Chapter 27: The Judgment Knight

From Katharina’s words, Leon finally understood why the cult was universally reviled and hunted throughout the empire—not only because of its atrocious deeds.

There was another critical factor: it threatened the authority of both the empire and the church.

Emperor Solaris III himself had risen through rebellion, so he was extremely sensitive to any acts of rebellion.

Perhaps his mother had never truly betrayed them.

Maybe this was just an excuse used to eliminate a threatening duke.

Looking back now, it seemed few of the founding dukes remained.

“Alright, you can get dressed now.”

At that moment, the priestess’s voice interrupted Leon’s thoughts.

She looked at the boy, whose forehead was drenched in cold sweat and whose face was pale, and asked, “How do you feel?”

“That fast?”

Leon was somewhat suspicious.

He closed his eyes to feel his body—there was nothing unusual.

However, as a sacrifice, he could indeed sense the magical markings within him.

“Are you doubting me? I was the top magic prodigy in the academy back then.”

The priestess put away her book and shot Leon a glance.

Alright, this is a genius.

Leon wisely decided not to say another word.

“By the way, although you probably already know, I still have to warn you: even if you transfer some of your lifespan to her, as long as Sylph’s illness isn’t cured, she’s still in danger.”

The priestess looked at Leon seriously as she reminded him.

“I know.”

Leon nodded.

“I mean, you’re not allowed to perform this ritual secretly, or both of you will be doomed!”

Katharina’s anger flared up when she saw Leon’s clueless expression.

She said sternly, “Besides, I can help mask the aura when the ritual is activated here. If you try to perform it secretly on your own, you might be discovered—and if that happens, the consequences will be severe!”

“I understand.”

Leon looked at the priestess’s nagging with some helplessness, but he knew she meant well.

“Let’s go to Sylph’s room first.”

Knowing how anxious Leon was, Katharina said no more and led him back to Sylph’s room.

After closing the door, Katharina immediately laid down several layers of magic within the room.

Leon then turned his gaze to the girl lying on the bed.

The once lively and quirky girl now lay quietly, her pale face and furrowed brows showing that she was clearly unwell.

Completely different from her previously energetic self, Sylph now looked like a true patient.

Everything before had just been a fragile bubble she had created for Leon.

Now that the bubble had burst, her vulnerable side was fully exposed.

“Sorry.”

Leon reached out gently to stroke the girl’s head.

He knew Sylph had always felt like a burden.

Because of her strange illness, their parents often traveled the world searching for a cure, which also became evidence against them during the trials.

Sylph had always blamed herself for dragging everyone down.

If she hadn’t been born, perhaps their parents wouldn’t have died.

This innocent girl only took on the blame herself.

If Leon hadn’t been watching over her, she probably would have taken her own life long ago.

Leon recalled their time wandering together—Sylph had more than once told him to leave her behind, and she would sneak away to hide when Leon wasn’t paying attention.

But no matter where she hid, Leon always found her eventually, which would make her break down in tears.

All he could do was stay by her side, holding her tight and telling her, “We’re family. Family can’t be separated.”

After that, Sylph rarely mentioned being abandoned again.

But Leon knew she still lacked a sense of security and confidence.

He had thought their relatively stable life over the years had made her a bit more cheerful.

But that didn’t seem to be the case.

He had paid too little attention to Sylph over the years—he could only see her once a week.

But it didn’t matter.

With the simulation, maybe he could find a way to completely cure her illness.

“All right, now you can hold her hand.”

Katharina wiped the sweat off her forehead and let out a long breath as she said to Leon.

Leon nodded and reached out to gently take Sylph’s hand.

The moment their skin touched, his nose twitched with emotion.

The girl’s hand was so thin and fragile it seemed it would break with the slightest force.

He held her carefully.

The instant they connected, the magical markings inside both of them activated and linked through their joined hands.

Leon could clearly feel something being forcibly drawn out from within him.

Katharina looked at Leon with concern, noticing his face turning alarmingly pale as he visibly began to weaken.

At the same time, a sinister aura started filling the room, making Katharina furrow her brows.

“That’s enough!”

Seeing Leon nearly collapsing, she quickly spoke up.

Leon didn’t try to push himself and immediately released Sylph’s hand, staggering to lean against the wall, gasping for breath.

The ominous aura in the room dissipated significantly.

“How’s my sister?”

Leon refused the priestess’s support and instead pointed to the girl on the bed.

Katharina ignored his stubbornness.

After checking his vital signs, she turned her attention to Sylph.

Compared to Leon’s dire state, Sylph had completely recovered.

The girl’s pale face flushed with color, finally looking like a young woman in the prime of youth.

“Very smooth. She’s perfectly fine.”

Hearing this, Leon finally exhaled in relief.

Then, puzzled, he asked Katharina, “What was that strange feeling just now?”

He had never encountered anything like it in the simulation.

“The forbidden magic of the cult is designed to attract the attention of the evil gods. If you continue, you will really draw their gaze.”

Katharina explained tersely.

Hearing this, cold sweat broke out on Leon’s back.

He felt a surge of fear—he almost forgot the difference between simulation and reality.

Katharina’s expression turned somewhat worried.

She wasn’t sure if the magic array she had set up had fully sealed the aura.

According to theory, anyone below the sixth rank shouldn’t be able to detect what was happening here.

The Royal Capital Guard Knights.

A man clad in silver armor suddenly lifted his head and looked toward the church.

The emblem on his chest bore a delicate scale, marking his identity as the current Captain of the Royal Capital Guard Knights.

He was known as the “Judgment Knight” because of his resolute and strict enforcement of imperial law, responsible for safeguarding the capital’s security.

Any threat to the capital’s safety would be erased by him.

“The aura of an evil god? From the church?”

The man murmured to himself, then sheathed his sword and strode toward the church’s direction.