"We are deeply grateful for saving us, but under the orders of the Old Pope, we must still bring the Holy Maiden back to the Holy Kingdom of Millis.
The Holy Maiden is indispensable to the Church, especially in the face of the rebellious faction that is now threatening us. We hope you can understand this, Therese, and you, mysterious powerhouse."
As they spoke these words, the Holy Knights bowed their heads in shame. They knew how shameless it was to make such a request after being saved by the very people they were now demanding something from.
But they were left with no choice. The Holy Knights were devout followers of the Church, and their loyalty to the Church was absolute.
The Holy Maiden's role in the Church was indeed crucial. While Therese might have been able to turn a blind eye and let her go, the Holy Maiden was a different matter entirely.
"What happens to your Millis Church is none of my business.
I've already said that I will ensure the Holy Maiden's safety, and I won't let anything happen to her. I only helped you earlier out of respect for my aunt, Therese.
If you don't know when to quit, feel free to try your luck now. I can easily bring you back to life, and I can just as easily send you back to the grave!"
Hearing Wood's cold words and feeling the killing intent in his gaze, the Holy Knights fell silent.
There was no doubt in their minds that Wood was entirely capable of doing exactly what he said. Despite his young age, the boy's strength was undeniable.
After all, someone who could annihilate nearly a hundred magical beasts with a single slash would have no trouble cutting them down, even if their numbers were multiplied several times over.
Resisting would mean certain death, but complying would mean betraying the Pope's orders—a sin akin to heresy for a Holy Knight.
"We were already planning to return to the Holy Kingdom of Millis, so there's no need for you to feel conflicted."
Seeing the tension between Wood and the Holy Knights, who seemed ready to fight to the death for their beliefs, the kind-hearted Holy Maiden was the first to speak up.
If a conflict broke out with Wood, there was no doubt that the Holy Knights, no matter how many there were, would be wiped out in an instant.
Since the Pope's orders were simply to bring the Holy Maiden back to the Holy Kingdom of Millis, and that aligned with their current goal, the Holy Maiden, out of her gentle nature, decided to intervene.
"Esteemed sir, since you are also heading to the Holy Kingdom of Millis, would you be willing to lend your strength to the Millis Church?
The Old Pope is advanced in years, and the Church is now plagued by rebels who, in their quest for power, have even unleashed a beast horde, disregarding the lives of the common people..."
Hearing that Wood was also heading to the Holy Kingdom of Millis, the Holy Knights immediately thought of recruiting—or rather, hiring—Wood to help them quell the rebellion.
Wood's strength had been witnessed by all present. Whether it was his swordsmanship or his magic, he was undoubtedly at the peak of human capability.
With his help, not only could they deal with the rebels, but even the impending beast horde threatening the Holy Kingdom could be resolved in an instant.
"I think you've misunderstood. I have no connection whatsoever to your Millis Church. I only helped you earlier out of respect for my aunt, Therese.
We're returning to the Holy Kingdom of Millis primarily for my grandmother, Claire, and the Latria family. As for the internal strife within your Church, what does that have to do with me?
I'm not a saint, nor am I a follower of Millis. Why should I help you?"
Hearing Wood's blunt words, the Holy Knights were left speechless. While his words were harsh, they were undeniably true.
Wood was an outsider. Helping them was a kindness, but refusing to help was his right. They had no grounds to argue, so they could only turn their pleading gazes toward Therese.
From Wood's earlier words, it was clear that this incredibly powerful young man was related to the Latria family through his grandmother. And as Wood's aunt, Therese seemed to hold some sway over him.
However, when the Holy Knights turned their gazes toward her, Therese simply looked away.
The Holy Knights' earlier pursuit of her and the Holy Maiden, which had nearly cost them their lives, had left Therese thoroughly disillusioned with the so-called Holy Knights.
Any sense of camaraderie she had felt toward her former comrades had been repaid when Wood saved their lives.
Now, Therese wanted nothing more to do with the Millis Church, and she certainly wasn't going to ask Wood to help them quell the rebellion.
With Wood unwilling to assist, the Holy Knights had no choice but to accept the situation. However, the fact that the Holy Maiden was willing to return to the Holy Kingdom of Millis at least gave them some relief.
Truth be told, even if the Holy Maiden had refused to return, there was nothing they could have done about it with Wood backing her. While they hadn't managed to recruit Wood, at least they had fulfilled the Old Pope's orders.
As for whether the Holy Maiden would return to the Church once they were back in the Holy Kingdom, that was no longer their concern.
Their mission had only been to bring the Holy Maiden back to the Holy Kingdom. How the Old Pope planned to retrieve her from Wood's protection was his problem to deal with.
With the Holy Knights acting as scouts and Wood clearing the path ahead, Therese and the others quickly reached the gates of the capital of the Holy Kingdom of Millis.
With news of the impending beast horde, the capital was in a state of panic.
The noble families and influential figures within the kingdom, unwilling to abandon their estates and flee, sought the Church's protection.
But the Church, already overwhelmed by the internal strife caused by the rebels, had no time to deal with such matters.
