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Side Story Chapter 230

It was quite a plausible speculation. It wouldnt be the first time Joshuas doppelganger showed up, but Joshua had eliminated that monster when the doppelganger had become one with the Demon Spirit and thereby endanger the entire continent.

-Its me, Kireua.

Lilith\'s eyes widened. Oh my goodness. Its Prince Kireua?

She had once believed that Selim, the First Prince, was a perfect replica of Joshua, but now she saw that the same went for Kireua. Kireuas disguise fooled even her for a moment.

-Get inside and leave the rest to me. You have a job to do, dont you?

Although Lilith had a lot of questions, she didnt have time to ask them. Knights across the city had sensed that something was wrong and more of them were arriving on site by the minutebut could she really leave Kireua like this?

Kireua unleashed an immense amount of mana, signaling Lilith to go.

-Ill trust you with this. Lets talk more afterward. Its a promise, okay?

-Okay.

Kireua fixed his grip on his spear with a smile on his face. Even though he usually favored using a sword, today Kireua had turned to the weapon that Joshua had made famous.

He then turned to Hubalts knights and narrowed his eyes.

Ill give you a chance to surrender.

Already reeling from the shock of Joshuas sudden appearance, Kireuas warning hit the knights like a punch in the gut. Even Lilith flinched as she was turning around.

My goal is to slit the throats of Hubalts new tyrant and the Battle God, Kireua went on.

The paladins exchanged glances. Ericaz, their leader, was dead, so they needed someone else to lead them.

A man who seemed to be the most senior paladin stepped forward.

Martial God, Ive heard a lot about you. How can you be so disrespectful as to come all the way to our country and speak of how youll slit the throat of our emperor?

I think youre the disrespectful ones here. Kireua released stronger murderous energy.

The paladins hands clenched around the hilts of their swords. Kireua was disappointed that hed only managed to put them on edgethe Emperor of Avalon would have begun by overpowering them with his energy and bringing them to their knees.

Bel is just a war criminal who is responsible for starting the Second Continental War. I should not have to detail the crimes of Cardinal Kurz, who violated his priestly oaths and stole the imperial throne.

Youre just an outsider, so its none of your concern. Dont you realize that youre interfering with the internal affairs of another country?

Interfering with internal affairs Kireua chuckled. These people were truly shameless. How could they say such things without even blinking when they instigated a war against the entire continent? Even if they had only been protecting their homeland, they were no different from any other invaders.

If His Majesty were me right now, he would have begun by turning everything upside down, Kireua thought.

Based on a lifetime of idolization, Kiruea knew exactly what the Emperor of Avalon would have done, and he immediately put it into action.

Kireua\'s spear snapped down to point at the paladins. They let out a gasp of surprise and unwittingly staggered backward, overwhelmed by the presence of the Martial God.

...whats wrong with that? Kireua tilted his head.

Wh-What?

Im just doing what your oh-so-honorable Battle God would have done, Kireua scoffed.

The Battle God always talked about how the strong should take everything. Since these paladins were from Hubalt, there was no way they didnt understand what Kireua was talking about.

I heard enough of your whining. Your only two choices right now are to stand down or die by my spear.

D-Do you think you can defeat all of us on your own?

While Kireua had been talking, more soldiers and knights had arrived at the site; by now there were over a thousand of them.

Have you forgotten who I am? Kireua smirked. If youve forgotten because its been too long let me tell you again.

The man who had fought an army a million strong, the savior of the continent, the first god-slayer, the Martial God

At this moment, Kireua was his father.

I am Joshua Sanders.

Some of the knights felt a chill run down their spine, and the soldiers legs were visibly trembling.

S-Sir Merang. Several paladins quickly came forward and whispered to their ad-hoc leader.

I really dont think its a good idea to go up against the Martial God right now, one hissed.

Hes right. Well be exterminated in no time.

