Chapter 280 : Chapter 280

Chapter 280

Carrying ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Serena on his back, Killian walked through the gate.

An ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍ordinary gate transported anyone who crossed it directly to the destination.

But ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the temporary gate Lan created was different.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had a starting point and an endpoint.

One ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had to pass through the oval gate, walk along a straight path, and exit through the other side personally.

‘The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Authority of Boundary can be used like this too?’

Even if it had been manifested through a Divine Object, this was an application Killian had never seen before.

But no matter how exceptional Lan was, she could not enable travel across unlimited distances.

That must have been why she said it would connect to the nearest Temple of Trade.

‘I never imagined I’d have to rely on a priest’s power.’

Until recently, he had disliked those who served the Gods. Yet now, they were all in the same boat.

In ancient times, when he was called the Godslayer.

He vowed countless times that he would avenge himself upon the Gods once his seal was broken.

Now, his objectives were to destroy the Empire threatening his comrade’s nation.

And free Edan, who had been sealed inside a sword in his place.

The blade he had once intended to point at the Gods now hovered in an ambiguous position.

‘And that bastard Murus still won’t answer me.’

Since the incident with Yulian, he had not had time to investigate Murus’s silence.

He disliked the idea, but decided he would have to ask Lan.

‘For now, returning to Eurasia’s capital and putting the Extermination Squad in order comes first.’

After all, what he had done could become the spark that ignited a continental war.

While he was thinking, he crossed the oval gate that appeared to be the exit.

“Welcome.”

A man greeted him as though he had been waiting for Killian’s arrival.

He was a brown-haired, middle-aged man who appeared to be nearly fifty.

“I am High Priest Tomintyul de Horvis of the Temple of Trade.”

“Killian Eurasia.”

Because Serena was on his back, Killian returned the greeting with a slight dip of his head.

“There is no need to be so wary. Sir Killian is not an outsider.”

Tomintyul continued with an amiable smile.

“Once one becomes a High Priest, it is impossible not to recognize the response of a Hollyheart. Ah, I suppose the High Priest of the Temple of Barriers is an exception.”

“…….”

“I am simply delighted to meet an Apostle of God Murus in person.”

It seemed Hoka de Murus, High Priest of the Temple of Barriers, was treated poorly even among the other High Priests.

Killian found himself pitying Murus anew.

“I want to travel to the Pantera Temple.”

“The Pantera Temple is a long-distance journey from here. You will have to leave your subordinate behind.”

“She must travel with me.”

‘The Holy Nation has effectively declared war on the Empire.’

The Temple of Trade was located within imperial territory.

Moreover, if they discovered that a fragment of Silvana resided within Serena’s body, the complications would be endless.

‘Serena is a Superhuman capable of succeeding me as commander of the Extermination Squad.’

He could not leave a Seed that would become a pillar of Eurasia in a place like this.

“You look as though you cannot trust me.”

“You may find it difficult to believe, but I’m an atheist.”

“Lady Lan informed me. She also asked me to ensure your safe escape.”

The corners of Tomintyul’s lips twitched unpleasantly as he called it a request.

Killian felt even more strongly that he could not leave Serena behind.

“In that case, how would you feel about making a trade with me?”

“…….”

“Hahaha. This place is called the Temple of Trade, after all.”

A temple could be known by the name of its God, a belief symbolizing that God, or the God’s Authority.

‘Horvis’s Authority is Balance.’

If he gave something, he received something of equivalent value in return.

It came to be called the Temple of Trade because it granted the wishes of his supporters and made them pay the price.

“In Human terminology, it is called Equivalent Exchange.”

Tomintyul spoke as though preaching the beliefs of the God he served.

“Using a Divine Object, I can send both of you to the Pantera Temple.”

“If you have a way, couldn’t you simply have sent us from the beginning?”

“Every action carries a corresponding price. Moreover, I am the High Priest who serves God Horvis. Should I not set an example for others?”

He added that the price the Saintess had paid covered Killian Eurasia’s escape. It did not cover his subordinate Serena.

‘I think I understand why the Temple of Trade is among the three wealthiest temples in the Holy Nation.’

He hated to admit it, but Killian would have chosen a method little different from Tomintyul’s.

There was not much time.

As he considered what choice to make.

“I can sense God Silvana’s energy from Sir Serena Constantine.”

“…….”

“You look curious about how I know. Normally, I would demand a price before telling you, but I will explain it without charge to celebrate our first meeting.”

Immediately afterward.

Fwoooosh—

Divine Power surged in one of his eyes.

“I hear Walkers see lines of Mana through a technique called Direction.”

‘Does he see the lingering traces of Divine Power?’

Perhaps he could do more than merely see them. He might possess the ability to detect them as well.

“What you are thinking is probably correct.”

Tomintyul alternated his gaze between Killian and Serena.

“This is truly wondrous. A Mana Heart and a Hollyheart can never be cultivated at the same time.”

Before him stood a man who had achieved what neither experts in Mana nor priests blessed by the Gods ever had.

Beside that man was someone who showed the potential to do the same.

‘Moreover, that pendant, which appears to be a Magic Tool…… I can sense some immense Divine Power from it.’

Tomintyul’s eyes narrowed at the immense Divine Power, which was strong enough to make him mistake the pendant for a Divine Object.

At this point, dismissing everything as mere coincidence would be tantamount to deceiving himself.

“Incidentally, I can also see an abnormal response in Sir Killian’s Divine Power.”

“…….”

“If you make a trade with me, I will tell you about that abnormal response as a complimentary service.”

An unexpected meeting with an unexpected person in an unexpected place.

Killian did not deliberate for long.

***

After crossing the Warp Gate, he saw the familiar interior of a building.

It was the Pantera Temple.

The news of the Holy Nation’s situation appeared to have reached them already, as the atmosphere was chaotic.

