Chapter 556: Restructuring Dismissal

"Reinforce Alpha, the Order of Knights," a fading voice trailed off as an elderly man quietly surveyed his surroundings.

The guardians all appeared to have lost consciousness, frozen as if caught in a deep trance. It was startling not only that all the guardians had been swiftly incapacitated, but even Basara seemed caught off guard by this turn of events. Nevertheless, there was no sign of fear on the faces of the aged elders.

"What on earth are you doing?"

"..." Silence was Davey's sole response as he moved closer to them. Despite a mere step bringing them within striking distance, the elders displayed no signs of panic.

"I am asking," one of them noted.

"And if you hear the answer," Davey responded. In the midst of this profound silence, Basara's hand twitched slightly as Davey added, "Does that alter the reality?"

"At the very least, we need to know the reason."

"It's simple. I've concluded that the leadership, too foolish to differentiate between a poisonous mushroom and an edible one, requires a change," Davey retorted, his tone saturated with sarcasm.

This prompted a hardening of expressions among a few of the elders.

"Member Davey! How dare a mere member speak like that to the central three elders!"

Their words were paradoxical. The purpose of having leadership and elders in the Order was to unite it for more systematic operations. However, if the incompetence of the leadership shook the fundamental ideology of the Order, their existence became superfluous.

Disregarding the agitated cries around him, Davey turned away, focusing solely on those who sat on the ground, their faces empty, kneeling in defeat. He asked them, "Why are you like this when I caused trouble?"

"A student's breach of discipline is a burden for the teacher to bear." Boris looked at Davey with a tired face, devoid of surprise, only resigned acceptance. "Davey. Stop, please stop."

"I can't do that."

As Davey effortlessly snapped the chains, Boris reached out with trembling hands, his once robust body now devoid of strength. The extent of his suffering was painfully evident, marked by signs of prolonged torture.

"This is the heart of the Order! No matter how unfair it may seem, decisions made here are absolute. And the fact remains that a breach of discipline has occurred..."

"No, the ones who breached discipline are not you but those sitting over there." Davey pointed toward the elders.

Leaving Boris behind, Davey knelt beside Lucia Shelman, whose face was worn out with exhaustion, and checked her pupils. Narrowing his eyes, he noticed her pupils could not focus properly.

'Her vision is damaged. Prolonged exposure to bright light or strain on the eyes can cause this.'

Shayir Renda, bruised and trembling with fear, bore signs of severe beating, and her twin brother Fendyr nervously bit his nails. They had reacted immediately to the sounds of battle, a stark contrast to their previous state during the trial.

After silently observing their condition, Davey finally asked, "Who tortured them?"

"How dare you!"

"Who did it?" Davey's voice was indifferent, almost chilling, as the atmosphere around him shifted starkly. The swords floating in the air trembled as if ready to strike at any moment. "If you won't answer..."

With a short sigh, Davey lightly waved his hand. Simultaneously, the iron swords in the sky began emitting powerful aura blades, plunging toward the ground.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Amidst tremendous explosions, the ground split open, creating a hellish scene. This caused some of the elders to panic, scattering in disarray.

"Stop!! Stop this at once!"

At that moment, one of the central three elders abruptly stood up and berated Davey. "How dare a mere member act so presumptuously! Where is the justice in your actions, the noble ideals?"

"Justice, ideals-nice words. But are those who exploit the loopholes in the rules to sentence innocent people to death really pursuing justice or ideals?" Davey retorted sarcastically, triggering a loud outburst from an elder.

"Nonsense! They did break the rules!"

"Sure, if you focus on just one particular thing."

"What do you mean?"

"According to the rules of knightly conduct, in special cases, contact with outside entities to resolve issues does not incur blame. But..."

"Are you saying the current worldly affairs are so critical that they necessitate such special circumstances?" the elder, Hector, scoffed. "The matters of the outside world are merely human conflicts. There's no reason for the Order to intervene. This young and foolish member is just being obstinate."

