Paladin of the Dead God

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Chapter 196:

The man took great pride in being a descendant of the Holy Land Guardians.

He lived with fervent devotion to Elil and aspired to become a being like him.

His older brother became a Swordmaster at a young age. The sword aura, a symbol synonymous with Elil, was an embodiment of beauty. The man admired and revered his brother, who was the closest person to Elil he knew.

From the moment he was considered to be somewhat capable, the man became a wandering knight, traveling throughout the kingdom. He eradicated barbarian bandits, defeated witches’ minions, fought unknown monsters, and faced renowned knights without hesitation.

Despite his efforts, however, he realized he could never become a Swordmaster like his brother. He understood that he lacked one crucial element.

Whether it was Elil’s blessing or the last ounce of talent, he did not know.

“Elil, where are you?”

His feelings of admiration began to transform into envy and inferiority.

Around the same time, he experienced heartbreak and defeat. Not wanting to become disgraceful, he decided to leave Elil’s kingdom.

Out there, somewhere across the sea, he felt he might find the key to fill the final missing piece within himself.

The decade-long war drastically changed his life.

The despicable acts and madness of the pagans shook the spirit of a man who had faithfully adhered to Elil’s doctrine. To survive, he had to abandon the teachings he once followed so devoutly countless times.

Ironically, this allowed him to partially overcome his inferiority complex towards his brother. There were numerous faiths, values, and philosophies in this world. One didn’t need to be a Swordmaster to be a great warrior.

Yet, he became a loser once again, swept up in the schemes of the Immortal Order. Captured, he was forced to choose between subscribing to a death insurance policy or laboring as a zombie slave for a hundred years.

There was no real choice to be made.

“Why do you forsake me?”

Despite enduring such humiliation, he still could not become a Swordmaster.

Years later, when he returned miserably to Elil’s kingdom, he heard of his brother’s death. The brother he respected, the brother he envied, his ideal and his goal, had starved to death in a remote forest, not as an honorable warrior on the battlefield.

His once beautiful and strong brother, the one closest to Elil, had committed unspeakable disgraceful acts and met a final end filled with contempt.

The man forever lost the opportunity to surpass his brother. At the same time, he could not accept the deeds his brother had committed. He denied all sins, filling the void of his loss and a life full of defeats with vengeance.

Thus, he pushed his niece to the forefront as the family head and charged forward once again.

And once more, he was defeated. There was no honor for him here either.

“Why do you ignore your loyal servant?”

However, he realized he could use the power of immortality he had gained for something else. To grasp the power of the true Elil, the being he most admired and respected.

There was no need to follow in Elil’s footsteps or resemble him. If he could acquire Elil’s corpse, he could redefine justice and honor on this land.

If he failed, his life would be marred entirely by defeat.

But at the location where his goal lay, he was defeated once again.

This time, by an old woman of the same age, too frail to even wield a sword.

He was defeated by her generous yet resolute spirit, something he could never possess.

“Elil, you…”

Villon’s lifelong, unanswered prayers ended in a scream.

***

“I… I…”

‘It’s over.’

Watching Villon crumble and eventually stab his own neck with Rosalind’s dagger, Isaac concluded it was the end.

Villon, who seemed to be forged with an iron will, appeared to collapse at a few words, but it was evident that his resolve was already stretched thin, ready to snap.

Like the other undead knights, he had been pushed to his limits.

Within days, he had thrown away everything he had built.

Friends, family, faith, honor, subordinates, everything. Yet, if he heard that the goal he had abandoned everything for was meaningless?

The conclusion was simple.

Either he would collapse from inertia or collapse now.

Villon’s downfall was inevitable, merely a difference in timing.

He tried to end his life for a shred of honor, but even that failed.

‘Now is the crucial time.’

The identity of Villon ended here. But since suicide was no longer an option, he risked losing his sanity and becoming an “Unnamed Knight.”

A nameless Death Knight, doomed to perish along with Elil’s kingdom out of inertia.

“Villon Georg!”

At that moment, Edelred stepped forward.

Isaac worried that Edelred might provoke Villon, but he recalled Edelred’s composed handling during Rosalind’s confrontation. Moreover, Edelred had Kaldbruch.

Isaac hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but it would suffice to protect his life if necessary.

“How can I cover my father’s disgrace? I deeply regret the tragedy that befell Vio Georg. But…”

Villon hung his head, saying nothing. Edelred continued, uncertain if Villon was even listening.

“We have no reason to repeat the history of sins. Lady Rosalind has shown a precious example. I believe it is time for us to talk about forgiveness and tolerance.”

Though his words sounded like those of a model student, they were even more valuable coming from the king of Elil’s kingdom.

Had any previous king of Elil ever spoken about forgiveness and tolerance? However, Edelred was fundamentally in the position of a perpetrator.

Thus, he needed to show a more decisive attitude.

Edelred placed Kaldbruch on the ground. Isaac tensed, but Villon did not move.

“I ask for forgiveness first, Guardians of the Holy Land. I apologize for defiling and insulting the honor of the Georg family. The Guardians of the Holy Land will remain as such, and the Aldeon royal family will help preserve this beautiful tradition.”

