Chapter 133

Stroking his slender beard with one hand, his luxurious purple robe flapped noisily in the night wind, as if it too were proclaiming the unrest destined for tonight.

"Your Majesty, do you recall who was assigned the responsibility for maintaining the arena grounds?"

"Naturally. Don’t say I never entrusted you with anything important. If you really want to make something of yourself, then go back to the Holy Theocracy..."

"Ah, no no no, I never said I was dissatisfied, did I?"

Firex first feigned humility and fear, waving his hands.

But in the next second, he straightened his back and swept his gaze across the royals lined up on both sides.

And the words that followed hit everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer.

"Thanks to the authority you granted me... I was able to set up a【Explosion】spell right here on this platform—one strong enough to blast every last one of you to pieces. Tell me, Your Majesty, if this magic were to be activated, would it be enough to wipe out the entire royal bloodline of Aurus in one go?"

"Impudence!"

The knights gripped their spears tightly, aiming them at Firex’s face, but Firex slowly raised both hands and slightly opened his mouth, revealing his freshly embedded teeth.

He had lost his front teeth earlier in a fall, and now had them replaced using the Holy Theocracy’s magical engineering.

"These fake teeth aren’t just for chewing food—they also serve as the activation device for magic... I’d advise you not to thrust those spears forward. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee that, the moment my head is pierced, you’ll all still be safely seated here the next second. Hahaha...!"

Perhaps it was the sight of the cowardly Third Prince showing fear that made Firex feel particularly satisfied.

With that, the Kingdom's Knight Order dared not take further action.

"Bluffing," Celt showed not the slightest trace of panic. "Do you think magic on the high platform can be installed at your whim? The kingdom has its own detection department. There’s no way you could’ve bypassed them... tch."

"Ah, ah, ah—so you’ve finally realized it? Did you really think that all these years I spent in the kingdom, I was just loafing around?"

Out of the corner of Celt’s eye, he noticed something.

The personnel responsible for facility inspection, who were originally standing ready below the platform, had vanished at some unknown point.

Hiss... so Firex had bribed them in advance to smooth the way for his plan...

In truth, Celt had always kept a wary eye on Firex, secretly monitoring his every move.

A king had his own methods.

But Firex had the resources of the Holy Theocracy.

Firex knew full well that, in the aftermath of the war, with the kingdom’s finances in severe decline... aside from loyal fools like Eclight and his ilk, there were few officials who couldn’t be bought with vast sums of gold.

Of course, Firex wasn’t stupid enough to contact those people directly.

Lately, he’d been active within the kingdom’s merchants’ guild, spreading word that he intended to “use the guild to lure the Demon Clan Princess into appearing at the arena,” thus diverting the king’s attention.

In reality, what he did through the guild had nothing to do with that.

What he wanted the merchants’ guild to do was to compel them to offer concessions to the kingdom officials he needed, and to ensure his own name was left behind—so that at critical moments, he could act without restraint or limitation.

The king quickly pieced everything together, though it seemed he was just a step too late in realizing it.

"Firex... you cunning fox... I truly underestimated you."

"You shouldn’t have treated me like a dog. Now guess—how does a useless dog end up being selected by His Holiness the Pope and sent to the kingdom, hmm? Ha... Don’t blame me. It’s just that I never had good intentions to begin with, and you and I both know that very well."

"......"

The king knew that now was not the time for anyone to act rashly.

It wasn’t just him standing atop this high platform—his royal children were here too. They were the future of the kingdom; nothing could be allowed to happen to them.

The king had indeed underestimated Firex a little.

But there was one thing he was absolutely sure of—Firex was a coward who clung to life.

He might be smarter than he’d initially seemed.

However, since Firex was standing on this same platform, he would never recklessly trigger the explosion spell.

Besides... Celt couldn’t yet determine Firex’s true purpose behind issuing such a threat.

The strangeness atop the high platform naturally stirred confusion among the spectators.

From their perspective, several knights had suddenly aimed their spears at an official—but then, nothing happened, and the platform returned to calm.

At first, no one gave it much thought.

Until a figure suddenly leapt into the air from below the high platform.

It was Eclight.

The king’s second palm press—that was the signal for an emergency.

And Eclight wasn’t the only one rushing to the platform.

Members of the Wright Family and elite warriors from the Kingdom’s Knight Order were dashing in from all directions. The sensitivity of the【Sword of the Nation】was more than sufficient to safeguard the kingdom at any given moment.

However—

Swish!

The sound of countless blades clashing rang out at once.

Almost simultaneously with the appearance of the Wright Family members, figures clad in black robes sprang from scattered seats in the audience, each one wielding curved blades and aggressively issuing challenges, intercepting all kingdom elites rushing toward the platform and blocking them outside the arena.

Their precise identities were unrecognizable, but they shared one unifying trait—

—A crescent-shaped pendant hanging in front of their chests.

Eclight charged forward without hesitation, and a single swing of his blade sent three black-robed attackers flying.

But just as he was about to reach the platform...

