I Became the Guild Leader in Exile

43 – 8# Ellis’s Rubble (7)

The knights and mercenaries were subdued without much difficulty.

As soon as Beark lost in one blow, the knights have already surrendered to Hans and Sophia. The mercenaries capitulated after witnessing Augeias being split in half.

Especially Anremica was halfway out of her mind. She must not have imagined that Augeias would be wrecked with a single blow. Zig rotated his eyes, thinking how good it is.

Although the enemy’s power had mostly been broken down, they couldn’t immediately charge at Ellis. The reason being the soldiers weren’t catching up with the situation and were confused.

As a result, they had no choice but to take a little time for reorganization. While confirming the soldiers’ damage and explaining the situation, Phileas spoke to Isaac with a peculiar expression.

“I knew he was strong, but I never thought it was to this extent…”

“Do you know anything about Augeias?”

“I thought there might be something, but I didn’t exactly know.”

“Excuse me for a moment.”

However, before he could even finish speaking, Isaac’s fist landed on Phileas’s stomach. Caught off guard by the unexpected attack, Phileas rolled on the floor.

“What’s this all of a sudden…?”

“Were you planning to risk your life?”

“…”

“If not, say so.”

Standing in front of scolding Isaac, Phileas didn’t have any words to say. Because every single word Isaac said was correct. Giving up was too difficult for her.

“I’m tired. It was just too hard.”

“Did you feel burdened by expectations?”

“That’s right, I’m not as strong as you.”

“I understand that. So just take it.”

Isaac raised his fists again and began beating Phileas. But no one, not even his close aide Arnold, tried to stop it.

“Wait a minute, hitting too much…”

“That’s for the family who worried about you.”

At first, Phileas took the hits in silence. But as he continued to hit her, she lifted her head, hoping someone would intercede on her behalf. However, it was an impossible expectation.

“He survives even when being hit like that.”

“Yeah, consider this an atonement for causing worry to your family.”

“No, that’s not it! I feel like I’m really going to die…”

“This guy, just bear with one hit.”

‘Ah~~~ this is quite refreshing!!!’

However, Isaac, who maintained a poker face on the outside, was secretly smiling brightly. The chance to pour out all the emotions he had been holding back had come.

Furthermore, the justification was clear. He couldn’t just let it go. How much time had passed? Arnold, who sensed that quite some time had passed, drew attention with a fake cough.

“It feels like time is dragging on.”

“Indeed, if we started, we must see it through to the end.”

“S-Someone, someone heal me….”

“No, I can’t heal you, that wouldn’t be fair.”

“Ugh.”

Yulina seemed quite angry this time too. The gentle Yulina refused to heal. Fierceles couldn’t hold on any longer and dropped his head, but he didn’t die.

Suddenly, the rebel group, who had finished regrouping, finally began to advance towards Alice. Naturally, the almost defeated Goliath blocked their way, but was pushed back overwhelmingly.

Victory was within reach.

Fierceles’ expression was still dark.

Zirk couldn’t understand that.

Not yet.

* * *

The rebel group entering Alice’s city controlled the confused people in an orderly manner. This was because the purpose of the rebel group was the removal of the upper class, not plundering.

To maintain order in the city and to prepare for any possible reinforcements, two-thirds of the rebel group remained in the city. The remaining troops immediately entered Alice’s palace.

A grand palace surrounded by a vast lake welcomed the rebels. Isaac, thinking it was unnecessarily extravagant, stepped into the palace with the guild members.

Soon, an old man wearing a crown adorned with gold and countless gems stood before them. Even if he was rotten, he seemed somewhat spirited. Or perhaps he had some belief.

“Twenty years ago, you incited the people and expelled your older brother, and then misused that power.”

“…….”

“The time has finally come for you to pay for your sins, the king of Alice, Aous.”

“I won’t deny it. But can you call that a sin?”

“Of course. Because you concealed the truth.”

If it had simply been a power struggle, Fierceles would not have fought so desperately. But there was one thing Fierceles could never forgive.

“You deceived the people all this time.”

“I didn’t deceive them. I just didn’t speak the truth.”

“What do you call it if not lying when you partially hide the truth?”

“At least I didn’t fabricate what was nonexistent.”

“What on earth does that mean?”

Unable to follow their conversation, Zirk asked Isaac who was right next to him. The other guild members also had similar expressions. To which Isaac sighed and said.

“Ma-seok is an object that is typically born from the combination of ordinary gems and magic. However, it is not an easy task for magic to be imbued into inanimate objects, unlike living beings.”

“Magic is fundamentally a sinister force that corrodes and manipulates living organisms. However, most inanimate objects cannot be manipulated. Of course, there are very rare exceptions.”

