The Adventures of an Overpowered Knight in Another World Chapter 572- Please Save Cecilia (2)

"I see, damn demons."

Jerrel nodded, his brows knitting tightly over the demons' vile deeds.

They shared a few more exchanges and tales before Jerrel dismissed the ministers with a wave of his hand.

"Leave us."

As the ministers departed, only Jerrel's most loyal aides lingered in the room.

Free from watchful stares, he released a heavy sigh and bowed abruptly.

"Reinhardt, thank you. Your aid last time let me uncover the traitor. Without it, I'd still be blind, and Rune's kingdom...

"Don’t." Reinhardt cut in before Jerrel finished, pulling him upright. "You’re king now. A whole nation rests upon your shoulders. Don’t bow so freely."

Jerrel blinked, letting out a helpless laugh. Indeed, that was Reinhardt's way.

Though his involvement exposed a massive plot in Rune that might have plunged the realm into chaos, to Reinhardt himself, it probably felt like minor assistance.

"Come, let’s speak freely." Jerrel invited, motioning to a nearby side room.

.

In the secluded chamber, tea and treats were served to Reinhardt and his Holy Knights.

"How have you been?"

"Busy."

Jerrel reclined, heaving a deep sigh.

"One year back, after your departure, I realized my single shot. The old king had crumbled after his son's vanishing, while ministers tore the kingdom to pieces amid his neglect"...

"As heir apparent and kingdom's rescuer, I had to act."

Jerrel launched into his tale.

He first solidified his own supporters, subtly swapping out bureaucrats, reshuffling army chains, severing tainted money flows, and confronting the ministers.

One after another, he forced their compliance.

Those blocking him faced revelations of their crimes and disgraces.

Obstacle by obstacle crumbled before him.

Some fled in shame, others landed in cells, a few simply melted into obscurity.

When the prior king finally awoke to the shifts, Jerrel's reach had woven through every crucial vein of the realm.

He unveiled the man's devil-worship circles and delivered righteous punishment to the wicked.

Then, he claimed the throne, crowned as Rune's Thirteenth monarch.

From that point, he reshaped Rune to his vision.

Strict army order, financial overhauls, purging politics, and in thanks, laws uplifting demi-humans.

Casual as his telling was, Reinhardt grasped the fierce battles behind those changes.

The demi-human laws especially—Jerrel surely battled fierce backlash from his populace.

Enslaving demi-humans was an age-old custom etched deep into society.

Solaris pulled it off smoothly since its Queen had banned slavery early, and as a Seven Great Kingdom, it dictated laws without foreign backlash.

Yet Rune lacked that power, merely a minor state. Such changes risked shattering ties with neighbors, maybe dooming the nation.

"I’ll inform Her Majesty. No guarantees, but Solaris stands ready to support Rune."

"Yeah, I’ll count on it."

Jerrel accepted without pretense, taking the offer in stride.

Crucially, with ties souring abroad, Solaris's backing could stave off disaster.

They chatted warmly awhile longer, Reinhardt presenting his Holy Knights.

Bob, Marcus, Gray, and Zerina offered respectful salutes to Jerrel.

They weren't fool enough to disrespect Jerrel merely because their leader bantered casually with him.

As a sovereign with vast power, and bearing strength demanding respect, Jerrel commanded awe.

Powerful!! That thought echoed in all four Holy Knights' minds.

Never witnessing King Jerrel fight, his radiating aura alone proved him equal to Solaris's Seven Great Knight Orders' leader.

Reinhardt eyed Jerrel appraisingly too.

"You’ve grown stronger."

No empty praise—Reinhardt sensed the real surge in power.

Rune's top knight, Jerrel's gifts unmatched, Reinhardt believed him poised to enter hero rank someday.

As talk wound down, quiet enveloped the room.

But briefly.

"I know your purpose here." Jerrel eyed Reinhardt gravely.

"No concerns needed—every demi-human in my lands is registered, shielded by law. Shackles broken, they dwell freely by royal command. I’ll escort you to them myself."

Reinhardt nodded. Unmentioned in his missive, Jerrel pierced the intent anyway.

"Yet one thing puzzles me."

Jerrel regarded Reinhardt ponderingly.

"I get the unity call. Demi-humans match human might, and unity spells survival now. Demons menace every race"...

"But your haste baffles me. Why rush to rally all demi-humans?"

The query hushed the chamber.

Eyes fixed on him, save the Holy Knights privy to his scheme.

"The Tainted Lands."

!!

Jerrel tensed subtly.

"Corruption delves deeper than thought—not mere surface blight, but tainting earth's mana flows, twisting them into demon hives. Reclaiming demands rooting out the rot's core."

Reinhardt unfolded his strategy.

"Vanquishing demons, retaking territories needs corruption purge worldwide. I intend to restore the World Tree."

Lightning shock hit without warning. Jerrel's circle blanked out, reeling from Reinhardt's bombshell.

The World Tree, dismissed as myth today, held deeper truths for high officials.

Royal archives chronicled an elven realm and its colossal World Tree.

That this man aimed to resurrect the unthinkable left them dazed.

"Are you serious?"

Jerrel doubted too. The Era of Gods lay buried in time's flow, mere echoes surviving now.

Reviving such antiquity seemed impossible.

"Yeah, dead serious. I hold all required elements. Just need the High Elf Priestess, sole nurturer for it."

Jerrel locked eyes on Reinhardt. Confirming utter resolve, he sighed, slumping back.

"So that’s it."

"Yes." Reinhardt affirmed. "No World Tree means demon war turns fiercer, bloodier ahead."

Moments ticked silently.

All pondered the looming carnage of future battles.

"Reinhardt, can humanity beat the demons?"

Jerrel shifted gaze from ceiling to Rune's bustling streets beyond the pane.

Knight first, king second—knights safeguard a radiant tomorrow.

Optimism flickered, yet could they topple demons their forebears failed against?

"Yeah, we’ll crush the demons."

The confident tone drew Jerrel's eyes to the voice.

"United humans and demi-humans offer turnaround hope."

Not Reinhardt spoke, but a Holy Knight—the pantherish demi-human.

In discussion heat, they'd overlooked the very subject among them.

Zerina met stares boldly, sharing her view.

"Commander once explained Valdonia's ancient fall stemmed from fractured races—humans, demi-humans alike. All chased gains from rivals' ruin, chasing selfish ends"...