ALL NOVEL
Chapter 53
[Translator – Kie]
[Proofreader – Kawaii]
Chapter 53: The Plan(3)
***
At the appearance of the paladins, the arena fell silent as if icy water had been poured.
The nobles were even more terrified of the Church’s arrival than they were of dark magic.
They knew that when it came to dark magic, the Church would rampage like a mad dog.
“Damn it!”
The first to break the silence was Jackson Cutter.
Realizing there was no good in staying put, Jackson Cutter attempted to flee. But Damien wouldn’t let go of his wrist.
“Let me go… Ugh!”
As Jackson Cutter attempted to resist, the paladins rushed in.
They forcibly knocked him out with the back of a blade, forcing him off his horse and breaking both his arms.
While Jackson Cutter was being subdued, the one paladin addressed Damien. He was a large, chubby man with a face like a full moon.
“Mr. Damien, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Thomas, a second-grade paladin of the Church.”
Paladins, unlike regular knights, identified themselves by their grades. A 2nd-grade paladin was equivalent to a mid-class knight.
Damien had sent Victor to contact the Church in a neighboring city last night.
Damien’s message was to dispatch a paladin to the jousting tournament in case any heretics showed up, and he specifically requested someone capable enough to face mid-class knights among them.
[PR note- Heretics are knights or common people who use the power of dark magic through artifacts or similar means.]
Not only did the paladin immediately comply with Damien’s request, but they also sent a force capable of truly rivaling the mid-class.
Thanks to this, it seemed possible to handle the current situation without directly using force.
It was akin to using poison to counter poison.
“Sir Damien was right, there is indeed a filthy heretic.”
Jackson Cutter exclaimed as if throwing a tantrum.
“Who says I’m a heretic? I haven’t done anything wro…!”
One of the paladins struck Jackson Cutter’s mouth with the hilt of his sword, producing a crunching sound.
“You sure do talk a lot for someone who uses dark magic.”
“Don’t dirty our ears and stay quiet.”
The paladins growled as if they were ready to kill Jackson Cutter at any moment.
Seeing their demeanor, Jackson Cutter visibly cowered.
“But, Mr. Damien, where are the other heretics?”
Damien raised his finger and pointed to the spectator stands.
There sat Jacques Noiré.
“That man is the mid-class heretic I mentioned.”
Jacques Noiré’s expression contorted.
Simultaneously, Thomas rushed towards Jacques Noiré.
***
When the arena match had just begun, Jacques Noiré didn’t have a care in the world.
The bracelet handed to Jackson Cutter was no ordinary item. It was a notorious dark mage’s painstaking creation.
When Jacques Noiré was Low-class knight, that bracelet saved his life too many times.
If it hadn’t been for the significant drawback of consuming life force and mana, he would have always worn it.
As the arena match began, Damien Haksen started to move.
Watching Damien, who could knock down knights with just one horse, Jacques Noiré felt anticipation.
Jacques Noiré didn’t know what sort of secret treasure Damien had.
But considering Damien raised to the level of low class in just a few months, it must have been something very precious.
By killing Damien today, Jacques Noiré could have both the Earldom of Copperhead and that treasure in his hands.
Truly something to celebrate…
But at that moment, Damien grabbed Jackson Cutter’s wrist, causing the bracelet to shatter.
“…?”
Dark magic permeated the surroundings thickly.
The unexpected turn of events left Jacques Noiré’s mind in chaos.
But before he could even begin to process the confusion, something even more shocking happened.
The paladins sitting in the spectator stands revealed themselves.
“…!”
Jacques Noiré could only be astonished. Despite being so close, he hadn’t sensed the presence of the paladins at all.
It wasn’t until the paladins removed their robes that their presence could be felt.
The robes they wore were no ordinary items; they were special relics used during undercover operations by the paladins.
The paladins immediately subdued Jackson Cutter.
Amidst the chaos, Jacques Noiré couldn’t think for a moment.
“That man is the mid-class heretic I mentioned.”
Until Damien pointed toward him.