His vision was suddenly obstructed by a massive formation of spiraling fire dragons and razor-sharp ice blades!

Forced to readjust mid-air, he landed and was compelled to halt his advance for the time being.

Eclight’s sharp gaze locked onto the direction from which the magic had originated.

He raised his broadsword and swung, cutting down the two spells before him, his expression grave.

If it had been ordinary magic, it would never have been enough to impede someone of tenth-rank strength like him.

But if the opponents were also tenth-rank... and not just one of them...

Then it was a completely different matter.

From the dispersing dust of the extinguished magic emerged two elderly men, both with snow-white hair.

Both were surrounded by flowing magical currents, having already cast various enhancement spells upon themselves in advance.

"Tenth-rank mages from the Holy Theocracy... tch, no time left... out of my way!"

To face two foes of equal rank alone—there could be no swift victory.

【Wind Howl Fire Domain】

【Dark Roar Thunder Dragon】

Massive waves of fire entwined with serpent-like arcs of thunder swirled around Eclight, forming what could only be described as an incomplete personal domain.

Even if it didn’t match the inescapability of true domain magic, it was more than enough to temporarily restrain Eclight’s advance.

On the high platform—

Celt had already given the signal, but no reinforcements came.

He could clearly see that those who came to protect him had all been held back.

This made the king’s expression grow increasingly somber.

Looking at the powerful figures who had suddenly emerged from hiding in the audience, the king’s voice grew colder.

"Should I interpret this... as a declaration of war by the Holy Theocracy against the Kingdom?"

"Not at all. Look—His Holiness the Pope appears just as surprised."

The king looked up and saw the Pope standing as well, glancing around with a look of confusion.

—Whether that surprise was genuine or just an act, it couldn’t be determined for now.

But what Firex said next chilled Celt’s heart more than anything.

It wasn’t that he was out of options.

It was a pain that cut deep to the core.

"Alright, alright, Your Highness the Second Prince, how long do you plan to remain seated? Wasn’t all of this arranged under your orders? Come now, take your place at my side and command the battlefield. You’re the true star of this grand spectacle—tomorrow’s ‘King Aurus of Aurus’."

"Firex, you’re clever, I’ll give you that—but clearly you lack manners. My royal father is still here, and you dare speak such nonsense?"

"Aiya... my apologies, that was discourteous of me."

Even as the word “nonsense” was uttered—

In Livra’s stunned gaze, her second brother, the Kingdom’s Second Prince, Milh Aurus—with his tousled golden hair—rose to his feet with a gentle smile. Before anyone could react, he calmly stepped away from the royal family’s section and walked to stand beside Firex.

........................................

Down below, in the VIP seats—

Miss Shaya was gripping the grilled fish head, while Sylatrella held onto the grilled fish tail.

The finals hadn’t even started, and they were already fighting!

"You pervert... let go! Trying to steal my grilled fish, are you even human?!"

"Ugh... Lady Sheffy, just one bite! Let me have just one bite!"

"Didn’t you say you don’t like fish? Why are you snatching it now of all times?!"

"Because it’s fish you’ve eaten! I want to bite right where you bit!"

"And that’s exactly why I’m calling you a pervert! Ah—huh? What’s wrong, Xia?"

Sheffy... you’re seriously asking what’s wrong?

Why don’t you look up—just look! The audience stands are already in chaos.

Just look at the battlefield—blades flashing, swords clashing, the fight’s already intense!

And you two are still fighting over grilled fish?!

Xiarette had also risen to her feet, preparing herself, her gaze deep and solemn as she locked eyes on a location not far away.

As the Hero, she was originally supposed to be the first to rush toward the high platform.

But... she knew that even if she tried, it would take quite some time.

Just over ten meters away stood an old woman gripping a magical staff. Thin and shriveled, she looked frail enough to fall over with a gust of wind.

But if one truly sensed carefully... one would realize she was a tenth-rank powerhouse.

Including the two currently delaying her father, that made three tenth-rank experts from the Holy Theocracy—this was clearly a full-force mobilization.

"Sylatrella, little sister, get ready to transform into the Holy Sword. A battle’s coming..."

"No can do—I haven’t had the grilled fish yet. You go fight on your own."

"!"

Damn grilled fish!

Shaya pressed her palm against Sylatrella’s forehead, pushing her aside, and stored the grilled fish back into her storage magic space. She leaned her head back, black hair cascading as her cute forehead came into view.

"It’s fine, Xia. If you don’t act, that old lady won’t either. See how she’s just standing there? It’s obvious she’s only here to keep you occupied."

"But I have to go support the high platform..."

"Relax~ Just watch. I knew the Pope wouldn’t be that well-behaved. We’ve made preparations too~"

"That’s true... Actually, yeah, I can’t believe what you said before really came in handy."

"Hehe, that’s just me being clever. Oh hey, look over there—I recognize that guy. Isn’t that the prince from your kingdom who threw a rigged match during the last arena bout? He’s actually standing next to Firex. Don’t tell me... is this one of those legendary coup d’états?"

"It... it can’t be, right...? Let me see... uh, it actually is?!"

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