Chapter 498 – 498. Guardian of the Ruins (2)
Aww!
The cry of the huge fox roaring towards the sky had a very lofty yet elegant tone.
If it was just a voice from the vocal chords of a gigantic beast, many knights had the impression that it was ‘beautiful’, enchanted by its beautiful voice in a very brief moment.
But they soon groaned.
“Big… Ugh!?”
The cries fired into the sky were mere sound waves with no mass, but the magic power of the divine beast that was scattered along the sound quickly took over the surroundings.
The knights who fell into a panic under the terrifying pressure took a heavy breath due to the tightness of their chest.
The hands of the knights holding the swords they pulled out instinctively in a vigilant posture were shaking.
Rather than fear, this was astonishment at the pressure, as if something large was pressing down on the sky and pulling one’s body from the floor.
“What is this… !”
Due to this pressure, which was not even allowed to resist, the knights realized the gap between themselves and the giant white and silver demon that suddenly appeared.
While struggling like that, when they were desperate just to resist the magic of the divine beast that had taken control of the air, the blue armored soldiers surrounding the royal family and the Knights of Artia started to act in unison.
They are all Hundred Demons summoned by Ortas and subordinate to him.
As Ortas disappeared along with the nine-tailed fox, the white demons guarding their position were slowly walking towards the Pernias royal family and the Artia knights escorting them, narrowing the siege.
“Her… Ugh… !”
The oppression of this high density of magical power is like poison to children and ordinary people, no matter how naturally they possess a high amount of magical power.
When Queen Diane, Queen Helena Hubie, and Prince Evan, who were in despair due to the loss of Prince Damian, were struggling because they couldn’t breathe properly at the same time, Yuria, who was holding on even though she groaned, gnashed her teeth and shouted,
“Alex! Draw your sword!”
“Commission… Road… !”
But Alex wasn’t as free from this pressure as the other knights, or just a little better.
“How should… !”
YuRia, not knowing what to do, fell into a panic and stared at Eunhyun.
“Uh… ?”
Before long, she felt strange.
Not all the people on this island were suffering from the pressure of the magic power that took over the surroundings without being able to resist like the knights.
All of them here are struggling not to collapse from being crushed by this force, but only a few stand and stare at the giant fox.
One of them, Eunhyeon, immediately opened her mouth.
“Eleanor. Start.”
“Yes.”
Eleanor, who had been frowning her face, put her hands together and closed her eyes at Eun-hyeon’s words, perhaps feeling her cramps.
Unleashing her divine power, she prayed reverently to the goddess Vesta whom she enshrined.
[Goddess. I sincerely hope that you will take care of me so that my precious person does not get hurt.]
[Vesta’s Blessing]
[Holy Sanctuary]
The strong pressure that seemed to crush the whole body disappeared, and the vitality that filled the whole body shocked the knights and the royal family in a different meaning.
On the other hand, some Artia knights who participated in the vampire eradication operation with Eleanor personally experienced her divine power, but even so, the wide-area holy barrier that covers the entire Artia knights is amazing.
“Leod.”
Eunhyun immediately turned her head and called Riod’s name.
As for what he was trying to say, Lyod was able to grasp his intentions without asking.
“… I get it.”
There were so many things he wanted to ask and question, but he knew very well that first of all, he had to fulfill his assigned duties and roles.
“All the knights! Protect the Fernias royal family and fulfill your duty!”
The knights of Artia, who had lost the pressure that weighed down their bodies in the barrier of sanctuary, responded loudly to the order of the knight commander.
“… Follow orders!”
The knights all at once followed Riod’s order and began fighting against the white demons in blue armor who were threatening them.
Kaaang!
As soon as the skirmish started in an instant, Liode approached Eunhyeon and started talking to him.
“This situation… Did you expect it?”
“I expected it, but I didn’t think it would come out like that.”
In the first place, it was the first time that Eun-hyeon had been to Orbis Island.
He betrayed the nine-tailed fox and sealed the stolen fox beads, and created Orbis Island to monopolize the energy that flowed from it.
And whenever he changed his body, he made the tradition and procedure of burying the vessel of the royal family he had used so far and holding a funeral in this place to fill the body with the energy of the divine water, and taught the Count Tirnis family to learn navigation to reach this place. I did a maneuver to the point of inducing meticulousness.
“It’s obvious that you’ve made some defenses to protect the fox marbles in case of an emergency.”
“…”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you beforehand. But… Since Sarn was Sarn, I couldn’t discuss this plan with you, who is in charge of protecting the royal family.”
From Eun-hyeon’s point of view, this was something she had to do to keep her promise to the nine-tailed fox, but from Riode’s point of view, it was also an act that damaged the country’s honor.
“Nevertheless, you arranged in advance for me and the Knights of Artia to take on this escort mission. Why?”
“…”
Eunhyeon opened her mouth as she looked up at the sight of the translucent giant fox gradually taking shape.
“Because I needed a cause.”
“Justification?”
“It is the promise that Shinsoo and I made to deny the existence of Ortas, the founder of this country, and to punish him.”
The nine-tailed fox tolerated turning the kingdom into a sea of fire in return.
Even though Eun-hyeon couldn’t inform him of her plan, there was only one reason why she instigated Queen Diane to accompany the kingdom’s best knight as an escort.
“You and the Knights of Artia who participated in this expedition have all seen, heard, and are still experiencing Ortas’ atrocities.”
