Emperor of Steel [EN]: Chapter 58

2. Another Gold Sword

1

*Gulp!*

With a tense expression, Luke reached for his sword. His opponent appeared before him like a ghost—a young man in the attire of a holy knight.

Though small in stature, the young man emanated an imposing aura, like a giant. His cold eyes, which seemed to hold the depth of time, were quite out of place with his youthful appearance.

Reina, as well as Luke, knew who he was.

They had briefly encountered him earlier, and as far as he knew, there was only one person in the Holy Empire who possessed such a terrifying presence.

It was none other than the commander of the Immortal Knights, the Sword Sage…

“Grand Duke Gregory!” Luke and Reina exclaimed simultaneously.

Gregory bowed his head slightly and began to speak. “I have been searching for you, Your Holiness. I am relieved that you are safe.”

Grand Duke Gregory’s gaze, which had been directed at Reina, shifted to Luke, who was standing in front of her. His once gentle expression turned cold in an instant.

Despite the tremendous explosion that had sent a flash of light into the sky, there were no casualties. Only the mercenary youth who had rushed at the self-destructing assassin and the Pope who had thrown herself in front of him had disappeared.

‘They must have taken refuge somewhere. It can’t be far…’ Thinking this, the Grand Duke and his men thoroughly searched the area around the encampment, and as a result, they were able to find the two in a nearby forest.

However, there was a problem that bothered him more than the joy of finding Veronica III. What was the relationship between the Pope and the mercenary youth who had blocked the assassin?

Judging from their current appearance and the conversations he had overheard while coming here, it was clear that they were not just ordinary acquaintances. That fact made Gregory’s blood boil.

To him, Reina, or rather, Pope Veronica III, was an apostle sent by the main god. She was the one who would restore this chaotic empire with the will of God and lead all people through divine providence. However, the Pope cowering behind the young man in front of him did not seem like such a noble being. She just seemed like an ordinary woman.

Grand Duke Gregory could not accept the reality unfolding before his eyes.

“You there, state your name.”

“…Leff.”

“Leff? Now that I think about it, it sounds like a name I heard before coming here…” Gregory tilted his head, and a strange light appeared in his eyes.

*Shwing!*

He drew the sword he wore at his waist.

“Grand Duke Gregory! What are you trying to do?!” Reina was startled and shouted, almost screaming. As far as she knew, Gregory rarely drew his sword.

“Your Holiness, please forgive my rashness and rudeness.”

“Put away your sword right now…” Just as Reina was about to tell him to put away his sword, Grand Duke Gregory unleashed a terrifying aura.

*Kwakwakwakwa!*— It was an overwhelming aura that made it hard to breathe. Reina was left speechless. The aura was so strong that the rocks, trees, and wind barriers that Reina had created with aether [a magical energy] all lost their power and returned to their original forms. Only Luke stood firm, unchanged.

“Are you indeed that Leff, the one who has been rumored to be a warrior of God recently?”

“I am the one who shattered the falling meteor.”

Luke, who had already drawn his sword, unconsciously pulled up his aura. Grand Duke Gregory’s eyes narrowed even more as he saw the golden aura gleaming.

“I will test you to see if you are truly a warrior of God. If you do not wish to accept, you may step back.”

Luke did not answer immediately. Reina, who was behind him, was tugging at his sleeve. It seemed to mean that he should step back, that he should never fight him. Luke nodded to her, indicating that he understood, and moved her back. Then, he approached Grand Duke Gregory, who was still emitting a terrifying aura, and said, “Test me as much as you like.”

“Brave, indeed. I’ll give you a passing grade for your guts.” Having finished speaking, Gregory thrust his sword straight at Luke. It was so simple that it was almost obvious, but its straightforwardness was not something to be laughed at.

*Shwack!*— With a sharp tearing sound, blood splattered from Luke’s neck.

“Kyaa!” Reina, startled, tried to rush over, but Luke raised his hand to stop her. Reina’s expression relaxed at his calm face. On the other hand, Grand Duke Gregory frowned as he looked at the blood on the tip of his sword. It was not because his opponent had barely dodged it. Originally, he had aimed for the heart, not the neck. But the trajectory of his sword had gone astray. There was a reason for that. Luke’s sword had simultaneously grazed his shoulder guard.

