flstandardbreds Chapter 175 : You’ve Been Through a Lot
Chapter 175 : You’ve Been Through a Lot
Chapter 175: You’ve Been Through a Lot
The place Imelda arrived at was the lodging where she had stayed with Theodric.
As soon as she arrived, she looked for Theodric.
“Grandfather.”
There was no reply, and anxiety rushed over her, but she soon regained her composure.
She sensed movement inside the room.
But it was not just one person.
She quietly opened the door and saw two others besides Theodric.
“So the Arena Champion has arrived. I suppose that means what I said was correct.”
At the owner of the relaxed yet firm voice, Imelda stood momentarily dazed.
It was the Emperor.
“Don’t just stand there. Come in and sit down as well.”
As she was about to step inside, Theodric opened his mouth.
“Do not come, Butcher.”
He had called her Butcher rather than by her name.
Since she had not removed her mask, it was not incorrect.
Imelda sensed that something was amiss.
“Your Majesty should be heading back soon as well.”
“That is rather disappointing. Do you dislike being in my company, Sir?”
“The Imperial Palace must be in chaos right now. Is it truly fine for you not to show your face?”
Even before the Emperor of the Empire, Theodric showed no sign of tension or deference.
It was as though he was accustomed to situations like this—natural and unforced.
“If you put it that way. I shall take my leave.”
Even when the Emperor rose from his seat, Theodric remained seated.
There was one more person in the room.
He did not take his eyes off the escort knight.
“Do not be so wary. Surely I would not punish you.”
“Take care on your way.”
At the Emperor’s gesture, the escort knight quietly followed him out.
As he was about to leave the lodging, the Emperor turned around as if something had just occurred to him.
“You said you did not know who was attempting to assassinate me.”
“That is correct.”
“I do.”
The Emperor’s gaze shifted toward Imelda.
“Isn’t the culprit right here?”
Imelda swiftly drew her sword.
Clang!
The Emperor’s escort knight looked down at Imelda with emotionless eyes.
Even without releasing Aura, the strike was heavy.
She had barely blocked it, but she could not hold out for long.
“Your Majesty.”
“The Hand of Liberation. Did you think I would not notice you came with those rebels?”
“Withdraw your sword.”
“Ha, are you commanding me now?”
“If I had joined the rebels, how could I have stood guard behind Your Majesty?”
Around the time the Arena Finals had ended,
unknown assassins had stormed the distinguished guests’ room where the Emperor had been.
But the assassination attempt failed, and when the Emperor was about to leave the stadium,
Theodric appeared before him and cleared a path.
The Emperor gave a faint, unreadable smile and dismissed the escort knight.
“Then I suppose it does not matter if those rebels are executed?”
“That is correct.”
The Emperor stared intently at Theodric.
His golden eyes searched as though breathing fire.
“If we were to count the number of times you have saved my life, we would not have enough fingers on both hands.”
“You flatter me.”
“Until next time.”
As if nothing had happened, the Emperor and his escort knight left the lodging.
Once the two had departed, Theodric approached Imelda.
“You are hurt.”
“I’m fine. What about you, Grandfather?”
“I am quite all right. More importantly, it would be best to leave quickly.”
Swallowing her many questions, Imelda packed her bag.
Aside from the Phoenix Feather, she had little to carry.
Why the Emperor had come here.
What had happened to The Hand of Liberation who attempted the assassination.
How long it would take to reach Narvik.
She was curious about all of it, but she followed Theodric’s words.
Right now, the old man before her was what mattered most.
“Be careful.”
Under normal circumstances, even climbing stairs would have been difficult for him.
Yet Theodric descended briskly as if he were any other man.
Perhaps because an explosion had occurred in the arena.
The streets were exceedingly quiet.
No one wished to be caught in unnecessary trouble, so they had retreated indoors and did not come out.
“You certainly caused quite a commotion in the Arena.”
“…….”
“Did you obtain what you wanted?”
“Yes.”
Theodric had witnessed how brutally Imelda killed Nelson.
He could neither rebuke nor praise her.
What she had done was not something an ordinary person could do.
