Velled’s mouth dropped open.
He had seen it with his own eyes, but his mind simply couldn’t comprehend it.
‘My magic was completely nullified in an instant? What on earth was that just now?’
One of his prides—his enhanced Blizzard magic—had been effortlessly dispelled.
There were very few cases where a 6th circle magic could be dispelled in a single blow.
Either the magic was at a level far beyond his own, or there was something comparable.
At the same time, greed began to stir deep within Velled’s heart.
‘A physique like that is nearly impossible to find again.’
Although he had lived for many years as one of the dead, he had never come across a body as outstanding as Evan’s.
And then there was the ability that had wiped out his magic in one stroke.
Because he couldn’t even sense the flow of mana, his curiosity about that technique grew stronger.
‘I’ll wait for the next opportunity.’
He vowed to prepare perfectly once more and, if necessary, force submission to claim that body.
“Why are you staring so hard?”
Evan approached the sprawled Velled.
Velled spat blood but smiled bitterly.
“This time, consider it your victory. But next time, be on guard—there won’t be an outcome like this.”
Evan sneered at his words and replied,
“No, there won’t be a next time. Doesn’t it strike you as strange? The reason all those who came to save Yordan never returned…!!”
“……!”
Velled’s eyes suddenly widened.
He had overlooked one thing since being dragged here and facing Evan’s presence—
The event where the power of the dead had been nullified.
Feeling threatened by that, he had hastened his plan recklessly.
“…C-Could it be that you possess that kind of power as well?”
“Go ask your comrades about that.”
Evan said firmly as he raised his sword high.
Then, with all his strength, he drove the blade down toward Velled’s heart.
Thud!
“Guhk!”
At that moment, the ground cracked open, and countless chains shot out, wrapping tightly around Velled’s body.
Yet, even then, a smirk began to form at Velled’s lips.
“To think you can lead even the soul to ruin… you keep surprising me until the very end.”
As the chains were pulled, Velled slipped free from Arzel’s body.
“You’ve ruined all my plans. You’ll regret this for the rest of your life. To think you would eliminate me, the last legacy of knowledge.”
He rambled incomprehensibly before shifting into a warning tone.
“Don’t think this is the end. If I disappear, they will surely move.”
Leaving those cryptic words behind, he was sucked into the cracked earth.
Evan remained behind, pondering the meaning of Velled’s last words.
‘They will move?’
‘It referred to something.’
If he disappeared, those ‘they’ would take action.
There was something more behind Velled’s involvement.
But judging by the way Velled referred to them as ‘they,’ it seemed they were neither his allies nor particularly close.
Evan frowned.
“There’s no end to this.”
As he tried to settle with the Order, these pesky flies kept swarming.
[You have judged the Supreme Sinner Velled.]
[Velled’s soul has fallen into hell and has been bound for eternity.]
[The judgment was successfully completed!]
[Holy Power has increased by 30.]
A moment later, the scenery before his eyes changed.
He had returned to the podium of the Training Hall where he originally was.
“Kill them all!”
Even though Velled had disappeared, the legion within Arzel’s body remained.
They seemed disoriented and confused but were still a threat.
Evan gripped the Sacred Sword of Akkrat firmly with both hands.
***
Many knights were restrained in the Training Hall.
Since Velled’s disappearance, they had become nothing more than a disorganized rabble.
Evan easily subdued them with the buff from the Sacred Sword of Akkrat.
However, the only way to stop the legion within Arzel’s body was to execute Arzel himself.
Evan gave orders to the knights.
“Imprison all these traitors. And Andre, take a few others and help me sort out the situation.”
Roles were divided accordingly, and they moved toward the Sanctuary with Andre and those capable of replacing the fallen leadership.
Amid the chaos, a meeting was held.
“Andre, document everything that happened here and report it to the upper command.”
Andre gave a bitter smile as he looked at his own incompetence.
“Understood… and I will take responsibility for this incident and resign. I intend to face my punishment.”
Evan shook his head.
“Running away won’t be tolerated. We’re already short on manpower. The entire Order’s leadership is imprisoned, and it wouldn’t make sense if even you—the one responsible here—disappeared.”
“B-But…”
“That’s enough. The priority is to clean up this mess. If the higher-ups want someone to be held accountable, tell them to come to me.”
“…Sir.”
“Contact the upper command immediately and request reinforcements. Reorganize the ranks; you can consider the previous Order as non-existent.”
The leadership had been shattered, and about half of the knights were lost.
It was safe to say the Order had been devastated.
For now, Evan would temporarily take charge and begin rebuilding the Order.
No matter what decisions the upper command made, he would manage it until further orders arrived.
Unlike anywhere else, this place was a border region facing external threats.
If things weren’t handled quickly, the situation would become dangerous.
The outcome would depend largely on Evan’s capabilities.
