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HELHEIM SCANS
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Chapter 200: Traitors (1)
Inside a Luxurious Room
The room was adorned with famous paintings anyone could recognize at a glance, and the chandelier hanging from the ceiling cast a radiant glow.
It resembled a high-end hotel suite, but one peculiar aspect set it apart:
There was no door.
No matter where you looked on the walls, there wasn’t a single door or even a window.
In the center of the room was a round table with three empty chairs.
Vwooong.
Light began emanating from one of the chairs.
Along with it, a hologram formed in mid-air.
The owner of the translucent holographic face was someone everyone on the continent would instantly recognize.
The current No. 2 in the Hero Rankings.
The hero who governed the Holy Kingdom, Pope Marianne.
Wearing a leisurely smile, she glanced around the empty room.
[Hmm. It seems not everyone is here yet?]
Vwooong.
From another chair, light poured out.
A new face appeared, an elderly man with a serene expression.
The current No. 3 in the Hero Rankings.
The "Thunder God," Lionel Ryu.
Marianne bowed her head slightly toward Lionel.
[It’s been a while, Principal Lionel.]
[Apologies for being late.]
[Oh, I just arrived as well.]
Marianne’s lips curved into a benevolent smile.
[Thank you for accommodating the candidates from our academy during the recent field trip.]
[Oh, it’s only natural to invest in the future heroes who will one day lead the continent.]
Marianne shrugged her shoulders casually in response, and Lionel gave her an awkward smile.
[By the way, I heard one of our candidates caused a bit of a stir….]
[Ah, if you’re referring to that, there’s no need to worry. The investigation confirmed there was no damage to the Holy Mother’s tomb.]
[I see. My apologies.]
[Hehe, it’s fine.]
The two exchanged light-hearted conversation.
[That aside….]
Lionel frowned slightly and glanced at the third empty chair.
[They’re late again.]
[Oh my, isn’t that always the case?]
[Sigh.]
Lionel let out a small sigh.
At that moment—
Vwooong.
Light began to radiate from the last remaining chair.
[Speak of the tiger.]
[Hmm, the tiger, you say….]
A languid voice echoed through the room.
Though the voice sounded almost too lazy, it carried an overwhelming charisma and authority that made one instinctively want to kneel.
[Are you comparing me to a mere beast?]
The woman who appeared had dazzling platinum blonde hair.
She was clad in a sheer nightgown-like dress that revealed her silhouette, reclining on her chair as if it were a lounge chair.
Though her laid-back demeanor resembled that of a lazy freeloader, the sheer charisma and unique aura she exuded obliterated any such impression.
The current No. 1 in the Hero Rankings,
“The Empress,” Camellia Padsha.
The imperial ruler and the undisputed pinnacle of heroes.
[A mere beast? Are you unaware that tigers are revered as divine creatures in the Republic?]
[I’m aware. However….]
Camellia turned her languid gaze to Lionel, her eyes heavy with sleep.
[Before me, all living things are mere beasts.]
[…You haven’t changed a bit.]
Lionel shook his head with an exasperated expression.
Camellia turned her attention to Marianne and continued.
[So, what were the results of this test?]
[They were astonishing.]
[Oh?]
When Marianne activated a magical device, a video appeared in the center of the table.
The footage showed a blond young man ferociously wielding his sword against members of the Seven-Star Knights.
[A child of the Helios family.]
Camellia nodded, recognizing the face.
She yawned while watching the young man’s swordplay.
[My, aren’t you surprised? This is a mere cadet who hasn’t even graduated yet, handling members of the Seven-Star Knights like children.]
[I’ve long heard that Yuren Helios possesses exceptional talent. However….]
Her half-closed eyes focused intently on Yuren’s swordplay.
[He has made significant progress since I last saw him.]
[Oh, that’s rare praise from you.]
[Heh. It’s not that I’m stingy with compliments.]
[Really? Then why does your face look so unimpressed?]
[Even if he’s improved, he’s still just a fledgling, isn’t he?]
Camellia shrugged her shoulders as she continued to watch the footage.
[Still… there are some rough gems among this batch of candidates.]
The video shifted to show Iris, Camilla, Berald, Sophia, and Lanez.
At that moment—
[…Hm?]
Camellia’s eyes, which had been drowsy moments ago, sharpened with interest.
[Pause it for a moment.]
[Why?]
The paused image showed a candidate with dark gray hair.
The candidate wielded a blade wreathed in ashen flames, effortlessly subduing a member of the Seven-Star Knights.
[Oh, that candidate….]
[Do you know them?]
[They caused a bit of a stir during the recent field trip.]
[A stir?]
[It wasn’t anything major….]
