Just as the [Human Hunt] members were all stunned, the knights had already completed a thorough encirclement of them.
Themis was still immersed in that dangerous scene from moments ago...
What had just happened?
Why would her deputy attack her from behind?
Moreover... why would this person, who was obviously on Catherine's side, intervene to save her?
And when Catherine saw that she, who wanted to kill Catherine, was about to die at her deputy's hands, why was Catherine's reaction so intense?
Thinking of these things made Themis's head hurt even more...
On the other side, seeing Themis once again painfully covering her head, Elashia showed a victorious smile beneath her veil.
This was it...
Elashia's [Mind Control] could only fully affect ordinary people, but this didn't mean it was completely useless against high-level units.
As the strongest control-type skill against humans in this world, although [Mind Control] couldn't control high-level units, it could help them break free from abnormal mental states to a certain degree.
As long as Elashia could activate [Mind Control] when the inner personality suppressed by abnormal states became active, she could remove abnormal states from high-level units except those directly influenced by gods.
After experiencing multiple stimulations, Themis's inner personality had basically fully awakened...
And now the knights had completely surrounded Themis's subordinates, and the situation had basically stabilized.
Next, she just needed to stimulate Themis a few more times, and then Elashia could help her break free from the controlled state.
After seeing Elashia save her master with that Magic Arrow, Catherine finally recovered from her emotional state.
She was very clear—it was this mysterious person who suddenly appeared that saved her.
Who exactly was this mysterious person...
Being able to use magic, she should be a high noble...
But... most of the Holy Kingdom's nobles should be on the Holy Court's side...
The few nobles who stood with Northern Fire were countable, and Catherine knew all of them...
Who could she be...
Catherine thought for a moment and decided to go forward and ask.
Although this girl dressed as a nun and wearing a veil was indeed mysterious, the gentle aura she emanated, like that of a mother, made her instinctively feel safe.
She walked to Elashia's side and asked respectfully:
"May I ask who you are?"
Elashia just smiled and answered with a question:
"Elasia's Magic Crossbows work well, don't they."
Catherine immediately realized!
The person before her was Her Majesty Elashia!
"Wait, don't show it! Don't let your master know!"
Seeing Catherine about to bow to her, Elashia quickly used magic to transmit her voice to Catherine's ear.
Next, she still needed to act out a scene with Catherine.
Seeing Catherine's movement stop at her words, Elashia nodded and looked toward Themis.
"Let me go! Let me go!"
"Stay still! Don't move!"
At this moment, Themis was being firmly pinned to the ground by two high-level knights above level twenty-five.
Earlier, Themis had been immersed in brief confusion and temporarily relaxed her guard against her surroundings.
Naturally, the battle-hardened knights wouldn't miss such a heaven-sent opportunity...
The knights who launched a surprise attack from behind Themis instantly controlled both Themis and her subordinates.
The surrounding [Human Hunt] members, seeing such a disparity in strength, didn't dare move at all...
Confirming that the situation had stabilized, Elashia once again used voice transmission to Catherine:
"Next, Miss Catherine, I need you to cooperate with me in acting out a scene."
A scene?
Catherine didn't understand Elashia's meaning.
Seeing Catherine's confused expression, Elashia again transmitted through magic:
"In any case, please do whatever I say next, Miss Catherine."
Elashia knew now wasn't the time to explain to Catherine what exactly had happened.
Catherine immediately accepted Elashia's words.
She nodded lightly to Elashia, indicating she understood.
Having met Elashia once before, Catherine was very clear—the girl before her would absolutely never harm her.
Seeing that Catherine understood her intention, Elashia immediately transmitted to her:
"Then, please pretend to fight with me and pretend to lose to me, Miss Catherine."
Although Catherine found Elashia's request somewhat strange, she chose to comply.
Seeing Elashia draw the long sword in her hand, Catherine also made combat movements.
"Clang! Clang clang!"
Under everyone's puzzled gazes, after Catherine's dagger clashed with Elashia's long sword several times, Catherine pretended to be outmatched and threw it away.
Elashia then lightly "kicked over" Catherine.
"Ugh!"
Accompanied by Catherine's extremely deceptive-sounding muffled groan, she fell to the ground as if Elashia's light kick had seriously injured her.
Elashia played the role of a villain.
She said loudly:
"Hmph, next... I'll let your dear master see exactly how it feels to watch the disciple she regards as a daughter die at someone else's hands!"
Using the strength of a level fifteen warrior, Elashia easily lifted the pretending-to-be-seriously-injured Catherine with one hand and walked toward Themis, who was being firmly held down by the knights.
While walking toward the struggling Themis, Elashia transmitted apologetically to Catherine:
"Miss Catherine, I truly apologize for the offense just now, but please don't be afraid in a moment."
Catherine, being carried with one hand, gave her a look to tell Elashia she understood.
Under Themis's complex gaze, Elashia quickly brought Catherine before her.
"Let me go!"
Seeing Elashia carrying Catherine approach her, Themis struggled forcefully several more times.
However, as an agent responsible for security, she ultimately didn't have the same strength as those knights specialized in combat.
No matter how she struggled, she ultimately couldn't break free.
After Elashia explained her battle plan to the knights through voice transmission, to ensure safety, she loudly said to several female knights:
"Go! Search out all the weapons on her!"
"Yes!"
Soon, under the search of several female knights, a pile of weapons including daggers, sleeve arrows, short knives, throwing knives, and more were found on Themis.
Looking at Themis who was still desperately struggling, Elashia, carrying Catherine with one hand, imitated Alexandra's tone and asked Themis playfully:
"What's your relationship with Catherine?"
Themis gritted her teeth:
"None of your business!"
Elashia immediately responded:
"Oh? Then it wouldn't matter to you if I killed her?"
Without giving Themis any chance to react, Elashia threw Catherine to the ground and unhesitatingly swung her sword toward her neck!