And having seen the reason she had grown such a cruel temperament, he could say nothing all the more.
“My illness is practically cured now.”
Beyond the merciless-looking Skull Mask,
at her hopeful voice, Theodric gave a bitter smile.
A child he was grateful for, pitiful toward, and fond of.
When he saw how precariously she stood, as though she might drown in the solitude she had chosen herself, a tender sorrow welled within him.
“I am sorry.”
“For what?”
“Just… for everything.”
The main road leading out of the city.
It was time to let go.
“My child, you have worked hard tending to this old man all this time.”
“It’s nothing. If I make an Elixir, you might even grow young again.”
Despite her nonchalant words, anxiety crept over Imelda.
An overwhelming presence pressed in from all directions.
Why at a time like this…….
“Go. I shall see this through here today.”
Imelda tried to ignore her unease.
Unlike her, Theodric accepted it head-on.
“You must live.”
Step. Step. Step.
Four knights clad in golden plate armor.
Four Knight Commanders appeared before Theodric.
Among them was the one who had been chasing Robin and Imelda.
“See? In the end, you were bound to fall into our hands.”
Unlike the other three, his armor was smeared with dirt.
Perhaps because he was thoroughly enraged, the way he looked at Imelda was far from pleasant.
“What business do you have with an old man like me?”
“Please speak comfortably. There is no one here who does not know Sir Theodric.”
The tallest among the four stepped forward.
“Judging by the greatsword, you must be the First Knight Commander.”
“That is correct. As expected, you recognized me.”
“The lady who uses a rapier is the Second Commander, and the man with the saber is the Fourth Commander.”
Lastly, Theodric looked at the man who was fuming.
He was the Knight Commander who had chased Imelda.
“The angry young man must be the Fifth Commander.”
“Precisely.”
“I do not see the Third Commander.”
“The position of the Third Knight Commander is currently vacant. Now that Nelson is dead, the Knight Order may be reorganized.”
The gazes of the Commanders turned toward Imelda.
They were by no means friendly.
“The Knight Order must have its own circumstances. Then, would you step aside.”
“Surely you know better than anyone that we cannot.”
“Is it His Majesty’s command?”
The First Commander crossed his arms and shook his head.
“His Majesty said nothing. This is our will.”
“Loyal knights indeed.”
“Is it not the knight’s way to serve his lord?”
The four Knight Commanders drew their swords.
He had expected it, but they had not gathered to trade jokes.
Theodric spoke softly to Imelda.
“Leave the capital and never set foot in it again.”
“I’ll fight too.”
“I am sorry.”
Tap.
With his index finger, Theodric pressed several points on Imelda’s neck.
As though she had taken a sleeping draught, she fell unconscious at once.
“You’re watching, aren’t you? Take the Butcher and go, Crow.”
Boom.
Three or four smoke bombs exploded between Theodric and the Knight Commanders.
Through the smoke that filled the street, a man wearing a white mask hoisted Imelda onto his back.
“The operation has failed. Please go at once, Elder.”
“In front of the Imperial Knight Commanders? I am finished here, so see to that child.”
The man called Crow immediately withdrew from the scene.
A gust of wind followed at once, scattering the smoke.
“You think I’ll let you escape.”
The Fifth Commander ignited his Aura and launched it toward Crow.
Bang!
It vanished midair as if it had struck something.
A green haze rose from Theodric’s hand.
It was Fighting Spirit so powerful that he could not be mistaken for a frail old man.
“I do not wish to fight you. Do not interfere.”
“If you intend to seize that child, you will have to step over me first.”
“If you insist.”
The four Knight Commanders advanced at once.
A situation that would terrify anyone.
Yet Theodric smiled instead as he looked at those approaching.
“I was wondering why my body felt better lately. So this is why.”
“Do not regret this.”
The Fifth Commander charged first,
followed by the Fourth and the Second, who attacked from both sides.
All three emitted Aura sharp enough to slice flesh merely by proximity.
“A candle just before it goes out—”
Boom! Crash!
“—burns the brightest.”
Astonishingly, the swords of the three Commanders were all blocked.
