Kingdom's Bloodline Chapter 457 - The Person Who Supported Him

Chapter 457: The Person Who Supported Him

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Even though he was already prepared, Thales still stiffened when Zakriel appeared.

‘The Knight of Judgent still caught up.

‘At this mont, he is the biggest threat in the prison.’

Zakriel did not look like he was in a good condition.

The knight already looked dishevelled right from the start. At this mont, his eyes were half-opened, as if he was rather wounded rather heavily by the flashbomb just now. He once walked as steadily as a mountain, but now, he had to rely on the support of the wall and the weapon in his hand to stand properly. There was a thick bandage on his right shoulder, which was dyed in blood.

But even so, no one dared to underestimate him.

Zakriel gritted his teeth and supported himself against the wall as he walked step by step into the storage room.

He looked like a violent beast that slowly showed itself in the dark.

“No. What the ever loving f*ck...” Quick Rope nervously lifted his crossbow, but before he could fire it, Thales stopped him by pressing down on his arm!

“Calm down.”

Thales gripped Quick Rope’s arm tightly and said through gritted teeth, “Not now.”

Thales and Quick Rope were not the only ones who reacted this way. The expressions of Sal, Beldin, Naer and the others were also extrely unpleasant.

“Hahahaha, ‘Don’t say anymore’?” Nalgi snapped out of his daze and said with a sad smile.

“No.” Nalgi’s expression changed, and he ran his eyes over every single person.

“Every single person here has the right to make shut up.”

Nalgi raised his trembling finger and pointed at the Knight of Judgent.

“Other than you, Zakriel.”

Zakriel stopped in his steps.

He was already covered head to toe in wounds as he stood beside the door. With a perplexed and pained look, he stared at Nalgi, who appeared like he was ready to risk everything. Then, he swept his gaze past all his forr fellow guards, who were dejected.

It was very quiet in the prison. The only sound left was everyone’s pants, which were either pained or hurried.

Zakriel shook his head slowly and averted his gaze.

“Nalgi.

“You are tired.”

The Knight of Judgent said softly, as if he was coaxing a child.

But Nalgi did not appreciate his kindness.

“Yes, I am tired.”

Nalgi stepped backwards and said with a wan smile, “I have had enough of your conceitedness and arrogance, Knight of Judgent.”

Zakriel furrowed his eyebrows.

“You do not want to sully the royal family’s na, but you cannot bear to expose us, who also happen to be a group of shaless traitors who committed despicable acts, either.” Nalgi’s breathing beca quicker.

“You always want to find the most perfect way to resolve matters.”

He narrowed his eyes, and there was despair in his tone.

“But do you think that bearing all our cris and supporting a collapsing pillar by yourself without ever sullying anyone’s glory or destroying anyone’s reputation because you managed to stay silent and bore all the burden by yourself is a great sacrifice? Do you think that by doing this, you would not be letting anyone down?”

Zakriel said nothing.

Barney Jr. still kneeled on the ground, looking as if his soul was no longer in his body and his mind was completely blank. anwhile, Beldin had an anxious expression, and Sal stayed silent.

Nalgi started trembling.

A few seconds later, the resentnt that he had suppressed for an indefinite amount of ti burst out of his throat in a rush.

“F*ck you!

“Zakriel, you damned bastard, you arrogant watchman!”

His curses echoed in the storage room and made the torch in Sal’s hand flicker.

But no one said anything. Not even Zakriel.

Quick Rope stared at Zakriel, who was right before his eyes, and Nalgi, who was having a ntal breakdown, and gulped. He nudged Thales anxiously.

“What was I saying? I knew that these bunch of lunatics weren’t reliable...”

But Thales only looked at the group with a complicated gaze and said nothing.

‘True.’

He gazed at Barney, whose mind was already broken, and the stricken Nalgi.

‘But if it weren’t for this bunch of lunatics, we would have long since beco part of the Prison of Bones.’

“You think that you are protecting us, protecting those who are deceased...?”

Nalgi’s eyes were bloodshot, and he growled at Zakriel, who looked lancholy, like a wild beast.

“But you do not understand!”

Nalgi’s voice slowly beca softer, yet the despair in his tone beca even more obvious. It also beco more prominent just how much difficulty he was experiencing saying those words out loud.

“Once you sacrificed yourself for the others and bore the sins alone, it will make you mighty, glorious, selfless, and a hero.”

