chernion are enemies.’

However, Arendt published letters claiming that Luce and Czerny were in fact in collusion.

Luce neglected Chernion’s resurrection in order to solidify her own position, and now that she has been unable to stop Chernion’s power, she has used Laius, the hero of the Holy Sword…

What Arendt presented to the world was a new scenario, a proper mix of lies and truth.

‘I said that even that manipulation was to protect us from Luce.’

The image of Arendt speaking, panting with extreme anxiety, was still vivid in my mind.

The only thing that filled the cold silence in the conference room was Arendt’s voice.

“I believe that everyone here has checked the letter I circulated. I have provided all the evidence there. Was there anything false there?”

Leaning back in his chair, Cantares stared at Arendt with complicated eyes.

‘It is a clear fact that Luce and Chernion are enemies.’

However, Arendt published letters claiming that Luce and Czerny were in fact in collusion.

Luce neglected Chernion’s resurrection in order to solidify her own position, and now that she has been unable to stop Chernion’s power, she has used Laius, the hero of the Holy Sword…

What Arendt presented to the world was a new scenario, a proper mix of lies and truth.

‘I said that even that manipulation was to protect us from Luce.’

The image of Arendt speaking, panting with extreme anxiety, was still vivid in my mind.

Similarities between the Magic Stone Mine Rare and the Chernion Temple located underground in Rebecca’s Castle, and the large temple located underground in the Lucain Palace.

And the traces of ancient ruins that Llewelyn had found in various places were identical to the fragments found in the territory that had been destroyed by Nikephor in the Kingdom of Nephele.

All of this was before the Great War, when Luce and Chernion were on equal footing… … .

Furthermore, it supported Arendt’s claim that the relationship is still collusive today.

‘So, even as the number of defectors from the Luce Temple increased, the number of people joining the Chernion Church decreased.’

Since Arendt’s letter was published, desecration of the Temple of Luce has increased, while the number of missing persons has decreased.

Because no one wants to be played around with a rigged game.

Arendt made good use of that psychology.

“If I am guilty of anything, it would be that I leaked confidential information to the outside world. However, I gathered each and every piece of information by sacrificing myself.”

With everyone’s attention on her, Arendt drove the wedge in.

“Don’t I have the right to decide where to use the evidence I’ve personally collected? At least more than you, who just sit around and worry about this and that.”

“… … Captain Lyos! Captain, please say something.”

The nobleman who had been keeping his mouth shut shouted loudly.

“Even though he saved the captain’s life, isn’t that too arrogant? The evidence discovered so far can be interpreted in different ways. As Lord Arendt said, it is possible that Luce and the evil spirit were equal beings in the past.”

I decided that it was pointless to continue talking to Arendt.

“But, isn’t it possible that Luce-nim executed Chernion, who had been transformed into an evil god, and implemented justice, and in the process, history and information were lost? No, in fact, he certainly did so!”

With everyone’s attention on her, Arendt drove the wedge in.

“Don’t I have the right to decide where to use the evidence I’ve personally collected? At least more than you, who just sit around and worry about this and that.”

“… … Captain Lyos! Captain, please say something.”

The nobleman who had been keeping his mouth shut shouted loudly.

“Even though he saved the captain’s life, isn’t that too arrogant? The evidence discovered so far can be interpreted in different ways. As Lord Arendt said, it is possible that Luce and the evil spirit were equal beings in the past.”

I decided that it was pointless to continue talking to Arendt.

“But, isn’t it possible that Luce-nim executed Chernion, who had been transformed into an evil god, and implemented justice, and in the process, history and information were lost? No, in fact, he certainly did so!”

“… … .”

Naturally, people’s eyes were drawn to Leo.

“Aren’t you, Commander, chosen by the Holy Sword, the proof of the justice that Lady Luce will achieve!”

The voice that was encouraged by him grew louder.

Lumiel, Cantares, and even the Emperor took their eyes off Arendt and began to look at Laius.

Laius remained silent for a while without answering.

As the silence grew longer, Arendt frowned slightly.

“My story is yet to come… … .”

“stop.”

Arendt tried to intervene again, but Laius stopped him.

Arendt unconsciously shut her mouth at those decisive words.

At some point, Laius was staring at the nobles and the High Priest Lumiel, not Arendt.

“I will apologize on behalf of Lord Arendt for her rudeness. It was my fault for teaching her wrongly. As the head of the department, I will impose appropriate punishment.”

“Captain!”

Arthur let out a surprised voice, but Laius raised a hand to silence him.

“The achievements of Lord Arendt, who has risked her life to gather information, are certainly commendable… … but it is clearly a serious crime to have brought chaos to the empire by carelessly releasing this to the public. We will punish this severely to prevent a similar incident from happening again.”

Only then did people begin to feel relieved, one by one.

“As expected, you are the captain. I believed you would make a wise decision.”

“But one thing before that.”

But Laius’ words did not end there.

“… … .”

After a brief pause, the gazes looking at Leo began to fill with doubt.

Lyos realized that now was the right time, as everyone was watching him.

I prepared myself mentally several times, but my mouth was dry because of the tension that I couldn’t completely shake off.

But Laius did not hesitate any longer.

Because I’m sick and tired of hiding behind the little backs of apprentice knights.

“I am an accomplice.”

It was as if time had suddenly stopped at that plain declaration.

“… … .”

People who blinked in shock didn’t even seem to understand what they were hearing.

Even Arendt was looking at him with her eyes wide open.

After a long time, Archimandrite Lumiel asked hesitantly.

“… … Wait, no, wait. What did you just say, Captain?”

“I told you that I was Arendt’s accomplice.”

But the words that came back were no different.

“While covering up Lord Arendt’s work, we produced a letter with the same content and distributed it under Lord Arendt’s name.”

Laius repeated in a subdued voice to the distraught people.

“If you don’t believe me, I can present my witness right now.”

“……and.”

Cantares, who had been gaping open for a long time, muttered out loud without realizing it.

“This is going to be really crazy.”

“That crazy… … .”

Arendt also moved her lips vaguely.

“That crazy person… … . I wondered why he was dragging his feet like this… … .”

He had been exchanging letters with Roger’s subordinate, Ain, even before he began dealing with him.

It was a trick that Cantares should have noticed a long time ago.

But it was strange that the case had been dragged on for so long, and that it was only after the temple’s forces moved that it was finally caught up in the investigation.

Whether they were shocked or not, Laius continued to speak forcefully.

“I’ve recently come to a realization that the title of Hero of the Holy Sword is not for me. To be more precise.”

The hero’s blue eyes were filled with anger.

“I don’t need such a dirty title, stained with the blood of innocent victims.”

“… … .”

Everyone couldn’t even breathe.

The greatest knight of the empire, the greatest swordsman of the empire, and the hero of the holy sword.

This is an unprecedented situation where the Knight Commander Laius de Winfrid, who holds all these names, denies the god Luce.