Chapter 206

The Star Child’s favorite flower was the pure white rose.

“Kugh!”

“Guhk!”

“Ugh!”

The three dukes, who were among the top 5 in the Platinum Numbering, were knocked away in an instant.

Frontkeeper was also torn to shreds.

At the center of the three dukes was the Star Child, spinning and firing his dual pistols.

The aftermath was no joke, as if he were firing missiles, not bullets.

From afar, it looked like a bouquet of white roses.

‘Incredible! What I did was just a mere imitation!’

Other Platinum Knights, sensing the dukes’ crisis, began to join in.

Against a total of 17 Platinum Knights, including the support that came over to the Star Child's side as Lukfels' power waned, the Star Child was, on the contrary, winning.

“Kugh, this is impossible!”

“He’s this strong?!”

He overwhelmed the Platinum Knights, each called a hero, a champion, and humanity's strongest force.

‘That is, the Diamond Knight!’

Furthermore, the Star Child’s cloak was the Majesty of the Mountain, one of the Nature Five, and in his possession was the Chalice of Faith, one of the Holy Relics of Cosmos.

The current Star Child was the strongest warrior that even a Demon Lord could not carelessly touch.

With numerous sacrifices as fertilizer, Sebastian was able to reach the bottom of the castle wall built by the Knight of the Earth, Gulat.

However, in the end, he could not overcome the sturdy castle wall and had to stop.

“You shall not pass.”

Gulat, the Platinum Knight holding a shield in one hand and a mace in the other, blocked my path.

The mace, which must have weighed hundreds of kilograms, was aimed straight at me.

“Disarm yourself. Reveal your identity.”

“We have to fight, Lilac.”

“Yes, Master! I’m ready!”

It was a battle against a Platinum Knight.

It was impossible not to be nervous.

What about my full strength?

Know-It-All and Wild Instinct, Firearm Master Lv 1, Saint Gunner’s Dual Pistols Lv 3, Ulvhadin’s Vow Bullet Lv 1, Movement Lv 10, Star Constellation Advent.

The Firearm Master skill was low.

Wouldn't it be insufficient against a Platinum Knight?

Furthermore, Ulvhadin’s Vow Bullet was a power granted by the Hunting God in the process of mastering Wild Instinct, but I hadn't even had time to learn it from William, so I didn't even know how to use it.

As for items, I had a few shotguns and dual pistols, the Black Knight Armor Hound, Eternal Bullets, magic bullets, the Rosary of Grace, and the Finest Holy Diamond Bullet.

In fact, I was confused.

I had gained many powers, but there were few that I could handle skillfully.

However, I was confident in the total amount of my power.

‘By clashing with my full strength….’

I had to defeat the Platinum Knight.

My heart pounded.

It throbbed.

‘But why.’

It was strange.

‘Do I feel like I won't lose?’

Because I had a trump card.

In preparation for a situation like this, the Star Child had told me about ‘Star Constellation Advent’.

The moment I raised my shotgun.

“No, I’ll take this one.”

A red greatsword is swung.

A crack forms in the castle wall with a loud creak, and Gulat’s body is pushed back.

Super-hot flames dominate the area.

“I’m sorry, Sir Gulat. We will be passing through.”

“Sir Hectia! What is the real reason for doing this?!”

“That is because I am.”

Hectia assumes a stance.

Flames erupt from the red greatsword.

A disciplined aura, a resolve to fight with the intent to kill the opponent.

“A teacher.”

Hectia shot forward like a rocket and clashed with Gulat's mace.

The ground split, and flames erupted, a phenomenon akin to a natural disaster.

‘This is, the Knight of Flames…!’

He was powerful when dealing with cadets, but at that time, his purpose was education.

But now… it was a real fight between Platinum Knights.

They wouldn't take each other's lives, but they were both Platinum Knights and they were confronting each other for different purposes.

They couldn't win unless they fought with the intent to kill.

“Kuhuk!”

“Hurry!”

While Gulat was pushed back, Hectia shouted at me.

At that moment, from behind, with a roar like a thunderclap, Lilac's anti-materiel sniper rifle was fired.

The magic bullet pierced through the wind and dug deep into the castle wall with its momentum.

Its penetrating power was phenomenal, but the explosion that manifested afterward was the real deal.

