After the battle ended, Jin teleported to the tower gate; he was nearly broken. He fell to his knees and crawled on his hands. The tower officials tried to stop him, but he was already at the gate and entered.
As soon as he entered, he took out another scroll, tore it immediately, and teleported inside the tavern.
Hans and Borin were sitting as usual, until the boy Anya teleported inside.
He appeared and stood on his feet, but before anyone had a chance to speak, Jin collapsed to the ground unconscious.
Ten days later ... At the Main Temple in the Holy Kingdom
Inside a spacious room, beautiful and filled with decorations and portraits of people who seemed to have passed away, there was a massive glass window at the end. In front of it was a desk, and sitting in the huge chair behind it was a man. He was looking out the window, his face not visible, while Lucian stood before the desk.
The man spoke calmly without turning to look at Lucian:
— So… someone your same age, and you are only slightly stronger than him?
Lucian: Yes, and he possesses a skill that rivals the "Judgment Ray."
— … Do you believe he is the Saint of the Dark Temple as Neil claims?
Lucian: No, I don't think so. If that were the case, he would have come with others.
— … Lucian… speak frankly, what was that skill he used? Was it originally dark magic or something different?
Lucian hesitated for a moment; a sort of sadness appeared on his face, and he did not want to tell the truth.
Lucian: Honestly... she told me that this is "Void Magic."
The man went silent for a few moments, appearing to be knowledgeable about such matters.
— So… she was the one who told you?
Lucian: Yes, and when I witnessed the skill, I was able to understand how it works. It disintegrates matter in a terrifying way, and that is exactly what the Lady told me.
— And what do you think of Neil's actions? Do you feel that young man was right?
Lucian: Honestly, I couldn't focus on Neil, but his actions were cold, and he wasn't afraid except at the very end of the fight.
— … And what did the Lady tell you to do regarding that young man?
Lucian: We can do as we wish, but...
— That is enough, I have fully understood the situation; you don't need to explain further. Lucian, hide your suspicions about Neil for now, and I will intervene in the matter myself tomorrow.
Lucian: Understood.
The Next Day
In a meeting room inside the Temple, Neil was sitting. In front of him were the Chief Investigator, the Archbishop of the Dark Temple, and another Chief Investigator.
Both Chief Investigators wore their official attire: long hooded cloaks and masks covering their entire faces. The only difference was in color and ornamentation.
The Archbishop of Darkness (Alistair Vance) appeared to be in his mid-seventies and exuded wisdom and calm.
Archbishop of Darkness (Alistair Vance): So, Neil… you are accusing the Dark Temple of being behind the incident? Do you realize the gravity of this accusation?
Neil: And why would I lie?
Chief Investigator of Darkness (Konrad Voss): Why are your responses so childish, Neil? Can't you speak with evidence instead of this? Your standards have truly fallen.
Tension and anger were visible on Neil's face. He was about to speak, but the Chief Investigator interrupted him.
Chief Investigator of Light (Edward Sterling): Leave Neil aside for a moment. If the attack were from an ordinary person, it would have passed, but the attacker possessed darkness attributes and even rivaled Lucian in strength. I believe the high authorities of the continent know that Lucian is the best sword talent in the entire continent; a situation like this requires our cooperation.
Neil interrupted them angrily, standing up and slamming the table.
Neil: Why are you speaking to them so calmly? Do you think there is any other possibility?
They went silent for a few moments, then Konrad released his aura powerfully and spoke in a threatening tone.
Konrad: Neil, you better realize your place. You are just a bishop, and those you are addressing are the pillars of the continent. Sit down and speak calmly, or else no one will be able to stop me from killing you.
The pressure of the aura weighed on Neil slightly, but the threat was enough to make him fall silent.
However, Investigator Edward was focused on Neil, looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze while thinking: "What is this? Isn't Neil supposed to be a clergyman with weak combat abilities? How is he enduring this pressure?"
Alistair: Calm down, Konrad. He has the right to feel doubt and anger. Now, Neil, tell us the abilities of that person and why you are so certain he is from our side.
Neil thought to himself as he sat down: "That bastard Konrad, he doesn't miss a chance to keep me from speaking as I please."
