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Side Story Chapter 108

“Fuck!” The one-armed Paladin jerked his head in the other direction.

Gabriel smiled bitterly. “Shouldn’t we at least get Raphael’s arm back before we go, Michael?”

The Four Paladins were renowned all over the continent, but there had never been a day more humiliating than today. Their paladins’ weapons had been taken away, and they had only half a day to exit Arcadia. Those were the conditions for their release.

“Martial God!” Raphael suddenly yelled. “Don’t think you’ve won just yet. The real war has only just begun.”

Joshua chuckled. “Paladins are really full of themselves.”

“...Do you think the result would have been the same if we fought with our swords?” Raphael narrowed his eyes.

Before Joshua could say something, someone quietly strode into the center of the council chamber.

“You’re certainly talkative for a loser. Don’t make any excuses for your defeat. Hypotheticals mean nothing in the history books.”

It was Selim. He leveled the prongs of Longin’s blades at Raphael threateningly. “You’re welcome to draw your sword right now. I, Selim Sanders, First Prince of the Avalon Empire, will accept your challenge.”

“Ha! Hahahahaha!” Joshua burst into laughter.

Although they didn’t say anything, the other people of the Avalon Empire in the chamber were smiling.

“…Selim really is a chip off the old block.” Icarus shook her head in disbelief. She couldn’t understand how someone as unexpressive as Iceline gave birth to Joshua Sanders Jr.

“Quit your useless quarrel. Leave—ah, don’t forget to hand over the cure before you go,” Icarus reminded the paladins.

“…We’ll give you the cure to the draconic scars after we exit Arcadia.”

“Oh, my. You’re talking nonsense again. If you run without handing us over the cure, our whole endeavor will end up as a wild goose chase.”

“I have no other choice. You’re doing this to save one person, but thousands of people’s lives depend on us,” Michael bitterly explained.

“If you knew how valuable lives are, then you shouldn’t have pulled a stunt like this in the first place.”

Raphael clenched his fists so hard that his fingernails dug into his flesh. Although there were so many things he wanted to say, he had to remain silent. Since his weapons had been confiscated like the others, he and his comrades would just get slaughtered if he started a battle right now.

“Well, fine. You paladins serve god, so I don\'t think you would lie.” Icarus shrugged.

“…If you can’t believe us, I’ll stay since I have the cure.”

“Is that true?” Icarus’s eyes twinkled.

Icarus didn’t need to give much thought to the matter anymore if the First Paladin of the Hubalt Empire was staying,

“Please send back the other paladins in return, just like we agreed.”

“Of course.”

No one had expected the situation to turn out like this. Even Raphael and Gabriel, who were also part of the Four Paladins, gasped.

“…This is interesting,” Joshua murmured, his enigmatic smile unshaken unlike the others.

“I should be the perfect collateral to guarantee the Combat Emperor’s life. Do you agree with this arrangement, Martial God?”

“I don’t have any objections if the Queen Consort finds no issue with it.”

“Good.” Michael nodded and then pointed at the door, signaling his paladins to leave. “Leave, everyone.”

“But Michael…” Gabriel said reluctantly.

“That’s an order.”

Gabriel\'s eyes widened for a moment, but he controlled himself despite the utter, overwhelming humiliation he was experiencing for the first time in his life. The emotion overwhelmed him, but there was nothing he could do.

“…I’m heading out.”

“Alright.” Michael nodded stoically.

“Wait! Hand them the item we prepared before they leave,” Icarus instructed.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

One of the Imperial Knights suddenly approached Michael and placed a stick with white cloth attached to it in front of him.

“What is the meaning of this?” Michael asked, his face tightening.

“Can’t you tell? It’s a white flag.”

“So why are you giving this to us?”

“Everyone on the continent is paying attention to Arcadia right now, so we need to show them who won, shouldn’t we?” Icarus grinned.

Raphael finally snapped. He whipped around, his teeth gritted, and shouted, “Haven’t you done enough, you sons of bitches?!”

“Stop!” Michael snapped.

“But, Michael, look at what those damned bastards are doing. How long are we supposed to put up with this?”

“If you continue to speak without permission, I’m going to punish you myself, Raphael,” Michael warned him.

Rapahel bit his lower lip so hard that that bled. Nevertheless, Michael’s eyes were cold.

“I don’t think this is an unfair request. You people make us look like we’re the bad guys, but Hubalt is the one who infiltrated another country’s palace, swords drawn.”

