Chapter 299: Memories of an Old Alliance

"Luciela?" Mirian frowned. "Since I was a little girl, one of my greatest role models as a heroine was exactly Luciela," the archer commented at Chloe’s statement, remembering the stories from her childhood.

"That was when she was still just a simple adventurer," Helen corrected. "Now she has joined the holy church, and as we well know, her actions there are highly questionable."

"I figured ancient relics like those would be in the hands of the church," Karol said, dropping her shoulders with a clear expression of disappointment on her face.

"But, if she is exactly the same Luciela I am imagining, I highly doubt she is just a simple SS rank," Beatrice reflected. "It’s been many years since she directly faced the powerful demon queen Flare."

"Yes, I remember that event very well," Alicia commented, twitching her wolf ears. "It was told all over the world that Luciela managed to survive a direct encounter against a demon king."

"I remember my father also used to tell me many stories about her," Irina commented, recalling the tales of her late father in the elven forest. "He also told me about that epic battle of the demon queen against Luciela. The hero Rafael also faced the fire dragon on that same occasion."

"And to think that damn fool, that conceited fire dragon, actually let Rafael escape alive," Lise said.

The dragon let out a scoff directed at the fire dragon, making the deep grudge she held against her known. "If I ever see her again, I will break her wings myself for her incompetence," Lise promised, clenching her teeth.

Ryan observed in complete silence. He listened attentively to the exchange of information they were sharing among themselves about the demon queen and about Luciela.

"Beatrice is right in her analysis," Ryan finally commented, drawing the attention of the entire group. "With everything I have seen so far in this world, it seems quite logical to believe that the church is hiding its true power."

Ryan intertwined his gloved fingers. He leaned forward in his stone chair while he reflected.

"Behind a public facade of SS rank, they are actually much stronger than they show to the system."

"Officially there are nine SSS rank heroes, but only three are known to have shown themselves publicly to the world," Karol informed.

"It’s possible that both Luciela and Rafael are actually SSS rank, remaining hidden to make the demons lower their guard," Irina commented with an analytical tone.

’I, who faced a demon king, can say that they are very strong. Even though Luciela and Rafael worked together, it is hard for me to believe that both survived, but for that very reason I believe that... their rank must be higher than SS. In any case, it is better to believe and prepare for the possibility that there are indeed much stronger warriors with them,’ Ryan thought, devising strategies in his mind.

"Furthermore, according to the undercover spies we have in Kallistia, it was exactly her, Luciela, who officially informed everyone about the death of the demon king Rigal," Beatrice added, providing the intelligence gathered by the shadow network. "Only that, in their public report, they completely omitted the fact that they handed over a hero’s relic to Rigal."

"They also didn’t inform humanity about the fact that Rigal had more relics capable of directly sealing our weapons," Helen said, remembering the death trap they faced having to fight without human weapons against Rigal.

"That is how dirty and corrupt the church you serve with so much pride as a holy knight is, Chloe," Irina commented.

The elven princess looked at the prisoner with resentment, still remembering the great pain she went through, as her own father was murdered at the hands of a holy knight in the forest.

"I know..." Chloe clenched her fists tightly against the floor.

"I never thought the holy knights could make deals in the shadows with a demon king," Chloe continued, looking down. "Giving him relics to capture a demon queen doesn’t seem entirely wrong to me, I mean, it is war, and both sides will take advantage of what they can. But Rigal was given relics designed to seal human weapons..."

’It doesn’t seem like she is lying about this,’ Ryan evaluated, observing the emotions on the girl’s face. ’This betrayal by her superiors truly bothers her. From her point of view, probably many of her friends in the church died that way in the past. Could that be the reason why she told Helen what the demon king Rigal intended?’ Ryan kept that question for later.

"Ha ha ha ha." Helen laughed very loudly, breaking the depressing atmosphere Chloe had created. "Even so, despite their lies, Ophelia did tell the whole truth in the demon territory."

"And according to the reports I heard, among demons and humans it is being talked about everywhere how incredible Ryan is," Helen said, puffing out her chest with pure pride for her leader. "Everyone knows he killed a demon king using only his bare hands, with his weapons sealed by the church’s magic."

"That is very true, Helen," Mirian commented. "Even the noble demons of Kowarre haven’t dared to come all the way here to meet the new king. They think he is some kind of monster far worse than Rigal."

"Ah... it’s just that the young master is simply incredible," Lise added with lust in her tone of voice. "A moment ago, when he manifested all of his immense power in the room, I felt as if his aura embraced me tightly."

"Shameless lizard. Pervert," Helen grumbled, rolling her eyes at Lise’s comments.

"But if what Chloe says about the owner of the water twin is really true, then we won’t be able to get it easily," Karol commented, returning to the main problem of her objective.

"What are you saying now? Don’t be foolish, Karol," Helen intervened, frowning. "We just have to go and destroy that annoying woman."

"That’s right," Lise added. "If the master orders it this very day, that is exactly what we will do without hesitation."

"Ha, this is the first time I completely agree with something this lizard says," Helen commented, smiling at the thought of a grand fight.

"Do you really plan to face the entire church all by yourselves?" Chloe suggested, intervening with much fear over the women’s crazy ideas. "I don’t question your current power at all, but... doing something like that without thinking would be immensely reckless."

At her comment full of caution, Alicia, Irina, and Beatrice slowly nodded their heads, giving the prisoner of war some valid ground.

"I don’t plan to face the church at this precise moment," Ryan informed, calming the tempers of the more violent ones in the group. "Besides, it is very possible that an idiot blond man will join us when that inevitable moment arrives."