Level Up Inquisitor [EN]: Chapter 211

211. The Tumultuous Chapter (9)

“Hoo.”

Eile, taking a breath, leaned against the railing and looked down at the street.

The well-organized streets were filled with countless people going about their daily lives.

The name of this place was Belhaven.

It was one of the major cities held by the Iron Cross Guild.

As one could tell from the particularly warm weather, it was located somewhat far from the northern-centric cities, but that was precisely why the group could reach it the fastest.

‘Now, we won’t have to run around like crazy anymore.’

The group, having escaped the Path of Roots, was able to enter the city safely without any further pursuit.

The main rankers who had been chasing them were already tied up dealing with the boss monster.

Seia, whom they had successfully rescued, was currently receiving treatment at the Temple of Light within the city, with the priests fully dedicated to her recovery.

Judging by the fact that she would regain consciousness by tomorrow at the latest, it seemed there would be no major issues.

‘Even if it were a neutral stronghold, this is a city of the Iron Cross… and she’s entrusted to the temple of the Order [referring to the Celestial Church]. There shouldn’t be any problems.’

Having entered the city of the Iron Cross Guild, a strong ally, Apollyon couldn’t recklessly interfere.

The number of guard NPCs [Non-Player Characters] visible below the railing was more than double the usual amount.

This was because Sir, the guild leader of the Iron Cross, had given instructions as soon as she heard that Eile was coming to Belhaven with the princess.

Furthermore, Belhaven’s location was not near the border where the war between the six major guilds was taking place, so there was little chance of major variables occurring.

‘Just in case, I’ve told them separately as well.’

The priests were well aware of Seia’s importance, even without Eile’s explicit instructions.

Since he, an Executor, had even spoken to them separately, she would be surrounded and protected by the Order’s paladins.

In such a situation, trying to take the princess’s life by sending a few assassins was out of the question.

Thud!

At that moment, Eile turned his head at the sound of someone opening the door and entering.

“Not a bad city, is it?”

Sir, the guild leader of the Iron Cross.

She had been busy dealing with Cerberus and Yuron, but now that the most important matter was at stake, she had come here herself.

In particular, thanks to the Ironblood Fortress’s successful defense, Cerberus’s momentum had waned.

It meant that she could temporarily step away to plan her next move.

“Did I keep you waiting?”

“Not really.”

Eile shrugged at her words.

Sir chuckled and gestured for him to sit in the opposite seat.

He had been waiting in her guild office in the first place, and Eile came in from the balcony and sat down.

“I heard you entered the top rankings this time. Already a high ranker, you always show more than I expected.”

“I just got lucky with an opportunity. But that’s not the issue right now.”

“Right, those Apollyon guys… I knew they might have been hiding their strength, but I didn’t expect it to be this much.”

Sir smiled bitterly at Eile’s words.

The large-scale ranking changes that had occurred this time were something that even she, who had first noticed Alcyone, could not have imagined.

In particular, the fact that the six guild leaders, who had been called the strongest until now, were unable to handle Apollyon’s top executives and had stepped down was not something to be taken lightly.

Although she hadn’t fought them directly, she herself had been pushed down from 2nd to 6th place.

“But it’s not all bad news.”

“Did you get any information from the others?”

“Almost all of our rankers who entered the Path of Roots have come out. The number of those who were defeated by Apollyon is quite large, but you can say that almost none were defeated by the boss monster. Guild leaders Karin and Solos are also safe for now.”

Although the two guild leaders were pushed back in their matches against the executives, they succeeded in retreating without being defeated.

With the princess secured safely, it was very fortunate that the two who represented the guild were not harmed.

“And one more thing. Just a few hours ago, a new king was born in the capital.”

“A king…?”

“The previous king, who had been ailing, suddenly passed away, and the Grand Council’s vote was completed in a flash. As a result, Princess Seia succeeded to the throne and was crowned. Of course, the one there is a fake.”

“I didn’t think they would replace the king without even securing the real princess.”

Eile muttered in surprise at the new information.

“They probably thought they could catch you inside the Path of Roots, but it backfired.”

If a real princess appeared elsewhere after a queen had already been crowned, the kingdom would need to conduct a verification process.

In the world of Warlord, there were numerous deceptions such as illusion magic and evil curses, and the royal family had strict regulations and customs in place to prepare for such situations.

No matter how long after the fake queen was enthroned, a thorough process could not be avoided.

That was why Sir had come all the way here.

From the moment Seia woke up, they had to start by informing the users of the truth and officially announce this fact.

They would have to actively sway the opinions of the NPCs [Non-Player Characters] throughout the kingdom, so they would be very busy.

As a serious act of treason that turned the royal palace into a bloodbath was involved, it was natural that the entire kingdom would be shaken up.

