Slice—!
The piercing sound of a person's throat being cut spread throughout the area.
Suddenly, Vitura's head fell to the ground.
Rani paused briefly with her head lowered, not moving an inch.
A moment that lasted just one second at most.
However, that short moment felt like an eternity to Rani.
'Ah… Lord Vitura.'
She hoped that time would not move for an eternity.
She hoped that everything would freeze just like this.
It was because the person she had to mourn was not the man who sacrificed himself for Ayula's children, but Zipfel's unsightly puppet.
Peuagh…!
Hot blood spurted from Vitura's neck and splattered onto her face.
A few drops splashed into her eyes.
Blood and tears mixed together, flowing down from her eyes.
"Father!"
Rani shouted, her voice cracking with emotion, as she looked at the fake holy king.
However, the father she was calling for must've been the real Holy King McLan, who was already in Ayula's embrace.
"Father, Father! No, this can't be happening. This can't be. Father, why are you doing this…?!"
Rani threw herself forward and hugged the fake holy king.
She immediately used divine healing magic but the hole in the fake holy king's neck was already fatal.
Vitura had made sure his end was definite.
The fake holy king's crown had fallen to the ground, soaked in blood.
The clanging of steel colliding with iron, the shouts and shrieks of the paladins, and the groans of the anxious people spread out dizzyingly.
Rani's desperate cries stood out amongst all the sounds.
Those who were loyal, those who were traitors, and the people.
Regardless of who they were, they could all feel the ominous feelings coming from Rani's voice.
This death was bound to be shocking, both to those who knew that the holy king was a fake and those who did not.
"His Majesty, His Majesty has fallen!"
"Chief Commander Vitura Velter killed…!"
"Priests, heal His Majesty immediately!"
The one who called for the priests was one of the leaders of the Protectors of the Doctrine…
The reason he shouted out like that, despite knowing that the fake holy king was already dead, was because the priests in the procession were all dogs of Zipfel.
Now that both Vitura and the fake holy king were dead, there was only one thing that the dogs of Zipfel could do.
They had to somehow secure the survivors of the Living Golem experiments.
Only by disposing of the most critical evidence that would hinder ZIpfel would they be able to even slightly escape the blame for the king's assassination.
Since the holy king had died in front of everyone, the Zipfel Clan were bound to only protect those who had made significant contributions.
"Get out of the way, out of the way! I must look after His Majesty!"
The priests in the procession behind the chariot began to enter the battlefield.
However, the chaos only increased as the subjects who witnessed the death of the fake king began to flee.
In front of Rani, the Paladins of the Golden Shield and the Protectors of the Doctrine continued to fight.
"Protectors of the Doctrine! Capture all the heretics alive!"
It was only then did Rani stop her act of sobbing for the death of the fake holy king in her arms.
"You of the Golden Shield! No matter what happens, do not let the Protectors of the Doctrine get them. There must be a reason why they and Vitura committed treason to attempt to kill them!"
"Rani Salome, you dare call us traitors! It was because you were unable to protect the king that His Majesty suffered. Who are you calling a traitor?! I'll rip you apart!"
"Paladins of the Golden Shield, follow the words of Rani Salome. Block the traitors! Protect the citizens near Rani!"
The loyalists of the Golden Shield organized their ranks. As those personally selected by Vitura, their unity shone even in the midst of the terrible battle.
"Golden Shields, look carefully. What you bastards are doing is the very definition of betrayal. Putting the subjects aside, shouldn't you at least allow a path for the priests to reach His Majesty? His Majesty may still be alive. If His Majesty were to die because he was unable to receive treatment, then you bastards…"
"His Majesty died from Vitura Velter's dagger, and you who followed his orders will pay for His Majesty's death."
"Go!"
Although outnumbered, the Golden Shield was overwhelming the Protectors of the Doctrine.
However, it was the Golden Shield who were anxious.
Vrvrvrr…!
A tremor could be felt from outside the square.
Knights wearing heavy armor were riding on horseback.
Since the situation had gotten to this point, it was only natural that Zipfel would send their pawns.
'Kid.'
Murakan, who was mixed in the crowd, whispered to Jin.
'What?'
'If it looks like Rani can't hold out, should we help? If anything happens to her, then not only will your decision to repay her favor go to shit, but Vitura's sacrifice will be in vain.'
'That won't happen.'
'How will she stop them?'
'She can't. If there's no one left in the holy kingdom to help Rani, that is.'
As soon as Jin answered, another group of paladins and soldiers from the Protectors of the Doctrine arrived.
At first glance, there were more than a hundred of them, and the line of soldiers that had been deployed to control the people was by no means a small force.
"Kill the traitors, and capture Rani Salome and the heretics alive!"
As the newly arrived commander shouted, the paladins broke through in perfect rank and the soldiers pushed back the subjects with their spears.
'But the people won't be able to accept this situation. Even to a fool, the one causing the rebellion is clearly the Protectors of the Doctrine.'
Had it only been a confrontation between the Protectors of the Doctrine and the Golden Shield, things would have been different.