‘To attack instead of dodging in that situation!’ He was no ordinary person. He had already been convinced by the unusual golden aura, but his opponent was showing a level beyond what he had expected.

“Is that enough for a warm-up?” Gregory nodded at Luke’s question. Changing his stance to a more aggressive one, he focused on Luke, who had become even more serious, and pointed his sword at him. “I’ll go for real this time.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than the Sword Sage’s terrifying blow came flying. It was an attack that was incomparably more intense and fierce than before, and Luke gritted his teeth, whipping himself to avoid stepping back. It was just the beginning. And he had to win.

2

*Sssseeeek— Clang!*

The two swords, cutting through the air fiercely, collided with a loud noise. The fragments of aura and shockwaves caused by the sword owners spread out, causing the trees in the forest to scatter their leaves as if they had been swept by a storm. Reina, who had stepped aside, watched Luke and Grand Duke Gregory’s fight with an anxious expression.

She did not know much about swordsmanship, but she was not so blind as to not realize that the two were not fighting at the level of a test or a sparring match. So, she was startled every time Grand Duke Gregory’s sword grazed Luke. She wanted to stop the fight right away instead of being so restless. However, Gregory showed no sign of listening, and Luke also showed no intention of backing down.

*Clang!*— At some point, with a loud clash, Luke’s sword flew into the bushes.

‘Damn it, he’s too powerful.’ While Luke shook his tingling hand to shake off the pain from the shockwave, Gregory attacked again. Whether his sword had fallen or not, he had no intention of showing Luke any mercy. Nevertheless, Luke showed no sign of panic.

‘What is he going to do? Is he going to block the sword with his bare hands?’ At that moment, as Gregory was swinging his sword down, he was inwardly wondering.

*Whoosh!*

As if it were a lie, the sword that had fallen into the bushes was back in Luke’s hand. Not only that, the speed of his own sword, which he was swinging down, had noticeably decreased. It was as if it was being blocked by something, receiving strong resistance.

‘Could this be…’ While Gregory hesitated, Luke, who had retrieved his sword, quickly launched a counterattack. His sword was now aiming for Gregory’s vitals much more fiercely than before. However, Gregory, as a Sword Sage, calmly dodged and blocked the attacks, turning them into nothing.

“You used magic. And it was using magnetic force. Am I right?” Luke smiled lightly instead of answering Gregory’s question. The reason he was able to retrieve the sword that had flown far away, and the reason he was able to block Gregory’s sword and launch a fierce counterattack, was because he had manifested Magnetic magic. Magnetic force is divided into negative and positive poles, and the same poles repel each other while different poles attract each other. While exchanging blows with Gregory, Luke had secretly cast Magnetic magic on him. And he had also cast it on his own body, alternating between negative and positive states as needed. That was why he was able to defend and attack as he had just done.

‘But now that he’s seen through it, I won’t be able to use it anymore.’ As Luke had expected, Grand Duke Gregory exploded his aura and extinguished the Magnetic magic that had been cast on his body. And before Luke could even think of his next move, he thrust his sword forward. In response, Luke hastily deployed his golden aura and blocked Gregory’s attack.

“So, that swordsmanship is indeed Gold Sword. Is the name Leff a fake, or is there another lineage of Lacan?” ‘Crap, he found out.’ Luke made a troubled expression at Gregory’s words. He had already judged that it would be troublesome if his identity was revealed, so he had ordered his subordinates not to use the family’s swordsmanship carelessly. Yet, he himself was now using Gold Aura.

Grand Duke Gregory’s skills were so outstanding and his momentum so terrifying that he could not afford to be careless. Grand Duke Gregory continued to speak while launching attacks. “Gold Sword… About 90 years ago, I went to the Lacan territory to train in swordsmanship and saw the then-commander of the knights demonstrate it. It was so amazing that it didn’t feel like a mere offshoot of Holy Sword at all.”

‘So, he knew about it.’

“At the time, I was a young holy knight, and I wanted to learn Gold Sword. But…” The Lacan’s secret swordsmanship could only be passed down to the Lacan’s bloodline and the knights who followed them. In particular, Gold Sword was a secret among secrets, passed down only to the head of the family and the commander of the knights who assisted him.