Neil: This person possessed the darkness attribute and had mastered black magic up to the fifth circle. More importantly, he used demonic arts; it was an entirely ominous aura.
Alistair: It is natural for a dark mage to master black magic. Black magic is powerful but harmful to the mind if the user does not possess the darkness attribute. It is natural for those with the attribute to seize the opportunity to master such lethal magic; this is not strange. But the demonic arts and the bloody aura—you know that the Eastern continent has the "Heavenly Demon" and his arts generate quasi-demonic mana. Why are you so sure it was true demonic arts and not from the Murim?
Neil: … Because that person's facial features were not from the Murim at all, and those evil eyes of his were a deep crimson and sharp like a beast's.
Edward: Are you joking? You know that practitioners of Chunma arts have their eyes turn that color, and there are also vampires with those traits, and also there are...
Konrad: Stop. We have set the hypothesis that he is from the Chunma sect to widen the scope of expectations, but if we accuse those people of this... you know the result.
Edward went silent for a few moments; he seemed convinced by Konrad's words, and it appeared they knew the identity of those people very well.
Alistair sighed slightly then smiled as he spoke.
— Don't let your imagination wander that far. The matter is simple for now and we shouldn't blow it out of proportion. Anyway, the Dark Temple does not currently have a young Saint, so are you sure it was only darkness?
Outside…
Lucian was wearing elegant formal clothes, but no armor at all. He was walking down the hallway toward the meeting room, with knights from both sects standing on either side of the path.
As soon as he arrived, everyone raised their swords and spears and performed a formal military salute in unison:
— We offer our salute to the Temple Saint and the Heir of Light.
Despite their differing beliefs, there were red lines that everyone followed strictly and definitively.
Lucian advanced through the ranks; he wasn't smiling as usual but looked deep in thought.
He reached the door, knocked, and entered.
He bowed and offered his salute.
Alistair: So this is Lucian? You seem like a kind young man indeed.
Edward: Let's postpone complimenting the boy for now, President. What were you saying?
Alistair: Ah right, I was asking, is Neil sure that what that young man used was only darkness?
Neil spoke in a firm tone: Yes, it was only darkness.
Lucian, standing there, looked at Neil. His eyes widened in shock; Neil was lying outright now, but in the end, he was the primary witness to that battle.
Alistair: So… if you see the matter as that important, shouldn't the Holy King meet us himself? Or at least the Grand Bishop?
Lucian interrupted in a calm tone: I don't think there is a reason for that.
Konrad looked at him and spoke angrily: What do you mean, boy?
Lucian: … Just wait for a few seconds.
Not even those few seconds had passed before shock appeared on everyone's faces. Neil, in particular, looked terrified, not just shocked. They all felt an overwhelming presence—a presence enough to terrify people of their status and strength.
The knights opened the door, and a man walked in.
He was massive, perhaps two meters tall, appearing to be in middle age. His hair was blonde and medium-length, styled back meticulously, flowing behind his ears down to his neck.
His eyes were yellow and carried a heavy, majestic weight. His clothes were as luxurious as those of a Duke.
His presence alone was so imposing it weighed down their chests despite their own power.
This person was...
The second strongest swordsman in the continent of Astrion.
The fifth strongest swordsman in the entire world.
Commander of the Paladins and candidate for the Fifth Throne.
The Ten-Star Swordsman [Kalyon Raiden].
The two investigators and the bishop stood and bowed to him, offering a warm salute.
As for Alistair, he stood up smiling, went over, and shook his hand warmly with genuine sincerity. He placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke.
— My god, you still look young, Kalyon.
Kalyon smiled as he spoke: Yes, power certainly changes one's appearance.
He looked at the investigators.
— Sit down now, no need to keep standing like that.
Kalyon sat in the chair at the center of the table.
Kalyon: Lucian, give me what you have.
Lucian stepped forward and produced a colored drawing of Jin, placing it on the table.
The expressions of Alistair and the investigators changed, and shock rose on their faces.
Alistair: This face! Could it be?
Kalyon: Yes, it is exactly as you suspect, but they will not interfere in the matter.
Kalyon shifted his gaze toward Neil, and it seemed he realized his true nature.
— Now, Lucian, leave us. There are some matters we must discuss.
Lucian left the room quietly, and the door was closed.