As for the common folk of the Holy Kingdom, they had begun to flee the capital en masse. After all, everyone knew how terrifying a beast horde could be.
Ordinary magical beasts could easily slaughter adult humans, and a full-blown beast horde was even more terrifying. Even a well-trained army would be like paper against such a force.
With the mass exodus of citizens, Wood and the others' entry into the city stood out starkly.
"The capital of Millis has fallen into such chaos that even the common folk know about the beast horde?
But without the city walls and the Holy Knights to protect them, these people fleeing the capital are just walking into the jaws of death.
They are devout followers of Millis. How can the Church just let them risk their lives like this?"
Seeing the flood of citizens rushing out of the city, Therese glared angrily at the Holy Knights beside her.
Having just returned from outside, they knew exactly how dangerous the situation was.
Even the Holy Knights, who were trained warriors, would be wiped out if they encountered even a small group of magical beasts. For the common folk of the Holy Kingdom, the danger was even greater.
Even a single stray magical beast could easily slaughter a group of a hundred civilians.
"It's not that the Church doesn't care about their lives. It's just that the Church is too overwhelmed by the internal strife to do anything.
The Holy Knights can't muster enough manpower to fend off the beast horde, so the Church has tacitly allowed these believers to flee. In fact, their chances of survival are higher if they flee than if they stay in the capital to face the horde."
Hearing the Holy Knights' explanation, Wood couldn't help but scoff. "More concerned with maintaining their power and status than dealing with the beast horde, huh?
It seems this Old Pope isn't much of a saint either. But then again, that's not surprising, given the existence of the Holy Maiden."
Faced with Wood's sarcastic remarks, the Holy Knights could only hang their heads in shame. If they could, they would have gladly fought the beast horde, even if it meant certain death.
But the Holy Knights had been created to serve the Church, and the Pope's orders were absolute.
"Run for your lives! The beast horde is here!"
"Fire Lizards, Ringed Bears, Rock Pythons—even high-level magical beasts are here! We're doomed! Oh, Millis, hear the prayers of your faithful and save us!"
"Where are the Holy Knights? Where is the Pope?"
Just as Wood and the others were about to enter the city, the beast horde arrived, and the citizens attempting to flee the capital became the first targets.
As soon as Wood and the others entered the city, the massive gates were shut behind them by the guards.
If the magical beasts were allowed into the city, the tens of thousands of citizens inside would be slaughtered.
Compared to the few outside, the many inside the city were the priority. The guards knew where their duty lay.
Trapped between the oncoming beast horde and the closed gates, the citizens outside the city were plunged into despair.
They had never imagined that, as devout followers of Millis, they would be abandoned like this.
Just as the beast horde closed in and the gates showed no sign of opening, the people outside were on the verge of giving up, closing their eyes and waiting for death.
But then, a young yet powerful voice rang out above them.
"As fellow devout followers of Millis, since the Church and the Holy Knights have abandoned you, the Latria family will deliver justice.
Saint-Level Ice Magic: *Ice Spear Barrage*!"
The despairing citizens, who had closed their eyes and resigned themselves to death, first heard a youthful voice, followed by a faint chill in the air.
When they opened their eyes again, they saw a young boy, around thirteen or fourteen years old, with golden hair, descending like a divine being.
The boy's eyes were clear as water, and he walked on air—something no ordinary human could do. With a wave of his hand, countless icy spears materialized around him.
As the spears shot through the air with a sharp whistling sound, the high-level magical beasts let out agonized roars as they were pierced and killed!
The magical aura surrounding Wood, combined with the snowflakes that began to fall due to the intense cold from his ice magic, made him appear even more divine, powerful, and mysterious.
To the citizens who had been moments away from being devoured by the beasts, Wood seemed like a true messenger of the gods. Many of them fell to their knees, clasping their hands in prayer.
The beast horde was vast, and even as Wood continuously used his Saint-Level ice magic to clear the area, the gaps were quickly filled by more beasts.
If Wood had used more powerful Imperial-Level magic, his efficiency would have increased dramatically. However, Imperial-Level magic was too destructive and wide-ranging.
Wood was concerned that while annihilating the beasts, he might also harm the citizens outside the city. That was why he stuck to Saint-Level magic.
But now, it seemed that even his strongest ice magic at the Saint-Level wouldn't be enough to deal with the beast horde.
So, Wood quickly changed tactics. Placing his hands on the ground and conjuring two massive blue magic circles, he erected a towering ice wall, ten meters high and nearly a hundred meters long, separating the citizens from the oncoming horde.
Then, he addressed the citizens praying to him. "This ice wall should hold the beasts back for a while. Use this time to get into the city. I'll deal with the rest of the beasts."
With those words, Wood leaped down from the ice wall, drew *Frost Knight* from the air, and charged headlong into the beast horde!
With the ice wall holding back the beasts, the city guards opened the gates to let the citizens in. These people, who had narrowly escaped death, no longer looked at the Holy Knights with the same reverence. Instead, they knelt before Therese, thanking her and asking who the golden-haired boy from the Latria family was.
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