All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 222

◈ Chapter 222

111. Rather Bend Than Break – 2

So, it has come to this.

As Swan covered her face, Ian shouted towards the castle gate, amplifying his voice with a technique.

“I am Ian Brandon!! I will attack this castle gate now!! Anyone who doesn’t want to die!! Anyone who wants to give up resisting, step aside!!”

His shout caused a stir among the soldiers on the castle walls.

Who would dare to do such a thing in front of the Imperial capital’s gate? And to think it would be Ian.

As the soldiers and knights, unaware of the full situation, looked on, Kalbiratz was flustered.

“Shoot, shoot him!! That guy has turned his sword against the Empire!!”

“What I want to strike down is not the Empire, but Kalbiratz, who is blocking my path! And the Iron-Blooded Duke who gave him orders!! Anyone who is not related to them and values their life!! This is my last warning!”

-KWAHHHHHHHH!!

The materialized aura surged like a storm.

“Step aside if you don’t want to die.”

As an ominous atmosphere descended, the knights and soldiers cried out urgently.

“Ru, run away!!”

“Ian Brandon is the one who destroyed the walls and gates of the Scarlet Kingdom with a single sword!! Run away!!”

Those who valued their lives desperately fled from the castle gate.

However, there were also those who remained, driven by ambition.

‘If I hold out here this time?’

‘Then promotion is guaranteed.’

Those blinded by the desire to climb higher grabbed their weapons, eyeing Ian.

No matter how strong Ian is, would he really attack the Imperial capital?

They thought he would threaten them and retreat, so they took a gamble.

Demonic Divine Art, Chapter of Heavenly Destruction.

Chaos.

They lost that gamble.

-KWAGWAGWAGWANG!!

The black energy contained in Ian’s sword pierced the castle gate.

Instantly, the castle gate was completely shattered.

The castle walls connected to the gate were also smashed as mercilessly as rotten wooden blocks, causing those watching to shield their faces.

“Ah… this is a disaster….”

Rondal sighed and muttered.

Regardless of the circumstances, Ian had attacked the Imperial capital.

That meant he could soon be considered an enemy of the Empire.

Therefore, Rondal stepped back and gripped his staff tightly.

“Count Ian. As a mage of the Empire… I’m sorry, but I can’t just let this pass.”

Ian glanced at him, his expression hardening, and then smiled.

Then, he pointed his sword at him as well.

“Those who resist are admirable.”

“You’re the first to call this old man admirable. Honestly, I would have liked to have many conversations with you if we ever met.”

He pointed his staff.

At that moment, multiple magic circles appeared behind him.

“But I am a mage of the Empire. So, please understand.”

“I understand. And I will invite you to Fredon Academy next time. Let’s talk then.”

As Ian smiled, Rondal’s magic unfolded.

Fire, earth, wind, and water.

The powerful magic of the four elements unfolded simultaneously and poured down on him.

“Myaaaaaa!!”

But Myane was not going to let that happen.

With Myane’s cry, Rondal’s magic was canceled in mid-air.

-THWACK!!

And with a single blow.

Rondal, hit by the flat of the sword, fell backward and fainted. Ian sheathed his sword and confidently walked towards the destroyed castle gate.

Passing through the destroyed castle gate, soldiers and knights swarmed in.

However, they were all afraid of the powerful force Ian had just displayed.

Therefore, no one stopped him.

Neither knights, nor mages, nor soldiers.

They could not stand in front of the giant’s stride.

Ian, looking around at them, was about to walk again with an expressionless face when some knights stepped forward, unable to bear it any longer.

“C, Count Ian!! Stop!!”

Ian was satisfied with their courage.

“Those who resist are admirable.”

“T, then will you step back?”

“Not really.”

Ian spun his sword and pointed it at them.

“It will take some time for the real ones to come, so let’s have some fun.”

The knights wondered whether they should be happy or not at those words.

The opponent was an enemy attacking the Imperial capital.

But he was also a renowned powerhouse on the continent.

A fight with such a strong person might be an opportunity to grow as knights.

Of course, they could also die.

“U, UAAAAAA!!”

Still, they couldn’t just stand still.

As they roared and charged, Ian swung his sword without hesitation.

But he didn’t draw on his aura.

And he didn’t use World Laws either.

He simply swung his sword and faced them as if he were teaching other students at the academy.

“Your attack speed is too slow. You need to coordinate to attack together.”

“UAAAAAA!!”

As one knight fell from a single sword strike, another knight charged.

Ian dodged his attack, grabbed him, and threw him. Then, he lightly kicked off the wall and rose.

Falling from the air, he grabbed one knight and knocked him over, then took off his helmet and threw it towards the other side.

-KOOONG!!

One knight fell after being hit by the helmet.

He dropped his spear, and Ian kicked it up, spinning it around.

“UAAAAAA!!”

Several knights were pushed back by that strike.

Then, a storm began.

