When Arthur died in “The Blue Knight of the Holy Sword”, Laius said this:
“Sir Arthur’s noble death must not have been in vain.”
When he first read that scene, he almost lost all affection for Laius.
But now, Arendt knew all too well how much grief he must have been suppressing at that ti.
Because it was Laius who cared for his people more than anyone else.
In the face of an unavoidable death, he suppressed his emotions in such a manner.
So, even though he was rotting away inside, he was able to hold on, albeit precariously.
But as Arendt beca more actively involved in the situation, his values changed.
Laius, who had thought that so sacrifice was unavoidable for a greater cause, could no longer rationalize the sacrifice as a aningful death.
“…”
Arendt understood everything from just the brief scene he had just witnessed.
“Where can you find a good death? The guy who used to say that sacrifice is just a dog’s death, ended up like that while trying to protect himself…”
Luce continued speaking in a humming tone.
“Laius must be feeling betrayed.”
It was a rather cheerful tone, considering that he claid to be in a difficult situation because things had gotten complicated.
Arendt barely managed to turn his head to look at Luce again.
“That just now was…”
“That side is another world. There, Laius is alone with . This is a space I’ve hastily prepared for you.”
Luce proudly lifted his slender arms, as if to show off.
“The fact that this place has beco such a gloomy theater is a reflection of your subconscious. It seems that up until now, you have thoroughly regarded this world as a play.”
“…”
Arendt couldn’t answer right away.
Arendt irritably rubbed his forehead and his face, then pressed both hands to his temples.
“So… it’s all my fault now? That person ended up like that?”
Although he tried to control his emotions sohow, Arendt was eventually unable to control them.
“You shouldn’t have been the one to do that shit in the first place! Are you kidding ?”
“Well, I can’t say it’s your fault. Laius is too young.”
Luce admitted it obediently, facing Arendt’s fierce glare.
“It was the sa last ti. I chose Laius, so if we consider the fundantal part, it would be right to say that it was my fault.”
“…Wait a mont.”
Arendt, who had been listening absentmindedly, suddenly discovered a phrase that grated on his ears.
“Last ti? What are you talking about?”
“That script you saw? What do you think it was?”
Luce answered obediently.
“The Blue Knight of the Holy Sword”.
It was the novel that Lee Soo-hyun had read over and over again.
“It was a passage that I had scattered here and there, but where you were, Lee Soo-hyun, it seed to be in the form of a novel.”
Luce continued grumbling.
“Anyway, Laius failed. He ended up losing the war.”
Arendt, who had been staring blankly for a mont, asked back, doubting his ears.
“…What?”
Luce smiled broadly, seeming to like that reaction.
“To be exact, I stopped midway because I felt a sign of defeat. But Laius clearly did his best. He was as good as Khan. But the problem was that the enemies were not easy.”
“…”
Arendt was confused.
He placed his hand on his forehead and lowered his gaze.
His pupils shook uncontrollably.
Luce’s voice ca from above his head.
“That’s why I was worried. What should I do? Was there a lack of talented people by Laius’ side… you probably know what happened after that without having to say anything.”
Luce scattered the passages here and there, and Lee Soo-hyun ca into contact with the “Blue Knight of the Holy Sword”.
“To be honest, my interference with other worlds was limited to creating passageways, so I couldn’t personally select the talents I wanted and bring them. That’s why I placed restrictions on only allowing the most suitable people to pass through the passageways.”
The passage… that is, the script cast Lee Soo-hyun in the role of ‘Arendt.’
“But the problem is that you were more of a troublemaker than I imagined. You even went as far as to ddle in the wrong places. You even shook Laius’s beliefs.”
Luce burst into laughter.
“I thought about just throwing you out… but it would be hard for you to survive to the end anyway, so I thought I’d just let you do your job and die. But then I saw you survive tenaciously, so I thought, hey, this isn’t so bad.”
“…”
The eyes filled with a benevolent light curved pleasantly.
“What if Laius fails again? If that happens, I thought it would be okay to make you the next great hero.”
Arendt, who had been silent, suddenly lifted his head.
His face was now tinged with bewildernt.
“What?”
“I did help you out this ti, but there’s no guarantee that you won’t fail a second ti. But I thought you’d survive tenaciously. If Laius can’t do his part this ti, you’re the hero… that’s why.”
Luce tilted his head to the other side, choosing his words for a mont.
“Becoming the main character of this world. Isn’t that great? It seems like you have so affection for this place, so I think it’s not a bad suggestion.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
When Arendt couldn’t hold it in anymore and snapped, Luce tilted his head with a sullen expression.
“You seem to have outstanding abilities, so you might be a better talent than Laius when it cos to dealing with vicious enemies. The lack of faith is a big problem, but… I think we can do sothing about that.”
“…”
“Acting is what you do best, right? Playing the role of a hero who is sincere to God shouldn’t be difficult.”
He was speechless because it was so absurd.
Luce waved his hand with an indifferent expression.
“The most irreverent guy listens to the words of God and becos a hero. This would be a great picture, wouldn’t it?”
“That’s bullshit.”
Luce burst out laughing as curse words suddenly ca out.
“Anyway, you have such a bad temper. Well, that plan failed too. Because you did that. Ahh… what a pity.”
“You really are a crazy bastard… what on earth do you think people are?”