Davey's expression hardened. Had they not even read his report? Surely that could not be the case.

"Commander of the Knights, did you receive the additional report I sent?" Davey asked, turning to Commander Klomen.

"Indeed. I personally reviewed and forwarded your additional remarks to the upper echelons."

'Still, they acted like this...'

"Perserque."

"They know but pretend not to. They prioritized execution over understanding," Perserque responded.

"So it seems."

In silence, Davey slowly pulled out the original scripture.

Physical damage could be healed with restoration magic, but mental magic left trauma as long as the self and memories persisted. The twin spirit mage sisters continued trembling, revealing their fear, and Lucia no longer displayed her former cheerfulness.

He then opened the yet unturned fourth chapter of the original scripture.

[Chapter Four]

[Blank]

The vacant space held a simple yet profound meaning-to possess was to wield power.

[If four chapters focus on punishment, granting one is acceptable, right? Is that not the case? I understand your frustration, but one chapter is mine to compose.]

Woooom!!!

As Davey's resolve metamorphosed into a prayer, infusing the empty expanse of the scripture, enigmatic characters began to manifest on its surface. The underlying sentiment was that she didn't approve, yet for the moment, she allowed it.

[Heal]

With Goddess Freyja's consent, Davey witnessed the original scripture emitting light and delicately drew upon divine power, casting a simple healing spell on the five individuals. Similar to the typical divine magic he employed, this magic underwent a transformation, influenced by the power streaming from the book.

As the healing magic seeped into their flesh, their expressions shifted from fear to tranquility. Gradually, they descended into a peaceful slumber, as if cradled in the warmth of someone's embrace.

Davey nodded in satisfaction.

He wasn't erasing memories; he was mending them. Even traumatic memories seemed to mend, allowing them to be embraced with a mere smile. This high-level healing ability was the miracle at hand. Enveloped in light, they slowly descended, as if drifting into sleep. Rinne and Illyna gently guided them.

"Understand this well; the affairs of the outside world are merely human disputes, not grounds for the Order's intervention. Therefore, all Anchor Knights who made contact with outsiders are liable to face punishment."

Davey had unmistakably included crucial amendments in his report. The Illuminati were invaders from another dimension, and neglecting this situation would escalate beyond a human problem to a continental crisis.

"Previously, you at least feigned taking action."

"You insolent fool!!" one elder exclaimed, abruptly standing up and slamming a spear onto the ground with a resounding echo. He then moved surprisingly swiftly for his age, positioning himself in front of Davey, brandishing the spear accusingly.

"The noble rules of the Order strictly forbid those on missions in the secular world from contacting external entities!! Essentially, aren't you the primary culprit in breaking these rules!! Such audacity!" the elder accused.

"If I'm guilty of anything, it's of dismissing you, who are about to execute these people, for your incompetence," Davey replied firmly.

"Shut up!! I'll make you pay for your crimes!" the elder shouted fiercely, slamming the spear handle onto the ground again.

Simultaneously, the spear began to glow crimson, and a vast pattern started forming in the air above the courtroom.

Shrrrrrrrrrr!!!

As the giant pattern emitted light, dozens of crimson ropes burst forth from the ground, beginning to bind Davey. The power of the crimson ropes was fascinating. They bound Davey while rapidly draining the mana from his body. It seemed this was why the elders had remained unflustered even in this situation. It was hardly surprising, though.

"I shall pass judgment. Davey O'Rowane, although your contributions to the Order are acknowledged, the charge of rebellion cannot be overlooked. You are sentenced to death." As the elder spoke, light emanated from the tip of his spear, and crimson figures began to emerge around them.

"Judges!" exclaimed Commander Klomen of the knights, his voice filled with horror.

Judges, indeed.

"The Last Wisp Order's founders imbued part of their power into this final bastion. Now that their power has awakened, your sacred force and magic will be of no use here," the elder proclaimed.

