Vol. 1 - Ch. 306 - Holy Land Lunazert (10)

"No, no. No way!"

"...He really did it, huh."

"Pfft! Now you call this going beyond expected."

"Whoa, he truly exceeded our expectations!"

Arriving at the outside of Holy Land after rushing through the unofficial route, Dew, Dante, Parth, and Justine's eyes widened in shock at the shocking landscape spread before them.

The Holy Land was swarmed with Innumerable fly-type monsters, all of them hovering around  the central tower as if creating a seize. They're overwhelming number made it as if someone had draped black veil over the place. 

Through their experience, it was evident someone had stirred the hornet nest that was «King of Flies - Beelzebubble», a monster designated as calamity-class by the royal capital. 

They hurriedly picked their pace, ran to the back entrance of Holy Land, and immediately raised their voice at the guard.

"I am Dew Owiel of the Knight Order's 3rd Legion! We're entering inside!"

The guards widened their eyes in unison as soon as they heard Dew's introduction and looked toward an older man who appeared to be in charge.

The man slowly stepped forward and shook his head.

“So you are the famed «Efficient Worker», hm… We’ve received no such notice, but what business does the illustrious Kingdom's Knight Order have here? I’m afraid we cannot permit entry to anyone without authorization.”

“What?! Is this really the time to be saying that kind of crap?! Can’t you see what’s right in front of your damn eyes?!”

As Dew jabbed a finger toward the tower and pressed in close, the paladin once again shook his head.

“This is precisely why. …At present, within the Tower of Genesis, a certain figure is carrying out his Final Trial. Whatever occurs there is entirely the will of the gods.”

Standing beside Dew, Dante stared in disbelief at those words and asked,

“…Are you telling us that men who call themselves Paladins, who pride themselves on righteousness, would abandon their comrades to die?”

The guard let out a quiet chuckle.

“In the first place, anyone who seeks refuge in this holy land knows there are laws that must never be broken. One of them is never to lay a hand on the King of Flies’ minions. Another is never to aid those who do. As it happens, a thief has infiltrated the holy land at present. I dare my guess it's the thief receiving his karma due to their ignorance."

“…Those so-called thieves may be chasing criminals who abducted citizens of our kingdom. And they can go to hell for all that matter, but we're talking about innocents getting hurt. We won’t cause any trouble, just let us inside.”

As Dew said this and moved to pass through the gate, the guard barred his way with his spear.

“Hmph. ‘Possibility,’ you say? That’s laughable. Alright, then explain to me what proof do you have that these criminals are even inside the holy land? Dear god, you might not be suggesting we ourselves are complicit in kidnapping? …In any case, it has been formally agreed between the two nations that neither side shall interfere in the holy land’s methods of training. If you wish to conduct an investigation, then submit a proper request from your country to His Holiness the Pope.”

"And I am saying now's not the time to argue over the rule—"

"—You're finally here, Commander. You had me worried."

Dew prepared to argue, but was interrupted when a lone female knight—Kiana appeared from the forest, wearing the mantle she had kept aside until now.

The shock between guards intensified.

"Wait! That person...! ......You are in grave trouble, Dew Owiel! That woman over there is one of the thief's accomplice who had shot an arrow at the Holy Land! How do you intend to explain this?!”

Kiana ignored them completely and, with a calm, businesslike expression, delivered her report.

“Allen is inside the tower. He’s been holding out for hours while protecting the abducted Jeuri Leverance along with other citizens of our kingdom. He’s also shielding priests and even suspects. This is the third wave. Judging from past records… most likely, either the next wave, or the one after, will bring out the «King of the Flies».”

Hearing this, Justin let out a low whistle.

“…I am so glad you didn't rush in, Kiana-san. That damn brat could stand to learn a thing or two about patience.”

“Hm. I figured we’d need ‘evidence' before breaking in. …To be frank, I’ve had more than enough of tailing Allen.”

Kiana gave a wry smile and shrugged her shoulders.

“…You heard her. Open the gate.”

Dew turned back to the guard, his voice carrying an authoritative tone this time. The guards faltered. 

"A-Allen... and abducted Jeuri Leverance? W-what rubbish! You would rather believe in the falsehood of the thief, and risk tearing apart the ties of two nations?!"

Dew stared straight into the guard’s eyes, as if steadying himself, then issued a slow but utterly uncompromising warning.

“I’m not making a request. I’ll say it one more time. …Move.”

He drew his sword in a smooth motion, revealing the hint of his mana.

“Y-you dare use force in the Holy Land?! This would be an insolence to all the believers of Neo-Starlight across the continent! Are you proclaiming war on the Starlight Theocracy?! Do you... have you resolved yourself for the inevitable war your action would incite?!"

As the elderly man shouted this, the carefree genius, Parth, burst out laughing.

“Pfft! Ahahaha! You… do you actually realize who you’re standing in front of?”

