Dekan's Final Plea

The battle situation was just about to stabilize.

Once again, because of Clay's presence, they found themselves in a situation where no one knew what was going to happen.

"Please let me go... Sion, you bastard... you arranged for some Mr. Bean agent..."

For a moment, Dekan felt he was about to lose the strength to stand.

Is this your trump card?

Your boss and subordinate are a perfect pair, a Wolong Fengchu.

Sure enough, like attracts like.

It is full of both divine and demonic aspects.

This is Dekan's truest thought at this moment.

In fact, Dekan was really looking forward to seeing which bishop would betray them and give him the signal.

What if, by chance, the Bishop of End or the Bishop of Falsehood suddenly answered him with the word "Unicorn"?

Wow, that explosion was instantaneous, game over! We can fast forward to the victory celebration now.

Even if things go awry, it would be fine if any of the other bishops defected.

Dekan truly wishes the "Unicorn" were anyone.

They also don't want "Unicorn" to be Bishop of Frenzy!

The only man in the world that even Dekan couldn't predict!

Dekan pinched the bridge of his nose.

For a moment, I felt a bit confused.

Even now, all the clues point to Clay being "Unicorn," the Kingdom Association's top intelligence agent.

Dekan still couldn't figure out whether Clay was a bumbling agent or a true strategist.

This person is too difficult to understand.

Presumably, the same applies to the Resurrection Church.

Even if the Pope suspects the Bishop of Falsehood, he wouldn't really suspect that the Bishop of Frenzy is the mole.

"Consider it retribution for the merit I've accumulated by offering sacrifices; I've been stuck with these oddballs from the Two Kingdom Association."

Dekan glanced listlessly at the city's defense center.

Things aren't peaceful in the prison either.

While the Resurrection Church was attacking the central headquarters of the Kingdom Association.

The Calamity Cult then launched an attack on Philoven prison.

As early as the initial deployment, Sion had assigned seventh-tier players to defend the prison area.

With no manpower left to allocate, Dekan originally had no spare capacity to manage the prison.

But now the biggest problem has arisen: the fighting in the prison seems unusually intense, Dekan can't get in touch with the warden.

It seems that the other side is about to fall as well.

This is also a big problem.

"Dekan, what are you expecting?"

"You're not taking a gamble, hoping there are other traitors among us besides the Bishop of Nightmare, are you?"

"Hehe, I'm happy."

"That Bishop of Nightmare is nothing but a greedy bastard who's about to be exposed; he won't have that kind of luck again."

"Thank you for starting this mandatory meeting; it allows us to laugh at you when we're feeling bored."

The Taunt voices of the other bishops still echoed in Dekan's mind.

Another minute passed.

Clay was nowhere to be found on the map.

Both the battles fought by the Bishop of End and the battles fought by the Bishop of Falsehood are gradually on the verge of collapse.

In a situation of severe shortage of combat power.

They're treating their precious Tier 8 combat power like consumables.

If our friendly Tier 8 unit is truly killed, the game will truly collapse!

We can't count on Clay anymore.

Dekan gritted his teeth, as if he had finally made up his mind.

Although she didn't know if it would help, she was the only one who could possibly help her right now.

"Help me."

After a slight pause, Dekan finally called out her name.

"Mie!"

Two minutes later, Dekan's thoughts echoed again in the Bishop Council.

A moment of silence followed.

This was followed by another round of questioning and ridicule from the bishop.

Who is Mie?

"I think I vaguely remember it."

"Is he one of Dekan's teammates?"

"Hehe, urgent."

"Bishop of Pain, have you become so anxious that you've lost your mind?"

Dekan ignored these comments and continued speaking during the meeting:

"The situation is on the verge of collapse. I really have no other choice this time, otherwise I wouldn't be asking for your help."

Dekan's voice was filled with helplessness.

"Haha, what are you putting on this time?"

"Go on, let's see your pathetic and ugly state."

"Even if there really were such a mole, would he risk his life to help you?"

The voices of the bishops echoed in Dekan's mind once more.

Dekan closed his eyes expressionlessly.

It was as if they had resigned themselves to fate.

After arriving in the Philoven Kingdom.

He has done his best.

He did everything he was supposed to do, everything that wasn't his turn to do, everything he could do, and everything that a fifth-tier being couldn't possibly do, to the extreme.

Regardless of the current situation or Dekan's own condition, things are already nearing their breaking point.

