Chapter 54
There was no way they could coexist under the same sky as the heretics.
Well, of course! They used wicked powers and tricks to deceive the poor commoners, trying to exploit them for their own gain.
The Yellow Heaven Sect, following the Path of the Yellow Sky while draping themselves in yellow hoods, was no different.
They committed human sacrifices, used forbidden arts, and seduced people with drugs and potions, all while plotting the world’s downfall!
If they couldn’t be suppressed, the continent’s safety would truly be hanging by a thread!
“Go forth!! Do not be afraid! For there is light behind us!!”
Thus, the Paladins of the church fought with their lives on the line.
Death? Pfft! Not scary!
Only peace.
They cast themselves into the battlefield solely for the peace and stability of the continent.
But even with their great spirit, they couldn’t do anything about their numerical disadvantage.
There were just too few allies.
Almost a thousand members of the Yellow Heaven Sect.
And the Paladins who had to fight against these wicked beings, dulled by evil magic, numbered hardly a hundred.
In a battle where one had to face ten, it was overwhelming and, of course, dangerous.
“The front line is collapsing!! Do not forget that innocent and unfortunate souls are behind us!!”
Shouting until his throat hurt, the Paladin glanced back.
Behind that road, were good people fleeing from the Yellow Heaven Sect.
For their protection, he wasn’t afraid to sacrifice this one life for the light!
Thinking so, the Paladin swung his mace with all his might.
Ka-ka-ka-ching!! The Yellow Sky shall dominate the world!!
Even as his arm broke from the blow, the Yellow Heaven Sect member, uncaring, unleashed a yellow aura.
That aura, capable of rotting everything, began to corrode the Paladin’s thick armor.
And as the wicked member prepared to strike at the exposed skin…
– Screech!!
The sky darkened, and sword energy resembling moonlight began to dominate the battlefield.
The expressions of the Yellow Heaven Sect, who were just shouting for the Yellow Sky, changed.
They felt anxious as pitch-black darkness overshadowed their yellow light.
“What is this! What is this! What is this harmony!!”
While they vomited in despair, the morale of the Paladins began to soar.
They knew what this phenomenon was.
They knew what the moonlight was.
“They have come!! They have come!!”
“The One has arrived!!”
Along with the soaring spirits of the Paladins, the sword energy of the moonlight began to slice through countless members of the Yellow Heaven Sect.
Just as those jubilant Paladins raised their maces and started cheering.
A beauty with pink long hair, clad in white, emerged from the darkness.
She was nothing short of a goddess.
Her golden eyes stared unwaveringly at her foes.
The pink hair fluttering in the wind seemed soft and warm, symbolizing her benevolence.
Her voluptuous curves hinted at adulthood, yet her youthful face made it hard to determine her exact age.
But such trivialities didn’t matter.
Because she was.
“The Goddess of the Battlefield!!”
“The Holy Maiden of the Sword!! Lady Sowol has arrived!!”
She was the sole powerful being reigning over this place.
After losing all of their elite soldiers, the leader of the Yellow Heaven Sect used wicked tricks and came out directly, but fell to Sowol’s sword.
Sowol silently observed him as he was burned at the stake according to the church’s law.
Turning her back to the cheering Paladins, she returned to her tent and sighed as she sat down in a chair.
“Phew…”
Since Lee Hyun left, she had gained much training and experience in the church and earned the title of Holy Maiden of the Sword, but she still couldn’t be satisfied.
After all, what she sought, she hadn’t obtained.
She wanted to defeat the Yellow Heaven Sect and gather information about the Asura Sect, but alas, they were a dead end as well.
Where on earth could the Asura Sect’s main group be hiding?
As she stroked her beautiful face, deep in thought with a sigh, the door of the tent swung open, revealing a cold-looking beauty.
“Miss.”
Laila.
From the Eastern Trading Company, she had been serving Sowol since then… even after she became the Holy Maiden of the Sword in the church, she continued to support her.
“This is a letter from your Master.”
At those words, Sowol flinched, her shoulders trembling.
Her eyes glimmered with anticipation. Meeting her gaze, Laila cautiously handed her two letters.
“……”
Swallowing hard, Sowol opened the letters.
[It’s been a long time.
I’ve heard that you’ve become the Holy Maiden of the Sword.
You’re really doing well, huh?
I apologize, but as your Master, I hope to receive your support.
If possible, send five thousand gold coins to a person named Lumiad in the capital of Tailodi Kingdom, Roten.
Sorry for the trouble.
Always loving you, your Master.]
“…….”
[Writing letters like this is also quite rare these days.
How have you been?
I often hear about you.
