Cardinal Vincenzo headed straight to the royal palace.

‘Their goal must be to reclaim the throne. No matter what method they use, they have to come to the palace.’

The man who appeared at the execution and rescued Duke Maxwin Gordon.

Based on the circumstances, his identity was certainly Choi Hyun-seok.

Although only a man appeared, Abelson Mariette must surely be with him.

Why did they return to the Mariette Kingdom after disappearing?

Without needing to think about it, it’s to reclaim the throne.

“Hmm…?”

Cardinal Vincenzo who had already passed the palace entrance and arrived near the king’s chambers.

He furrowed his already wrinkled brow even more.

“What’s this about?”

The guards near the chambers were all collapsed.

Even some royal knights were among them.

Seeing how they’re all unconscious, there must have been an overwhelming difference in skill.

‘Currently, Choi Hyun-seok is being chased by the heroes. However, Abelson Mariette shouldn’t possess such outstanding skills…’

In Scolbon, 200 heroes from the Hero Development Project were on standby.

They had all been dispatched to follow traces of demonic energy.

It doesn’t make sense for Choi Hyun-seok, who’s busy being chased by heroes, to be here.

‘Who could it be? The Drason Empire? Or has some legend I don’t know about made a move?’

There are few skilled enough to quietly subdue royal knights and guards alone.

Even searching the entire continent, the number wouldn’t exceed three digits.

‘Whatever the case, I need to move quickly.’

It’s dangerous at this rate.

First, we need to secure King Labrun Mariette.

The rest can be thought about later.

“Hurry!”

“Yes!”

Cardinal Vincenzo and the elite holy knights quickly entered the main building.

Passing through the corridor and climbing the stairs.

They arrived at the second floor where the king’s chambers were located.

“Kyahaha! Your Majesty! You mustn’t tickle like that!”

“Hahaha! Bring more wine! More!”

Even before opening the chamber door, the situation inside was clear.

Cardinal Vincenzo gritted his teeth and threw open the door.

“Labrun Mariette!”

“C-Cardinal Vincenzo!? What brings you here so suddenly!?”

Labrun Mariette was startled at Cardinal Vincenzo’s sudden entrance.

“Kyaaah-!”

The naked women with him screamed.

“Dispose of them all.”

“Yes.”

The holy knights moved quickly and began slaying the women.

“Gu-guhk!”

“Kyaaah-!”

“Your Majesty! Save us! Your Majesty…!”

The four women became cold corpses in an instant.

Hic-!

Labrun Mariette hiccupped, perhaps shocked by the sudden bloodshed.

Cardinal Vincenzo grabbed his hair and roughly slammed him down.

“You pathetic fool! Do you know what kind of situation this is to be doing such things!”

“I-I’m sorry! Please spare me! Cardinal!”

Labrun Mariette begged on his knees, completely naked.

It was a pathetic sight for a kingdom’s king.

“Get your wits together and speak! Has anyone come to visit?”

“What do you mean…?”

“Choi Hyun-seok! Abelson Mariette! Anyone will do. Did any stranger come to visit?”

Labrun Mariette shook his head.

“I know nothing! I just drank wine and played with women as you said! Please believe me!”

“You fucking idiot!”

Cardinal Vincenzo kicked Labrun in the stomach.

It was a nimble movement unbefitting his old age.

The impact must have been significant as Labrun grabbed his stomach and vomited on the floor.

“The Lord must surely be angry at your pathetic state!”

“I-I’m sorry… Kuhk…! I am… Huk!”

Just as Labrun was breathing heavily with his head pressed to the floor.

KWANG-!

“Kyaaah-!”

A noise and screams rang out.

“Who is it? Who’s outside!?”

“E-Ebi… No! Ebi!”

Labrun tried to get up urgently, but Cardinal Vincenzo’s kick sent him back to the floor.

“Kuhk…!”

“You, watch this trash and make sure he doesn’t go anywhere.”

“Yes.”

“The rest, follow me!”