Red flames erupted from within, and one side of the castle wall Gulat had built collapsed with a rumble.

“Sebastian!”

[Woof!]

Sebastian started running towards the hole in the castle wall.

“You’re not going!”

“You bastards!”

With the defense line on the verge of being breached, the remaining Platinum Knights hurriedly rushed to block the collapsed castle wall, but.

“Where do you think you’re going! 【Grow, Thorns of Steel!】”

Hailey’s nature magic blocked the Platinum Knights’ path.

“Whoa! Sir Platinum Knight, you can’t go from here!”

“Hmph, what a pain in my old age.”

Jewel of Exploration, with daggers in both hands, shot around like a flash of lightning to block the Platinum Knights, and Villemon of Herbology also used pre-made magitools to hold them in check.

“You cannot pass from here!”

Faris of Quesharow.

With a bow in his hand, he made the Platinum Knights flinch with his family's secret technique, reminiscent of a carpet bombing.

However, the opponents were seasoned veterans.

Three of them broke through the academy teachers’ defense and blocked my path.

“You’re tough. But this is the end!”

“Entry beyond this point is not permitted!”

The aura emitted by the two Platinum Knights was powerful.

But, the remaining one… was a familiar face.

Our eyes met.

She let out a deep sigh.

“I am an expensive body. And besides, there are two Platinum Knights.”

“What do you want?”

The crow-like red eyes drew a curve.

“There would be nothing more to ask for if you would just cut a steak with me at the capital's best restaurant later.”

At the same time, the Crow Empress drew her sword and attacked the two Platinum Knights on her left and right.

“Gahk?!”

“What, is this!”

“I’m sorry. But I.”

The Crow Empress Anette.

She too had been summoned by the Buster Order.

“Must stand on that side!”

Crow feathers scattered in all directions, and crimson lightning struck with a roar.

With a slash of her sword, the two Platinum Knights were sent flying.

However, the opponents were also Platinum Knights.

They reacted even to a surprise attack.

The Platinum Knights, with a sword and a spear respectively, rushed at Anette.

“Kugh!”

Anette was pushed back.

Because the Buster Order crest on the back of her hand was overloaded, putting a strain on her body.

“Hurry! My power is weakening! I don't know what it is, but isn't that the destination?!”

“Thank you!”

The time limit was 10 minutes.

No, now there wasn't even 8 minutes left.

I had to hurry.

“Leap, Sebastian!”

Sebastian dashes.

He dodges the sword auras, arrows, and magic of the Platinum Knights flying from afar, passes between the two Platinum Knights that Anette is holding back, and leaps.

In the end, Sebastian, carrying me and Lilac, jumped over the castle wall.

“Master…! Ahead! The door is opening!”

As I was looking for where to enter, I saw the large door of the research institute opening.

Inside was a huge, empty warehouse.

‘Anyway, that’s the only entrance.’

The rest was impossible to enter due to the strong magical defenses.

With a time limit, I had to enter even if I knew it was a trap.

Sebastian entered through the open entrance.

‘This place.’

There was really nothing.

Floor, ceiling, walls.

Everything was clean.

A space without a single useless decoration.

Like the interior of a newly built building.

Just then, what I thought was a wall opened, and someone walked in.

“I’ve been waiting.”

The people who blocked my path were.

“…What are you, guys.”

* * *

“We’ll join you.”

“No.”

He dismissed Bord’s opinion.

“Gilbert!”

“No, no matter how I think about it, no. Fighting Martin is just wrong.”

“Lord Gilbert…!”

“Mary, it can’t be helped. I’ve already made a contract.”

Fortunately, only Gilbert had made a pact with the Director.

The others were free from the contract.

“Guys, I honestly don't know.”

Gilbert, who was supposed to be the protagonist of this world, was alienated.

He didn't know how this whole mess had happened.

He had simply answered the Director's call and walked into his sweet temptation.

“I don't know enough to judge who is just and who is evil.”

However, the narrative of Gilbert's life remained.

The Fallen Crown Prince of the Cosmos Empire.

The title of the original work and Gilbert's identity.

The 'truth' that the Director had shown was enough to make Gilbert, with such a narrative, grit his teeth and fulfill the contract.