The pitiful prisoner from the Royal Guards fell to his knees while he broke down. His weapon and the key fell out of his hands at the sa ti.

“But you, you selfish bastard, you think yourself a saint, but you will only bring to us an endless amount of remorse, guilt, and torture! You will only cause us to take on the ugliest roles on the stage and face the painful reality that you are unable to face!”

Nalgi pounded against his chest hysterically.

“Us!”

As the deafening accusations rang, Zakriel lowered his head in silence, as if he was not in this world at all.

Nalgi seed to have beco tired of rebuking Zakriel. He crumpled down to the floor and muttered in a hoarse voice. He sounded to be in a daze.

“You and Barney Sr. are both slaughterers who kill without shedding blood...”

These words made Barney Jr., who was kneeling on the ground, tremble violently.

Nalgi said as he sobbed.

“The only difference is that...

“Barney Sr. made us despise him...

“While you, you made us... despise ourselves.”

Nalgi lowered his head and buried his face in his hands. His shoulders trembled nonstop.

A few seconds later, Zakriel raised his head in that almost boundless silence.

He stretched out his hand towards Nalgi with an expression of soone who felt at a loss. But while he was doing so, his hand quivered, and he slowly lowered it.

‘The past can no longer be changed.

‘But at least...’

Zakriel shifted his gaze, as if he did not dare to look at Nalgi anymore. Instead, he staggered towards Thales.

This made a lot of people anxious!

“Barney, Barney, wake up!”

While Zakriel approached Thales, as the person with the second highest position after Barney Jr., even though it had long since been stripped off his person, Beldin found himself to be in a turmoil. He yelled the vanguard’s na loudly, hoping that the latter would do sothing.

But Barney Jr. continued kneeling on the floor with glazed eyes. He did not seem to have heard Beldin.

Zakriel glanced at Barney Jr. with a still gaze before he stared at the brand on the latter’s face. He then moved his gaze away.

‘He’s gone.’

Zakriel silently told himself.

‘The firm and unwavering Vanguard Quill Barney whom enemies find hard to defeat is gone.’

He turned with dejectedness in his heart and continued walking.

“Damn it!”

Beldin cursed and gave up on rousing Barney from his daze.

He furrowed his eyebrows and turned. Apart from the absent-minded Nalgi, Canon was sobbing in agony while kneeling on the ground, and Bruley had his eyes buried between his hands as he shut his eyes tightly. anwhile, Tardin looked downcast and did not move at all.

The veins on Beldin’s hands beca tenser.

‘No.’

The truth of what happened that year threw all their hearts into turmoil, including his. He did not know what to do in the face of his fellow guards acting abnormally. anwhile, Zakriel, who he once admired, now felt like a stranger to him.

Behind him was the blood of Jadestars, which he pledged to protect... even though they had long since defiled their mission.

What should he do?

In the face of Zakriel walking towards the prince and his fellow Royal Guards, who were now broken and no longer united, after hesitating for a few seconds, Beldin, who was the only one left among the Royal Guards who was still sound of mind, finally made his decision and lifted his weapon.

“Naer, Sal, help !”

He summoned Naer, who was still considerably normal, and Sal, who had a solemn expression, and tried to form a last defense.

Naer sighed and went beside Beldin.

After hesitating for a while, Sal also threw his torch to the ground and lifted his longsword.

Zakriel staggered over step by step. He ignored Beldin and the other two, who looked like they were facing a great enemy while they moved backwards.

Thales slowly furrowed his eyebrows before slowly relaxing.

“I understand, commanding officer.” Beldin lifted his axe and shielded Thales behind him. He said to Zakriel in a hoarse voice, “Perhaps you are not the traitor, or at least not the only one. Maybe you have your own reasons, and we no longer have the right to accuse you.”

Beldin said through gritted teeth.

“But no matter what happened that year... You cannot touch this child.”

As he moved forward, Zakriel’s face was completely illuminated by the torch on the ground. The brand on his forehead beca more and more obvious.

“Take a look at them, Beldin.”

With an upset heart, the Knight of Judgent looked at Barney and Nalgi, who were kneeling by the side. He observed their broken expressions, and he shook his head with a sad look in his heart.

“Trust , burying everything here... is the best thod.”

Zakriel drew closer. A cold glare was reflected off the blade of his axe.

