1.
“Effective immediately, the <Black Wolf> shall infiltrate the Arendale Main Cathedral and assassinate five individuals.”
“Yes, Captain.”
At the moment Nahan arrived at the hideout, he declared this in front of Hanlyang, Luna, and Laktea.
An old man who had been standing at the back let out a sigh and revealed himself.
“My apologies, Captain, but I must request that you reconsider this order.”
The moment he finished speaking, the eyes of the three members excluding Dalan gleamed with a bluish light.
“The Captain’s order… is…”
“Snap out of it, old man.”
Hanlyang and Luna were ready to attack Dalan at any moment, while Laktea, who already had her sword pressed against his neck, uttered only one word.
“Reason.”
Though Nahan was still inexperienced in many ways, the sight before him confirmed his suspicion.
‘They really are trying to kill him.’
Even Luna, who had always acted like a happy puppy around him after they were saved,
Hanlyang, who had always tried to smile despite his fierce appearance,
and even Laktea, who always hovered around with a flushed face,
“Reason. Speak.”
All were ready to kill Dalan for daring to contradict Nahan’s order after four years together.
‘To be fair, their absolute loyalty to the Black Wolf makes sense if they remember the moment they were saved…’
While observing the silent Dalan and the hostile Laktea, Nahan finally stepped forward, moved her hand away, and spoke.
“That’s enough.”
“But Captain…!!”
“Are you questioning my order too, Laktea?”
“…!! That’s…”
Just as expected, Laktea hesitated.
While she was hesitating, Nahan seized the opportunity and turned to Dalan, who still stood firm despite the sword at his neck.
“Reason?”
Monstrous Dragon Dalan.
Being the tenth strongest out of the continent’s top ten and the oldest member of the <Black Wolf>, his objection must have had some merit.
Sure enough,
just as Nahan had expected, Dalan immediately knelt on one knee and answered.
“Without a doubt, one of our members will die during this mission.”
“Reason?”
“…With your permission, Captain, I will reveal the shortcomings of the <Black Wolf>.”
His bright blue eyes shimmered gently.
However, Nahan had already expected this since he had recently learned about the past of the <Black Wolf> members.
‘”When Black Wolf brought Dalan, his request was to prevent the same tragedy as in <Rose>.”
Recalling his first meeting with the man, Nahan nodded at Dalan.
Of course, Laktea immediately twisted her wrist in preparation to cut him down, but
“Shortcomings? Dare question the <Black Wolf> under the Captain?”
“That’s enough.”
“…Yes, Captain.”
Dalan slowly began to speak after being restrained by Nahan’s brief command.
“All members of the Black Wolf owe our transformed bodies to the Captain’s grace. However, due to this, we cannot fully utilize our original abilities.”
He was right.
Except for Laktea, all current members of the Black Wolf were restrained.
Even though they possessed skills comparable to <Kwangmyeong>, they remained at the S-class level as long as the restraints were not lifted.
“However, I estimate that the five individuals you mentioned, Captain, are <Devotees of the Demon God>. Their power rivals <Kwangmyeong>.”
That was also correct.
Episode 11 – The Fanatics’ Revolt.
While Asha was staying at the main cathedral to recruit the <Saint> as a comrade, she stumbled upon a group of <Devotees of the Demon God>, deduced their identity, and eventually eradicated them.
The second phase of these <Devotees of the Demon God>, known as the <Demon Power Mode>, can elevate their power to levels comparable to <Kwangmyeong>.
“Therefore, carrying out the assassination mission as ordered will surely result in casualties on our side. I remember our agreement from when you saved me, which is why I have spoken up so bluntly.”
To put it simply,
“Considering the current state of <Black Wolf>, we are not sufficient to face the <Devotees>. Either remove the constraints or reconsider.”
Having understood Dalan’s intention, Nahan thought about the appropriate response when Dalan, who was biting his lip, furrowed his brow and asked quietly.
“Captain, for what reason…?”
“For what reason?”
“Why have you neglected our lives and continued with the operation?”
“How dare you!!”
Laktea’s unsheathing was faster than Nahan’s response,
-[Right now. Three knuckles away from the sword hilt.]
‘Thanks, old man.’
Clang!
Moved by Balak Gardner’s whisper, Nahan deflected her sword back.
“Captain!!”
Laktea looked bewildered, unable to decide what to do as she stared at him, but Nahan gestured to stop her and answered Dalan.
“Because I can save them.”
“… Captain?”
To cut to the chase, only one casualty occurred in that episode.
‘The Valiant Selena.’
She failed to attack the pope for some reason, thus exposing a major flaw.
In an effort to make up for her mistake, she saved Asha who was in mortal peril and died in the process.
‘This is a necessary event in the original storyline.’
Witnessing Selena’s sacrifice leads to the reform of the fallen saint, and Kwangmyeong’s renewed awakening and increased strength after losing a comrade.
With the saint’s reform, Episode 12 begins, continuing through to Episode 15, allowing Asha to purge the <Black Wolf>.
Therefore, the time that Nahan originally wanted to interfere was around Episode 14.
Follow the <Original> story up until the late stages of Episode 14 and then make a different choice at the decisive moment to save both the <Emperor> and the <Hero> simultaneously.
The reason was simple.
‘Because it’s safer that way.’
The earlier the original flow is altered, the more likely the known future will change.
It means a significant reduction in usable information, and that is equivalent to discarding the great advantage of knowing the original story.
However,
“You were the only debt in my life that was once without a single speck of light.”
“So, my daughter, I entrust you with this.”