Davey nodded in understanding. It would have been different if they had their own beliefs driving their actions. But they seemed to have no intention of interfering with the outside world.

As the elder with the spear motioned, the crimson figures raised their weapons. However, they did not attack Davey.

"What... What?! Move! Attack him!" The elder, flustered by the unexpected development, waved his spear, but the crimson figures remained immobile.

"What have you done?!" the elder yelled at Davey, who then revealed an item retrieved from his Pocket Plane.

It was a foldable bow made of metal, unassuming in appearance yet sleek and refined.

The bow, named "Divine Bow Brunak," was fundamental to Apollo, a founder of the Last Wisp, and a symbol of his legacy. Most importantly, this bow was the key to the Order's power, the spear, a genuine artifact though it was a replica.

The items from Davey's Pocket Plane were mostly genuine replicas, created by beings who used divine power. The Divine Bow Brunak, genuine yet not, represented the nature of Davey's sacred items.

As the bow transformed and emitted a crimson light, the ropes binding him crumbled away. Once free, Davey skillfully manipulated the bow, and a mechanical sound, like reeling in a fishing line, followed.

The longbow, brimming with immense tension, revealed itself, astonishing the elders.

"That... That can't be!"

"If Apollo, the First Saint Daphne, saw your corrupt deeds, she would have risen from the depths of hell to chase you with a club." Davey mused on the irony of the once noble Order's fall.

"Uh... Uh, no..." A voice of denial came, and Davey turned to see Lucia Shelman talking in her sleep. "Uhmm... Saint Daphne... The great... Hmm..."

"Even in her slumber, she remains fervent..." Davey muttered, turning back and clearing his throat awkwardly before slowly drawing the bowstring.

A crimson arrow materialized on the bow.

"That should have been destroyed by our ancestors! How is it possible?"

The absence of knowledge about Brunak within the Order now made sense.

With a proper stance, Davey pulled the bowstring fully, aiming the arrow at the center of the large Order symbol floating in the sky. The crimson figures, created by the spear, slowly retreated from him, as if acknowledging their true master.

Thwung!

With an enormous recoil, the bowstring pierced through the symbol. The crimson figures twisted and dispersed, and the frozen divine power and mana began to move again.

"First rule of the Order," Davey declared.

[The Last Wisp, as the guardian shadow of the continent, dedicates itself to defending against and vanquishing external threats and monsters that endanger the continent's existence.]

"You ignored the report of invaders from another dimension, attempting to kill valuable members of the Order."

"..."

"Let's not lie about not reading the report. You intentionally ignored it, did you not?"

It was the only way they could justify killing Boris. If they acknowledged the report, they would lose the pretext to execute him. One of the elders trembled with clenched fists at Davey's mocking tone.

"Beings from other dimensions are not merely worldly problems. They are a threat one level higher than monsters. You cannot claim ignorance of this."

"Hmph! Even if that's true, what will you do about us? If you want to follow your precious rules, you can't kill us!"

The elder's words held a certain truth.

Elders, like members of parliament, enjoyed a kind of immunity from arrest. However, they were unaware of the significance of Davey wielding the Divine Bow Brunak within the Order.

"I despise the saying 'an unjust law is still a law.'"

'Unjust laws should be amended.'

"I already told you. As the successor to the Order's founders, I will punish you."

The Order had no royal family, only comrades working together. But Apollo, a founder, fearing the Order's corruption in later generations, made a promise after consulting with Daphne. The successor of the founders would have the authority of a secret royal inspector, with the power to correct the Order's wrongs and even punish the elders.

This was not properly passed down as they believed there would be no issues. However, everything changed when Apollo met Davey in the Hall of Heroes. The ancestors of the current elders had destroyed the weapon of the Divine Archer, Brunak, eliminating what they saw as a threat to themselves. They could not have imagined there was another Divine Bow.

"You all are hereby stripped of your positions and dismissed."

'Pack your things.'