[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
Chapter 134
Princess Arina blinked.
Her eyes, which had been as if covered by a veil, now regained their original sight.
With an expression of disbelief, she looked at Zeke in front of her.
"Z-Zeke? H-how...?"
Zeke said in a calm voice,
"Princess, I am actually a Healer class."
Of course, he was now an Immortal class, but he simply said Healer class because the explanation would be too complicated.
Princess Arina was surprised by Zeke's words.
Then, she slowly nodded.
"I thought it might be possible since you're Laura's son. But... being a Healer class and performing miracles are different things."
"What do you mean by miracles? I always thought this was normal Healing."
Princess Arina shook her head.
"The power to restore lost eyesight cannot be simple Healing. If all Healers had that power, there would be no sick people in this world."
Zeke nodded, listening to Princess Arina's words.
In fact, he had never seen another Healer besides himself in his previous life, so he had never thought about what normal Healing was like.
'I thought all Healers could do it because I could.'
Princess Arina slowly got up, leaned forward, and reached out to caress Zeke's face.
She gently touched his nose, chin, and eyebrows with a smile.
"Touching you like this reminds me. You resemble Laura, Zeke."
Princess Arina returned to her seat and looked around the mansion with wonder, as well as at Zeke.
"When did you lose your eyesight?"
"When Sir Fab led us out of the church, I was still a child. It was difficult to escape the Holy Kingdom while going through hardships. I had a high fever because of that, and after that, I couldn't see anymore."
Zeke was surprised to hear Princess Arina's words.
'It was almost 50 years ago when the Lubern bloodline escaped the Holy Kingdom...?'
He still couldn't believe her age, looking at her face.
"Zeke, look at this."
Just then, as Princess Arina opened her palm, a glowing magic circle unfolded in the air.
"What's this?"
"It's the latter part of the light magic book you brought. You could say it's the essence of Lubern magic."
"I see the first and second halves are quite different."
"The first half contained basic magic formulas. As you know, even if you know the magic formulas, the only ones who can use them are the Lubern bloodline, and only those who inherited light magic."
"Then, are you the only one who can use light magic, Princess?"
"For now. But now that I've inherited the latter part of the magic, things will change."
"What do you mean?"
"The latter part consists of activation formulas that can freely transfer light magic formulas."
Zeke was surprised to hear Princess Arina's words.
"You mean, you can teach light magic to other Lubern descendants besides yourself, Princess?"
"That's right. And it's also possible to imbue items with light magic. Although it requires rare materials."
"Oh my god. Then you can give the Rose Knights artifacts imbued with light magic. Like the holy knights of Lubern in the past."
Princess Arina nodded with a smile.
As if remembering something, Zeke took out the Orichalcum sword he had.
"This is the sword forged from the Orichalcum hammer that Sir Fab had. There were three light magics engraved on it."
"That must be a precious treasure given only to Arch Paladins in the Holy Kingdom. I don't think anyone other than Zeke can use that sword. Currently, there are no holy knights like Sir Fab."
"Ah, then I suppose I was able to use it because I'm a Healer class."
"That's part of it, but even for a Lubern descendant, it's difficult to handle such a powerful weapon. Orichalcum, as it's called the metal of the gods, boasts great power, so it chooses its owner."
Zeke tilted his head at Princess Arina's words.
'Really? I don't remember thinking much about it when I used it.'
Zeke didn't realize that he was different from ordinary people.
He sheathed the Orichalcum sword and asked,
"By the way, Master Golin, the craftsman, said that the Lubern dynasty knew the technique to create Orichalcum. Is that true?"
The princess shook her head.
"Our ancestors might have known the technique, but there's no record of it being passed down."
"I see."
Zeke's curiosity was somewhat satisfied.
He asked Princess Arina one last question.
"What are the Rose Knights' plans for the future?"
Princess Arina's expression slightly darkened at those words.
She slowly opened her mouth.
"Not only the Holy Kingdom, but also the Rom Empire is hunting down, capturing, and imprisoning the descendants of Lubern. We intend to save them."
"Why are they doing that? In the current situation, the descendants of the Lubern dynasty don't have any justification or power to overthrow the kingdom or the empire."
Arina looked at Zeke and said,
"It's to find those who can use the miracle you showed."
Zeke was surprised at those words.
"Oh my god. You're saying they're capturing hundreds of Lubern descendants just to find a strong Healer?"
"The miracle that can cure any disease is a gift from God that all those in power covet."
Zeke felt a slight chill at those words.
In his previous life, he was able to avoid being caught in the Healer hunt because he was a hitman in the south after being expelled from the academy.
He had avoided their surveillance because he wasn't a descendant of Lubern, but if he had realized his talent as a Healer early on and used his abilities, he might have been mistaken for a Lubern descendant and captured by the church.
'I thought my previous life was the worst, but it could have been even worse.'
The thought of being imprisoned in the church's underground prison and spending his entire life treating the illnesses of those in power was horrifying.
Zeke snapped out of his thoughts and said to the princess,
"You'll need power to save the Lubern bloodline."
Princess Arina nodded.
"There's no justice without power."