A single person was using everything at hand—swords, spears, helmets, shields, rocks, and various other objects—to knock down the knights.

One of the students, who was blankly watching the battle, muttered.

“S, Storm Style….”

A fighting style that used everything within reach as a weapon, raging like a storm.

That was the fighting style of the Forest Keeper, the Emperor’s nemesis.

“I, I’ve seen it before. The Forest Keeper’s battle….”

Was it just a coincidence that the Forest Keeper’s battle came to mind from Ian’s battle?

The students of the Imperial Academy could not take their eyes off Ian, even though the Empire was being defeated.

-BOOOOOOOM!!

The last standing knight floated into the air and dropped to the ground with a thud.

As he groaned, coughed, and then slumped, Ian slammed the spear he was holding into the ground.

Then, he looked at the knights in golden armor who had appeared earlier and were silently watching from the side, the Dragon Shield Knights of the Imperial Knights.

The middle-aged man at the head smiled.

“Showing mercy in your attacks. Count Ian Brandon. You’re softer than I thought.”

Then, he looked around.

After confirming the chaotic surroundings of the castle gate, he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“Crepen Boyard. You can call me Count Crepen.”

“The commander of the Dragon Shield Knights.”

As he spoke, Crepen grinned.

He seemed pleased that a strong person like Ian knew him.

Of course, Ian had heard it from Circe, but Crepen had no way of knowing that.

“Are you going to stop me too?”

“Well, you are an enemy who attacked the Imperial capital. But considering the reason, I can’t just arrest you.”

“So?”

He strode forward and stood in front of Ian, saying.

“This incident. You don’t think Commander Kalbiratz did this on his own, or that it was the Empire’s policy, do you?”

“I think the Iron-Blooded Duke is behind it.”

“Wise, Count Ian. Then here’s a proposal….”

He continued in a voice too quiet for others to hear.

“There are many nobles in the Empire who want to get rid of the Iron-Blooded Duke.”

“Hmm.”

“Frankly, he’s interfering too much with His Majesty’s authority. Especially recently, as His Majesty has become a little negligent in state affairs, it has become too severe.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Why don’t we join hands?”

He grinned.

“Either way, you can’t just let this go, can you? Do you really want to go to war with the Empire?”

“If necessary, I will.”

“That confidence is admirable, but it’s best to avoid war. So, let’s join hands. You get rid of the Iron-Blooded Duke who is bothering you, and we get rid of the Iron-Blooded Duke who is challenging the imperial authority.”

Isn’t that a win-win situation?

“Plus, I’ll support the Railroad project. How about it?”

Ian pondered for a moment, then smiled.

“What if I refuse?”

Crepen’s expression hardened at his answer.

“If you refuse, well….”

He sighed deeply and glared.

“It’s pointless, but we’ll have to fight.”

At the same time, the knights in golden armor emanated fighting spirit.

As Ian smiled, facing them, a desperate cry was heard from behind.

“Saint Ian!!”

“……Huh?”

Ian looked in that direction and tilted his head.

There was a familiar face there.

“Why is the Saintess here?”

The Saintess of the Church of the Moon, Celestia.

She looked around at the chaotic surroundings and asked in a reluctant tone.

“That’s what I want to ask you……. Why are you doing this here? Are you fighting the Empire?”

“If necessary, I will.”

As he said that as if it were obvious, Celestia sighed deeply and pleaded.

“If you don’t mind, could you talk to me for a moment?”

“Sure.”

“There’s a reason why I came all the way here. It’s….”

She looked around, then approached and whispered in his ear.

“We found traces of Keshin in the Empire.”

Keshin.

One of the Seven Deadly Sins created by Rubellin, and the Great Demon symbolizing lust.

When the story of Keshin, the Sword Saint’s enemy, came up, Ian was intrigued.

“Keshin is Rubellin’s confidant. I don’t know if you know, but… a long time ago. The elves and the beastmen….”

“I met Lucien at the World Tree before.”

“Ah. I see. Then the story will be faster.”

Keshin had been a demon following Rubellin for so long.

In other words, he knew more about Rubellin than any other demon.

Since traces of Keshin were found in the Empire, the Saintess had to come here.

“Is the Church of the Moon also trying to catch Keshin?”

“Yes. And….”

She was quite embarrassed.

After hesitating, she spoke carefully in a voice tinged with gloom.

“There is a possibility that the relationship between humans and other races will be strained.”

“Because of the monsters’ faith.”

“Oh? You know?”

“I know that faith is spreading among the monsters. And that there is a story related to the moon in that faith.”

Celestia was impressed.

She looked at Ian with sparkling eyes and said with anticipation.

“As expected, Saint of the Moon….”

“I am not.”

“……O, oh, I see.”

Celestia became sullen when he flatly denied it.

But it was only for a moment.

“Anyway, after analyzing it, I got some answers. The faith that the monsters have seems to be a cult that has already disappeared. The Red Moon faith.”

“The Red Moon faith….”

‘What kind of damage?’