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[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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Chapter 242: Conviction (1)
Black mist billowed beneath the ceiling of the barrier-wrapped military camp.
Like living things, endless black filaments erupted from the Black Scale Flag, writhing wildly as they completely saturated the ceiling with darkness.
In that moment—
Kraaaaaaaaang—!
An indescribable, horrifying roar echoed out as the barrier utterly disintegrated.
The black filaments surged upward through the now-open ceiling of the encampment.
The black wave undulated beneath the night sky, sketching the form of a dragon.
Recognizing the shape, the Divine Clan Heads let out low, guttural sounds.
"Impossible..."
Just then, White Dragon, Iris Seren, raised her head sharply.
The pure white scales covering her form stood erect, her silvery-white hair, like frosted strands, dancing in the air.
From her White Eyes, streams of golden light shot forth simultaneously, painting the sky above, outlining the shape of another dragon.
Two draconic forms adorned the heavens, confronting one another.
As the massive Gold Dragon materializing in the void fixed its glare upon the Demonic Dragon, a sound wave pulsed outwards, resembling Dragon Speech.
Kiiiiiiiiiiiiii—!
The instant the camp's barrier vanished, the Guardian Knights, Heavenly Swordmasters, and the Seren Clan's Dragon Knights, all watching from below, snapped their heads around to look towards the source.
Concurrently.
Filled with certainty, Iris Seren's White Eyes became pure gold.
She slowly extended a finger towards the Black Scale Flag.
"The scale of the Demonic Dragon..."
The Black Scale Flag.
While the Seren Clan had suffered most grievously from the Demonic Dragon in ages past, it was Samael, none other, who had ultimately destroyed it.
Their ancestors, after immense sacrifice long ago, had vanquished the Demonic Dragon and used the scales covering its heart to create that very flag.
Iris Seren, having stared fixedly at the Black Scale Flag, finally pushed herself up from her kneeling posture.
"...!"
"...!"
An absolute stillness fell over the military camp.
No, it extended beyond just this place.
Outside the obliterated barrier, the formations of Guardian Knights, Heavenly Swordmasters, Dragon Knights, and the vast throngs of people—all stared, unblinking, towards the encampment.
Her golden eyes, approaching Kazen and me steadily, carried an unmistakable message.
Softly, her lips parted.
"The pact... will be remembered eternally."
Though the history of Samael might have been erased.
The oath sworn by the Seren Clan endured, indelible.
The White Dragon Knight fell into formation behind her, flanked by five other Dragon Knights spreading out to the left and right.
"We of Seren shall hereby display the greatest honor towards Samael."
The half-human, half-dragon Seren Clan.
The head of the most enigmatic of the Three Great Divine Clans...
Lowered her upper body in a deep bow towards Kazen.
"Ah... Ah."
Gasps escaped involuntarily from the Vassal Clan Heads assembled in the outer ring.
Their eyes were wide with disbelief as they stared at the Seren Clan Head.
The rugged Clan Head of Solsar stumbled, his legs seeming to fail him.
Clan Head Floha kept her hand pressed firmly over her mouth.
The Divine Clan.
The Clan revered as gods by everyone on the continent.
Every single word and action they took was never taken lightly.
The actions of a Divine Clan Head represented the clan itself.
A Divine Clan Head—moreover, the absolute ruler of the Seren Clan who identify as half-dragons—had bowed her head to another.
The meaning was clear.
The Seren Clan acknowledged Samael as equals in status.
＊ ＊ ＊
As Arihama's five Black Knights raised their shields, a vast Aura Screen formed once again, enveloping the entire military camp.
Immediately following Seren's declaration, the dynamic of the situation shifted completely.
The six Vassal Clan Heads guarded the outer perimeter.
Samael, Arihama, Baltahar, and Seren now formed the center, each facing the others.
No one raised any objections.
While it was true that no one dared to openly challenge Samael after the Seren Clan Head herself had shown courtesy, the greater factor was the shock everyone felt at the sheer act of the Seren Head bowing so respectfully.
I briefly looked around.
Kazen remained unchanged, his eyes still like a calm lake, holding his initial posture.
Fichte watched the Seren Clan Head and me with subdued eyes.
Black simply observed me without a word, as if he had expected this all along.
"I see. So that was the reason."
It was then that the Sword Duke, Julius, spoke up.
The suffocating atmosphere of the Divine Clan Assmebly finally began to ease. Simultaneously, Guardian Star Markutan, who had been watching me with mysterious eyes, also nodded.
"It makes sense now."
"Samael... you were indeed qualified."
His manner of speech having changed, Julius looked at Kazen and me.
His eyes held a strange exhilaration, as if a long-held question had finally been answered.
"I believe I must start with an apology."
Julius looked directly at me.
"Truthfully, I hadn't completely erased my doubts about the Samael Clan. Our enemies are cunning and sly enough to evade our eyes. While Samael's recent prominent actions were undeniable, they could also have been an elaborate counter-scheme by the enemy."
I stared straight back at Julius.
"Were the things you told me back then fabricated?"
"Of course not. I spoke the truth. However, it was difficult to fully believe your words at the time."
Julius continued.
"It was hard not to be suspicious. Looking just at the Keplan situation, your information was ahead of ours. Your past actions... they only make sense now."
"..."
"I suppose my initial judgment was flawed. I never imagined the records could have been distorted to that extent."
Julius spoke with conviction.
"There was one more Divine Clan. Isn't that right?"
"..."
