More importantly, when Brenda lunged toward Hel, she didn't even care about the sword Pablo the Knight had pressed to her chest. It was as if all she could think about was killing Hel—even if it meant mutual destruction.
But Pablo couldn't just stand there and let Brenda die on his blade.A sudden thought flashed through his mind.
If Brenda managed to kill Hel, and then he subdued Brenda on the spot... wouldn't that be a perfect outcome?
Almost subconsciously, he drew his sword back slightly—allowing Brenda to rush straight toward Hel.
As for Hel herself, she noticed the knight's little movement, and the corner of her lips lifted in a faint, knowing smile.
She stood still, seemingly frozen in terror—no movement to dodge, no sign of defense.Yet, her eyes remained unnervingly calm. After all, Brenda's every move was unfolding exactly as she had intended.
Just as Brenda's dagger was about to pierce her chest—
A sharp arrow split through the air with a thunderous boom, tearing across the sky from behind Hel. The sound barrier broke with a ripple of compressed air, stirring her hair into a swirling dance.
The arrow whizzed past Hel's cheek, slicing the air with a shriek, and slammed into Brenda's right hand—the one clutching the dagger.
In an instant, her arm burst into a cloud of blood and flesh, shredded by the sheer force.Fragments of gore sprayed backward as the arrow continued its flight, impaling straight through Brenda's chest.
With a dull, echoing bang, her torso exploded into a gaping hole the size of a bowl.Shredded tissue and bone fragments rained across the platform—splattering over Pablo's stunned face.
For a moment, the knight froze, paralyzed by the shock.Slowly, stiffly, he turned toward Hel's rear—where a small, delicate figure stood, lowering a longbow.
It was clear who had loosed the shot.
"Another elf? Damn traitor to humanity…"Pablo cursed inwardly, his heart filling with venom. In his mind, Hel had long since become nothing more than a human collaborator.
Even his carefully cultivated composure couldn't entirely suppress the flash of hatred in his eyes.Hel noticed it, of course—but she didn't seem to care.
Calmly, she wiped a few drops of blood that had splashed onto her cheek, then turned to him with a serene smile.
"My apologies, Sir Pablo. I didn't expect this witch to suddenly attack me.You know how dutiful my guards can be.
I just hope… bringing back only her corpse won't make your report too inconvenient?"
That gentle smile nearly broke Pablo's self-control. The rage he'd forced down surged back up in an instant. He wanted nothing more than to cleave her smug face in two.
But reason—cold and heavy—won out.
Taking a deep breath, he replied stiffly, "You needn't worry yourself, Count Hel. We'll handle the matter."
He waved his hand.Two Judgement Knights stepped forward, each carrying a small metal case.
Pablo opened it, and a powerful suction force pulled in Brenda's body—along with every scrap of blood and flesh scattered across the platform.
Within seconds, the stage was spotless, as though Brenda had never died there at all.
"Count Hel," Pablo said, snapping the case shut, "thank you for your cooperation. We have pressing duties to attend to, so we'll take our leave.I apologize for the trouble caused these past few days."
With that, he turned on his heel and shot into the air, flying swiftly out of Heim City.The twenty or so Judgement Knights behind him followed suit.
Only the lower-ranking church clerics—those who had been temporarily summoned—remained behind, exchanging confused glances.
Should they leave as well? Stay?
Fortunately, Sister Pamela stepped forward and broke the silence.
"Now that the witch case in Heim City has been resolved and Count Hel's innocence is proven," she said softly, "it's time I carry out the other purpose of my visit."
She walked to the center of the dais, withdrew a scroll sealed with golden wax from her space ring, and carefully peeled open the wax bearing the church's winged insignia.
Then she began to read aloud:
"In recognition of Count Hel's great contributions in ensuring the safe return of Saint Vivienne of the Nait Empire to Nait City,The Nait Church hereby confers upon Count Helthe title of Honorary Knight of the Holy Tribunal,and…"
Pamela paused briefly, smiling as she looked up at Hel, nodding slightly before continuing:
"…the Six-Winged Angel Medal.May the Lord of Holy Light bless you.Signed, Eric Fischer, Archbishop of the Nait Empire."
"...Six-Winged Angel Medal?"
Hel murmured in confusion as she accepted the ceremonial knight's sword and a small golden badge from Pamela.
The badge bore an engraving of three pairs of angelic wings, with the blade of a knight's sword—symbol of the Nait Empire—etched before them.
Clearly, it was an honor personally issued by the Imperial Church.
Seeing Hel's puzzled look, Pamela leaned closer, her voice soft and warm as she explained:
"You must have heard how the Church categorized Saint Vivian's journey home into seven great tribulations and fourteen lesser trials, yes?
Each of the seven great ones involved the appearance of a king-ranked combatant.Except for the first—when you rescued the Saint from the execution platform—most required tremendous power to overcome.
And you, Count Hel, were responsible for two and a half of them."
"Two and a half?" Hel echoed, brow furrowing slightly.
By her count, that included saving Vivian the first time and defeating Imshi's avatar… but what was the half?
Pamela chuckled softly, lowering her voice again.
"Count Hel's puppet horse was a tremendous help during our journey back.In the battle at the capital of Selphis, if not for that marvelous steed, both the Saint and I would have perished."