“Nevertheless, there are two cases where magic can be imbued into inanimate objects. Either they have been corroded by magic for a long time, or the magic is so intense that it borders on being cursed.”

“…Are you saying that, by any chance…”

“Even if it’s just for a short time in a day, humans continuously exposed to intense magic can be influenced by it and turn into demonic beings. That is precisely…”

“Yes, that is the true nature of what they call ‘sludge.'”

Phileas spoke with a sense of chewing on the answer. That’s why the master had tried to confine the golems to the deep layers. They had guarded against intense magic in the deep layers.

In summary,

They utilized the labor of the Bronze class, the working class. If the laborers working in the deep layers were transformed into monsters, they would be suppressed under the pretext of cleaning up the sludge.

Continuing so far,

In this cruel reality beyond imagination, Zeke unconsciously sealed his lips. He felt like he might vomit at any moment, if not for Isaac raising his hand.

Certainly, that must have been the case.

“Why… even if there is a way to prevent that, why?”

“Well, because it costs a lot of money.”

Auss nonchalantly replied. Golems are not universally usable just because they are created. The money spent on maintenance and upkeep is also considerable.

“Especially, if you work in the deep layers, the maintenance and upkeep costs double. And that becomes a significant loss for the nation.”

“Just for that reason, you…!”

“To not understand the greater good. Even if you call yourself a hero, in the end, were you not just livestock that could only see beyond your own pasture?”

“It’s dangerous! Sir!”

The reason Auss engaged in the question-and-answer while Arnold was yelling. It was to buy time. At Arnold’s shout, a golden golem rose from the ground.

The dazzling golden golem eventually transformed into the figure of a woman. A figure very familiar to Phileas. No, an unforgettable image.

Venus.

“Abandoned prince, isn’t this form familiar to you?”

[Yes, it’s just a copy of the appearance. Still, doesn’t it feel like our mother is watching over us?]

The voice that the master had given them in the past lingered in his ears. Perhaps that’s why. Rage dominated his entire being. Bloody blood dripped from clenched fists and cracked lips.

“How far will you mock us…!”

The master had created the initial golem in the image of their mother to console the still-young brothers. Furthermore, to honor the mother who loved the homeland. But.

“Dare to defy that noble intention…!”

“Phileas.”

“……!!”

A cold voice jolted his senses. Turning his head slightly, he saw unshaken pupils staring at him. Guiding him away from the wrong path.

Was this also a matter of family?

From Noble mtl dot com

Thinking he couldn’t endure it any longer, Phileas clenched his fist. He almost let anger take over and make another mistake. Yes, that was the guardian deity of Elise, created by his elder brother.

“Now, it’s time to return it.”

Jewelry Lightning.

“It’s the same power as the current king. No, if we only consider output, it might be even greater.”

Phileas, the current king in his own right, had the power to effectively control and forge magic stones. Thanks to him, the current king could create a new technology called “Golemi.”

Although Phileas couldn’t control it as precisely as his brother, he had one thing that gave him an advantage. That was the massive output of power, almost to the point of ignorance.

“If you can’t win in a control fight, just erase the enemy’s power altogether and make it entirely yours.”

“Now that I see it, you were not a fox cub but a tiger cub.”

He thought he was just a kid who hid behind his elder brother. Could it be that he had such a hidden trump card? Aus’s gaze, in a difficult situation, turned to Isaac behind him.

“It seems you’re the master leading the guild.”

“That’s right.”

“Make a request. Clear the filth in front of my eyes.”

“And the compensation?”

“I’ll give you the authority to monopolize the import and sale of Elise’s magic stones.”

“Understood.”

Heroes were beings driven by profit. He thought that Isaac, who was by his side, was just a naive child who didn’t know much about the world. But as a master, he believed the story would get through.

Arnold, who hadn’t expected Isaac to agree, was bewildered and hastily tried to draw his sword. But he became even more confused when he saw the calm reactions around him.

“Your Highness! Please, get out of the way quickly! I’ll handle this!!”

“Arnold, don’t you understand yet?”

“Yes?”

“The master won’t yield to such words.”

It was unwavering trust. Even though they had spent a short time together, it was not only in words but also in actions that Isaac had shown his trust. And, fueled by that trust, Isaac drew his sword.

Swish!!

However, as Aus had hoped. Phileas’s head did not fall. Instead, what dropped to the ground was Aus’s head, filled with arrogance and the intoxication of victory.

“Why, why did Your Majesty kneel?!”

“He clearly didn’t accept the request!!”

In a situation that no one had expected, Aus’s subordinates looked at Isaac in confusion. Reading doubt in their eyes, Isaac aimed his sword at them and said, “

“Blinded by greed, you all sacrificed people until now.”

What else could it be if not filth?