Thales stared at Beldin, who shielded Thales behind him despite not being in a good physical and ntal condition, and he could not help but bite his lips.

At this mont, the Knight of Judgent suddenly stopped.

Beldin, whose nervousness had reached the peak, exhaled.

Zakriel furrowed his eyebrows and turned.

Barney Jr., who was kneeling absentmindedly on the floor grabbed the knight’s calf with a feeble grip.

“Zakriel, tell .”

With a pale face, Barney Jr. raised his head and widened his bloodshot eyes. He asked, begging but also demanding an answer from Zakriel.

“My father... why did he do this to ?”

It was as if Barney Jr. had just woken up from a nightmare. He looked absent-minded, and his words were fragnted.

“Vice Captain Quill Barney... What sort... of person was he?”

All the prisoners had their expressions change upon hearing these words.

Even Zakriel went into a daze for a mont.

There was silence in the dungeon for a few seconds.

“He is a good person.” Zakriel lowered his gaze. There was respect in his tone as he rembered his old friend from long ago.

“It was just that he was born in the wrong era.”

Barney Jr. imdiately trembled.

Once he said this, Zakriel walked gently away to free himself from Barney Jr.’s grip.

Barney Jr. was lost in Zakriel’s words. His body moved because of Zakriel’s montum, and he slowly crumpled to the floor, but it was as if he was not aware of it.

Zakriel drew even closer to them. The brand on his forehead could even be seen clearly.

This made Beldin increasingly anxious. Quick Rope even yanked Thales and moved backwards.

“Now what?”

Quick Rope whispered through gritted teeth, “We won’t be able to win against him. But we have not even found the exit... where can we flee to?”

‘True.

‘What should we do?

‘Where can we flee to?’

Thales and Zakriel’s eyes t, and Thales realized that there was only endless gloom im Zakriel’s eyes.

Thales could not help but inhale deeply.

Thales suddenly rembered how the other party looked like when he trembled in his cell and muttered as he acted hysterically in the world where Thales could not see.

“‘I know that you’re testing ... but please believe that I’ve never wavered in my decisions because I had to sacrifice sothing. I know full well that this is what I must offer. Be it the rits or the sins, the philanthropic acts or the disastrous acts that it will bring, I will accept it calmly. I will never run...”‘

Thales then recalled how this man handled his opponents with superb skills and with complete ease when he was surrounded tightly.

‘”I AM THE IMPERIAL KNIGHT AND HONORARY LORD OF CONSTELLATION! THE PENAL OFFICER OF THE ROYAL GUARDS, THE WATCHMAN, THE PROTECTOR OF THE THRONE, THE GUARDIAN OF THE ROYAL TREASURY—”‘

He rembered the Knight of Judgent’s abnormal respect when he said that he wanted to kill Thales.

“‘Please relax, Your Highness. After your death, I will take full responsibility for the offence committed against you as a solace for the injustice you have to experience here.”‘

Finally, Thales thought of Zakriel’s relieved expression when he faced his old friends and admitted his treachery.

‘”The one who truly needs to bear the cri of fraternizing with the enemy but had despicably hidden the truth for eighteen years... The disgraceful, sad, hypocritical, disgusting, self-proclaid aloof, sanctimonious traitor who acts differently from how he looks... is .”‘

‘Knight of Judgent.

‘Just what sort of person are you?’

“I understand now, Quick Rope.”

Thales said softly, and even he was surprised by how steady he sounded. He sounded like a prey that broke loose of its restraints in the blink of an eye.

Quick Rope quirked an eyebrow.

“What have you understood?”

Thales shook his head at Quick Rope and slowly unfurled his fists.

“There’s no use in fleeing blindly.

“Because we already have nowhere to go... since a long ti ago.”

Thales said as he stared at Barney Jr. and Nalgi, who were dazed and distraction, before he directed his gaze towards Zakriel as the man approached him. His words carried an underlying aning.

Quick Rope was startled, and he had a puzzled expression.

Once he said this, Thales made up his mind. He felt relaxed.

He should do this.

He must do this.

The next mont, as Quick Rope stared at him in shock, Thales took a step forward towards Zakriel.

“Is this what you want?”

The teenager’s voice echoed in the prison.

The Knight of Judgent stopped walking.

Everyone’s gaze were focused on the prince.