“I, who desperately wanted to learn Gold Sword, trained countless times, repeating the swordsmanship I had seen once. Of course, there was no way I could properly learn it from just seeing it.” Nevertheless, Gregory trained desperately. He repeatedly researched what he lacked and how it had been transformed and developed from Holy Sword. His research and training on Gold Sword continued for decades.

“And finally, I achieved it. I succeeded in learning Gold Sword.” ‘What!’ No sooner had he finished speaking than Luke was startled. The aura that had been imbued in Gregory’s sword flared up like a flame. The aura that had flared up condensed again, taking on a clear light and form. And it soon shone brilliantly with a golden light, just like the aura imbued in his own sword.

Gregory, who had stopped attacking, looked at the golden aura on his sword and said, “It was 40 years after I first saw Gold Sword that I reached this level. At that time, I was already at the level of a Sword Master, and I was constantly training to reach another level. Then, I gained enlightenment and succeeded in reproducing Gold Sword.”

Having said that, Gregory turned his gaze to Luke and asked, “How do you think I felt at that time?”

“Well, I think you would have been happy to have achieved your youthful dream, even if it was late?”

“Happiness, you say…” Grand Duke Gregory smiled faintly at Luke’s answer. Then, he suddenly contorted his face into a fierce expression and shouted angrily.

“Not at all! The emotion I felt was rage!”

Kwarururung!

As soon as he finished speaking, Gregory’s sword, imbued with Gold Sword, crashed down on Luke with a thunderous roar.

Luke barely managed to block it, but the force pushed him back, sliding along the ground.

And that wasn’t the end of it.

The shockwave was so powerful that several thick trees were snapped in half.

Barely regaining his balance, Luke coughed up a mouthful of blood. Gregory’s blow was so fierce that the impact wasn’t completely negated.

‘Cough! Such power!’

He had experienced the power of Gold Sword in his previous life.

However, the Gold Sword that Gregory unleashed was no less powerful than Rakan’s.

There was a reason why Gregory, a Sword Sage [a master swordsman], could unleash a Gold Sword on par with Rakan, who had reached an even higher level.

“I realized after reproducing Gold Sword that the swordsmanship of Rakan that is currently passed down is only half of the original.”

When he created the golden aura, the entry stage of Gold Sword, Gregory couldn’t hide his excitement.

He believed that he could now master Rakan’s splendid and magnificent swordsmanship, which was recorded in history.

But that expectation was shattered.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t perfectly reproduce Rakan’s swordsmanship.

It was more than a decade later that he realized what the problem was.

The remaining Gold Sword was only the first half.

The second half had been lost and was being passed down in an incomplete state.

“It was absurd. It was like wasting my life to learn a mere half-baked swordsmanship.”

Even half of it, Gold Sword had immense power. In terms of destructive power, it was even greater than the complete Gold Sword.

However, power alone wasn’t enough.

Swordsmanship requires various elements such as strength, speed, basic stances, and applications to be in balance to show its true power and effect.

It was only because Luke’s swordsmanship was relatively lacking; if they were of equal skill, Gregory’s attack just now would never have worked.

“After that, I abandoned the half-baked Gold Sword. I created my own swordsmanship to replace it, and thanks to that, I was able to become a Sword Sage.”

“……”

“In other words, you have no chance of winning. Your skills don’t match my level, and the swordsmanship you’ve learned is only half of the original.”

Gregory pointed his sword at Luke again and continued.

“Besides, for some reason, you’re not going all out. You have hidden potential. Were you planning to hide it and defeat me?”

‘He even figured that out?’

Although he didn’t show it, Luke couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease.

In fact, while fighting Gregory, he hadn’t used black magic or the abilities of the demon race.

‘The problem is that I can’t reveal all my skills.’

Those two abilities had to be kept hidden.

If he revealed them carelessly, this stern-looking, devoutly religious knight would surely attack him with all his might.

Moreover, even if he was fine, Reina might be questioned if they found out they knew each other.

So, even if it was disadvantageous, he shouldn’t use abilities that could cause problems as much as possible.

Of course, he didn’t know what would happen if a life-or-death moment came.

After a moment of thought, Luke looked at Grand Duke Gregory, who was still watching him, and said,

“You’re misunderstanding something.”

“Misunderstanding?”