Cardinal Vincenzo ran out of the chambers with the holy knights.

The screams came from below the stairs.

Going down to the first floor, they could immediately identify the source of the commotion.

“You two…”

A large man and a woman.

Though both faces were unfamiliar, Cardinal Vincenzo was certain.

Those two were Choi Hyun-seok and Abelson Mariette.

“Finally, we meet.”

A deep smile spread across Cardinal Vincenzo’s face.

***

“I’ve given up on that Rachel.”

Rachel shook her head repeatedly.

“I can’t even gauge how perverted the hero is. The measuring device broke, you could say.”

“This was an accident. An accident I tell you!”

“Yes, sure it was.”

When he forcibly opened the bathroom door because it was closed, there was a naked woman inside.

How should one interpret this situation?

“Miss Abelson. Is that woman perhaps royalty?”

“No.”

“Then why…?”

“We don’t have time for this! The commotion will bring guards. Let’s quickly open the entrance.”

Abelson ignored Ebi who was in the bathroom and approached the mirror.

At that moment.

“Finally, we meet.”

An old man appeared in the corridor with what appeared to be holy knights.

Choi Hyun-seok quickly bowed and rubbed his hands.

“Oh my! I didn’t know the priests were here. I’m sorry!”

“…”

“I’m just a worker who came to fix the bathroom, but I accidentally broke the door. Hahaha…! I’ll repair it right away!”

Cardinal Vincenzo narrowed his eyes.

“Choi Hyun-seok Have you lost your mind?”

“Shit… How did he know?”

He tried to deny it since he had changed his face, but it didn’t work.

“But this is strange. Why are you here? You should be being chased by heroes.”

“That…”

Choi Hyun-seok kicked the ground.

“Ask the Grim Reaper!”

He quickly crossed the corridor.

There was no reason to hesitate now that his identity was exposed.

His opponents were Deusis faith priests and holy knights.

He intended to deal with them immediately without holding back like before.

“Hup!”

He extended his fist with a shout.

At the same time, powerful mana flowed from the tip of his fist.

Nobilrace

Form 4 – Authoritative Death

A fighting technique that reinterpreted ‘Reidrun-style Fighting Technique’s Form 1 – First Battle Kill’ to match Choi Hyun-seok’s body and mana properties.

Not only was the power enhanced, but stability and efficiency were also improved.

KWAAANG!

The palace corridor crumbled as tremendous shockwaves spread out.

The entire palace building is protected by magic and doesn’t even get scratched by ordinary impacts.

Yet the fact that such an impact occurred proved just how powerful the fighting technique was.

“Protect the Cardinal!”

Five holy knights stepped forward simultaneously.

As if rehearsed, they precisely extended their shields as their holy power gathered together.

KUUNG-!

A heavy impact sound rang out.

The holy knights’ faces contorted severely.

“Cardinal. You must evacuate quickly.”

One advantage of holy power is its excellent defense.

The barrier created by these five was so solid that even an ordinary hero couldn’t impact it.

But now the impact was so intense their arms might break.

It was proof that the enemy’s power far surpassed hero level.

“He’s no ordinary person. Be careful.”

“That’s what I want to say.”

Choi Hyun-seok was also somewhat flustered in his own way.

‘Why did they block it so easily?’

That attack was launched with the intention of annihilating everyone.

Yet they just frowned and that was it.

Even though he hadn’t used his full power, this was beyond expectations.

“Well, doesn’t matter?”

Choi Hyun-seok lightly stretched.

If once isn’t enough, then twice.

If twice isn’t enough, then thrice.

Just keep hitting until the enemy falls.

“Here I come!”

Choi Hyun-seok, now in close range, directly struck the holy knights’ shields.

KUUNG! KUNG! KWANG-!

The corridor trembled with the thunderous sounds.

The holy knights desperately gripped their shields and shouted.

“Cardinal! Please evacuate!”

“We can’t hold much longer!”

“No!”

Along with someone’s death cry.

CHAENG-!