“The Humanity Preservation Agency, an international organization that protects humanity from disasters. And the teachers of the academy, Martin, the Star Child, and the Peacemakers.”

Both were clearly just.

So why were they fighting?

He decided not to think about the reason for now.

For now, it was for Gilbert's own narrative.

“So, for now, I’ll just fight to get what I want.”

“I will follow you.”

Lina stood by Gilbert's side.

The descendant of the Ivlin family, the guardian knights of the Cosmos Imperial Family.

Her participation was also a matter of course.

While the Director, Elisha, Bord, and Mary just watched, the two of them headed to the prepared battlefield.

Gilbert drew his sword and took the lead.

It wasn't just any sword.

Since his identity was revealed anyway, what he held in his hand was the treasured sword of the Cosmos Imperial Family.

A black blade that seemed to absorb light, with shining decorations embedded here and there.

It was as if the universe had been compressed into it.

“Let’s go, Lina. Martin has arrived.”

“Yes, Lord Gilbert. No….”

Lina corrects herself.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

They open the door and pass through a long corridor.

At the end of the corridor, another door is visible.

As they open the door in tension, they see him.

[Grrrrr….]

A giant hound.

As imposing as a demonic beast that devoured a god, as described in the great wars of mythology.

Two people were riding on it, one of whom was a maid.

She was wearing a pure white robe and holding an anti-materiel sniper rifle.

However… the person riding in front.

Neither the hound nor the maid could compare to that person.

‘Martin.’

Martin’s appearance, wearing a pure white robe over his Ulvhadin uniform, was overwhelming.

His eyes shone with a piercing light, and his expression was merciless.

The shotgun in his hand was even menacing.

‘Ah.’

A drop of sweat from the tip of his chin falls to the floor.

Plop.

At that sound, Gilbert could also realize it.

‘I’m nervous.’

Cold sweat was pouring down.

His blood felt cold, as if it had frozen.

His combat senses were screaming like crazy.

The opponent in front of him, Martin, was a formidable enemy.

A great figure who had overcome many sacrifices to rise up and even transcend his own destiny to reach the stars.

‘I’m scared.’

That gaze, that muzzle.

The muzzle that had shot countless Demon Lords and executed demons.

I knew Martin’s growth rate best.

To think that that frighteningly steep power would be directed at me, my body couldn’t help but tremble.

This wasn’t a spar or a duel assessment, but a real battle.

Lives might be at stake.

Nevertheless, he couldn't avoid it.

He tightly gripped the treasured sword of Cosmos, which symbolized the universe.

“I’ve been waiting.”

Gilbert and Lina stood as if they were heroes facing a demon king.

If comparing Martin to a demon king seems strange, I ask you to stand here with them.

“…What are you, guys.”

The aura Martin was exuding now was more than that of a demon king.

The pure white robe Martin was wearing was stored in the bracelet on his right arm.

His revealed expression was not good at a glance.

Martin looked down at me with a coldly angry face and said.

“Move, Gilbert. I have no time to humor your games.”

“I can't do that.”

The treasured sword of the Cosmos Imperial Family is aimed at Martin.

Martin’s expression crumpled at the sight of the sword.

“Why are you suddenly doing this?”

“I made a contract with the Director. To guard this place for today.”

“That damn contract, just ignore it.”

“…It was a vow made on my mana.”

“….”

Martin falls silent.

If one breaks a vow made on their mana, they could suffer a permanent disability.

No, it was almost a certainty.

It was that absolute of a contract.

“So that’s how it is.”

The air turns cold.

‘The space, is being dominated!’

Martin’s aura began to dominate this place, space and all.

Gilbert raised his sword.

He had made analogies of hero and demon king, but Martin was not a demon king… and he himself was even less of a hero.

It was just a difference of opinion.

They were just clashing, with their beliefs and goals on the line.

‘I’m scared.’

But the opponent was that Martin.

The Princess' Black Knight, the guardian of the World Tree, a member of the Fog Island capture team, a Peacemaker, the Hound of Ulvhadin.

‘I’m using my full power.’

Perhaps for the first time in his life.

With the Imperial Family’s treasured sword, his armament and mindset were different.

‘But I don’t know.’

He couldn’t be more unsure of victory.

He had a bad feeling that he might lose to Martin.