Of course, it wasn’t his fault.
Before he even arrived, the Order had been decimated to a tragic level.
This was a major incident far beyond what Evan, just stepping into the Order, could handle.
He could have left it be, but if he stepped up here, it would leave a strong impression on Clyd.
By showing his leadership qualities, he could prove himself as the rightful master of the Order.
That would become his foothold.
‘It’s going to be a hectic time for a while.’
And he had to prepare for the new problems as well.
Velled’s last words still lingered in his mind. It was not something to be dismissed lightly.
‘Who exactly is Velled involved with?’
Information was still scarce.
Until those ‘they’ showed themselves, the only option was to reinforce defenses while stabilizing the Order.
***
Kellutan Command Center.
An emergency meeting was convened here.
“This is absolutely absurd. I’m at a loss for words.”
Harsen threw the report he’d been reading onto the desk with a serious expression.
If things had gone differently, Evan’s life could have been at risk.
The knights assigned to protect him were nowhere to be found, and the Order was in danger.
No one had noticed the situation until now, and the report stated that without the Cult’s help, it could not have been resolved.
‘The evil aura had taken control over the Order…’
An unprecedented incident, not only in the county but across the entire kingdom.
Of course, the Lupes Royal Family’s reign had been short so far.
This incident prompted a review to improve exchanges and cooperation with the Cult.
Harsen pondered before speaking slowly.
“The Count himself gave the order. He plans to reorganize the Order of Tallin anew. We need to send skilled knights here as soon as possible.”
Jelande looked over the list of knights and replied, “Yes, I’ll review and prepare immediately. There’s even a captain who helped the Lord in Kavre Forest. We’ll send him along.”
“Jelande, this time make sure the young master has someone capable by his side. If anything happens to him, be prepared. And all of you—learn from this. Never make the same mistake again.”
Everyone attending the meeting swallowed nervously and responded.
“Understood!”
“We will keep that in mind!”
Jelande sighed deeply and rubbed his throbbing forehead.
There was no shortage of measures to be taken.
The rising problems of the Nervan Cult and the Evil Spirit of Talin—both revealed by Evan’s actions—were weaknesses in the Order.
They would need to send tributes to the Cult and receive support for their facilities and personnel.
‘I need to redo the budget.’
His workload suddenly piled up like a mountain.
***
Since morning, many knights had gathered at the Talin Training Hall.
Although half the Order had been lost, creating a sparse and chaotic atmosphere, they had all heard the news but still couldn’t fully grasp what had happened.
Evan was the only one who knew the full details.
‘This atmosphere won’t improve anytime soon.’
Evan sat at the prepared podium, observing the progress.
Andre informed the knights and proceeded with the appointment ceremony.
The sudden ceremony was for the new Order Captain, Vice-Captain, and leadership of the Order.
On Clyd’s orders, everything else was postponed for this urgent matter.
Talin was a border region, and it was unthinkable for the Order here to be paralyzed.
They had to operate the Order at all costs and respond quickly to any problems, reviving the Order immediately.
Hence, an emergency dispatch arrived.
Along with Clyd’s appointment letter, the order was delivered.
There were many details, but the key point was:
‘Until the official appointment of the Order Captain of Talin, Evan Kerthen is recognized as the supreme commander.
However, even as commander, Evan must continue to carry out missions like a regular knight.
This was Clyd’s intention—that to lead the Order, one must understand every knight’s duties.’
‘Well, that’s what I was planning anyway.’
He couldn’t afford to miss the dungeons and hunting grounds.
Performing missions personally was actually better for Evan.
Andre would take on the clerical tasks as Vice-Captain.
They quickly began reorganizing the Order and appointed new commanders alongside the Count’s order.
But there was one more surprising change.
‘I never thought the Cult would come to Talin.’
Several Cult facilities were newly established here.
Perhaps Clyd decided to accept the Cult’s aid after this incident.
Priests and Sacred Knights were also dispatched in large numbers.
Everything, from facilities to personnel, would be overhauled, and Talin would face major changes ahead.
“Evan, what will you do now?”
Andre approached after briefly concluding the appointment ceremony.
There was no time to waste as everyone had to fulfill their duties.
Until reinforcements arrived, they had to run the Order with limited personnel.
It would be nonstop work.
“I have some things to handle. I’ll likely be at the Prison Camp for a while. Continue your assigned tasks as before.”
“Understood. I’ll call you immediately if something urgent comes up.”
Andre hurried back to the Sanctuary.
Evan took Reynold and Alan with him and moved toward the temporary Prison Camp.
“Why are we coming here again?”
Alan asked Evan, curious.
“There are still people who need to be dealt with.”
Many knights remained in the camp, those who wielded the power of the dead.
Plus, Evan’s quest wasn’t yet complete.
That’s why he believed the next clue definitely lay here.