Isaac felt a pang in his chest as he watched Edelred, who, without anyone teaching him, was perfectly fulfilling the duties of a king.

Edelred was clearly an alien existence in this world. No, perhaps even in the reality Isaac had lived in. Because he was such a precious existence, he seemed all the more precarious and fragile.

Representatives of the factions dividing Elil’s kingdom were gathered here. If Lianne had been present, it might have been easier, but ultimately, it was Villon who held and shook the Georg family. There was no better time to discuss peace than now.

“Peace in Elil’s kingdom sounds like an outdated joke.”

A voice broke the silence.

***

Isaac’s gaze shifted to the back, among the undead knights.

Among the halted undead knights stood a hooded priest. Though knights also served as priests in Elil’s faith, there were priests who purely studied doctrine and managed temples.

But it was clear this priest was no ordinary Elil priest.

“The identity of Villon Georg has already collapsed. Your Majesty, speaking to him is like whispering to a stone.”

The priest pulled a small bell from his sleeve. The moment Isaac saw it, he lunged forward and shoved Edelred aside.

Ding.

As the small bell’s sound spread, a gentle vibration shook the souls of those present. Most people only stumbled momentarily, feeling dizzy, but the undead reacted differently.

The confused undead knights’ eyes went dark all at once. Villon sprang up, slashing Lumiarde violently.

Crash! The icy aura and sword energy from Lumiarde created a sharp ice barrier where Edelred had stood moments before.

Rosalind immediately dove into the lake.

Isaac was alarmed, but she skillfully swam and grabbed the ladder on the side of the ship, pulling herself out.

It would indeed be absurd for a pirate captain to drown.

“Villon!”

Edelred shouted again, attempting to appeal to him. But Isaac pushed down on his shoulder, whispering urgently.

“That is no longer Villon, Your Majesty. His soul has already departed. What remains is merely a zombie knight obeying the orders of the Immortal Order priest.”

But having already sold his soul through the death insurance, his skill and abilities remained intact.

An undead Swordmaster emitting sword energy.

Villon had finally transformed into an unnamed knight.

The priest laughed lightly as he spoke.

“Calling him a zombie knight is quite rude, Holy Grail Knight. I am merely exercising my rights as the plenipotentiary representative of Villon Georg, who has become legally incompetent, to carry out his will. This is a clear legal right written in the contract.”

“You mean the right you coerced him into signing under threat of eternal zombie slavery if he refused?”

“If there’s a fault, it lies with those who didn’t annul it when they had the chance.”

It wasn’t just Villon; the undead knights also began to form a calm but formidable line. Isaac sensed that this would be the final battle.

He heard Rosalind shouting from the ship to prepare the harpoons.

‘What rank does that bastard hold?’

Isaac assessed the priest’s level and noted that his face wasn’t skeletal. A fleshy face could indicate he was a high-ranking priest, possibly using a powerful miracle known as the Dead Mask, which mimicked a deceased person’s face. The bell itself was also a potent relic.

‘At least an archbishop or higher…’

The priest chattered gleefully before the fight, his expression unchanged, confirming Isaac’s suspicion about the Dead Mask’s ability.

“Honestly, I don’t care about Villon’s will. But his creativity was somewhat intriguing. Turning Elil’s corpse into an undead, how magnificent…”

“How many times must you repeat this to reach the Holy Land?”

A voice interrupted the priest. He turned to see Yulihida, dressed in white, walking casually through the undead knights as if they were mere street trees.

“Holy Grail Knight, it’s tiresome to see the same spectacle repeatedly. Let’s skip the rest due to time constraints.”

The priest didn’t understand who Yulihida was, but he recognized she wasn’t ordinary. He hastily commanded the undead knights. Villon immediately unleashed his icy sword energy, and the undead knights raised their swords.

Yulihida’s sword flashed.

Everyone except Isaac couldn’t even see Yulihida draw her sword.

The priest’s head shattered into countless pieces. Metaphysical shards formed at the center of the undead knights’ foreheads, eyes, and tongues.

Isaac recognized that the place where the priest was struck was a rare weak point for the undead of the Immortal Order, causing the soul to be unable to reside in the body.

Though not fatal, the priest could no longer inhabit that body.

The undead knights froze mid-action as the command ceased. Only Villon, perhaps driven by a stronger will, creaked as he attempted to move. Seeing this, Isaac instinctively rushed forward.

As soon as Isaac placed his hand on Villon’s shoulder, a freezing chill climbed up his arm. He gazed into Villon’s empty eyes, seeing the hollow interior of a man who had cast away everything in pursuit of revenge, leaving nothing behind.

He couldn’t leave this man’s end to some unfathomable celestial force.

With a thrust, Isaac’s sword pierced Villon’s chest.

There was surprisingly little resistance. The sword energy, fully unleashed, raged from within and tore Villon’s body apart.

Crack! Like a beast violently shaking its prey, Villon’s body was scattered.

Clang. Finally, Lumiarde slipped from Villon’s hand.

A cold silence settled.

[The Nameless Chaos is satisfied with the victory.]

[The reward of Chaos has been bestowed.]

[The ‘Intestines of the Dead God’ trait is enhanced.]

[You can now devour souls.]

–TL Notes–

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