“Now, Apollyon will suffer such a great blow that they won’t be able to operate again. No matter how much they borrow the power of forbidden magic, it’s impossible to deceive once the verification process begins. Even if they take the unreasonable step of refusing verification, it won’t change anything. It will only increase the backlash. From their perspective, no matter which option they choose, they’re turning almost all NPCs into enemies, now that they’ve destroyed the royal family.”

From now on, the backlash that the NPCs throughout the kingdom would unleash was something that even Apollyon could not dare to handle.

It wasn’t just the NPCs.

The story of Alcyone was spreading among the users, and most of them were rebelling.

The reason they had boldly occupied the royal family in the first place was to suppress the user’s backlash that would arise in the future by using the commands of the puppet king and the NPCs who followed him.

But now that things had turned out this way, that had become impossible.

If they had only turned one of the two groups into enemies, it wouldn’t have mattered how strong their simple power was, but now the situation was such that it was meaningless.

“But Apollyon won’t just sit back and watch, especially since it’s not just any place…”

Even to himself, he knew that the current situation was good.

But Eile felt uneasy.

The Path of Roots boss, which he thought would be impossible or would take at least half a day to conquer, had been completely攻略ed [conquered] and defeated.

It was clear that Kruger, in addition to the Apollyon executives trapped inside, had stepped in to deal with it directly.

More than anything, the location of the executives, including Kruger, who had disappeared, was still unknown.

Remembering Alisa’s words that rescuing the princess was not the end, the uneasy feeling did not easily go away.

“Of course, we can’t let our guard down. But it’s useless for the executives to move. We’ve already imposed entry restrictions on the city, and all citizens trying to enter are being identified.”

Sir said, looking at Eile with a worried expression.

Even if all of Apollyon’s executives appeared here, they alone could not break through the strict security and harm Seia.

“More than anything, the moment they cause a commotion to kill the princess in a metropolis with so many eyes watching, it’s no different from confessing that the card they have is fake. It’s an absolutely unmanageable situation.”

‘Hmm… certainly.’

Eile’s worries subsided a little at Sir’s words.

But that didn’t mean he wanted to relax until Seia regained consciousness.

‘Still, it’s better to prepare just in case.’

Eile, considering the variables, began to think hard.

* * *

Belhaven’s streets.

Eile, having left the office, stopped by the temple where Seia was and requested the Iron Cross Guild to increase the city’s garrison.

It wouldn’t be a welcome request as all of the guild’s main forces were on the front lines fighting the war, but Sir readily agreed.

Rather, she replied that he could ask for as much as he needed.

‘It was quite unexpected.’

Her attitude, which seemed more friendly than before, seemed to be largely due to the successful rescue of the princess.

It seemed that they would be able to exchange various deals even after this war was over.

For him, a solo user without a guild affiliation, it was bound to be a fairly reliable background.

‘Of course, it’s not the stage to be thinking about that yet.’

Eile, who had slipped into an alley, turned his gaze.

“Aren’t you going to tell me now?”

Eile said, looking in the direction where Lugh would be watching.

[‘Lugh, the Judge of Light,’ asks what you mean.]

“Just speak verbally. There’s no need to do it through messages.”

Eile said nonchalantly as the message appeared.

Since he first used ‘Goddess’s Blessing,’ the connection with the deity had become stronger, thanks to the skill’s additional effects.

Thanks to that, he could have a direct conversation with her at any time with almost no consumption of influence.

“Um, Goddess?”

“Wh, what is it?”

A white light appeared before his eyes, and an answer was heard.

She appeared in her original goddess form, not in the form she usually took to save contribution points.

“The reason why I have to collect the relics. Surely you’re not going to tell me after everything is over, now that I’ve come this far, are you?”

“That’s…”

Lugh rubbed her head at Eile’s question.

Why she was trying to collect the relics, and what would happen if she collected them.

Eile had asked several times, but she had just glossed over it, saying that she would tell him when the time came.

But there was a limit to how long she could get away with that.

“What is it that you’re hiding so much? I’m getting more curious.”

“J, just wait a little longer.”

Lugh groaned and pondered, unable to make a decision.

It was difficult to decide whether it would be better to tell him here or reveal it at the final moment when the relics were gathered.

Whoo-oong!

At that moment, a sudden gust of wind blew through the alley.

And as the inexplicable cool breeze subsided, a white hawk was already perched on his shoulder.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you in person.”

“Wh, what?”

Eile jumped back, startled by the sudden appearance of a large creature on his shoulder, not to mention the hawk that could even speak.

Moreover, he wasn’t the only one surprised.

[‘The Ruler of the Volcano’ welcomes the blowing wind!]

[‘The Mother of Life’ expresses displeasure at the uninvited guest!]

The other deities, including Lugh, were showing their respective reactions.

Eile, regaining his senses, looked at the creature properly and realized that it was no ordinary bird.

Altariel, the God of Freedom, Wind, and Wandering.

The deity of the Wind Order, the only one of the seven deities who had never revealed himself, had appeared before him.