Seeing the tragic ending of a woman swayed by Eclipse,
“Again, you’ve saved me. Thank you, Captain. I will follow you forever.”
After saving members destined to fade away silently in the original,
And similarly,
“I love you, mom.”
“Thank you for your efforts on my behalf.”
He realized that even minor characters could be saved.
And now, to Nahan,
‘I have the power to save them all.’
Certainly, no matter how strong I become, my personal power remains limited,
‘But combining this knowledge of the future, the opportunities and privileges as a transmigrator, and the acquired techniques with <Black Wolf> and <Kwangmyeong>,’
It’s not impossible to save the main characters like the <Black Wolf> and the main quest involving the <Emperor> and <Hero>, as well as the minor characters who otherwise would fade into obscurity.
Of course, choosing to save Selena could make the future more difficult,
“Why are you still by my side, Han? My family and even relatives abandoned me, so why…!!”
“…Because I can.”
Nahan was originally the kind of person who would help others in this manner.
Since he had lived by receiving various kinds of help from others, he decided to give back as much as he could.
“That’s all, Dalan. I’m simply trying to save more people. There’s no profound reason as you suggest. Moreover…”
Most importantly,
“If helping you doesn’t seem like it’ll significantly disturb or fail my life…
…What?”
“Honestly, if helping you ruins my life, I won’t help. I’m helping because it’s manageable.”
“….Puhat. That sounds like you, brother.”
Nahan was always someone who ensured a way out for himself regardless of how many people he helped.
“Therefore, none of you who are important to me now will ever be placed in peril.”
“…Captain.”
At Nahan’s resolute declaration, Dalan’s narrow eyes widened.
And not just Dalan,
“…Still, it’s only Captain.”
“Still…, ─…”
“…Hmm.”
Luna and Hanlyang,
and Laktea also relaxed their expressions, as if nothing had happened, and looked at Nahan with sparkling eyes.
‘…Then why bother stabbing my expectations?’
Still feeling burdened by their expectations, Nahan hastily diverted his gaze and turned towards Ruby who had silently arrived behind Dalan.
“Preparations?”
“Done, Captain.”
Always someone who ensures a way out, Nahan asked,
“Is that guy trustworthy?”
“Of course! He’s as crazy-looking as everyone else, but he’s still a <Black Wolf>!”
“True, you’re all crazy.”
Nodding at Ruby’s statement, Nahan took out the mask from his waist and put it on as he turned his gaze.
“Anyway, Dalan, let’s discuss the details on the way to the Arendale Main Cathedral.”
“…Yes, Captain.”
With that, Dalan seemed convinced, nodded, and stood up.
‘Oh right. Laktea.’
Worried that Laktea might step in, Nahan tapped Dalan’s shoulder and added,
“Thank you for honoring the request for ‘advice’ I made during our first meeting, Dalan.”
“No, Captain. …I am grateful that you remembered.”
Finally relaxed, Laktea’s eyes softened.
‘…She really meant to kill him.’
Having addressed the most blindly devoted among the members last, Nahan opened the hideout door and quickly listed the five names as he stepped out.
“Let Luna take the Grand Priest of Radiance, let Dalan take the Grand Priest of Silence, Ruby the Grand Priest of Compassion, Hanlyang the Grand Priest of Love. And…”
…gulp.
Unknowingly swallowing hard, Nahan naturally added a word,
“Peter of the First Group, execute the life of Archbishop Felix von Arendale. All operations in complete secrecy. No noise will be tolerated.”
The next moment.
“Yes, Captain.”
Everyone except Peter, who was absent, vanished in the blink of an eye.
2.
Arendale Main Cathedral.
The place reminiscent of the Gardner Wall with its towering outer walls and dazzling, pristine main buildings.
Inside one of the main buildings, the Confessional, a session was ongoing.
“I… when I was young…”
The confessor was recounting their sin of neglect and escape during their youth.
After a long confession of their faults, looking beyond the confessional box, he asked in a spewed manner.
“Am I… Can someone like me, someone useless, be redeemed?”
Guilt,
A sobbing voice,
More guilt.
Amidst the mix of self-reproach and complaints, the intermediate priest on the other side briefly responded,
“It appears Redemption itself is coming.”
“Huh?”
“The Captain is coming.”
In the next moment.
Crack!
A stark white hand burst through the frosted middle wall, struck the confessor’s neck, knocking him unconscious at once,
“Let’s go. To receive Redemption with the Captain.”
With a grin unsuited to a church, a chillingly wide smile, the man leaped onto the roof, breaking it apart while shouting,
“The One True God Black Wolf has personally descended to punish heretical believers!!!”
The Black Wolf attacked the cathedral,
“H-H-Black Wolf!! They attack!!”
“Everyone in the church, pick up your weapons!!”
“Block them!! Alert the guard!!”
And this happened on a quiet early morning.
3.
By someone’s shout, their identities were revealed before even attacking on that morning.
“What did I say, Ruby?”
“…All operations in secrecy. No noise will be tolerated…”
“What? He’s not crazy-looking, he’s just plain outside?”
“…I apologize, Captain.”
Anyway, regardless of whether it’s the Bright Light or the Black Wolf,
“Peter, the intermediate priest?”
“Ah, good timing. Do you believe in God?”
“Excuse me, Lady Arendale?”
“AAA…!!! How blasphemous!!! The only God is Black Wolf, my brother!!!”
“…”
“Penitence Punch!!!”
Sploosh!!
“Kahak!”
“Ah… This is ‘penance’, my brother.”
“…Ah. My head hurts.”
There isn’t a single normal person here.