A paladin rushed towards him. The paladin swung his blade towards Jacques Noiré.
Jacques Noiré instinctively raised his forearm to block the attack.
The clash between the protective gear on his forearm and the blade produced a sharp sound.
“Aargh!”
“Eek!”
The collision of the two mid-class combatants caused a tremendous shock, enough to push back the surrounding audience.
“There really is the mid-class heretic!”
The paladin’s eyes glowed like flames.
“To dare to touch dark magic with your god-blessed talent!! I will tear you apart today and offer you to God!”
“You’re deluded to the point of not even having a semblance of reason. Just spouting nonsense so carelessly.”
Jacques Noiré spoke in a calm tone.
But despite his demeanor, his mind was filled with a myriad of thoughts.
The Church was as powerful a force as the Empire. There was hardly a place on the continent where the Church’s influence didn’t reach.
As far as Jacques Noiré knew, there were hardly any who could confront and survive against the Church.
“Don’t blabber about me with your filthy tongue!”
A white light erupted from Thomas’ body. Strangely, despite the light emitting from him, it wasn’t blinding.
Divine power.
A power that only those who believed in and served God could use had manifested.
“I’ll tear your bones apart right now!”
Thomas exerted force on his arm, pushing the blade even harder.
Jacques Noiré didn’t resist. Instead, he utilized Thomas’ force to fly backward behind the spectator stands.
“Where do you think you’re running!”
Thomas shouted loudly as he chased after Jacques Noiré. Intense noises followed from behind the arena.
“Just as expected from the Church.”
Damien exclaimed, watching the scene.
There was no better way to counter dark magic.
“Hmm…?”
At that moment, something caught Damien’s eye.
The Earl of Copperhead was leaving the arena with a pale face.
***
“My, my, this can’t be…… happening on my, on my estate!”
The Earl Copperhead broke into a cold sweat as he walked as if he could collapse at any moment.
“Jacques Noiré! That bastard dared to use dark magic on my land!”
The inquisitors of the Church were persistent and cruel.
It was evident that this incident would not be concluded as merely the antics of Jacques Noiré and Jackson Cutter; a broad investigation would surely uncover other related individuals.
“If it’s revealed that I was planning to deal with them… No, I knew nothing! I knew nothing!”
The Earl Copperhead trembled throughout his walk.
Olivia looked at the earl as if he were pitiful.
The human who usually acted so dignified and cunning was now trembling in fear at the real crisis.
“Olivia! I must think of a solution! When the paladins comes looking for me, tell them I’ve fainted and buy me some time! Understand?”
Upon reaching the tent, the earl commanded Olivia.
With a skeptical look, Olivia replied, “I don’t think that will work.”
“I’ll make it work! Why do you have so many words to say!”
The earl shouted in response to Olivia’s retort.
He needed time to gather his thoughts no matter what.
“Your Grace, where are you going? Are you trying to take a nap?”
A voice suddenly came, startling the earl, who turned his head.
Right behind him stood Damien.
“…Damien Haksen! How dare you show your face in front of me!”
By the demeanor of the paladins, it was clear that Damien had summoned the Church.
To the Earl, Damien was nothing short of a sworn enemy who had ruined everything.
“I’ve come to discuss matters with Your Grace.”
“Don’t talk nonsense! What are my knights doing? Drive him away!”
The Earl’s knights blocked Damien.
“No further access to…….”
Damien lightly tapped the knights’ chins with the back of his hand. It was too fast for anyone to see properly.
As knights collapsed Earl let out a scream.
“Your Grace, it’s regrettable to see you like this.”
Saying so, Damien grabbed the Earl’s collar and lifted him up.
“It seems you’ve completely forgotten your attempt to kill me, Your Grace.”
As Damien’s gaze intensified, all color drained from the Earl’s face.
“Shall we have a quiet discussion inside? Or would you prefer a different method of conversation?”
“W-We’ll discuss! We’ll discuss!”
The earl hastily exclaimed. Only then did Damien smile satisfactorily.
“You’ve made a wise decision.”