“To bury all the dirt and pain in the past? Hide it all underground? Pretend that nothing had happened and tell yourself that this is the best choice?”

Thales panted and shrugged off Quick Rope’s grip. Then, while he ignored Beldin’s expression and endured the pain from his wounds, he continued saying, “If I die here, will your responsibilities and your past, their torture and pain... Will everything that happened that year end?”

Thales reached out with his fingers and pointed at each prisoner one by one, who were either in pain, having a breakdown, or whose minds were completely blank.

As Zakriel t Thales’ firm gaze, he froze in puzzlent for a mont.

He opened his mouth and was about to say sothing, but in the end, he only sighed softly.

“You do not understand, Your Highness.”

The knight shut his eyes and shook his head.

Thales inhaled deeply and swept his gaze past everyone.

Barney Jr. was still in the middle of a breakdown and was in a daze. Nalgi was still twitching. Before his eyes, Zakriel looked weak and listless. He also had a sorrowful expression.

“No.

“But there is only one thing I do not understand.”

Thales turned abruptly and gritted his teeth!

“Who?”

Zakriel frowned.

“What?”

Thales said resolutely with a firm voice that left no room for doubt, which was rarely heard from him.

“Who was the person who gave you your orders?”

‘Person who gave you your orders.’

Once they heard this, everyone furrowed their eyebrows in unison.

Zakriel pursed his lips. He did not seem to want to entertain Thales with an answer.

But what Thales said after that greatly exceeded his expectations.

“I have not known all of you for long, but...”

Thales slowly shifted his gaze.

“Nalgi might place more importance on his own family, but he cannot to watch helplessly as you bear his cri...”

Nalgi’s shoulders trembled violently.

Thales turned towards the other side.

“Canon, Bruley, and Tardin, all of you might be aware of what happened that year, but none of you were ever able to remain indifferent towards the entire matter, to the point that you are still tortured by your conscience after being imprisoned for eighteen years.”

Canon’s sobbing ca to a halt, Bruley no longer trembled, and Tardin beca lifeless.

Finally, Thales looked at the dazed Barney Jr..

“I do not know Barney Sr., but from Barney Jr., I can see that his father was probably similarly stubborn, resolute, single-minded, persistent, and unwavering in his ideals.”

Zakriel’s eyebrows beca more and more furrowed.

Thales exhaled and soothed his increasing heartbeat with the Sin of Hell’s River.

The prince said firmly, “I do not see the shalessness and rotten attitude of traitors in any of you. Instead, I see that you are all in a painful dilemma where it is difficult for you to proceed or draw back.”

Everyone raised their heads and stared at Thales with either shocked or puzzled gazes.

Zakriel suddenly took a step forward!

But Beldin and Naer stood firmly in front of him, looking like they were ready to perish together with him.

Thales was shocked. But he still summoned up his courage and said the following words,

“I believe that as the Royal Guards of Constellation and the king’s intimate vassals, no matter how degenerate, evil, and selfish you are, it would be absolutely impossible for all of you to abandon the pride in your heart and betray the king to seek glory without feeling guilt.

“You are not that kind of person. You do not dare do that, and cannot do that. Unless there is another reason, an even more rational reason that allowed you to convince yourself that it was the right action, and not a betrayal!” the prince said through gritted teeth.

Zakriel’s face beca even more unpleasant.

Thales knew that he was on the right track.

Hence, the prince ignored Quick Rope’s aningful glance and continued voicing his guess with his chest puffed out.

“As for you, Zakriel, you are an honorable knight and a loyal guard. You were respectful towards even though you were about to attack the next mont...

“I reckon that the only thing that was able to make you stomp on your honor and mission would be an even greater honor and mission.”

The mont Thales said that, Zakriel’s entire body trembled.

“Then, what type of mission was it that could make you betray the Jadestar Family without hesitation?”

Everyone’s expression slowly changed.

Thales said coldly, “Unless...”

The Knight of Judgent could not stay calm anymore. He roared, “Your Highness!”

But Thales ignored him. Instead, he schooled his expression without caring about others and said arduously while his face was illuminated by the dim light of the flas from the torch.

“Both the Northlanders and Shadow Shield gave hints, but I was always unwilling to believe it...”

Thales gritted his teeth and thrust the longsword belonging to Ricky into the gap between the ancient floor tiles.

“So, tell , Zakriel.

“Who was it?”