“Yes, I mean…”

Luke continued, his eyes more serious and cold.

“I’m not fighting to defeat you right now.”

3

There was a reason why Luke chose to fight Gregory despite Reina’s objections.

He had two enemies he had to defeat.

Lich Arsen, his enemy from the past, and Rudolf, the emperor of the Barok Empire, the descendant of another enemy.

Among them, Rudolf had reached the level of a Sword Sage.

Based on his calculations, he judged that he was capable of handling it with his current skills.

However, he wouldn’t know for sure until he actually fought.

So, he decided to test himself against him, the best knight on the continent and another Sword Sage.

“You said you would test me, right? Yes, as you said, I am faithfully participating in the test.”

At Luke’s words, Gregory frowned, as if he didn’t understand.

“Then you should be more focused on victory. If you’ve received my sword, you should know what I think of you.”

“Of course, I know. That you don’t like me very much. That you just want to cut me down in one blow, right?”

Grand Duke Gregory didn’t say anything.

That silence was not a denial but an affirmation.

He wanted to eliminate Luke, who was degrading the Pope, sent down by the great god, into an ordinary woman in love.

“I’ve had a lot of experiences, so I can read people a little. Especially those old-fashioned people who follow the will of God like you… Their emotions are bound to show in their expressions and eyes.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Didn’t I tell you? That I’m faithfully participating in the test. Of course, the subject is not me but you.”

Luke shrugged and continued.

“That’s why I don’t feel like I have to win against you.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t think of you as my enemy.”

In fact, even though he was uncomfortable, Luke didn’t consider Grand Duke Gregory as someone he had to eliminate.

If he did, he would have used all his abilities to try to get rid of him in this place.

His goal was simply to indirectly assess Emperor Rudolf’s skills through Grand Duke Gregory.

That’s why he didn’t think it was necessary to risk his life by revealing black magic and the abilities of the demon race.

Besides, judging from his actions when the assassin attacked earlier and his behavior in front of Reina now, he seemed to be a very loyal person.

“I know why I bother you. It’s because you’re worried that it will tarnish the authority of Reina, or rather, Her Holiness the Pope, right?”

“……”

“I understand your loyalty to your lord. But that loyalty, when you think about it, isn’t it your own desire?”

“What?”

Gregory’s eyes narrowed.

Along with that, a murderous aura flashed, but Luke calmly continued.

“I’ve heard roughly how Her Holiness the Pope came to this country. I don’t know how the Grand Duke and the bishops accepted it, but she is definitely someone I know.”

“Is she the princess of a fallen kingdom?”

‘He knows. So he was pretending not to know?’

Whether Luke frowned or not, Gregory revealed his thoughts on the matter.

“Whatever her past may be, Her Holiness is now an apostle chosen by the great god.”

“That’s not true. Reina appeared before you by chance in the process of going to the spirit realm after performing the elves’ ritual.”

“Even if you think it’s a coincidence, that too is a connection and destiny determined by the great god.”

‘He’s really someone you can’t reason with.’

Luke was annoyed by Gregory’s stubbornness.

Then, as if he had thought of something, he smiled faintly.

“According to your words, the fact that Reina and I have met again now is also a connection and destiny determined by the great god.”

“Yes, that is also correct.”

‘Wh, what?’

Luke was momentarily speechless at the sight of him nodding without any hesitation.

He was planning to refute his ridiculous stubbornness and delusion, which was based on the great god, if he couldn’t refute his words.

But instead, he had accepted it!

‘Is he more open-minded than I thought?’

“Today’s meeting is clearly an opportunity given by the great god for me to test you and kill you if possible.”

‘I was wrong. This guy is definitely not someone I can persuade or refute.’

Luke, who had briefly had a positive thought, shook his head.

Grand Duke Gregory was a person who saw and judged everything within the framework of faith.

He was different from himself, who, like a mage, questioned everything in the world and tried to solve it logically and systematically.

‘Okay, I see how this guy became a Sword Sage.’

Rather than thinking deeply and questioning, he was able to reach the level of a Sword Sage because he had blindly devoted himself to the goal he believed in and desired.

The same could be said for Rakan, a figure from the past.

‘This is why the followers who serve God are like this…’

Even though it was frustrating, now was not the time to be annoyed.

