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Side Story Chapter 98

The lightning dragon, the power Bel had acquired from an adult gold dragon, was writhing above his fist.

“If the demonic power is as strong as a dragon, then…”

Bel couldn’t continue. The black power rising from Kireua was suddenly about to devour the lightning dragon as if it were a curse.

Shortly after, Bel threw a punch with his other hand, creating an explosion on impact. Even the air screamed as Kireua’s sword and Bel’s fists collided.

That wasn’t all Bel had to contend with. A deadly sharp spear was flying at Bel’s left side that he couldn’t ignore, and a heavy greatsword was launched to Bel’s right side that shone with radiant light.

Bel leaped as high as his legs would take him; the only place that offered refuge from the three-way attack was the sky.

“Idiot!” Cain’s eyes sparkled. In a fight between knights, only an idiot would run to the sky. There was nowhere to hide nor any way to maneuver.

Bel, however, defied common sense once again.

A blue-colored dragon and a green-colored dragon twined themselves around each of Bel’s legs. Like dragons ascending to the heavens, they led their owner higher in the sky, in contrast to Cain’s forced ascent. Bel even moved in the sky as easily if he were walking on the ground.

“I can see it from up here. That power is the polar opposite of the Four Great Angels’ authorities that the Four Paladins use. Is that one of the Seven Evil Sins’ powers from the Demon Realm?”

Selim and Cain couldn’t help but flinch.

“Hahahahaha! Interesting. Joshua Sanders almost lost everything to the Demon Spirit, but his son is using an Evil Sin’s power. Will he lose his son to demons after his father?”

“Shut your damn mouth!” Cain shouted and fired a golden aura attack into the air. However, it dissipated powerlessly before it even reached Bel.

“Lilith Aphrodite manifested another of the Evil Sins’ powers, the power of Lust, but you people hide her and Joshua Sanders’s son. I really can’t help but doubt his true intentions.” Bel chuckled quietly.

“How dare you!”

“There’s a rumor going around about how Joshua Sanders was eaten by the Demon Spirit and the man that came back isn’t the real one. Is that true?” Bel asked mockingly.

From Bel’s commanding view high up in the air, he could see all three men giving him death glares, and his Hubalt comrades losing spectacularly not so far away.

“How funny. Really, how funny. I’m looking forward to seeing what the Martial God has prepared next,” Bel muttered to himself.

“Get down here right now!”

“This is not the right way. Using such a cowardly and shallow trick wouldn’t satiate me. My teacher, the Martial Emperor, wouldn’t want that either.” Bel watched the arena for a moment and then turned in the opposite direction. “All you have to do is crush everything in your path with stronger power…”

“You bastard! Do you have no pride?! Are you going to run away like this?!”

Bel halted, chuckling. “Someone said that the victor takes all. They can postpone their fights or choose to end their opponents’ lives. If the Four Paladins’ entire plan fails… Yes, we’ll be able to meet again. No one other than Josuha Sanders intrigues me right now.”

Bel felt like he was truly alive. He had been fighting again and again for decades with the sole goal of defeating Joshua Sanders, who may have already died, so he couldn’t put an end to his long wait without a satisfying conclusion.

“I’ll see you people again—especially you, Kireua Sanders.”

Bel vanished.

“Yo-Your Highness!” Cain shouted.

Selim was about to go after Bel, but he had to stop as Kireua slowly collapsed to the ground.

* * *

Carmen von Agnus dangled in the air, held up by her neck. On the other hand, Uriel lay pathetically on the ground. The murmurings in the arena slowly grew louder as the crowd’s minds began to catch up with what they’d seen.

“Leave.”

Carmen’s eyes widened, despite the hand clamped painfully around her neck

“Are you… going to let me go?”

“I’m the only one who can put an end to this toxic cycle.”

“How long are you going to continue with your hypocrisy?”

“Such is also the victor’s right,” Joshua lightly remarked.

“What…?”

“If you think it’s unfair, you should have won, Aunt.”

“Arrgghhhhhhhh!” Carmen howled.

Joshua knocked her unconscious with a blow to the back of her head and then descended to the ground. “Find an okay inn outside the Palace and toss her in.”

“Pardon? But…”

“That’s an order.”

An Imperial Knight dared to question the Emperor of Avalon’s order. The foolish Knight immediately stood to attention. Even if he were ordered to slap his parents, the Imperial Knights should never question an order from their emperor.

“P-Pardon me. It will be done!”

“Good. What’s your name?”

“I-I am Adorance from the Seventh Battalion!”