***
“Your Grace, I’m deeply disappointed.”
Damien sat with his feet on the table.
The Earl couldn’t even think of correcting Damien’s attitude.
“I thought we had quite a good relationship, Your Grace. Yet you were plotting my demise behind my back.”
“You, where did you hear such nonsense? I’ve never tried to kill you. What absurdity…”
“Lady Olivia told me everything. Jacques Noiré wanted my life. And you promised him assistance, didn’t you?”
The Earl glared at Olivia. Olivia met his gaze nonchalantly.
“Yes, Father. I told him.”
“Olivia! Have you gone mad? Why would you do such a thing…”
Thump.
Damien kicked the table with his heel. The Earl fell silent again.
“Your Grace, my talk isn’t finished yet.”
“Y-You…”
“What do you think will happen if I tell the Church that Your Grace attempted to deal with Jacques Noiré?”
The Earl’s face turned pale.
“I-I didn’t know! I truly didn’t! I never thought Jacques Noiré would resort to dark magic…”
“Do you think such excuses will work with the Church?”
The Church had zero tolerance for anything directly or indirectly related to the Dark magic.
Moreover, the Earl was implicated in an attempted murder involving dark magic.
Attempting to claim innocence to the Church would be futile.
“Sir Damien! I’m sorry! I was wrong! Please, don’t report to Church…”
“Even if I don’t say anything, Jackson Cutter will expose everything anyway, and you know how horrible the torture of the Inquisitors is, don’t you?”
As Damien pointed out, the Earl felt all strength drain from his body.
“Your Grace may not know, but I have my own connections within the Church. Defending a single person should be easy.”
Damien spoke with a subtle tone. The Earl’s expression seemed as if he’d met a savior.
“Y-You…”
“But there are conditions.”
“Sp-Speak! I-I’ll listen to anything!”
Damien raised his fingers one by one.
“First, you must grant my brother and Lady Olivia’s hand in marriage.”
“T-That’s easy enough.”
“Second, declare me the winner of this year’s tournament.”
“T-That’s only natural!”
The first two conditions Damien mentioned were quite easy. But the next one posed a problem.
“Before the year ends, transfer half of your estate to Lady Olivia.”
“That’s preposterous! Half! Are you out of your mind!”
The Earl erupted in anger. In response, Damien’s voice sharpened.
“Then go to the Church and claim your innocence.”
With that warning, the Earl had no choice but to remain silent.
“As compensation for this incident, send 300 gold to the Haksen’s Viscounty .”
“Th-Three hundred gold…”
“For someone who tried to kill me, isn’t that a small price?”
With Damien’s sharp words, the Earl could do nothing but remain silent again.
“What will you do?”
“W-Well, I need to think for a moment…”
“Decide here and now.”
Damien stated firmly. The Earl sighed and said,
“…I’ll comply with all your demands.”
“You’ve made a wise decision.”
Damien stood up. Before leaving the tent, he warned the Earl one last time.
“Your Grace, just in case. If you break our agreement today or continue to delay…”
Damien unleashed his power.
His aura and killing intent engulf the entire tent.
The Earl completely lost his senses to such overwhelming power.
“I will make sure to collect the price personally.”
The Earl’s head nodded slowly.
***
Damien emerged from the tent with Olivia.
“Are you sure it’ll be okay?” Damien pushed, his face filled with concern.
Last night, Damien had sought Olivia’s agreement to reveal that he had reported the incident.
The price for that was acquiring half of the estate.
With this incident, Olivia was practically estranged from the Earl.
“You don’t have to worry so much. I’m fine,” Olivia said without batting an eye.
“But Father has used me as a tool his whole life. So this time, I’ll use him as mine,” she said, chillingly composed.
Could I accept such a woman as Abel’s companion?
Damien pondered for a moment.
‘Well, Abel has his naive side. It might not be so bad.’
As they walked, someone was running towards them.
“D-Damien… you’re here!”
Sofia Russell spoke, her face on the verge of tears.
***
[Translator – Kie]
[Proofreader – Kawaii]