Chapter 27: She Must Die

The elves quickly complied with Knight Tamik's demands. Without their elders, they were already in disarray, and Tamik's display of skill made it clear that they stood no chance. The only elf capable of drawing the Phantom Bow, Kaylin, had already been captured. Elder Lloyd was likely far away in the royal capital, discussing matters concerning the Whispering Forest, while Elder Ruya had gone to the Tooth Tower.

Another reason the elves didn't resist was that Tamik's demands didn't seem excessively harsh. He simply required them to retreat a mile away from the center of the area and not approach. Tamik even swore that as long as the elves maintained this one-mile buffer zone, he wouldn't harm the elven elders. For the elves, this oath was their only hope, and they had no choice but to trust it.

Tamik's reasoning was simple: his goal was the World Tree Leaf, not the elves themselves. The whereabouts of the World Tree Leaf and the two individuals were easily extracted from the elves, presenting a perfect opportunity. No matter the method, the key was to clear enough space to avoid interference.

An unexpected bonus was the discovery of several teleportation scrolls to Orford among the elven elders' possessions. These were undoubtedly meant for seeking aid, but unfortunately, they never had a chance to be used.

After eliminating all potential obstacles, Holy Warriors immediately set up traps, waiting for the two who might return via the teleportation circle at any moment. However, as Tamik continued to slaughter the remaining elven captives, using their blood to mask the magic traps, Talice unexpectedly stepped forward to stop him.

In truth, Talice had been growing increasingly uncomfortable ever since Tamik took hostages and used his uniquely effective methods to intimidate the elves.

She wasn't unfamiliar with killing, but she had never seen it done like this.

Killing usually carried some emotional weight—intense battle fervor, icy sharpness of intent, boiling hatred, or even frenzied euphoria. After killing, one might feel satisfaction, pleasure, disgust, fear, or weariness. But Tamik killed without joy, sorrow, pain, or worry, without even the slightest hint of killing intent. His expression was as blank as a seasoned housewife doing chores, his movements precise and practiced. This kind of person and this manner of killing were more chilling than any act of brutality.

Most importantly, such behavior was utterly at odds with the identity of a "knight," especially a Temple Knight of Celeste. Even the beast-like bandit leader he encountered in Alrasia seemed less ruthless and bloodthirsty than this knight directly under His Holiness the Pope.

"Sir Tamik, is this really necessary? Just to mask the traps and distract them, you need to kill hundreds of innocent elves?"

"It is necessary," Tamik replied indifferently. He didn't even glance at Talice, simply slitting another elf's throat. Warm blood gushed from the elf's neck, steaming slightly in the cold dawn air. The light from the fireflies overhead turned the bright red blood a purplish hue. The elf's limbs twitched—a common reaction when an animal's throat is cut.

"No, this can't be done," Talice said in a low voice, stepping in front of Tamik. "How is this any different from those who treat lives as worthless and kill without reason? Although these elves are heretics, they aren't evil..."

Tamik's gaze made Talice instinctively fall silent. He looked her up and down as if appraising an object, then asked, "This is the Pope's mission. Are you getting in the way?"

"No. I'm just saying this method is inappropriate..."

"I'm warning you, don't interfere," Tamik said flatly, then turned to grab another elf.

"No. This can't be done. Let's find another way," Talice stepped forward to block him.

Tamik glanced at Talice, then suddenly looked up at the sky, his expressionless face showing a hint of contemplation.

Talice inexplicably felt a chill run down her spine. In truth, when Tamik had looked at her earlier, even though there was no killing intent in his eyes, she had instinctively sensed that she really shouldn't interfere further.

But she quickly dismissed this intuition, driven by a deeply ingrained belief in her mind. Such actions were undoubtedly evil, wrong, and completely unbefitting of a Temple Knight, so they had to be stopped.

Ever since following that person from the royal capital to this place and then inexplicably joining Tamik's group, Talice had been in a state of confusion and uncertainty. She didn't know what she should do or where she stood. Now, she felt she had finally grasped something she could hold onto, a belief she could stand by. So she felt she had to persist. Although her intuition told her there was something very wrong with Tamik, she convinced herself she had to stand firm. Thus, she stepped forward to block him again.

Tamik, still looking up in thought, showed no emotion or fluctuation—it was clear he was engaged in purely rational calculation, like solving a math problem. Soon, he lowered his head again, as if he had reached a conclusion, and the black blade in his hand flashed like lightning.

With a sharp clang, Talice's body was sent flying backward, trailing blood.

Staggering to her feet, Talice stared in horror at Tamik as he approached, his blade in hand. The gray-armored knight's face remained as expressionless as ever, devoid of any emotion or killing intent. This was simply him carrying out the conclusion of his rational calculation.

"Interfere, and you die."

Tamik raised his blade to strike again. Talice barely managed to block with her sword and retreat. If not for years of rigorous training that had honed her instincts to draw her sword and dodge, Tamik's first strike would have sent her head flying.

Compared to the wound on her shoulder and the curse taking effect within it, the shock Talice felt in her heart was incomparable. She had never imagined that a fellow Temple Knight, a direct subordinate of the Pope, would suddenly try to kill her for such a simple reason. She was completely stunned.

Talice didn't understand, but Tamik was very clear. His judgment was simple: he could see that this disciple of Lancelote would likely be more of a hindrance than a help, so she needed to be removed.

At that moment, someone suddenly rushed over from the side. Tamik glanced over and saw it was the young man named Yabin, who had recently joined them in the forest.

When they had first encountered this inexplicable young man in the forest, Tamik had been about to kill him. But just as he was about to strike, Talice arrived and recognized him. Talice explained that the young man was her friend, and Yabin himself claimed that he had captured a Pegasus but couldn't control it, getting dragged into the battle by accident. After some explanation and questioning, Talice asked Yabin to join their group. Tamik agreed, thinking the young man's decent combat skills and white magic might be useful.

But now it seemed that usefulness was irrelevant—he would have to be killed along with Talice.

However, just as Tamik was about to cut Yabin in half, he saw the young man draw his sword and stab Talice in the hand.

He stabbed her hand deeply, almost piercing through her arm into her ribs. Then he kicked her to the ground and pinned her down.

"What are you doing? Have you gone mad?" Talice, still reeling from Tamik's attack, was now plunged into even greater shock and anger.

Yabin didn't answer her. Instead, he looked at Tamik and said, "Sir Tamik. Although Talice is interfering, there's no need to kill her. Just tie her up and leave her aside, right?"

"Oh? Aren't you her friend?" Tamik asked indifferently.

"I am her friend, which is why I don't want her to die," Yabin forced a pitiful smile, a bitter one. "And more importantly, I don't want to die myself. I know you don't want anyone getting in the way, so we definitely won't interfere. Is that alright?"

"You're a clever young man, much cleverer than Talice," Tamik nodded expressionlessly. It was indeed smart of Yabin to recognize that Tamik would tolerate no interference.

"Please spare her. And let me follow you—I'll definitely be useful," Yabin said, looking at Tamik. He knew that merely saying he wouldn't interfere wasn't enough to be believed. He had to show that not only would he not interfere, but he would also help achieve the goal.

Tamik studied the young man before him. Clever people were indeed useful, but a clever person with unclear motives and intentions was hard to control. Unless there was a special way to confirm his loyalty. Suddenly, Tamik said, "I'm telling you now, Talice must die."