I’m proud of how active you’ve been as the Holy Maiden of the Sword.
I’m currently studying at the edge of the continent.
This study will wrap up soon.
Whenever I train myself like this, I remember the times I taught you.
I hope you stay safe and healthy, and I look forward to the day we meet again.
Your proud Master, Lee Hyun.]
“…..”
Gloomily staring at the two letters, Sowol let out a heavy sigh.
Then she turned her gaze to the large box beside her.
Laila quickly opened the box, and as she gazed at the countless letters inside, Sowol bit her lip.
“One is a request for money, and the other says it’s from the edge of the continent.”
“The money request letter makes a total of 142 letters so far. The letters claiming to be from the edge of the continent or other harsh places amount to 121.”
“Ha…”
Sowol bit her lip.
As Laila said, ever since she began to make a name for herself as the Holy Maiden of the Sword, countless letters claiming to be from Lee Hyun had flooded in.
At first, she was delighted.
Wasn’t that only natural?
People thought he was dead, and she thought he was missing, but now she was receiving news about him.
So, she set everything aside and went there, only to meet.
People trying to kill her, the heretics!
After defeating them all, realizing that the letters were a ruse by the heretics, she couldn’t describe her despair.
Since then, similar letters continued arriving.
With each arrival, she’d go fight, go fight, and repeat, and eventually, some suggested sending her to the edge of the continent or to untamable lands where she wouldn’t return alive!
And not just that! Asking to borrow money, to harm someone…
Even letters requesting for someone to be kidnapped had arrived.
Now, she couldn’t act carelessly just because she received a letter from Lee Hyun.
“First, investigate. Is there any news about those sent to the edge of the continent?”
“Yes.”
“I see… If we find Master, please bring him back to the trading company no matter what! As for the Academy?”
“Still no special news.”
He had clearly said he would head to the Academy.
So, they just had to wait, but they had no idea when that would be. Worn out, Sowol sighed again.
“Understood.”
Her heart ached.
What on earth was Master doing, where was he now?
Sowol looked at the box full of letters.
Hoping at least one might be true, she felt a bittersweet longing when…
“And the new headmaster from the Ivory Tower has shown an interest in hunting down the Asura Sect.”
Since the talk of Lee Hyun was over, Laila had to get to the main point.
Handing a carefully prepared letter from the Ivory Tower’s mage, she spoke cautiously.
“A new headmaster?”
“Yes. A new headmaster of the colorless tower has recently arisen.”
“A colorless tower? How intriguing. Aren’t the towers of the Ivory Tower usually designated colors based on their attributes?”
“However, this headmaster can use the highest grade of magic from all attributes, which is why the new colorless tower could be established.”
“Wow! That’s awesome! If they’re interested in hunting the Asura Sect, we can’t miss a chance to connect. Can we investigate who they are?”
“Investigating someone of the status of an Ivory Tower headmaster isn’t simple… There was a case where forces investigating the past Red Tower Master Bella encountered an attack from the Ivory Tower and were obliterated. If we’re not careful, they might end up opposing the church.”
That’s why they hadn’t shown interest in the Ivory Tower so far.
Unless there was evidence of their connection to the heretics, poking a bear could lead to chaos.
After Laila’s report, Sowol thought for a moment before shrugging.
“Well, what can we do?”
“By chance, it seems they’re passing through this area, so wouldn’t it be good to meet for a bit? I thought you could see them and judge personally.”
“That doesn’t sound bad.”
The relationship between the church and the Ivory Tower wasn’t particularly good or bad.
Thus, they hadn’t paid much attention to each other, but if they had a common enemy, it wouldn’t hurt to join forces.
Once Sowol gave her consent, Laila led her away.
Not too far from their base of operations, a unit of the Ivory Tower was resting.
Unlike the church, which was suppressing the Yellow Heaven Sect, the Ivory Tower had come to investigate points of magic fluctuation that had surfaced in this area.
Guided by the welcoming mages of the Ivory Tower, Sowol entered what seemed to be an elegant tent.
And she marveled.
‘Wow, those are some impressive assets.’
Standing there was a beautiful woman in luxurious-looking black robes, with deep silver hair and sapphire blue eyes.
Most striking were her impressive assets, visible even though covered by the robe.
After hearing about Lee Hyun’s preferences, Sowol had gone through great lengths to achieve a voluptuous figure, yet this woman’s was comparable.
Startled at the sight of Sowol, the beauty froze for a moment.
“Uh. Um, um… N-nice to meet you.”
Stumbling over her words, the woman quickly lowered her gaze and spoke softly.
“I… I’m Lena.”