And more than anything else, he was sure of one thing. The opponent was someone who could only be convinced by force, not by words.

4

“Grand Duke, I do not deny the existence of God. But I can never agree with your point of view or thoughts.”

Luke said, infusing his sword with aura.

“Yes, I expected you to think that way. You are not a suitable person for Her Holiness the Pope.”

Gregory considered Luke to be someone who should be excluded from the Pope’s side.

When he learned that he had a way of thinking closer to a mage, he became even more convinced that he should do so.

There are mages in the Holy Empire, and priests also directly study magic.

Gregory acknowledged their existence, but he did not agree with their ideology.

As far as he knew, those who studied magic were suspicious of even trivial matters and ignored the words or providence of God in the name of seeking truth.

Even Marquis Leas of the Artenia Imperial Magic Tower, whom he had met before, was like that. He dared to treat the holy Pope as a naive child!

‘Mages, who are no different from libertines, are also children of the great god. But I cannot tolerate them clouding the eyes and hearts of Her Holiness the Pope!’

So, he would test him according to the will of the great god.

If he repented, he would be forgiven, and if he didn’t, he would just cut him down.

Having made that judgment, Grand Duke Gregory swung his sword at Luke. The aura blazing from his sword was quite different from what he had unleashed so far.

It was the Hyper Aura that only those who had reached the level of a Sword Sage could unleash.

That terrifying attack flew towards Luke’s neck.

‘Ah, no…!’

The moment Reina’s face turned pale, Luke’s figure suddenly disappeared. Thanks to that, the Hyper Aura only cut down the innocent large trees and stopped.

“Blink?”

“To be honest, swordsmanship is not my specialty.”

Luke, who had appeared behind Gregory in an instant, unleashed magic.

“Ice Lance!”

Hundreds of ice spears were created in the air and poured down on Gregory like a rainstorm.

Grand Duke Gregory calmly deflected all the ice spears with his sword.

“Such a pointless act…”

“Then how about this!”

Luke, who had narrowed the distance in an instant, unleashed Titan Fist. Then, a huge mana fist created in the air struck Gregory’s body.

Kwaang!

A heavy sound was heard, but Grand Duke Gregory’s body did not budge.

“That’s not enough.”

‘Did he block it with Aura Armor?’

Aura Armor, a technique that increases the body’s defense power with aura.

In Gregory’s case, since he was using Hyper Aura, its defense power was comparable to that of a heavy armored Gigant [a large, powerful creature].

“Then I’ll keep hitting you until it works!”

Kwaang! Kwang! Kwang!

As Luke unleashed Titan Fist in succession, Gregory was inwardly startled.

Titan Fist was powerful, but it also drained mana quickly, making it a spell that even skilled high-level war mages wouldn’t use repeatedly in battle.

‘He’s got some hidden power, after all!’

Gregory’s assessment was correct, but as Luke had stated himself, he was more skilled at fighting with magic than with a sword.

After all, he had accumulated a great deal of magical combat experience since his days as Seymon.

‘Of course, there’s the problem that I can’t use black magic, making me only half as effective…’

However, there was a way to make up for the drop in combat power.

As Gregory rushed in, flashing his Hyper Aura, Luke didn’t retreat or defend; instead, he countered the attack.

Kwaaang!

“What!”

Grand Duke Gregory was startled by Luke’s sudden counterattack.

He had expected Luke to respond with magic, but instead, Luke pulled out a heavy, menacing-looking sword from his subspace and swung it!

Moreover, the power of the sword was not to be taken lightly. It had even managed to deflect his own sword, which was coated in Hyper Aura.

“I didn’t expect you to have such a sword.”

“Hah, it’s Dragon Tooth, a masterpiece by the master craftsman Zig.”

Dragon Tooth was enchanted with gravity magic.

As the magic amplified in response to Luke’s mana, the sword’s shockwave became powerful enough to resist Hyper Aura.

“So, you’re not losing in terms of power? But that’s all it is!”

A sword that’s only strong is no different from a half-baked Gold Sword [a sword of exceptional quality].

Gregory used his aura to increase his attack speed in an instant. He tried to overwhelm Luke.

But surprisingly, Luke was keeping up with his attack speed!

Clang! Clang! Fweeeng!

‘What? When did he change swords?’