Its only been just over two decades since the Martial God brought down Hubalt. I cant begin to fathom how much stronger the Martial God has gotten by now, another paladin said. Joshuas triumph over Zactor, the Martial Emperor, and the rest of the Hubalt Empire, had not been forgotten.

Merang scowled at the paladin. Are you suggesting that we give up without a fight?

The term strategic retreat exists for a good reason. More importantly, Bel isnt here. If the Martial God can cut off the emperors head and take care of the Battle God so much the better for us.

The one thing that Kireua hadnt expected was that although it was still insane to attack Hubalts capital with a small group of people, many people in Hubalt didnt agree with what the empire was doing right now. In the end, Kireuas declaration was the trigger that set off the people.

However, Merang shook his head without a second of hesitation. You should be ashamed of yourselves! We already swore our loyalty to the Imperial Family, even if we didnt mean it, and the Martial God is stronger than the Battle God.

But just like you said, we didnt mean it.

I suppose that makes everything okay for you, but not for me. Instead of pathetically surviving by changing sides, Ill just die when the time comes, Merang boldly declared.

His uprightness left the other paladins speechless. His voice was loud enough that Kireua could hear their entire conversation too; even Lilith, who couldnt bring herself to leave, smiled faintly.

Hubalts future is not so dark after all, Kireua thoughtalthough this was not the result he had been hoping for.

However, fortune saw fit to bless him this day. A horse-mounted messenger came galloping out of the city at full tilt.

I-I have urgent neeeews!

Kireuas eyes sparkled as he realized that the moment he had been waiting for had come. The truth was, his whole act had been to buy time for this moment.

Five regions near the capital are under attack! the messenger continued.

What? What in the world are you talking about?

I-Its Avalon! Avalons army is here! Weve confirmed Cain de Harry is with them!

The paladins jaws dropped to the ground so hard they nearly fell over.

What the hell have our border guards been doing if Avalon is here!?

Weve checked with the border guards, and they said its likely that Avalons forces didnt cross the border, the messenger quickly explained.

What is that supposed to mean?

U-Umm I know its hard to believe, but its believed that they traveled through the Black Monster Forest to infiltrate the empire.

The Black Monster Forest? Impossible! Merang gasped.

Kireua slammed the ground with the end of his spear, a measure of mana lending it additional gravity. The tremor immediately drew the paladins attention back to Kireua.

So the rumors that Hubalts new emperor is a coward are true, huh? His first move after hearing the news was to bring all the troops he could get his hands on to protect the capital, wasnt it?

Kireua had arrived at Hubalts capital a few days before Cain and the others, so he knew everything that was happening inside and outside of the capital. As expected, the paladins couldnt retort.

Its decided then. Kireua turned away.

Wh-What is decided? Merang quickly shouted, bewildered. Where do you think youre going?

Isnt it good for you if I leave right now?

G-Good for us?

Kireua glanced back at them. Or do you really want to fight me? he quietly asked.

Merang went silent. Standing where he wouldnt be able to see them, some of the paladins desperately shook their heads.

I dont have a hobby of picking on the weak, Kireua remarked as he began to walk away.

Merang bit his lip in frustration, but most of the paladins heaved a sigh of relief; they all knew how skilled the Martial God was.

Most people here right now must have no choice but to follow orders anyway.

Stop! Merang shouted. Even if youre right and even if I must die here, I cant let you go!

If you valued your life so little, you could have stood up to Bel and your tyrant from the start.

Every word struck Merang right where it hurt most. He didnt think that he would get anywhere with words, so he infused his mana into his sword.

Fight me right now, Joshua Sanders!

I told you that I dont like picking on the weak. If youre that eager to fight me Kireua trailed off into a wide smile. ...youre more than welcome to follow me.

...Follow you?

Im going to join my people and conquer the nearby regions one by one. Tell your emperor to stay at home like the coward he is. Meanwhile, Ill save the people of this empire on the behalf of your missing gods.

Kireua leaped high into the air, brooking no more questions.