Chapter 56. This is Absolutely Not Revenge!

[Arc5] - 56. This is Absolutely Not Revenge!

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"This magic… is it King?"

The members of the Seven Deadly Sins raised their heads, watching the sky. That blast, like a royal trumpet, was both a declaration and a unique taunt from the Sins.

"I've grown this powerful; I have the ticket to support the Captain now. If you don't want to be protected, you'd better catch up quickly!"

"King, pulling off a stunt like this, huh?" Cyd grinned, tossing aside Gilthunder and rushing into the city.

"Do whatever you want now; you can't stop us anyway."

Howzer hesitated for a moment before following Cyd, curious to see what the legendary Sins were truly like.

"What do we do?" Guila asked Gilthunder, who stood still. After gripping his sword hilt, Gilthunder began walking steadily into the city.

"Hunt down the Sins. That's all."

The Seven Deadly Sins had returned at Elizabeth's request to save Liones, but not everyone followed rules—especially Ban. When Diane ran toward King, who had signaled them in the sky, Ban slipped away.

"Saving the kingdom without one or two people isn't impossible. The Vice-Captain can handle it." Ban shoved his hands in his pockets, heading to the palace's depths, never forgetting his true wish.

To revive Elaine.

For that, he would use anything at his disposal.

"I heard the [Horn of Cernunnos] is hidden beneath the kingdom. A way to contact the Goddess Clan… Wonder if it's reliable."

Thanks to King's blatant attack, most guards were gone, leaving only the knights defending the king. Ban entered the underground chamber where the Horn was kept. As he stepped inside, the two twisted horns began to emit a faint glow.

[We've been waiting for you, Immortal Ban.]

"Oh, the great Goddess Clan waiting for a thief like me? What an honor." Ban tilted his head. "You know why I'm here, then."

[Of course, you wish to resurrect your lover, slain by the Demon Clan. We can grant that—if you fulfill our request.]

"Let's hear it." Ban tilted his chin, suspecting what they'd ask.

[Kill Meliodas.]

"Why?"

[Meliodas is an evil demon, inherently vile.]

"Guess the Goddess Clan isn't all-knowing after all." Ban sighed, disappointed, turning to glare at the enormous horns. "You don't even know I'd never hurt the Captain."

"He's one of my closest friends, and you're asking me to take his life?"

[Exchanging a friend for a lover, isn't that reasonable? Besides, Meliodas is a demon threatening world peace, unworthy of existence.]

"How is that reasonable…" Ban looked away, recalling Meliodas suppressing his own desires to protect everyone. Meliodas could have easily broken the seal to revive his lover, even if it meant countless deaths, but he chose to endure that pain.

If the Captain could endure it, so could he. He'd find a way. Elaine was waiting for him somewhere.

He wouldn't lose to the Captain.

"Tsk. No point talking to you all. I'm leaving."

Did these deities even have the power they claimed? Ban wasn't about to listen to some bodiless voices, and he didn't care for them anyway.

Humans were like this—when they had good friends, they naturally distrusted those who didn't.

[Thief Ban, will you abandon your beloved?]

"Stop joking. I just don't trust you. If I ever reach true despair, I'd rather rely on my friends than believe in you. After all…" Ban began walking up the stairs.

"My friends in the Seven Deadly Sins would never harm the Captain. So, go rot here."

Ban motioned casually, causing rubble to block the chamber entrance.

The Horn dimmed once more. They'd wait for someone else with desperate wishes.

"Damn it, what's with the Sins!" Hendrickson's face darkened as explosions continued around them. It was obvious the Sins were behind this, and only they would engage in such reckless combat.

Each time the Sins fought, civilians sought refuge in the underground shelters Diane had created.

"Bad news! The new king of Camelot, Arthur Pendragon, is approaching with an army!"

"That boy… I'll handle it." Hendrickson underestimated the battle, believing the Sins were his only threat.

Then, the guard reporting to him froze in shock, stumbling back.

"What is it?"

"Nothing… Just someone returning after wandering for ten years."

A familiar voice made Hendrickson's eyes narrow as he turned slowly. Standing at the door was someone who should have been dead for ten years.

His hair was still that confusing shade between silver and white, and his face now bore subtle wrinkles that gave him an imposing look.

"I'm back, Hendrickson."

"I was sure you were dead." Hendrickson's hand tightened on his sword. The man before him, who had barely exercised in a decade, was easier to handle than the Sins.

"If you think stabbing someone like a pincushion is death, then maybe. Fortunately, your oversight let me return to correct my mistakes."

The man walked up to him as if they were old friends, placing a hand on his shoulder. With no armor, his chest was unprotected, and Hendrickson could easily pierce his heart.

"Fine, then…"

Boom!

Lightning erupted in the small room, arcing through the single window, electrifying Hendrickson and leaving scorch marks across his skin.

Thunder needs only an instant to destroy. Smoking, Hendrickson fell to his knees, clutching his heart, staring in shock at the man who hadn't even drawn his sword.

"Hendrickson, even if you were controlled, you stabbed me the most. So let me let off some steam."

The Great Holy Knight Zaratras, who was murdered ten years ago, had returned!

"Worst of all, you had the nerve to poison me with fish pie!"