The fatigue from continuous combat, the immense backlash from the curse, the depletion of mana, and the immense mental pressure had caused Dekan's vision to flicker and his head to buzz.

However.

Just as the bishops were indulging in their constant Taunt of Dekan...

A thought came to mind.

"Then we're even from now on, okay?"

Accompanied by this sentence.

The Bishop Council fell silent.

In the Feilowen Royal Capital, on streets where shadows and holy light constantly intertwine and explode.

The collision of ice crystals with light and darkness occasionally illuminates the pitch-black night sky.

The Shadow Bishop, who was fighting Judith Ice Princess, and Croix, suddenly stopped.

The Shadow Legion, which had been an overwhelming force in the region, suddenly seemed to have received a ceasefire order.

Then, the Shadow Legion gradually dissipated.

At the end of the street, far away, a figure emerged from the gradually dissipating shadows of light armor.

Without a doubt, she is the true form of the Shadow Bishop!

The previous battle had been stalled by the Shadow Bishop because they couldn't find her true form. Unexpectedly, she now seemed to want a truce and had even revealed her true form!

I wonder what the Shadow Bishop is thinking.

Her behavior was very strange.

Despite the intense fighting earlier, she appeared to be seriously battling Croix and the other two.

But it's actually more like they're harassing Croix and her two companions.

The fight was too mild; neither side managed to injure the other after fighting for a long time.

Despite having several opportunities to shake off the three of them, given the Shadow Bishop's flexible and adaptable nature, he seemed to be reluctant to leave and chose to stay and continue fighting them instead of heading to the arena to support the Pope.

But Judith had already seized the opportunity and rushed forward, and Ice Princess was also ready to control the Shadow Bishop!

However.

The shadows dissipated.

The true form of the Shadow Bishop was revealed.

This caused Judith and Ice Princess, who had been determined to launch their offensive, to hesitate.

Because of the Shadow Bishop's true appearance.

He bears a striking resemblance to Mie!

He looks like a more mature Mie.

As for her temperament and demeanor, they make you feel that she is Mie!

"You, who exactly are you?!"

Judith's eyes widened.

She simply couldn't accept it, and couldn't believe what was happening before her eyes.

The little black-haired girl who accompanied them all the way to the Philoven Kingdom was none other than the renowned Shadow Bishop Card Crafter master of the Resurrection Church!

The Shadow Bishop smiled slightly, but with a hint of bitterness.

"The two Idol Group, and Croix, please stop."

Even the tone of the Shadow Bishop's voice made them waver even more.

Exactly, just like Mie, whom they usually interacted with.

But the three of them immediately became alert.

It's highly likely that this is a trap set by the Shadow Bishop, a ploy to lower their guard and then crush them in one fell swoop!

However, the term "Idol Group" is...

It's a term of endearment used by the members of the Beautiful Mind Group in private.

How could the Shadow Bishop possibly know?

"I will help Dekan stop the Bishop of End; you go and stop the Bishop of Falsehood."

"The Shadow Bishop said softly."

Before Croix could ask anything, the Shadow Bishop had already turned and left.

Just as Judith was about to seize the opportunity to rush forward and subdue the seemingly unsuspecting Shadow Bishop, Croix firmly grabbed her hand.

"Let's follow her first."

Croix looked at the Shadow Bishop with a complicated expression.

She wasn't just with Mie.

The figure is too similar to the image of the Saintess of Darkness in my memory.

Who is it?

"Minos??!"

"Making jokes like this at a time like this is not funny at all."

"... You're not... really kidding, are you?"

Suddenly, the entire Bishop Council seemed to explode with energy, their thoughts clashing and causing Dekan's nerves to ache repeatedly.

"Minos, do you know what you're saying?"

Even the usually taciturn Bishop of End began to convey his thoughts.

However, the Shadow Bishop did not respond to them at all.

It seemed as if they had tacitly acknowledged their questions, and were simply waiting for Dekan's response.

You owe me nothing.

Dekan opened his eyes and murmured softly.

He had already guessed that Mie was Minos.

I see through it but don't say anything.

"I've repaid what the Saintess of Darkness Milia owed you."

The Shadow Bishop answered, then added, as if in coded language,

"As for the incident where we hypnotized Alice together, I hope we can both take it to our graves."

"Um."

Dekan responded simply.

