The Book Eating Magician (193+)

Chapter 231

Elsid's Gifts #2

It was that night.

Meltor’s commanders, who had been resting in their rooms, were escorted somewhere by knights. The destination didn’t seem to be a public place like the hall where executions took place. Every time they took a step, the shadows lengthened and their guess was proven correct.

Theodore, Orta, Vince, and Bors took their own paths and soon arrived at the same place.

“I’m sorry for making you come so late at night.” Sure enough, the haggard looking Elsid was waiting for them in a secret room.

That wasn’t all. From Marquis Piris to Baek Jongmyung who had become the marquis of Atron, all of the king’s closest associates were present. These were the people who would lead the next generation of the Soldun Kingdom. It was too big a group for empty flattery or gifts.

‘If so, is there another reason?’ Theodore’s brow furrowed as he grasped the meaning. If all the leaders were gathered together, this meant it was for more than simply saying ‘thanks’ to Meltor.

The conditions were normal, so it wasn’t easy to think of an answer. In such a case, it meant there weren’t enough clues to come to a conclusion yet, or that the hand prepared by the other party was unprecedented.

What did Elsid call them to talk about exactly?

Four pairs of eyes turned to Elsid, and he raised his right hand like he had been waiting for this moment. Then one of the knights standing behind him disappeared into a secret passage. Then Elsid’s firmly closed mouth opened, “The full story will begin after ‘that’ is brought out… but I will say a few words before that.”

The young man, who had become king, looked around with dignified eyes, and spoke with a much more solemn face than before. “First of all, I would like to express my deep appreciation for Meltor’s help. You have your own interests, but that doesn’t change the fact that you helped us. As long as this body of mine is on the throne, think of us as solid allies.”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s words.”

“But I am well aware of how meaningless words are when it comes to international relations. So, I prepared my own sincerity.”

The moment that Orta was about to reply…

“Your Majesty, here is the sinner.” The knight who had disappeared into the secret passage a short while ago returned pulling a large chain. The clanging sound of the metal echoed in the confined space, but nobody complained about the noise. It was because the subject was more important than the chains.

“This…!”

“Crusader!”

Vince and Viscount Carter cried out first.

It was the sword of the Lairon Kingdom, Crusader Ruben.

The paladin who had been captured on the Babarino Plains now appeared before them. Both of his legs had been cut off and left untreated, while the thick chains wrapped around his arms and chest looked like they could be used with an anchor for a sailboat. Something had been placed in his mouth to prevent him from recovering his divine power. It was made of ogre tendons which even a killer whale would find hard to chew.

Elsid looked down at him with cold eyes and ordered, “Release only his mouth.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” With an iron gauntlet, the knight pulled out the string, which was made of tendons, from Ruben’s mouth. In the process, some parts of Ruben’s lips were torn, but nobody rebuked the knight.