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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Elderas Holy Nation (2)
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The reason Duran secretly handed me the note was because of a conversation we'd finished before arriving here.
"I'll cooperate with you."
After careful consideration, Duran had finally decided to trust me, promised his cooperation, and pleaded more earnestly than anyone else.
"So please, save my sister from that damned fate…"
As someone's younger brother, not the next Saint.
The note's content was brief.
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Tomorrow evening, 11 PM, Argent District 7.
----
A time and place to avoid others' gazes.
Meeting a man in secret was far from my preference, but it was an unavoidable choice given the circumstances.
Because Duran was scheduled to be completely cut off from external contact starting tomorrow, and I was in a position to receive various useful pieces of information from him.
Duran held a very high position within the Holy Nation.
No matter how much the Holy Nation was controlled by the corrupt,
No matter how much they used Lily and Duran like puppets,
The next Saint was still the next Saint. Duran could exercise considerable authority in the Holy Nation, and based on that, he had detailed access to much of its information.
So, I asked Duran to relay all information that would be helpful to Lily and me once he arrived in the Holy Nation.
The price for that was simple but heavy.
"Save her."
To free Lily from a fate riddled with pain.
"You're the annoying one, you jerk."
He was truly annoying. Duran had said something so obvious with such a desperate expression that it made me look like someone acting on a bribe.
Even though I was going to do it anyway, without him even asking.
****
In my opinion, the welcoming ceremony for the pilgrims, while appearing grand, was nothing more than a meaningless event with no real substance.
Because, although many people attended, none of the truly important key figures participated.
The Pope, the Saintess, and most of the Cardinals.
The important figures in the Holy Nation, with a few exceptions, were not showing their faces, under the pretext of preparing for the pilgrimage rites.
Among them, the only notable individuals were a few Crusaders who possessed faint traces of mana.
So, I was thinking of simply eating and returning to my quarters to review my plans here.
"I am Mikaelan, Captain of the Elderas Holy Nation's Crusader Order. I would like to propose something to our esteemed guests from the Cradle of Learning."
I saw Mikaelan, whom I had met earlier, drawing the attention of the crowd, and several students whose eyes were sparkling at the mention of his title, "Crusader Captain."
It was understandable. Crusaders were devout knights, examples for those who dreamed of becoming knights, and the Captain of such Crusaders was the one who had reached the highest level among them.
For students who wielded swords or dreamed of knighthood, Mikaelan must have seemed like a distant and great being, like a star in the sky.
"It would be a pity to end this night just by finishing our meal, wouldn't it? I hear that quite a few brothers among you are skilled with the sword."
Sure enough, at the mention of the word "sword," some students' eyes began to light up.
"Coincidentally, behind me are members of our order who also wield swords, just like you brothers. It's a bit awkward to say it myself, but our brothers are renowned across the continent for their swordsmanship. And it's true."
"Therefore, I propose to our guests. How about we take some time to spar with our Crusader members, to help with digestion? I believe it would be a very beneficial experience for everyone."
As Mikaelan smiled gently and made his proposal, the atmosphere in the grand hall visibly stirred.
Students fidgeting their hands, already burning with determination,
People beginning to show interest at the prospect of an exciting spectacle.
At the sudden change in the grand hall's atmosphere, I couldn't help but tilt my head.
'What's going on now?'
This was an unexpected event.
I can confidently say that I had never encountered such a situation in the game.
And most importantly, unlike the other students, I had no interest in sparring with those Crusader members.
'What should I do…?'
Watching people move one by one to the training ground outside, guided by the Crusaders, I began to ponder.
Should I just ignore it and return to my lodging?
Or should I follow along for now?
As I was deliberating, I heard a few guys whispering softly near me.
"Heh heh, what if I accidentally kill one of those brats?"
"Couldn't you just kill that black-haired bastard while you're at it? I'm sick of seeing him act all high and mighty just because he's the top student, looking like a girl."
"Heh heh, that would be fun too."
"If a female student comes out, I'm first. Then I'll immediately strip her… Heh heh."