The heavy, menacing sword he had been wielding was gone, and now he was holding a thin, sleek rapier.

Each time the rapier flashed, Luke’s movements increased dramatically.

“Is that also Zig’s work?”

“Hehehe!”

Instead of answering, Luke chuckled.

This sword, which enabled such astonishing speed, was the wind magic sword, Iron Feather. Each time he channeled mana, the sword increased his speed several times over.

“Relying on tools instead of skill!”

“Knowing how to use tools is proof of being a higher life form.”

“You talk a good game. Then I’ll use the power of God to shatter your precious tool!”

Thud thud thud! Zzzzzap!

Gregory’s aura surged, and lightning-like electricity crackled from his sword.

It was Lightning Might, the ultimate level of the Holy Sword. It was an ultimate technique that only the highest-ranking paladins, who had trained for years as knights and possessed divine power comparable to that of priests, could unleash.

“Ashes to ashes, dust to dust! Disappear!”

Kwarururung!

The moment Gregory swung his sword, a blinding flash struck Luke.

“Kuaaak!”

This time, Luke couldn’t withstand it, and he screamed as he was flung into the bushes.

Gregory had no intention of stopping there, and he continued to unleash flashes of light in the direction where Luke had disappeared.

“No! Stop it, please stop!”

Reina cried out, unable to bear it any longer, but Gregory paid her no mind.

He continued to attack as if he would turn Luke into real ashes and dust, and after a while, he lowered his sword.

‘This should be enough.’

The unholy one would no longer cloud the Pope’s eyes and mind.

Gregory was certain of this, but his expression suddenly twisted.

Luke was staggering out from the charred bushes.

“Ugh, I almost died.”

Although he had taken considerable damage, Luke’s eyes were still alive.

‘Why? Why is this happening?’

Confused by the unexpected outcome, Gregory didn’t notice that the sword in Luke’s hand had changed again.

A longsword with a cross-shaped hilt, emitting a soft glow.

It was the light magic sword, Demon Slayer.

This sword, which possessed the power to eradicate demons, bestowed a holy light upon its wielder.

Because of this, it was the opposite of demonic energy, but it blocked most divine power attacks of the same attribute.

That was why Luke had been able to survive Gregory’s onslaught.

“There are things that even the power of God cannot break.”

“Kuh-euk!”

Grand Duke Gregory’s face flushed red with anger and shame as he raised his sword with a murderous aura.

He intended to completely cut off Luke’s breath, but Luke was faster. He mustered his last bit of strength to launch a counterattack.

He quickly switched to Iron Feather and charged into an angle that Gregory hadn’t anticipated.

“This… !”

“Titan Blade!”

Luke discarded Iron Feather and pulled out Dragon Tooth from his subspace. He amplified the gravity magic imbued in the sword and combined it with Titan Fist.

The shockwave generated by the fusion of immense gravity magic and powerful impact magic exploded from the edge of the blade.

For the first time since the fight began, Gregory’s expression changed. The calmness and arrogance vanished, and his eyes were filled with bewilderment.

5

Kwaaaang!

With a loud noise, metal fragments scattered.

Gregory, whose sword and armor were shattered, lost his balance and crashed to the ground.

It was the first solid blow he had received.

It was an achievement made by combining the power of the sword, magic, and swordsmanship to create a new technique during the fight.

However, Luke couldn’t wear a happy expression. Grand Duke Gregory, who had fallen, got up shortly after.

“It’s the first time I’ve rolled on the ground since becoming a Sword Sage.”

Gregory spoke like a growling beast and snapped a nearby branch.

He infused the swaying branch with Hyper Aura, turning it into a weapon as powerful as a famous sword forged in flames.

‘Damn it, he’s still going strong?’

Luke, who was using Dragon Tooth as a cane, bit his lip.

He had unleashed the best attack he could muster, but he had failed to defeat his opponent.

‘I can’t hold out any longer like this. So…’

He would have to use black magic and the powers of a demon.

Of course, even if he used those two powers, he couldn’t guarantee that he could defeat Gregory, a Sword Sage paladin.

Even though the power of darkness was immense, it was completely incompatible with divine power.

‘But I can’t hesitate any longer.’

The opponent had already decided to kill him. Therefore, he had to do everything he could to survive.