“High Priest Pierre is waiting for you.”

Killian was ushered into the reception room as if pushed along.

When he set Serena down before Pierre, the High Priest summoned Divine Power and began healing her.

“I hear you came through the Temple of Trade.”

“Yes.”

“Did you make a trade with High Priest Tomintyul?”

Killian shrugged and asked about the situation at the temple.

“The Holy See ordered us to maintain a state of emergency alert. You’ve caused quite an incident.”

“It just happened.”

“You may stay as long as you wish. I will take personal responsibility for treating her.”

“How kind of you, unlike a certain someone.”

Pierre de Pantera.

The first High Priest Killian had encountered after reincarnating.

Their first meeting might have begun as an ill-fated relationship, but now Killian considered him the one High Priest with whom he could at least reason.

Killian entrusted Serena to him and rested at the temple for three days.

During that time, Crimson Wolf, Orchid Owl, and Philip appeared at the temple in turn and informed him that they had completed their missions.

“Aron, Portran, and Gala have all received emergency treatment. Their lives are no longer in danger.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Thanks to Sir Serena’s exertions, she killed two imperial Superhumans. Then she immediately headed to the Commander’s location.”

Serena had apparently pushed herself hard enough to kill two imperial Superhumans.

However, the others said they had been delayed because they needed to return while preparing for pursuit.

“But Sir Serena and Sir Yulian……?”

“…….”

The silence seemed to provide an answer, and Philip’s expression stiffened.

“Philip, from now on, you are the Second Sword of the Extermination Squad.”

Philip knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

“I obey the Commander’s order.”

“And until Serena awakens, serve as acting commander of the Extermination Squad.”

“Commander, what will you……?”

“Eurasia must be in turmoil by now.”

Not only had he entered imperial territory and fought without submitting any report, but he had thoroughly devastated the place.

Moreover, without reporting it, he had drawn the Holy Nation into the incident and lit the spark of war.

“Blood inevitably flows in battles and wars.”

Eurasia, which had always been the defender, had effectively initiated the war.

No matter how much justification he possessed, an individual should never have taken such action.

‘His Majesty or Sir Escardo might be exceptions, but now that Eurasia is a kingdom, some will undoubtedly rise in opposition.’

He did not know what sanctions he might face, so he could not take the Extermination Squad with him.

Philip understood the implication, and his face darkened.

“This is the first time someone has died since I became commander of the Extermination Squad. The others will have suffered a considerable shock as well.”

“…….”

“Remain here and focus on recovering until I summon you again.”

“……Understood.”

When Killian said he would use the gate, Pierre personally came to see him off.

“You’re returning in quite a hurry. I thought you would remain a little longer.”

“Thanks to you, I’ve recovered well. Please take care of the others too.”

“You speak as though we won’t see each other for some time. I’ll handle them, so concern yourself with your own circumstances.”

“I like this place. No one proposes pointless trades.”

Tomintyul would already have extracted three deals from him.

Killian chuckled and crossed the gate.

What he saw after crossing the Warp Gate was the main castle in Brussels, the capital of Eurasia.

They had expanded it into a medium-sized Warp Gate and built it in a new location separate from the one used before.

The guards recognized Killian and saluted with their swords.

He passed them and walked along the broad avenue leading into the royal capital.

“Killian!”

Julian hurried out to meet him.

“What in the world have you done?!! It’s dangerous to go inside now!!”

“Why are you making such a fuss again?”

“The Heads of the Families from the eastern Frontier and the capital are here demanding that you be punished!!”

“Is that so?”

“What do you mean, ‘Is that so?’ More than twenty Heads of Families have come to demand that you be held responsible. His Majesty is absent, so even Sir Escardo is in a difficult position!!”

“I see.”

Julian stared at him in disbelief after that impassive response.

“Do you…… understand what I’m saying? Is that truly how you intend to react?”

“I understand. Let’s go inside together for now.”

“Hah, what is wrong with you……?”

Killian smiled faintly at Julian’s dumbfounded face.

The brother who had once treated him as if he did not exist was now this worried about him.

‘Is this what brotherly affection feels like?’

Of course, Julian did appear to want something from him.

“You don’t need to look after me so excessively.”

“I know how powerful you are, but you’d be better off listening to me this time. Hide yourself first, then……”

“I’m not a criminal.”

“Killian!”

“It may not be a bad idea to use this opportunity to correct the complacent thinking of the Heads of the Families.”

“……!!”

“Where are they gathered?”

“No, I’m telling you, the situation is truly serious…….”

The answer came from elsewhere.

“The Heads of the Families are gathered in the King’s Hall.”

Sven.

The commander of the Gray Lancer Order and the knight who could be called Simon’s right hand gave Killian a brief bow.

“Grand Commander Escardo ordered that Prince Killian was under no circumstances to enter the King’s Hall.”

Sven emphasized that it was Escardo’s order.

“Please follow me. Someone is waiting for Your Highness.”

“Wh-what about me……?”

“Your Highness Julian…… should continue observing the mood among the Heads of the Families, just as you have been.”

“Yes! Understood!”

Apparently interpreting it as an order from Escardo for the sake of the kingdom, Julian ran off energetically.

“This way.”

Sven guided Killian to a chamber beneath the main castle.

It was the place where Killian had once cut down Agnil.

‘They repaired it perfectly.’

Judging by appearances, it had also been engraved with high-level Formulas like those at Isaac’s private estate.

Killian could guess who was waiting inside.

“Please enter. His Majesty is waiting for you.”

Killian poured Mana into the door.

Shff.

He was transported beyond it.

Simon Eurasia sat cross-legged within.

“You have come.”

Slowly opening his eyes, Simon examined Killian in silence.

“Here, we will decide the future of Eurasia.”