I guess I have to go.
****
The Crusaders, sword-wielding devotees for the Heavenly God.
According to their original meaning, Crusaders should have been the epitome of faithful, honorable, and strong knights.
However, the Crusaders of my era—that is, the Crusaders currently sparring with the students in front of me in the training ground—were people, no, bastards, very far from that original meaning.
"Cough!"
One Crusader deliberately broke a student's leg.
"Ugh, ugh…!"
"Oh, I apologize. I was too immersed in the spar and didn't hear you surrender."
Another Crusader struck a student's solar plexus with a punch that could have easily been stopped, even as the student cried out in surrender.
"…Kyaak!"
"Oh dear, I apologize."
"I, I lost…!"
"Ah, that's a shame."
A Crusader with faint mana, pretending it was an accident, cut only certain parts of a female student's clothes.
"Oh, he fainted. My apologies."
Another one struck a student's temple as soon as the spar began.
"Hmph."
At the sight, which was hard to watch with open eyes, a sigh escaped me involuntarily, and my fists clenched reflexively.
Honestly, I wanted to step forward right then and slaughter those pathetic zealots.
But I didn't. Or, more precisely, I couldn't.
Because.
"Wow, as expected, Crusaders move differently…"
"Oh, my stomach… Wow, how did the sword bend like that? Amazing."
"If I go get my clothes, the spar will be over, won't it? Natan, lend me your outer garment."
"Sh-should I try too?"
"You definitely should. It really hurts a lot, but you don't get experiences like this often."
Regardless of the current situation,
Regardless of what kind of bastards those guys were,
Regardless of what I was thinking,
The passion of those who sought knowledge deserved to be fully respected.
'Idiots.'
Although I cursed them internally, to be honest, I found their enthusiasm quite admirable, so I couldn't help but let a faint smile play on my lips.
Thus, the spars between the Crusader members and the students continued.
I watched their spars intently, just in case any of the Crusaders sparring with the students crossed a line they shouldn't.
'Is it over?'
Soon, realizing that the learning time for those who craved knowledge had ended, I quietly rose from my seat.
"Oh. Camel is walking out?"
"He's finally stepping up."
"Doesn't he look like he'll win?"
"No way, even if he's the top student, how can he beat the Crusaders, who are called the swordsmen of God?"
At that, the students began to murmur,
"Who does he think he is, being so arrogant?"
"That young punk must have a death wish."
"Hey, I'm going. I'll leave him half-dead."
Some Crusaders revealed their hostility,
"…That's him."
"If I kill him here…"
A few who faintly possessed mana whispered among themselves, unaware that I could hear everything.
"Oh. Brother Camel. You've come out after all. I was wondering if Brother…"
As I stepped into the training ground, Mikaelan approached me with an excited expression.
"Lord Mikaelan. May I ask you something?"
I cut him off and quietly asked Mikaelan, who nodded.
"What is the true purpose of this spar?"
Asking the only Crusader in the game who never fell to corruption why something that never happened in the game was happening now.
"Purpose, you say…"
Mikaelan trailed off, pondering for a moment.
"While it's certainly a personally enjoyable time, truthfully, I don't know the ultimate purpose. I merely received orders from His Holiness the Pope. Oh, and this is a secret, by the way."
"The Pope…?"
My head tilted involuntarily. I couldn't understand why the Pope would give Mikaelan such a useless order.
"Yes. Anyway, how about we discuss the details further after this is over?"
Mikaelan shrugged and gestured around, and I naturally became aware of the surrounding gazes.
Well, I can ask about the details later.
"Is there any particular Crusader member you wish to face?"
Meanwhile, Mikaelan quietly asked, seemingly offering a convenience.
I gave Mikaelan a faint smile and replied.
"All of them."
"Pardon?"
Seeing Mikaelan's eyes tremble violently, I smiled with satisfaction and replied again in a clear, deliberate voice.
"Every single one, without exception."
Honestly, it wouldn't have mattered if they all came at me at once.