“…Fine, we’ll exit Arcadia through the north gate, holding up the white flag so that everyone can see it. Is that enough?”

The Imperial Knights gasped; they’d never thought that the paladins would actually take the preposterous deal. Some of the Knights were so dumbfounded that they reached up and pinched their cheeks.

“I like your spirit. Selim and Duke Tremblin, can I ask you two to keep an eye on them?”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Tremblin and Selim bowed.

Shortly after, the paladins of Hubalt exited the council chamber like an ocean wave.

Joshua slowly stood up from his throne. “Let me ask all of you a favor.”

“Pardon? A favor?”

“Can everyone except for me and our guest from Hubalt exit from the chamber as well?”

“No, I can’t,” Valmont immediately objected, taken aback. “It’s too dangerous.”

“Dangerous? For who?”

“W-Well…” Valmont awkwardly scratched the back of his head, realizing how ridiculous his claim was. Who was worrying about whom? Valmont smacked his lip. “…You make me speechless.”

“If you know, go back and cultivate yourself harder.”

“Brace yourself, Your Majesty. I’m going to defeat you someday, no matter what.”

“Defeating me was the requirement for your retirement, right?” Joshua recalled.

“To be honest, I’m not sure if it’ll be possible anymore. I thought I got stronger, but when I look at you right now, I start to hate myself and wonder what I’ve been doing until now..”

“Oh?” Joshua quietly exclaimed.

When the difference in levels was too high, it was unfathomable as pitch-black darkness. If Valmont was beginning to see something…

“Did you have an epiphany?” Joshua asked.

“I might be able to leave a scratch on your sleeve after five years.”

“Hahahahahahahaha!” Joshua guffawed.

Valmont saluted and then exited the council chamber. Joshua turned to look behind him.

“U-Us, too?” Sersiarin and Icarus pointed at themselves.

Joshua nodded as if that were a given. “I did say everyone—or do you have something more to talk about with our guest?”

“No, not really…”

“Then please exit the chamber. Besides, you still have work to do, Icarus.” Joshua glanced pointedly at Lilith Aphrodite.

Icarus followed his gaze and let out a sigh. “Don’t start anything new. You know how I hate—no, loathe an unexpected variable.”

“Of course.”

“We’ll get going too.” Icarus took Sersiarin’s hand and headed to the door. The two gave Joshua a concerned look as they left, so Joshua waved his hand at them reassuringly.

Only Joshua and Michael were left in the council chamber now.

“…This is surprising and bold,” Michael said, now that he had Joshua’s undivided attention. “I might have a change of heart and try to assassinate you, you know.”

“Why? Because there are only two of us here?”

“You’re the emperor of my enemy and the Martial God, so it’s worth a try.”

Joshua nodded. “I understand. I would have done the same.”

Michael exuded sharp energy, as if to insist that he wasn’t bluffing.

A smile grew on Joshua’s face. “There was no cure at all, was there?”

Michael flinched.

“I’m assuming your plan was to let your comrades flee first and wait for the golden opportunity to make an escape… What do you think? I feel like you owe me a reward or something at this point.”

“…How…” Michael fumbled for words. There was no such thing as a cure for Bel’s draconic scars; its flawlessness was the scariest part about Bel’s ability. His overwhelming power made it impossible for his opponents to survive.

“…You knew everything, but you still let my comrades go?” Michael asked.

“Don’t be mistaken. I don’t know about other people, but I have no intention of letting you Four Paladins walk out of Avalon alive.”

“What…?”

“My problems walked into Avalon on their own two feet, so this is my chance to get rid of them all at once.” Joshua slowly walked down the steps. “I’m actually a bit tired now. My life is filled with battle and war—isn’t it actually sad? Other people around my age are enjoying their retirement, cooing about how adorable their grandchildren are.”

“…You saw this coming from the start?”

“Thanks to you, my plan worked out easier than I thought. Once the news of Hubalt carrying a white flag spreads to the rest of the continent, what sane person would want to take your side? Ah, the Tetra Kingdom is already insane, so let’s forget about them.”

Michael gritted his teeth, his eyes baleful. “Joshua Sanders…!”

“My final plan is to slay you Four Paladins, capture the guy named Bel, and end this war in no time.” Joshua drew a spear from thin air and grinned. “How does it sound? Isn’t it simple?”