Volume 6 Chapter 96-2 This is Also a Kind of Narration Death
"Looks like the plan's blowin' up in their faces."
"Seems like it's failed, huh?"
Maybe Ragnar was annoyed by how Leonius shrugged ── the guy barely hid his irritation ── but he quickly masked it with his usual amused grin.
"Want to know who spilled the beans about you bein' here?"
Then, with a flick of his eyes, Ragnar threw a sneaky glance back at the forest.
As if on cue, from the shadows, a man silently stepped into view.
Unlike the knights, the man wore black from head to toe, barely making a mark ── quiet and unassuming.
"That's your── what do you call him? Shadow Swordsman ── Kyle Heather."
Ragnar's prideful grin contrasted sharply with Leonius's blank, unreadable face.
Meanwhile, Randy, Catherine, and the others stood far behind──totally out of the loop.
They had no idea what was really going on, but right now, their best move was just to watch the empire tear itself apart.
While Randy and the others kept their eyes on the scene, Ragnar gave the order: "Take him." Several knights surged forward to surround Leonius.
Leonius didn't resist as they bound him──no struggle, no fight.
Just calm acceptance, like he'd resigned himself to the inevitable fate.
Catherine saw this quiet resignation and couldn't hold back.
"Hey! What the hell is going on?!"
Catherine shouted, eyebrows blazing with anger. Leon quickly stepped in, covering her mouth. "Saintly Lady, shut it," he hissed, his tone sharp.
"Why──"
"Just enough."
Whispering quickly into her ear, he said, "They'll think we're allies. Play it cool."
The moment Catherine raised her voice, both Ragnar and the knights turned around ── their brows knotting as they stepped closer, eyes narrowing.
"You guys──"
"No way I'm their ally ── I'd never trust a creepy, paranoid freak like him."
Leon sighed, face in his hand at her bravado ── but Leonius just chuckled softly, amused. "That girl's right,"
"If I was gonna make someone my ally, I'd pick a smarter, more thoughtful woman."
Then he shot a glance back at Randy, adding with a smirk.
"And as for that pervert wandering around half-n*ked──absolutely not. He's not getting in my team."
Leonius shook his head, and Randy raised an eyebrow, shooting back, "Who's the pervert now?"
Stepping into the tense silence between the two glare-offs was Ragnar.
After a moment of sizing up Randy and Leonius, he turned to Randy.
"...I owe you one for squashing my foolish brother's plans. Let's call this a truce, shall we?"
Ragnar's insolent demeanor earned a snort of laughter from Randy.
"Oh, should I bow down in gratitude... or is that too much?"
Randy's taunt only made Ragnar's eyebrow twitch, and the knights behind him bristled with hostility.
Sensing the full-blown enmity now aimed at Randy, Catherine, Leon, and Lucius rushed to his side.
"That's enough, gorilla."
Catherine's whisper drew a look of disbelief from Leon, and Randy just sighed, "No way."
"Besides, we've got the Saint and the Headmaster with us. If we cause a scene here, it'll cause trouble for both of them."
Ragnar snorted at Randy's resigned tone.
"Surprisingly level-headed."
"Nah, just an outsider who ain't joining the war. Can't go around picking fights willy-nilly."
Randy's sly grin made Ragnar raise an eyebrow even more.
"Well, with the capital fallen and the kingdom's defeat certain, what's the point of this now..."
Catherine, Leon, and Liz all wore expressions of shock at Ragnar's words.
"So, the capital's fallen after all."
Randy's laugh made Ragnar raise his brow even further with a comment on his bravado.
"Sure seems like it. Full-force bravado. So hurry up and go handle the post-war cleanup."
Randy said no more.
Ragnar just glared at Randy for a while, equally silent.
"All troops, take Leonius and return to base."
As Ragnar turned his back on Randy and began walking towards the knights, a gust of wind shook the Silver Chime Tree, filling the air with bell-like sounds.
The solemn peal of the chimes made everyone stop and look up, and it was then that Leonius murmured softly.
"...The bells, huh. Hardly a wake-up call, but..."
Leonius muttered something, then let out a small "hmph" and turned his back on Randy and Catherine.
"The time for awakening will come. It always does."
As Leonius whispered, Ragnar ordered the knights to "Take him away," and they began to drag him.
"Until then──"
Leonius turned his head back, muttering something profound, as the knights led him deeper into the forest.
His disappearing figure said no more.
Only the sound of jingling bells remained, ingly echoing in the air.
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