The fact that the hundred demons have begun to act and attack the royals and knights means that Ortas has no intention of saving the people who set foot on this island of Orbis, who have learned all about his secrets.
It is impossible to kill the crown prince of a country who will become the next king, no matter how eunhyeon it is.
So, in order to create a just cause to punish him, I aimed at this place and this timing.
In this expedition, the Artia Knights’ mission is to protect the royal family, but at the same time, what Eun-hyeon wants is to be a witness, testifier, and judge of Ortas’ atrocities.
The justification and situation to justly kill Ortas had finally been created.
“And it has to be you who subjugate that giant fox.”
Not Eunhyun or Gerard.
This justification becomes even stronger when Riod, who has the honor of being the best knight in the kingdom and has the most powerful military and investigative authority in the kingdom, comes forward.
“You… Aren’t you going to create the situation again this time?”
Riod looked at Eunhyun with a slightly disappointed expression.
This is because Eun-hyeon, who has always been reluctant to move externally and has been working behind them while hiding her identity, overlapped with them.
“No.”
However, Eunhyun laughed and shook his head in denial.
“What are you talking about. I’m acting really bad these days.”
Having become an official husband and wife with Illyana, and at the same time becoming the son-in-law of the ducal family, Eun-hyeon is more afraid to touch than the Duke of Armitas, the lord of the Duchy of Armitas.
Riode belatedly realized that he had been doing a lot of external activities lately.
“…”
“You seem to not care at all because you think your members can overcome this level of crisis, but my actions now are the same as putting your knights in danger without consulting you.”
It’s too irresponsible to leave the situation up to this point and leave the solution to someone else.
“We didn’t cause a single casualty. For that, I brought my wives this time.”
If he hadn’t intended to go out in the first place, he wouldn’t have brought Eleanor and Erin.
The fact that Eun-hyeon brought his two wives to this dangerous place also means that he is confident in this fight.
“… Surely… It has changed.”
Lyod muttered with a slightly surprised expression.
Certainly, it is very different from Eun-hyeon of the past, which was 20 years ago, before she died.
Now, taking responsibility for the lives of many, he did not hesitate to step forward and lead them.
He had a strange feeling that the image of a friend he had longed for was coming true.
He suddenly turned his head and looked at his members who were fighting the hundred demons while protecting the royal family.
Certainly, it was very reassuring to see the members exerting twice as much power as usual inside the barrier of sanctuary that Eleanor had unleashed with immense divine power.
At this level, there is a possibility that he will be able to pour all his nerves into dealing with that fox.
“Don’t worry. Older brother! Isn’t I there this time too!”
Hearing Gerard’s words change the atmosphere by tapping his chest as if telling him to believe in himself, Liode was slightly impressed.
“Are you okay?”
“Haha! Hyun is very active thanks to hyung-nim! And now I can handle that power even better! Trust me!”
“…”
I didn’t doubt Gerard’s skills, but I couldn’t believe him no matter how confidently he said it in such a frivolous atmosphere.
“If you want to be in danger, get out of the way.”
“Ah, well. I’m really stronger than before!? Do you want to bet who will catch that first!?”
“Good. I bet three gold coins.”
“I don’t want to back down on that.”
“… Are you a kid?”
Even though she was approaching 40 years of age, Eun-hyeon put on an expressionless expression as she saw the two friends still competing to see who was stronger.
Then he turned his head to look at Eleanor and Erin.
“Eleanor. How long does the barrier last?”
“Until you’re done. Anything.”
Eleanor’s confidence as she proudly declared with a smile was dazzling.
“Hmm. Then…”
Eventually, as I moved my gaze to the side of her, I met Erin, who was hesitant about something.
“Yeah… Hyuna.”
“If you’re worried, you can go look for it.”
“Uh… Really… ?”
Erin questioned, wide-eyed at the fact that she had revealed her true feelings.
Knowing Erin’s heart that had been caught in her heart by the raging nine-tailed fox, Eleanor also smiled and nodded her head.
“You can do whatever you want. Erin. I’m fine. It’s okay to stay with the princess or older brother.”
Eleanor, who maintains this barrier that doubles her physical abilities, is the most important person that the Knights of Artia must protect as much as the royal family.
Even if she didn’t have to be escorted by Erin, Eleanor was confident that she would protect her own body.
“Go, thank you! Miss Eleanor! And Hyuna! Then I’ll go see Miho!”
“I’ll finish it quickly and come back.”
“Don’t get hurt.”
Seeing the back of Erin, who immediately began to move in pursuit of the energy of the nine-tailed fox, Eun-hyeon joined Gerard and Riod, who were walking ahead, receiving Eleanor’s send-off.
“How about the ranks?”
“As usual in the past, you and I are left and right. And Gerard is disturbing.”
“All right!”
Although it was only a short instruction, the two immediately understood Eunhyeon’s words, perhaps because of their long-time experience.
Rather, it was a very long time since we teamed up again, and it felt like it was reminiscent of the past, so I was very happy.
Recalling that time, a long time ago, when they were in their 20s, the three confronted a fox with nine tails and a huge body that had completed materialization.
Gerard was the first to take the lead and start the fight.
[Gerard’s Attribute Secret]
[Thunder Myth]
Paperweight!
The giraffe’s mana was released from within her body, and Gerard’s movement, wrapped in yellow thunderbolt, literally became a flash of light and pierced the chest of the gigantic Yoho.