Although she looked delicate, her eyes and voice were gentle yet strong.
Zeke made her an offer.
"I'll help you achieve the Rose Knights' goals. How about cooperating with me?"
Princess Arina said with a surprised expression,
"With Draker?"
Zeke shook his head.
"No. I'm forming a private knight order called the Black Sword Knights. Think of it as cooperating with that knight order. If you cooperate, I'll provide the Rose Knights with the facilities, operating funds, and information you need."
Princess Arina fell into thought at Zeke's unexpected offer.
After a while, she slowly opened her mouth.
"If we accept your offer, what do we have to do? We're curious if we also have to become Black Sword Knights and follow your orders, Sir Zeke."
Zeke shook his head.
"It's literally a cooperative and allied relationship. I will ask the Rose Knights for help, but you can refuse if you don't want to."
Hearing Zeke's proposal, Arina said with a troubled expression,
"The conditions are too favorable for us. Sir Zeke, you can't make deals like this."
Princess Arina spoke as if admonishing a young nephew.
Then Zeke opened his mouth.
"I never make offers that put me at a disadvantage."
"Then what is this offer?"
"The faction I'm opposing has joined hands with suspicious people who handle malice. To fight against them, I need the power of the Rose Knights, who can use light magic."
Zeke proposed an alliance with the Rose Knights with Abyss, who was connected to Abel, in mind.
He could use the power of purification where he was, but if the demon's subordinates or monsters attacked their base, they would be defenseless.
He wanted to borrow the power of light as a countermeasure.
Princess Arina finally nodded after hearing Zeke's words.
"Okay. If it's for that, I think we can help you too."
Princess Arina held out her hand, and Zeke took it.
***
Clone cried for almost half a day after seeing Princess Arina's eyes recover.
Princess Arina told her that her eyes got better after inheriting the latter part of the magic book.
Clone grabbed Zeke's hand, who brought the magic book, and expressed her gratitude.
"Sob... I thought all good Drakers were dead Drakers. But I was wrong. Thank you, thank you so much. Sob..."
Zeke was barely able to calm Clone, who was crying her eyes out.
Princess Arina decided to move the Rose Knights' headquarters to Agamemnon Castle in Mycenae.
It seemed that Tempel was too dangerous because outsiders could easily come and go, increasing the risk of exposure.
However, it was quite difficult for paladin pursuers to enter Mycenae, which had relatively strict procedures for outsiders and was far from the Holy Kingdom.
But there was a problem while preparing to move to Mycenae.
Zeke frowned as he received a report from the Syndicate informants who were monitoring the paladins in Tempel.
"The paladins are blocking all the roads out of Tempel."
The paladin unit that lost Clone and Zeke's party had planned to block all the roads in the city and restrict movement.
Hearing the news, Clone was furious.
"Those goddamn paladins! I'll go and wipe them all out!"
Sister Clone was fuming with rage.
After a brief thought, Zeke calmed the agitated Clone and explained his plan.
"Felix, Liam. Take the princess and go to Mycenae first with Sister Clone. I'll lure the paladins away by drawing their attention."
Princess Arina was surprised at those words.
"N-no! We can't sacrifice you, Sir Zeke! I'll help you."
Zeke shook his head.
"I know you haven't fully recovered your strength yet after the inheritance ritual. Don't worry, Princess. If it's just me, I can lure them away and escape safely."
"But..."
Felix, who was next to her, also reassured Arina.
"Princess, my lord is someone who won't die even if you kill him, so you don't have to worry... Ouch!"
Felix always seemed to get punished.
In the end, as Zeke wished, he decided to leave first and lure the paladins away.
'It'll be fine since Clone and Liam are with them.'
He changed into mercenary clothes, messed up his hair, and headed towards the checkpoint to Atlas through the main road.
It was faster to go to Mycenae from Atlas via Phantas than to go directly from Tempel to Mycenae.
That's why Zeke planned to lure the paladins blocking the road to Atlas.
Zeke, moving among the people trying to pass through the checkpoint, noticed something suspicious at the checkpoint.
'Those bastards are Hounds.'
Zeke gritted his teeth, recognizing the unique aura of the Hounds.
Unlike paladins, Hounds were adept at tracking and espionage.
If even the Hounds caught his scent and chased after him, it could be dangerous to go to Atlas like this.
Disguised paladins were also visible around the checkpoint.
Observing them, Zeke noticed that the Hounds and paladins were looking at each other suspiciously.
'Hmm, it seems they don't know who each other are.'
After some thought, Zeke decided to make the Hounds and paladins clash.
He called Richmond in his mind.
'Richmond.'
Richmond, who was excitedly researching the monster bones and demonic artifacts he brought from the Barbarian territory, was surprised by Zeke's sudden contact.
'Gasp, Master.'
'You and I need to work together.'
'What?'
***
The Hounds and paladins, disguised on the main road and waiting for the Rose Society, were each vigilantly observing their surroundings.
And then, at some point,
Thud! Thud!
A monster resembling a giant lizard emerged from the depths of the forest.
Kyaaaaa!
Gurab's magnificent roar echoed throughout the checkpoint.
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]