But the fact that Vitura had killed the fake holy king was decisive.
"We must protect His Majesty's daughter!"
"We'll never hand Lord Rani to you! Killing His Majesty wasn't enough for you, and now you want Lord Rani as well?! You dirty Zipfel minion bastards…!"
"Do you not feel ashamed before Ayula?!"
"Block them, block them with your body!"
Suddenly, the subjects in the square began rushing to the battlefield.
She was the daughter of Holy King McLan, who had always been loved by his subjects.
From the subjects' point of view, the Protectors of the Doctrine were the world's most despicable bastards. Ones who had killed the king in front of his daughter on the day of the festival.
Additionally, while Rani and the Golden Shield's actions had been sensible throughout the incident, the Protectors of the Doctrine only appeared to blatantly be trying to capture the survivors.
All while spouting nonsense about healing the holy king who was clearly dead and demanding that a path be opened.
-It's true that the Zipfel Clan and Kinzelo completely control the leadership of the holy kingdom, but they did not control the subjects as well. And that was thanks to their alliance breaking up, causing them to miss the opportunity to spread propaganda among the people.
-You must definitely elicit sympathy from the people.
-I'm going to become a very convincing villain.
This was the conversation that had happened between Jin and Vitura last night.
Jin didn't know this, but in his previous life, the people had already been indoctrinated with propaganda at this point.
Thus, no one paid any attention to Rani, who had become dejected.
Rani and Vitura gave up on the holy kingdom, exhausted from their lonely battle, and disappeared without a word.
But now, because of Jin, history had changed.
With the conditions for revealing the truth fully being met.
"What are you doing?! You must be aware how serious of a crime it is to protect a heretic! Move! I said to m-move…!"
The face of the leader of the Protectors of the Doctrine, who had been shouting full of vigor, gradually became distorted.
This was because it wasn't just one person blocking the paladins of the Protectors of the Doctrine.
All the subjects who filled the square were throwing themselves forward for Rani's sake.
The soldiers who were thrusting with their spears were actually being pushed back, and the paladins were unable to do anything but repeat the same thing.
"I said move out the way!"
If it had been any day other than the Advent Festival, they would have moved forward even if it meant spilling the blood of innocent people.
However, if they did that during this time, they would inevitably face even bigger backlash than if the Living Golem victims survived to testify.
It wasn't just one or two people watching.
Hundreds of reporters from around the world were looking closely.
Massacring their own people in a situation like this would be literally insane.
Even with Zipfel at their backs, it wouldn't be something they could deal with.
"Lord Rani, the Golden Shield! We're here for you!"
"Don't worry and fight back. Protect the children who were dragged to Zipfel's laboratory!"
"Ayula will bring judgment upon you…!"
There are very few things in the world scarier than an angry crowd.
The Protectors of the Doctrine observed their surroundings, unable to take any action carelessly.
Rani didn't shed any more tears.
Traces of dried bloody tears were clearly visible around her eyes.
The only thing that was in her gaze was Vitura's head, lying on the floor.
He was smiling faintly.
While countless voices and noises disturbed the square, Rani knelt down next to the fake holy king.
'Whether death allows you to rest, or if it's a heavy, dark place of fatigue. In Ayula's benevolent embrace, your soul will be free, all your past pain will be in good humor that brings you joy…'
It was a prayer whispered so softly that it could barely be heard.
But even still, it was like the wind blowing.
Just as blades of grass are blown by the wind, the subjects who had been involved in evil sat down one by one and closed their eyes.
"All your past pain will be in good humor that brings you joy… The burden you leave behind will be passed on to one like you, becoming the ingredients for their breakfast, and the person sharing that burden will also become someone like you…"
There was no one among the subjects who did not know that prayer.
It was truly a surreal sight.
Even outsiders were moved by the prayer and closed their eyes or bowed their heads to express their sincerity.
The paladins of the Golden Shield also sheathed their weapons and knelt down.
Soon, even the paladins from the Protectors of the Doctrine, who had been observing, joined in the prayer.
If it weren't for the scraps of metal and blood on the floor, no one would have believed that a battle had just taken place.
As the prayer was ending, a man quietly approached Jin.
'Young master.'
'You've arrived, Dino.'
Dino Zeglun.
A figure now prominently called the young great reporter within the world of journalism.
As soon as he received Jin's call, he rushed to the holy kingdom and was preparing the article.
'The records left by Mertual Scylla are ready to be published as an article. We focused on parts that were similar and related to the Kollon tragedy, and on the actual damage to the Holy Kingdom of Vankella.'
'Good job. Is there any way for the Zipfel to worm their way out of this one?'
'There isn't. There's too much evidence that can be used to prove that Zipfel's leadership was directly involved, so they won't be able to cut off a few people as scapegoats. And as you said, the biggest factor is that the Kinzelo group has Kal Zipfel.'
Dino smiled and continued talking.
'Perhaps this incident may mark the end of the era where the Zipfel Clan is seen as virtuous.'