The Lich of Glory Knight Spirit: Moving towards Krimasha!
Chapter 81 - 15: The Eve of the Storm

Chapter 81: Chapter 15: The Eve of the Storm

The fire in the iron basin crackled as it burned.

The guards ran ahead, forming two lines.

Gray rode his horse alongside the King’s carriage, slowly making his way up the slope to the side gate of the Lion King Palace.

This was the gate reserved for the King’s outings. Past the gate was the stable.

"Why is there no one around?" the guard in front shouted.

"Coming! Coming!" The blond boy rushed out from the corner, running straight towards Gray.

The guard was startled and was about to intervene, but suddenly tripped over something and fell to the ground with a clatter.

Before anyone else could react, Gray dismounted and personally handed the reins to the boy.

Vivian quietly landed on the roof of a nearby house. "Phew, just made it."

"What did you do?" Catherine followed closely behind.

"Guess," Vivian smiled.

All at once, everyone widened their eyes and held their breath, staring at Gray and the boy. The boy seemed to sense something too, standing there in a daze, holding the reins woodenly.

All around was silence as everyone held their breath.

"What’s wrong?" Gray asked softly.

"N-nothing." The boy was completely flustered.

The instant the King parted the carriage window’s curtain, his expression froze. Moments later, he scrambled out of the carriage, lifting his robe as he ran frantically towards Gray.

"You! What are you doing?"

"He’s not doing anything," Gray replied, turning to face the King.

"Not doing anything? Then why is he here?"

"Can’t he be here?"

"This..." The King widened his eyes, speechless. The guards were all as silent as cicadas in winter, afraid to make a sound.

The boy kept his head down, gripping the reins in silence.

In this scene, those who followed the King every day would surely know what was happening, wouldn’t they?

Everyone’s attention was on Gray.

Clearly, among them all, only Gray seemed entirely oblivious. He lowered his head and softly asked, "Can’t you be here?"

"No, I can... I can’t, I..." The boy stammered, struggling but unable to say a complete sentence. He finally blurted out, "I don’t know!"

Finishing, he looked at the King in panic, trembling and his eyes filled with tears.

Gray looked at him, completely puzzled.

"What’s wrong with him?" Gray asked the black cat.

"No idea. He seems to be scared, scared of the King."

"Did the King do something to him? Why is he afraid of the King?"

"How would I know?"

"Who is this child?" Catherine asked, glaring at Vivian.

"You don’t even know him?" Vivian smiled as she said, "He’s the late King’s twelfth child, the new King’s seventh brother, Prince Bob."

"You!" Catherine, realizing instantly, turned into a wisp of white smoke and floated towards Gray.

"Holy Knight!" The King said nervously, "He’s just a child, let’s leave him alone! You should rest in your room, and I’ll send you a new gift soon! A gift you’ll absolutely love!"

"But he looks like he needs my help," Gray answered softly.

"Needs... your help?" The King was stunned.

"Gray!" Catherine’s voice echoed in Gray’s mind, "Leave here! Don’t ask why?"

"But he..."

"He’s not yours to handle!"

"I don’t quite understand."

"You don’t need to understand! Just listen to me!"

After hesitating for a long while, Gray finally replied softly, "Okay..."

Under Catherine’s insistence, Gray eventually stepped away. But he kept looking back constantly, seeing the weak and helpless figure, the innocent face, and the tears welling up in those young eyes.

"He’s crying?"

"Don’t worry about him, there’s nothing you can do! Leave quickly!" Catherine urged repeatedly.

Gray gradually quickened his pace, but kept looking back. That face was deeply imprinted in his mind, impossible to forget.

As Gray walked away, the King’s expression grew darker, "Kill him."

A nearby attendant whispered, "Your Majesty, we have no reason..."

"A playful child drowned in the moat, what reason is needed?"

"Yes!"

Two guards immediately approached Bob.

"No! Brother! Don’t kill me! I didn’t do it on purpose!" Bob cried out.

"Whether it was on purpose no longer matters," the King said coldly.

Finally, Gray stopped. The Lich’s keen senses allowed him to hear everything clearly.

"Catherine, I can’t leave, he needs me."

Catherine was taken aback.

Turning around, Gray retraced his steps. This time, not with confusion and hesitation, but with determined steps.

Vivian’s face slowly formed a cunning smile.

Just as the two guards were about to drag Bob towards the moat, a Longsword "clanged" into the ground.

In an instant, everyone froze.

The King froze, the attendants froze, the guards froze, even Bob, who was sobbing and struggling, froze.