“Adorance, there’s a lot riding on this. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the fate of this country depends on you,” Joshua said, his expression serious.

“Excuse me? Wh-What do you mean…?

Joshua gestured at the unconscious woman slung over his shoulder.

“Although she doesn’t look like much now, she’s the main culprit of the civil war in Avalon.”

“Shall I transfer her to the dungeon?”

“No; I told you before, it has to be an inn. If the inn is well known enough that many foreigners are staying there, then all the better. Make sure she’s seen by as many people as possible.”

Adorance\'s eyes widened when he finally understood Joshua’s intentions.

“You don’t even have to find a room to put her in. Toss her in the middle of the hall; she’ll regain consciousness in about three hours.”

“I see!” Adorance energetically saluted.

Carmen von Agnus had suffered a devastating defeat before all of the distinguished guests from other countries, and yet the Emperor of Avalon had let her go unscathed. The news would spread swiftly throughout the entire continent, and Joshua’s instructions would only quicken it. Once the entire continent knew of his act of mercy…

‘The remnants of the rebel army have already lost the will to fight, so they might give up completely and just surrender.’

Adorance marveled at Joshua’s foresight.

Joshua lightly tapped Adorance’s shoulder. “I’ll trust you with this. As you can see, I have a lot of work to do.”

“Yes, my lord!”

With that done, Joshua looked up and saw the paladins of Hubalt standing between him and Uriel as the Paladin slowly heaved himself to his feet in the center of the arena.

At that moment, an elegant voice washed over them from far away.

-We have an announcement for all of our distinguished guests.

“Iceline…?” Joshua raised his head.

High up in the sky, Iceline was looking downward with cold eyes.

-I’m sure all of you have already witnessed it in person, but it seems that we have no choice but to stop the tournament we prepared due to the thugs who have disguised themselves as guests.

“‘Th-Thugs’?”

The paladins of Hubalt were basically slapped in the face, sending them flying into a temper.

-From now on, Avalon will treat Hubalt and any country that supports Hubalt as an enemy of Avalon. We, Avalon, don’t wish for uninvolved guests to be caught in the crossfire, so we respectfully request that you exit the Palace immediately.

Her tone was very polite, but it was clear that she was kicking the guests out. Nevertheless, no one dared to complain. Perhaps it would have been different if they didn’t know what was going on, but Iceline’s announcement was a good excuse for them to remain neutral observers; most of the guests tried to leave the Palace.

“We, the Draia Kingdom, will leave the Palace to comply with Her Majesty Iceline’s wishes.”

“Mmmm… the Allied Powers of Palentine also wish to maintain our friendly relationship with Avalon for a long time, so we shall make our way out.”

“The Fordran Kingdom will comply as well.”

Some people may criticize them for being sly and acting like rats who were always on the lookout for a sinking ship. However, this was diplomacy. Their priority was seeking the maximum benefit for their countries and minimizing the risks, as it should be. On top of that, there was no one who wanted to be struck by a stray shot from the two giant empires’ fight.

However…

“We, Thran, will help Avalon.”

The foreigners froze. Ulabis, the famed Flame Emperor, slowly approached Joshua.

“The First Queen Consort gave you a chance to get out of here; are you sure you won’t regret this?” Joshua asked.

“I’m sure that Your Majesty will probably say that it’s unnecessary, but don’t we at least have to match their numbers?” Ulabis smiled lightly and gave the knights of the Tetra Kingdom a pointed look. Duke Uraxen and his knights were forming a defensive circle.

“The score is now two to two. We may be going up against the most powerful nation on the continent, but we’re with the Martial God. So aren’t our chances good?” Ulabis shrugged.

“…I feel like Avalon is getting the short end of the stick here.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t make any nerve-wracking requests like supporting the independence of the Thran Kingdom.”

Joshua burst into quiet laughter. “I knew it. That’s what you’re after.”

“I told you that I won’t make such a request.”

“Once I knock down the Hubalt Empire, your problem will be automatically solved, so I don’t think you’ll have to bother asking.”

“Haha, I see the Martial God is good at strategy too.” Ulabis chuckled.

“I get why people call you the Scarlet Wolf of Thran.”

The other foreign knights were left feeling embarrassed from trying to leave the Palace.

However, the quick-witted representative of the Allied Powers of Palentine found a clever way to adapt to the situation.

“Hahaha! I envy you two’s friendship. We, Palentine, will fulfill our moral obligation and assist you from the city to make sure the innocent citizens in Arcadia won’t be affected.”