Chapter 43 Choice
In response to Igter’s sudden outburst of intense emotion, Lancaster merely shook his head slightly and said,
“I am not forcing anyone to believe me. Moreover, it has been a hundred years since Lothel passed away. Igter, you can even continue to believe in your heart that this is just my word against his, and that I fabricated the truth of killing Lothel.”
Lancaster’s turned face reflected pure sacred light, and his star-washed eyes shimmered with divine radiance. The omnipresent sense of credibility and sincerity left even Igter with no room for criticism.
“However, I have no reason to fabricate such a story for you.”
He tightened his grip on his palm.
The King’s voice echoed in his ears.
Igter tried to lift his head and speak in refutation, but it felt as if a heavy boulder was pressing down on his chest, making even breathing difficult.
Just as Lancaster said, he had no reason to fabricate such a story:
He was the Hero of the Sacred Sword, the King of Peka, admired and loved by countless people. Why would he need to explain the fact that he killed Lothel a hundred years ago to himself?
If he wanted to use this to make him serve him, then his figure would have already been noticed by Lancaster before he even picked up the Sacred Sword. If it was to prevent future problems, why did he not react at all?
More importantly, Igter had pulled out the Sacred Sword.
Just as the world said – the master of the Sacred Sword must possess utter sincerity and kindness. If there were any flaws in his character, how could Lancaster have wielded it for a hundred years?
He gripped the Sacred Sword tightly, the light shimmering on the pure white blade seeming to reflect Igter’s state of mind.
“However, even so, Lancaster, you are the King of Peka, so why is Lord Lothel being slandered for no reason under your rule?”
It was still a fierce questioning, but Igter felt that it was more like an attempt to convince himself.
Lancaster turned his gaze, still showing no trace of a lie: “All I can say is that for the past hundred years, I have never spoken ill of Lothel.”
“You mean, those who spoke these words were all your subordinates?”
Igter laughed instead of getting angry: “Moreover, you constantly speak of your admiration for Lothel, so why haven’t I heard you refute such slander at all?”
“Igter, you said earlier that I am the King of Peka.”
Lancaster looked at the young man deeply, then turned his head and said with self-deprecation:
“Even if the entire continent is singing praises of me, do you believe that, if possible, the Pope of the Holy See would be the first to strip me of my title?”
“And in Peka, there are more than just ‘Seed of Destruction’ like Windsall who cannot bear to see me on the throne of Peka?”
“You mean the slander against Lord Lothel was all for the sake of so-called royal stability?”
“Lothel is the Hero of God’s will, and his existence is the most suitable weapon for all those who oppose me.”
“And the lords and ministers who are loyal to me will also slander him in every way, even to the point of portraying Lothel as a deceiver, in order to maintain my authority and holiness as a ‘Hero’.”
Igter’s palm tightened, his hand hurting from the hilt of the sword, but he was oblivious.
Lancaster did not fully explain his words, but their implications were almost obvious:
Lothel was undoubtedly the most powerful weapon in the hands of his opponents. His name not only shook the sanctity of Lancaster’s rule but was also enough to incite Lord Oran and others, who were close to Lothel before his death.
And as the King of Peka, a political figure whose power was not as firm as imagined, from an absolutely rational perspective, Lancaster had no reason to speak for Lothel’s defamation. This would only become an excuse for his enemies and undermine his own authority.
From ancient times to the present, when facing political enemies, everyone’s instinctive reaction has almost always been slander and smear. If Lancaster was as he said, he could even be considered to have cherished old feelings.
No wonder, even Lord Vicena, and the Queen, who were rumored to have had a non-trivial connection with Lord Lothel, had not uttered too many words…
After realizing this, Igter felt a faint discomfort in his heart. He slowly raised his head and looked at Lancaster, unable to speak for a long time:
“Even so…”
“This is just my way of doing things,”
Lancaster suddenly said, “but for you, Igter, there is no need to do so at all – after me, you will be able to restore Lothel’s reputation.”
Igter’s eyes widened: “Lancaster, you mean…”
The King of the Sacred Sword smiled slightly, as if accepting his statement.
He suddenly waved his right hand, and the Sacred Sword, which had been suspended above the Milky Way, turned into a pure white stream of light and fell into his hand.
Without the suppression of the Sacred Sword, in the withered starry sky, the darkness that had been awakened by Windsall and was already struggling surged, almost engulfing the entire starry sky. Its massive figure, expanding hundreds and thousands of times, almost ripped through the cage of the entire world.
“This is… Dixax?”
Igter’s pupils contracted, and he couldn’t help but exclaim. The Star God that had re-formed before his eyes was almost indescribable, even incomparable to any existing being in the world. With every breath and movement, vast expanses of pitch-black galaxies rippled!
“Lan… Cas… Ter! You actually—”
Voices filled with endless resentment, a hundred times stronger than before, converged.
