Risek knew exactly how he got into such a predicament. He hesitated, but there was no way back.

Sometimes he even envied Khaliat. I envy the man who, like him, walked almost exactly the same path from the Castle Forest, was able to listen to every word of Kopas without question, believed in his eternal righteousness, and wholeheartedly adhered to his "duty"—stupid and happy.

And he is undoubtedly smarter...... Also more sober. He could tell the difference between enthusiasm and fanaticism, steadfastness and paranoia, and he could see what he did in the name of God, what he was born to be human should not do. Even if there was a moment of blindness at first, he could no longer deceive himself after Copas was "smart" and he was involved more and more deeply.

If you had refused in the first place, you might not have come so far. But he remained silent, did not resist, and gradually, even stopped questioning.

Because obedience is a simpler and more advantageous thing. In a few years he had risen to heights that he had never dared to hope for, and he had been able to stand on an equal footing with a king. The awe he receives, the power he has...... He couldn't imagine what would have become of him without it.

He probably couldn't even be a normal hunter again. Copas won't let him go...... He already knew too much.

Sometimes looking at the glance of the pastor who had once made him truly beloved, he was sure that he knew that his choice had nothing to do with faith.

Perhaps that's why he's gained more trust – because he's wise enough and practical enough.

Hyarhat was indeed a fool, but once he found out that what he believed was a lie, he would not hesitate to swing his sword at those who had deceived him, and would not hesitate to give up everything he had gained because of the lie.

And Risek couldn't do it.

"Smart" is sometimes just a synonym for "cowardly".

And his greatest pain is that he chooses profit...... But he still can't leave his conscience behind, and because he guessed the final result, he was terrified, and he couldn't rest day and night. He began to avoid tasks more and more frequently for various reasons, but Copas clearly would not tolerate such evasions.

That's why he's here tonight...... This is probably the final test for him.

The dark shadows under the moon began to move slowly and silently. Everything was planned, and even the unexpected appearance of the ice dragon was not an unsolvable problem. They didn't even need his orders to do the trick - he was only here because Copas wanted to get his hands stained with blood he didn't want to stain, to completely shatter the luck he had hidden in his heart.

Yet at this point he still wavered. In fact, there is no need for him to say what he just said, everyone knows that "unintentional harm" and whether it will hurt are fundamentally different things.

That sentence, as Borena debunked, only proved his hypocrisy even more.

There was not much emotion in the king's sight, only a faint disappointment, which made his blood boil suddenly with shame, and then quickly cooled down, so cold that he shivered.

Even if he wanted to resist, he couldn't change anything. So...... And why pay a priceless price?

He stiffened his hand, trying to use his dispensable bit to keep himself from looking too ridiculous. But suddenly, someone behind him stammered: "Wait...... Wait, what the hell is going on here? We ...... What the hell are we going to do?!"

The voice was flustered and dazed, weak as if it was being pressed by something, but it was clear and piercing in the silence.

Risek's face changed instantly, and he turned his head abruptly.

He saw Yahem, naïve and lazy and useless, who had somehow become the younger brother of his admirer on the absurd excuse that Borena was "a king and could write stories", and in the midst of the shadows of his face, he raised up a pale, frightened face, and stood there like an unseemly candle, looking straight at him, desperate for an answer.

...... How did you end up here?!

His gnashing roar crushed into a low, grotesque roar in his throat that eventually came out of nowhere.

There was no need for him to move, and someone struck Yachem on the back of the head with a sharp sword, quickly dragging him aside as he fell straight up, so that the small accident would not hinder their movements.

Risek looked back at Borenna, and the last of his hesitation vanished into the gloom and fierceness of anger and fear. Even if his anger should not be directed at the person in front of him, he has no choice.

He couldn't think about whether it was a threat or a reminder, or if it was really just an accident...... He didn't think Copas would be so despicable, but he didn't dare take any chances - his family was still in his hands.

That's something he can't afford to lose more than power and status.

For a moment, it was as if time had stopped, and even the sound of shredded running water had been cut off. After that moment, both sides moved almost simultaneously.

The elf felt some kind of strange froze as he drew his twin swords—his speed slowed. The air seemed to turn into a thick liquid, and the harder he tried to swing away, the stronger the resistance to fight back. He calmly relaxed his muscles, swinging his sword as light and fast. Moonlight streamed through the thin blade, and even if the magic attached to it was ineffective, its own sharpness, tempered to the extreme, could easily slice through the flesh of its enemies.

His natural agility has been greatly reduced, but the skills he has honed over countless days and nights still make him far superior to the "paladins" who spend more time swinging their hoes than swinging their swords.

Most of them are really just farmers and hunters. It's just that at this moment, the desperate frenzy in their eyes makes them look more dangerous than real warriors, and their actions don't seem to be invisibly hindered as he is.

More cunning and powerful enemies lurk within, waiting like a viper to move. The elves are becoming familiar with that treacherous and vicious attack.

Borena has already suffered several assassinations. But the king, who seemed to be out of tune, was in fact cautious and careful, and who cherished the life he had already lost once, and not only armed himself from head to toe with all sorts of magical objects and strange gadgets, but also never left himself alone. His assassins, on the other hand, don't seem to want to reveal their true identities yet - at least not in full view of them, and because of this, they are tied up and repeatedly defeated.

In the past, they thought that these people were mercenaries, and they did do mercenary work, but more information proved that they may have been trained before the first temple of Nethers, true paladins, unscrupulous, but absolutely firm in their faith.

Borena were prepared enough to decide to put themselves in danger, but they may have underestimated their opponents.