Moreover, Theodric was not even holding a sword.
With nothing but Fighting Spirit extended from his bare hands, he repelled the three.
“What kind of strength does that old man have…!”
“Do not lower your guard. He was the greatest among the Knight Commanders two generations ago.”
No lengthy exchange was needed among Commanders.
They too were geniuses who had endured brutal training to claim their positions.
Kwaaaaaaang!
Each time their blades clashed, explosions rang out instead of the sound of steel.
As though a massive tidal wave had swept through, the surroundings were reduced to ruins in an instant.
“Is this truly the best the younger generation can muster?”
“Ghk….”
Each Knight Commander possessed the power to erase a small city alone.
Yet even with three attacking him at once, Theodric stood firm.
Rather, the three were being gradually pushed back.
It was difficult to accept being overpowered by an old man long retired.
“As expected… the legend we had only heard of was no fabrication.”
Kiiiiing!
The First Commander, who had been observing all along, gripped his sword tightly with both hands.
When Aura enveloped the especially broad greatsword, it became as wide as a man’s waist.
“Receive this as well.”
“Damn it. Everyone, fall back!”
The three Commanders facing Theodric withdrew at once.
With impeccable timing, Theodric had no choice but to face the First Commander’s Aura head-on.
“Hup!”
Kiiiik! Kiiiiiiik!
Even Theodric let out a groan this time, as though it was too much.
The Aura released by the First Commander showed no sign of diminishing.
The victor in the contest of strength was decided as the First Commander.
Thud! Thud-thud!
The old man was hurled away, bouncing off the ground so violently it seemed wrong for someone his age.
“Sir Theodric, please acknowledge it now. You lack the strength to stop us.”
“Still, I bought some time, did I not.”
“It is useless. Our subordinate knights will have already encircled them.”
“Is that so? Then I suppose I must draw your attention back here.”
Forcing his trembling legs to steady, he rose again.
Blood flowing from his forehead obscured his vision.
Even so, there were several reasons he stood once more.
Foremost was his wish for Imelda’s safety, but there was another as well.
“You are all being deceived. Does it not make you wonder how a mere human can wield Aura?”
“A man who once served as His Majesty’s sword speaks strange words.”
“Or do you know and choose silence?”
He brought both hands together and clenched them tightly,
as though gripping a single sword.
“I shall teach you a lesson.”
He stepped his left foot forward, anchoring his lower body firmly.
His chin lowered slightly, the tip of the blade angled upward.
Theodric recited the reason he had become a knight.
Loyalty to one’s lord forever engraved upon the heart
With courage we shall block the enemy
Righteous knights yearn for peace
Do you hear the echo of war
Hum. Hum. Hum.
“A song, at a time like this?”
“What are you doing?”
The Fourth and Fifth Commanders stared in disbelief.
But their expressions soon twisted.
Blessed by divine grace, we steel our resolve
We walk the path that guards freedom
At the end of battles won through bloodshed
We reclaim the joy of peace
Standing alone at dawn’s first light
We shall sing the hero’s song
The First and Second Commanders realized the gravity of the situation and tried to stop him.
But Theodric’s song had already been completed.
Wooooong. Woooooong.
A power alien and unlike Aura.
Among the Fighting Spirit he wielded, it was the blade containing the purest force.
The Song of Dallet, the origin of knighthood, had been perfectly reproduced.
“You ask what I am doing?”
“Stop at once! Do you intend to obliterate the entire area!”
A force that would make even Knight Commanders who called themselves one-man armies recoil.
When Theodric took a step forward—
Boom.
A shockwave spread, and the earth heaved.
“I said I would teach you a lesson.”
“Damn it! Gather together!”
The four Knight Commanders converged and unleashed their Aura.
A vast blue radiance dominated the surroundings.
Yet the sword in Theodric’s hand showed no sign of extinguishing.
A sword formed purely of Fighting Spirit.
A blade that would push through anything descended slowly.
“Execution of Justice.”
The ground shook as though a volcano had erupted,
and the collision of their powers reduced the surroundings to utter devastation.