In the withered sea of stars, black storms roared, and the extinguished stars reignited with destructive black flames, drawing terrifying ripples across the sky and plunging towards Lancaster!
Even under Lancaster’s protection, just a hint of its aura almost made Igter suffocate.
He couldn’t help but turn his head to the King beside him. Faced with such a world-ending scene, Lancaster’s face showed no trace of concern, but rather a faint smile.
“It’s just the newly awoken Dixax, a broken one. But it’s enough.”
Lancaster suddenly pulled out the Sacred Sword in his hand. The pure white blade erupted with a radiance far brighter than the sun, and Dixax’s attacks from all directions were instantly annihilated!
“Lancaster!!!”
In the dark starry sky, it was as if flesh and blood were burning, and sounds of pain and malice roared, but they were dissolved and vanished by the sacred light, as thin as a veil.
Lancaster’s eyes deepened for a moment, the sacred light and golden radiance lingering on his blue-gold hair. He turned to Igter in front of him and offered the Sacred Sword in his hand:
“…!!” He looked with an unbelievable gaze.
“Igter, you are the heir to the Sacred Sword, and naturally the next Hero.”
Lancaster said with a smile, “Moreover, you will marry Misaela, and after my death, you will be able to succeed this kingdom.”
… Lancaster meant that after taking over the kingdom, the stigma of Lord Lothel could easily be removed.
Igter thought to himself. His hand trembled slightly as he raised it, but he did not touch the true Sacred Sword that Lancaster was offering.
Lancaster looked at the young man in front of him and suddenly smiled faintly: “What, could it be that you still cannot accept Misaela in your heart?”
“Misaela…”
Igter lowered his gaze, his eyes falling on the girl nestled gently in his embrace, as soft as moonlight.
The silver-haired girl was still sleeping peacefully, her delicate breaths on his arm like a slender feather. Between her porcelain-white skin, her long eyelashes cast slender shadows in the light.
Igter could feel her warmth, her delicate touch, and the sound of her breathing and her small heartbeat.
Even though it had only been a few days since they first met.
How could Igter resist such a beautiful girl, who had gradually approached him in the cold, dark storm, and finally bloomed like a gentle iris petal?
“Veer… Veer also said that she wouldn’t object to me being with other girls. And…”
Igter thought of that stunningly beautiful maiden.
That exquisite and noble girl, who was clearly a noble Goddess Princess, had always concealed her identity with Blazing Phoenix. Was it because she was afraid of being exposed and hurt…?
If I could pick up the Sacred Sword, only then could I protect her… And, that noble and glorious Goddess Princess, if I don’t pick up the Sacred Sword, what right would I have to stand by her side?
Not only her, but Lancaster said, only if I become king can I wash away the slander that Lord Lothel has borne…
…
…
Thoughts rushed into his mind. Igter exhaled with difficulty, trying hard to lift his eyes, his face reflecting the pure white radiance of the Sacred Sword.
And opposite him, Lancaster watched with a radiant smile.
Behind the Sacred Sword, in the dark starry sky, the enraged roars of the “Destruction” Star God Dixax stirred up terrifying black storms. The Star God’s aura seeped through the tearing gaps, staining the real world.
Perhaps, the shadow of Dixax leaked and projected onto the world had already covered the sky of the entire Lichen.
He could even imagine the helpless prayers of the residents in the city in the shadow of destruction, yearning for the appearance of a savior – just as Lancaster had once pulled out the Sacred Sword to illuminate the entire continent under the shadow of the Demon Race.
“Lancaster wants me to pull out this sword and destroy the shadow of this Star God… No wonder he said it was suitable.”
Igter thought to himself.
Destroying the shadow of a Star God that had destroyed the city was a feat great enough to earn him cheers from thousands of people.
Moreover, the weapon in his hand was the legendary, true glorious Sacred Sword. From today onwards, his identity as a “Hero Candidate” would resonate throughout the continent.
He gently embraced the silver-haired girl.
Igter’s gaze fell again on the Sacred Sword offered by Lancaster. The pure white blade seemed to reflect the light in his eyes.
Whether it was the girl in his arms, or Veer, Lord Lothel, or even himself, he should take this Sacred Sword.
However, Igter had a vague feeling that this was less of a decision and more of a choice… If he chose to take up the Sacred Sword, to choose the future identity of Hero and King, he would lose something precious.
But…
Igter closed his eyes heavily. As if making up his mind, he stretched out his right hand and placed it on the pure white hilt of the Sacred Sword.
In an instant, the pure white blade once again erupted with dazzling, brilliant radiance, as if it were melting the entire world and enveloping him!
Behind the light, Lancaster’s face, which was in the shadows, showed a subtle smile.
—
This plot should end in the next chapter… (He realized he couldn’t help but add a lot of detail again)