“Is the way you looked at Laius so different?”
Arendt, who had been growling fiercely, stopped.
Luce smiled pleasantly and ran his hand through his long, flowing hair.
“Sotis I could sense your strong thoughts. Didn’t you say you were rely an actor? That this world is a grand stage? And I… was just a prop?”
“…”
“I liked it quite a bit. Because it allowed to sum up this dizzying world in just one word.”
Luce raised both arms lightly.
It was a movent that was almost like imitating an actor on stage.
“That’s true anyway, a play is also a ritual offered to God. The conflicts that repeat in this world are no different.”
“…There are too many places to tackle, but let just ask this one thing.”
A calm voice ca out from Arendt, who had been silent for a long ti.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because darkness must not rule the world.”
He felt annoyed again when he got an overly concise answer.
“Stop making excuses and just tell the truth.”
“Well, wouldn’t a re mortal not need to know that much?”
Luce answered lightly.
It was like he was indirectly admitting that there were parts that had not been said yet.
“Balance and harmony are important anywhere in the world. Evil must exist as evil, and good must exist as good. So this is a necessary fight… isn’t that enough of an explanation?”
“Do you think that’s possible, you crazy bastard?”
“You really have a foul mouth.”
Luce sighed and shook his head as Arendt spoke fiercely.
“That’s not what’s important right now. Because of you, I don’t know what to do anymore. I could have just let you die. That’s why I brought you here.”
Luce continued speaking indifferently.
“If I lose you, Laius will no longer pray to . He will also reject the Holy Sword. That’s a bit difficult for too. I’m trying to appease him sohow right now, but it doesn’t seem to be working.”
“…”
“As I ntioned earlier, this is the result of your actions. Laius, who once tried to uphold the greater good even at the cost of sacrifices, now views the greater good as a ans to prevent the sacrifices of those around him. At this rate, even if the Holy Sword was bestowed, it would hold no aning.”
Luce, lazily resting his chin on his hand, grumbled in discontent.
“That’s why I’m also deeply troubled. It’s too much trouble and dangerous to give up on both you and Laius and start over. Or you can beco a hero. Honestly, I’m more drawn to that. But this requires your cooperation, and you don’t like very much.”
“…”
“Seeing as you jumped in front of the blade to save Laius, I think you’d accept it if it ant saving them…”
Luce’s warm yet chilling gaze was fixed on Arendt.
“You seem to be reaching your limit. I’m surprised you haven’t broken down already. To be honest, it’s ridiculous that you’ve endured this much. So I’ll give you the choice as a reward for your efforts so far.”
“…”
Arendt was left speechless.
“If you want to rest like this, I’ll let you do that. If you want to return to your original world, I’ll let you do that too. If you want to wield the Holy Sword, I’ll gladly make you a hero. That’s exactly what I’ve been hoping for.”
“…”
“Ah, it might be possible to persuade Laius like this. But I don’t feel like doing it because it feels like taking another gamble.”
Luce added reluctantly.
Laius had already lost trust in Luce.
Arendt remained silent for a while.
Luce waited quietly without rushing him.
There was a long silence on the stage, with Arendt alone in the spotlight.
And after a while, Arendt opened his mouth.
“…Going back? That’s not possible.”
Luce frowned slightly at the tone that was quite different from before.
Arendt touched his face for a mont.
It was to calm his agitated mind.
And after a while.
When he looked up again, he had Arendt’s expression on his face.
It was flawless, with his arrogant and haughty eyes and his perfectly grating smile.
“Not until I smack you in the face.”
Luce’s eyes lit up at the outrageous declaration.
“Hey, let’s continue this damn play. I’m curious to see how it ends.”
“That’s the answer I’ve been waiting for. So, do you accept my offer?”
A satisfied smile appeared on the god’s lips.
But the answer that ca next was completely unexpected.
“Am I crazy? To beco a puppet for soone like you?”
“…”
This ti it was Luce’s turn to fall silent.
Arendt didn’t bother to stop the laughter from flowing out.
He felt dirty.
“You talk about choices, but you don’t have any real solutions either. Don’t talk like you’re so smart. You didn’t give a choice, you just can’t choose anything anymore. The stage is still going well without you.”
A blatant sneer appeared in his golden eyes.
“And that’s because of ? That’s really delightful. Just wait. Soday I’ll smash that face into the dirt.”
“…Hah.”
Luce, who had been quietly listening to the curses he was spewing, burst into laughter.
“This guy is seriously crazy beyond imagination. You don’t want to be a hero? I don’t really like hearing things like that… but fine.”
The smile disappeared from Luce’s face in an instant.
“It seems like you have your own scenario. Are you going to challenge with that? To manipulate my creations as you wish? You dare?”
“No one dares say that to . Be it the Captain, the Crown Prince, or a god,” Arendt provoked.
Luce, who had been quietly looking down at him, soon let out a short sigh.
“Okay, then let’s make it a little more exciting… since it’s already ruined anyway, let’s make a bet.”
Soon, the god’s lips curled into a fishy smile, wiping away the benevolence.
“If you win, I will grant you your wish. Throw my face in the mud, or whatever you can manage to do. But if you lose the war again, or if things ultimately go according to my will…”
Luce narrowed his eyes.
“You will be my eternal servant. How about it?”
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