As Thales stared at him, Zakriel’s expression changed many tis.

Thales continued saying through gritted teeth,

“That year, which Jadestar was it... who stood behind all of you nobles who were driven into a corner, bribed all parties with his noble status, and with saving your families as bait, motivated you to slack off in your duties as guards, plotted with all of you assassinate the muddleheaded king, plan to clear up the ss after the matter and ascend the throne...?”

The prince’s gaze was sharp, and his aura was aggressive.

Thales’ words echoed off the walls.

Half of the people were startled.

“What did... you say?” This was from the shocked Barney.

As for the other half of the people, Nalgi and Canon’s faces were pale, while Bruley and Tardin turned their heads away.

And before them, Zakriel swayed violently before he held his head in agony.

The silence continued for a few seconds.

For a ti, only Thales’ hurried breathing could be heard in the dungeon.

Then, a quivering voice rose.

“So that is how it is...

“This is why you want to bury all the truth and bear all the charges.” Sal swept his gaze past everyone, and his voice trembled a little. He looked shocked, like he just realized sothing.

“This is why all of you closely guarded the secret in your hearts and have been conflicted up to this date.

“So might have participated directly, and so might be in the know, but this is the reason all of you have your hands tied at the sa ti... Because you have the support of a Jadestar who has the sa legitimacy to the throne?”

He took a step back and gasped twice. There was a cold sneer in his tone.

“Calamities and anti-mystic equipnt are not the reason... This is the real and biggest scandal of the Jadestar Royal Family that cannot be revealed to the public.”

The tip of Sal’s sword vibrated slightly.

“So laughable... Betrayal, loyalty, it’s none of those bullshit...

“The nightmare that is the Bloody Year that tortured for eighteen years, and the assassination and rebellion that all the great nobles carefully conceal, is just the Jadestar Royal Family’s...

“...Internal fight against each other?”

In the face of Sal’s question, Zakriel heaved the longest sigh that had ca out of his mouth that day. His hand, which was pressed against his forehead, trembled even more violently.

Barney Jr. widened his eyes in disbelief. He straightened his body.

Thales stayed quiet. He only exhaled softly.

Quick Rope’s mouth hung open. He did not know how to react.

Zakriel still had his eyes shut. He did not seem to know how to answer Thales’ question anymore.

Beldin and Naer stared at each other at a loss. Their gazes were filled with sorrow, pain, and the last hint of incredulity.

Sal laughed again.

His laughter was shaky and extrely eerie.

“Hahahahaha, let guess...”

His gaze was complicated and hard to understand. There were hints of hatred and scorn that rose at so unknown point of ti.

“Was it Crown Prince Midier, who always fished for credit, whose thoughts were unfathomable, and who would have benefited directly from the late king’s death?”

Sal raised his head abruptly and said hatefully, “Or was it the heroic Sword of Reversing Light Horace, who had countless battle achievents but was violent, bloodthirsty, and ambitious?

“Was it Fat Man Bancroft who appeared plump and diocre but actually loved indulging in pleasures and amassing wealth?

“Was it the Beauty Herman who had nothing but good looks and literary talent, and was narrow-minded, venomous, and ruthless?”

Thales could not help but furrow his eyebrows at Sal’s choice of words.

He once heard King Kessel reminiscing and talking about these princes in the Jadestar family tomb, but...

‘Always fishing for credit, violent and bloodthirsty, loved amassing wealth, and venomous?

‘These descriptions...’

Sal panted and continued saying.

“Or was it the Duke of Star Lake, John, the king’s younger brother, who monopolized the army and was in the pri of his life, but was fated to never take the crown in his life unless the lineage under the late king went extinct?”

Thales thought of sothing.

The Disaster Sword Marina’s request to him from before appeared in his mind again.

In that extre silence, Sal roared in anger.

“Was it a patricide, or a fratricide?”

No one answered him, including Zakriel, who was already swaying and unsteady on his feet.

“Or was it an even more diabolical Jadestar? Was it the Iron Hand King Kessel who rcilessly sent you, , and everyone, whether they were in the know or not, to rot in a pile of garbage after the incident that year and is sitting on the throne right now, enjoying everything by himself?”

Sal seed to have been made very upset by this truth. He looked at everyone, who were silent, and said loudly with a cold sneer, “Do not tell that it was Constance, that idiotic little princess who was diagnosed as retarded since she was young?”