The wind gently blew, lifting the dust off the ground as it brushed past Gray, who stood quietly. About ten meters away, he watched Bob from a distance.

"What are you doing?" he asked softly.

"We... we were just playing with him," the King stammered.

"But he doesn’t seem to want to play with you." Gray released the sword hilt, taking a step forward.

Catherine appeared behind Vivian, her face livid, glaring at Vivian.

Vivian turned around, smiling provocatively, "What a righteous scene."

Bob, with tears in his eyes, stared blankly at Gray.

The guards, panicking, released Bob.

The King widened his eyes.

Passing by the King, Gray walked step by step to Bob, knelt halfway down, and reached out to pat his head, "Do you want to be the Holy Knight’s squire?"

Bob nodded vigorously but couldn’t help looking at the King standing behind Gray, choking as he said, "I want to, but..."

"I’m asking you, not him," Gray replied without turning his head.

"I want to..." Bob answered in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.

"Alright, from today on, you are the Holy Knight’s squire."

"Really?" In an instant, Bob burst into tears again.

"Of course. I am a Holy Knight sent by the Angel."

Bob threw himself into Gray’s arms, crying incessantly.

After soothing Bob a little, Gray held Bob’s hand and slowly stood to face the King.

"Your Majesty, you promised to grant all my requests today. I want him."

"No!" the King blurted out.

"Why?" Gray took a step forward.

The King quickly stepped back, swallowing hard, and gritted his teeth, "He... he is my brother!"

"The Angel’s light shines upon everyone, including members of the Royal Family." Gray’s tone was filled with undeniable authority.

The King widened his eyes, and this time, his gaze was filled with fear.

Around them, the guards all lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

"Well said, I feel like applauding," Vivian sighed softly, "Don’t you agree?"

Beside her, Catherine held her forehead, looking more troubled than ever.

"If you have no objections, I’ll take him with me," Gray said softly.

The King’s eyes twitched, his gaze filled with hatred as if he wanted to devour them both.

The silence around was palpable. Everyone held their breath.

However, Gray didn’t care.

Under everyone’s gaze, he held Bob’s hand and walked away.

"What... what does he want? No, what does the Church want?" the King, gritting his teeth, said with his eyes showing rage, "Gather the army!"

...

"Do you know what you’ve done? He’s the King’s brother! Royal succession! The King killed six of his brothers, leaving only him! Making him your squire, do you know what that means? The King will think the Church is threatening his throne! Send him back quickly!"

In the room, Catherine appeared in front of Bob without any hesitation.

Yes, without any hesitation, because she knew a great storm was coming.

Young Bob looked at the Angel, whom he had longed for day and night, but felt no joy, only endless heartache.

"The King killed six of his brothers?" Gray, holding Bob’s hand, slowly turned to Catherine and asked, "Did you know?"

"I... yes, I knew."

"Who else knows? Does Yilin know?"

"Maybe everyone knows."

"Then why do we still stand with such a King?"

"We need his support for religious reform. It’s very important to us!"

"Are we trying to cultivate holy fruit on sinful soil, is that your meaning, Catherine?" Gray questioned.

"’Cultivating holy fruit on sinful soil,’ I like that analogy," the black cat muttered.

Vivian had also appeared, standing aside, smiling at the unfolding drama.

In the distance, the sound of armor clanking could be heard, the army beginning to gather.

The entire palace was thrown into commotion, including Yilin, Shelley, and Count Gruglu, who weren’t sure what was happening.

"In any case!" Catherine shouted, "I don’t agree with you keeping him! You’ll destroy the Church’s foundation in the entire Isaac Kingdom!"

"And if I must do it?" Gray asked coldly.

Catherine was stunned. She never thought Gray would confront her so forcefully.

"Hehehe," Vivian couldn’t help but laugh, "When children are stubborn, they really are stubborn. Go on, uphold justice completely!"

"You will start a war, and this time, I won’t help you!"

"I don’t need your help." Gray extended his left hand, and blue bone flames ignited in his palm.

"What have you done?" Catherine asked in shock.

...

Outside White City, in the dark forest, Skeleton Knights in heavy armor and Bone Horses broke through the ground, looking north in unison.

A tattered Silver Moon Banner was raised, reflecting the silver moon in the sky.

These were over a hundred mercenaries, sworn to Gray in their final moments, killed by Jones.

...

"Sorry, Catherine. I can’t agree with you," Gray held Bob’s hand and looked at Catherine, saying softly, "The Holy Knight will do what the Angel can’t. ’Sunlight shines on every corner, leaving no room for even a shadow.’ If our sacred faith can’t bring justice to a child, how can we expect it to bring justice to the world?"