“…I-If you think you can—”

The mocked paladin flushed red and leveled his spear at Dew, but in that very instant, Dew flowed forward with seamless footwork, slipped inside the spear’s reach, and cut the man down without mercy.

Fresh blood sprayed through the air.

“Hmph. …As the accomplice to criminals who dared abducting our citizens, you’re in no position to spout delusions. Justine, seal this gate. Parth, lock down the front gate. We should be receiving the reinforcement from Marquis Leverance at the main entrance before long. Arrest everyone on sight, and lead an inquiry to determine the list of accomplice. If anyone resists, or tries to escape, cut them down with no remorse. And Dante, Kiana-sana. Follow me."

"Ehhh!?"

"No way, we're the babysitter?!"

Path and Justine pursued their lips at Dew's commands at once, but immediately changed their tune and raised their hand in compliance when Dew glared at them. 

With Dew's temper flaring up, ready to cut down anyone who dared block them, the paladins hurriedly cleared the way.

But one middle-aged paladin, mustering his courage, raised his voice at the back of Dew, as if clinging to him.

"Y-You shouldn't go! Like, you're really better staying away from thee! Once you've laid hands on the King's minions, there's no more salvation! The Holy Land itself would be done for when Beelzebubble arrives! You might have an arrow and the magic to intercept the king... but it's a fool's errand to face the King without preparation! You may be strong, but the King can easily overrun you with its flying advantage! We’ll all go down together!”

Dew stopped dead in his tracks. Without turning around, he cracked his neck sharply.

"We're the Knight Order of Yuglia Kingdom. We stand as long as there's someone who needs us, even if it means facing the Emperor of heaven, or King of hell."

◆◆◆

Jeu glanced at Allen as the latter swung his swords non-stop, like a mana tool with limitless energy. She was at the corner of the grand hall, protecting Rina behind her while crushing any fly that would occasionally fly in their direction.

At first, Allen's movement appeared as if someone had tied weight into them, perhaps over-exerting his mana against Dolittle earlier, but with passage of time, his movements regained sharpness, his momentum skyrocketing.

He relentlessly sliced apart any approaching fly with nary an expression on his face, and when there would be a lull in the assault, he would use his wind magic to throw out the corpses beyond the tower. 

The way he persisted was astounding, something that couldn't be just dismissed by the special nature of the Holy Land. As a fact, Lynd and she herself had tried to contribute, and while Lynd obviously didn't last long, not even she had managed to stand unwavering as her mana continued to deplete. Before long, it was on Allen to shoulder everything.

Allen himself could only handle enough flies before their surging numbers left one wound after another on him, but still, he never showed a decisive opening, maintaining the front line without faltering. 

It was a fact their fate would be cemented the moment he fell. 

Meanwhile, after wailing in despair, Cornal seemed to have vanished to somewhere alongside his two subordinates. He was probably holed up in some heavily guarded sealed chamber.

On the other hand, Pirka, having been abandoned by Cornal, joined the battle to ward off flies, while Red cowered behind Jeu, by Rina's side, shivering. There was no contribution from him. 

As for Dolittle and Tomora, who were unable to help themselves with their strength—

...Allen-san... why do you—

A myriad of thoughts swirl within Jeu she couldn't wait to inquire about him, but the situation permits no such chance to her.

After what seemed to be an eternity, and a battle against endless swarm of flies. A flicker of emotion finally surfaced on emotionless face—enough to mistake him for a golem—of Allen who had been treading a line so thin even a single thought felt detrimental.

"...The reinforcement is here, boss. Just held on for a little more."

It should barely be a few moments since Allen's remark when Dew burst in through the shattered large window on the third floor, slashing through the curtains as he leapt inside.

Dante and Kiana followed right after.

“Dante, Kiana. Help out the victims. …Give me a situation report.”

After sweeping his eyes quickly over the grand hall and issuing orders to the two of them, Dew questioned Allen.

Allen, having affirmed Dante and Kiana had turned to deal with incoming flies, finally lowered his sword. He reported the course of events succinctly, without excess or omission.

"...And that's the whole situation. I confirmed Jeu and Rina, the victims, safety first. However, I judged it would be impossible to hold until reinforcement arrives and there was no benefit to allow Tomora to become a bait. I was only left with only one option, to turn everyone into an enemy of the King, to hold on until then. I had planned to rope in the other accomplice, but they escaped alone, leaving their comrades behind. ......Tomora and Dolittle unfortunately died amidst the battle with flies. I did hope to keep them alive, but given the severity of the situation, I had to abandon the idea. Also, in the basement of the Temple of Trial, there are still over ten citizens of the kingdom, clearly kidnapped, being held captive.”

Dew listened to Allen’s report with a grim expression, then let out a long sigh and pressed his fingers to his temple.

“Listen, you smelly brat…”

Seeing Dew release his honed mana and cloak himself in killing intent, Allen tensed.

But Dew spun around and, in the same motion, swung his sword, cleaving an adult fly that had slipped past Kiana’s defense cleanly in two.

“…You did well protecting them. Leave the rest to us.”

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