"Samael was a family that already stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us in the original Expeditionary Force. That's how you could have known all that information."
My eyes shining, I looked at Julius.
"Then you must also understand what is most important right now."
"I understand why... you chose this exact moment to reveal your direct suspicions."
Julius nodded.
Instantly, one of the Sword Masters of Ten Thousand stepped forward and drew his sword from its sheath.
The blade itself pulsed with a reddish light.
Saaaaaah—!
The white long robe seemed to inflate as a wind of energy swirled fiercely within the military camp.
Activating all the mana cores in his body, the Sword Master slashed his sword vertically towards the north.
Saaa—.
The red sword aura flew through the Aura Screen enveloping the camp and traversed the airspace above the 'Land of Death', but soon after, the sky above was once again blanketed in complete darkness.
Gathering back his energy, the Sword Master of Ten Thousand returned to formation. Julius gazed towards the northern sky.
"It is approaching."
"..."
"Even though the Giant God was slain... it grows stronger."
As White Dragon, Iris Seren, nodded, the White Dragon Knight spoke.
"Indeed, I can sense it."
"..."
"It is an omen greater than the Demonic Dragon of the ancient texts."
It was then that the Sword Duke, Julius, looked at Markutan.
Until now, the two seemed to have deliberately avoided acknowledging each other's presence. Despite the close distance, neither had intentionally glanced towards the other's location.
Now, for the first time, a subtle tension flared between the two Divine Clans.
"Commander Maohe is dead, Guardian Star."
Julius's voice was low.
At some point, Markutan's expression had become hard to read. Lowering his gaze slightly as if deep in thought, Markutan nodded.
"A regrettable affair."
"Were you unaware... of Maohe's true identity?"
Julius's voice held no discernible emotion.
But no one present was ignorant of the meaning behind the sentence Julius just spoke.
Markutan slowly raised his head and met Julius's eyes.
The Divine Clan of the Sword and the Divine Clan of Protection.
While the two Clan Heads faced each other, the suffocating atmosphere within the Hall pressed down once more.
Sword Duke, Julius, spoke first.
"The demons. They have already infiltrated the Four Great Magic Towers, infiltrated the Alliance, and even infiltrated the Vassal Clans."
Julius slowly met the eyes of each Vassal Clan Head in turn.
"You all must know by now. Their schemes are exceedingly cunning. After long deliberation, I could only reach one conclusion. Behind all this... is a Divine Clan."
"Sword Duke."
It was then that Markutan spoke softly.
"Speak."
Julius allowed.
"Commander Maohe was appointed commander to protect the North by the pact between Baltahar and Arihama. Is that not correct?"
"It is."
Markutan nodded.
"Maohe's true identity... I already knew."
Instantly, Julius's eyes twitched, and the Sword Masters of Ten Thousand simultaneously reached for their sword hilts.
Markutan, his expression unchanging, gestured to a Black Knight.
"Bring it."
A Black Knight approached carrying a box that had been set to one side.
As the box was slowly opened, inside lay someone's severed head.
"Maohe... is already dead."
"..."
Markutan looked at Julius, then at Iris, and finally, at me.
"Dark Light."
"..."
"The one you claim to have killed... does he match this man?"
My eyes shot wide open as I stared at the severed head.
It was Maohe.
A head looking exactly like the Maohe I killed was resting inside the box.
"It seems he matches."
I looked at Markutan.
"Are you saying the person was replaced?"
"Correct. Maohe was already dead. Do you know where he was found?"
"..."
Markutan glanced at the Black Knight, who answered.
"The Land of Death. Discovered at Baltahar's residence."
A chilling atmosphere swept through the encampment.
Markutan shook his head as if he wasn't finished.
"Of course, this is merely our Arihama's assertion. However, there is one undeniable question. Sword Duke. I must resolve this question."
Markutan looked at Julius.
It was then that the Black Knight held up Maohe's severed head.
The cleanly severed surface of the head clearly pointed to one piece of evidence.
"Traces of the Heart Void Style. Furthermore, from skills superior to a Heavenly Swordmaster."
Instantly, Fichte, standing beside me, let out a low groan.
Julius frowned deeply and shook his head.
"The Sword Masters of Ten Thousand... were all moving with me."
"Then how do you explain the evidence on the head? This is not about your word, Sword Duke, but a question of whether you have a way to prove it."
Instantly, the auras of the Sword Masters of Ten Thousand escorting Julius surged powerfully.
At first glance, Markutan's response felt like a refutation of Julius's words.
If the one speaking hadn't been Markutan, swords would have undoubtedly been drawn already.
"The suspicion the Sword Duke holds... we too have held it for quite some time. I also believe that a Divine Clan is behind the demons."
I looked back and forth between Julius and Markutan.
There was ultimately only one reason they had remained silent until now.
Just as Julius had suspected Markutan...
Markutan had suspected Julius equally.
"Behind the demons... So, there was a family who forsook the Divine Clan pact."
The White Dragon Knight spoke slowly from the side.
I glanced at Iris Seren, who watched the situation behind her knight as if in calm contemplation.
"..."
The three Divine Clan Heads.
Although the situation seemed chaotic at first glance, I now felt complete certainty.
Sword Duke, Julius Baltahar.
Guardian Star, Markutan Arihama.
White Dragon, Iris Seren.
It was certain.
Among the three Divine Clans, one is the mastermind behind the demons.
Among the three Divine Clans, one was the traitor from the Final Expedition.
And I... was now certain who that mastermind was.
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[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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