Having made that decision, Luke decided to use his build-up ability to recover from his injuries and unlock his potential.

However, his actions were interrupted when Gregory stopped in his tracks.

Reina, who had been silent, rushed out and stood in front of Gregory.

“Your Holiness…”

“Please stop now.”

Reina’s voice, as she tried to dissuade him, trembled with fear. Her heart was also pounding.

Nevertheless, she didn’t back down, and she didn’t avert her eyes even when faced with Grand Duke Gregory’s blazing gaze.

“The test for this man is not over yet.”

“No, it’s already over.”

“It’s not. At the very least, unless we turn this impure man’s heart…”

“Can’t you follow my words as the Pope!”

Gregory flinched and stepped back at Reina’s shout.

No matter how skilled he was as a Sword Sage paladin, he couldn’t break the shackles of authority that bound him, which was his faith.

“How could that be, Your Holiness? It’s just that I…”

“I know Luke well. Luke is not a person of deep faith like the Grand Duke. So, there are times when his heart wavers, and he makes irrational decisions after countless struggles.”

“…”

“But he knows what is right and what is wrong. If he has a fault, he admits it and has always tried to act responsibly.”

Reina continued, looking directly at Gregory, whose dissatisfaction had not disappeared.

“I ask you, Grand Duke. Can you abandon your faith for the sake of others? Can you abandon yourself, bearing the stigma of a non-believer, to save many people?”

“Yo, Your Holiness. That is…”

Gregory shook his head as if it were impossible.

For him, faith was everything. His skills as a Sword Sage and his loyalty to the Pope all came from his precious faith.

But to abandon it! To bear the stigma of a non-believer!

“Luke abandoned his pride as a descendant of a hero for the sake of the powerless and poor. That pride was as precious as your faith.”

Having said that, Reina bent down and picked up a handful of dirt from the ground. The dirt was teeming with earthworms and bugs, but she didn’t care.

Reina gently breathed on the dirt, and a flower bloomed with a flash of light.

Gregory’s eyes became more serious as he witnessed the miracle.

“Life sprouts from things that people consider dirty and impure. The life that sprouts in this way becomes nourishment for someone, and those who continue to live in this way grow old, die, and return to a handful of dirt.”

“…”

“What is dirty, what is impure, and why do you call something unholy? What would the great God who created this world and gave everything, and the Mother of the Earth, consider most righteous?”

‘…!’

Gregory’s eyes widened at Reina’s question.

He had heard the same question a long time ago, more than 100 years ago, when he was a boy.

At that time, Gregory was a young student at the Theological Academy. He had not yet decided whether to become a priest or a paladin.

However, even then, he had a deep faith, just like now.

He woke up earlier than anyone else to pray, went out to the fields to serve earlier than anyone else, and studied theology and martial arts harder than anyone else.

No one in his class could keep up with Gregory.

In particular, his roommate, who shared the same dormitory room, was a poor student who struggled to memorize even a single verse from the scriptures.

Gregory didn’t pay attention to that poor student. He thought he didn’t have time to care about a foolish fellow who was lagging behind due to a lack of faith.

One day, his teacher quietly called him aside.

He thought he would be praised, but the teacher’s expression was serious.

“What do you consider most righteous? Don’t you think you should help your roommate?”

“I believe that faith is something that one must cultivate through constant effort, not something that someone can help with.”

The teacher sighed briefly at Gregory’s answer and said this:

“You will become an outstanding person, second to none. But you will not become a saint.”

Gregory didn’t take those words seriously. After all, not just anyone could become a saint.

More than 100 years had passed since then, and he had never thought of the teacher’s words until he heard Reina’s question today.

“Your Holiness, I have lived my life serving God, the Order, and this Empire until this very day.”

Gregory’s voice was softer than before as he looked up at Reina and continued.

“I am foolish and do not fully understand the words you have spoken. What is right, what is not. But I will try to understand more people in the future.”

At those words, Reina smiled faintly, and Luke let out a sigh of relief.

The stubborn Sword Sage’s test was over.

However, Luke couldn’t completely relax because of Grand Duke Gregory’s gaze, which still looked displeased with him.

‘It’s like the gaze of a father-in-law who’s unhappy about his daughter being taken away.’

Although things had turned out well for now, Luke had a feeling that things might become more difficult in the future.