Only Dekan and Mie knew about the incident where Alice was frightened unconscious and then hypnotized.

The Shadow Bishop's words completely proved to Dekan that he was indeed Mie.

"Dekan, when we meet again, we'll be true enemies."

As Mie uttered this last sentence, his voice grew increasingly cold, as if bidding farewell.

"... knew."

Dekan seemed to want to say something, but in the end he only responded with a simple thought, and let go of the hand holding the [Proof of the Bishop of Pain] as if he had lost all strength.

So that's how it is...

Mie, as expected, became certain of her relationship with Milia.

Or.

Besides the Shadow World, she had also experienced the Dream of the Holy Kingdom. Long before she met Dekan at school, Mie already possessed some of Milia's memories.

Dekan simply didn't understand why Mie would say, "The Saintess of Darkness owes Dekan something."

Although Dekan saved the Saintess of Darkness in the Shadow World.

But that was ultimately just a replay of history; in reality, it was not Dekan who saved the Saintess of Darkness.

Unless...

In the Holy Kingdom back then, the one who truly rescued the Saintess of Darkness was...

It's Delois!!

Everything seems to have become clear.

For a moment, a flood of memories rushed through Dekan's mind.

Why was Mie so friendly to him when they first met?

She would almost absurdly believe him and become his friend.

Her overly similar views on friendship to Dekan's even led Dekan to doubt whether this person was his half-sister.

So that's what it all meant.

It was all a phrase Delois taught Milia.

Even with the risk of betrayal, the relationship will never improve if neither side changes. Even if betrayal is possible, you must maintain faith; over time, even a devil will make true friends.

As well as.

The Shadow Bishop later risked his life to secretly infiltrate the Randir Kingdom, attempting to help Dekan overcome the threat posed by the Bishop of Corruption Fahim.

Perhaps that time, Mie was trying to repay the debt that Milia owed Delois.

Unfortunately, Clay beat him to it, and Mie didn't really offer much help.

Thus, Mie's gratitude was reserved for this truly deadly crisis.

"Thump."

Dekan finally collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted.

The moment Dekan heard the words "the real enemy," he understood.

Mie was an Imperial.

The stance of the Imperial Sword Saint Adair is already quite clear.

After this fierce battle between the Kingdom Association and the Resurrection Church, regardless of who wins or loses, the Salon Empire will seize the opportunity of the Kingdom Association's weakened state to launch a new war.

Just now, even though Dekan's first reaction was to say to Mie, "Aren't enemies also friends?"

But the words that were about to come out seemed to be stuck in my throat, and I couldn't say them no matter what I said.

Mie was usually so carefree and loved to joke, actually spoke to him in such a cold tone.

Just like those ten days or so in the Shadow World, when the Saintess of Darkness regarded him as a mortal enemy.

Dekan knew that Mie was serious.

After today, their relationship will be like that of a demon and Saintess of Darkness.

Kingdomsmen and Empiresmen will only be mortal enemies on the battlefield.

"Attention all Kingdom personnel, the Shadow Bishop has betrayed us. Cease your attempts to intercept her."

After relaying orders to the entire city through the control center, Dekan finally completed his task.

Immediately, the entire Royal Capital, and the people from all the kingdoms who were watching the battle, erupted in thunderous cheers once again.

"What's going on? Even the Shadow Bishop has been persuaded by Dekan to switch sides?"

"How did he do that?! Is that even possible?!"

"You can always trust Dekan!"

"After this battle, he will be an unparalleled hero!!"

Even the cheers coming from all directions were audible to Dekan was inside the arena.

Dekan, however, felt utterly listless and unable to muster any enthusiasm.

There was no longer the joy of impending victory as there had been before.

"What did I gain from this battle...?"

Dekan leaned back against the magical device, his usually resolute gaze showing a hint of confusion for the first time.

If you were to ask Dekan what he values most in this world...

Dekan can now give the answer without hesitation.

It is neither money nor fame, nor Magic Card.

It's not the friends who are by my side, but the ones who stay with me.

If he could, he wished Mie would always be his companion, and that they could always be happy together.

Even if there's a lie that both sides see through but don't say, he's willing to believe Mie.

But some lies, once exposed, can never be covered up again.

Dekan was unwilling to imagine the day when he would have to confront Mie, who had truly become his enemy.

No matter how ruthless and decisive Dekan may be towards his enemies.

He didn't know about Mie.