Marianne explained to Camellia the incident involving unauthorized access to the tomb.
[Hmm.]
Camellia sat up straight in her chair, her gaze fixed on the paused footage.
[Is this really something to be so surprised about?]
Lionel tilted his head as if he couldn’t understand.
[It's true that Candidate Dale subdued a member of the Seven Stars Knights, but wasn’t Candidate Yuren the same?]
If anything, the one who displayed more impressive skills was Yuren, not Dale.
While Dale had only taken down a single knight, Yuren had held his ground against nearly ten members of the Seven Stars Knights simultaneously.
[Doesn’t it seem odd?]
[What’s supposed to be odd about it?]
[The wall breaking.]
Camellia slowly raised her hand, pointing to the spot where a Seven Stars Knight had been thrown by Dale's strike.
The wall where the knight had crashed was cracked and partially shattered.
[What’s the issue with that?]
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HELHEIM SCANS
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Lionel furrowed his brows, still not understanding.
For ordinary people, creating enough force to crack a wall would be difficult, but such things were commonplace in battles between heroes.
In fact, for a fight of this caliber, a wall sustaining only minor cracks was relatively insignificant.
[Ah.]
Marianne widened her eyes as if realizing something.
[H-how…?]
Her voice trembled faintly.
[Marianne, even you? What’s the matter?]
[Hmm. You still haven’t figured it out?]
Tsk.
Camellia clicked her tongue.
[That ruin is protected by a powerful barrier.]
The ruins where the test took place served as a passageway to Grace’s tomb.
If the ruins were to collapse, Grace’s tomb underneath would be damaged.
That was why a powerful protective barrier enveloped the entire ruin.
However, in the footage, the Seven Stars Knight’s body clearly cracked the ruin’s wall.
[In other words.]
Camellia continued in a low, solemn voice.
[It means the protective barrier covering the entire ruin was breached.]
[...That doesn’t sound possible.]
Given the Sanctum’s focus on support-type abilities, their protective barriers were of the highest caliber among the three nations.
Above all, this barrier was…
[Are we saying an ordinary candidate broke the barrier Marianne created?]
The current Rank 2 hero.
A barrier created by Pope Marianne herself, using a tremendous amount of holy relics.
[This… it seems further investigation is needed.]
Marianne nodded firmly, her expression hardening.
Meanwhile, Camellia’s eyes gleamed with interest as she gazed at Dale in the footage.
[Hmm. This candidate’s name is Dale Han… was it?]
[Yes, that’s correct.]
[He’s intriguing.]
Crossing her alabaster legs sensually, Camellia folded her arms and spoke in her characteristic relaxed tone, addressing Lionel.
[Lionel, send me this candidate’s information.]
[...Releasing a candidate’s personal information to external parties is strictly prohibited.]
[Don’t worry about that. My words are law, after all.]
[...]
Lionel sighed deeply at Camellia’s brazen demand for the candidate’s private information.
[Whether you give it to me or not, the information will end up in my hands soon enough. Why make things needlessly complicated?]
True to her word, if Camellia desired information on Dale, she would obtain it by any means necessary.
That was the way of Camellia, the current Rank 1 hero, the “Empress.”
[Haah.]
With another deep sigh, Lionel transmitted Dale’s file to her.
[Hmm, wise choice.]
Camellia smirked leisurely as she caressed the golden bracelet on her wrist.
Soon, a holographic display projected Dale’s profile.
[Now, let’s see… Hm?]
Her eyes narrowed as she skimmed through the document.
[...Bottom rank? Bottom rank, seriously?]
Camellia turned to Lionel with a skeptical expression.
Lionel responded with a faint smile and a nod.
[The information is accurate.]
[If you’re trying to mock me, prepare yourself for the consequences.]
[Mock you? Knowing your temperament, why would I do something so foolish?]
[...Then, this information is correct?]
[That’s right.]
Lionel nodded as he elaborated.
[For reference, Candidate Dale is currently under suspension and awaiting disciplinary committee review for another incident.]
[...]
Camellia let out a chuckle of disbelief.
[Someone with enough power to break Marianne’s barrier is hiding that strength, is that it…]
Her eyes gleamed with intrigue.
[This… might prove useful.]
[Useful?]
[You’re aware of the “traitors” infiltrating Valhalla City, aren’t you?]
[...]
Lionel’s expression stiffened.
Camellia continued in her unhurried tone.
[I think this boy is the perfect fit.]
A formidable force whose abilities were scarcely known to the public.
There were few candidates as suitable for a “hunting dog.”
One to track down and tear apart those traitors.
[What do you think?]
Camellia asked, her lips curling into a deep smile as she looked at Principal Lionel.
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HELHEIM SCANS
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