Chapter 469. The King’s Summons
Brilliant and dazzling holy golden light illuminated the pale white face of the blue-haired priestess girl. Her white wrist, clutching the staff, trembled. Her cherry small mouth opened, and disbelief flickered between her wide eyes.
Although she had a good impression of the black-haired young man standing before her, she had never imagined he could pull out the Sacred Sword.
It wasn’t just her; the clergy surrounding her and the crowd gathered in the square wore expressions of disbelief.
“Holy Lord above, I can’t be mistaken, can I? Someone has actually pulled out the Sacred Sword, and right before my eyes…”
“How is this possible? If I’m not mistaken, this black-haired kid is only at the Gold rank. Even so, he can pull out the Sacred Sword?”
However, doubt and astonishment were quickly replaced by excited voices.
“What do you mean ‘black-haired kid’? This young man is His Majesty the King’s heir, the next Hero! Being chosen by the Sacred Sword proves his qualifications. Do you still doubt the Sacred Sword and His Majesty the King’s choice!”
“Does anyone know his identity? If I could be by the Hero’s side…”
“Heh heh, all these years, the Empire has always liked to brag about their Andes. Now, we finally have a new Sacred Sword Hero! Let those empire folks be jealous!”
“Long live the King! Long live the Hero!”
Although the Sacred Sword King was still alive and there was no urgent need for a Hero, witnessing the birth of a potential next Hero before their eyes filled the entire White Stone Square with cheers and joy, turning it into an ocean of merriment.
Gently closing her eyes, Verafia opened her long eyelashes and looked up again with her scorching gold eyes at the black-haired young man on the altar, holding the pure white sword blade aloft, bathed in brilliant dazzling light. Beside her exquisite face, like everyone else around, she revealed a happy expression, concealing her worry.
A spatial rift appeared above the square. A girl in a Court Mage robe and two red-robed cardinals emerged from it, with a white jade hand tearing through the air.
Upon seeing the three, a subtle commotion rippled through the crowd.
“By the King’s grace, two Cardinals and Archmage Vicena! Are they all here for this young man?”
Bishop George’s outstretched hand touched the substantial holy radiance, and he gazed at the black-haired young man who had pulled out the pure white sword blade. “Such resonance with the Sacred Sword… I have only seen it in His Majesty.”
However, the young mage girl in front of the cardinals suddenly stopped, her red lips murmuring, “How could… Ig be the one who pulled out the Sacred Sword?”
“Does Archmage recognize this young man?” asked Cardinal Richelieu. Although Vicena concealed it well, it was not difficult to see a flash of shock and panic surge between her indigo eyes. She then smiled slightly:
“However, I have heard Elishia mention the name Ig… Being able to pull out the Sacred Sword, could this be what has captivated that girl.”
Richelieu, as the Cardinal of the Kingdom’s Church, had personally taken Elishia under his wing years ago to teach her Divine Light Arts, a fact not unknown in the Kingdom.
As the Sacred Sword was pulled out, the dense holy radiance enveloping the entire city gradually dissipated. At that moment, the sound of colliding metal armor echoed from the gates of the Royal Palace. More than a dozen elite knights clad in silver armor, led by the white-armored Knight Commander, arrived at the White Stone Square.
The thick white cloth cape fluttered as the white-armored Knight Commander personally ascended the altar, the markings engraved on his armor faintly refracting light under the illumination of the sacred light.
Looking at the black-haired young man, cleansed by the light and holding the pure white Sacred Sword in his hand, the Knight Commander couldn’t help but show an appreciative expression and say, “Lord Ig, you have pulled out the Sacred Sword and are now a candidate for Hero. Congratulations.”
“Senior…?”
Ig didn’t dare to be careless. Although he was only Gold rank, the suppression he felt from the Knight Commander was in no way less than that from his own father.
“I am Rodrigo, the Captain of His Majesty’s Royal Guard.”
The white-armored Knight spoke, and simultaneously smiled slightly at the young man, “Furthermore, thirty years ago, I had the honor of being taught swordsmanship by Lord Eggesti.”
So, this Knight Commander is also my father’s disciple… Hmm, he mentioned this specifically to show that he knows my identity?
Ig thought, his gaze towards the white-armored Knight becoming a little more friendly. However, Ig maintained a respectful demeanor, “Lord Rodrigo, is there something important you need me for?”
Rodrigo nodded and said, “His Majesty the King has already learned that you pulled out the Sacred Sword. As a candidate for Hero, he has sent me to bring you to the Royal Palace.”
“Sacred Sword… King…”
Ig muttered, and further thoughts arose in his mind, surfacing as he had been under the Sacred Sword.
“Directly see your King? That, you cannot!”
Suddenly, a slightly anxious young girl’s voice pierced through the exclamations and praises within the crowd.
Pushing through the parted crowd, a golden-haired girl appeared. Adorned in a silver moon-bright silk white dress, her exquisite face appeared even more flawless and pure, but at this moment, a look of anxiety was evident.
Verafia rushed to Ig’s side, her delicate body blocking the space between the young man and the white-armored Knight. Sia and Andes, who had followed her, came to Ig’s rear.
“Young Lady?” Ig exclaimed slightly in surprise, looking at the girl before him.
When Verafia heard the white-armored Knight mention taking Ig to the Royal Palace, she panicked.
Verafia’s thoughts were that, to prevent Lancaster from detecting any karma beforehand, she hadn’t warned Ig about him at all.
Now, without any preparation, directly bringing Ig to see Lancaster undoubtedly posed a great danger.
Therefore, she directly shouted out, interrupting them.
Standing before the young man, a hint of panic flashed in Verafia’s eyes.
She knew her state of mind was extremely conflicted. In fact, long before, her subconscious had understood that having Ig pull out the Sacred Sword would surely attract Lancaster’s attention, yet she felt she couldn’t handle one without neglecting the other.
Instead, feelings of worry and guilt for the young man instantly overwhelmed her.
“But, what should I do…”
Gently biting her thin lips, Verafia’s heart trembled slightly as she tried to suppress her anxious emotions.
Undoubtedly, her sudden appearance to stop Ig from entering the Royal Palace was extremely irrational, and she hadn’t even thought of a suitable reason to refuse.
Blocked by Verafia, Rodrigo frowned slightly.
However, Rodrigo had heard of the girl’s name, and seeing that this exquisite phoenix girl seemed to have a close relationship with Ig, he didn’t get angry. Instead, he spoke:
“Miss Verafia, Lord Ig is a candidate for the Sacred Sword and Hero. The current Sacred Sword Hero is His Majesty the King… Summoning a candidate for Hero is not only the King’s duty but also a succession of the Sacred Sword. May I ask why you object?”