The barrier completely shattered.

The holy knights were all blown backward simultaneously.

“Damn tough.”

“Not bad. Such power against five high-ranking holy knights. When did you grow this strong?”

Cardinal Vincenzo asked.

Choi Hyun-seok approached him while rotating his shoulder.

“Is that important right now?”

A fierce smile spread across his face.

“Seems like you should be worried about how to survive.”

“No… Not the Cardinal…!”

A holy knight who hadn’t lost consciousness rushed in but he easily dodged and struck the back of his head.

KWAJIK!

The helmet crumpled as the holy knight’s head hit the floor.

He probably died before even feeling pain.

“I don’t know exactly, but a Cardinal is right below the Pope, right?”

“All are equal before God.”

“Yeah yeah. Among those equal people, you’re like a boss-level figure.”

Choi Hyun-seok saw this situation as an opportunity.

‘If I play this right, I can dig up some information.’

If he could capture the Cardinal, he could learn detailed information about the internal situation of the Holy Empire of Gatren.

Moreover, since this old man was a power holder who controlled the Mariette Kingdom, he would certainly be helpful in reclaiming the throne.

“You’ll need to come with me.”

“…”

“Come along nicely while I’m asking politely. I’d prefer to show respect to the elderly if possible.”

“…”

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Hello? Grandfather?”

Choi Hyun-seok waved his hand in front of his face.

Cardinal Vincenzo just stood still, staring at him.

“You…”

Then Cardinal Vincenzo spoke.

“Where is the demonic energy? And what is that mysterious force?”

“Ah, this is really frustrating.”

Choi Hyun-seok roughly ran his hand through his hair.

“You seem to be confused, so let me be clear.”

Choi Hyun-seok’s playful gaze suddenly turned sharp.

“I ask the questions. You just need to answer what I ask.”

Cardinal Vincenzo nodded.

“It will be difficult to have a conversation in this state.”

“What?”

Suddenly, immense holy power began pouring out from Cardinal Vincenzo.

Choi Hyun-seok hurriedly reached out but.

Tak-

Instead, he was caught by Cardinal Vincenzo.

“Huh…?”

His arm wouldn’t move.

Cardinal Vincenzo’s hand gripping his wrist was digging into his flesh.

‘What incredible grip strength…!’

As he was startled by the terrifying strength.

“I’ll return your words back to you.”

Cardinal Vincenzo spoke.

“I, Cardinal Vincenzo, ask the questions. Choi Hyun-seok, You just answer what I ask.”

***

In the skies above the capital, Scolbon.

Sara Dunphy was surrounded by 200 mysterious attackers.

These people were covered in thick armor.

Sara Dunphy could tell that each piece of armor they wore is a magical tool.

“Oh, this is quite fresh.”

That wasn’t all.

“Is this the magitech I’ve only heard about?”

Their bodies weren’t human.

More precisely, they were a mixture of human and magical tools.

It was clearly the fruit of magitech that she had read about in books.

“When I read about it in books, I didn’t think the level was that high. But the actual completion is beyond imagination.”

The 200 warriors surrounding her didn’t respond.

Chuck-!

Instead, they raised their swords.

The sight of 200 people raising their swords simultaneously as if they were one body was quite spectacular.

“Oh, what’s this?”

As Sara Dunphy smiled, magical power shot from their swords.

200 streams of magical power gathered together.

The magical power that merged in midair soon formed a massive sphere.

“9th circle level? Such coordinated magic without a magic circle. They must have trained intensely.”

The sphere made of magical power began rotating violently.

“What unfun fellows. Don’t want to answer? Or perhaps you’re not in your right mind?”

Sara Dunphy stroked her chin and grinned.

“Well, it doesn’t matter either way.”

Weeeing-!

The violently rotating sphere began pouring out streams of magical power.

Sara Dunphy smiled as she watched hundreds of magical power streams flying toward her.

“My heart is already racing at the thought of studying you all.”

Her already dead heart was burning hot.

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